Amusement devices: toys – Figure toy or accessory therefor – Leaping or projected figure or accessory
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-24
2003-07-15
Banks, Derris H. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Figure toy or accessory therefor
Leaping or projected figure or accessory
C446S175000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06592426
ABSTRACT:
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material, which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of this patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to pop up amusement devices, and more particularly, to a pop up toy having a flexible rubberized figure suitable for highly detailed features and suitable for painting.
2. Description of the Related Art
Jack-in-the-boxes are well known in the art. Conventional jack-in-the-boxes typically include a hand crank which when turned causes a mechanism to play a tune until a trigger releases the top of the box. Once released a spring loaded head pops out. The spring, which connects to the head, is typically covered by a loose fitting fabric. The fabric covers the spring but fails to provide a constant shape since the fabric is simply draped over the spring.
The fabric has not conventionally been an article of entertainment in itself. The entertainment value from such materials has for the most part emanated from the colorful patterns placed on them. The entertainment value associated with these conventional devices is the displacement of the actuating device after a predetermined amount of time or after a musical piece is played by turning a crank. In some instances, rigid plastic figures were employed to pop out of boxes; however, these rigid plastic figures were limited in size due to the size of the container from which they emerged.
Heretofore, it has not been known in the art to provide a non-fabric flexible pop up figure to heighten the shock value of releasing the pop up figure from a container. It has also not been known in the art to provide a non-fabric flexible pop up figure which has a height or width dimension greater than the dimension of the container from which the figure has emerged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An amusement device includes a container having a releasable cover, which is biased by a compressible elastic member when the releasable cover is in a closed position. A molded rubber sheath encapsulates the compressed elastic member, and the rubber sheath provides a three dimensional figure which is collapsible in the closed position for storage in the container and which recovers to the three dimensional figure when released from the container. A release mechanism is provided in operative relationship with the releasable cover to permit the three dimensional figure to be released by the compressible elastic member when triggered by the release mechanism.
Another amusement device includes a container forming an enclosure and having a releasable cover, and a slider plate slidably engaging a portion of the enclosure, the slider plate being biased in a direction of the releasable cover. A compressible elastic member is mounted on the slider plate, and a molded rubber sheath encapsulates the compressed elastic member and secures to the slider plate on one end portion of the rubber sheath. The rubber sheath provides a three dimensional figure which is collapsible in a closed position for storage in the container and which recovers to the three-dimensional figure when released from the container. A release mechanism is disposed in operative relationship with the releasable cover to permit the three-dimensional figure to be released by the compressible elastic member and the biased slider plate when triggered by the release mechanism.
In alternate embodiments, the rubber sheath may include a silicon-based rubber. The silicon-based rubber may include KRATON. The container may include a height, H, and the three dimensional figure extends to a height of greater than 2 times H when released from the container. The compressed elastic member may extend vertically when released from the container and the rubber sheath may include a horizontally extending portion. The horizontally extending portion may extend beyond the container in a horizontal plane. The amusement may include a memory device for storing acoustical information such that the acoustical information is converted to sound by a speaker. The three-dimensional figure may include a molded image of a musician and the acoustical information includes music associated with the musician. The amusement device may include a light disposed in one of the container and the rubber sheath to provide lighting effects. The amusement device may include a pressure source in communication with an interior portion of the rubber sheath to permit increased pressure in the interior portion.
In other embodiments, the amusement device may include a vibration device coupled to the amusement device to produce vibrational motion of the three dimensional figure. The rubber sheath preferably provides a paintable surface. The rubber sheath may include a molded image having three-dimensional molded details. The three-dimensional details may include at least one of body features, personal effects and appendages. The three dimensional figure may include a molded image of one of a human, an animal, a fictional character, a cartoon character, a comic character, and a body part. The amusement device may include rigid parts attached to the rubber sheath and/or collapsible molded features connected to the rubber sheath. The collapsible molded features may include air holes to permit recovery of the collapsible molded features when the three dimensional figure is released.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 230502 (1880-07-01), Shepherd
patent: 821468 (1906-05-01), Dashiell
patent: 2858644 (1958-11-01), Derham
patent: 3691675 (1972-09-01), Rodgers
patent: 4205483 (1980-06-01), Clark et al.
patent: 4259805 (1981-04-01), Hornsby, Jr.
patent: 4407504 (1983-10-01), Popov
www.liveandlearn.com, see attached.*
www.actionfigures.about.com, see attached.*
www.liveandlearn.com (see attached).*
Bill Jensen, “Out of the Box”, Newsday, Monday, Feb. 21, 2000, Section B pp. B6-7.
Banks Derris H.
Keusey, Tutunjian & & Bitetto, P.C.
Williams Jamila
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