Abstract:
A toy system with a body part insertable into a self-supported opening in a separate plastic piece self-supportable on a surface. The part frictionally engaging the piece with a protrusion projecting from one of the part or piece. Another part fits into the opening without engaging the piece and telescopes against a spring into the part engaging and picking up the piece upon release of the spring. An audible sound is produced upon inserting the part, releasing the spring, or both. Attaching the piece onto the part is done by placing the piece on a surface, positioning the biased parts over the opening with the lower proximate and pointed toward the opening, pushing down on the upper telescoping it over the lower and inserting the upper into the opening, then releasing the bias to move the two parts apart with the piece picked up by and retained on the upper.

Description:
[0001]    This Application is a continuation-in-part of pending application Ser. No. 12/006,177 filed Dec. 31,2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to toys, particularly toys which a child may manipulate to change the appearance of the toy. 
         [0004]    2. Background Art 
         [0005]    Children have long played with toys such as dolls and action figures which the children manipulate to change the toys&#39; appearance. The manipulation required to accessorize prior art toys is often more involved than some children, particularly younger children can or enjoy performing. In addition, there have been toys which are pushed or pulled on, either manually or with a spring bias, to effect a change in the toy. 
         [0006]    Zehrung Design Patent D 508,966 issued Aug. 30, 2005 discloses a Pop-Up Pull Toy having a generally cylindrical upper part that fits into a generally cylindrical lower part without any apparent, or suggested, engagement between the sides of the upper and lower parts, or with any other piece. As disclosed, the extension of the upper part out of the lower part, and the retraction of the upper part into the lower part appears to be solely controlled by pushing and pulling on the sinusoidal rod projecting out of the bottom of the lower part, while the lower part is grasped or otherwise restrained. While there may be operating friction between the rod and the bottom of the lower part, there is no apparent, or suggested, engagement between the sides of the upper and lower parts, or with any other piece. 
         [0007]    Dashiell U.S. Pat. No. 821,468 issued May 22, 1906 discloses a “jack-in-the-box” type toy having a spring biased figure portion that compresses inside of a hollow cylindrical casing. Rod ends engage slots inside the casing to retain the figure portion inside the casing. When the figure portion is projected from the casing by the spring, a fan carried by the figure is automatically opened. 
         [0008]    Muehlstein U.S. Pat. No. 949,544 issued Feb. 15, 1910 discloses another “jack-in-the-box” type toy with a flag carrying artic explorer. A spring is kept compressed in a box by a number of links that pivot with respect to each other, and include a hook at one end that is latched to a staple on the outside of the box. 
         [0009]    Goldfarb et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,526,991 issued Sep. 8, 1970 discloses a pop-up toy which includes a spring on a lower base, and an upper portion that fits over the base. Carried under the upper portion is a suction cup, which also fits over the spring and the base. When the upper portion is pressed down against the spring bias, the suction cup sticks to a flat surface, and temporarily keeps the upper portion from being popped back up by the compressed spring. 
         [0010]    Dinhofer U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,945 issued Nov. 28, 2006 discloses a pop-up toy in which a spring is attached to a top and a base, with extending arms just below the top to the spring. The base is weighted to keep it from bouncing away from the surface it is standing on when the spring is released. 
         [0011]    Boles U.S. Pat. No. 2,955,382 issued Oct. 11, 1960 discloses a toy attachment for a baby feeding bottle in which a stitched loop of material that slides over the bottle is provided with cross brace members to position the loop adjacent the bottom of the bottle. The loop also has snap eyelets that engage snap fasters on a toy figure to attach the toy figure to the bottle. 
         [0012]    Fels U.S. Pat. No. 3,581,434 issued Jun. 1, 1971 discloses a two component rocket-simulative toy in which a spring attached to a base launches a projectile that is pushed down on the base compressing the spring. A flange around the base momentarily engages the projectile until the spring overcomes the resistance and launches the projectile. 
