Costume with flexure element

A costume may include a flexible garment and a flexure mechanism that is actuatable to expand the form of the garment, such as when a muscle is flexed. The flexible garment may be configured to cover at least a portion of a limb of a humanoid figure, such as a person or doll. The flexure mechanism may be covered by and extend along a portion of the garment. In some examples, a first end of the flexure mechanism may be fixed in position relative to the garment, and a second end moveable relative to the garment and relative to the first end. The flexure mechanism may include an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, with the flexure mechanism being configured to move the intermediate portion laterally toward or away from an articulating member of the limb by movement of the second end of the flexure mechanism.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to costumes for children of all ages, and to dolls and action figures with articulating joints. Costumes provide people with the opportunity to portray a person of unusual character, which character may be represented by attire associated with the character. For example, it is popular to wear a costume of a hero or heroin character. One example of such a character is the proprietary character Superman, which character is known for his great strength and ability to fly. The character Superman is known for wearing a blue body suit having a big red “S” on the chest and a red cape. People, then, portray the character Superman by wearing a costume, or part of a costume that is similar to the costume Superman is known to wear.

Costumes, whether for people or dolls, may provide entertainment in the form of a portion of the costume that can be made to expand and contract, or otherwise change shape, such as when a muscle, like the bicep, is flexed. Examples of devices and apparatus that may represent muscular bodies or bodies that change in shape are disclosed in one or more of the following U.S. patents and published patent applications: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,731,426; 4,183,171; 4,310,927; 4,819,547; 4,977,623; 5,079,778; 5,104,346; 5,205,774; 5,221,222; 5,419,729; 5,474,485; 5,664,983; 5,747,144; 6,067,892; 6,223,648; 6,568,984; 6,805,606; RE37533; 2002/0026794; 2002/0116741; 2004/0221355; and 2005/0034208. These references are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety for all purposes.

SUMMARY

A costume may include a flexible garment and a flexure mechanism that is actuatable to expand the form of the garment, such as when a muscle is flexed. The flexible garment may be configured to cover at least a portion of a limb of a humanoid figure, such as a person or doll. The flexure mechanism may be covered by and extend along a portion of the garment. In some examples, a first end of the flexure mechanism may be fixed in position relative to the garment, and a second end moveable relative to the garment and relative to the first end. The flexure mechanism may include an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, with the flexure mechanism being configured to move the intermediate portion laterally between an extended position in which the intermediate portion is spaced a first distance from a line extending between the first and second ends, and a retracted position that is closer to the line extending between the first and second ends than the extended position. Movement between the extended and retracted positions may be associated with movement of the second end between a distal position spaced a second distance from the first end and a proximal position that is closer to the first end than the distal position.

The disclosed flexure mechanism may be used over a joint connecting two structural or articulated members, such as arm or leg members, to allow articulation. When a joint moves, a degree of realism may be portrayed by a flexure element that projects laterally from one or more of the articulating members, when the members are articulated. For example, the costume may have muscular features corresponding to an action figure, such as the character Superman. The flexure mechanism may act on a garment covering the flexure mechanism, thereby providing a flexure element in the form of a muscle surface, for example, representing the bicep area that flexes or extends away from the upper arm, when the lower arm is moved toward the upper arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1is a sketch of an upper portion of afigure 20.Figure 20preferably is a person, but the figure may also be a doll, such as an action figure.Figure 20may include various limbs or other appendages22, such as arms24and26. Arm24may include a lower arm member28, an upper arm member30, and an elbow joint32by which the arm members articulate or pivot, such as about a pivot axis34. Lower arm member30may move between a flexed position F, shown in solid lines, and an extended position represented by dashed lines E. In the flexed position, the lower arm member may be at a transverse angle A (acute, perpendicular, obtuse) relative to the line or axis of the upper arm member. Although the fully extended position is shown as a reference, an angle change between any two relative positions of the articulating members may be used.

