GB2367766A

GB2367766A - Compressible toy figure and container.

Info

Publication number: GB2367766A
Application number: GB0025337A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Casey William Norman
Original assignee: Genie Toys PLC
Current assignee: Genie Toys PLC
Priority date: 2000-10-16
Filing date: 2000-10-16
Publication date: 2002-04-17
Also published as: EP1326690B1; EP1326690A1; GB0025337D0; US20050075041A1; WO2002032532A1; US20030176146A1; US7008289B2

Abstract

A toy comprises an openable container formed from a lid 1 and a base 2, and a hollow moulded elastic three-dimensional representative object 4 arranged to be contained in a compressed condition within the container such that on opening the container the object 4 springs out by assuming its uncompressed shape and size. In a further embodiment, the container is capable of being attached to an identically shaped container and opening of the container causes the adjacently fitted container to open.

Description

A TOY OR NOVELTY ITEM

The present invention relates to a toy or novelty item involving an element of surprise.

A known jack-in-the-box toy comprises a box containing a figure arranged to jump out when the lid of the box is opened. The figure is attached to a spring which forces the figure against the lid. In another known toy, a fabric-covered spring simulating a snake ejects itself from a rigid container on removing the lid.

In these known toys, the manufacture of the sprung figure is labourintensive.

Vending machine capsules are known which are ovoid and comprise two halves attached together by an interference fit.

The present invention provides a toy or novelty item comprising an openable container, and a moulded elastic three-dimensional representative object arranged to be contained in a compressed condition within the container such that on opening the container the object springs out by assuming its uncompressed shape and size.

Preferably, the representative object, which may comprise a human, animal or cartoon figure, is injection moulded, preferably in one piece, from rubber or an elastomeric material such as a styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer or another of the copolymers sold under the trademark"Kraton"by Shell Chemical Co. In a preferred embodiment the representative object is hollow for greater compressibility.

Preferably, the container comprises a lid which is released to open the container. The container may comprise a capsule to which the lid is attached with an interference fit. Alternatively, a releasable catch may be provided for securing

the lid to the container. A spring may be provided for biasing the lid into an open position. The container may comprise a parallelepiped box arranged to be demounted on releasing the lid.

The representative object can be permanently or temporarily attached to the inside of the container. If the object is not attached or is detachable from the container, at least a portion of the container may be capable of forming a plinth on which the object can be stood.

The object may be decorated, for example with paint or varnish. The container may be decorated on its outside and/or its inside, for example by applying stickers.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the container is capable of being attached to an identically shaped container. Such containers can be collected and any number of them can be fitted together in a series. Preferably, opening of one of the containers causes an adjacently fitted container to open as well. Thus, a series of containers will open in sequence.

Whilst the representative object is usually arranged to spring out generally vertically from the container, it may alternatively be arranged to spring out generally laterally A plurality of elastic representative objects may be contained within the container. Additionally, one or more relatively rigid representative objects may be contained within the container, formed integrally with a base, wall or lid of the container and/or arranged to spring out when the container is opened, for example by means of a hinged connection to a wall of the container.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows the container of Figure 1 with an object emerging therefrom ; Figure 3 shows the object of Figure 2 mounted on a plinth formed from the lid of the container; Figure 4 shows a container according to a second embodiment; Figure 5 is a cut-away side perspective view of the container of Figure 4, not showing the representative object; Figure 6 shows the container of Figure 4 in the process of being opened; Figure 7 shows the container of Figure 4 in the opened position with the object extended; Figure 8 shows containers according to a third embodiment; Figure 9 shows the containers of Figure 8 in the process of being opened; Figure 10 shows the containers of Figure 8 in the opened position with their objects extended; and Figure 11 shows a toy according to a fourth embodiment.

Figure 1 shows a container in the form of a capsule, comprising a lid 1 attached to a base 2 with an interference fit. The capsule is moulded from relatively rigid plastics material and can be opaque, clear or tinted. The shape of the capsule allows labels 3 to be affixed.

The capsule contains a monster-like figure 4, shown in Figures 2 and 3, which has been compressed by hand so as to fit inside the capsule. The figure 4 is injection moulded as a hollow body from an elastomeric material and painted.

By squeezing the base 2 of the capsule, the lid 1 is released and the figure 4 is free to pop up as shown in Figure 2, assuming its original shape and size. Surprisingly, the figure 4 has been placed in a smaller space than its volume should allow, due to its elasticity and its hollow nature.

Figure 3 shows how the lid 1 can be fitted over the upturned base to form a plinth on which the figure 4 is stood.

Figures 4 and 5 show an alternative container in the form of a cube-shaped box. Vertical walls 5 of the box are hinged to a base 6 but are not attached to each other. A lid 7 is hinged to the rear wall of the box and engages the other walls.

