Toy figure with articulating joints

• US 6,482,068 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CJ Associates Ltd.
• Original Assignee: CJ Associates Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, James S. W., Kwan, Chiu Keung
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JAMILA O
• Application Number:
  US10/138,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20020127949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 200 Days
• Field of Search: 446/376, 446/385, 446/379-382, 446/390, 446/330, 446/375, 446/384, 446/354, 446/356, 446/377-378, 446/276
• US Class Current: 446/376
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/46 Connections for limbs
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14131 using positioning or centering means forming part of the insert
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14065 Positioning or centering articles in the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14467 Joining articles or parts of a single article B29C45/14377, B29C45/14385, B29C45/14581, B29C45/14614 and B29C45/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14754 being in movable or releasable engagement with the coating, e.g. bearing assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/10 Homopolymers or copolymers of propene
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/16 Elastomeric ethene-propene or ethene-propene-diene copolymers, e.g. EPR and EPDM rubbers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/22 Macromolecular compounds not provided for in C08L2666/16 - C08L2666/20
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/24 Graft or block copolymers according to groups C08L51/00, C08L53/00 or C08L55/02; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 37/00 Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, each having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond, and at least one being terminated by a heterocyclic ring containing oxygen of cyclic esters of polyfunctional acids C08L31/00; of cyclic anhydrides of unsaturated acids C08L35/00; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 45/00 Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of compounds having no unsaturated aliphatic radicals in side chain, and having one or more carbon-to-carbon double bonds in a carbocyclic or in a heterocyclic ring system; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers of cyclic anhydrides or imides C08L35/00; of cyclic esters of polyfunctional acids C08L31/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 51/06 grafted on to homopolymers or copolymers of aliphatic hydrocarbons containing only one carbon-to-carbon double bond
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 71/02 Polyalkylene oxides

Abstract

A toy figure having multiple articulating limbs connected to the torso by pivot joints that are molded in a vertical injection molding step that forms and pivotally interconnects, in situ one member of the pivot joint to a second, pre-formed member of the pivot joint.

Claims

1. A toy figure having a trunk comprising:

an upper torso member;

a lower torso member; and

a ball joint having a ball member and a ball enclosure defining a socket, the ball member pivotally and rotatably mounted in the socket of the ball enclosure, the ball member including a shaft extending therefrom, the ball enclosure of the ball joint being mounted in the upper torso and the shaft of the ball joint being mounted in the lower torso, thereby enabling the upper torso member to pivot and rotate in relation to the lower torso member;

wherein a portion of the ball member opposite the shaft is enclosed by and abuts a portion of the ball enclosure, the portion of the ball member is made from a first material and the portion of the ball enclosure comprises a second material, and one of the first material and the second material is softer than the other of the first material and second material, thereby producing a coefficient of friction between the ball member and the ball enclosure that resists movement of the ball member within the socket but is normally overcome by a user'"'"'s input, wherein the ball enclosure has an engaging rail and is mounted within a unitary mounting structure shaped to receive the engaging rail, the mounting structure being disposed within the upper torso and comprising a bottom wall and a pair of spaced-apart side walls.

2. The toy figure of claim 1 wherein the bottom wall of the mounting structure connects the pair of side walls and includes a cut-out for receiving the ball enclosure.

3. The toy figure of claim 1 wherein the upper torso has an inner surface and the unitary mounting structure projects from the inner surface of the upper torso, each side wall has an inner face substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the upper torso and the inner faces of the side walls are opposite from and substantially parallel with one another.

4. The toy figure of claim 3 wherein the socket member is received between the inner faces of the side walls.

5. The toy figure of claim 3 wherein the bottom wall of the mounting structure connects the pair of side walls and includes a cut-out for receiving the ball enclosure.

6. The toy figure of claim 5 wherein the socket member is received between the inner faces of the side walls and within the cut-out of the bottom wall.

7. The toy figure of claim 6 wherein the opposing side walls define slots for slidingly receiving segments of the engaging rail.

8. The toy figure of claim 6 wherein a portion of the mounting structure abuts a portion of the ball enclosure below the rail segment.

9. The toy figure of claim 8 wherein a portion of the ball enclosure is seated on the bottom wall of the mounting structure.

10. The toy figure of claim 6 wherein the cut-out is substantially U-shaped and opens opposite the inner surface of the upper torso.

11. The toy figure of claim 9 wherein the cut-out is substantially U-shaped and opens opposite the inner surface of the upper torso.

12. The toy figure of claim 1 wherein the second material is softer than the first material.

13. The toy figure of claim 6 wherein the second material is softer than the first material.

14. The toy figure of claim 6 further including a he ad member attached to the trunk by a lever arm having a pivotably connected first end and a rotatably connected second end.

