WO2001032284A1

WO2001032284A1 - Deformable toy frames and skeletons

Info

Publication number: WO2001032284A1
Application number: PCT/CA2000/000127
Authority: WO
Inventors: Young-Choel Cho
Original assignee: Purr-Fection By Mjc
Priority date: 1999-11-01
Filing date: 2000-02-11
Publication date: 2001-05-10
Also published as: AU2529700A

Abstract

A deformable toy skeleton is disclosed. The deformable toy skeleton includes one or more centre supporting frame members. Each of the centre supporting frame members has a spherical coupling element and a coupling element retaining cavity. Cooperatively shaped frame members attached thereto. The spherical coupling element are retained in coupling element retaining cavities, while permitting movement relative to each other to provide a deformable skeleton for the toy.

Description

Title DEFORMABLE TOY FRAMES AND SKELETONS

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to toy frames and skeletons and, more particularly, to deformable toy frames and skeletons that allow various structures e.g. toy skeletons, to be constructed and freely bent at a plurality of positions to deform the toy into various shapes. In particular, the toy frame has joining sections, or connecting members, that are fixedly connected, with each part of the frame connected by the joining sections capable of being moved freely in any direction. In use of the frame in a toy animal or toy doll, a user e.g. a child, may bend each of the joining sections of the toy independently and in a variety of directions.

Background to the Invention

A variety of dolls and toy animals without toy frames or skeletons and a variety of dolls and toy animals with non-deformable frames or skeletons are known. However, conventional dolls and toy animals without skeletons easily sag or lack rigidity because there is no interior structural frame. Conventional dolls and toy animals with non-deformable skeletons may soon become uninteresting to a user e.g. a child, because the dolls and toy animals have a constant shape and may not be deformed into other shapes.

In order to solve the above problems, toys with a deformable skeleton have been proposed, wherein the skeleton may be bent at its articulations. However, such a conventional toy may be expensive to produce because its structure tends to be excessively complex, thereby raising the price of a toy, and/or children quickly become bored with the toy because of the lack of variety of movement.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art. An object of an aspect of the present invention is to provide a deformable toy skeleton, allowing various structures of toy skeletons or toy frames to be constructed and to be freely bent at any portion of it to deform a toy into various shapes.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a toy frame comprising: at least one supporting frame member with at least one spherical coupling element and at least one coupling element retaining cavity, a plurality of frame members having a spherical coupling element on one end and a coupling element retaining cavity on the opposed end, each said spherical coupling element having a flexible incision therein that permits said spherical coupling element to be force fitted and retained in a coupling element retaining cavity, said spherical coupling element and coupling element retaining cavity so force fitted and retained being movable relative to each other.

In embodiments of the invention, the supporting frame member has a spherical coupling element on one side and a coupling element retaining cavity axially located on an opposed side, or alternatively the supporting frame member has at least one spherical coupling element and at least one coupling element retaining cavity, or the supporting frame member has more than one spherical coupling element and more than one coupling element retaining cavity.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spherical coupling elements and coupling element retaining cavities are oriented in three dimensions.

A further embodiment of the invention provides a deformable toy skeleton comprising a toy frame as described above.

In embodiments, the frame has one supporting frame member, two supporting frame members, or more than two supporting frame members. In another embodiment, the frame members are bell-shaped with the coupling element retaining cavity in one end and the spherical coupling element on the opposed end. In a further embodiment, the supporting frame member is a frame member having at least one wing attached thereto, especially in which each said wing has at least one of a spherical coupling element and a coupling element retaining cavity thereon. In a still further embodiment, more than one frame member is connected in sequence to each supporting frame member.

