Wooden Human Figurine

The present invention relates to a natural wooden figurine having resemblance to a human. The figurine is designed to be a portable product that helps in creating happiness, inspiring joy, and furthering compassion. The figurine has facial features of a pair of eyes, a nose, and a smiling mouth. A pair of arms are configured to be movable and imitate movements of clapping and praying positions. A winding lever mechanism is used for moving the arms wherein a lever is raised or lowered using a winding lever cylinder such that the arms can clap together or can be placed in folding configuration imitating prayer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of figurines and toys. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel and natural wooden figurine resembling a human which is created without screws or nails. The figurine has facial features, including a smiling mouth, and has movable arms that imitate clapping movement. The arms can remain static in praying configuration and therefore, functions as an embodiment of happiness, inspiring joy, and compassion. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto the present invention. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.

BACKGROUND

By way of background, a figurine toy is a type of toy that normally includes a face possessing facial features (e.g., eyes, nose, and mouth) such as for example dolls, stuffed animals, robots, imagined creatures, or the like. The figurine toy may present other anatomical features, e.g., a belly, the skull, legs arms, and more. The figurine toys may have many common themes that can include wrestlers, military, cartoon figures, villains, warriors, and superheroes.

A majority of figurines are made of firm, molded plastic bodies, however, firm plastic figurines are not always desirable for young children as they can be harmful and toxic and limit the enhancements or play modes in which a figurine can be used. Further, conventional figurines and collectibles do not provide a positive and happy approach and environment, and are only meant for playing, and therefore, individuals desire figurines that function as an embodiment of happiness while enabling children and users to play with the figurine.

Individuals like to teach their children about religion, God, and prayers. Often, when individuals teach such things to children, children get easily bored. A figurine toy resembling a human having hands in a praying configuration can help in teaching children about religion, God, and prayers.

Many figurines have screws and nails for fastening various anatomical features. Such figurines are unsafe for children and therefore, individuals desire improved figurines that do not have any screws and nails.

Therefore, there exists a long felt need in the art for an improved figurine toy that resembles a human and is created without screws or nails. There is also a long felt need in the art for a figurine toy that helps in spreading happiness, inspiring joy, and compassion. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for a figurine toy that provides a praying configuration. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for an improved figurine toy that is made of a safe and toxin-free material. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for an improved figurine toy that is unique, ingenuous, and obviates electric components. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a figurine toy that uses mechanical approach and brings about the healing powers of playfulness, creativity, ingenuity by using movement of hands in a praying configuration.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a natural wooden figurine. The figurine is constructed using natural wood without screws or nails and resembles a human. The figurine features a winding lever that enables the hands of the figure to clap and pray. The figurine is designed to bring about the healing powers of playfulness, creativity, and ingenuity and further wherein an image of the figurine can be printed on different items.

In this manner, the natural wooden human figurine of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and provides users with a natural wooden figurine resembling a human, created without screws or nails. The figurine is safe and easy to use and creates a positive environment with hands/arms in praying configuration and wide, happy smile creates a happy and joyful environment. The figurine can be used for marketing and branding purposes by printing figurine image on different items like shirts, stickers and much more.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a human resemblance natural wooden figurine. The figurine further comprising a one-piece structure in the form of a chair having a base frame and a backrest; the frame having a pair of legs extending parallel between a bottom member and a top member; a winding lever bar extending across and in the space between the legs; a winding cylinder extending vertically upwards from a center of the lever bar wherein the cylinder extends through the top member to the rear surface of the backrest; the front surface of the backrest having a pair of eyes, a nose, and a smiling face; a pair of pivoting arms disposed on the front surface wherein each arm is pivotally coupled to a lever positioned on the rear surface of the backrest; the lever is configured to be raised using the winding cylinder wherein the winding cylinder is raised upon turning the winding bar in one direction and the lever is configured to be lowered using the winding cylinder wherein the winding cylinder is lowered upon turning the winding bar in opposite direction, and further wherein the winding bar is rotated using a winding bar handle extending horizontally from one of the legs.

In yet another embodiment, the figurine is made from one of a group of pine, cedar, spruce, redwood, and fir.

