US20170106302A1

US20170106302A1 - Toy Figure with Articulating Limbs and Body

Info

Publication number: US20170106302A1
Application number: US15/390,583
Authority: US
Inventors: Peter John Cummings; Steven Edward Walterscheid
Original assignee: KMA Concepts Ltd
Current assignee: KMA Concepts Ltd
Priority date: 2015-01-16
Filing date: 2016-12-26
Publication date: 2017-04-20

Abstract

A posable toy figure having a body, a head, and limbs that are held together by at least one elastic cord. The limbs are comprised of limb pieces that are also held together by the elastic cords. Each limb has multiple flat contact surfaces. Each limb is biased against the body at an abutment joint. Each limb is selectively moveable about the abutment joint into one of a few stable orientations relative the body. In each of the different stable orientations, a different one of the flat contact surfaces of a limb abuts against the body. Limb pieces create secondary abutment joints that enable the limbs to be configured into different stable poses. This provides the toy figure with a large, yet limited, number of posable configurations. The various posable configurations are readily indexed and can be easily repeated.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 14/658,124 filed Mar. 13, 2015, which claims the priority of China Utility Model No. 201520030232.1 filed Jan. 16, 2015.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to toy figures that have articulating body parts that can be selectively posed by a user. More particularly, the present invention relates to toy figures that have body parts that are held together by elastic elements that pass through the body parts and bias the body parts together.
2. Prior Art Description
There exist many toy figures that have articulating limbs, heads, and other body parts. This enables the toy figure to be posed into a variety of different positions. Toy figures that can articulate typically require the presence of joints on the legs, neck, and body that can move. Over the years many joint configurations for dolls and other toy figures have been developed. Toy joint configurations generally have two problem areas. Either they are complex joints that are difficult and expensive to manufacture, or they are simple joints that provide a limited range of movement.
One of the most successful joint configurations for a toy figure is a compromise between complexity and range of motion. For over a century, toy figures have been manufactured with simple ball and socket joints between various body parts. However, the ball and socket do not mechanically interconnect. Rather, the various body parts are held together by internal elastic cords that extend through the limbs and the body of the toy figure. The elastic cords bias the various body parts toward one another. As such, the ball and socket joints are in tension with the ball being biased into the socket. Popular toys, like the original G.I. Joe® action figures, were made in such a manner throughout the 1960's and 1970's. Early examples of such joint construction in a toy figure can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 1,091,944 to Meier, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,618,896 to Herzog.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,148 to Heinz shows a toy system where identical blocks are interconnected by an internal elastic cord. The blocks can be configured into many structures, including that of a humanoid character. However, the humanoid character looks like it is made of blocks, wherein it lacks the proportions between limbs and body that provide a character with realistic proportions.
Toy figures with realistic proportions and internal elastic cords exist in the prior art record. However, they do have certain limitations. Prior art toy figures tend to have rounded joints with parts that appear mostly anatomically correct. The tension provided by the internal elastic cords biases the joints together. The tension provided by the elastic cords also tends to bias the limbs into a straight alignment. Thus, although a limb can be manually manipulated into various poses, the limbs tend to return to a straight configuration once left on their own.
In many toys, unfettered movement of the limbs is preferred. This is especially true with toy figures whose play value is tied to their ability to be posed. Many such posable toy figures have suction cups or magnets on their limbs so they can be wildly posed on a window or other flat surface. Such prior art figures are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 2,219,130 to Herrman and U.S. Pat. No. 4,235,041 to Sweet. In such posable toys, the ability to pose the toy is so important that flexible limbs are used in place of rigid limbs with joints. The flexible limbs are made from coil springs, elastomeric material, or some other structure that can be readily manipulated into a nearly infinite number of different configurations.
Although the ability to configure the limb of a toy into an infinite number of positions may seem useful in a posable toy, this is not always the case. Many smart phones sold today can run video production software that makes it easy to create a stop action video from a series of photographs. In order to create a stop action video using a posable figure, a person needs to pose the figure into a number of repeatable stable positions. If a toy has flexible limbs, it is very difficult to move the limbs incrementally without otherwise disturbing the pose of the toy. Furthermore, it is nearly impossible to return a limb to the exact same position it once occupied in a previous picture. As a result, the production of stop action scenes becomes labor intensive and unappealing to a person who may want to use a smart phone application to produce a short stop action scene.
The Applicant has developed a toy figure that is very easy to move incrementally and to return the figure to previous poses. The improved toy figure has a configuration that makes it stable in a large, yet limited, number of poses. The result is a toy character that is extremely well suited for use in creating stop action video sequences. The improved toy figure is described and claimed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a posable toy figure. More particularly, the toy figure has arms, legs and a head that can be manipulated into a large, but limited, number of stable positions. The arms and legs have limb pieces that abut against the body of the figure. Each limb piece has four flat side surfaces that extend between a first end and an opposite second end. Each limb piece has a central axis that extends through the limb piece from the first end to the second end.
The four flat side surfaces include a first flat side surface of a first length and a second flat side surface of a different second length. The first end has a partial bevel that provides the first end with a first flat end surface that is perpendicular to the central axis and a second flat end surface that is inclined relative to the central axis.
A slot is formed in the first end that extends from the first flat side surface to the second flat end surface. The slot crosses the central axis.
Elastic elements are provided that bias the first end of the limb pieces against the body. The slots in the limb elements allow for the presence of the elastic elements only when a slotted surface of the limb element is in stable abutment with the body of the figure. This provides the limb elements with a limited number of stable positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a toy figure shown with limbs extended within an imaginary circle;

