MX2007015205A - Costume with flexure element - Google Patents

Abstract

A costume may include a flexible garment and a flexure mechanism that is actuatable to expand the form of the garment, such as when a muscle is flexed. The flexible garment may be configured to cover at least a portion of a limb of a humanoid figure, such as a person or doll. The flexure mechanism may be covered by and extend along a portion of the garment. In some examples, a first end of the flexure mechanism may be fixed in position relative to the garment, and a second end moveable relative to the garment and relative to the first end. The flexure mechanism may include an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, with the flexure mechanism being configured to move the intermediate portion laterally toward or away from an articulating member of the limb by movement of the second end of the flexure mechanism.

Description

COSTUME WITH FLEXION ELEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present description refers generally to costumes for children of all ages, and dolls and action figures with articulated joints. Costumes provide people with the opportunity to represent a person of unusual character, the character can be represented by the costume associated with the character. For example, it is popular to wear a costume of a hero or heroine character. An example of such characters is the trademark character Superman, which character is known for its great strength and ability to fly. It is known that the character Superman wears a blue jumpsuit that has a large red "S" on the chest and a red cape. People then, represent the Superman character by wearing a disguise, or part of a costume that is similar to the costume that is known to be wearing superman. Costumes, either for people or dolls, can provide entertainment in the form of a portion of the disguise that can be made to expand and contract, or change shape in another way, such as when a muscle, such as the biceps, flexes. . Examples of devices and devices that can represent muscle bodies or bodies that change shape are described in one or more of the following North American Patents and published applications: 3,731,426; 4,183,927; 4,819,547; 4,977,623; 5,079,778; 5,104,346; 5,205,774; 5,221,222; 5,419,729; 5,474,485; 5,664; 983; 5,747,144; 6,067,892; 6,223,658; 6,568,984; 6,805,606; RE37533; 2002/0026794; 2002/0116741; 2004/0221355; and 2005/0034208. These references are incorporated herein as a reference in their entirety for all purposes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A disguise may include a flexible garment and a flexing mechanism that can be actuated to expand the shape of the garment, such as when flexing a muscle. The flexible garment can be configured to cover at least a portion of an extremity of a humanoid or anthropomorphic figure, such as a person or doll. The flexing mechanism can be covered and extended along a portion of the garment. In some examples, a first end of the bending mechanism can be fixed at a position relative to the garment, and a second end can move relative to the garment and relative to the first end. The bending mechanism may include an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, with the bending mechanism being configured to move the intermediate portion laterally between an extended position in which the The intermediate portion separates a first distance from a line extending between the first and second ends, and a retracted position that is closer to the line extending between the first and second ends than the extended position. Movement between the extended and retracted positions may be associated with the movement of the second end between a distal position spaced a second distance from the first end and a proximal position that is closer to the first end than the distal position.

