Composable toy figure

Abstract

Disclosed is a composable toy figure (2), comprising: - a torso (4) which extends in a longitudinal direction (6), in a transverse direction (7) extending transversely to the longitudinal direction (6) and in a vertical direction (8) extending transversely to the longitudinal direction (6) and transversely to the transverse direction (7), and from which an arm (10) protrudes at the beginning and at the end, as seen in the transverse direction (7), and - a lower part (14) adjoining the torso (4) below in the vertical direction (8), with two legs (16) attached to the lower part (14), characterized by - a column (46) attached to the lower part (14), which is guided through a through-opening (44) extending through the torso (4) in the vertical direction (8) and protrudes with a projection (64) on the upper side of the torso (4) as seen in the vertical direction (8), and - a head (18) which has a (8) is placed on the projection (64),- wherein the column (46) comprises, at an exit point from the through-opening (44), a projection (66) which extends transversely to the height direction (8) beyond the through-opening (44).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a composable toy figure according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such a composable toy figure is known from US 4,205,482 A.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to improve the known composable toy figure.

[0004] According to one aspect of the invention, a composable toy figure comprises a torso which extends in a longitudinal direction, in a transverse direction extending transversely to the longitudinal direction and in a vertical direction extending transversely to the longitudinal direction and transversely to the transverse direction and from which an arm protrudes at the beginning and at the end as seen in the transverse direction and a lower part adjoining the torso below as seen in the vertical direction and having two legs attached to the lower part.According to the invention, the assembled figure comprises a column attached to the lower part and preferably of round cross-section, which is guided through a through-opening running through the fuselage in the height direction and preferably of round cross-section and, viewed in the height direction, projects with a projection on the upper side of the fuselage, as well as a head which is placed on the projection opposite to the height direction, wherein the column comprises a projection at an exit point from the through-opening which extends transversely to the height direction beyond the through-opening.

[0005] The motivation behind this modular toy figure is to increase the play value of the familiar toy figure by adding additional degrees of freedom. The torso of the familiar toy figure cannot be rotated around its base. For this reason, the torso is placed on the base via the column and can now be rotated relative to it. However, the resulting degree of freedom has the disadvantage that, due to its mass, the torso can press against the head in the vertical direction, causing it to detach from the modular toy figure.

[0006] This is where the present invention comes in with the idea of ​​securing the torso against vertical movement with the overhang. The overhang holds the torso vertically, preventing it from exerting force on the head and causing it to detach from the figure.

[0007] In principle, the column can be designed as a rod and inserted into the lower part. This would allow the torso to be placed on the lower part first, and then the column could be inserted from above into the through-hole (as seen vertically) and connected to the lower part. This solution, however, would be suboptimal. On the one hand, it is important to ensure that the number of parts is not too high for the figure's playability, while on the other hand, the individual parts should not be too small. Finally, inserting the column against the vertical direction into a corresponding opening in the lower part, which is then covered by the torso, requires considerable skill.

[0008] For this reason, in a further development of the modular toy figure, the column has a passage running parallel to the overhang, with the overhang located in the area of ​​the passage in the vertical direction. This transition allows the column to be compressed in the area of ​​the overhang in both the transverse and counter-transverse directions, thus tapering it so that the wall overhang can be guided vertically through the passage opening. The column can then be firmly anchored to the remaining lower section.

[0009] In a further development of the specified composable toy figure, the passage is divided into three thirds in the vertical direction and the overhang is arranged in the middle third of the passage, so that the taper is arranged in an area where a compression path of the column in and against the transverse direction is maximum.

[0010] In an additional development of the specified modular toy figure, the width of the passage is 1 to 5 times the maximum thickness of the column's outer wall in the passage area. Within this range of the outer wall thickness, the column can be optimally compressed in and against the transverse direction without the risk of breaking too quickly.

[0011] In another development of the specified modular toy figure, the column comprises, as seen vertically below the passage, a recess in the longitudinal direction and a recess opposite the longitudinal direction, separated from each other by a partition. This allows the column to be stabilized in an area outside the passage and, at the same time, saves material during construction.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the specified composable toy figure, the partition wall has a thickness that is between 0.5 and 2 times the depth of the recesses. In this range, the stabilizing effect of the partition wall for the column is optimal.

[0013] In yet another refinement of the specified modular toy figure, the overhang extends from a central axis of the column over an angle between 10° and 90°, preferably between 25° and 45°. This allows the overhang to be positioned exclusively in the area of ​​the partition wall where the column can be tapered, while simultaneously avoiding parts of the overhang being located in an area that cannot be tapered sufficiently or at all.