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the exemplary embodiment of the toy figure;

FIG. 3 is a fragmented perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an arm-to-body abutment joint;

FIG. 4 is a fragmented perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the arm-to-body abutment joint used in a first stable configuration;

FIG. 5 is a fragmented perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the arm-to-body abutment joint used in a second stable configuration;

FIG. 6 is a fragmented perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the arm-to-body abutment joint used in a third stable configuration;

FIG. 7 is a fragmented view of the body and head of the toy figure;

FIG. 8 is a fragmented perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a leg-to-body abutment joint;

FIG. 9 is a fragmented perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the leg-to-body abutment joint used in a first stable configuration;

FIG. 10 is a fragmented perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the leg-to-body abutment joint used in a second stable configuration;

FIG. 11 is a fragmented perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the leg-to-body abutment joint used in a third stable configuration;

FIG. 12 shows an alternate configuration of the toy figure;

FIG. 13 shows an alternate configuration of the toy figure; and

FIG. 14 shows an alternate configuration of the toy figure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the present invention toy figure can be embodied in many ways, the embodiments illustrated show the toy figure configured both as a humanoid figure and as an animal figure. These embodiments set forth some of the best modes contemplated for the invention. The illustrated embodiments, however, are merely exemplary and should not be considered limitations when interpreting the scope of the claims. Alternate embodiments, configured into other figure shapes, are intended to be included in the protection provided by the claims.
Referring to FIG. 1, in conjunction with FIG. 2, a toy FIG. 10 is shown. The toy FIG. 10 has a body 12, a head 14, arms 15, and legs 16 that can be articulated through a wide range of posed positions. The body 12, arms 15 and legs 16 are all made of parts that are polyhedrals. As such, the parts are comprised of flat surfaces. Stable poses can be achieved in the toy FIG. 10 when certain flat surfaces are biased together along abutment joints.
The body 12 is comprised of a polyhedral torso piece 20 and a polyhedral pelvic piece 18 that can be vertically aligned. The toy FIG. 10 is dimensioned similar to a Vitruvian man. That is, from a center point Cp within the pelvic piece 18 of the body 12, the head 14, arms 15, and legs 16 terminate along a common circle 21 when fully extended. The center point Cp is at the center of the common circle 21. The preferred diameter of the circle 21 is between 7 cm and 11 cm with a preferred diameter of approximately 9 cm.
The body 12, head 14, arms 15 and legs 16 are interconnected by three elastic cords, which are the body cord 22, the arm cord 23, and the leg cord 24. The three elastic cords 22, 23, 24 bias all the parts of the toy FIG. 10 together. Where any two parts abut, an abutment joint is created between at least two flat surfaces. In regard to the limbs, there are four limb-to-body abutment joints in the toy FIG. 10. The four abutment joints include two arm-to-body abutment joints 30 and two leg-to-body abutment joints 80, as will be explained below in more detail.
Referring to FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIG. 2, the structure of an arm-to-body abutment joint 30 is explained. Each arm 15 includes an arm piece 32 that is biased against the body 12 by the elastic arm cord 23. The arm piece 32 is a polyhedral, having four flat side surfaces 33, 34, 35, 36 that run the length of the arm piece 32. The four flat side surfaces 33, 34, 35, 36 extend between a first end 40 and a second end 39. The arm piece 32 has a central axis 43 that extends from the center of the first end 40 to the center of the second end 39.
The first end 40 of the arm piece 32 is biased against the body 12 by the elastic arm cord 23. A single cord slot 38 is formed in the first end 40 of the arm piece 32. The cord slot 38 extends across the first end 40 from the first flat side surface 33 to the longer third flat side surface 35. The cord slot 38 passes over the central axis 43. The cord slot 38 is at least as deep and as wide as the diameter of the elastic arm cord 23 that is present. The elastic arm cord 23 enters the arm piece 32 through a hole 41 in the center of the cord slot 38. The hole 41 is aligned with the central axis 43. Accordingly, the elastic arm cord 23 enters the arm piece 32 along its central axis 43.