The described bending mechanism can be used on a joint connecting two structural or articulated members, such as arm or leg members. To allow articulation. When a joint moves, a degree of realism can be represented by a flexing element projecting laterally from one or more of the articulated members, when the members are articulated. For example, the costume may have muscle characteristics corresponding to an action figure, such as the character Superman. The flexing mechanism can act on a garment that covers the flexing mechanism, thereby providing a flexing element in the form of a muscular surface, for example, that represents the biceps area flexing or extending out of the upper arm , when the lower arm moves towards the upper arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an illustration of a figure with a disguise that has a mechanism of flexion in each of the two arms. Fig. 2 is an illustration of a flexure mechanism in an extended arm of a figure. Fig. 3 is an illustration similar to Fig. 2 showing the flexure mechanism in a flexed configuration and the arm in a flexed position. Fig. 4 is a cross section of the bending mechanism of Figs. 1 and 2 in an extended configuration. Fig. 5 is a top view of the bending mechanism of Fig. 4 in an extended configuration. Fig. 6 is a partial cross-sectional and perspective view of the bending mechanism of Fig. 4 in a partially flexed configuration. Fig. 7 is a cross section of the bending mechanism of Fig. 4 in a fully flexed configuration. Fig. 8 is a perspective view from below of the flexure mechanism showing the flexure mechanism in a flexed configuration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Fig. 1 is a sketch of an upper portion of a Figure 20. Figure 20 is preferably a person, but the figure can also be a doll, such as an action figure. Figure 20 may include several members or other appendages 22, such as arms 24 and 26. The arm 24 may include a lower arm member 28, an upper arm member 30, and an elbow joint 32 by means of which they articulate or rotate the members of the arm, such as around a turning axis 34. The lower arm member 30 can move between a flexed position F, shown in solid lines, and an extended position represented by the discontinuous lines E. In the flexed position, the lower arm member may be at a transverse angle A (acute, perpendicular, obtuse) relative to the line or axis of the upper arm member. Although the fully extended position is shown as a reference, a change in angle between any of the two relative positions of the articulated members can be used. One or more bending mechanisms 36 may be included in a disguise 38 having a garment 40 made of a flexible fabric or other material. A bending mechanism can change the apparent dimensions of an articulated member associated with the change in the position of one member of the articulated limb relative to another. In this example, the members of the articulation can be the members of upper and lower arm. The bending mechanism can be assembled or otherwise adapted to function with a change in the elactive positions of the members. For example, the flexion mechanism 36 may represent the expansion of the biceps when the distal end or wrist hand is raised towards the shoulder of the wrist. This corresponds to the relative articulation of the lower arm member from the extended position E to the flexed position F. The garment 40 can be comfortably adapted to the figure, covering the bending mechanism. A flexible garment allows the flexure mechanism to extend, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 1, giving the appearance of a flexed muscle, such as when the arm is in a flexed configuration. An elastic garment can drive the bending mechanism toward a retracted configuration, as represented by the dashed line 42. Other members of articulated limbs of the figure may also have associated bending mechanisms 36. For example, a knee joint connecting an upper leg member to a lower leg member may be associated with a flexing mechanism. When the lower leg moves between an extended position and a flexed position, a bending mechanism placed on the lower leg member can cause the "calf muscle" project laterally Alternatively or additionally, a bending mechanism placed on the back of the upper leg member can cause the hamstring muscles to "appear to project laterally." Bending mechanisms can also be placed on other articulated joints of a figure. structure and function of a bending mechanism 36. In this example, a bending mechanism 36 may include a cap 44 or other structure corresponding to a laterally moving displacement member 46 of an articulated limb member Figure 2 illustrates the flexing element 36 placed on one arm is the garment 40. The garment 40 can be represented by straps, 48 and 50, which support the flexing mechanism on the upper arm 30. The straps can be sewn on the garment fabric or the flexing mechanism can be adhered directly to the disguise key, In a modality in which the arm 24 is part of a wrist, the flexing mechanism can be adhe A structural