GB2252057A - Toys or playthings - Google Patents

Abstract

A toy or plaything is in the form of an animal, human or humanoid head defined by a relatively thick but easily deformable hollow shell moulded from a foamed natural or synthetic rubber material and which includes facial features such as a mouth, nose and eyes. Embedded within the thickness of the shell is a plastically-deformable wire framework to support at least the part of the shell which includes the facial features. The shell may be manipulated to create different expressions which are retained on releasing the shell. The wire may be made of aluminium. The hollow head may be filled with a material which does not impair manipulation and, if desired, may form part of a larger toy. <IMAGE>

Description

TOYS OR PLAYTHINGS This invention relates to a toy or plaything, and more particularly to a toy or plaything which simulates a head having facial or like features of a real or imaginary person or of an animal or humanoid, and which being formed predominantly of a resiliently flexible and deformable material can be manipulated to impart different attitudes and expressions.

One type of toy or plaything which has become very well-known in recent decades has a body (including limbs and a head) moulded from foamed natural or synthetic rubber or other elastomer about a plastically-deformable metal wire skeleton (of a rudimentary nature) embedded within the foamed moulded material of the toy figure - so that the bodily attitude of the figure can be manipulated in one way or another. When released, the figure will retain the attitude thus imparted, despite the inherent resilience of the moulded material, because of the setting of the wire skeleton by the plastic deformation thereof resulting from the manipulation of the figure, as a whole.It is perhaps relevant to add that there have equally of course been toys and playthings moulded from the same or similar resiliently deformable materials which did not incorporate any plastically-deformable wire skeleton; and whereas these also could be manipulated, nevertheless they would not retain an attitude imparted to them. However, despite the huge quantities in which such playthings have certainly been made and sold over recent decades, they have all been of a fairly simple and unsophisticated nature (as one would really expect of toys for children) incapable of any convincing characterisation of human or other animal body language.

As children and certainly adults grow ever more sophisticated, the lack of characterisation in known toys or playthings of this kind begins to be seen as a drawback, and there is a call for an ever-increasing degree of sophistication in what may be achieved by toys or playthings of the general kind referred to above. With a moulded toy or plaything of this kind, though of course manipulation of the solid mass of resiliently-flexible material forming the head must to some extent be capable of distorting its facial and like features, the expressions achievable fall woefully short of anything that even begins to portray a semibelievable facial expression. Moreover, even if one were to achieve any success in this regard it would necessarily be utterly transient, as the moulded material after manipulation will immediately resume its original, as-moulded configuration.

It has however now by careful development and trial been established that a head (either alone or as part of a larger toy) may be manufactured by the adoption of a combination of constructional features and which enables quite convincing expressions and characteristics (whether real or grotesque) to be imparted to and retained by toys or playthings of this kind, to the delight of children of all ages.

According to the invention there is therefore provided a toy or plaything which comprises an animal, human or humanoid head defined by a relatively thick but easily-deformable hollow moulded shell of a resilient material, which shell is moulded to define certain desired features of a head of an animal, human or humanoid, and within the thickness of said shell there is provided a framework formed of plasticallydeformable wire-like material which framework corresponds in shape to at least some of the major characteristics of the head so as to support the otherwise easily-deformable shell, and which head may be manipulated from outside the shell to deform the framework and thereby ensure that the head tends to retain whatever expression has been imparted to its features by said manipulation.

It is not impermissible for the hollow shell of the head to enclose some other structure or filling material as long as it is of such a nature that it does not seriously impair the manipulability of the otherwise easily-deformable shell - but, all the same, it is believed that it is usually best that the shell should merely define a hollow head.

The framework must of course be within the thickness of material of the shell, and preferably the framework is located substantially equi-distant from the inner and outer surfaces of that shell. However, advantageous characteristics may be obtained if the framework is located close to or immediately adjacent the inner surface of the shell. By contrast, and at least for reasons of safety, the framework should not have any part thereof located close to, or even breaking through, the outer surface of the shell.