The first end 40 of the arm piece 32 has a beveled corner and is, therefore, partially beveled. Due to the bevel, the first flat side surface 33 of the arm piece 32 is shorter than the opposite third flat side surface 35. The adjacent second and fourth flat side surfaces 34, 36 have the same length and shape, but are mirror images of each other. The cord slot 38 extends across the bevel. The presence of the cord slot 38 and the bevel creates two sets of flat end surfaces at the first end 40. The first set of end surfaces 42 are coplanar and are oriented at a perpendicular to the central axis 43 of the arm piece 32. The second set of end surfaces 44 extend from the first flat side surface 33 to the first set of end surfaces 42. Accordingly, the second set of end surfaces 44 are inclined relative both the first flat side surface 33 and the central axis 43.
The shape of the first end 40 of the arm piece 32 and the location of the cord slot 38 enables the overall arm-to-body abutment joint 30 to have three stable configurations. Referring to FIG. 4 in conjunction with FIG. 3, it can be seen that in a first stable configuration, the arm piece 32 is oriented so that the first set of end surfaces 42 abut against the torso piece 20. In this orientation, the elastic arm cord 23 extends straight out of the torso piece 20 and through the arm piece 32 along a horizontal axis 45 that is perpendicular to the vertical side of the torso piece 20. The first set of end surfaces 42 are biased against the torso piece 20 by the elastic nature of the elastic arm cord 23, wherein the arm piece 32 remains in place due to the friction between the arm piece 32 and the torso piece 20. Since the arm piece 32 and the torso piece 20 are only joined by the elastic arm cord 23, it will be understood that the arm piece 32 is free to rotate 360 degrees around the axis 45 while maintaining abutment with the torso piece 20. This is indicated by rotation arrow 47.
Referring to FIG. 5 in conjunction with FIG. 3, it can be seen that in a second stable configuration, the arm piece 32 is oriented so that the second set of end surfaces 44 abut against the torso piece 20. In this orientation, the elastic arm cord 23 extends straight out of the torso piece 20 and bends at an angle within the cord slot 38. The cord slot 38 extends through the second set of end surfaces 44, therein providing room for the elastic arm cord 23. This prevents the presence of the elastic arm cord 23 from interfering with the abutment. The angle between the arm piece 32 and the torso piece 20 is equal to the angle created by the bevel. The second set of end surfaces 44 is biased against the torso piece 20 by the elastic nature of the elastic arm cord 23, wherein the arm piece 32 remains in place due to the friction between the arm piece 32 and the torso piece 20. Since the arm piece 32 and the torso piece 20 are only joined by the elastic arm cord 23, it will be understood that the arm piece 32 is free to rotate 360 degrees around the abutment joint while maintaining abutment with the torso piece 20. This is indicated by rotation arrow 48.
Referring to FIG. 6 in conjunction with FIG. 3, it can be seen that in its third stable configuration, the arm piece 32 is oriented so that the third flat side surface 35 abuts against the torso piece 20. The third flat side surface 35 is the only side surface that is slotted by the cord slot 38. Accordingly, it is the only side surface that can lay flush against the torso piece 20 without creating a hard bend in the elastic arm cord 23. Rather, due to the cord slot 38, the elastic arm cord 23 extends straight out of the torso piece 20 and bends within the cord slot 38. The third flat side surface 35 is biased against the torso piece 20 by the elastic nature of the elastic arm cord 23, wherein the arm piece 32 remains in place due to the friction between the arm piece 32 and the torso piece 20. Since the arm piece 32 and the torso piece 20 are only joined by the elastic arm cord 23, it will be understood that the arm piece 32 is free to rotate 360 degrees around the abutment joint while maintaining abutment with the torso piece 20. This is indicated by rotation arrow 49.
In the three configurations of FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the arm piece 32 is biased in abutment with the torso piece 20 in a manner that is physically stable. That is, two flat surfaces are in flush abutment without interference from the elastic arm cord 23 and without creating a hard bend in the elastic arm cord 23. Accordingly, the arm piece 32 will remain in place and will not drift or twist due to the forces applied by the elastic arm cord 23. Any attempt to abut the arm piece 32 to the torso piece 20 in a different configuration would lead to an unstable condition that would inevitably cause the arm piece 32 to revert back to one of the three stable configurations due to the bias of the elastic arm cord 23.
