EP2484417B1 - Toy figure - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a character.

A character according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from the WO 02/11844 A1 , Other characters are known for example from the US 4,995,846 and from the US 2002/0 127 949 A1 ,

It is an object of the present invention to provide game characters that allow on the one hand lifelike movement possibilities of the limbs, and on the other hand are designed as safe as possible play for smaller children.

This object is achieved by a character with the features specified in claim 1.

According to the invention, it has been recognized that a joint element connection via leg holding sections on the one hand leads to the possibility to produce the leg sections separately and then to assemble, but on the other hand also ensures stability of the play figure with good mobility.

A positive connection of the leg-holding sections according to claim 2 ensures a secure connection of the two leg-holding sections together. The positive connection can be executed by executing one of the two leg-holding sections as a dovetail holding section and the other of the two leg-holding sections as complementary counter-holding section. Such a dovetail connection ensures a stable connection of the two leg-holding sections together. Another positive connection of the leg-holding sections with each other is possible, for example, a connection in the manner of a push button.

A latching device according to claim 3 ensures a simple fixation a secure fixation of the interconnected leg sections on the hip portion.

Shaped locking projections according to claim 4 can be produced inexpensively.

Mutually arranged according to claim 5 locking projections allow a positively secured configuration of the latching device which fixes the leg sections on the hip portion. A design is possible in which, as soon as one of the latching projections lifts off from the counter-latching body by a leg-joint movement, the counter-latching element is pressed against the other, opposite latching projection. The latching device which fixes the leg portions to the hip portion may have a plurality of mutually opposite pairs of latching projections. These plurality of locking projection pairs may be integrally formed on the leg holding portions.

The play figure can have a head part, which is connected via a neck joint to a body portion of a body. A neck-side neck joint body of the head part can be clamped between at least two joint-opposing walls of the body portion at which the neck joint body rests over surface portions. Such a head portion with a neck-joint body clamped between the gel walls of the trunk portion provides an easy way of engaging one each predetermined relative position of the head part to fix the body portion via a frictional engagement. The friction is generated by a bias of Gelenlc counter walls against each other.

The neck joint body may have at least one spherical surface portion. At least one such spherical surface portion ensures a defined investment of the neck-joint body at the joint-counter walls.

The same applies to a contact-pin area, which may have the neck joint body.

The body portion may be multi-piece and include a thoracic torso subsection and a posterior torso subabsorber, wherein each of the body subsections may include at least one of the articulating opposing walls against which the neck articulating body abuts. In such a multi-part design of the fuselage section, an additional bias of the neck joint can be generated via a bias between the two fuselage sections.

A Nick stop for the Halsgelenlc and pivot stops for the neck joint, which can be provided, ensure realistic limitations of the head movements of the character.

The two body sub-sections may be latched together on the neck side. Such a latching connection of the two fuselage subsections allows a secure connection of these two fuselage sections. In addition, a defined specification of a bias of the joint counter-walls of the neck joint is possible.

The two hulls Unterabsclmitte can be hüftseitig inserted into the hip section. Such a connector of the trunk subsections with the hip portion is simple.

An embodiment of figure parts as multi-component injection molded parts according to claim 6 provides new degrees of freedom in the design of the character. It can figure parts are provided with joints that can be made equal during the injection molding process, so do not have to be retrofitted. Examples of such toy-figure joints are elbow joints and knee joints. Also color Deposits are possible through multi-component injection molding. In addition, it is possible to manufacture highly stressed components, for example joint components, from suitably wear-resistant plastic materials, whereas other components of the same figure part may be made of less wear-resistant material.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Spielfigur;

Fig. 2

die Spielfigur nach Fig. 1 in einer Explosionsdarstellung, bei der ein Rumpfabschnitt eines Korpus von einem Hüftabschnitt des Korpus getrennt ist;

Fig. 3

eine Vorderansicht der Spielfigur nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

einen Schnitt gemäß Linie IV-IV in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

eine Ausschnittsvergrößerung des Details V in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6

eine Seitenansicht der Spielfigur mit abgenommenen Armen;

