Articulated limb assemby for figure toy

• US 4,673,374 A
• Filed: 01/24/1986
• Issued: 06/16/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Kelley, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US06/821,950
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 446/383, 446/378, 446/376, 446/380, 446/381, 446/379, 446/390, 446/371, 446/375
• US Class Current: 446/383
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/46 Connections for limbs

Abstract

An articulated limb assembly for a figure toy which allows the limbs of the figure toy to be rotated about three different axes for the purpose of posing the limbs. The assembly includes a supporting track mounted within the hollow torso of the figure toy which is used to guide connectors coupled to the limbs. Heads attached to the connectors frictionally engage curve surfaces of the track allowing each limb to be rotated about a vertical axis. Each limb may also be frictionally rotated about a first horizontal axis or about the longitudinal axis of one of the connectors. Disk members attached to the connectors frictionally engage slots in the limbs allowing each limb to be frictionally rotated about a second horizontal axis. As a result, the limbs of the figure toy may be posed in a variety of different positions.

Claims

1. An articulated limb assembly for a figure toy having a hollow torso with a plurality of apertures comprising:

a supporting track mounted inside said hollow torso including a bottom plate, two curved portions extending upwardly from said bottom plate, a middle portion extending upwardly from said bottom plate and a top plate attached to said middle portion, each of said curved portions having a curved surface;

two limbs each having a generally spherically-shaped upper portion rotatably engaging one of said apertures in said hollow torso, each of said upper portions having a slot therein; and

two connectors operably coupled to said two limbs and to said supporting track, each of said two connectors having a head attached to one end thereof and a disk member attached to the other end thereof, each of said disk members rotatably engaging said slot in one of said upper portions so that each of said upper portions is capable of rotating about a first horizontal axis, each of said heads frictionally engaging said curved surface of one of said curved portions so that each of said upper portions and each of said connectors are capable of rotating about a common vertical axis and about a common second horizontal axis, each of said common second horizontal axes being perpendicular to one of said vertical axes and to one of said first horizontal axes and coinciding with a longitudinal axis of one of said connectors.

2. The articulated limb assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said curved surfaces of said curved portions is defined by a radius having a center located on one of said vertical axes.

3. An articulated limb assembly for a figure toy having a hollow torso with a plurality of apertures comprising:

at least one limb, said at least one limb having an upper portion rotatably engaging one of said apertures in said hollow torso;

connector means for controlling rotation of said upper portion about a vertical axis and first and second horizontal axes, said connector means including a connector having a head attached to one end thereof and a disk member attached to the other end thereof, said disk member rotatably engaging said upper portion; and

supporting track means for supporting and guiding said connector means including a bottom plate, at least one curved portion extending upwardly from said bottom plate, a middle portion extending upwardly from said bottom plate and a top plate attached to said middle portion, said at least one curved portion having a curved surface frictionally engaging said head of said connector.

4. The articulated limb assembly of claim 3 wherein said vertical and horizontal axes are perpendicular and disposed at right angles to each other.

5. The articulated limb assembly of claim 4 wherein said upper portion has a slot therein, said disk member rotatably engaging said slot.

6. An articulated limb assembly for a figure toy having a hollow torso with a plurality of apertures comprising:

at least one limb, said at least one limb having an upper portion rotatably engaging one of said apertures in said hollow torso, said upper portion having a slot therein;

connector means rotatably engaging said upper portion for controlling rotation of said upper portion about three perpendicular axes, said connector means including a connector having a head attached to one end thereof and a disk member attached to the other end thereof, said disk member rotatably engaging said slot in said upper portion; and

supporting track means frictionally engaging said connector means and mounted inside said hollow torso for supporting and guiding said connector means so that said upper portion is capable of rotating about said axes, said supporting track means including a bottom plate, at least one curved portion extending upwardly from said bottom plate, a middle portion extending upwardly from said bottom plate and a top plate attached to said middle portion, said curved portion having a curved surface frictionally engaging said head of said connector.