15. The toy figure of claim 6 further including an articulating limb comprising:

a distal limb segment having an internal pivot pin formed within said distal limb segment at its proximal end;

a second limb segment extending from the proximal end of said distal limb segment, the second limb segment having a distal end that is pivotally mounted to the proximal end of said distal limb segment by said internal pivot pin; and

a third limb segment having at its distal end an interior space sized and shaped to rotationally capture the proximal end of said second limb segment.

16. The toy figure of claim 6 further including an articulating arm comprising:

an upper arm segment with a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower arm segment with a proximal end and a distal end; and

a hand with a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the upper arm segment is pivotally and rotatably connected to the trunk, the proximal end of the lower arm segment is pivotally connected to the distal end of the upper arm segment, and the proximal end of the hand is pivotally and rotatably connected to the distal end of the lower arm segment.

17. The toy figure of claim 6 further including an articulating leg comprising:

an upper leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end; and

a foot with a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the upper leg segment is pivotally and rotatably connected to the trunk, the proximal end of the lower leg segment is pivotally connected to the distal end of the upper leg segment, and the proximal end of the foot is pivotally connected to the distal end of the lower leg segment.

18. The toy figure of claim 14 further including an articulating limb comprising:

a distal limb segment having an internal pivot pin formed within said distal limb segment at its proximal end;

a second limb segment extending from the proximal end of said distal limb segment, the second limb segment having a distal end that is pivotally mounted to the proximal end of said distal limb segment by said internal pivot pin; and

a third limb segment having at its distal end an interior space sized and shaped to rotationally capture the proximal end of said second limb segment.

19. The toy figure of claim 14 further including an articulating arm comprising:

an upper arm segment with a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower arm segment with a proximal end and a distal end; and

a hand with a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the upper arm segment is pivotally and rotatably connected to the trunk, the proximal end of the lower arm segment is pivotally connected to the distal end of the upper arm segment, and the proximal end of the hand is pivotally and rotatably connected to the distal end of the lower arm segment.

20. The toy figure of claim 14 further including an articulating leg comprising:

an upper leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end; and

a foot with a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the upper leg segment is pivotally and rotatably connected to the trunk, the proximal end of the lower leg segment is pivotally connected to the distal end of the upper leg segment, and the proximal end of the foot is pivotally connected to the distal end of the lower leg segment.

21. The toy figure of claim 15 further including an articulating leg comprising:

an upper leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end; and

a foot with a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the upper leg segment is pivotally and rotatably connected to the trunk, the proximal end of the lower leg segment is pivotally connected to the distal end of the upper leg segment, and the proximal end of the foot is pivotally connected to the distal end of the lower leg segment.

22. The toy figure of claim 16 further including an articulating leg comprising:

an upper leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end; and

a foot with a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the upper leg segment is pivotally and rotatably connected to the trunk, the proximal end of the lower leg segment is pivotally connected to the distal end of the upper leg segment, and the proximal end of the foot is pivotally connected to the distal end of the lower leg segment.

23. The toy figure of claim 18 further including an articulating leg comprising:

an upper leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end; and

a foot with a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the upper leg segment is pivotally and rotatably connected to the trunk, the proximal end of the lower leg segment is pivotally connected to the distal end of the upper leg segment, and the proximal end of the foot is pivotally connected to the distal end of the lower leg segment.

24. The toy figure of claim 19 further including an articulating leg comprising:

an upper leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end; and

a foot with a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the upper leg segment is pivotally and rotatably connected to the trunk, the proximal end of the lower leg segment is pivotally connected to the distal end of the upper leg segment, and the proximal end of the foot is pivotally connected to the distal end of the lower leg segment.

25. A toy figure having a trunk comprising:

an upper torso member;

a lower torso member;

a ball joint having a socket member and a ball member pivotally and rotatably mounted in the socket member, the ball member including a shaft extending therefrom, the socket member of the ball joint being mounted in the upper torso and comprising opposing first and second substantially horizontal engaging rail segments extending from the socket member, and the shaft of the ball joint being mounted in the lower torso, thereby enabling the upper torso member to pivot and rotate in relation to the lower torso member; and

the socket member being mounted within a unitary mounting structure comprising a bottom wall and a pair of opposing side walls, the mounting structure being disposed within the upper torso and shaped to slidingly receive the first and second engaging rail segments, wherein the upper torso has an inner surface and the unitary mounting structure projects from the inner surface of the upper torso, and the side walls project from and are substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the upper torso.

26. The toy figure of claim 25 wherein the bottom wall of the mounting structure connects the pair of side walls and includes a cut-out for receiving the body member.

27. The toy figure of claim 25 wherein each side wall has an inner face substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the upper torso and the inner faces of the side walls are opposite from and substantially parallel with one another.

28. The toy figure of claim 27 wherein the socket member is received between the inner faces of the side walls.

29. The toy figure of claim 27 wherein the bottom wall of the mounting structure connects the pair of side walls and includes a cut-out for receiving the ball enclosure.