In yet another embodiment, each arm has a pivot end coupled to the lever and a free end enabling the arm to have a pivot movement along the pivot end wherein the arms form a praying configuration when the free ends of the arms touch each other.

In yet another embodiment, the bottom member is used for stable position of the figurine on a surface.

In yet another embodiment, the figurine does not have any nails or screws.

In yet another embodiment, the figurine has a unitary structure.

In yet another embodiment, an item having a printed customized human resembled figurine is disclosed. The item has a figurine printed on exterior surface wherein the figurine has a pair of eyes, a nose, and a smiling mouth; a pair of arms configured to be in praying position wherein the image is sewn or printed on the item.

In yet another embodiment, the item is one of a t-shirt, a beverage can, a bag, stickers or more.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

As noted above, there is a long felt need in the art for an improved figurine toy that resembles a human and is created without screws or nails. There is also a long felt need in the art for a figurine toy that helps in spreading happiness, inspiring joy, and compassion. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for a figurine toy that provides a praying configuration. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for an improved figurine toy that is made of a safe and toxin-free material. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for an improved figurine toy that is unique, ingenuous, and obviates use of electric components. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a figurine toy that uses a mechanical approach and brings about the healing powers of playfulness, creativity, and ingenuity by using movement of hands in a praying configuration.

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a human resemblance natural wooden figurine. The figurine further comprising a base frame and a backrest; the frame having a pair of legs extending parallel between a bottom member and a top member; a winding lever bar extending across and in the space between the legs; a winding cylinder extending vertically upwards from a center of the lever bar wherein the cylinder extends through the top member to the rear surface of the backrest; the front surface of the backrest having a pair of eyes, a nose, and a smiling face; a pair of pivoting arms disposed on the front surface wherein each arm is pivotally coupled to a lever positioned on the rear surface of the backrest; the lever is configured to be raised using the winding cylinder wherein the winding cylinder is raised upon turning the winding bar in one direction and the lever is configured to be lowered using the winding cylinder wherein the winding cylinder is lowered upon turning the winding bar in opposite direction.

Referring initially to the drawings,FIG.1illustrates a front perspective view of one potential embodiment of a natural wooden figurine of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The natural wooden figurine100is designed to resemble a human and is formed of natural wood such as pine, cedar, spruce, redwood, or fir. More specifically, the figurine100has a base frame102and a backrest104extending vertically upwards from the base frame102. The front surface1040of the backrest104is configured to have facial features and have a pair of eyes106,108, a nose110, and a smiling face112. The pair of eyes106,108are formed of round wooden pieces and are permanently attached to the front surface1040. The smiling face112is formed by carving out wood in the backrest104and is a symbol of happiness and positivity.

The base frame102has a pair of legs114,116supporting a horizontal top member118. For providing a stable platform for the figurine100, a bottom member120is attached to the pair of legs114,116and helps in stable and secure positioning of the figurine100. The base frame102has a winding lever bar122spanning across the space between the legs114,116wherein a lever cylinder124extends vertically from the winding lever bar122and the top member118and is connected to a winding lever mechanism204positioned on the back surface of the backrest as illustrated inFIG.2.

The winding lever mechanism204is coupled to a pair of anatomical arms126,128pivotally attached to the front surface1040of the backrest104. The arms126,128are made from wood and resemble arms of a human. More specifically, the arm126has a pivotal end1260and a free end1262and similarly, the arm128has a pivotal end1280and a free end1282. The arms126,128are configured to pivot around the pivoting points1260,1280, respectively, enabling the movement of the arms to resemble a clapping movement (wherein the free ends1262,1282move towards each other and away from each other). The free ends1262,1282, when contacting each other, provide a resemblance of a praying configuration as illustrated inFIG.1and therefore, together with the smiling face112, provides happiness, positivity, and inspiring joy. The winding lever bar122has a handle1220that is used by a user to turn the bar122. Turning the bar122rotates an actuator123. The actuator123includes multiple apex corners125and multiple flat surfaces127. Rotation of the actuator123sequentially and repeatedly moves the actuator123from an apex corner125to a flat side127(and back again) thereby raising and lowering a horizontal supporting member214which in turn enables the winding lever cylinder124to raise and lower, resulting in clapping movement of the arms126,128. In one embodiment the actuator123is triangular.

