GB2185897A - Toy figure - Google Patents

Abstract

A toy figure with a translucent or transparent plastics moulded body portion has an internal assembly carrying a battery and a light bulb (21) together with mounting bosses (50, 54) for arms (14) and legs (15). After the assembly is inserted through an opening at (58) in the body, arms and legs are attached by snap fittings to securely position the assembly within the body. The arms and legs are of relatively stiff plastics material and are mounted to permit rotation relative to the body for posing. Part of the assembly projects out of the body and is covered by a removably mounted head (11). The head and body are of flexible plastics material. To energise the light bulb, a cap (44) is depressed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Toy Figure This invention concern a toy figure.

The invention provides a toy figure comprising a body with a translucent or transparent plastics moulded portion, arms and legs, the body having an opening, an armature assembly removably inserted into the body through the opening and carrying a light bulb, having battery receiving means and carrying switch means for electrically connecting a battery when received and the light bulb, a set of arm apertures in the body and set of leg apertures in the body, and the armature including means respectively registered with the sets of arm and leg apertures in the body and mounting the arms and legs so securing the armature within the body.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toy figure; Figure 2 is an enlarged scale, sectional view taken on2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on 3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on 4-.4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on 5-5 of Figure 3; and Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of an armature assembly.

Figure 1 shows a toy figure 10 having a head 11 above a body 12, which includes a posterior 13, poseable arms 14 and poseable legs 15. Within the toy figure 10 is an armature assembly 20 with which the head 1 1,the body 12, the legs 15 and the arms 14 are assembled and which houses a light bulb 21, battery 22, and on/off switch mechanism 24.

The armature assembly 20 includes an armature 25 with an upright, generally cylindrical shell 26 conveniently moulded of a plastics such as polystryene. The inside of the shell 26 receives a battery 22. On the outside of the cylinder 26, near the bottom, is a groove 27 in which the bulb 21 is secured by a suitable adhesive. Atransparent protective cover 28 may be positioned over the bulb and attached to the outside of the cylinder 26 by a suitable adhesive.

Extending through the bottom of the cylinder 26 is a conductor 29 such as a rivet or other suitable piece of metal for providing electrical contact. Wires 30 and 31 extend from the bulb 21 with the wire 30 secured to one end of the conductor 29. A rivet 32 attaches a switch blade 33 to the outside of the cylinder 26 and makes electrical contact between the wire 31 and the switch blade.

The top end of the switch blade 33 extends above the top of the cylinder 26 and turns inwardly forming a tab portion 34. Between the top tab end and the lower attached end, but nearer the top end, is an inwardly bent portion 35. Adjacent to the upper end of the cylinder 26 is a channel 36 which receives the upper part of the switch blade 33, including bent portion 35. Extending down into the sides of the cylinder 26 from the top of the cylinder are two diametrically opposed V-shaped notches 37. The channel 36 is approximately midway between the notches.

A plug 38, made of any suitable non-conductive material, such as rubber or plastics, is inserted into the cylinder 26, atop the battery 22. The plug 38 is generally cylindrical and has an outer diameter such that it fits for relatively easy up and down movement within the cylinder 26. The plug 38 carries a generally "L" shaped, metal switch contact 39. Extending outwardly, adjacent to the bottom of the plug 38, are diametrically opposed pins 40 which fit into the V-shaped notches 37 of the cylinder 26. At its top, the plug 38 contains an indentation 42 in which the tab 34 of the switch blade 33 is received.

When assembled, the switch contact 39 has one leg bearing against an end of the battery 22 and the other leg in contact with the switch blade 33, more particularly the bent portion 35.

Disposed between the bottom of the hollow cylinder 26 and the battery 22 is a coil spring 43 biasing the battery 22 up out of electrical contact with the rivet 29. Afterthe battery 22 and the plug 38 are inserted into the cylinder 26, a generally cylindrical cap sleeve 44 is placed over the top of the cylinder 26 for retaining the battery and switch subassembly. The cap sleeve 44 has an inwardly directed flange 45 adjacent to its lower edge which snaps over a rim 46 that extends around almost all of the outside of the cylinder 26. There is a small cutout in the rim 46 through which the switch blade 33 passes.

When a downward force is exerted on the cap 44, it slides down about the outside of the cylinder 26 pushing down on the plug 38 plus the battery 22, compressing the spring 43 to complete the electrical contact between the battery 22, the metal rivet 29, the wire 30 and the bulb 21. Such compression, together with the already established contact between the other end of the battery via the switch contact 39, the switch blade 33, the wire 31 and the light bulb 21, completes the circuit causing the bulb 21 and hence the posterior 13 of the toy figure to light. The body 12 may be made in a variety of shapes although, as best illustrated in Figures 2 and 5, the posterior is preferably formed sufficiently spaced from the armature assembly to prevent contact of the body with the bulb 21.Although the bulb 21 may be very small and not generate a lot of heat, spacing it from the plastics body is better.

