Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TR~NSFORMABLE TOY FI~URE
Introduction
The present application relates to a toy ~igurs which can be
progressively transformed (changed) into different configurations.
It relate~ particularly to a toy figure with a specially formed
pocket that is resiliently deformed to allow the tcy fiyure to be
progressively transfo~med into different configurations.
Background
Toy figures that can be changed ~rom one configuration to
another have been suggested in the past. One such toy figure is
shown in U. S. Patent 4,413,442. The patent discloses a toy
figure tha~ can be changed ~rom one discrete configuration (e.g.,
an egg) to another discr~te con~iguration (e.g., an animal such
as a duck). The toy is changed by folding back the outer
covering of the egg and pushing the body portion of the animal
through an opening in the egg covering. The portion of the
covering that has been folded back is then locked in place by
Velcro strips to maintain the figure in the configuration of an
animal. The patentee indicates that the foregoing type of
transformation is designed to serve an educational ~unction by
depicting to a child the transformation from an egg to a related
animal.
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Other types o~ changeable toy figures are shown in U.S.
~atents 1,396,766; 2,195,1~7; and 4,336,665. In U.S. Patent
4,336,665, a stuffed ~oy figure has a body portion with two heads
connected to each other, and a skirt which carries the toy's
appendages. The skirt i9 inverted between one! of two discrete
positions to cover one head portion and expose the other head
portion. The appendages carried by the skirt form the appendages
associated with either of the head portions. In U.S. Patents
1,396,766 and 2,195,127, there are also a pair o~ head portions
connected to each other, and each head portion has at least some
appendages also connected to it. A skirt, which does not carry
appelldage8, i8 inverted between the head portions to cover one
head portion and its associated appendages, and to expose the
head portion and its associated appendages.
Finally, there are currently on the market toys known as
"transformers", "go-bots", etc., which comprise mechanical
elements that are manipulated to transform the toys between
different configurations(e.g. between robots and vehicles).
summarY of The Xnvention
The present invention relates to a transformable toy figure
with a unique structure for progressively transforming the toy
figure between different configurations.
The toy figure of the present invention has a body portion
with fanciful material thereon and a special fabric segment
secured thereto. The special fabric segment defines a pocket on
the figure. The pocket can be resiliently(elastically) deformed
to allow the figure to be progressively transfc)rmed from one
configuration to another. ~he pocket ha~ a memory which enables
it to hold the figure in a selected configuration.
The resiliently deformable pocket has a resiliently
deformable opening through which selected portions of the body
portion can be forced during trans~ormation of the figure from
one configuration to another. Th~ pocket's memory normally tends
to contract the size of the opening toward a predetermined set.
The pocket is resiliently expandable as the figure i9 trans~ormed
~rom one configuration to another. When a desired transformation
is achieved, the pocket is allowed to contract to maintain the
~figure in its transformed configuration.
In a first basic configuration of the toy, the body portion
has fanciful material(preferably appendages and facial
components~ integral therewith. The special ~abric segment is
connected with the body portion in such a way that in the first
coniguration, the pocket and the fanciful material are displayed
in separate locations on the outer periphery of the body portion.
In a second basic con~iguration, the pocket is inverted, and
surrounds a selected part o~ the body portion and its fanciful
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material. In the preferred embodiment, when the figure is in its
second csnfi~uration, lt has a ball-like forml with some of the
fanciful material at least partly visible and giving the ball-
likç form a ~anciful appearance.
The toy figure of the invention has two basic modes of
transformation between its basic first and second con.igurations.
In one mode of transformation, the pocket is resiliently deformed
to progressively cover a portion of the fanciful material on the
body portion a~ the figure i8 transformed from its first
con~iguration to its second configuration. In another mode of
transformation, the pocket is resiliently deformed to
progre~sively uncover the ~anciful material on the body portion
as the figure ~s transformed from its second configuration to its
first configuration.
Due to the memory of the pocket, the toy figure can be
maintained in a variety of intermediate configurations during
either of its first or second modes of transformation. During
either mode of transformation, if the forces causing the
deformation are removed, and the pocket is allowed to contract
under its memory, the figure will assume a configuration
determined primarily by the amount of the body portion and its
fanciful material that is enclosed(covered) by the pocket.