[0014] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the specified composable toy figure, the overhang has a semicircular cross-section. Thus, the overhang is ramp-shaped on the top and bottom sides, viewed vertically, and simultaneously has a smooth edge on the outer sides, viewed transversely, so that the overhang can compress the column itself when the column is inserted into the passage opening without damaging the walls of the passage opening.

[0015] In yet another refinement of the specified modular toy figure, the column is flat at both ends, viewed lengthwise. This allows passage through the column without sharp edges, reducing the risk of injury.

[0016] In an additional development of the specified assemblable toy figure, the torso is recessed and flat at the upper exit of the passage opening, viewed in the height direction, counter to the height direction, whereby a neck of the head can be sunk into this recess, so that the column is no longer perceptible from the outside when the toy figure is assembled.

[0017] The above-described properties, features, and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become more clearly understood in connection with the following description of the exemplary embodiments, which are explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings. Fig. 1 a composable toy figure in a assembled state, Fig. 2 a torso of the composable figure of the Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 a lower part of the composable figure of the Fig. 1 from a first perspective, and Fig. 4 the lower part of the Fig. 3 from a second perspective.

[0018] In the figures, identical technical elements are provided with identical reference symbols and are described only once. The figures are purely schematic and, above all, do not represent the actual geometric relationships.

[0019] It will be Fig. 1 which shows a composable playing figure 2 in an assembled state.

[0020] The assemblable toy figure comprises a torso 4 which extends in a longitudinal direction 6, in a transverse direction 7 extending transversely to the longitudinal direction 6 and in a height direction 8 extending transversely to the longitudinal direction 6 and transversely to the transverse direction 7.

[0021] Viewed in the transverse direction 7, an arm 10 protrudes from the torso 4 at the beginning and end, i.e., to the left and right, viewed opposite the longitudinal direction 6. Adjoining each arm 10, viewed opposite the vertical direction 8, is a hand 12, which is designed as clamping hands, similar to the composable toy figure known from US 4,205,482 A. The arms 10 and hands 12 are not relevant here, and therefore a detailed description is omitted.

[0022] Viewed in the vertical direction 8, a lower part 14 adjoins the fuselage 10 below, to which two legs 16 are attached below, viewed in the vertical direction 8. The legs 16 are not relevant below, which is why a detailed description is omitted.

[0023] A head 18 is mounted on the body 4, opposite the lower part 14 as viewed in the vertical direction 8. The head 18 has a nub 20 on its upper side, as viewed in the vertical direction 8, onto which a head covering, such as a cap or hair, can be attached. The principle of attaching hair or caps to heads via nubs is known from DE 2 205 525 A and needs no further explanation below.

[0024] The following is based on the Fig. 2 more detail about hull 4.

[0025] The torso 4 consists of a solid base body 22, which is modeled after a human upper body. The torso 4 has a chest 24 on its front side, as seen in the longitudinal direction 6, and a belly 26, which adjoins the underside of the chest 24, as seen in the vertical direction 8. Opposite the chest 24 and the belly 26 in the longitudinal direction 6, the torso 4 has a Fig. 1 invisible back. In the transverse direction 7 at the front and the back, the torso 4 is limited by a hip 28 each, of which in the perspective of the Fig. 2 only the front hip is visible.

[0026] Viewed in the vertical direction 8 above each hip there is an axillary connection interface 30 for the corresponding arm 10. This axillary connection interface 30 is also visible in the perspective of the Fig. 2 only one can be seen. Each axillary connection interface 30 has a recess in the base body in or against the transverse direction 7, which for the sake of clarity is shown in Fig. 2 is not provided with its own reference symbol. At the bottom of the recess, each connection interface 30 has a flat support surface 32 through which a receiving opening 34 is guided. In the assembled state of the toy figure 2, this receiving opening 34 accommodates a connection adapter 36, the appearance of which will be determined later based on the Figs. 3 and 4 will be explained in more detail. The connection adapters 36, which are accommodated in the receiving opening 34 of the axillary connection interfaces 30, are located at the upper ends of the arms 10 as seen in the vertical direction 8 and are not visible anywhere in the figures because this connection is not further important.

[0027] Viewed in the height direction 8, on the top side of the base body 22, the fuselage 4 has two shoulders 36 between which a head connection interface 38 is formed. Similar to the axillary connection interfaces 30, it has a recess defined by a recess wall 40. At the bottom of the recess, the head connection interface 38, like the axillary connection interfaces 30, has a support surface 32 through the center of which a through-opening 44 is formed rotationally symmetrically about a rotation axis 42. This through-opening 44 opens the base body 22 from its top side, viewed in the height direction 8, to its underside, viewed in the height direction 8.