Fig. 7

einen Schnitt gemäß Linie VII-VII in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8

vergrößert das Detail VIII in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9

eine Explosionsdarstellung des Rumpfabschnitts sowie des Kopfes und der Arme der Spielfigur nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 10

vergrößert das Detail X in Fig. 4;

Fig. 11

einen Schnitt gemäß Linie XI-XI in Fig. 3;

Fig. 12

vergrößert das Detail XII in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13

in einer zur Fig. 10 ähnlichen Darstellung eine Nickstellung des Kopfes relativ zum Rumpfabschnitt;

Fig. 14

in einer zur Fig. 12 ähnlichen Darstellung eine Schwenkstellung des Kopfes relativ zum Rumpfabschnitt "Blick über die linke Schulter";

Fig. 15

die beiden Beinabschnitte der Spielfigur nach Fig. 1 in einer zusammengesteckten Stellung;

Fig. 16

eine Draufsicht auf die Beinabschnitte in der Stellung nach Fig. 15;

Fig. 17

einen Schnitt gemäß Linie XVII-XVII in Fig. 15;

Fig. 18

eine Vorderansicht der Beinabschnitte, eingesteckt in den Hüftabschnitt des Korpus;

Fig. 19

einen Schnitt gemäß Linie XIX-XIX in Fig. 18;

Fig. 20

einen Schnitt gemäß Linie XX-XX in Fig. 18;

Fig. 21

eine Aufsicht auf die Spielfigur-Baugruppe nach Fig. 18;

Fig. 22

einen Schnitt gemäß Linie XXII-XXII in Fig. 21;

Fig. 23

einen Schnitt gemäß Linie XXIII-XXIII in Fig. 21;

Fig. 24-27

Explosionsdarstellungen, die eine Montageabfolge der Baugruppe nach Fig. 18 inklusive eines Spielfiguren-Gürtels zeigen;

Fig. 28

perspektivisch eine weitere Ausführung einer Spielfigur;

Fig. 29

eine Vorderansicht eines Rumpfabschnitts der Spielfigur nach Fig. 28;

Fig. 30

einen Schnitt gemäß Linie XXX-XXX in Fig. 29;

Fig. 31

vergrößert das Detail XXXI in Fig. 30;

Fig. 32

in einer zur Fig. 28 ähnlichen Darstellung eine Nickstellung des Kopfes relativ zum Rumpfabschnitt;

Fig. 33

eine Ausschnittsvergrößerung eines Schnitts gemäß Linie XXXIII-XXXIII im Bereich eines Kopf-/Rumpfübergangs;

Fig. 34

perspektivisch das Kopfteil der Spielfigur nach Fig. 28;

Fig. 35

den Rumpf der Spielfigur nach Fig. 28 in einer Vorderansicht mit dem Kopf in der Stellung "Blick über die linke Schulter"; und

Fig. 36

vergrößert einen Ausschnitt gemäß Linie XXXVI-XXXVI in Fig. 35.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. In this show:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a toy figure;

Fig. 2

the character after Fig. 1 in an exploded view, in which a body portion of a body is separated from a waist portion of the body;

Fig. 3

a front view of the character after Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4

a section along line IV-IV in Fig. 3 ;

Fig. 5

a detail enlargement of the detail V in Fig. 4 ;

Fig. 6

a side view of the character with arms removed;

Fig. 7

a section according to line VII-VII in Fig. 6 ;

Fig. 8

enlarged detail VIII in Fig. 7 ;

Fig. 9

an exploded view of the torso section and the head and arms of the character after Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 10

enlarges the detail X in Fig. 4 ;

Fig. 11

a section along line XI-XI in Fig. 3 ;

Fig. 12

enlarges detail XII in Fig. 11 ;

Fig. 13

in a to Fig. 10 similar representation of a pitching of the head relative to the body portion;

Fig. 14

in a to Fig. 12 similar representation of a pivoting position of the head relative to the body portion "view of the left shoulder";

Fig. 15

the two leg sections of the character after Fig. 1 in a mated position;

Fig. 16

a plan view of the leg portions in the position after Fig. 15 ;