The toy may have the features described herein for the deformable toy skeleton.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an exploded perspective view showing a deformable toy skeleton according to an embodiment of this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a perspective view showing a toy animal provided with the deformable toy skeleton; Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of an exploded view of a toy frame, being a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a skeleton of a toy animal formed by using the frame of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a plan view of a connecting member of a further embodiment of the invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The present invention relates to deformable toy frames and skeletons that allow various structures e.g. toy skeletons, to be constructed and freely bent at a plurality of positions to deform the toy into various shapes. In particular, the toy frame has joining sections, or connecting members, that are fixedly connected, with each part of the frame connected by the joining sections capable of being moved freely in any direction. The connecting sections may be referred to herein as being comprised of a spherical coupling element and a coupling element retaining cavity.

In Figure 1 , reference numeral 1 designates a centre skeleton member. The centre skeleton member 1 comprises a first cone-shaped main body, a first connecting spherical coupling element 2 and two wings 4. The first cone-shaped main body is provided with a first coupling element retaining cavity 3 at its bottom portion. The first connecting spherical coupling element 2 is formed at the apex of the first cone-shaped main body. The two wings 4 are respectively connected to the sides of the first cone-shaped main body and are shown as being provided with two vertical screw holes 6. Other attachment means could be used.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 , a plurality of branch skeleton members 10, also referred to herein as frame members, are individually and pivotally connected to the centre skeleton member 1 or to each other, or are individually and fixedly connected to each of the wings 4 of the first cone- shaped main body. Each of the branch skeleton members 10 comprises a second cone-shaped main body and a second connecting spherical coupling element 11. The second cone-shaped main body is provided with a second coupling element retaining cavity 12 at its bottom portion, into which the first connecting spherical coupling element 2 of the centre skeleton member 1 , the second connecting spherical coupling element 11 , another branch skeleton member 10 or an engaging screw 5 is fitted. The second connecting spherical coupling element 11 is formed at the apex of the second cone- shaped main body, the second connecting spherical coupling element 11 being pivotally fitted into the first coupling element retaining cavity 12 of another branch skeleton member 10.

As shown in Fig. 2, various structures of toy skeletons may be constructed by assembling one or more centre skeleton members 1 and one or more branch skeleton members 10 together.

In addition, since the connecting spherical coupling elements 2 and 11 are respectively and pivotally fitted into the coupling element retaining cavities 3 and 12, the connecting spherical coupling element 2 and 11 may be pivoted respectively within the coupling element retaining cavities 3 and 12. This allows a toy skeleton to be bent at any part or portion of the toy skeleton. Fig. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of a toy frame. Reference numeral 20 indicates a centre supporting frame member, which corresponds to the centre skeleton member described above. A spherical coupling element 21 with incision 22 is formed on one side, in an axial direction, of centre supporting frame member 20. Incision 22 of spherical coupling element 21 is oriented outwardly from centre frame member 20, and is in the shape of a "+" i.e. a criss-cross of the letter "I". The incision is formed so that spherical coupling element 21 is flexible, with the parts thereof adjacent to the incision being capable of flexing inwards under pressure. This enables a forced fitting of spherical coupling element 21 to a coupling element retaining cavity 23 of bell-shaped frame member 24 described below. Moreover, such a fitting fixedly attaches the spherical coupling element 21 to the bell-shaped frame member 24, so that the two parts cannot be separated or are difficult to separate under normal use, while permitting movement of bell shaped frame member 24 with respect to spherical coupling element 21.

On the other side of centre supporting frame member 20, in an axial direction, is coupling element retaining cavity 25, in which a coupling element 26 formed in the apex of frame member 24 is inserted. Coupling element 26 also has an incision, 27, which is similar to incision 22. Coupling element 26 is intended to be and preferably is of the same size and shape as spherical coupling element 21 so that the various parts of the toy frame may be interchangeably connectable.