[0028] In the assembled state of the playing figure 2, a column 46 held on the lower part 14 is guided through the through opening 44. The structure of the lower part 14 with the column 46 is described below with reference to the Figs. 3 and 4 described in more detail.

[0029] The lower part 14 has a base plate 48 extending essentially in the longitudinal direction 6 and the transverse direction 7, from which the column 46 protrudes in the vertical direction 8. A retaining plate 50 protrudes from a side of the base plate 48 opposite the column 46 and extends in the longitudinal direction 6 and the vertical direction 8. The underside of the base plate 48, viewed in the vertical direction 8, has a circular segment-shaped recess 51 in which the legs 16 can rotate.

[0030] The holding plate 50 has one of the aforementioned connection adapters 36 on each of its front and rear sides, as seen in the transverse direction 7, which are also located on the arms 16 in a manner not further shown. Each connection adapter 36 has a basically cylindrical base 52, which is placed on the holding plate 50. Opposite the holding plate 50, a cone 54 is placed on each cylindrical base 52. A radial slot 56 runs through the cylindrical base 52 and the cone 54, which allows the connection adapter 36 to be elastically compressed in its circumferential direction. Each leg 16 has a connection interface, which, except for the recess, is identical to one of the axillary connection interfaces 30. To connect one of the legs 16 to the holding plate 50 or one of the arms 10 to the torso 4, the cone 54 on the arm 10 or the cone 54 on the holding plate 50 is inserted into the corresponding receiving opening 34.The two connecting partners are then pressed together. In this way, the radial slot 56 tapers until the cone 54 passes the receiving opening 34. The elasticity of the cone 54 then forces the radial slot 56 apart again, so that the cylindrical base 52 is held in the receiving opening 34 with a positive fit.

[0031] The column 46 on the side of the base plate 48 opposite the holding plate 50 is mounted on a cylindrical pedestal 58, which has a substantially circular base with a segment chord 60 as seen in the transverse direction 6. These segment chords 60 are not relevant below, which is why a detailed description is omitted below.

[0032] The column 46 is divided into an insertion section 62, which is completely received in the body 4 when the toy figure 2 is assembled, and a projection 64, which protrudes from the body 4 as seen in the vertical direction 8. The head 18 is placed onto this projection 64, opposite to the vertical direction 8, via a receiving opening not further visible in the figures.

[0033] The immersion section 62 and the projection 64 are separated from each other by a projection 66 in the transverse direction 7 at the front and the rear of the column 46. In the perspective of the Figs. 3 and 4only one of these projections 66 is visible. If the column 46 is inserted into the through-opening 44 of the fuselage 4, the projections 66 extend radially and therefore transversely to the height direction 8 over the through-opening 44 and close positively with the support surface 32 of the head connection interface 38, counter to the height direction 8. The projections 66 therefore project over the support surface 32. They are arranged point-symmetrically to a central axis of the column 46, which coincides with the rotational axis 42 of the column 46 when inserted into the through-opening 44. For the sake of clarity, the rotational axis 42 of the through-opening 44 is shown in Fig. 3 also shown.

[0034] The column 62 has a cylindrical structure with a circular base, which has a segment chord at the beginning and at the end as seen in the longitudinal direction 6, so that flat end faces 68 are formed as seen in the longitudinal direction.

[0035] Between the end faces 68, in the upper region of the column 46, as seen in the height direction 8, there runs a passage 70 with a passage height 72 as seen in the height direction 8. This passage 70 can be divided into three thirds as seen in the height direction 8, with two thirds being located at the edge regions and therefore referred to below as edge third 74, and one third in between being referred to as middle third 76. The overhangs 66 are arranged in the region of this middle third, which in Figs. 3 and 4 indicated by dashed lines.

[0036] The passage 70 is delimited in the transverse direction 7 at the beginning and at the end by each outer wall 7 insertion direction 8. Each of these outer walls 78 has a thickness 79, which in the longitudinal direction 6 initially thickens up to a maximum value not further visible in the figures and then tapers again. Of the thicknesses 79, Figs. 3 and 4For the sake of clarity, not all are provided with their own reference symbol. The passage 70 itself has a width 80 that is 1 to 5 times greater than the aforementioned maximum thickness 79 of one of the outer walls 78 of the column 62.

[0037] Below the passage 70, the column 62 has two recesses 82, which extend in and opposite to the longitudinal direction 6. Of the two recesses 82, the Fig. 3 and 4 only one can be seen. Both recesses 82 are separated from each other by a partition 84. The partition 84 has a perspective of the Figs. 3 and 4 not further visible thickness in the longitudinal direction 4, which is between 0.5 times to 2 times as large as one in the Figs. 3 and 4 For the sake of clarity, the depth of the recesses 82 in the longitudinal direction 4 is not further referenced.