The human figurine100can come in different sizes and colors. Preferably, the figurine100has a height of about 8″ to about 16″. Further, the figurine100can have a width of about 6″ to about 10″. The figurine100has a multi-piece structure and all the components (including base102, backrest104, arms126,128and more) are attached using adhesive and levers and therefore, screws and nails are not used, thereby making the figurine100safe for children. The figurine100is lightweight, biodegradable, and safe in use and can be used for gifting purposes.

FIG.2illustrates a rear perspective view of the natural wooden figurine of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The rear surface1042of the backrest104has a wooden cavity202positioned on the upper side of the backrest104enabling the winding lever cylinder124to move up or down, thereby enabling arms126,128to move and to generate clapping movements.

The lever mechanism204has a first lever arm206for the first arm126wherein the pivoting end1260is pivoted to the first lever arm206. Similarly, a second lever arm208is coupled to the second arm128at the pivoting end1280. The lever arms206,208are configured to move using the lever210which is configured to move vertically upwards when the handle1220of the winding handle122is rotated by a user from a resting or lowered position (shown inFIG.1) to a raised position (shown inFIGS.2and3).

The winding cylinder124is supported by a supporting member212positioned on the rear surface1042of the backrest104. When the lever210moves vertically upwards, then, the wooden cavity202accommodates and enables free movement of the cylinder124inside therein. It should be noted that the cylinder124passes through the top member118and is secured to the horizontal supporting member214.

FIG.3illustrates a front perspective view of the wooden human figurine of the present invention with the arms in an open position in accordance with the disclosed architecture. As described earlier, the arms126,128are configured to move around the pivoting ends1260,1280for imitating clapping movement. In the present embodiment, the handle1220is in a raised position (parallel to the bottom member120) such that the winding cylinder124is raised to enable the free ends1262,1282of the arms126,128to rotate away from each other.

For creating the clapping movement, the handle1220can be moved from the raised position as shown in the present embodiment to the resting or lowered position and vice versa. Rotating handle1220rotates the actuator123and repeatedly moves same from an apex125to a flat side127for biasing member214and winding cylinder124up and down. For creating the prayer configuration using the arms126,128, the handle1220remains in the resting or lowered position to engage a flat side127with horizontal supporting member214. It should be appreciated that the figurine100not only creates a positive and happy environment, but enables children and even adults to play with convenient structure.

FIG.4illustrates a side perspective view of the natural wooden figurine of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. As illustrated, the leg116is made of solid wood and the winding level bar122is engaged to the leg116such that the bar122is rotatable without any obstruction to raise or lower the winding cylinder for movement of the arms126,128.

The wooden cavity202is attached to the rear surface2020such that the cylinder124passing through the winding cylinder124goes into the wooden cavity202. The arms126,128are coupled to the lever arms206,204using the pivots402that pass across the backrest104.

FIG.5Aillustrates a perspective view of an exemplary t-shirt500with an image of the wooden figurine printed thereon in accordance with the disclosed architecture. Different products with the image of the figurine100printed, sewn, or embossed thereon can be manufactured. In various embodiments, shirts, stickers, beverage cans, and much more can be designed with one or more images of the figurine100. As illustrated in the present embodiment, the t-shirt500has an image502of the figurine100on the front panel504.

FIG.5Billustrates a perspective view of an exemplary beverage can506with an image of the wooden figurine printed thereon in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The exterior surface508of the beverage can506can have the figurine image508which can be used for branding or marketing purposes.

Other shapes, designs, and configurations of the natural wooden figurine100are contemplated and fall within the scope of the invention without affecting the utility of the device. Since the human resemblance figurine100has a mouth area to create a wide, happy smile, therefore, functions as an embodiment of happiness, inspiring joy, and compassion.

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name, but not structure or function. As used herein “wooden figurine”, “figurine”, “natural wooden figurine”, “wooden human figurine” and “human resemblance figurine” are interchangeable and refer to the natural wooden human figurine100of the present invention.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, the natural wooden human figurine100of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the natural wooden human figurine100as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the natural wooden human figurine100are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the natural wooden human figurine100important design parameters for user convenience, the natural wooden human figurine100may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.