WO2004085017A1

WO2004085017A1 - Toy figure

Info

Publication number: WO2004085017A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/001279
Authority: WO
Inventors: Casey William Norman
Original assignee: Genie Toys Plc
Priority date: 2003-03-24
Filing date: 2004-03-23
Publication date: 2004-10-07
Also published as: GB2401801A; GB2401801A8; GB0306723D0

Abstract

A toy figure comprises a legs part (2) and a torso part (1) pivotably attached to the legs part. A dampened mechanism, for example comprising a slidable piston (7) and a spring (10) is arranged to cause movement of the figure to a position in which the legs part (2) and the torso part (1) are substantially aligned. Sound producing means cause at least one sound to be emitted at a predetermined point of the movement of the figure.

Description

TOY FIGURE

Background to the Invention

This invention relates to a toy figure or doll arranged to recline from a sitting position to a supine position.

Dolls incorporating a mechanism for such an action are known. In addition, US-A-2,596,491 describes a doll which moves in the opposite direction, i.e. from supine to sitting up, powered by a piston urged by a compression spring to slide in a cylinder, movement of the piston being initially retarded by compressed air in the cylinder.

S immary of the Invention

It is an aim of the invention to provide a toy figure having additional novel and amusing imitative features.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a toy figure comprising a legs part and a torso part pivotably attached to the legs part, a dampened mechanism arranged to cause movement of the figure to a position in which the legs part and the torso part are substantially aligned, and sound producing means causing at least one sound to be emitted at a predetermined point of said movement of the figure.

In one embodiment of the invention, the dampened mechanism is located within the torso part of the figure. The dampened mechanism may comprise a helical compression spring, which may be arranged to urge a piston to slide in a cylinder. Sliding of the piston may be retarded by a partial vacuum in the cylinder on one side of the piston. The piston may comprise an air inlet for relieving the vacuum at a controlled rate. The piston may have a flexible peripheral seal allowing sealing of the piston and cylinder even when the piston and cylinder are out of alignment.

The movement may be such that starting form a sitting position with the legs part substantially horizontal and the torso part vertical, the torso part is lowered as the angle between the torso part and the legs part is increased, and the legs part initially rises and then falls as the angle approaches 180°.

The sound producing means may be arranged to be activated by means sensing the angle between the torso part and the legs part. The sound producing means may be arranged to emit different sounds at different angles between the torso part and the legs part. This may be achieved by emitting a plurality of sounds separated by at least one silence. The sound producing means may, for example, include a digital sound record carrier.

Triggering means, such as a catch, button or lever, optionally operable by moving the head or torso part of the figure, may be provided for initiating the movement and/ or sound production. Alternatively, the figure may be arranged to commence the movement as soon as it is placed in a sitting position.

In a particular embodiment, the figure has a head part arranged to turn during or after the reclining movement of the figure. For example, turning of the head may be arranged to commence at ,a predetermined intermediate stage of the reclining movement.

The toy figure may comprise a human, animal or fantasy figure and may have a soft outer covering. Brief Description of the Drawings

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, a particular embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic section through a toy figure according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a mechanism of the toy of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of the mechanism of Figure 2 in the upright position;

Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of the mechanism of Figure 2 in the reclined position; and

Figure 5 shows a mechanism including a turning head.

Detailed Description of Particular Embodiments Figure 1 shows a "plush" toy in the form of a teddy bear. The toy contains a mechanism comprising a torso part 1 extending through the torso and into the head of the toy, and a legs part 2 pivotably attached to the torso part and extending into the legs of the toy.

Figures 2 to 4 show the mechanism in greater detail. The torso part 1 is in the form a hollow cylinder having a lower front opening from which the legs part 2 extends. Legs part 2 is pivoted to the exterior of torso part 1 at two diametrically opposite points on the bottom circumference thereof. Legs part two comprises two leg members 3, one extending into each leg of the toy. The leg members are hollow so that weights can be added to balance different toy figures.

An upper section 4 of torso part 1 contains the electronic parts of the toy, which are not shown but comprise one or more electric cells, circuitry, and the sound producing means of the toy including a loudspeaker directed upwardly through a grille 5.

A lower section 6 of torso part 1 contains a piston 7 slidable within the cylinder of the lower section 6 and having a piston rod 8, which is pivotably connected at 9 to the legs part 2. As shown in Figure 3, when the angle between torso part 1 and legs part 2 is substantially 90°, piston 7 is near the top of lower section 6. As shown in Figure 4, when piston 7 has moved towards legs part 2 the angle between torso part 1 and legs part 2 is substantially 180°.

A helical compression spring 10 is mounted between the piston 7 and the dividing wall between sections 4 and 6 to urge the piston, and hence the toy, into the position of Figure 4. An optional retaining catch 11 protrudes through a rear aperture of the torso part 1 and is pivotally attached thereto. The catch 11 has a latching tongue 12 which engages a latch of the legs part 2 to retain the mechanism in the position of Figure 3 until catch 11 is depressed.

