GB1566730A - Toy figures - Google Patents

Description

(54) TOY FIGURES (71) We, THE METrOY COMPANY LIMITED, a British Company, of 14 Harlestone IRoad, Northampton NN5 7AF, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to toy figures.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a toy figure comprising: a hollow body having an opening at its lower end: a leg assembly comprising a pair of legs whose upper end portions are received in the lower body cavity, the leg assembly having journal means permitting pivoting movement of the legs relative to the body between a standing position in which they extend downwardly from the body and a sitting position in which they extend forwardly of the body: and a stem extending downwardly into the body through an upper body opening and carrying a head at its upper end, the lower end of the stem having an enlargement at its lower end having snap fitting engagement in an aperture in the leg assembly to hinder removal of the assembly from the body; and wherein the upper end portion of the leg assembly is journalled for rotation of the leg assembly relative to the body about the axis of the stem.

By making the legs part of an articulated assembly wide scope is given for the manner in which the legs are journalled for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the body and for retaining the leg assembly against inadvertent removal, without marring the external appearance of the completed figure.

A very satisfactory journalling of the leg assembly can be achieved by giving the upper end of the leg assembly a part spherical shape which co-operates with a cylindrical lower wall portion of the body.

The wall portion is preferably of integral continuous form, in order to provide a secure seating for the leg assembly.

The leg assembly preferably comprises a pair of separate leg members and a centre fitting to which the legs are journalled for independent movement. It is then a simple matter to arrange for the leg assembly to be retained to the body, in a manner permitting of its rotation about a longitudinal body axis.

Preferably, the body includes a resilient diaphragm or equivalent means to apply a spring bias to the leg assembly, thereby taking up clearance between the leg assembly and the body, as well as assisting in providing frictional restrain which helps to maintain the leg assembly in any desired position of adjustment relative to the body.

In the presently preferred forms of the invention described below, the leg assembly is additionally pivotable, relative to thebody, about an axis extending fore-and-aft of the body, to allow the body to rock from side-to-side.

A presently preferred form of figure in accordance with the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are front and side sectional elevations; Figure 3 is a section on the line III--III of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of Figure 2, and Figure 5 is a view, corresponding with Figure 4 of a modification.

The toy figure which is conveniently composed of synthetic resin injection mouldings, comprises a hollow body formed by a main section 1 and a front quarter section 2, a head 3 formed integrally with a stem 4, a leg assembly comprising a centre fitting 5 and separate legs 6 and a pair of arms 7 rotatably mounted in the main body section 1. The arms terminate in claw-like hands 8 and the legs in articulated feet 9. The head 3 has a scalp-like hood 10 on which accessories such as hats or head-dresses can be mounted.

The stem 4, over most of its length, is of cruciform section (to facilitate moulding) and passes through a pair of lugs 11 integral with the quarter section 2 to hold the latter in place, through a web 12 in the section 1, and terminates in a mushroom head enlargement 13 which makes snap fitting interengagement with the centre fitting 5 of the leg assembly. This fitting has a re-entrant transverse slot 14 and two laterally extending aligned trunnions 5A into which the legs 6 are journalled.

The upper portion of the leg assembly is part-spherical and is journalled in a cylindrical wall portion of the lower body and also bears upwardly against a pair of pips 15 or other bearing surfaces provided on the underside of the web 12, which is resilient.

In assembly of the toy figure, the stem is passed downwardly through the body, and the leg assembly upwardly into the lower body portion, so that the enlargement 13 snaps into the slot 14 of the centre fitting 5. In this operation, the web 12 is strained upwardly and its resilience takes up slack in the assembly and provides a degree of frictional restraint between the leg assembly and the body, and also between the head and the body, both the head and the leg assembly, however, being rotatable about the axis of the stem.

Additionally, the body can tilt from sideto-side to a limited degree, about a fore-andaft axis, and the legs can pivot fore-and-aft, independently of each other, on the trunnions 5A.

In a modified version, shown in Figure 5, the web 121 is formed with a central lobed aperture so as to define a number of springy, inwardly directed radial fingers carrying pips 151 bearing against the leg assembly.

Forming the body with a separate front quarter section 2 permits interchange of alternative sections 2 on assembly, for example to provide a choice as between male and female forms. It also allows the lower cylindrical wall section of the body to be of continuous, integral form.

The figure has a wide range of possible postures to enhance its play value, but comprises a relatively small number of components, which is obviously advantageous for production and assembly.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A toy figure comprising a hollow body having an opening at its lower end, a leg assembly comprising a pair of legs whose end portions are received in the lower body cavity, the leg assembly having journal means permitting pivoting movement of the legs relative to the body between a standing position in which they extend downwardly from the body and a sitting position in which they extend forwardly of the body; and a stem extending downwardly into the body through an upper body opening and carrying a head at its upper end, the lower end of the stem having an enlargement at its lower end having snap fitting engagement in an aperture in the leg assembly to hinder removal of the assembly from the body; and wherein the upper end portion of the leg assembly is journalled for rotation of the leg assembly is journalled for rotation of the leg assembly relative to the body about the axis of the stem.

2. A toy figure according to claim 1, wherein the said upper portion of the leg assembly is of part-spherical shape and is journalled in a generally cylindrical wall portion of the body.