Between the top and the bottom of the cylinder 26, the armature 25 has a pair of generally diametrically opposed hollow arm mounting bosses 50 extending out from the sides of the cylinder. The bosses 50 may be integrally formed with the cylinder 26 and include an end wall 51 remote from the cylinder with a generally circular aperture 52.

Spaced below the arm mounting bosses 50 are a pair of outwardly and downwardly diverging leg mounting bosses 54. Like the arm mounting bosses 50, the leg mounting bosses 54 are hollow and have an end wall 55 remote from the cylinder 26.

Extending through the end wall 55 is a circular aperture 56.

Both the head 11 and the body 12 are moulded of a relatively soft flexible plastics such as vinyl.

Although not necessary for the head 11, the body 12 and particularly the posterior 13 is at least translucent is not transparent. At its upper end, in the area of the neck of the toy figure, the body 12 includes a rim 58 defining an opening approximating to, but larger than, the outside of the cylinder 26. The body 12 also has a pair of, generally opposed, circular apertures 60 in the upper part of the body for attachment of the arms 14 and a pair of circular apertures 62 adjacent to the lower part of the body 12 for attachment of the legs 15. In assembly, the body-neck opening defined by the rim 58 is stretched enough to permit insertion of first the lower leg mounting boss yoke portion of the armature and then the arm mounting boss portion.

Each of the leg mounting boss apertures 56 registers with a respective aperture 62 in the body and apertures 52 in the arm mounting bosses register with the respective apertures 60 in the body.

Each of the arms 14, which may be made of a polyvinylchloride of a relatively stiff durometer, includes a mounting post 64 having a generally cylindrical portion of an outside diameter corresponding to the diameter of each of the circular apertures 60 and 52. When registered, the circular apertures 52 and 60 are aligned, as are the circular apertures 56 and 62. Each arm mounting ports 64 has an enlarged barbed end 66 which, because of the resilience of the polyvinylchloride, may be forced through the aperture in the end of the arm mounting boss. The body 66 then retains the arm 14 against removal from the boss, and hence the body of the toy figure, while permitting rotation of the arm relative to the body for posing.

As with the arms 14, the legs 15 are moulded of a polyvinylchloride or other suitable material that is relatively stiff but yet has sufficient resilience to force fit a piece. Again as with the arms, each leg has a mounting post 68 with a cylindrical body portion and a barbed insertable end 70. Afterthe bared end 70 is forced through the aligned circular apertures 62 and 56, the leg is secured against removal but is rotatable about the axis of the mounting post for posing. The connection between each of the legs and the body is, as shown in the drawings, at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees to a vertical plane passing through the center of the toy figure.Accordingly, the legs may be rotated relative to the body such that the toy figure may stand as illustrated in Figure 1 or by rotating both of the legs upwardlyapproximetely ninety degrees, the toy figure may sit.

Once the arms and legs are attached to the armature, the armature is secured into position within the body 12. Part of the armature assembly 20 projects out through the body-neck opening. The head 11 has, at the bottom, a rim 72 that defines an opening smallerthan the body-neck opening.

Accordingly, the head-neck opening conforms more closely to the outer diameter of the cylinder 26. The head 11 is forced down over the top of the projecting part of the armature assembly to complete the toy figure. Should replacement of the battery 22 become necessary, the head 11 may be removed by the consumer, the cap 44 and the plug 38 may then be removed and the battery 22 replaced.

Claims (8)

1. A toy figure comprising: a body with a translucent or transparent plastics moulded portion, arms and legs, the body having an opening, an armature assembly removably inserted into the body through the opening and carrying a light bulb, having battery receiving means and carrying switch means for electrically connecting a battery when received and the light bulb, a set of arm apertures in the body and a set of leg apertures in the body, and the armature including means respectively registered with the sets of arm and leg apertures in the body and mounting the arms and legs so securing the armature within the body.

2. A toy figure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the arms and legs are mounted for rotation relative to the body.

3. Atoyfigure as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the legs is rotatable about an axis disposed at approximately forty five degrees to a vertical plane through the center of the body.

4. A toy figure as claimed in any preceding claim and including a head with an opening, wherein a portion of the armature projects out through the opening in the body and mounts the head above the body.

5. A toy figure as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the head is removably mounted.

6. A toy figure as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein the light bulb is disposed in the posterior of the toy figure and is lit through the switch means by compressing the head and body together when the toy figure includes a battery.

7. A toy figure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the posterior portion of the body is spaced from the light bulb.

8. A toy figure substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.