WO2017095244A2

WO2017095244A2 - A poseable figure

Info

Publication number: WO2017095244A2
Application number: PCT/PH2016/000013
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oddette L. POWER
Original assignee: Power Oddette L
Priority date: 2015-12-01
Filing date: 2016-11-24
Publication date: 2017-06-08
Also published as: WO2017095244A3; PH12015000434A1

Abstract

A Poseable figure capable of contortion comprising a head of the figure, a body part having a plurality of appendages which may terminate in suction cups, wherein these appendages may comprise an inner skeleton inside a molded outer layer to further retain the figure in a desired position or form when subject to outside forces. The poseable figure further comprises a magnet allowing the figure to connect or attach to any metal surface or magnet from another figure without the use of a suction cup and a cavity wherein a module may be inserted.

Description

Title of the invention

A Poseable figure

Technical Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to a poseable figure more particularly to a poseable figure toy having manipulatable appendages with suction cups that can simulate living and non living objects.

Background of the Invention

There have been many poseable figures which have been popular with people of varying ages. Many of these figures have parts such as arms and/or legs which may be manipulatable and can be posed in different positions. However, with regard to such item as known in the prior art, none have the distinctive attributes and versatility with respect to contortion and the like as the current invention. A preferred form which is described in detail hereafter.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a manipulatable object with distinctive attributes and versatility with respect to contortion and the like.

It is further the object of the present invention to provide a poseable figure having a plurality of suction cups integrally attached to the flexible appendages in such a way that the figure be made to adhere to various forms and figures beyond those provided by the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a poseable figure that can be attached to a metal surface using a magnet embedded inside the figure.

Further object of the present invention is to provide a poseable figure that can retain its form when subject to outside forces. It is another object of the current invention to provide a poseable figure with a plurality of suction cups which can be attached to and posed in a wide variety of poses-on smooth surface like smooth horizontal, vertical, or curved surfaces.

It is another object of the current invention to provide a poseable figure with a plurality of suction cups where the appendages are of varying lengths and sizes.

Still an object of the invention is to provide a poseable figure with a modular appendage wherein the same appendages may be detached from the body of the figure.

Another further object of the current invention is provide a poseable figure capable of displaying electronic displays such as digital time, smiley face, LED lights, and others in the head or body of the figure with the use of a module.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description. Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1. front view of a simulated human figure showing the primary members. Figure 2. View of a simulated human figure showing the inner skeleton of the poseable figure

Figure 3. view of the magnet assembly

Figure 4. cross sectional view of head of a figure showing the integrated magnet assembly in the head of the figure.

Figure 5. back view of the simulated human figure showing the integrated magnet in the body of the figure.

Figures 6a to 6i. View of another poseable figure that the present invention is capable of creating. Figure 7. View of the cavities in the head where an attachable appendages may be inserted.

Figure 8. View of the slot where a magnet or a module may be inserted to be placed inside the head of the poseable figure.

Figure 9. A cross sectional view of the head of the poseable figure showing the cavity inside where a magnet assembly or module may be placed.

Detailed Description

In accordance with one embodiment of the of the current invention, referring now to the drawings and more particularly to figure 1 , there is shown a poseable figure 100 in accordance with the present invention. Although the present invention generally does not limit to the form shown in figure 1 , as it can be in another form as well (figures 6a to 6i), figure 1 shows one embodiment of the invention in order to display all common features of the present invention for clarity. The poseable figure 100 comprises inner components and a molded outer layer. In Figure 1 , inner components may not be seen as these are covered by the outer layer of the figure. Figure 1 shows the simulation of the present invention showing the outer layer of the poseable figure 100 which roughly forms a human shape comprising a head 101 which is connected to the body 102, and a plurality of appendages 103 which forms the extremities (may be an upper or lower limb) extending outwardly from the body 102 which may terminates in a suction cup 104.

In alternative embodiments, the head 101 or the body 102 of the said poseable figure 100 may be in any shape or form such as but not limited to an animal, letters of alphabet, numbers, emoticons, or any other object (figures 6a to 6i). The same head 101 is integrally molded with the body 102 or through a neck 105 and is made of a soft material preferably silicon or other plastic material. The head 101 may comprise a simulated feature of eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and other features that form the face of a figure. In any feature of the face of said head 101 , a suction cup 104 may also be present (figure 6c) at the end of that feature in order to create an impression that the suction cup 104 is part of the features making it not so obvious to the user. For example, in a form of an animal like a horse, suction cup may be present at the end of the nose of a horse considering that the nose of a horse is protruding outside the body.