First end 28 of centre supporting frame member 20 has a coupling element 29 similar to coupling element 21 , for attachment of a frame member 24, as described above. Similarly, second end 30 of centre supporting member 20 may have a coupling element 29 similar to coupling element 21 , for attachment of a frame member 24. As shown in Fig 3, the coupling elements at first end 28 and second end 30 are oriented downwards, in a different plane from the axial members described above. Bell-shaped frame members 24 are connected to coupling elements 21 , 29 in the axial and downward directions described above, to form arms extending from centre support member 20. The arms may be of the same or different lengths. It is understood that a toy frame may have one or more centre support members 20. Therefore, a skeleton in the doll is built by connecting the coupling element 21 of each frame member 24 to the retaining cavity 23, 25 of another adjacent frame member in a successive manner. As noted above, it is preferred that the respective connecting members of each part of the skeleton be capable of being connected to the corresponding connecting member of any other part of the skeleton.

In this manner, all parts are capable of being interchangeably located in any part of the skeleton. Frame members 24 may be easily connected to each other using incisions 22 and 27, which compress during a forced fitting into a coupling element retaining cavity of a frame member 24. However, separation is difficult, because incisions 22, 27 are located on the foremost surface of a coupling element and thus not compressed during attempts to remove a coupling element from a cavity. Therefore, the connection remains firmly in place, while permitting relative movement in any direction between adjacent frame members or a frame member and the centre supporting member. This provides a flexible, versatile frame for a toy, which may be moved and adjusted in substantially infinite variations by a child.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of a skeleton of a toy animal, having two centre supporting members 20. Each centre supporting member 20 has two legs. One centre supporting member has a neck 31 with a distal ball 32 at the position of a head. The other centre supporting member has a tail 33. Thus, the skeleton is of a four-legged animal, which could have a variety of external forms.

Fig. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of centre supporting member 20. The supporting member, generally indicated by 40, has five arms 41-44, although it is understood that the supporting member could have more arms, or less. Each of arms 41-44 is shown as extending from centre support 45, although it could be convenient to have two or more central supports i.e. the arms would not radius outwardly from a central location. Each of arms 41-44 terminates in a spherical coupling element 46, which has the criss-crossed "I" incisions described above. Arms 41-44 could be in a planar arrangement, or arms 41-44 could be in a three-dimensional arrangement. The frames and skeletons have been described herein with reference to centre skeleton members and centre supporting frame members. Such members are embodiments of the supporting members of the skeleton, which may vary in shape from those illustrated and described herein. Similarly, the frame members have been described as cone-shaped and bell-shaped, but it is understood that other shapes could be used, such other shapes having the spherical coupling element and coupling element retaining cavity.

As described above, the present invention provides a deformable toy frame, allowing various structures of toy skeletons to be constructed. Additionally, the present invention provides a deformable toy skeleton that is capable of being freely bent at any portion of it, thereby deforming a toy into various shapes. If the skeleton is adapted to a toy animal or toy doll, a user e.g. a child, may bend each joint of the toy separately and independently in an arbitrary manner as is desired. Thus, the toy has the potential for use over an extended period of time while retaining the interest of the child. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A toy frame comprising: at least one supporting frame member with at least one spherical coupling element and at least one coupling element retaining cavity, a plurality of frame members having a spherical coupling element on one end and a coupling element retaining cavity on the opposed end, each said spherical coupling element having a flexible incision therein that permits said spherical coupling element to be force fitted and retained in a coupling element retaining cavity, said spherical coupling element and coupling element retaining cavity so force fitted and retained being movable relative to each other.

2. The toy frame of Claim 1 in which the supporting frame member has a spherical coupling element on one side and a coupling element retaining cavity axially located on an opposed side.

3. The toy frame of Claim 1 in which the supporting frame member has at least one spherical coupling element and at least one coupling element retaining cavity.

4. The toy frame of Claim 1 in which the supporting frame member has more than one spherical coupling element and more than one coupling element retaining cavity.

5. The toy frame of any one of Claims 1-4 in which the spherical coupling elements and coupling element retaining cavities are oriented in three dimensions.

6. The toy frame of any one of Claims 1 -5 in which the supporting frame member is a frame member having at least one wing attached thereto.