         [0013]    Rehkemper et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,721 issued Nov. 18, 2003 discloses a generally tubular shaped doll with accessories generally made of stretch fabric that can be pulled onto various parts of the doll. 
         [0014]    Gonzalez U.S. Pat. No. 6,790,117 issued Sep. 14, 2004 discloses a flat doll shape with flat clothing shapes that are attached magnetically. 
         [0015]    There remains a need, however, for toy systems that provide a unique way to young children, such as two (2) year olds, to accessorize and transform playthings by simply pushing the plaything into a separate piece supported on a surface, with “clothing” or accessories painted, sculpted, or otherwise put on the outer surface of the separate piece. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The present invention is concerned with providing toy systems having a body including at least a first substantially rigid part with at least one end, a plastic piece separate from the body self-supportable on a surface, the separate piece substantially defining a self-supported opening, the at least one end of the part being insertable into the opening when the part is placed atop the piece, the part frictionally engaging the separate piece to retain the separate piece on the body, with a protrusion projecting from one of the part or separate piece toward the other of the separate piece or part to frictionally engage the part and the separate piece. 
         [0017]    The other one of the part or separate piece from which the protrusion projects may have a recess that receives the protrusion. The separate piece may be a complete band substantially defining the opening. There may be a plurality of a protrusions projecting from one of the part or separate piece toward the other of the separated piece or part to frictionally engage the part and the separate piece, and the other one of the part or separate piece from which the protrusion projects may have a plurality of recesses. 
         [0018]    The geometric shapes of the part and the opening in the separate piece may be substantially the same, such as circular in cross-section. The at least one end of the part insertable into the opening substantially defined by the separate piece or the opening substantially defined by the separate piece may be chamfered to facilitate insertion of the at least one end of the part into the opening substantially defined by the separate piece. 
         [0019]    The toy system may have a body including at least a first part with at least one end and an interior space, a second part that is at least partially in the interior space, a spring biasing the first part and the second part away from each other, a plastic piece separate from the body self-supportable on a surface, the separate piece substantially defining a self-supported opening, the second part not at least partially in the interior space being insertable into the self-supported opening substantially defined by the separate piece without engaging the separate piece, the first part being telescopically moveable against the spring biasing with the at least one end of the part being insertable into the self-supported opening to frictionally engage the separate piece, a protrusion projecting from one of the first part or the separate piece toward the other of the separated piece or first part to frictionally engage the first part and the separate piece, an the separate piece being picked up and retained by the first part when the spring biasing moves the first part away from the second part. 
         [0020]    The first part or the separate piece from which the protrusion projects may have a recess that receives the protrusion. The first part may have a plurality of protrusions projecting generally outwardly from the part with the separate piece having an inward recess in the opening of the separate piece. 
         [0021]    The toy system of may produce an audible sound upon insertion of the at least one end of the part into the self-supported opening against the spring biasing, when the spring biasing moves the first part away from the second part, or both. 
         [0022]    The present invention also provides a method of attaching a piece having an opening onto an upper one of two generally elongated parts that telescope axially against a bias in a toy system by placing the piece having the opening on a surface with the opening directed upwardly, positioning the biased apart parts over the opening in the piece with the lower one of the two parts proximate and pointed toward the opening and the upper one of the two parts away from the opening, pushing down on the upper one of the parts telescoping it against the bias over the lower one of the two parts and inserting the upper one of the two parts into the opening; and releasing the parts allowing the bias to move the two parts apart with the piece picked up by and retained on the upper one of the two parts. 