member of the arm of the wrist, and then covered by a garment. Generally, a disguise may comprise a flexible garment configured to cover at least a portion of an extremity of an anthropomorphic figure, including a joint and a portion of each of the two limbs. the extremity connected by the joint, and a flexing mechanism covered by the garment, the flexing mechanism extending along a portion of the garment, and having a fixed first end in a position relative to the garment, and a second end that can be moved relative to the garment and relative to the first end, the bending mechanism that includes an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, the bending mechanism that is configured to laterally move the intermediate portion. between an extended position in which the intermediate portion separates a first distance from a line extending between the first and second ends, and a retracted position that is closer to the line extending between the first and second ends that the extended position, when the second end moves between a distal position separated a second distance from the first end and a close position that is closer to the first end than the distal position. More specifically, and referring to FIGs. 2 and 3, the flexing mechanism 36 may include a first end 52, a second end 54 and an intermediate portion 56, it is understood that the garment, not shown in these views, extends along and covers the flexing mechanism and the arm of the figure. With the arm extended, as shown in Fig. 2, the first end 52 is fixed in its position on upper arm and second end 54 extends beyond elbow 32 and on lower arm 28. In this extended configuration, the intermediate portion 56 is in a retracted position near the arm and near a line 58 extending between the first and second ends, shown in Fig. 4. In this configuration, the upper part of the intermediate portion is approximately a distance DI from line 58. With the arm retracted and the bending mechanism in the retracted configuration, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the upper portion of the intermediate portion is approximately a distance D2 from line 58. The distance D2 is greater than the distance DI, providing the appearance, when covered with the garment, of an expanded form, such as a flexed muscle. Figure 2 illustrates the bending mechanism in an extended configuration. The bending mechanism 36 may include a joining assembly 60 formed of a plurality of members or bars, such as a base bar 62, an intermediate bar 64, and a pulse bar 66. The base bar 62 can be rotatably connected or otherwise clamped at one end 62a, to the upper arm 30. A second end 62b may have a sleeve, a retainer or other device guide 68, such as a ring that can form a partial or complete ring through which the pulse bar 66 extends, and which allows the bar 66 to slide therethrough. The intermediate bar 64 can be hingedly connected at one end 64a to the bar 62a base by a hinge 70 to rotate about a hinge axis 72. A second end 64b of the bar 64 can be rotatably connected to one end 66a of the driving bar 66 by means of a hinge 74 to rotate about a hinge axis 76. The cover 44 can also be attached to the hinge 72 to rotate about a hinge axis 76. In this example, the bars, 62, 64 and 66 are flat and parallel in general terms to the hinge axes, 72 and 76. Other shapes and bar profiles can also be used. These bars can also be made of a material, such as plastic, metal or wood, that is reasonably rigid to support the cover 44 on the base bar 62 when it moves to and away from the base bar. The hinge 74 may include a pivot pin 78, which extends along the axis of rotation 76. The cover 44 may include a helmet 80 that forms a compartment 82. The supports, 82 and 86, disposed at the opposite ends of the hinge. pin 78 can be fastened to the helmet inside the compartment 82. The supports, 84 and 86 can rotatably support the cover 44 on the pin to rotate on the hinge axis 76. The hinges, 70 and 74, and the guide 68 can allow controlled relative movement of the bars, 62, 63 and 66, in a triangular configuration. When they are in a fully extended position, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the three bars collapses, resting one on top of the other, as shown. More specifically, the intermediate bar 64 and the impulse bar 66 extend generally in alignment on the base bar 62. The intermediate bar has a length that is smaller than the base bar, and the combination of the lengths of the intermediate bar and the impulse bar is greater than the length of the base bar. Consequently, the pulse rod extends through the guide 68 and the free end 66b of the impulse rod extends beyond the guide 68. FIG. 6 shows the coupling assembly 60 in a partially flexed position, in FIG. wherein the impulse bar 66 slides through the guide 68, with the end 66b of the impulse bar moved closer to the guide 68 and the end 62a of the base bar. In this intermediate position, the cover 44, the hinge 74, and the ends, 64b and 66a, of the associated bar are arranged remote from the base bar 62.