7. The toy frame of Claim 6 in which each said wing has at least one of a spherical coupling element and a coupling element retaining cavity thereon.

8. A deformable toy skeleton comprising a toy frame having at least one supporting frame member with at least one spherical coupling element and at least one coupling element retaining cavity, a plurality of frame members having a spherical coupling element on one end and a coupling element retaining cavity on the opposed end, each said spherical coupling element having a flexible incision therein that permits said spherical coupling element to be force fitted and retained in a coupling element retaining cavity, said spherical coupling element and coupling element retaining cavity so force fitted and retained being movable relative to each other.

9. The deformable toy skeleton of Claim 8 in which the supporting frame member has a spherical coupling element on one side and a coupling element retaining cavity axially located on an opposed side.

10. The deformable toy skeleton of Claim 8 in which the supporting frame member has at least one spherical coupling element and at least one coupling element retaining cavity.

11. The deformable toy skeleton of Claim 8 in which the supporting frame member has more than one spherical coupling element and more than one coupling element retaining cavity.

12. The deformable toy skeleton of any one of claims 8-11 in which the spherical coupling elements and coupling element retaining cavities are oriented in three dimensions.

13. The deformable toy skeleton of any one of Claims 8-12 in which the frame has one supporting frame member.

14. The deformable toy skeleton of any one of Claims 8-12 in which the frame has two supporting frame members.

15. The deformable toy skeleton of any one of Claims 8-12 in which the frame has more than two supporting frame members.

16. The deformable toy skeleton of any one of Claims 8-15 in which the frame members are bell-shaped with the coupling element retaining cavity in one end and the spherical coupling element on the opposed end.

17. The deformable toy skeleton of any one of Claims 8-16 in which the supporting frame member is a frame member having at least one wing attached thereto.

18. The deformable toy skeleton of Claim 17 in which each said wing has at least one of a spherical coupling element and a coupling element retaining cavity thereon.

19. The deformable toy skeleton of any one of Claims 8-18 in which more than one frame member is connected in sequence to each supporting frame member.

20. A toy having a deformable skeleton comprising at least one supporting frame member with at least one spherical coupling element and at least one coupling element retaining cavity, a plurality of frame members having a spherical coupling element on one end and a coupling element retaining cavity on the opposed end, each said spherical coupling element having a flexible incision therein that permits said spherical coupling element to be force fitted and retained in a coupling element retaining cavity, said spherical coupling element and coupling element retaining cavity so force fitted and retained being movable relative to each other.

21. A toy having a deformable skeleton of Claim 20 in which the supporting frame member has a spherical coupling element on one side and a coupling element retaining cavities axially located on an opposed side.

22. A toy having a deformable skeleton of Claim 20 in which the supporting frame member has at least one spherical coupling element and at least one coupling element retaining cavity.

23. A toy having a deformable skeleton of Claim 20 in which the supporting frame member has more than one spherical coupling element and more than one coupling element retaining cavity.

24. A toy having a deformable skeleton of any one of Claims 20-23 in which the spherical coupling elements and coupling element retaining cavities are oriented in three dimensions.

25. A toy having a deformable skeleton of any one of Claims 20-24 in which the frame has one supporting frame member.

26. A toy having a deformable skeleton of any one of Claims 20-24 in which the frame has two supporting frame members.

27. A toy having a deformable skeleton of any one of Claims 20-24 in which the frame has more than two supporting frame members.

28. A toy having a deformable skeleton of any one of Claims 20-27 in which the frame members are bell-shaped with the coupling element retaining cavity in one end and the spherical coupling element on the opposed end.

29. A toy having a deformable skeleton of any one of Claims 20-28 in which the supporting frame member is a frame member having at least one wing attached thereto.

30. A toy having a deformable skeleton of Claim 29 in which each said wing has at least one of a spherical coupling element and a coupling element retaining cavity thereon.

31. A toy having a deformable skeleton of any one of Claims 20-30 in which more than one frame member is connected in sequence to each supporting frame member.