Fig. 17

a section according to line XVII-XVII in Fig. 15 ;

Fig. 18

a front view of the leg portions, inserted in the waist portion of the body;

Fig. 19

a section along line XIX-XIX in Fig. 18 ;

Fig. 20

a section along line XX-XX in Fig. 18 ;

Fig. 21

a view of the game character assembly after Fig. 18 ;

Fig. 22

a section according to line XXII-XXII in Fig. 21 ;

Fig. 23

a section along line XXIII-XXIII in Fig. 21 ;

Fig. 24-27

Exploded views, the assembly sequence of the assembly after Fig. 18 including a figurine belt;

Fig. 28

in perspective, another embodiment of a character;

Fig. 29

a front view of a fuselage section of the character after Fig. 28 ;

Fig. 30

a section along line XXX-XXX in Fig. 29 ;

Fig. 31

enlarges the detail XXXI in Fig. 30 ;

Fig. 32

in a to Fig. 28 similar representation of a pitching of the head relative to the body portion;

Fig. 33

an enlarged detail of a section according to line XXXIII-XXXIII in the region of a head / trunk transition;

Fig. 34

in perspective, the headboard of the character after Fig. 28 ;

Fig. 35

the hull of the character after Fig. 28 in a front view with the head in the position "view over the left shoulder"; and

Fig. 36

enlarges a section according to line XXXVI-XXXVI in Fig. 35 ,

Fig. 1 to 27 The play figure 1 has a head part 2, which is connected via a neck joint 3 to a body portion 4 of a body 5 of the playing figure 1. The fuselage section 4 is connected via a latching / plug connection with latching elements 6 and plug-in elements 7 to a hip section 8 of the carcass 5. The locking elements 6 are integrally formed on the hip portion 8. The plug-in elements 7 are integrally formed on the body portion 4.

In the shoulder region 4 arm joint balls 9 are formed on the body portion, which form with appropriate complementarily shaped joint pans shoulder joints of the character 1. The sockets are part of arms 10 of the character. Each of the arms 10 has an upper arm portion and a lower arm portion, which are each articulated to each other via an elbow joint 11. The arms 10 are multi-component injection molded parts, with the upper arm portions injection molded from a different plastic material than the lower arm portions. The elbow joints 11 are formed during injection molding. An assembly of the arms 10 is therefore not required.

At each of the arm joint balls 9, a joint carrier 12 is formed (see. Fig. 9 ).

Fig. 9 illustrates the component structure of the fuselage section 4. This has in addition to the head part 2 and the two joint supports 12 with the arm joint balls 9, a chest part 13 and a back part 14. The chest part 13 represents a breast-side torso subsection of the playing piece 1. The back part 14 represents a back-side torso subsection of the playing piece 1.

To neck joint 3 includes a neck-neck neck joint body 15 which has a plurality of spherical surface portions 16, 17 and 18, which in the sectional view to Fig. 10 are visible. The surface portions 16 to 18 of the neck joint body 15 are clamped between a total of three joint counter walls 19, 20 and 21 of the body portion 4. The articulating mating wall 19 is an integral part of the chest part 13. The hinge mating walls 20, 21 are integral parts of the back part 14. The bias of the neck hinge body 15 between the hinge mating walls 19 to 21 is such that between the neck hinge body 15 and the joint counter walls 19 to 21, a frictional engagement is present, on the one hand ensures a mobility of the head part 2 relative to the body portion 4 and on the other hand ensures that the head part 2 remains in a predetermined relative position to the body portion 4.

The Fig. 10 shows the neck joint 3 in a position "upright head" of the head part 2 relative to the body portion 4. The Fig. 13 shows the neck joint 3 in a pitching position of the head part 2 to the body portion 4. In this pitching position acts a pitch stop 22, which is adjacent to the spherical surface portion 16 on the neck joint body 15, with a counter-stop 23 on the front side of the joint counter-wall 21st together. Another, rear pitch stop 24 is in the pitch position provided for cooperation with a counter-recess 25 in the hinge-back wall 20. The rear pitch stop 24 also has the function of a pivot counter-stop for limiting a maximum head-pivot angle of the game character 1 relative to the fuselage section 4th

The two fuselage subsections 13, 14 are latched together on the neck side, as also for example from the Fig. 10 evident. A locking lug 26 of the chest part 13 engages behind a locking rib 27 of the back 14. The locking rib 27 is designed so elastic that they can initially dodge resiliently for insertion of the locking lug 26 when locking the chest part 13 with the back part 14 down.