         [0023]    The method of putting a piece on a part in a toy system may also produce an audible sound upon pushing down on the upper one of the two parts into the opening against the bias, upon releasing the parts allowing the bias to move the two parts apart with the piece retained on the upper one of the two parts, or both. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  is a schematic front elevation view of components of an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a schematic top plan view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a schematic front elevation view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  put together; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a schematic top plan view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  put together; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged, fragmentary view, partially in section taken generally vertically through the center of one of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a schematic front elevation view of components of another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a schematic top plan view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  is a schematic front elevation view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  put together in a sequence of two steps; 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  is a schematic top plan view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  put together in the same sequence of two steps as in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 10  is a schematic top plan view of components of yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 11  is a schematic sectional view of one of the components taken generally along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10  and a schematic front elevation view of the other component of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged sectional view of one of the components taken generally along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 13  is a schematic front elevation view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11  put together in a sequence of three steps; 
           [0038]      FIG. 14  is a schematic top plan view of the components of the same three step sequence as in  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 15  is a schematic vertical sectional view of components of still another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 16  is a schematic vertical sectional view of an additional component of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 17  is a schematic top plan view of each of the separated components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 18  is a schematic horizontal sectional view of the component shown in  FIG. 16 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 19  is a schematic vertical sectional view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16  put together in a sequence of three steps; 
           [0044]      FIG. 20  is a schematic top plan view of a component of a further embodiment of the present invention that combines with the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0045]      FIG. 21  is a schematic top plan view of the component shown in  FIG. 20 ;  FIG. 22  is a schematic vertical sectional view of components of still another further embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0046]      FIG. 23  is a schematic vertical sectional view of an additional component of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 22 ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 24  is a schematic top plan view of each of the separated components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 22 ; 
           [0048]      FIG. 25  is a schematic top plan view of the component shown in  FIG. 23 ; and 
           [0049]      FIG. 26  is a schematic vertical sectional view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23  put together in a sequence of three steps. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0050]    Referring now to the drawings, in which like elements are identified by like reference numerals, there is schematically shown in  FIGS. 1-4  a toy system  50  comprising the most basic embodiment of the present invention. More particularly, toy system  50  includes a body component  52  and a separate piece providing an accessory component  54 . Body  52  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  is of a generally cylindrical shape and has a predetermined outer dimension or diameter, as for example 1.500 inches; it may be made of a material that is somewhat rigid, such as polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or polycarbonate (PC). Accessory  54 , is a band generally in the shape of a ring having an outer surface  56  and defining an opening  58  having an initial, pre-selected, inner diameter, as for example 1.450 inches, that is slightly less than, the predetermined outer diameter of body  52 . The accessory is made of a flexible, elastic material, such as a partially reticulated polyether type polyurethane foam, so that opening  58  will sufficiently expand upon insertion of body  52  and then contract to be retained about body  52  as is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0051]    To facilitate insertion of body  52  into accessory  54 , the free, lower as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , end  60  of body  52  is provided with a slight taper or chamfer  62  as is shown in  FIG. 5 . In addition, or as an alternative to chamfer  62  on end  60  of the body, one end  64  of accessory  54 , or both ends  64  and  66  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , may be provided with a slight taper or chamfer  68  to facilitate insertion of body  52 . 
         [0052]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , toy system  50  is put together by a child placing body  52  atop accessory  54  and then pushing down as illustrated by the arrow in  FIG. 3  to attach accessory  54  to body  52 . Although only schematically shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and particularly from variations of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 25-26  and  27 - 34  that both the designs of the body component and one or more of the accessory component, particularly the outer surface, may be molded, sculpted or otherwise embellished to provide various characters or other playthings which are thematically related and which attachment and removal of the one or more accessory components enhance and provide play. 
         [0053]      FIGS. 6-9  illustrate another toy system  70  of the present invention in which body component  52  is the same as that previously shown and described with respect to toy system  50 . However, in toy system  70 , accessory component  72 , is a band or ring with a slit, separation, or break  74 . Accessory component  72  also provides an outer surface  76 , and still substantially defines an opening  78 . Before accessory  72  is put on a body, substantially defined opening  78  has an initial, pre-selected inner diameter, for example 1.440 inches in the case of a band with a 0.125 inch wall thickness, that is slightly less than the predetermined 1.500 inch outer diameter of body  52 . As the wall thickness of the accessory band or ring of the same material increases, the difference between the outer diameter of the body and the inner diameter of the opening may decrease because of the greater compression strength of the thicker band. Chamfers such as  62  and/or  68  may again be provided to facilitate insertion of body  52  into accessory  72 . 