With the toy figure according to the preferred embodiment,
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at least some of the fanciful material on the body portion
is visible in all of the different configurations of the
toy, and contributes to the fanciful look of the toy in
each configuration. The pocket is resiliently deformable
to allow transformation of the figure from one configuration
to another, and its memory enables the pocket to hold the
figure in different configurations as the toy figure is
transformed between its first and second basic configurations.
According to a still further broad aspect of the
present invention there is provided a -toy figure which is
transformable between first and second configurations. The
toy figure comprises a body portion having fanciful material
integral -therewith. Means enables transformation of the toy
figure between its first and second configurations and
comprises a fabric segment integral with the body portion
and forming a pocket thereon. The pocket has an opening
and is resiliently deformable, and further has a memory
which contracts the pocket toward a predetermined set when
forces causing deformation of the pocket are removed. The
pocket is resiliently deformable to expand the size of the
pocket as the toy figure is transformed from one configura-
tion to another. The fabric segment has first and second
surfaces. The pocket is inverted as the toy figure is
transformed between its first and second configurations
such that (i) one of the first and seGond surfaces of the
fabric segment is maintained in facing relation to and at
least paxtially against a part of the body portion, and the
other surface defines part of the outer periphery of the
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373~
figure when the figure is in its first configuration, and (ii)
the other of the first and second surfaces of the fabric
segment is maintained in facing relation to and at least
partially against a part of the body portion and the one
surface defines part of the outer periphery of the figure
when the figure is in its second configuration. The pocket
is resiliently deformable to progressively uncover the
fanciful material in a first mode of transformation of the
toy figure between the first and second configurations.
The pocket is resiliently deformable to progressively cover
the fanciful material in a second mode of transformation of
the toy figure between the first and second configurations.
The memory of the pocket enables the pocket to hold the -toy
figure in a selected configuration during either of the
first or second modes of transformation of the toy figure.
Other features of the present invention will be
further apparent from the following detailed description
and the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 is a three dimensional view of a trans-
formable toy figure according to the invention, in one of
its basic configurations;
Figure 2 is a three dimensional view of the trans-
formable toy figure of the invention, in another one of its
basic configurations;
Figure 3 is a three dimensional view of the trans-
formable toy figure of the invention, in an intermediate
configuration;
Figures 4A-4D schematically illustrate the manner in which
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the transformable toy figure of the invention is transformed
between two of its configuratlons; and
Figures 5A-5L schematically illustrate different fabric
pattern pieces for forming a transformable toy figure according
to the principles of the present invention.
Detailed Description of The Preferred Embodiment
The principles of the presnt invention are particularly
useful in fo~ming a stuffed toy figure. The invention is
described below in connection with a stuffed toy figure.
A stuffed toy figure according to the present invention can
be tranRformed between distinctly different basic configurations.
In one basic configuration (~igure 1) the stu~fed toy figure has
fanciful material which may include facial components (eyes,
ears, nose, mouth) and appendages (tail, arms, legs) which give
the toy figure the appearance of a fanciful character. In
another basic configuration (figure 2) the stuffed toy figure has
a ball-like form, with some of the fanciful material(e.g. eyes)
visible thereon. The toy is tran~formed between its basic
configurations by deforming a speclally formed pocket on the
~igure.
Referring to Figure 1, the ~-tuffed toy figure has a body
portion 10 comprising a fabric cover 12 with a soft, compliant
fill material therein. The fabric cover can be any commercially
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available material ~or fo~ming s~uffed toy ~igures(e.g. plush
pile)~ The ~ill material may be made of a suitable, commercially
available fill material (e.g. fiber fill, polyurethane, etc.).
The body portion 10 has a series of appendages and
facial components integral therewith. The appendages include
legs 14 and arms 16. The facial components include eyes 18, ears
20, and a nose 22.
The stuffed toy figure also has a special fabric segment 24
connected to the body portion 10. The fabric segment 24 is
preferably sewn to the fabric cover 12 and forms a pocket 26 on the
body portion 10. The pocket 26 includes an opening 32, described
more fully hereinafter.
When the figure is in the configuration of figure 1, the
pocket 26 and the fanciful material are displayed at different
locations on the outer periphery of the body portion 10. When
the figura i8 in the ball-like form o~ figure 2, the pocket 26
encloses a ~ubstantial part of the body portion and its fanciful
material, but leave~ at least some of the fanciful material
.~visible to b~ give the ball-like ~orm a fanciful appearance.
