Manually manipulatable flexible toy

• US 5,395,278 A
• Filed: 09/08/1993
• Issued: 03/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Modern Machine Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cullom Machine Tool & Die, Inc.
• Inventors: Dickhut, Heinrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carlson, Jeffrey D.
• Application Number:
  US08/118,502
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 446/486, 446/490, 446/491, 138/118, 138/119, 138/121, 285/921, 285/924, 285/7
• US Class Current: 446/486
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/00 Other toys

Abstract

A manually manipulatable flexible toy includes an elongated tube unitarily fabricated of semi-rigid material such as plastic. The tube forms bellows which, in turn, define a plurality of larger diameter rings and a plurality of smaller diameter rings joined in an alternating array lengthwise of the tube by frusto-conical walls. The tube or any portion thereof is extendable and retractable and manipulatable into various curvilinear configurations, with the tube maintaining its last chosen extended or retracted or curvilinear condition. A pair of the frusto-conical walls diverge radially inwardly from any given larger diameter ring to an adjacent pair of smaller diameter rings when the tube is in the extended condition. A pair of the frusto-conical walls extend radially inwardly offset to one side of any given larger diameter ring when the tube is in the retracted condition. The tube is of a length sufficient to be curved into a closed configuration such as a circle and the like. Opposite ends of the tube are capable of being telescoped and coupled together.

Claims

1. A one-piece manually manipulatable flexible toy comprising an elongated tube unitarily fabricated of semi-rigid material, the tube forming bellows which, in turn, define a plurality of larger diameter rings and a plurality of smaller diameter rings joined in an alternating tray lengthwise of the tube by frusto-conical walls, the tube or any portion thereof being extendable and retractable and manipulatable into various curvilinear configurations with the tube maintaining its last chosen extended or retracted or curvilinear condition, wherein a pair of said frusto-conical walls diverge radially inwardly from any given larger diameter ring to an adjacent pair of smaller diameter rings when the tube is in said extended condition, wherein a pair of said frusto-conical walls extend radially inwardly offset to one side of any given larger diameter ring when the tube is in said retracted condition, said tube having two non-bellowed end portions and being of a length sufficient to be manipulated into a closed configuration such as a circle and the like, the opposite end portions of the tube being of different diameters so that one end portion telescopes into the other end portion, and at least one opposite end portion of the tube including an axial rib which defines a passage extending longitudinally for the length of the two coupled end portions and communicating with the interior of the tube when said opposite end portions are coupled to allow air to flow into and out of the tube.

2. The manually manipulatable flexible toy of claim 1 wherein said semi-rigid material comprises thermo-plastic material.

3. A one-piece manually manipulatable flexible toy comprising an elongated tube unitarily fabricated of semi-rigid material, the tube forming bellows which allow the tube or any portion thereof to be extended and retracted and manipulated into various curvilinear configurations, said tube being of a length sufficient to be manipulated into a closed configuration such as a circle and the like, the opposite ends of tile tube having non-bellowed end portions of different diameters so that one end portion telescopes into the other end portion, and at least one opposite end portion of the tube including an axial rib which defines a passage extending longitudinally for the length of the two coupled end portions and communicating with tile interior of tile tube to allow air to flow into and out of the tube when the opposite ends are coupled.