FIGs. 3, 7 and 8 show the flexure mechanism in a more fully fixed configuration in which the end 66b of the impulse rod is near or has reached the guide 68. In this configuration, the hinge 74 and the cover 44 are further apart laterally of the base bar 62 and line 58 at a distance of approximately D2. The movement of the end 66b of the bar to the base bar 62 can be provided by the force of the lower arm of the user against the end 66b when the lower arm moves towards the upper arm when bending the arm at the elbow. In an example in which the figure is a doll, this result occurs by the movement of a lower arm member towards an upper arm member. The end 66b, in that case, can actually be fixed to the lower arm member so that it moves with the lower arm member to raise or lower the cover 44 or other displacement element 46. As shown in the figures, the free end 66b of the impulse bar may have a guard or stop 88 in the form of a block attached to the end of the bar. This prevents the end 66b from passing through the guide 68, thereby limiting the travel of the impulse rod. When the process is reversed, that is, the person wearing the disguise moves the arm from the flexed position to the extended position, the bar 66 slides through the guide 68, and hinge 74 and cover 44 return to a position adjacent to base bar 62, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. This return can be achieved under the force of gravity of the bars 64 and 66, as well as the cover 44. This process can be further facilitated by the garment 40 pressing on the cover 44. This can be improved even with a garment that is made of an elastic material that is stretched when the bending mechanism moves from the extended configuration of Fig. 3 to the retracted configuration of Fig. 2. It will be appreciated then, that the disguise described may include a flexible garment including a garment arm configured to cover at least a portion of a person's arm, including the upper arm, the elbow, the lower arm, the arm of the garment that includes a upper arm portion, a portion of the elbow and a portion of the lower arm; and a flexure mechanism arranged and fixed to the arm of the garment, the flexure mechanism including a bar disposed in the upper arm portion of the garment that includes a base bar disposed in the upper arm portion of the garment and having first and second ends, an intermediate bar having a first and second ends and having a length that is shorter than a length of the base member, an impulse bar having first and second ends, a combined length of the intermediate and impulse bars that is longer than the length of the base member, a first hinge that rotatably connects the first end of the base bar with the first end of the intermediate bar , a second hinge which rotatably connects the second end of the intermediate bar with the first end of the impulse bar, a guide attached to the second end of the base bar and forming at least one partial ring through which it is freely extends the impulse bar, with the intermediate and impulse bars extending along the base bar between the base bar and the garment, and the second end of the impulse bar extending beyond the second end of the bar. the base bar passing the portion of the elbow of the garment towards the lower arm portion, and a rounded cover mounted on the second hinge and disposed between the second hinge and the garment, whereby the movement of the impulse member towards the second end of the base member causes the second hinge to move the cover towards the garment and away from the base member. A disguise that has one or more bending mechanisms 36 may also have other related characteristics. For example, a costume may include a breastplate, arm covers and a cloak. When used as part of a doll. The bending mechanism can be attached to the articulated members of a wrist figure, and covered by a cloth, garment, skin or other cover of a "disguise". It is believed that the description defined above encompasses several different inventions with independent utilities. Although each of these inventions has been described in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as described and illustrated herein should not be considered in a limiting sense, since numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and / or properties described herein. When the claims mention "a, a, a" or a "first" element or the equivalent thereof, such claims include one or more such elements, not requiring or excluding two or more such elements. In addition, the ordinal indicators, such as first, second, or third, for the identified elements are used to distinguish between the elements, and do not indicate a required or limited number of such elements, and do not indicate a particular position or order of such elements. unless specifically stated otherwise. The inventions incorporated in the various combinations and subcombinations of characteristics, functions, elements, and / or properties can be claimed through the presentation of the claims in a related application. Such claims, whether they are directed to different inventions or are directed to the same invention, whether in a different, wider, narrower or the same scope, are also considered as included within the subject matter of the present description.

Claims (21)

1. CLAIMS 1. A disguise characterized in that it comprises: a flexible garment configured to cover at least a portion of an extremity of an anthropomorphic figure, which includes a joint and a portion of each of the two limbs of the limb connected by the joint; and a bending mechanism covered by the garment, the flexing mechanism extending along a portion of the garment, and having a fixed first end in the position relative to the garment, and a second end that can be moving relative to the garment and in relation to the first end, the bending mechanism including an intermediate portion between the first and the second ends, the bending mechanism which is configured to move the intermediate portion laterally between an extended position in which the intermediate portion separates a first distance from a line extending between the first and second ends, and a retracted position that is closer to the line extending between the first and second ends than the extended position, when the the second end moves between a distal position spaced a second distance from the first end and a proximal position that is closer to the first end that the Distal position.
