Transformable toy

A doll or toy action figure, transformable from a first character, to a second character. A hard molded head has a facial countenance of a character. A flexible latex mask is positioned around the neck and is fixedly attached. The outer surface of the latex mask has facial characteristics of another character. Means are provided for moving the mask from a first position at least partially covering the head and displaying the facial countenance on the mask, to a second position about the neck of the head wherein the facial characteristics of the head are exposed. Articles of clothing may be removed or rearranged to augment the effect.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a child's toy action figure, and more 
particularly, to a new and novel figure transformable from a first 
character, to a second character. 
With the advent of monster movies and the popularity of television programs 
featuring supernatural events, it is not unusual for children to play with 
toys having monster features. Toy action figures are also popular with 
children. Examples are Barbie Dolls, G. I. Joe dolls, toy soldiers, and 
the like. (BARBIE DOLL is a trademark of Mattell Inc., G. I. JOE is a 
trademark of Hasbro, Inc.) 
The present invention provides such a toy action figure with a dual 
personality and captures the interest of the user from both aspects. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention comprises a new and novel toy action figure which is 
transformable between a first character, such as a human being, to a 
second character, such as a monster. The figure or doll includes a body 
with a head attached to the body. The head is formed with facial features 
of a character, such as a monster. A flexible mask is positioned about the 
head and has an outer surface with facial features of a character, such as 
a human being. The flexible mask is movable from a first position, at 
least partially covering the facial features of the head wherein the 
facial characteristics of the mask are exposed, and a second position 
wherein the latex mask is folded about the neck, and exposes the second 
facial characteristic.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings in general, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 
2, there is shown a toy action figure, designated generally by the numeral 
10, which embodies the principles of the present invention. The FIG. 10 
includes a head, generally designated 12, and a body 14. Clothes 16 are 
positioned on the body 14 and may be reversible or removable. The clothes 
16 may also be used to hide parts of the body which would be compatible 
with one character, but not another. 
When arranged as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the action FIG. 10 will have a 
facial expression of a first character 22, such as a human being. When 
arranged as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the action figure will display second 
facial features, such as a monster. 
Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawing, head 12 of action FIG. 10 displays 
a facial expression of a second character 24, which in the configuration 
shown, resembles that of a monster. After transforming the head into the 
monster configuration as will be described more fully hereinafter, the 
child may also reverse or remove the clothes 16 to expose monster clothes. 
The clothes 16 may be repositioned on the toy action figure as shown, or 
reversed, depending on which character is exposed. 
Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawing there is shown an exploded view of 
the transformable head of the invention. It comprises hard molded head 
member 28 formed of latex or other suitable material which is fixedly 
attached to a base 30 formed as a hard solid cylindrical shape. The base 
30 is designed for positioning into a mating hole formed on the body (not 
shown). The hard molded head portion 28 has a facial characteristic of a 
second character 24, such as a monster. 
Flexible mask 32 is formed with a hollow center portion 34 which is 
positionable around the hard molded head 12. It contains a flat top 
surface 36. The flexible mask 32 also contains an inner bottom surface 38 
which is adhesively secured to a flat surface 40 and 42 contained on the 
hard molded head portion 28. When so positioned it can be seen that the 
flexible mask 32 covers up the face 24, on head portion 28. Outer surface 
33 of mask 32 defines the first face 22 of the action figure. 
In the illustrated embodiment, a hard plastic simulated hat brim 20 is 
adhesively attached to the flat top surface 36 in the area shown by the 
numeral 44. When attached in this manner, the hat brim 20 is positioned 
above the eyebrows 45 of the second character face 24 and the forehead 46 
of the face 24 of the second character makes the doll's head appear to 
have a hat positioned on the head as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing. 
The hard plastic hat brim 20 forms a means for moving the mask from its 
first, to its second position, to transform the head of the doll from the 
first character, to the second character. Pulling the simulated hat brim 
20 upward brings flexible mask 32 over head portion 28 thereby hiding the 
first character and exposing the features of the second character which 
are on the external surface of the mask. Reversal of this process, namely 
moving the brim 20 downward to the position around the neck, folds the 
mask 20 upon itself to conceal the facial features of the mask and reveal 
the facial features of the head portion 28. It should be appreciated that 
any suitable means may be employed to perform the transformation. For 
example, the top surface 36, without a hat brim would serve the purpose. 
The transformation process can be appreciated by referring to FIGS. 4, 5 
and 6 of the drawing. In FIG. 4, the doll's head has the mask in the first 
position with the first facial characteristic 22 of a human being having 
the simulated hat brim 20 in position at the forehead of head portion 28. 
As can be seen in FIG. 4 the portion which defines forehead 46 of the 
monster character 24 protrudes through the opening 47 of the hard plastic 
simulated hat brim 20 and gives the appearance of a hat sitting on the top 
of the human's head. 
Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown the beginning of the transformation 
sequence where the hat brim 20 has been pulled down over the monster's 
face 24 to turn the flexible mask 32 inside out. The arrow 49 shows how 
the hard plastic hat brim 20 is pulled downwardly in the direction shown 
by the arrow to transform the doll's head from a first character of a 
human being to a second character of a monster. 
The completed transformation is shown in FIG. 6 of the drawing where the 
mask is in the second position, It can be seen how the hard plastic hat 
brim 20 has been pulled down below the monster's head to conceal the outer 
surface flexible mask. Since the flexible mask had previously been 
adhesively secured by its inner bottom surface 38 to the flat surfaces 40 
and 42 on the monster face, the inside 48 of the flexible mask helps to 
form a facial feature resembling a monster creature. The inner surface 48 
of the flexible mask may also be colored to match the horrible visage of 
the monster to further enhance the monster's appearance. The brim 20 also 
becomes a collar about the monster's neck, rather than a hat brim. 
Whenever the child wishes to re-transform the monster to a human 
appearance, the process is simply reversed and the flexible mask 32 pulled 
upward over the monster's head to give the doll the appearance of a human 
being as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawing. 
The applicant's novel transformable doll may be constructed with various 
facial characteristics in other forms than a human being and a monster 
within the spirit and scope of the invention. The transformation of the 
doll's body may also be augmented by a reversal of the doll's clothes or a 
removal of the doll's clothes to expose a different set of clothes formed 
integrally with the body. 
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various additions, 
subtractions, modifications, and omissions may be made to the construction 
of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the 
invention. 
Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the additions, 
subtractions, modifications and omissions of this invention which come 
within the permissible scope of the appended claims.