Frictional joint for toys

• US 7,566,256 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Wai, Fuk Chai Alvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cegielnik; Urszula M
• Application Number:
  US11/393,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20060228985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 446/381, 446/383, 446/384, 446/378, 446/376
• US Class Current: 446/381
• 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 torso member having a pelvis mating region; and

a pelvis member having a cupped surface adapted to receive the pelvis mating region, wherein a joint is defined between the torso and pelvis members to enable rotation between the torso and pelvis members, wherein the joint includes;

a plug portion coupled to the pelvis member and having an operative surface; and

a socket portion coupled to the torso member and having a removable insert adapted to receive the plug portion, the socket portion further having multiple spaced apart protrusions adapted to contact the operative surface of the plug portion so as to create friction therebetween.

2. 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.

3. The movable toy of claim 2, wherein the ribs extend from the wall of the socket portion parallel to one another.

4. 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.

5. The movable toy of claim 4, wherein the operative surface of the plug portion is convex and the protrusions each have a corresponding concave contact region.

6. The movable toy of claim 1, wherein the socket portion is integrally formed with the torso member.

7. The movable toy of claim 1, wherein the plug portion includes a shaft that extends through an opening in the insert and places the operative surface in contact with the multiple spaced apart protrusions.

8. The movable toy of claim 7, wherein the insert is positioned so that the insert at least partially contacts the operative surface of the plug portion and urges the operative surface into engagement with the protrusions.

9. The movable toy of claim 1, wherein the torso and pelvis members are adapted to conceal the plug portion and the protrusions.

10. A waist joint for a toy comprising:

a pelvis member having a plug portion with a shaft and an operative surface; and

a torso member having a socket portion adapted to receive the plug portion, the socket portion including a friction assembly having multiple distinct contact regions that engage the operative surface of the plug portion and, the socket portion also including a removable insert positioned at least partially within the socket, portion and adapted to maintain the plug portion in frictional engagement with the socket portion.

11. The waist joint of claim 10, wherein the removable insert includes a substantially cylindrical portion.

12. The waist joint of claim 11, wherein the removable insert includes a flange extending outwardly from the cylindrical portion, thereby forming a collar to retain the removable insert within the socket portion.

13. The waist joint of claim 12, wherein the socket portion includes plates that straddle the flange.

14. The waist joint of claim 10, wherein the removable insert has an opening sized to accommodate passage of the shaft of the plug portion.

15. The waist joint of claim 14, wherein the opening is smaller than the operative surface.

16. The waist joint of claim 10, wherein the removable insert is adapted to contact the operative surface of the plug portion and urge the operative surface towards the contact regions of the friction assembly.

17. The waist joint of claim 10, wherein the torso member has a pelvis mating region and the pelvis member has a cupped surface adapted to receive the pelvis mating region.

18. The waist joint of claim 10, wherein the torso member includes a torso front and a torso back that define an internal compartment configured to conceal the socket portion.

19. The waist joint of claim 10, wherein each of the multiple contact regions is formed on an end of a protrusion that extends toward the operative surface of the plug portion.

20. A joint for controlling relative movement between two interconnected body part members of a moveable toy, the joint comprising:

first and second portions on first and second body part members, respectively, the first portion including a spherical operative surface, and the second portion including a cylindrical protrusion having a diameter smaller than that of the operative surface of the first portion, the cylindrical protrusion further including a convex contact region configured to mate with the operative surface of the first portion, such that the operative surface is partially seated in and urged against the contact region, wherein the friction produced thereby inhibits relative movement of the interconnected body part members from a desired position.