Amusement devices: toys – Construction toy – Figure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-09
2001-05-22
Ricci, John A. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Construction toy
Figure
C446S101000, C446S385000, C446S387000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234858
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
My invention relates to a toy, and more generally, to ornamental objects which may be crushed or otherwise deformed without damage, and which are capable of returning to their original shape after the deforming forces are removed from the object.
BACKGROUND
A wide variety of children's toys and various ornamental objects are made of rubber compounds which are formulated for resiliency, elasticity, strength, and other important properties.
I am aware of various attempts in which an effort has been made to provide an improved toy which has retarded resiliency. Such designs are largely characterized by the use of rubber compounding formulations which result in designs that have a “slow motion” return to the undistorted shape. One such design is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,830,402, issued Apr. 15, 1958, to J. A. Jones for ORNAMENTAL TOYS POSSESSING RETARDED RESILIENCY. In one embodiment, his invention provides a solid elongated body of substantial thickness that is made of a resilient material of essentially low molecular weight polyvinyl chloride, and a resiliency retarding ingredient so that the return to the original shape, after deformation, will be relatively slow.
OBJECTS, ADVANTAGES, AND NOVEL FEATURES
I have now invented, and disclose herein, a novel, design for flexible, resilient foam animals which may be packaged in the form of puzzle parts, and which can be assembled into characters or animals having interchangeable, moveable limbs. When animals are provided, the foam objects are adapted to being interchangeably assembled, and to having limbs articulated about pivot assembly points. My resilient foam objects are simple, lightweight, relatively inexpensive and easy to manufacture, and otherwise superior to those designs heretofore used or proposed, in so far as I am aware.
From the foregoing, it will be apparent to the reader that one important and primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel foam toy susceptible of being manually assembled.
Other important but more specific objects of the invention reside in the provision of a novel foam toy as described herein which:
can be manufactured in a simple, straightforward manner with commonly available manufacturing procedures such as water jet cutting techniques, or with die stamping techniques from commonly available foam materials;
in conjunction with the preceding object, have the advantage that they can be easily left in position in the material from which they are formed, in order to provide a “puzzle” having insert shapes corresponding to various body portions for the selected object;
which in a relatively inexpensive manner can be provided in a variety of shapes and sizes to produce animals or other objects of any imaginable shape, size, or color.
Other important objects, features, and additional advantages of my invention will become apparent to the reader from the foregoing and the appended claims and as the ensuing detailed description and discussion proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I have now invented and disclose herein a novel puzzle which can be removed from the puzzle form and converted into a three dimensional object such as a toy foam animal. Such a foam animal preferably includes interchangeable body parts, and more preferably includes articulating appendages which are interchangeably attachable to the body at pivot structures that are affixed to, or which extend thru, the body portions of the foam animal. In one embodiment, pivot structures are formed by resilient foam pivot pins having deformable retaining caps at opposing ends thereof, which, after attachment of articulating limbs, serve to retain the limbs. In another embodiment, the pivot pins act against hex-socket shaped apertures (defined by wall edge portions) that are located on each limb.
The novel foam animal provides a simple, interesting, attention focusing toy for children. Various designs can be used to increase the variety of shapes and sizes of the animals, and the toys can be made in the shape and size appropriate to suggest any desired species, whether it be dinosaurs, turtles, farm animals, pets, reptiles or any other selected design. This design provides a most interesting novel structure for assembling toy objects, and especially toy animals, compared to previous designs known to me.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1229580 (1917-06-01), Brown
patent: 2011714 (1935-08-01), Freidman
patent: 2438391 (1948-03-01), Gallagher
patent: 2457249 (1948-12-01), Lipschitz
patent: 2731766 (1956-01-01), Rubin
patent: 2760302 (1956-08-01), Cheskin
patent: 2830402 (1958-04-01), Schleich
patent: 2952462 (1960-09-01), Planin
patent: 3097446 (1963-07-01), Packer
patent: 3236007 (1966-02-01), Abeson
patent: 3365198 (1968-01-01), Hay
patent: 4570936 (1986-02-01), Meiser
patent: 4881915 (1989-11-01), Liaw
patent: 468869 (1928-11-01), None
patent: 974505 (1951-02-01), None
Goodloe, Jr. R. Reams
Ricci John A.
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