As shown in Figure 5, a lever 8 is pivoted to the inside of the base 6 at its centre, by means of pegs 9 which extend transversely form the lever and engage in seats 10 (only one of which is shown) on the base 6. The lever 8 extends below an internal floor 11 of the box and an end 12 of the lever protrudes from the rear of the box. An optional coil spring 13, fixed to the base 6, biases the lever 8 such that the end 12 is raised. The other end of the lever 8 is L-shaped and abuts one end of a pivotable cross bar 14, formed integrally with an initially vertical catch lever 15. A catch 16 at the top of the catch lever 15 engages a lip 17 depending from the front edge of the lid 7, and holds the lid closed. The hinge 18 connecting the lid 7 to the rear wall 19 is fitted with a spring (not shown), biasing the lid upwardly.

To open the box, the protruding end 12 of the lever 8 is depressed, as shown in Figure 6, against the action of the spring 13. The other end of the lever moves upwardly, causing the cross bar 14 and the catch lever 15 to pivot. This releases the catch 16 from the lip 17 and the lid 7 opens under the action of the spring at the rear hinge 18. The walls 5 pivot downwardly and the figure 4 is extended as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 8 shows four boxes according to a third embodiment of the invention which have been clipped together using interengageable features (not shown) on

each of the boxes. The interengageable features may for example comprise pegs and slots which engage with slots and pegs respectively on an adjacent box.

As shown in Figure 9, if one of the boxes 20 is opened, so that the contained figure 21 (in this case a pop singer) is extended, the adjacent box 22 is caused to open by the interaction of mechanical components of the boxes. This in turn causes the third box 23 to open, until all of the boxes have opened in sequence, and all of the figures are extended, as shown in Figure 10.

Figure 11 shows an opened box according to a fourth embodiment, in which five elastic representative objects are extended, namely a vampire 24 attached to the base of the box, a ghost 25 attached to a first folded down wall, a hand 26 attached to a second folded down wall, a mummy 27 attached to a third folded down wall and a bat 28 attached to the raised lid. In addition to the elastic representative objects 25,26, 27,28, a number of rigid representative objects 29 are moulded integrally with the base, walls and lid.

Modifications may be made to the specific embodiments of the invention which have been described. For example, the capsule could be a standard ovoid vending machine capsule. The representative object (s) could be any kind of human, animal or imaginary figure or a plant or vehicle etc, or components (such as furniture) of a play set representing the inside of a house, kitchen or other room, garden etc.

In addition to the springing out of the elastic representative object, opening of the container could trigger one or more events, such as music or other sounds, lights, or other motion (for example rotation) of the object.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A toy comprising an openable container, and a moulded elastic threedimensional representative object arranged to be contained in a compressed condition within the container such that on opening the container the object springs out by assuming its uncompressed shape and size.
2. A toy according to claim 1, wherein the representative object comprises a human, animal or cartoon figure.
3. A toy according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the representative object is injection moulded from rubber or an elastomeric material.
4. A toy according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the representative object is moulded in one piece.
5 A toy according to any preceding claim, wherein the representative object is hollow.
6. A toy according to any preceding claim, wherein the container comprises a lid which is released to open the container.
7 A toy according to claim 6, wherein the container comprises a capsule to which the lid is attached with an interference fit.
8. A toy according to claim 6, wherein a releasable catch is provided for securing the lid to the container.
9. A toy according to claim 8, wherein a spring is provided for biasing the lid into an open position.
10. A toy according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the container comprises a parallelepiped box arranged to be demounted on releasing the lid.
11. A toy according to claim 8,9 or 10, wherein the container is capable of being attached to an identically shaped container.
12. A toy according to claim 11, wherein opening of the container causes an adjacently fitted container to open.
13. A toy according to any preceding claim, wherein the representative object is temporarily attached to the inside of the container.
14. A toy according to any preceding claim, wherein at least a portion of the container is capable of forming a plinth on which the object can be stood.
15. A toy according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the representative object is permanently attached to the inside of the container.
16. A toy according to any preceding claim, wherein the object is decorated.
17. A toy according to any preceding claim, wherein the container is decorated on its outside and/or its inside.
18. A toy according to any preceding claim, wherein the representative object is arranged to spring out generally vertically from the container.
19. A toy according to any preceding claim, wherein the representative object is arranged to spring out generally laterally from the container.
20. A toy according to any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of elastic representative objects is contained within the container.
21. A toy according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one relatively rigid representative object is contained within the container.
22. A toy according to claim 21, wherein said at least one relatively rigid representative object is arranged to spring out when the container is opened.
23. A toy or novelty item, substantially as described herein or with reference to Figures 1 to 3, or Figures 4 to 7, or Figures 8 to 10, or Figure 11 of the accompanying drawings.