Humanoid figure assembly and method for assembling same

• US 4,669,998 A
• Filed: 02/11/1985
• Issued: 06/02/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coleco Industries Incorporated (Ranger Industries, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Coleco Industries Incorporated (Ranger Industries, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mercurio, Domenic G., Amici, Francis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US06/700,548
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 446/383, 446/376, 446/377, 446/378, 446/390, 446/381, 446/380, 446/379, 446/384
• US Class Current: 446/383
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/46 Connections for limbs

Abstract

A simulated figure with articulated limbs and a pivotable head has a torso comprised of front and back sections which interfit to define a cavity and provide neck, arm and leg apertures. An armature is seated in the cavity and has arm and leg portions extending from a center portion to the arm and leg apertures and terminating in generally spherical elements. The upper ends of the arms and legs have generally spherical socket recesses which seat the spherical elements of the armature to provide pivotal movement in several axes. The legs have a pair of interfitting upper leg sections which provide a horizontal post in a slot at the lower end, and a lower leg member with a hinge projection seated on this post and pivotable thereabout in the slot. The figure may have an antennae structure including a base seated in the head cavity and a antennae extending outwardly through an aperture therein.

Claims

1. A simulated figure comprising:

A. a torso comprised of opposed front and back members defining a cavity therebetween, a neck aperture of generally circular cross section, arm apertures of generally circular cross section and leg apertures of generally circular cross section, said members of said torso having interfitting portions;

B. an armature seated in said cavity of said torso and having a central portion extending generally vertically thereof, arm portions extending oppositely from said central portion to points at least adjacent said arm apertures, leg portions extending oppositely from said central portion to points at least adjacent said leg apertures, said arm and leg portions terminating in generally spherical elements;

C. a head having a neck portion of circular cross section extending through said neck aperture of said torso, said head being hollow and pivotable within said torso about a generally vertical axis;

D. a pair of arms each having a socket recess of generally spherical configuration adjacent the upper end thereof, said socket recesses seating said spherical elements of said arm portions of said armature to provide pivotal movement of said arms relative to said torso about several axes;

E. a pair of legs each having a lower leg portion and an upper leg portion, said upper leg portions having a socket recess of generally spherical configuration adjacent the upper end thereof, said socket recesses seating said spherical elements of said leg portions of said armature to provide pivotal movement of said upper legs relative to said torso in several axes, said upper leg portions being comprised of a pair of interfitting sections, the lower ends of said sections providing a transversely extending post and a downwardly opening slot thereabout, said lower leg portion having a knee joint of reduced width extending into said slot and an aperture therein seating said post to provide pivotal movement about said post; and

F. an antennae structure extending outwardly from said head, said antennae structure including a base portion in the cavity within said head abutting the wall thereof about an aperture therethrough and an elongate member extending outwardly of said head through said aperture.

2. The simulated figure of claim 1 wherein said sections of said upper leg portion are secured together and thereby secure said lower leg portion thereto and secure said leg in assembly on said torso.

3. The simulated figure of claim 1 wherein one of said upper leg sections has said post thereon and the other leg section has a transversely extending pin seating in a recess in said post to facilitate secure assembly and alignment thereof.

4. The simulated figure of claim 1 wherein said generally spherical elements of said armature have a slot extending partially therethrough to provide resilient deflectability of the outer ends of said elements for passage into said socket recesses of said arms and legs.

5. The simulated figure of claim 1 wherein said neck portion of said head has a circumferential recess thereabout adjacent its lower end and said torso has a rib portion on the wall defining said neck aperture to engage in said recess and permit controlled pivotal movement thereof.

6. The simulated figure of claim 5 wherein there is included a head locking member having a cylindrical post extending upwardly into said neck portion and a collar at the lower end thereof.

7. The simulated figure of claim 6 wherein said post frictionally seats in said neck portion.

8. The simulated figure of claim 5 wherein said torso sections are assembled after insertion of said armature and neck portion of said head thereinto and are secured together to effect the secure assembly thereof.

9. The simulated figure of claim 1 wherein said torso sections have interfitting elements thereon to effect alignment upon assembly thereof.

10. The simulated figure of claim 9 wherein said interfitting elements comprise a pair of spaced posts with a bore therein on one section and a pair of pins on the other section seated in said bores.

11. The simulated figure of claim 10 wherein said armature has a pair of apertures extending through its center portion and said posts extend through said apertures to position said armature in said torso cavity.

12. The simulated figure of claim 1 wherein said torso sections are bonded together and upper leg sections are bonded together.

13. The simulated figure of claim 11 wherein said torso sections and upper leg sections are ultrasonically welded.

14. A simulated figure comprising:

(a) a torso comprised of opposed front and back rigid members defining a cavity therebetween, a neck aperture of generally circular cross section, arm apertures of generally circular cross section and leg apertures of generally circular cross section, said members of said torso having interfitting elements thereon to effect alignment upon assembly thereof, said interfitting elements comprising a pair of spaced posts with a bore therein on one section and a pair of pins on the other section seated in said bores, said torso members being bonded together;

(b) a rigid armature rigidly seated in said cavity of said torso and having a generally rectilinear central portion extending vertically thereof, arm portions extending oppositely from adjacent the upper end of said central portion to points adjacent said arm apertures, leg portions extending oppositely from adjacent the lower end of said central portion to points adjacent said leg apertures, said arm and leg portions terminating in socket elements with a generally spherical surface portion, said armature having a pair of apertures extending through its central portion with said posts of said torso members extending through said apertures to position said armature in said torso cavity;

(c) a head having a neck portion of circular cross section extending through said neck aperture of said torso, said head being hollow and pivotable within said torso about a generally vertical axis;

