Toy with slow movement recovery

• US 5,462,473 A
• Filed: 07/01/1994
• Issued: 10/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ken Sheller
• Original Assignee: Ken Sheller
• Inventors: Sheller, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US08/269,570
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 446/199, 446/188, 446/183, 446/184, 446/190, 446/197, 446/198, 446/368, 446/180, 446/213, 446/176, 446/390, 446/226, 446/486
• US Class Current: 446/183
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/06 Air-filled or inflatable toy figures connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/36 Details; Accessories

Abstract

Various toys simulating animal characters have appendages with inserts therein which produce slow return motion of the appendages from positions to which they have been deformed to simulate a natural movement or gesture. The inserts each includes an elongate, tubular, resiliently compressible air bags with an impermeable (air tight), skin of plastic or rubber, penetrated by a slow leak valve formed as a small hole and stuffed with resiliently compressible synthetic fiber or foam. In one example the air bag is located in the body of a doll to extend across the chest and along respective arms, whereby a child can deform the arms between open and closed positions, compressing the air bag so that the resiliency returns the arms slowly to an undeformed position while producing a simulated natural gesture of affection such as giving or requesting a hug.

Claims

1. A life-size huggable doll having a body comprising a porous, soft, cloth like fabric covering a soft stuffing, the body including a flexible pair of arms extending from a chest portion in one of open and closed positions, a slow return motion producing insert comprising an elongate, tubular, resiliently compressible air bag with a slow leak means and mounted in the body to extend across the chest and along respective arms, whereby a child can deform the arms from one of the positions to another, compressing the air bag and the resiling action of which returns said arms slowly to an undeformed position while producing a simulated natural gesture of affection.

2. A doll according to claim 1 wherein the air bag comprises an impermeable skin stuffed with resiliently compressible foam.

3. A doll according to claim 1 wherein the air bag is of U-shape in undeformed condition, locating the arms extending together forward from the chest so that the arms can be deformed by a child to an open position extended outwardly away from each other from opposite sides of the chest and will return relatively slowly producing a simulated hugging gesture.

4. A doll according to claim 1 wherein the air bag may be straight in undeformed condition, locating the arms extending outwardly, away from each other from opposite sides of the chest so that the arms can be deformed by a child to a position extending together, in front of the chest and will return relatively slowly, moving apart simulating a gentle request for a hug and an expression of love.

5. A toy character comprising an appendage which extends from a body portion and which is flexible for movement by a child relative to the body portion between bent and extended positions, a slow return motion producing insert consisting essentially of an elongate, narrow, tubular, resiliently compressible air bag comprising an impermeable skin stuffed with resiliently compressible foam with slow leak means, positioned from the body portion inside and along the appendage, whereby flexure of said appendage from one of the positions to the other of the positions compresses the air bag so that resiling action of the air bag causes slow motion return movement of said appendage to one of the positions thereby producing a simulated natural movement.

6. A toy character having a form of a doll including a flexible pair of arms extending from a chest and which are flexible for movement by a child between bent, closed and extended, open positions, a slow return motion producing insert consisting essentially of an elongate, narrow, tubular, resiliently compressible air bag with slow leak means, mounted to extend across and inside the chest and along and inside respective arms with repective opposite ends of the air bag exposed and formed as respective hands, whereby a child can deform the arms from one of the positions to another, compressing the air bag, the resiling action of which returns said arms slowly to an undeformed position while producing a simulated natural gesture of affection.

7. A toy character having a form of an elephant comprising a trunk which is flexible for movement by a child between bent and extended positions, a slow return motion producing insert consisting essentially of an elongate, narrow, tubular, resiliently compressible air bag comprising an impermeable skin stuffed with resiliently compressible foam with slow leak means, positioned at least partly inside the trunk, whereby flexure of said trunk from one of the positions to the other of the positions compresses the air bag so that resiling action of the air bag causes slow motion return movement of said trunk to one of the positions thereby producing a simulated natural gesture being one of a trunk uncoiling and coiling.

8. A toy character having a form of a dinosaur comprising an appendage having a form of a tail which is flexible for movement by a child between bent and extended positions, a slow return motion producing insert consisting essentially of an elongate, narrow, tubular, resiliently compressible air bag comprising an impermeable skin stuffed with resiliently compressible foam with slow leak means, positioned at least partly inside the tail, whereby flexure of said tail from one of the positions to the other of the positions compresses the air bag so that resiling action of the air bag causes slow motion return movement of said tail to one of the positions thereby producing a simulated natural gesture being one of a tail uncoiling and coiling.

9. A toy character having a form of a dinosaur comprising an appendage which is a mouth, flexible for movement by a child between bent and extended positions, a slow return motion producing insert consisting essentially of an elongate, narrow, tubular, resiliently compressible air bag comprising an impermeable skin stuffed with resiliently compressible foam with slow leak means, positioned to extend inside upper and lower jaws, whereby flexure of said mouth from one of the positions to the other of the positions compresses the air bag so that resiling action of the air bag causes slow motion return movement of said jaws to one of the positions thereby producing a simulated natural gesture being one of a mouth opening and closing.

10. A toy character having a form of one of a dog and bunny and comprising an ear which is flexible for movement by a child between bent and extended positions, a slow return motion producing insert consisting essentially of an elongate, narrow, tubular, resiliently compressible air bag comprising an impermeable skin stuffed with resiliently compressible foam with slow leak means, positioned at least partly inside the ear, whereby flexure of said ear from one of the positions to the other of the positions compresses the air bag so that resiling action of the air bag causes slow motion return movement of said ear to one of the positions thereby producing a simulated natural gesture being one of an ear uncoiling and coiling.

11. A toy character having a head, and a body comprising a porous, soft, cloth like fabric covering a soft stuffing, the body including a flexible pair of arms extending from a chest portion in one of open and closed positions, a slow return motion producing insert comprising an elongate, tubular, resiliently compressible air bag with a slow leak means and mounted in the body to extend across the chest and along respective arms, whereby a child can deform the arms from one of the positions to another, compressing the air bag and the resiling action of which returns said arms slowly to an undeformed position while producing a simulated natural gesture of affection.

12. A toy character including a head and a pair of arms extending from a chest, the arms being flexible for movement by a child between bent, closed and extended, open positions, a slow return motion producing insert consisting essentially of an elongate, narrow, tubular, resiliently compressible air bag with slow leak means, mounted to extend across and inside the chest and along and inside respective arms with respective opposite ends of the air bag exposed and formed as respective hands, whereby a child can deform the arms from one of the positions to another, compressing the air bag, the resiling action of which returns said arms slowly to an undeformed position while producing a simulated natural gesture of affection.

13. A toy character including a head and arms extending from a main body portion which arms are flexible for movement by a child between bent, closed and extended, open positions, a slow return motion producing insert consisting essentially of an elongate, narrow, tubular, resiliently compressible air bag with slow leak means, mounted to extend across and inside the main body portion and along and inside respective arms, whereby a child can deform the arms from one of the positions to another, compressing the air bag, the resiling action of which returns said arms slowly to an undeformed position while producing a simulated natural gesture of affection.

14. A doll having a body comprising a porous, soft, cloth like fabric covering a soft stuffing, the body including a flexible pair of arms extending from a chest portion in one of open and closed positions, a slow return motion producing insert comprising an elongate, tubular, resiliently compressible air bag with a slow leak means and mounted in the body to extend across the chest and along respective arms, whereby a child can deform the arms from one of the positions to another, compressing the air bag and the resiling action of which returns said arms slowly to an undeformed position while producing a simulated natural gesture of affection.