Whilst the body of piston 7 is moulded from hard plastics material, an outer seal 13 thereof is moulded from a soft, flexible plastics material. This ensures that whilst the angle between torso part 1 and legs part 2 increases, and crank point 9 follows a semicircular arc, piston 7 continues to seal with the interior of lower section 6 despite the fact that piston rod 8 is not always parallel to the axis of torso part 3. An air bleed inlet 14 is formed in piston 7. In use, after releasing catch 11, piston 7 starts to move towards legs part 2 under the action of spring 10. Movement of the piston is regulated by the decrease in air pressure above the piston 7. Air is admitted only slowly through air bleed inlet 14 to counteract the pressure difference across the piston. Thus, the speed at which the toy figure reclines can be set by the size of the air bleed inlet 14 and the strength of the spring 10. The time taken for the toy to fully recline can be up to 20 seconds, but in a particular example is approximately 8 seconds.

In a particular embodiment the legs of the toy weighted such that as the torso part 1 pivots downwardly and the center of gravity of the toy moves rearwardly, the legs rise until the torso of the toy reaches the surface on which the toy is located. Subsequently the legs fall to the surface.

The sound producing means can be activated by means of a long travel switch 15, e.g. a reed switch. This can for example be arranged to cause the figure to emit a sound, such as a spoken phrase, when the angle between the torso part 1 and the legs part 2 is 95°. If a plurality of sounds are required at different points in the movement of the figure this could be achieved by arranging silences between the sounds in a single recording. Alternatively, user intervention could be required to initiate the production of various sounds and phases of the movement.

Figure 5 shows one way in which a head ,16 of the toy figure may be arranged to turn to one side during or after the reclining movement to give a further degree of realism. The head 16 is mounted on an axle 17 rotatably attached to the top of the torso part 1 of the mechanism. A segment-shaped plate 18 attached to the axle 17 is attached at one apex to a first helical expansion spring 19 which is fixed to the torso part" 1 at its other end. The other apex of plate 18 is attached to a cord 20 which runs in a cord guide down the outside of torso part 1 as far as legs part 2 to which the cord is attached. A second helical expansion spring 21 is included in cord 20. A stop 22 on the upper surface of torso part 1 limits rearward movement of plate 18.

As the angle between torso part 1 and legs part 2 increases, second expansion spring 21 contracts. Once the coils of second spring 1 are mutually adjacent, the upper part of cord 20 can move upwards, pulled by first spring 19 and plate 18. This causes the axle 17 to rotate the head to the left as viewed in the drawing by approximately 90°. The presence of second spring 21 allows a delay between the start of relative movement between torso part 1 and legs part 2 and the start of rotation of head 16.

The toy figure may also be provided with eyes that close during the reclining movement, lights and/ or other mechanically moving parts.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the mechanism described above or a similar mechanism could be arranged to cause the figure to sit up from a supine position.

Whilst a particular air bleed mechanism has been specifically described, other mechanisms, for example powered by clockwork or by compressible elastomeric, rubber or sponge-like materials are within the scope of the invention.

All forms of the verb "to comprise" used in this specification have the meaning "to consist of or include".

Claims

1. A toy figure comprising a legs part and a torso part pivotably attached to the legs part, a dampened mechanism arranged to cause movement of the figure to a position in which the legs part and the torso part are substantially aligned, and sound producing means causing at least one sound to be emitted at a predetermined point of said movement of the figure.

2. A toy figure according to claim 1, wherein, the dampened mechanism is located within the torso part of the figure.

3. A toy figure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dampened mechanism comprises a helical compression spring.

4. A toy figure according to claim 3, wherein the spring is arranged to urge a piston to slide in a cylinder.

5. A toy figure according to claim 4, wherein sliding of the piston is retarded by a partial vacuum in the cylinder on one side of the piston.

6. A toy figure according to claim 6, wherein the piston comprises an air inlet for relieving the vacuum at a controlled rate.

7. A toy figure according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the piston has a flexible peripheral seal allowing sealing of the piston and cylinder even when the piston and cylinder are out of alignment.

8. A toy figure according to any preceding claim, wherein the movement is such that starting form a sitting position with the legs part substantially horizontal and the torso part vertical, the torso part is lowered as the angle between the torso part and the legs part is increased, and the legs part initially rises and then falls as the angle approaches 180°.

9. A toy figure according to any preceding claim, wherein the sound producing means is arranged to be activated by means sensing the angle between the torso part and the legs part.

10. A toy figure according to any preceding claim, wherein the sound producing means is arranged to emit different sounds at different angles between the torso part and the legs part.

11. A toy figure according to any preceding claim, comprising triggering means for initiating the movement and/ or sound production.

12. A toy figure according to any one of claims 1 to 10, the figure being arranged to commence the movement as soon as it is placed in a sitting position.

13. A toy figure according to any preceding claim, having a head part arranged to turn during or after the reclining movement of the figure.

14. A toy figure according to any preceding claim, having a soft outer covering.

15. A toy figure according to any preceding claim, having eyes arranged to close during the reclining movement.