Referring to FIG. 7 in conjunction with FIG. 2, it can be seen that the torso piece 20 is the longest component of the toy FIG. 10. The torso piece 20 is generally shaped as a cuboid. The torso piece 20 has a front surface 51 and an opposite rear surface 53. The front surface 51 and the rear surface 53 have a width W1 and a length L1. The length L1 of the front surface 51 and rear surface 53 is at least as long as the thickness T1 of the pelvic piece 18 and the thickness T2 of the head 14 combined. As such, both the pelvic piece 18 and the head 14 can be rotated onto the front surface 51 or the rear surface 53 without the pelvic piece 18 and the head 14 interfering with each other.
The pelvic piece 18 has a flat top surface 56, a flat bottom surface 58, a flat front surface 60, and a flat rear surface 62. The front surface 60 and the rear surface 62 of the pelvic piece 18 are T-shaped, having a wide section 64 and a narrow section 66. This provides the pelvic piece 18 with two stepped side surfaces 68, wherein a ledge 70 is formed on each of the stepped side surfaces 68 at the transition between the wide section 64 and the narrow section 66. The T-shape creates reliefs 72 indented below the ledge 70.
Referring to FIG. 8 in conjunction with FIG. 7, the structure of a leg-to-body abutment joint 80 is explained. Each leg includes a leg piece 82 that is biased against the pelvic piece 18 by the elastic leg cord 24. The leg piece 82 is a polyhedral, having four flat side surfaces 83, 84, 85, 86 that run the length of the leg piece 82. The four flat side surfaces 83, 84, 85, 86 terminate at a first end 90. It is the first end 90 of the leg piece 82 that is biased against the stepped side surface 68 within the relief 72 by the elastic leg cord 24. A single cord slot 88 is formed in the first end 90 of the leg piece 82. The cord slot 88 extends across the first end 90 from the first flat side surface 83 to the longer third flat side surface 85. The cord slot 88 is at least as deep and as wide as the diameter of the elastic leg cord 24 that is present. The elastic leg cord 24 enters the leg piece 82 through a hole 91 in the center of the cord slot 88.
The first end 90 of the arm piece 82 is partially beveled. Consequently, the first flat side surface 83 of the leg piece 82 is shorter than the opposite third flat side surface 85. The adjacent second and fourth flat side pieces 84, 86 have the same length and shape. The presence of the cord slot 88 and the bevel creates two sets of flat end surfaces at the first end 90. The first set of end surfaces 92 are coplanar and are oriented at, or near, a perpendicular to the central axis 93 of the leg piece 82. The second set of end surfaces 94 extend from the first flat side surface 83 to the first set of end surfaces 92. Accordingly, the second set of end surfaces 94 are inclined at an obtuse angle relative both the central axis 93 and the first set of end surfaces 92.
The shape of the first end 90 of the arm piece 82 and the location of the cord slot 88 enables the overall leg-to-body abutment joint 80 to have three primary configurations. Referring to FIG. 9 in conjunction with FIG. 8, it can be seen that in a first primary configuration, the leg piece 82 is oriented so that the first set of end surfaces 92 abuts against the stepped side surface 68 in the relief 72 under the ledge 70. The leg piece 82 touches the ledge 70 and is guided straight by the ledge 70. In this orientation, the elastic leg cord 24 extends straight out of the pelvic piece 18 and through the leg piece 82 along a straight axis 95. The first set of end surfaces 92 are biased against the pelvic piece 18 by the elastic nature of the elastic leg cord 24, wherein the leg piece 82 remains in place due to friction and contact with the ledge 70. Since the leg piece 82 and the pelvic piece 18 are only joined by the elastic leg cord 24, it will be understood that the leg piece 82 is free to rotate 360 degrees around the axis 95 while maintaining abutment with the pelvic piece 18. This is indicated by rotation arrow 97.
However, the leg piece 82 contacts the ledge 70, wherein the ledge 70 acts as a guide. The guidance of the ledge 70 makes the leg piece 82 easy to turn in 90-degree increments. That is because in the 90-degree increments the leg piece 82 is a flat surface that runs along the full length of the ledge 70.