The hollow shell may be moulded in two parts of generally comparable surface area, which are subsequently bonded together in a suitable manner. In this case, the two parts may conveniently constitute the right and left-hand sides respectively of the head, or, more usually, the front and back respectively of the head.

An alternative procedure would be for the shell to be moulded in one piece within a mould cavity in which there is supported a body having the required shape of the hollow interior of the shell. The body may be removed from the shell after the moulding thereof by slitting the shell transversely to create an opening, whereafter the surfaces of the slit may be bonded together again. The slit may of course be formed in the shell during the moulding of an appropriate platelike insert within the mould cavity.

The framework is advantageously embedded at least mostly if not wholly in the region of the shell which has formed therein characteristics and features of a face. In this way, the framework may serve to retain such distortions or expressions as have been imparted by manipulation to the face of the head.

The outer surface of the finished head will of course normally be coloured or decorated so as to make it simulate some appropriate head, either realistically or grotesquely - and further effects, of either nature, can be imparted by other appropriate means, e.g. by implanting or adhering tufts of hair-like material in the shell or to the external surface thereof. One convenient way of achieving this kind of effect is to incorporate the ends of the simulated hair between two edges of the shell which are bonded together to complete the head.

This invention extends to a toy animal, human or humanoid whenever incorporating a head according to this invention as described above.

By way of example only, certain specific embodiments of this invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wire framework for use in a head of this invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the wire framework of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a moulded head which incorporates the framework of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a head similar to that of Figure 3, but incorporating an alternative form of wire framework.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a wire framework for incorporation within a hollow moulded human or humanoid head. This framework is formed from plastically-deformable aluminium wire of about 2.5 mm diameter. Such wire may be deformed relatively easily to take up any required shape, and moreover may be repeatedly deformed without significant risk of work-hardening and so of fracturing. The framework is constructed from two pieces of such wire, the first piece 10 having its two ends disposed closely adjacent or abutting one another and being enclosed in a sleeve 11 of a plastics material. In the alternative, the two ends may be held closely adjacent one another by means of self-adhesive plastic tape wound around the adjacent ends. The framework part 10 is thus in the form of a loop shaped to define a chin region 12, two cheek regions 13, eye-brow portions 14 and 15 and a nasal bridge portion 16.

A second piece 17 of wire similar to that from which part 10 has its two ends secured to part 10 by means of plastics material sleeves 18, fitted on part 10 and also receiving the ends of piece 17.

Alternatively, self-adhesive plastics material tape could be used for this purpose. The second piece of wire is shaped to define an upper jaw region, of the finished head.

To provide greater security to the fastening together of the two wire parts and also of the two ends of part 10, the plastics material sleeves 11 and 18 fitted to the framework may be made of a heat-shrink plastics material which, when fitted in position, are subjected to an elevated temperature (for example by means of a blast of hot air) so causing the plastics material sleeves to shrink on to the wire and tightly hold the same.

Once the framework has been shaped as described above, it is supported within a mould cavity which defines the outer shape of the head which is to marked.

This may conveniently be achieved by means of fine pins mounted on the inner surface of the mould cavity and projecting inwardly thereof, each pin having a free end portion adapted to receive the wire of the framework.

Typically, four such pins may be provided within a mould cavity for forming a humanoid head. Each such pin may be forked at its free end, whereby the framework may be lightly sprung into the forks of all four pins and so be retained in the required position during the moulding step.

Also mounted within the mould cavity is a body of a generally spherical shape but defining in combination with the inner surface of the mould a gap of some predetermined minimum width in which the material from which the head is to be moulded may be injected.

Though generally spherical, such a body may have a modified shape so as to achieve a generally constant wall thickness for the moulded head. The body may be supported on a single spigot projecting into the mould cavity, from a suitable position having regard to the finished moulded head - for example, generally centrally through the neck region of the finished head.