(d) a pair of arms extending inwardly of said arm apertures and each having a socket recess of generally spherical configuration adjacent the upper end thereof, said socket recesses encircling and seating said socket elements of said arm portions of said armature to provide pivotal movement of said arms relative to said torso about several axes; and

(e) a pair of legs extending inwardly of said leg apertures and each having a lower leg portion and an upper leg portion, said upper leg portions having a socket recess of generally spherical configuration adjacent the upper end thereof, said socket recesses encircling and seating said socket elements of said leg portions of said armature to provide pivotal movement of said upper legs relative to said torso in several axes, said upper leg portions being comprised of a pair of interfitting sections formed of relatively rigid material and bonded together along their side margins to provide a closed leg-like configuration, the upper ends of said sections cooperatively defining said socket recess, and the lower ends of said sections providing a transversely extending post and a downwardly opening slot thereabout, said lower leg portion having a knee joint of reduced width extending into said slot and an aperture therein seating said post to provide pivotal movement about said post, said sections of each upper leg portion being secured together to thereby secure said lower leg portion thereto and secure said leg in assembly on said torso.

15. The simulated of claim 14 wherein one of said upper leg sections has said post thereon and the other leg section has a transversely extending pin seating in a recess in said post to facilitate secure assembly and alignment thereof.

16. A simulated figure comprising:

(a) a torso comprised of opposed front and back rigid members defining a cavity therebetween, a neck aperture of generally circular cross section, arm apertures of generally circular cross section, and a pair of leg apertures of generally circular cross section, said toso members having interfitting elements thereon to effect alignment upon assembly thereof and comprised of at least one post with a bore therein on one member and a pin on the other member seated in said bore;

(b) a rigid armature fixedly seated in said cavity of said torso and having a generally rectilinear central portion and leg portions extending oppositely from adjacent the lower end of said central portion to points adjacent said leg apertures and terminating in socket elements with a generally spherical surface portion, said armature having at least one aperture extending through its central portion, said post of said torso member extending through said aperture to position fixedly said armature in said torso cavity;

(c) a pair of legs extending inwardly of said apertures and each having a lower leg portion and an upper leg portion, said upper leg portions each having a socket recess of generally spherical configuration adjacent the upper end thereof, said socket recesses encircling and seating said socket elements of said leg portions of said armature to provide pivotal movement of said upper legs relative to said torso in several axes, said upper leg portions being comprised of a pair of interfitting sections formed of relatively rigid material and bonded together along their side margins to provide a closed leg-like configuration, the upper ends of said sections cooperatively defining said socket recess and the lower ends of said sections providing a transversely extending post and a downwardly opening slot thereabout, said lower leg portion having a knee joint of reduced width extending into said slot and an aperture therein seating said post to provide pivotal movement about said post, said sections of said upper leg portion being secured together to thereby secure said lower leg portion thereto and secure said leg in assembly on said torso;

(d) a head having a neck portion of circular cross section extending through said neck aperture of said torso and being pivotable therein about a generally vertical axis; and

(e) a pair of arms having their upper ends extending through said arm apertures of said torso and pivotable therein.

17. The simulated of claim 16 wherein one of said upper leg sections has said post thereon and the other leg section has a transversely extending pin seating in a recess in said post to facilitate secure assembly and alignment thereof.

18. The simulated figure of claim 16 wherein said socket elements of said armature have a slot extending partially therethrough to provide resilient deflectability of the outer ends of said socket elements for passage into said socket recesses of said legs.

19. In a method of producing a simulated figure, the steps comprising:

(a) forming a pair of rigid torso members with a configuration defining a cavity therebetween and with neck, arm and leg apertures of generally circular cross section, said torso members having interfitting elements thereon to effect alignment upon assembly thereof and comprised of at least one post with a bore therein on one member and a pin on the other member adapted for seating in said qore;

(b) forming a rigid armature having a generally rectilinear central portion and leg portions extendng oppositely from adjacent the lower end of said central portion and terminating in socket elements with a generally spherical surface portion, said armature having at least one aperture extending through its central portion adapted to receive therethrough said post of said one torso member;

(c) forming rigid leg elements for a pair of legs, said elements of each leg includng a first pair of interfitting sections cooperatively providing an upper leg portion in which is cooperatively defined a socket recess of generally spherical configuration at the upper end thereof and, at the lower end thereof, a transversely extending post and a downwardly opening slot thereabout, said leg elements additionally including a lower leg portion having a knee joint of reduced width dimensioned to extend into said slot with an aperture therein adapted to seat said post, said leg elements being formed of relatively rigid material;

(d) assembling said leg elements by seating said post of one section of the upper leg sections in said aperture in said knee joint of said lower leg portion and then assembling the other section to produce the legs;

(e) bonding the assembled sections of said upper leg elements along their side margins to provide a closed leg-like configuration and capture the lower leg portion therewithin;

(f) inserting said armature into said one torso member with said post thereof extending through said armature aperture and with said socket elements adjacent said leg apertures, and assembling said other torso member thereto;

(g) bonding the assembled torso members along their side margins to define a rigid torso-like portion of the simulated figure capturing said armature;

(h) mounting said legs by inserting said socket elements of said armature into said spherical recesses thereof to seat said socket elements therewithin; and

(i) inserting a head member having a neck portion of generally circular cross section into said neck aperture of said torso members.

20. The method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said torso members are formed to define a pair of arm apertures of generally circular cross section, wherein said armature is formed to have a pair of arm portions extending oppositely from said central portion spaced from said leg portions thereof and terminating in generally spherical elements;

and wherein there are included the steps of forming a pair of arms, each having a socket recess of generally spherical configuration adjacent the upper end thereof, and for inserting said arms into said arm apertures on said torso to seat said spherical elements of said armature arm portions within said recesses of said arms, and thereby to mount said arms.