         [0054]    Toy system  70  is put together by a child placing body  52  atop accessory  72  and then pushing down as illustrated by the arrow in  FIG. 8  to attach accessory  72  to body  52 . Opening  78  will effectively expand upon insertion of body  52 , at least in part by spreading apart band  72 , more particularly separation  74 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , and then contract to be retained about body  52 . While it is still desirable to make accessory  72  out of a flexible, elastic material system  70  does not rely on the resiliency of the material itself to the extent that system  50  does, and hence there may be a larger number of acceptable materials, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), vinyl, or nylon. 
         [0055]    Toy system  80 , which is illustrated in  FIGS. 10-13 , has the same accessory component  72  as toy system  70 . However, body  82  comprises a lower part  84  and an upper part  86 , which are telescopically related to each other. Lower part  84  is of a generally tubular shape that is circular in cross-section. There is an upper inner shoulder  88  that has a generally central aperture  90 . Lower part  84  has an outer dimension or diameter, as for example 1.250 inches, that is significantly less than opening  78  of accessory  72  such that lower part  84  easily slips in and out of opening  78  of accessory  72  without any retention or attachment of accessory  72  by lower part  84 . 
         [0056]    Upper part  86  is also of a generally tubular shape that is circular in cross-section with an interior space  96 , a closed top  98 , and an open bottom  100 . Depending from closed top  98  is a post  102  with an enlarged bottom cap or head  104 . Post  102  is generally cylindrical and, except for cap  104 , has an outer diameter that readily fits in aperture  90  and allows for reciprocal movement of post  102  with aperture  90 . Cap  104  is sufficiently larger than aperture  90  so as not to be able to pass through aperture  90 . Part  86  has an inner diameter sufficiently large to permit telescopic movement of lower part  84  into and out of upper part  86 . Around post  102 , between the underside of closed top  98  and the upper side of shoulder  88 , is a coil spring  110  to bias parts  84  and  86  apart. As is perhaps best shown in  FIG. 11 , cap  104  is on the underside of shoulder  88  to keep assembled parts  84  and  86  from coming apart. Again, tapers or chamfers such as  62  and/or  68  may again be provided to facilitate insertion of upper part of body  82  into accessory  72 . 
         [0057]    The outer dimension or diameter of upper part  86  is slightly larger than opening  78  of accessory  72 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , toy system  80  is put together by a child placing body  82  with lower part  84  atop accessory  72  and then pushing down as illustrated by the arrow in the middle sequence step of  FIG. 13  to attach accessory  72  to body  82 , or more particularly to upper part  86 . When body  82  is released by the child, the bias of spring  110  will return upper part  86 , with accessory  72  attached, upwardly as illustrated by the arrow in the leftmost sequence step of  FIG. 13 . 
         [0058]      FIGS. 15-26  illustrate embodiments of the present invention in which the engagement between the body component and accessory component is enhanced by at least one protuberance on one of the components. Schematically shown in  FIGS. 15-19  is a toy system  120  that includes a body component  122  and an accessory component  124 . Body  122  comprises a lower part  126  and an upper part  128 . As with lower part  84  and accessory  72  of toy system  80  illustrated in  FIGS. 11-14 , the materials, configurations and relative dimensions of lower part  126  and accessory  124  are such that lower part  126  easily slips in and out of opening  130  of accessory  124  without any retention or attachment of accessory  124  by lower part  126 . Separate accessory piece is self-supportable on a surface such as the ground, a table, a floor, a chair, a bed, or the like. 