Figure 3 shows a finished head moulded within a mould cavity as described above, and incorporating a framework as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The head comprises a shell having a wall thickness typically within the range of from 10 to 20 mm, but in view of the facial characteristics possessed by the head, locally the wall thickness may be significantly greater. The head is moulded from a foamed natural or synthetic rubber material using procedures known and understood in the art, and which therefore will not be described in detail here.

As moulded, the shell includes within its thickness, and preferably substantially centrally within its thickness, the wire framework of Figures 1 and 2. In view of the relatively thin wall thickness of the shell, the shell is highly flexible and very easily deformable but is supported by the framework.

That framework is however plastically-deformable and so the finished head may be manipulated in order to impart facial expressions which, when the head is released, will be retained owing to the supporting nature of the framework.

As can be seen, the framework serves to support the lower chin region of the head, the upper jaw region, the cheeks, and the eye-brows and upper nose regions. The framework thus adds stiffness to the highly flexible shell but nevertheless permits the deformation of the shell so as to take up the required expressions.

Also visible in Figure 3 is a join line 20, where the shell had been slit to permit the removal of the body used during the moulding operation. Simulated grotesque hair has been provided on the head by positioning the ends of hair-like strands within the slit, at the time of bonding together the edges of that slit, to create the join line 20.

The head may be finished by decorating with paint as appropriate, having regard to the nature of the head. Though in the drawing there is shown a somewhat grotesque humanoid head, the mould cavity may be configured either more accurately to define a realistic human or animal head, or a wholly imaginary head perhaps of some mythical creature or the like. The colouring, hair or other matter applied or attached to the head should take into account the nature of the head, as moulded.

Figure 4 shows a head similar to that of Figure 3, but incorporating a modified wire framework. In addition to the basic framework incorporated within the head of Figure 3, this modified framework has an additional loop 25 extending within the forehead and top part of the head, to give support to this region of the shell. Also, there is a further piece 26 of wire secured at one of its ends to the main piece 10 within the sleeve 11 and at its other end to the main piece adjacent the nasal bridge portion 16, again by means of a further plastics sleeve. This further piece 26 is shaped to add stiffness to the mouth region of the shell and also to the nose region. The furnishing of this modified framework allows an even greater range of expressions to be set on and retained by the face formed as a part of the head.

Claims (11)

1. A toy or a plaything which comprises an animal, human or humanoid head defined by a relatively thick but easily-deformable hollow moulded shell of a resilient material, which shell is moulded to define certain desired features of a head of an animal, human or humanoid, and within the thickness of said shell there is provided a framework formed of plasticallydeformable wire-like material which framework corresponds in shape to at least some of the major characteristics of the head so as to support the otherwise easily-deformable shell, and which head may be manipulated from outside the shell to deform the framework and thereby ensure that the head tends to retain whatever expression has been imparted to its features by said manipulation.

2. A toy or plaything according to Claim 1, wherein the framework is located substantially equi-distant from the inner and outer surfaces of the shell.

3. A toy or plaything according to Claim 1, wherein the framework is located close to or immediately adjacent the inner surface of the shell.

4. A toy or plaything according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the hollow shell is moulded in two parts of generally comparable surface areas, which parts are subsequent to moulding bonded together to form the complete shell.

5. A toy or plaything according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the shell is moulded in one piece within a mould cavity in which there is supported a body having the required shape of the hollow interior of the shell, which body is subsequently removed from the shell after the moulding thereof by creating an opening in the shell, and thereafter bonding together the surfaces defining the opening.

6. A toy or plaything according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the shell is moulded from a natural or synthetic foamed rubber or elastomeric material.

7. A toy or plaything according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the framework is embedded at least mostly in the region of the shell which has formed therein characteristics and features of a face.

8. A toy or plaything according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the framework comprises at least one piece of aluminium wire formed into a loop.

9. A toy or plaything according to Claim 8, wherein the framework comprises a second piece of aluminium wire the two ends of which are attached to opposed points of said loop defined by the one piece of wire.

10. A toy or plaything according to Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

11. A toy animal, human or humanoid whenever incorporating a head according to any of Claims 1 to 10.