3. A toy figure according to claim 2, wherein the cylindrical wall portion is of contiguous, integral form.

4. A toy figure according to any preceding claim, wherein the leg assembly comprises two separate legs and a centre fitting to which the legs are separately journalled to permit the said pivoting movement thereof.

5. A toy figure as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising resilient means on the body bearing downwardly against the leg assembly, thereby to take up clearance between the body, the stem and the leg assembly.

6. A toy figure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the resilient means comprises a diaphragm of resilient material extending transversely of the body in bearing engage- ment with the leg assembly.

7. A toy figure according to any preceding claim, wherein the leg assembly is connected to the body in a manner permitting relative pivotable movement about an axis extending fore-and-aft of the body.

8. A toy figure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body consists of a main section and a forward section approximating to the chest of a human being, the forward section being releasably secured to the main section by the said stem acting as a removable locking member.

9. A toy figure comprising a body having a neck opening at its upper end, a transverse diaphragm intermediate its upper and lower ends, and a tubular portion beneath the diaphragm open from below, a leg assembly comprising a centre fitting and two legs pivotally mounted on the centre fitting, the leg assembly presenting a bulbous, generally hemispherical upper end portion received in the tubular portion of said body, the centre fitting having an undercut slot therein open from above, and an elongate stem extending rotatably through said neck opening and through an opening in the diaphragm, the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. in place, through a web 12 in the section 1, and terminates in a mushroom head enlargement 13 which makes snap fitting interengagement with the centre fitting 5 of the leg assembly. This fitting has a re-entrant transverse slot 14 and two laterally extending aligned trunnions 5A into which the legs 6 are journalled. The upper portion of the leg assembly is part-spherical and is journalled in a cylindrical wall portion of the lower body and also bears upwardly against a pair of pips 15 or other bearing surfaces provided on the underside of the web 12, which is resilient. In assembly of the toy figure, the stem is passed downwardly through the body, and the leg assembly upwardly into the lower body portion, so that the enlargement 13 snaps into the slot 14 of the centre fitting 5. In this operation, the web 12 is strained upwardly and its resilience takes up slack in the assembly and provides a degree of frictional restraint between the leg assembly and the body, and also between the head and the body, both the head and the leg assembly, however, being rotatable about the axis of the stem. Additionally, the body can tilt from sideto-side to a limited degree, about a fore-andaft axis, and the legs can pivot fore-and-aft, independently of each other, on the trunnions 5A. In a modified version, shown in Figure 5, the web 121 is formed with a central lobed aperture so as to define a number of springy, inwardly directed radial fingers carrying pips 151 bearing against the leg assembly. Forming the body with a separate front quarter section 2 permits interchange of alternative sections 2 on assembly, for example to provide a choice as between male and female forms. It also allows the lower cylindrical wall section of the body to be of continuous, integral form. The figure has a wide range of possible postures to enhance its play value, but comprises a relatively small number of components, which is obviously advantageous for production and assembly. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A toy figure comprising a hollow body having an opening at its lower end, a leg assembly comprising a pair of legs whose end portions are received in the lower body cavity, the leg assembly having journal means permitting pivoting movement of the legs relative to the body between a standing position in which they extend downwardly from the body and a sitting position in which they extend forwardly of the body; and a stem extending downwardly into the body through an upper body opening and carrying a head at its upper end, the lower end of the stem having an enlargement at its lower end having snap fitting engagement in an aperture in the leg assembly to hinder removal of the assembly from the body; and wherein the upper end portion of the leg assembly is journalled for rotation of the leg assembly is journalled for rotation of the leg assembly relative to the body about the axis of the stem.

2. A toy figure according to claim 1, wherein the said upper portion of the leg assembly is of part-spherical shape and is journalled in a generally cylindrical wall portion of the body.

3. A toy figure according to claim 2, wherein the cylindrical wall portion is of contiguous, integral form.

4. A toy figure according to any preceding claim, wherein the leg assembly comprises two separate legs and a centre fitting to which the legs are separately journalled to permit the said pivoting movement thereof.

5. A toy figure as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising resilient means on the body bearing downwardly against the leg assembly, thereby to take up clearance between the body, the stem and the leg assembly.

6. A toy figure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the resilient means comprises a diaphragm of resilient material extending transversely of the body in bearing engage- ment with the leg assembly.

7. A toy figure according to any preceding claim, wherein the leg assembly is connected to the body in a manner permitting relative pivotable movement about an axis extending fore-and-aft of the body.

8. A toy figure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body consists of a main section and a forward section approximating to the chest of a human being, the forward section being releasably secured to the main section by the said stem acting as a removable locking member.

9. A toy figure comprising a body having a neck opening at its upper end, a transverse diaphragm intermediate its upper and lower ends, and a tubular portion beneath the diaphragm open from below, a leg assembly comprising a centre fitting and two legs pivotally mounted on the centre fitting, the leg assembly presenting a bulbous, generally hemispherical upper end portion received in the tubular portion of said body, the centre fitting having an undercut slot therein open from above, and an elongate stem extending rotatably through said neck opening and through an opening in the diaphragm, the

stem carrying at its upper end a head and having at its lower end an enlargement capable of snap fitting interengagement in said slot of the centre fitting, the enlargement and the slot permitting articulation of said centre fitting and the enlargement about an axis transverse to the axis of the stem, and of the leg assembly about the axis of the stem.

10. A toy figure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.