2. 2. The disguise of claim 1, characterized in that the bending mechanism further includes a cover between the intermediate portion and the garment.
3. 3. The disguise of claim 2, characterized in that the cover is mounted rotatably in the intermediate portion.
4. 4. The disguise of claim 2, characterized in that the cover is elastic.
5. 5. The disguise of claim 2, characterized in that the cover forms a partial compartment and the intermediate portion extends within the compartment. The disguise of claim 1, characterized in that the bending mechanism includes a first member having the first end and a third end, a second member having the second end and a fourth end, and a first hinge that engages the first and fourth ends, the intermediate portion including the hinge and the third and fourth ends, and the first and second members that rotate about the hinge as the second end moves between the distal and proximal positions. The disguise of claim 6, characterized in that the flexing mechanism includes a third member and a second hinge that engages a fifth end of the third member with the first end of the first member, the third member that includes a sixth end that is extends adjacent to the second member, the bending mechanism further including a retaining device attached to the sixth end of the third member, the retaining device that retracts the second member adjacent to the sixth end of the third member when the second end of the second member moves between the members. Distal and proximal positions. The disguise of claim 7, characterized in that the retaining device includes a ring that extends at least partially around the second member. 9. The disguise of claim 9, characterized in that the ring forms a complete ring through which the second member passes. The disguise of claim 7, characterized in that the first, second and third members are substantially rigid. The disguise of claim 10, characterized in that the first and second hinges rotate about parallel axes of rotation, and the first, second and third members are flat and extend in respective planes that are parallel to the axes. rotation. The disguise of claim 1, characterized in that the garment is elastic and urges the intermediate portion of the bending mechanism toward the retracted position. 13. The disguise of claim 1, characterized in that the figure is a person and the garment is configured to cover at least a portion of the limbs of the person including a joint and a portion of each of the two limbs joined by the joints, the bending mechanism that joins the garment. 14. The disguise of claim 1, characterized in that the figure is a doll. 15. The disguise of claim 4, characterized in that the bending mechanism is attached to at least one of the limb members. The disguise of claim 15, characterized in that the second end of the bending mechanism moves between the distal position and the proximal position with the movement of the other limb member on the joint. A disguise, characterized in that it comprises: a flexible garment including an arm of the garment configured to cover at least a portion of an arm of a person, which includes an upper arm, the elbow the lower arm, the arm of the garment that includes a portion of upper arm, a portion of the elbow and a portion of the lower arm; and a bending mechanism arranged and attached to the arm of the garment, the bending mechanism that includes a base bar disposed in the upper arm portion of the garment and having a first and a second end, an intermediate bar having a first and a second end and having a length that is shorter than a length of the base member , an impulse bar having a first and a second end, a combined length of the intermediate and impulse bars that is longer than the length of the base member, a first hinge that rotatably connects the first end of the base bar with the first end of the intermediate bar, a second hinge which rotatably connects the second end of the intermediate bar with the first end of the impulse bar, a guide connected to the second end of the base bar and forming at least one partial ring through which the impulse bar extends freely, with the intermediate and impulse bars extending along the base bar between the base bar and the garment, and the sec an end of the impulse bar extending beyond the second end of the base bar past the elbow portion of the garment into the lower arm portion, and a rounded cover mounted on the second hinge and disposed between the second hinge and the garment, with which the movement of the second end of the drive member toward the second end of the base member causes the second hinge to move the cover toward the garment and away from the base member. The disguise of claim 17, characterized in that the cover forms a partial compartment and the second hinge is arranged in the partial compartment. 19. The disguise of claim 17, characterized in that the base and intermediate bars are substantially planar and rigid. The disguise of claim 19, characterized in that the first and second hinges rotate about parallel axes of rotation, and the base, intermediate and pulse bars are flat and extend in respective planes that are parallel to the axes. rotation. 21. The disguise of claim 17, characterized in that the garment is elastic and urges the cover toward the base bar.