In this application, reference to a "resiliently
deformable" pocket means a pocket with the capability to expand
resiliently(elastically)~ particularly in the area defining the
opening in the pocket, due to characteristics such as:
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a. a p~rtially tensioned length ~or piece~ of elastic
fixed(sewn) to the fabric in the area o~ the opening;
b. the fabric itself being resiliently(elastically)
expandable, such as for example:
(i) the fabric comprising resiliently deformable
fibers;
(ii) the fabric being in a woven pattern that allows it
to expand and contract resiliently; and
c. combinations of the foregoing.
According to the preferred embodiment, the resiliently
deformable pocket 26 i8 fo~med by a fabric segment 24 whose
fibers have inherent resiliency, and a partially tensioned length
of elastic sewn to the fabric segment in the area of the opening
32. More specifically, the ~abric segment 24 is preferably a
piece of compliant, napped knit fabric material, which can
stretch elastically and which has its own memory. Suitable
materials for the fabric segment 2~ are napped knit plush pile
and Velour. The ~abric segment 24 is secured, preferably sewn,
to the fabric cover 12 along a seam shown at 30 in figure 1 in
order to form the pccket 26. An unsewn length of the fabric
segment 2~ defines the opening 32 in the pocket 26.
The length or piece of elastic is shown at 34 in the
figures. The length of elastlc is preferably sewn to the fabric
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se~men~ 24, along ~he leng~h of the ~abrlc segment which defines
the op2ning 32 ln the pocket 26. The length of elastic 34 is
sewn to the fabric while the length of elastic i~ under a state
~of tension (elongationj, and when the external ~3~0~ of tension
is removed, the elastic conkracts the size of the opening 32
somewhat, but the fabric maintains the piece of elastic in a
partially tensioned state. The partially tensioned piece of
elastic helps provide the pocket with its memory, tending to
contract the size of the opening in the pocket toward a
predetermined set in which the size of the opening 32 is as small
as possible. The pocket, particularly in the area of the opening
32, i8 resiliently deformable to expand the size of the opening
32 during transformation of the figure from one configuration
(e.g. the configuration of figure 1) to another configuration
(e.g. the configuration of figure 2).
In the configuration of figure 1, the toy stuffed figure
depicts a fanciful character, with the pocket 26 located on the
back of the character. The appendages and the facial components
o~ the figure ara completely exposed, and the pocket 26 is
contracted to form a segment of the character's back. The surface
36 of the fabric segment 24 on the outsida of the pocket 26 forms
part of the outer periphery of the figure. The other surface 38
of the fabric segment is disposed on the inside of the pocket 26 and
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i~ not visible whan the toy figure i3 ln the con~iguration of
figure 1. The tail 39 of the character i~ connected to the
surface 3S of the fabric ~egment 24, and the tail 39 is located
at the end of the pocket 26 remote from the opening 32 in the
pocket 26.
In transforming the toy stuffed figure from the
configuration of figure 1 to the configuration of figure 2, the
pocket 26, particularly the opening 3~, is expanded, and th,e body
portion 10, its attached appendages and facial components, are
forced through the opening 32. The pocket 26 is inverted, so
that it progressively encloses the body portion and the
appendages, and partlally encloses some of the facial components.
During this transformation, if it is desired to maintain the
figure in a new configuration, the fabric segment 24 is allowed
to contract, in accordance with its memory, to maintain the new
geometry of the figure. For example, when the figure is
transformed to the ball like form of figure 2, the fabric segment
24 i5 allowed to contract to maintain the figure in the ball-like
form, with the eyes and part of the nose visible on the outer
periphery of the new figure. This gives the ball-like form of
figure 2 its own fanci~ul appearance.