Referring to FIG. 10 in conjunction with FIG. 8, it can be seen that in its second primary configuration, the leg piece 82 is oriented so that the second set of end surfaces 94 abut against the pelvic piece 18. The presence of the cord slot 88 prevents interference from the elastic leg cord 24. In this orientation, the elastic leg cord 24 extends straight out of the pelvic piece 18 and bends at an angle within the cord slot 38. The angle between the leg piece 82 and the pelvic piece 18 is equal to the angle created by the bevel. The second set of end surfaces 94 are biased against the pelvic piece 18 by the elastic nature of the elastic leg cord 24, wherein the leg piece 82 remains in place due to the friction between the leg piece 82 and the pelvic piece 18. Since the leg piece 82 and the pelvic piece 18 are only joined by the elastic leg cord 24, it will be understood that the leg piece 82 is free to rotate while maintaining in abutment with the pelvic piece 18. However, the leg piece 82 contacts the ledge 70, wherein the ledge 70 acts as a guide. The guidance of the ledge 70 makes the leg piece 82 easy to turn in 90-degree increments. That is because in the 90-degree increments the leg piece 82 is a flat surface that runs along the full length of the ledge 70.
Referring to FIG. 11 in conjunction with FIG. 8, it can be seen that in its third primary configuration, the leg piece 82 is oriented so that the third flat side surface 85 abuts against the pelvic piece 18. In this orientation, the elastic leg cord 24 extends straight out of the pelvic piece 18 and bends at a right angle within the cord slot 88. The third flat side surface 85 is biased against the pelvic piece 18 by the elastic nature of the elastic leg cord 24, wherein the leg piece 82 remains in place due to the friction between the leg piece 82 and the pelvic piece 18.
In the figures previously referenced, the arms and legs contain multiple pieces. More particularly, the arms 15 contain the first arm piece 32, a lower arm piece 25 and an end termination 28. See FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Likewise, the legs 16 contain the first leg piece 82, a lower leg piece 89 and an end termination 28. This need not be the case. Referring to FIG. 12, an alternate embodiment of the toy FIG. 100 is shown. In this embodiment, the toy FIG. 100 is configured as an animal. The toy FIG. 100 has a body 102 that is unistructural and not divided between a torso piece and a pelvic piece. The toy FIG. 100 has arm pieces 32 and leg pieces 82, such as those previously described. As such, the same reference numbers are used to identify the same pieces. Both the arm piece 32 and the leg piece 82 have a partially beveled corner so that these pieces can engage the body 102 in the manner previously explained with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 for the arms and FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 for the legs. In this embodiment, both the arm piece 32 and the leg piece 82 terminate directly with the suction cup end terminations 28.
Referring to FIG. 13 another embodiment of a toy FIG. 110 is shown. This embodiment is a hybrid. The arms of the toy FIG. 110 have a first arm piece 32 and a lower arm piece 26. The legs only have the first leg piece 82. The first arm piece 32 and the first leg piece 82 are the same as previously described. Both have a beveled corner at one end and engage the body 112 of the toy FIG. 110 in the same manner as was previously described.
Referring to FIG. 14, another embodiment of the toy FIG. 120 is shown. This embodiment has a body 122 that is divided into a torso piece 124 and a pelvic piece 126. The toy FIG. 120 is shown to demonstrate that the torso piece 124 can have a complex shape and need not be a cuboid. Rather, the torso piece 124 can have any shape provided that the torso piece 124 has a flat side surface 126 against which the beveled end of the arm piece 32 can be biased.
In the figures, the arms and legs terminate with suction cups. This enables the arms and legs to attach to smooth objects, such as glass and flat countertops. Alternate end terminations, such as magnets or pads of tacky gel can be used. This would enable the toy figure to stick to metal or to other objects, such as walls, that may be too uneven for suction cups.
It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that are illustrated and described are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to those embodiments. For instance, the toy figure can be configured as an animal, a doll or some other character other than the toy figures illustrated. All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A posable toy figure, comprising:

a body;

an arm piece having four flat side surfaces that extend between a first end and an opposite second end, said arm piece having a central axis that extends through said arm piece from said first end to said second end,

wherein said four flat side surfaces include a first flat side surface of a first length and a second flat side surface of a different second length;

wherein said first end has a partial bevel that provides said first end with a first flat end surface that is perpendicular to said central axis and a second flat end surface that is inclined relative to said central axis;

a slot formed in said first end that extends from said first flat side surface to said second flat side surface, wherein said slot crosses said central axis;

an elastic element that biases said first end of said arm piece against said body, wherein said elastic element extends into said arm piece in said slot on said first end of said arm piece along said central axis.

2. The toy figure according to claim 1, further including a second arm piece, wherein said elastic element extends through said arm piece and engages said second arm piece, therein biasing said second arm piece against said second end of said arm piece.

3. The toy figure according to claim 2, wherein said second end of said arm piece is slotted.

4. The toy figure according to claim 1, wherein said arm piece is adjustable to cause a different surface of said arm element to be in stable contact with said body under bias from said elastic element, wherein said different surface is selected from a group consisting of said first flat side surface, said first flat end surface and said second flat end surface.

5. The toy figure according to claim 1, further including a head that is biased against said body by a second elastic element.

6. The toy figure according to claim 5, further including at least one leg that is biased against said body by a third elastic element.

7. The toy figure according to claim 6, wherein said body includes a torso piece and a pelvic piece that are joined together by said second elastic element.

8. The toy figure according to claim 7, wherein said head, said arm piece, and said at least one leg all terminate along a common circular path, wherein said circular path is centered around a point on said pelvic piece.

9. A posable toy figure, comprising:

a body;

a leg piece having four flat side surfaces that extend between a first end and an opposite second end, said leg piece having a central axis that extends through said leg piece from said first end to said second end,

an elastic element that biases said first end of said leg piece against said body, wherein said elastic element extends into said leg piece in said slot on said first end of said leg piece along said central axis.

10. The toy figure according to claim 9, wherein said body includes a pelvic piece with a leg relief, wherein said leg piece is biased against said pelvic piece in said leg relief.

11. The toy figure according to claim 10, wherein said leg relief is defined, in part, by a ledge on said pelvic piece, wherein said leg piece contacts said ledge and said ledge orients said leg element.

12. The toy figure according to claim 9, further including a second leg piece, wherein said elastic element extends through said leg piece and engages said second leg piece, therein biasing said second leg piece against said second end of said leg piece.

13. The toy figure according to claim 12, wherein said second end of said leg piece is slotted.

14. The toy figure according to claim 9, wherein said leg element is adjustable to cause a different surface of said leg element to be in stable contact with said body under bias from said elastic element, wherein said different surface is selected from a group consisting of said first flat side surface, said first flat end surface and said second flat end surface.

15. The toy figure according to claim 9, further including a head that is biased against said body by a second elastic element.

16. The toy figure according to claim 15, further including at least one arm that is biased against said body by a third elastic element.

17. The toy figure according to claim 16, wherein said torso piece and said pelvic piece are joined together by said second elastic element.

18. The toy figure according to claim 17, wherein said head, said leg piece, and said at least one arm all terminate along a common circular path, wherein said circular path is centered around a point on said pelvic piece.

19. A posable toy figure, comprising:

a body;

a limb piece having flat side surfaces that extend between a first end and an opposite second end, said limb piece having a central axis extending from said first end to said second end,

wherein said flat side surfaces include a first flat side surface of a first length and a second flat side surface of a different second length;

wherein said first end has a beveled corner that provides said first end with a first flat end surface that is perpendicular to said central axis and a second flat end surface that is inclined relative to said central axis; and

an elastic element that biases said first end of said limb piece against said body in one of a plurality of possible stable configurations, wherein said elastic element extends into said limb piece along said central axis.

20. The toy figure according to claim 19, wherein a slot is formed in said first end that extends from said first flat side surface to said second flat side surface, wherein said slot crosses said central axis.