Abstract:
A toy includes a chamber having a longitudinal axis, a hollow interior, a first opening, and a second opening. The toy includes a die coupled to the first opening of the chamber, and an extruder received at the second opening of the chamber. A cavity is defined and bound by the interior of the chamber, the first opening, and the extruder. The extruder is positioned to advance longitudinally through the chamber relative to the die. Rotation of the extruder causes the chamber and formable compound received within the cavity to rotate relative to the die, and advancement of the extruder forces the rotating formable compound through the die.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to an extruder for a formable material. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Formable materials (such as, for example, the popular Play-Doh® formable material) are used by children to form a variety of shapes and articles. Formable materials may be molded by hand or by molds. Additionally, extrusion devices may be used to mold formable materials into shapes and articles. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one general aspect, a toy includes a chamber having a longitudinal axis, a hollow interior, a first opening, and a second opening. The toy includes a die coupled to the first opening of the chamber, and an extruder positioned at the second opening of the chamber. A cavity is defined by the interior of the chamber, the first opening, and the extruder. The extruder is configured to rotate and to advance longitudinally through the chamber relative to the die. Rotation of the extruder causes the chamber and the formable compound received within the cavity to rotate relative to the die, and advancement of the extruder forces the rotating formable compound through the die. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the toy may include a housing that includes a body, a first shelf extending from a first portion of the body, a second shelf extending from a second portion of the body, and a base that supports the body. The extruder may be mounted to the second shelf and able to move relative to the housing. The chamber may be positioned between the first shelf and the second shelf to receive the extruder and to rotate relative to the housing. The die may be positioned between the chamber and the first shelf and is stationary with respect to the housing. The second opening of the chamber may be coupled to the second shelf. 
     The toy may include a rotary device that causes rotation of the extruder. The rotary device may include a crank. The rotary device may include an electro-mechanical device. 
     The extruder may include a surface that contacts the formable compound received within the cavity, and a diameter of the cylindrical interior may be approximately the same as a diameter of the extruder surface. The extruder may include a screw. 
     In another general aspect, forming a formable compound includes coupling a first opening of a chamber to a die. The chamber has a longitudinal axis and a hollow interior. An extruder is received at a second opening of the chamber to define a cavity bound by the hollow interior, the extruder, and the first opening. Formable compound is received within the cavity. The extruder is advanced along the longitudinal axis of the chamber and the chamber and the formable compound are rotated relative to the die, such that movement of the extruder forces the formable compound through the die. 
     Embodiments may include one or more of the following features. For example, the received formable compound may have a first color. A formable compound of a second color may be received within the cavity. 
     The extruder may be mounted to a second shelf of a housing to permit movement of the extruder relative to the housing. The chamber may be positioned between the first shelf and a second shelf of the housing to receive the extruder and to rotate relative to the housing. The die may be positioned between the chamber and the first shelf, the die being stationary with respect to the housing. 
     Advancement of the extruder may include rotation of the extruder around the longitudinal axis. Advancement of the extruder may include rotating a rotary device attached to the extruder. The rotary device may include a crank. The rotary device may include an electro-mechanical device. Advancement of the extruder may include contacting a surface of the extruder to the formable compound. 
     The toy may be used to form ornamental twist extrusions. In particular, the toy may be used to form multi-colored twist extrusions by filling the cavity with two or more differently-colored formable compounds. 
     Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy for extruding formable compound. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the toy of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the toy of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the toy of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a chamber of the toy of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a plunger of the toy of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 shows top views of dies that may be used in the toy of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the toy of FIG. 1 illustrating the extrusion process. 
     FIGS. 8B-8D are side cross-sectional views of the toy of FIG. 1 illustrating the extrusion process. 
     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a toy  100  for extruding formable compound includes a housing  105  having a body  110 , a first shelf  120  extending from a first portion of the body  110 , a second shelf  115  extending from a second portion of the body  110 , and a base  125  that supports the body  110 . 
     The toy  100  includes a plunger  130  mounted to the upper shelf  115 , a chamber  135  positioned between the second shelf  115  and the first shelf  120  to receive the plunger  130 , and a die  140  positioned between the chamber  135  and the first shelf  120 . 
     The housing  105 , the plunger  130 , the chamber  135 , and the die  140  may be made of any of the various materials that have suitable properties (such as, for example, durability, low weight, and safety) for such a toy. For example, suitable materials include, but are not limited to, plastics such as resins, polymers, elastomers, or thermoplastics. The housing  105 , the plunger  130 , the chamber  135 , and the die  140  may be formed using any suitable well molding technique, such as, for example, injection molding. The various parts of the toy  100 , including the plunger  130 , the chamber  135 , and the die  140 , may be removable from the housing  105  to facilitate assembly and usage. 