On the hip side, the two trunk subsections 13, 14 are inserted into the hip section 8, as in FIG Fig. 5 shown. A breast-side of the plug-in elements 7, which is integrally formed on the chest part 13, is inserted into the hip portion. At the level of the chest part plug-in element 7, a belt part 28 of the toy figure 1 is arranged on the visible side between the chest part 13 and the hip section 8. The further back-side plug element 7 is integrally formed on the back part 14 and inserted into the belt part 28.

To fix the inserted into the waist portion 8 fuselage section 4 serve the locking elements 6, which are latched with counter-locking elements 29 which are integrally formed on the back part 14.

Fig. 12 shows in a section the neck joint body 15 in a head pivot position "looking forward". The Fig. 14 shows the neck joint body 15 in a head pivot position "look over the left shoulder". In this head pivot position of the pivot counter-stop 24 is present a pivot stop 30, which is an integral part of the chest part 13. Mirror symmetrical to the pivot stop 30 for the view over the left shoulder another pivot stop 31 is arranged to limit the head pivot angle when looking over the right shoulder. The pivot stop 31 is also an integral part of the chest part thirteenth

The play figure 1 has two leg sections 32, 33, which are connected via leg-ball joints 34, 35 with the hip section 8 of the body 5. The leg sections 32, 33 each have a knee joint. The leg sections 32, 33 are multi-component injection molded parts which do not have to be mounted after injection molding but, in the illustrated multi-part design, are the direct result of the injection molding process.

Each of the leg and ball joints 34, 35 has a leg joint ball 36, 37. The leg joint ball 36 is mounted in a socket 38 of the leg portion 32. The leg joint ball 37 is mounted in a socket 39 of the leg portion 33. The leg joint balls 36, 37 constitute joint elements of the leg and ball joints 34, 35. The joint sockets 38, 39 constitute counter-joint elements of the leg sections 32, 33. On the ball joint 36, there is integrally formed a leg retaining section 40 for the right Leg section 32 of the character 1 molded. To the leg joint ball 37 is integrally formed a leg-holding portion 41 for the leg portion for the left leg of the character 1. About the two leg-holding portions 40, 41, the two joint balls 36, 37 releasably connected to each other. In the character 1 is a "thigh joint", as far as the arrangement of the joint ball and socket, inversely formed than in real people. Instead of a thigh neck, the toy figure 1 has the joint pans 38, 39. Instead of a pelvic girdle, the toy figure 1 the two leg-joint balls 36, 37 connected to each other via the leg-holding portions 40, 41.

From the FIGS. 16 and 17 it is clear that the leg-holding portion 41 is designed as a dovetail holding portion and that the leg-holding portion 40 is designed as a counter-holding portion complementary thereto. A dovetail profile 42 of the leg-holding portion 41 extends vertically when standing game piece 1.

The leg-holding sections 40, 41 and thus the leg sections 32, 33 are fixed on the hip section 8 via a latching device 43 and secured against slipping out.

Locking projections 44, which are part of the latching device 43, are integrally formed on the leg-holding portions 40, 41. The locking projections 44 of the two leg-holding portions 40, 41 are arranged opposite to each other. A counter-latching body 45 of the latching device 43, which is integrally formed on the hip portion 8, is arranged between the two remaining projections 44. The two latching projections 44 engage behind latching steps 46 of the counter-latching body 45.

Like from the Fig. 17 As can be seen, the leg-holding portions 40, 41 each have two pairs of opposing locking projections 44, each having intermediate portions 45 a. 45b of the counter-latching body 45 latching on the breast side and back together interact.