30. The toy figure of claim 29 wherein the socket member is received between the inner faces of the side walls and within the cut-out of the bottom wall.

31. The toy figure of claim 30 wherein the opposing side walls define slots for slidingly receiving segments of the engaging rail.

32. The toy figure of claim 30 wherein a portion of the mounting structure abuts a portion of the ball enclosure below the rail segment.

33. The toy figure of claim 32 wherein a portion of the ball enclosure is seated on the bottom wall of the mounting structure.

34. The toy figure of claim 30 wherein the cut-out is substantially U-shaped and opens opposite the inner surface of the upper torso.

35. The toy figure of claim 33 wherein the cut-out is substantially U-shaped and opens opposite the inner surface of the upper torso.

36. The toy figure of claim 30 further including a head member attached to the trunk by a lever arm having a pivotably connected first end and a rotatably connected second end.

37. The toy figure of claim 30 further including an articulating limb comprising:

a distal limb segment having an internal pivot pin formed within said distal limb segment at its proximal end;

a second limb segment extending from the proximal end of said distal limb segment, the second limb segment having a distal end that is pivotally mounted to the proximal end of said distal limb segment by said internal pivot pin; and

a third limb segment having at its distal end an interior space sized and shaped to rotationally capture the proximal end of said second limb segment.

38. The toy figure of claim 30 further including an articulating arm comprising:

an upper arm segment with a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower arm segment with a proximal end and a distal end; and

a hand with a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the upper arm segment is pivotally and rotatably connected to the trunk, the proximal end of the lower arm segment is pivotally connected to the distal end of the upper arm segment, and the proximal end of the hand is pivotally and rotatably connected to the distal end of the lower arm segment.

39. The toy figure of claim 30 further including an articulating leg comprising:

an upper leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end; and

a foot with a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the upper leg segment is pivotally and rotatably connected to the trunk, the proximal end of the lower leg segment is pivotally connected to the distal end of the upper leg segment, and the proximal end of the foot is pivotally connected to the distal end of the lower leg segment.

40. The toy figure of claim 36 further including an articulating limb comprising:

a distal limb segment having an internal pivot pin formed within said distal limb segment at its proximal end;

a second limb segment extending from the proximal end of said distal limb segment, the second limb segment having a distal end that is pivotally mounted to the proximal end of said distal limb segment by said internal pivot pin; and

a third limb segment having at its distal end an interior space sized and shaped to rotationally capture the proximal end of said second limb segment.

41. The toy figure of claim 36 further including an articulating arm comprising:

an upper arm segment with a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower arm segment with a proximal end and a distal end; and

a hand with a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the upper arm segment is pivotally and rotatably connected to the trunk, the proximal end of the lower arm segment is pivotally connected to the distal end of the upper arm segment, and the proximal end of the hand is pivotally and rotatably connected to the distal end of the lower arm segment.

42. The toy figure of claim 36 further including an articulating leg comprising:

an upper leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end; and

a foot with a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the upper leg segment is pivotally and rotatably connected to the trunk, the proximal end of the lower leg segment is pivotally connected to the distal end of the upper leg segment, and the proximal end of the foot is pivotally connected to the distal end of the lower leg segment.

43. The toy figure of claim 37 further including an articulating leg comprising:

an upper leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end; and

a foot with a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the upper leg segment is pivotally and rotatably connected to the trunk, the proximal end of the lower leg segment is pivotally connected to the distal end of the upper leg segment, and the proximal end of the foot is pivotally connected to the distal end of the lower leg segment.

44. The toy figure of claim 38 further including an articulating leg comprising:

an upper leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end; and

a foot with a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the upper leg segment is pivotally and rotatably connected to the trunk, the proximal end of the lower leg segment is pivotally connected to the distal end of the upper leg segment, and the proximal end of the foot is pivotally connected to the distal end of the lower leg segment.

45. The toy figure of claim 40 further including an articulating leg comprising:

an upper leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end; and

a foot with a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the upper leg segment is pivotally and rotatably connected to the trunk, the proximal end of the lower leg segment is pivotally connected to the distal end of the upper leg segment, and the proximal end of the foot is pivotally connected to the distal end of the lower leg segment.

46. The toy figure of claim 41 further including an articulating leg comprising:

an upper leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end;

a lower leg segment with a proximal end and a distal end; and

a foot with a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the upper leg segment is pivotally and rotatably connected to the trunk, the proximal end of the lower leg segment is pivotally connected to the distal end of the upper leg segment, and the proximal end of the foot is pivotally connected to the distal end of the lower leg segment.

47. The toy figure of claim 25 wherein the first and second rail segments each has a continuous outer edge.

48. The toy figure of claim 30 wherein the first and second rail segments each has a continuous outer edge.

49. The toy figure of claim 33 wherein the first and second rail segments each has a continuous outer edge.