US3176431A

US3176431A - Resilient action figure toy

Info

Publication number: US3176431A
Application number: US73752A
Authority: US
Inventors: Deane W Richardson; David B Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-12-05
Filing date: 1960-12-05
Publication date: 1965-04-06
Anticipated expiration: 1982-04-06

Description

April 6, 1965 D. W. RICHARDSON ETAL RESILIENT ACTION FIGURE TOY Filed Dec. 5, 1960 27 INVENTORS Deane R chard 5017 Dar/a B. 6'01/7/2 ATTORNEY United States Patent Filed Dec. 5, 1960, Ser. No. 73,752 1 Claim. (Cl. 46-151) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in figure toys, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a toy having a body in the form of a resilient helical coil which may be subjected to free oscillation in lateral directions and/or vertical reciprocation for prolonged periods of time, whereby to attract and hold the attention of small children, particularly infants. As such, the helical coil of the toy carries means for simulating facial characteristics, thus enhancing the appearance and attention holding features of the toy when it is in motion.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, amusing operation, and in its adaptability to convenient and economical manufacture.

With the foregoing more important object and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view showing one embodiment of the figure toy in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view showing another embodiment; and

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, more particularly to FIGURE 1, the figure toy in accordance with the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral and has a body in the form of a resilient helical coil or spring 11. As shown, the coil is upwardly tapered and has a base portion 12 adapted to rest upon a suitable supporting surface 13, as will be hereinafter described.

The convolutions of the coil 11 are spaced and the resiliency of the coil is such that its upper portion 14 may be subjected to free oscillation in lateral directions as indicated by the arrow 15 and/or to free reciprocation in the vertical direction as shown by the arrow 16, it being understood that during such reciprocation the coil is alternately compressed and expanded. Motion is imparted to the coil simply by touching its upper portion by hand so as to cause it to either or both, oscillate and reciprocate as above noted, and by virtue of its free flexibility, the coil is capable of sustaining such motion for prolonged periods of time.

The upper portion 14 of the coil carries means for simulating facial characteristics, such means including a pair of eye-like elements 17, a nose element 18 and a mouth element 19, all these elements being secured by welding, or the like, to the convolutions of the upper portion of the coil.

The convolution at the base portion 12 of the coil may rest on the supporting surface 13 at the back of the coil as indicated at 20, while at the front it is provided with a pair of foot simulating elements 21 which engage the supporting surface, thus providing a stable support for the coil as a whole.

The modified embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 and designated generally by the numeral 25 comprises a lower resilient helical coil portion 26 of a relatively large diameter, having its base 27 rest- "ice ing on the supporting surface 13. A diametrically extending rod 28 is suitably secured to the top of the coil portion 26 and, in turn, carries an upper resilient helical coil portion 29 of a relatively small diameter, which is disposed vertically and coaxially with the coil portion 26. The lower end of the upper coil portion 29 is provided with an angulated extension 30 which is suitably secured centrally to the rod 28, and a transverse bar 31 is suitably secured to the convolutions of the small upper coil portion 29 intermediate the ends of the latter. The bar 31 projects laterally to both sides of the upper coil portion 29 and its projecting portions have secured thereto a pair of eye-like elements 32.

The

coil portions

26, 29 have spaced convolutions and their resiliency is such that either or both may be subjected to free lateral oscillation as indicated at 15 and/or to vertical reciprocation as indicated at 16, it being noted that the provision of the two portions in this embodiment of the invention facilitates combined or a compound movement, capable of attracting and holding an infants attention for considerable periods of time.

Manifestly, various other coil arrangements with different facial characteristic simulating means may be uti lized, the essence of novelty of the invention residing primarily in the provision of a figure toy body in the form of a freely flexible, resilient coil or spring with spaced convolutions which is capable of free lateral oscillation and/or vertical reciprocation of its upper portion while its base portion rests on a supporting surface.

Thus, while in the foregoing there have been shown and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure, and various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, such as may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

A resilient action figure toy, comprising a resilient helically wound lower cylindrical coil of a relatively large diameter having a flat lower end and a flat upper end, a rod secured diametrically to the fiat upper end of said lower coil, a resilient helically wound upper cylindrical coil of a relatively small diameter disposed coaxially above said lower coil and having a depending extension at its lower end secured to the center of said rod, a transverse bar intersecting and secured to the intermediate portion of said upper coil and projecting laterally to both sides thereof within the diametric limits of the lower coil, and a pair of eye simulating elements provided on the end portions of said bar, the flat lower end of said lower coil being positionable upon a fiat horizontal supporting surface, both said coils having spaced convolutions and the resiliency of both coils being such that they may freely reciprocate vertically and freely oscillate in lateral directions relative to the supporting surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 413,204 Newman et a1. Oct. 22, 1889 2,052,594 Antel Sept. 1, 1936 2,446,540 Leach Aug. 10, 1948 2,707,936 Kiehl May 10, 1955 2,808,807 Winton et al. Oct. 8, 1957 2,858,644 Derham Nov. 4, 1958 2,901,862 Thomas Sept. 1, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 141,544 Great Britain Apr. 22, 1920 414,183 Great Britain Aug. 2, 1934