The appendages 103 of the poseable figure 100 may be in the form of limbs or other extremities that a figure may have. These appendages 103 may be integrated (figure 1) or separable (figure 7) from the body 102 and/or head 101 in a modular form. Being separable means that the appendages 103 may be changed with another appendage of another figure so long as it push fit to the plurality of cavities 108a where an appendage 103 may be inserted. To attach an appendage, it will be inserted through the cavity 108a of the body of the figure (figure 7). On one end of the appendage 103 is a tapered type design (figure 7) which may have protrusions on its sides whereby the silicon of that one end will push fit into the cavities 108a provided for insertion of the appendage 103. It could further be secured through a hard plastic module found within the cavity of the silicon body to further add security and rigidity of the attachments. In an embodiment where the appendages 103 are made of plastic material, the appendages 103 may be divided or segmented and joined together by a ball and socket joints for additional contortability and flexibility of the appendages 103 On the other end of the appendages 103 is the same tapered type design so that the same appendages 103 will be inserted in the cavities 108a. In the case of a human like figure for example, the appendages 103 are the arms and feet which are generally connected or may be separate from the body of the figure. The same is true in the case of another figure other than the human form, as shown in figures 6a to 6i, appendages 103 or extremities may be integrated or separate from the figure. These appendages 103 are configured to support the figure when adhered to a flat surface using an attaching means such as suction cup at the end of its appendages or extremities. These appendages 103 may comprise an internal metal wire (discuss hereinafter), to allow these appendages 103 to bend with an application of external force. The bending can be in any direction that the user may desire and once bended, the appendage 103 can retains its position. The end of an appendage 103 may be in the form of a suction cup used to attach the object on a flat surface or to a suction cup of another object. Aside from ending with a suction cup 104, the appendage 103 may also terminate in other forms or shapes such as but not limited to hand and foot. The appendages 103 may be made of soft material preferably silicon or plastic material.

The suction cups 104 at the end section of an appendage 103 allows the poseable figure 100 to easily connect, attach and detach to/from a flat surface or to the suction up of another object. The suction cups 104 of the poseable figure 100 have sufficient rigidity to hold the figure in upright position or the same suction cup 104 may also be use to stick to any flat surface so that the figure will be displayed in a hanging position whether facing frontal or back plane. Suction cups 104 are formed in varying sizes as it will depend on the size of the appendage or extremity where it is connected. In the event that the user decides to connect different figures, the suction cups of the different objects may be used to connect the objects. Suction cups 104 are generally made of the same material of the body 102 and appendages 103 like silicon, but are slightly widen out preferably as shown, circular in shape and thinner compared to the rest of the body parts.

Another embodiment of the current invention is the possible integration of an interior frame to the poseable figure 100 made of the skeleton 106 allowing the figure to be contorted or bended as the user may desire. As shown in figure 2, the skeleton 106 preferably made of metal wire may be integrated to poseable figure 100 which is configured to further support the figure in an upright position and contortability. The skeleton 106 may be continuous or may have adjoining sections. The skeleton 106 may end with a protective cap used to prevent the wire from damaging the appendages or the outer molded layer. Furthermore, the skeleton 106 of the appendages 103 makes the appendages 103 bendable or malleable with the application of outside forces. The appendages 103 having the metal wires inside, when bended using outside force, retains its position or form as desired by the user. The skeleton 106 is preferably made of the same construction and diameter but may also be made of stainless steel. However, wires made of other materials and varying sizes may also be suitable or more suitable for various sizes, forms and shape of the present invention. For example, one or more strands of a wire may be used to form the skeleton 106 to further support the present invention's malleability and bendability. In another embodiment, which is still part of the inner component of the present invention, is with respect to its ability to be joined or connected with another object or any metal surface such as refrigerators and the like is the integration of a magnet assembly 107 (figure 3) in the head, body or any part of poseable figure 100 as shown in figures 4 and 5 respectively. The magnet assembly 107 may be integrated in the head 101 and/or body 102 or may be inserted through a slit opening 110 found in the body and/or head of the poseabie figure 100 which allows the same magnet assembly 107 to be removed or replaced from the poseabie figure 100 when necessary. However, the same magnet assembly 107 may be integrated to any part of the poseabie figure 100 during the molding process which may prohibit the replacement of the assembly. The magnet assembly 107 allows the poseabie figure 100 to be connected to another object or metal without the use of a suction cup 104. The magnet assembly 107 has a magnet 127 and an enclosing thin material 117 shown in figure 3. The thin material 117 enclosing the magnet 127 is made of a plastic material. When the magnet 127 is enclosed in a plastic material, a gap or free space is configured between the magnet 127 and its enclosing plastic material 117 inside allowing the magnet to rotate freely in a position to opposing polarity of a magnet from another object. The plastic material 117 enclosing the magnet may be embedded in the poseabie figure 100. However, when the magnet 127 may not be enclosed in a plastic material, it may be enclosed directly by the silicon outer layer of the poseabie figure 100, in which case the magnet may not be able to rotate. Furthermore, the magnet 127 may be in any shape but preferably in spherical, cylindrical shape.

