Frictional joint for toys

• US 20040198163A1
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Wai, Fuk Chai Alvin
• Granted Patent: US 7,021,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/376
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/46 Connections for limbs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32631 Universal ball and socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32704 Stud extends into ball

Abstract

Joints for movable toys, such as action figures, that use friction to maintain a fixed position. The toys include several body part members interconnected by a joint that includes a plug portion and a socket portion that receives the plug portion. The socket portion includes one or more protrusions, against which the plug portion is urged to create friction between the plug portion and the socket portion.

Claims

1. A movable toy, comprising:

a first body part member; and

a second body part member, wherein a joint is defined between the first and second body part members to enable relative motion between the first and second body part members, wherein the joint comprises;

a plug portion secured to one of the first and second body part members; and

a socket portion secured to the other of the first and second body part members and adapted to receive the plug portion, wherein the socket portion includes;

multiple spaced apart protrusions, the joint being adapted so that an operative surface of the plug portion is urged into contact with ends of the protrusions so as to create friction therebetween; and

a separately manufactured removable insert adapted to secure the plug portion within the socket portion.

2. The movable toy of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second body part members includes a torso.

3. The movable toy of claim 2, wherein the other of the first and second body part members includes a pelvis.

4. The movable toy of claim 1, wherein the protrusions are formed as ribs that extend toward the operative surface of the plug portion from a wall of the socket portion.

5. The movable toy of claim 4, wherein the ribs are angled towards one another so that the rib members extend toward the operative surface of the plug portion in different directions.

6. The movable toy of claim 4, wherein the ribs extend from the wall of the socket portion parallel to one another.

7. The movable toy of claim 4, wherein the ribs form a seat adapted to receive a convex region of the operative surface of the plug portion, and wherein each rib has a concave end that conforms at least partially to the convex region of the operative surface of the plug portion, such that when the plug portion is urged into contact with the ribs, relative movement between the body part members is inhibited by friction occurring between the concave ends of the ribs and the convex region of the plug portion.

8. The movable toy of claim 1, wherein the protrusions form a seat adapted to receive and center the operative surface of the plug portion thereupon.

9. The movable toy of claim 8, wherein the operative surface of the plug portion is convex and the protrusions each have a corresponding concave contact region.

10. The movable toy of claim 1, wherein the socket portion is formed separately from the first and second body part members.

11. The movable toy of claim 10, wherein the plug portion includes a head and a shaft extending therefrom, the shaft being narrower in width than the head.

12. The movable toy of claim 11, wherein the shaft extends from the head through an opening in the removable insert, the opening being sized smaller than the head, such that the removable insert maintains the head captured and held within the socket portion while permitting the shaft to extend through the opening.

13. The movable toy of claim 12, wherein the insert is positioned so that an area of the removable insert surrounding the opening contacts the head of the plug portion and urges the head into engagement with the protrusions.

14. The movable toy of claim 1, wherein the plug portion has a head engaged with the protrusions and a shaft that extends away from the head between the first and second body part members.

15. The movable toy of claim 14, wherein an end of the shaft opposite the head has an anchor formed thereon, such anchor being adapted to secure the plug portion to one of the first and second body part members.

16. The movable toy of claim 1, wherein the first and second body part members are adapted to conceal the plug portion and the protrusions.

17. The movable toy of claim 1, wherein the plug portion includes a head which is captured and held within the socket portion, and wherein the plug portion further includes a shaft that extends away from the head and out through an opening sized to accommodate passage of the shaft but prevent withdrawal of the head from the socket portion.

18. The movable toy of claim 17, wherein the head includes a convex contact region which is urged into contact with ends of the spaced apart protrusions of the socket portion, and wherein such contact produces friction to thereby inhibit relative movement between the body part members.

19. A joint for a toy having multiple body part members, the joint comprising:

a plug portion; and

a socket portion adapted to receive the plug portion, including a friction assembly having multiple distinct contact regions that engage an operative surface of the plug portion, such that the friction assembly is adapted to produce friction between the multiple distinct contact regions and the operative surface of the plug portion, to thereby inhibit relative movement between the plug portion and the socket portion, the socket portion also including a removable insert adapted to maintain the plug portion in frictional engagement with the socket portion.

20. The joint of claim 19, wherein each of the multiple contact regions are formed on an end of a protrusion that extends toward the operative surface of the plug portion.

21. The joint of claim 20, wherein the protrusions extend toward the operative surface of the plug portion at angles to one another.

22. The joint of claim 20, wherein the protrusions extend toward the operative surface of the plug portion parallel to one another.

23. The joint of claim 19, wherein the operative surface of the plug portion is convex and at least one of the multiple distinct contact regions is concave.

24. The joint of claim 19, wherein the socket portion is configured to capture and hold a head of the plug portion within the socket portion.

25. The joint of claim 24, wherein the socket portion is adapted to urge the head of the plug portion against the multiple distinct contact regions.

26. A movable toy, comprising:

a first member; and

a second member, wherein a joint is defined between the first and second members to enable relative motion between the first and second members, and wherein the joint is a ball-and-socket joint in which a socket assembly with a removable insert secured to one of the members holds and captures a ball secured to the other of the members, the socket assembly further including multiple contact regions that contact an operative convex surface of the ball at spaced apart locations, and wherein such contact produces friction upon relative movement occurring between the first and second members.

27. The movable toy of claim 26, wherein one of the members is a doll'"'"'s torso.

28. The movable toy of claim 27, wherein the other of the members is a lower body of the doll.