GB2324481A

GB2324481A - Toy figure

Info

Publication number: GB2324481A
Application number: GB9708399A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henry Chan
Original assignee: TOY ISLAND MANUFACTURING COMPA
Current assignee: TOY ISLAND MANUFACTURING COMPA
Priority date: 1997-04-24
Filing date: 1997-04-24
Publication date: 1998-10-28
Also published as: GB9708399D0

Abstract

A toy figure of human form comprises a body 10, two arms, two legs and a head 12 or 14. Different sets of arms and legs are provided to transform the appearance of the toy. At least two different heads (12-14, Figures 3 and 4) are provided each releasably engageable with a neck part of the body 10 and each being adapted to activate a different response from the body portion. The response may comprise an audible or visual response provided by a battery powered member contained within the body. The neck part may include buttons 28,30, one or the other of which being engageable with operating surface 22 or (24) of the head to effect the audible or visual response.

Description

This invention relates to a child's toy in the form of a figure, which may be of human, animal or abstract form, and which is transformable into different appearances.

In accordance with the broadest aspect of the invention there is provided a toy figure comprising a body portion and a plurality of body elements, said body portion providing a connection means for the selective releasable engagement therewith of each of said body elements in such manner that each said body element is cooperable with the body portion to activate a response from the body portion, one of said body elements activating a different response to that activated by another said body element.

The connection means may comprise a socket having a plurality of activating members therein each engageable by a part of a said body element when a said body element is engaged with said connection means and preferably each of said activating members is operable by inward movement of a said body element relative to said body portion.

The inner end of the said body element conveniently comprises an operating surface and each of said activated members may conveniently comprise a button member releasably biassed outwardly of said body portion and moveable inwardly relative to said body portion to activate said response, the operating surface of each said body element being located, when said element is engaged with said connection means, to abut a different respective button member thereby to activate a different response from the body portion.

The said plurality of body elements conveniently comprises a set of heads for the body portion and the figure conveniently also includes a set of limbs each releasably engageable with said body portion.

The said response may comprise an audible response provided by a battery powered voice member contained within said body portion.

Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description given herein solely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a body and head of a toy figure, Figure 2 is a cross sectional view through the neck part of the body, Figures 3 and 4 are diagrammatic front views of two heads for engagement with the body.

As mentioned above, the invention in its broadest form contemplates a toy figure having a body portion and a plurality of body elements wherein the figure may be of human, animal or abstract form. In the specific example of the invention illustrated in the drawings the toy figure is of human form comprising a body 10, two arms (not shown), two legs (not shown) and a head 12-14. Each of the arms and legs is releasably engageable with the body 10 at an inner end of each respective limb by a ball and socket connection. The body and limbs are conveniently formed of a resilient plastics material whereby a ball portion 16 at the arm and leg locations on the body may be releasably engaged within a socket at the inner end of a respective arm or leg of a slightly smaller diameter than that of the ball portion.

As illustrated, the toy figure has two heads 1 2 and 14 also formed of a plastics material each of which is releasably engageable with a neck part of the body 10 comprising a socket 1 8 having a circular upper aperture. The lower part of each head 1 2 and 14 comprises a neck part 20 and a lower stepped face providing an operating surface 22 and 24 respectively and a neutral surface 26. The overall diameter of the neck part 20 of each head is slightly greater than that of the aperture of the socket 1 8 whereby each head may be releasably engaged within the socket. The respective operating surfaces 22 and 24 of the two heads 1 2 and 14 are arranged on respective opposite sides of a centre line whereby the operating surface 22 of the head 1 2 is locatable adjacent one side of the socket 1 8 and the operating surface 24 of the other head 14 is locatable adjacent the diametrically opposite side of the socket.

A pair of spaced apart resiliently outwardly biassed buttons 28-30 are located in a base part of the socket 1 8 whereby, dependent on which head 1 2 or 1 4 is fitted into the socket, one of the buttons 28 or 30 will be engageable with an operating surface 22 or 24 of the head. Inward movement of the head 1 2 or 1 4 relative to the body 10 will cause the respective operating surface of the head to engage a button 28 or 30 and press it inwardly against its spring bias thereby to activate a response from the body.

The response may comprise an audible or visual response provided by a battery powered member contained within the body 10. Thus for example each of the two buttons 28-30 may be operated by inward movement of a respective head 1 2-1 4 to activate a different audible message from a voice member contained in the body.

The toy figure may also include other toy elements such as guns, swords etc. (not shown) releasably engageable for example with hand portions of the arms, and armour engageable over the shoulder parts of the body. The toy as a whole may comprise several sets of arms and legs of differing size, configuration and appearance each of which is releasably engageable with a respective arm or leg location on the body generally in the manner hereinbefore described.

It will also be appreciated that more than two heads may be provided each cooperable with a different activating member to activate a different response. For example, four heads may be provided each having a lower operating surface offset from the other for operable engagement with a respective one of four activating buttons in the same general manner as described above. Each activating button may operate to activate a different audio or visual response from the body.

Claims

CLAIMS:-

1. A toy figure comprising a body portion and a plurality of body elements, said body portion providing a connection means for the selective releasable engagement therewith of each of said body elements in such manner that each said body element is co-operable with the body portion to activate a response from the body portion, one of said body elements activating a different response to that activated by another said body element.

2. A toy figure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connection means comprises a socket having a plurality of activating members therein each engageable by a part of a said body element when a said body element is engaged with said connection means.

3. A toy figure as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said activating members is activated by inward movement of a said body element relative to said body portion.

4. A toy figure as claimed in claim 3 wherein the inner end of the said body element comprises an operating surface and each of said activating members comprises a button member releasably biassed outwardly of said body portion and moveable inwardly relative to said body portion to activate said response, the operating surface of each said body element being located, when said element is engaged with said connection means, to abut a different respective button member thereby to activate a different response from the body portion.

5. A toy figure as claimed in any one of claims 1-4 wherein said plurality of body elements comprises a set of heads for the body portion.

6. A toy figure as claimed in claim 5 including a set of limbs each releasably engageable with said body portion.

7. A toy figure as claimed in any one of claims 1-6 wherein said response comprises an audible response provided by a battery powered voice member contained within said body portion.

8. A toy figure constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.