Further embodiment of the invention is the presence of another cavity 108b in the head or body (figure 9) of the poseabie figure 100. Aside from the cavities 108a found on the outer part of the body and/or head for the appendages 103 to be inserted, this another cavity 108b found in the body and/or head of the poseabie figure is configured to receive the magnet assembly 107 and/or the module (not shown) through a slit opening 110 (figure 8) to further add elements of the invention. The same cavity 108b may serve as the housing for the module, magnet assembly 107, or the magnet 127 of the poseabie figure 100. However, the magnet assembly 107, magnet 127, or module may also be located in different parts of the poseable figure 100. For example, the magnet may be located on the head or appendages while the module may be located in the body of the figure. The module may be electronic or mechanical. In the case of a mechanical module, it may be used to move the figure, while electronic module is used to add more elements and attractiveness to the figure by producing sounds, lights, and others.

Other than the representation of a human figure as shown in figure 1 , other possible embodiments of the present invention are animals, emoticons, fruits, vegetables, monsters, letters of the alphabet, numbers, robots, stickmen, and others as shown in figures 6a to 6i. The outer layer of the poseable figure 100 is preferably constructed of a soft material such as silicon. Furthermore, other materials having enough structural capacity to hold the figure in an upright position may also be used. More particularly, the material used has the elements of rigidity and flexibility such that the position or poses of the figure are maintained with or without the aid of the metal wire even with the application of external force.

While the descriptions above contain many specifics, these should not be interpreted as limitations to the scope of the invention, but rather an illustration of the preferred embodiments thereof. Many other variations also within the scope of the present invention may also form part of the invention.

Claims

1. A Poseable figure capable of contortion comprising:

a. a head of the figure;

b. a body part having a plurality of appendages which may terminate in suction cups; wherein these appendages may comprise an inner skeleton inside a molded outer layer to further retain the figure in a desired position or form when subject to outside forces;

c. at least one internal magnet allowing the figure to connect or attach to any metal surface or magnet from another figure without the use of a suction cup; and

d. a cavity wherein a module may be inserted;

2. The poseable figure of claim 1 wherein its form can simulate a human, animal, or other figures.

3. The poseable figure of claim 1 wherein the outer layer is made of elastomeric material.

4. The poseable figure of claim 3 wherein the elastomeric material is made of silicon.

5. The poseable figure of claim 1 wherein the appendage is flexible,

manipulatable, or bendable.

6. The poseable figure of claim 1 wherein the suction cup can be attached to another suction cup of the same figure or another poseable figure.

7. The poseable figure of claim 1 wherein the skeleton is made of bendable

material.

8. The poseable figure of claim 7 wherein the bendable material is a metal wire.

9. The poseable figure of claim 1 wherein the suction cups have their adhering surfaces facing frontal plane or back plane.

10. The poseable figure of claim 1 wherein the magnet is enclosed in a thin

material allowing the magnet to rotate freely in a position opposing the polarity of another magnet.

11.The poseable figure of claim 10 wherein the thin material is made of plastic.

12. The poseable figure of claim 10 wherein the thin material enclosing the

magnet is embedded in the figure.

13. The poseable figure of claim 10 wherein a gap is configured between the magnet and the enclosing plastic material.

14. The poseable figure of claim 1 wherein the magnet is not enclosed in a plastic material.

15. The poseable figure of claim 1 wherein the magnet is located at the head of the figure.

16. The poseable figure of claim 1 wherein the magnet is located at any of the appendages.

17. The poseable figure of claim 1 wherein the module is mechanical.

18. The poseable figure of claim 1 wherein the module is electronic.

19. The poseable figure of claim 18 wherein the electronic module can produce sounds and/or lights.

20. The poseable figure of claim 17 wherein the mechanical module is used to move the figure.

21. The poseable figure of claim 1 wherein the appendages are detachable from the body.

22. The poseable figure of claim 1 wherein an appendage terminates in a hand, foot, or any other figure.

23. The poseable figure of claim 8 wherein the metal wire has a protective end cap.

24. The poseable figure of claim 1 wherein the head or the body is made of

plastic material.

25. The poseable figure of claim 1 wherein the appendages are made of plastic material.

26. The poseable figure of claim 25 wherein the appendages are made of

segmented sections

27. The poseable figure of claim 26 wherein the segment sections are connected by means of ball and socket joints to form the whole appendage.

28. The poseable figure of claim 27 wherein the ball and socket joints allowing the appendage to be configured with the application of external force.