[0038] The overhangs 66 each extend from the central axis of the column 46, which coincides with the rotation axis 42 of the through opening 44, over an angle 84 of 30°. This angle must be selected according to the application and should not be too large so that the overhangs 66 can be moved sufficiently radially inward at every point. In practice, values ​​for their angle 84 between 25° and 45° have proven suitable. The angle should not be selected to be less than 10°, because the overhangs 66 then risk breaking off during insertion. A selection of greater than 90° is also not practical, because otherwise possible radial travel at the edges of the overhangs would be too small. However, these values ​​depend, among other things, on the material and cannot be specified as generally applicable.Furthermore, each projection 66 has a semicircular cross-section, so that the projections 66 have a ramp in and against the height direction 8 as the insertion direction into the through opening 44 of the head connection interface 38 of the fuselage 4, which ensures the aforementioned radial movement.

[0039] Finally, the radial movement caused when the lower part 14 is assembled with the fuselage 4 will be discussed in more detail.

[0040] In detail, if the column 46 of the lower part 14 is inserted into the through-opening 44 of the fuselage and pressed upwards in the height direction 8, the overhangs 66 abut the edge of the through-opening 44. The semicircular cross-section of the overhangs 66, which acts as a ramp, causes the overhangs 66 to be pressed radially inward upon further movement of the column 46 in the height direction 8. In this way, the column 46 moves further in the height direction until the overhangs 66 emerge from the through-opening 44 and snap radially outward. Due to the positive connection between the overhangs 66 and the support surface 32 of the head connection interface 38 of the fuselage 4, the column 46 can now no longer be pulled out of the through-opening 44 against the height direction 8 without the application of force.If this force is nevertheless applied, the semicircular cross-section of each overhang 66, designed as a ramp, causes the overhangs to be pressed radially inwards and the column 46 can be pulled out of the through opening 44 again.

Claims

1. Assemblable toy figure (2), comprising: - a torso (4) which extends in a longitudinal direction (6), in a transverse direction (7) extending transversely to the longitudinal direction (6) and in a vertical direction (8) extending transversely to the longitudinal direction (6) and transversely to the transverse direction (7), and from which an arm (10) protrudes at the beginning and at the end, as seen in the transverse direction (7), and - a lower part (14) adjoining the torso (4) below, as seen in the vertical direction (8), with two legs (16) attached to the lower part (14), characterized by- a column (46) attached to the lower part (14), which is guided through a through-opening (44) running through the fuselage (4) in the height direction (8) and projects with a projection (64) on the upper side of the fuselage (4) as seen in the height direction (8), and - a head (18) which is placed on the projection (64) opposite to the height direction (8), - wherein the column (46) comprises, at an exit point from the through-opening (44), a projection (66) which extends transversely to the height direction (8) beyond the through-opening (44).

2. Assemblable toy figure (2) according to claim 1, wherein the column (46) has a passage (70) running parallel to the overhang (66), and wherein, viewed in the height direction (8), the overhang (66) is arranged in the region of the passage (70).

3. Assemblable toy figure (2) according to claim 2, wherein the passage (70) is divided into three thirds (74, 76) as seen in the height direction (8) and the overhang (66) is arranged in the middle third (76) of the passage (70).

4. Assemblable toy figure (2) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a width (80) of the passage is 1 to 5 times as large as a maximum thickness of an outer wall (78) of the column (46) in the region of the passage (70).

5. Assemblable toy figure (2) according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the column (46) comprises, viewed in the height direction (8), below the passage (70), a recess (82) in the longitudinal direction (6) and a recess (82) opposite to the longitudinal direction (6), which are separated from one another by a partition wall (84).

6. Assemblable toy figure (2) according to claim 5, wherein the partition wall (84) has a thickness between 0.5 times to 2 times as great as a depth of the recesses (82).

7. Assemblable toy figure (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the projection (66) extends from a central axis (42) of the column (46) over an angle (84) between 10° and 90°, preferably between 25° and 45°.

8. Assemblable toy figure (2) according to claim 7, wherein the overhang (66) has a ramp on its front and rear side as seen in the height direction (8), which ramps are preferably formed by a circular cross section of the overhang (66).

9. Assemblable toy figure (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the column (46) is flat (68) at the beginning and at the end when viewed in the longitudinal direction (6).

10. Assemblable toy figure (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the torso (4) is recessed (40) and flat (32) at the upper exit of the through-opening (44) as seen in the height direction (8) opposite to the height direction (8).

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