     Additionally, the housing  105  may be formed of two hollow sides  145  that secure to the base  125  to facilitate assembly and reduce weight. The base  125  may have additional features such as molds  150  and  155  for receiving formable compound, and shaped compartments  160  for storing objects during play. The toy  100  may include ring templates  165  that are used in conjunction with the molds  150 ,  155  for forming rings having formable compound designs. The toy  100  also may include compartment covers  170  that fit the compartments  160  and protect objects stored within the compartments  160 . 
     The formable compound may be any non-toxic reusable modeling compound that is pliant, malleable, and/or dough-like. For example, the formable compound may remain soft indefinitely if kept in a tightly sealed container. One such formable compound that is commonly used is marketed under the brand name Play-Doh®. The formable compound may be a flour-based material, such as a material formed from flour, water, salt, colorant, and a flugicide, where the fungicide serves to prevent degradation. The formable compound may include pigments, dyes, or other materials that enhance its visual appeal. 
     Referring also to FIG. 5, the chamber  135  may be assembled from first and second pieces  200  and  205 , as shown in FIG. 2, to facilitate assembly. In another implementation, the chamber  135  may be made of a single piece. In any case, the chamber  135  has a hollow cylindrical interior  500 , a first opening  505 , and a second opening  510 . The first opening  505  couples to the die  140  and the second opening  510  receives the plunger  130 , as discussed in more detail below. 
     Referring also to FIG. 6, the plunger  130  includes a rotary device  600  (such as, for example, a crank), an extruder  605  (such as, for example, a screw) attached to the crank  600 , and a cap  610 . The cap  610  is positioned between the crank  600  and the extruder  605 , and is secured to the second shelf  115 . The cap  610  and the extruder  605  are able to rotate relative to each other. Thus, when the cap  610  is attached to the second shelf  115  and the rotary device  600  is rotated, the extruder  605  rotates about an axis  615  and advances along the axis  615  relative to the cap  610  and the housing  105 . A lower surface  620  of the extruder  605  has a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the cylindrical interior  500 . In this way, the extruder  605  may slide through the second opening  510  and through the chamber  135  to the die  140 . 
     Referring also to FIG. 7, the die  140  includes an opening through which the formable compound is forced during operation. As shown, the opening may be formed in any shape, such as, for example, the shapes of openings  700 ,  705 , and  710 . Common shapes include crosses, triangles, squares, stars, or clover shapes. In this way, different die shapes may be used to obtain different formable compound patterns. 
     Referring also to FIGS. 8A-8D, formable compound  800  is extruded from a cavity  805  that defined the extruder  605 , the chamber  135 , and the die  140  to form different types of ornamental extrusions. When the extruder  605  is rotated around the axis  615  (for example, due to rotation of the rotary device  600 ), the extruder  605  also advances along the axis  615  and through the cavity  805 . Because the extruder surface  620  contacts the formable compound  800  and because the extruder surface  620  has a diameter approximately the same as the inner diameter of the cylindrical interior  500 , the rotational motion of the extruder  605  causes the formable compound  800  and the chamber  135  to rotate around the axis  615 . Additionally, because the extruder surface  620  contacts the formable compound  800 , the translational motion of the extruder  605  forces the formable compound  800  through the die  140 . The formable compound  800  continues to rotate as it is forced through the die  140 . Accordingly, the extrusion  810  (that is, the extruded formable compound) is twisted, as shown in FIG.  8 B. 
     The formable compound  800  may come in any color. Thus, two or more differently-colored formable compounds  800  may be received within the cavity  805 , which results in differently-styled twisted extrusions, such as the extrusions  815  and  820  shown in FIGS. 8C and 8D, respectively. For example, if two differently-colored formable compounds  800  are received within the cavity  805  in the arrangement  825  shown in FIG. 8C (differently-colored formable compounds are arranged around the axis  615 ), then the toy  100  produces the extrusion  815  that has a twist with shape lines formed by the die  140  in a first general direction and a color line formed by the two different colors in a second general direction. As another example, if two differently-colored formable compounds  800  are received within the cavity  805  in the arrangement  830  shown in FIG. 8D (differently-colored formable compounds are arranged along the axis  615 ), then the toy  100  produces the extrusion  820  that has a twist with a core of a first color (due to the color from one of the formable compounds within the cavity  805 ) and an outer ridge of a second color (due to the color from the other of the formable compounds within the cavity  805 ). 
     In other implementations, the die may be rotated concurrently with rotation of the extruder in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the extruder. Rotation of the extruder (and thus the chamber) may be caused by any device that imparts a rotational force to the to the extruder (and thus the chamber), such as, for example, an electric motor actuator. Likewise, rotation of the die may be caused by any device that imparts a rotational force to the die, such as, for example, an electric motor actuator or a crank. In any case, if the chamber and extruder are rotated in a clockwise direction, then a rotatable die should be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction. In this way, the extrusion may be formed with a tighter twist. 
     The extruder  605  may be any device that imparts a rotational force to the chamber and the formable compound and a longitudinal force to the formable compound. 
     Differently shaped extrusions may be formed by replacing the die with a die of a different pattern, such as the patterns shown in FIG.  7 . 
     Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.