The counter-latching body 45 has, in each case facing the leg-holding portion 40 on the one hand and the leg-holding portion 41 on the other hand, two separate dovetail profiles 47, for the secure connection of the hip portion 8 cooperate with the holding portions 40, 41 with complementary counter-guides of the leg-holding portions 40, 41 for the formation of two further dovetail connections. The dovetail joints made with the dovetail profiles 47 between the waist portion 8 and the leg support portions 40, 41 are located above the dovetail profile 42 directly above the dovetail profile 42 between the two leg support portions 40, 41 when the toy 1 is upright. This is from the supervision after Fig. 16 clearly, the two via the dovetail connection with the dovetail profile 42 mated leg sections 32, 33 shows, with the sash-tail counter-recesses for the not yet introduced dovetail profiles 47 of the hip portion 8 are visible. Fig. 21 shows in a corresponding view of an assembly with the two leg portions 32, 33 and the patch waist portion 8 together with the belt part 28th

About the pairs of locking projections 44 and the intermediate counter-latching body 45 results in a forced backup in the movement of the thigh parts of the leg sections 32, 33 relative to the body 5 via the leg-ball joints 34. 35. Once by a joint movement of the leg Ball joints 34, 35 one of the locking projections 44 lifts from the counter-latching body 45, the counter-latching body 45 is thereby forcibly pressed against the opposite, other latching projection 44. In this way, it is ensured that the two leg sections 32, 33 remain fixed on the hip section 8.

The Fig. 24 to 27 illustrate a mounting sequence in the assembly of the assembly, which consists of the leg portions 32, 33, the waist portion 8 and the belt portion 28. First, the two leg sections 32, 33 connected to each other via the dovetail connection with the dovetail profile 42. Then, from above, the hip portion 8 is inserted into the dovetail connections with the dovetail profiles 47 and locked by the latching device 43 with the leg portions 32, 33. Subsequently, the belt part 28 is attached from above to the hip portion 8.

Based on FIGS. 28 to 36 a further embodiment of a toy figure 48 is explained below. Components corresponding to those described above with reference to the character 1 after Fig. 1 to 27 have already been explained, have the same reference numbers and will not be discussed again in detail.

A neck-neck-neck body 49 has a two-part, crowned abutment-pin area 50 in the play figure 48, which, like the Fig. 34 illustrates, two right and left of the neck joint body 49 opposite pin portions 50a, 50b has. The neck-joint body 49 abuts on a spherical surface portion 51 of the abutment-pin portion 50 on the hinge-back wall 21 of the back portion 14. The abutment pin areas 50a, 50b simultaneously have the function of a pivot counter stop for limiting a head pivot angle. This feature is in the Fig. 36 shown in the head position "look over the left shoulder" of the character 48. The two abutment pin areas 50a, 50b act as pivot counterstops with a stop rib 52 of the body portion 4 of the play figure 48.

Claims (6)

1. Toy figure (1; 48)

   - with a body (5)

   - with two leg portions (32, 33), which are connected by leg ball joints (34, 35) to a hip portion (8) of the body (5),
   characterised in that joint elements (36, 37) of the leg ball joints (34, 35) of the two leg portions (32, 33), which are mounted in counter-joint elements (38, 39) of the leg portions (32, 33), are connected to one another by leg holding portions (40, 41), which are formed in one piece on the joint elements (36, 37).
2. Toy figure according to claim 1, characterised in that the two leg holding portions (40, 41) are positively connected to one another.
3. Toy figure according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the leg portions (32, 33) are fixed by a latching device (43) on the hip portion (8) and are secured against slipping out of said hip portion.
4. Toy figure according to claim 3, characterised in that latching projections (44), which are part of the latching device (43), are formed in one piece on the leg holding portions (40, 41).
5. Toy figure according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the latching projections (44) are arranged opposing one another, wherein a counter-latching body (45) of the latching device (43), which is formed in one piece on the hip portion (8), is arranged between the two opposingly arranged latching projections (44).
6. Toy figure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised by a plurality of figure parts (10, 32, 33), which are configured as multicomponent injection moulded parts.

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