One or more flexure mechanisms36may be included in a costume38having a garment40made of a flexible fabric or other material. A flexure mechanism may change the apparent dimension of an associated articulated member with change in position of one articulated limb member relative to another. In this example, the articulating members may be the upper and lower arm members. The flexure mechanism may be mounted or otherwise adapted to function with a change in relative member positions. For example, the flexure mechanism36may portray the expansion of the biceps when the distal end or hand of the doll is raised toward the shoulder of the doll. This corresponds to relative articulation of the lower arm member from the extended position E toward the flexed position F.

Garment40may fit snuggly to the figure, covering the flexure mechanism. A flexible garment allows the flexure mechanism to extend, as shown in solid lines inFIG. 1, giving the appearance of a flexed muscle, such as when the arm is in a flexed configuration. A resilient garment may urge the flexure mechanism toward a retracted configuration, as represented by dashed line42.

Other articulated limb members of the figure may also have associated flexure mechanisms36. For example, a knee joint connecting an upper leg member with a lower leg member may be associated with a flexure mechanism. When the lower leg moves between an extended position and a flexed position, a flexure mechanism positioned on the lower leg member may make the “calf muscle” project laterally. Alternatively or additionally, a flexure mechanism positioned on the back of the upper leg member may make the “ham string muscle” appear to project laterally. Flexure mechanisms may also be placed at other articulated joints of a figure.

FIGS. 2-8illustrate the structure and function of flexure mechanism36. In this example, a flexure mechanism36may include a cap44or other structure corresponding to a travel element46that moves laterally of an articulating limb member.FIG. 2illustrates flexure element36positioned on an arm24without the garment40. The garment40may be represented by straps48and50that support the flexure mechanism to upper arm30. The straps may be sewn into the garment fabric or the flexure mechanism may be attached directly to the costume fabric. In an embodiment in which arm24is part of a doll, the flexure mechanism may be attached to a structural member of the doll arm, and then covered by a garment.

Generally, a costume may comprise a flexible garment configured to cover at least a portion of a limb of a humanoid figure, including a joint and a portion of each of two limb members connected by the joint; and a flexure mechanism covered by the garment, the flexure mechanism extending along a portion of the garment, and having a first end fixed in position relative to the garment, and a second end moveable relative to the garment and relative to the first end, the flexure mechanism including an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, the flexure mechanism being configured to move the intermediate portion laterally between an extended position in which the intermediate portion is spaced a first distance from a line extending between the first and second ends, and a retracted position that is closer to the line extending between the first and second ends than the extended position, when the second end is moved between a distal position spaced a second distance from the first end and a proximal position that is closer to the first end than the distal position.

More specifically, and referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, flexure mechanism36may include a first end52, a second end54and an intermediate portion56, it being understood that the garment, not shown in these views, extends along and covers the flexure mechanism and arm of the figure. With the arm extended, as shown inFIG. 2, first end52is fixed in position on the upper arm and the second end54extends beyond elbow32and over lower arm28. In this extended configuration, intermediate portion56is in a retracted position near the arm and near a line58extending between the first and second ends, shown inFIG. 4. In this configuration, the top of intermediate portion is approximately a distance D1from line58.

With the arm retracted and the flexure mechanism in the retracted configuration, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 7, the top of the intermediate portion is approximately a distance D2from line58. Distance D2is more than distance D1, providing the appearance, when covered by the garment, of an expanded shape, such as of a flexed muscle.

FIG. 2illustrates the flexure mechanism in an extended configuration. Flexure mechanism36may include a linkage assembly60formed of a plurality of members or bars, such as a base bar62, an intermediate bar64, and a driving bar66. Base bar62may be attached pivotably or otherwise held at an end62ato upper arm30. A second end62bmay have a sleeve, a retainer or other guide68, such as a rim that may form a partial or complete loop through which driving bar66extends, and that allows bar66to slide through it.

Intermediate bar64may be hingedly attached at an end64ato base bar end62aby a hinge70for pivoting about a hinge axis72. A second end64bof bar64may be pivotably attached to an end66aof driving bar66by a hinge74for pivoting about a hinge axis76. Cap44may also be attached to hinge72for pivoting about hinge axis76. In this example, bars62,64and66are flat and generally parallel to hinge axes72and76. Other forms and shapes of bars may also be used. These bars may also be made of a material, such as plastic, metal or wood, that is reasonably rigid to hold cap44over base bar62as it moves toward and away from the base bar.