         [0059]    Again as with toy system  80  illustrated in  FIGS. 11-14 , lower part  126  and upper part  128  are generally elongated and similar to lower part  84  upper part  86 , respectively, in structure to permit generally axial telescopic movement of lower part  126  into and out of upper part  128 . They are also similar with respect to lower part  126  having aperture  90  and upper part  128  having depending post  102  with enlarged bottom cap or head  104  and coil spring  110  to bias parts  126  and  128  apart as in toy system  80 . Also tapers or chamfers such as  62  and/or  68  may again be provided to facilitate insertion of upper part  128  of body  122  into accessory  124 . However, toy system  120  differs in having a pair of generally diametrically opposed radially outward protuberances  134  on the outer wall of upper part  128 , adjacent the lower edge of upper body part  128  to facilitate frictional engagement with, and retention of, accessory component  124 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 16 and 18 , accessory  124  is provided with cooperating recesses  136  that receive protuberances  134 . More or less than the illustrated number of protuberances and recesses may be provided. 
         [0060]    As illustrated in  FIG. 19 , toy system  120  is easily put together by a child placing body  122  over an accessory component  124  resting on any generally flat support with opening  130  directed upwardly. Body  122  is positioned with lower body part  126  proximate and pointed at opening  130  of accessory  124 , and then pushing down on upper part  128  to telescope lower part  126  into upper part  128  against the bias of spring  110  to insert upper part  128  into opening  130  to attach accessory  124  to body  122 , or more particularly to upper part  128 . When body  122  is released by the child, the bias of spring  110  will return upper part  128 , with accessory  124  attached, upwardly as illustrated in the leftmost sequence step of  FIG. 19 . The sequence of pushing down and releasing body  122  produces an audible click sound to signal and further enhance the task completion for the child. 
         [0061]    A variation of toy system  120  is illustrated in  FIGS. 20 and 21  where an accessory component  142  that is made of a more flexible material than acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), such as perhaps a partially reticulated polyether type polyurethane foam does not have any recesses in its opening  144 . Even though accessory component is of a more flexible material it is still self-supported on a surface, and opening  144  is also still self-supported. 
         [0062]      FIGS. 22-26  illustrate another embodiment similar to toy system  120 . In the toy system  150  illustrated in  FIGS. 22-26 , the components are similar in structure and operation to those illustrated in, and described with respect to,  FIGS. 15-19  except as to where the protuberance and recesses are. More particularly, toy system  150  that includes a body component  152  and an accessory component  154 . Body  152  comprises a lower part  156  and an upper part  158 , and lower part  156  easily slips in and out of opening  160  of accessory  154  without any retention or attachment of accessory  154  by lower part  156 . 
         [0063]    Again, there is restrained telescopic movement of lower part  156  into and out of upper part  158  about post  102  with enlarged bottom cap or head  104 , and they are biased apart by coil spring  110 . Also tapers or chamfers such as  62  and/or  68  may again be provided to facilitate insertion of upper part  158  of body  152  into accessory  154 . However, toy system  150  differs in having a pair of generally diametrically opposed inward protuberances  164  on the inner wall defining opening  160  in accessory  154 , and cooperating recesses  166  in the upper part  158  of body component  152 . 
         [0064]    As illustrated in  FIG. 26 , toy system  150  is again easily put together by a child placing body  152  over an accessory component  154  resting on any generally flat support, with lower part  156  positioned atop accessory  154 , and then pushing down to attach accessory  154  to upper part  158  of body  152 . Upon release of body  152 , the bias of spring  110  will return upper part  128 , with accessory  124  attached, upwardly as illustrated in the leftmost sequence step of  FIG. 26 . 
         [0065]    Although only schematically shown in the drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, particularly from variations shown in FIGS. 25, 26 and 27-34 of co-pending application Ser. No. 12/006,177, that both the designs of the body component and one or more of the accessory component may be embellished to provide various characters or other playthings which are thematically related and which attachment and removal of the one or more accessory components, not only dress but even transform the toy to provide and enhance play. 
         [0066]    While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described with some variations and alternatives, further variations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended in the appended claims to cover all such variations and modifications that come within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.