Amusement devices: toys – Figure toy or accessory therefor – Having movably joined body parts
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-11
2001-04-24
Muir, D. Neal (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Figure toy or accessory therefor
Having movably joined body parts
C446S371000, C446S385000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220922
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to toy figures or dolls and more particularly to toy figures having deformable skin and one or more articulating limbs comprising rigid structural members which articulate with respect to each other.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A variety of dolls and action figures are known which are made by molding a soft polyvinyl chloride resin or other soft plastic material. It is considered desirable to provide such toy figures with an exterior texture that simulates the feel of skin. It is also considered desirable to provide flexible limbs to permit a child to manipulate the toy figure creatively.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,699,714 discloses a doll having a foam body and limbs with a flexible wire housed within the limbs to make them bendable into various positions.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,606,398 describes a stuffed doll formed by coating a form with latex coagulant, dipping the coated form in a vulcanizable rubbery material, drying the material and vulcanizing the doll. The doll is then removed from the form and filled with textile fibers, rags or similar yielding materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,020 describes a rotationally molded doll torso which is filled with pressurized air. The torso is provided with joints for rotatingly attaching the head and limbs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,336 describes a doll having stretchable arms and legs which can be drawn into various configurations. The doll has an external skin of elastic film and is filled with a viscous liquid such as corn syrup.
The prior art toy figures and dolls having soft resilient skin and flexible limbs do not provide realistic ranges of articulation for the limbs. It would be desirable to provide a toy figure with a skin layer that is soft and resiliently deformable and limbs with rigid limb member that act as “bones” that are capable of articulating relative to one another in a realistic manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a toy figure or doll with articulating limbs comprising rigid limb members connected by articulating joints. The toy figures of the present invention preferably have a hollow body made of a resiliently deformable, soft skin layer and are preferably stuffed with a soft fill material to further simulate a “live” feel.
In a preferred embodiment, the skin of the body and limbs of a toy figure of the invention are cast separately and assembled. The limbs are preferably joined to the body by e.g., connector joints, although it is also contemplated that the articulating limbs may be completely enclosed within the limbs, with the limbs and body of the toy figure being joined by adhesive or other means. Alternatively, the toy figure may be molded as a single piece and the articulating limbs inserted through openings at the extremities of the limbs which are then patched, for example by an injection molded piece, optionally with the distal ends of the articulating limb structures being glued to the inside surface of the injection molded patches.
The body and limbs of the toy figure or doll are cast by conventional rotational molding or slush molding as is well known in the art. The cavities of the body and limbs are preferably stuffed with polyester fiber, gel or other soft, deformable material.
In particularly preferred embodiments, the toy figure may be sized up to 2-3 feet or more in length or more with limbs up to 18 inches or more in length. Toy figures of this size are sometimes referred to as “my size” figures, referring to their size relative to a child.
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Kwan Chiu-Keung
Lee James S. W.
C. J. Associates, Ltd.
Canfield Jeffrey H.
Laff, Whitesel & Saret, Ltd.
Muir D. Neal
Stern Martin L.
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