The manner in which the stuffed toy figure is transformed
from the con~iguration of fiyure 1 to the configuratlon of figure
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2 is more specifically shown in figures 4A 4D. The body portion 10
and the end of the pocket ~6 carrying the tail 39 are forced
upward through the opening 32 in the pocket 26, and the pocket is
progressively inverted(see figures 4B and 4C). This results in the
body portion and its attached appendages being forced upwardly
through the opening 32, and also in the pocket 26 being inverted
to cover the tail 39, the appendages and a portion of the facial
components(see figures ~c and 4D). The figure will now have a
ball-like form with portions of the facial components ~i.e., the
eyeR and part of the nose) 8till visible on the outer periphery
of the new figure. During thi~ transformation, the sur~aces of
the pocXet are inverted, ~o that the surface 38 of the fabric
segment 24 now defines part of the outer periphery of the figure
in the configuration of figure 2. When the pocket 26 i5 allowed
to contract, it will surround a substantial part (i.e., more than
50%~ of the body portion 10 of the figure, and will maintain the
figure in its ball-like form. The partly covered nose and
exposed eyes will give the ball-like form a unique fanciful
appearance.
When the stuffed toy figure i~ in its ball-like
form, it can be further transformed between different fanciful
configuration~ while still maintaining its basic ball-like
appearance. For example, the ~igure can be readily changed from
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the con~iguration of fiqure 2 to the configuratior. of figure 3 by
simply forcing the character's nose com~letely outside opening 32
in the pocket 26. The opening 32 in the pocket 26 will readily
deform resiliently to allow that transformation, and the pocket,
when allowed to contract, will maintain the figure in the
configuration of figure 3. Similarly, the figure can be further
modified, by deform$ng the pocket, especially the opening 32, to
progressively uncover other portions of tha facial components
and/or the appendages, and then allowing the pocket 26 to
contract when the figure is in a desired form.
The fabric pieces which can be used to ~orm a fanciful
character as deplcted by the figures are shown in figures 5A-5L.
Preferably, a front piece (figure 5A), a tummy piece(fiyure
5B), and a back piece(figure 5~) which is slightly larger then
the front piece~ are sewn together to form the body portion of
the figuxe. Separate fabric pieces are used to form the
appendages, the facial components and the tail of the charactert
see figures 5C-5J). A separate fabric piece(figure 5K) is used
to form the special fabric segment 24.
The fabric segment 24 is preferably a folded over piece of
fabric with the length of elastic sewn to a seam 40 on the fold
line of the fabric piece(see figure 5K). The fabric segment 24
should be large enough(in surface area) in relation to the body
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portion 10 o~ the figure 80 ~hat the pocket will ha~e sufficient
volume to enclose a substantial part of the body portion 10 when
the figure i~ in it~ ball-like form.
With a toy figuxe oonstructed according to the principle~ of
the invention, there are many configurations the figure can be
formed into during progresssive transformation of the figure
between the configuration of figure 1 and the configuration of
figure 2. The transformation can be stopped at almost any point
and, by allowing the pocket to contract, the pocket will hold the
figure in its new configuration.
The pre~erred ~o~m of the invention provides a figure in
which the fanciful material comprises facial components, and at
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~ least some of the facial componentsare displayed on the outer
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geometry of the ~igure when the ~igure is ln its ball-like form.
However, it is contemplated that the principles of the invention
would be applicable to form a figure whose fanciful material
comprise something other than facial components. Further, the
principles of this invention may also be used to form a figure in
which the resiliently deformable pocket enclose~ all of the
~anciful material on the body portion when the figure is in its
ball-like form. With the latter type of figure, the ball-like
form might not have the same fanciful appearance as the figure of
the preferred embodiment. However, the resiliency and the memory
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of the pocket would still allow the fi~ure to have the same modes
o~ progressive transformation described above in connection with
the preferred embodiment, and the fi~ure can be placed in
different fanciful configurations during ei~her mode of
transformation.
Furthermore, it is contemplated that the ~abric segment
forming the pocket could itself have some fanciful material
on either of its opposite sides, in order to form part of the
fanciful appearance of the figure in any of its configurations.
Also, while the preferred form of the body portion 10 is a
soft stuffed material, it i8 also contemplated that the the body
portion can be made o~ other materials (e.g. vinyl). In the case
of a vinyl body portion, the body portion would not necessarily be
stuffed. However, the pocket would still be made from a
resiliently deformable segment of napped knit fabric ~e.g. plush
pile) that is secured to the body portion.
Thus, with the concepts of the present invention, it is
possible to form fanciful stuffed ~igures that are readily
transformed into different configurations. With the foregoing
disclosure in mind, the manner in which the principles of the
invention can be applied to form all sorts of fanciful changeable
figure~ will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in
the art.
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