Hinge74may include a pivot pin78, extending along pivot axis76. Cap44may include a shell80that forms a partial enclosure82. Brackets84and86disposed on opposite ends of pin78may be attached to shell80inside enclosure82. Brackets84and86may pivotably support cap44on pin78for pivoting about hinge axis76.

Hinges70and74, and guide68may allow controlled relative movement of bars62,64and66in a triangular configuration. When in a fully extended position, as shown inFIGS. 2,4and5, the three bars are collapsed, lying one on the other, as shown. More specifically, intermediate bar64and driving bar66extend generally in alignment on base bar62. The intermediate bar has a length that is less than the base bar, and the combination of the lengths of the intermediate bar and the driving bar is more than the length of the base bar. Accordingly, the driving bar extends through guide68and the free end66bof the driving bar extends beyond guide68.

FIG. 6shows linkage assembly60in a partially flexed position, in which driving bar66is slid through guide68, with driving bar end66bmoved closer to guide68and base bar end62a. In this intermediate position, cap44, hinge74, and associated bar ends64band66aare disposed away from base bar62.

FIGS. 3,7and8show the flexure mechanism in a more fully flexed configuration in which driving bar end66bis near or has reached guide68. In this configuration, hinge74and cap44are further spaced laterally from base bar62and line58by a distance of about D2. Movement of bar end66btoward base bar62may be provided by the force of the lower arm of the wearer against end66bas the lower arm is brought up toward the upper arm by bending the arm at the elbow. In an example in which the figure is a doll, this result occurs by movement of a lower arm member toward an upper arm member. End66b, in that case, may actually be attached to the lower arm member so that it moves with the lower arm member to raise or lower the cap44or other travel element46.

As shown in the figures, driving bar free end66bmay have a keeper or stop88in the form of a block attached to the end of the bar. This prevents end66bfrom passing through guide68, thereby limiting travel of the driving bar.

When the process is reversed, i.e., the person wearing the costume moves the arm from the flexed position toward the extended position, bar66slides through guide68, and hinge74and cap44return toward a position adjacent to base bar62, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4. This return may be accomplished under the force of gravity of bars64and66, as well as cap44. This process may be further facilitated by garment40pressing down on cap44. This may be yet further enhanced with a garment that is made of a resilient material that is stretched when the flexure mechanism moves from the extended configuration ofFIG. 3to the retracted configuration ofFIG. 2

It will be appreciated, then, that the costume described may include a flexible garment including a garment arm configured to cover at least a portion of an arm of a person, including the upper arm, elbow and lower arm, the garment arm including an upper arm portion, an elbow portion and a lower arm portion; and a flexure mechanism disposed in and attached to the garment arm, the flexure mechanism including a base bar disposed in the upper arm portion of the garment and having first and second ends, an intermediate bar having first and second ends and having a length that is shorter than a length of the base member, a driving bar having first and second ends, a combined length of the intermediate and driving bars being longer than the length of the base member, a first hinge pivotingly connecting the first end of the base bar to the first end of the intermediate bar, a second hinge pivotingly connecting the second end of the intermediate bar with the first end of the driving bar, a guide attached to the second end of the base bar and forming at least a partial loop through which the driving bar freely extends, with the intermediate and driving bars extending along the base bar between the base bar and the garment, and the second end of the driving bar extending beyond the second end of the base bar passed the elbow portion of the garment into the lower arm portion, and a rounded cap mounted to the second hinge and disposed between the second hinge and the garment, whereby movement of the second end of the driving member toward the second end of the base member causes the second hinge to move the cap toward the garment and away from the base member.

A costume having one or more flexure mechanisms36, may also have other related features. For example, a costume may include a breastplate, arm coverings and a cape. When used as part of a doll. The flexure mechanism may be attached to articulating members of a doll figure, and covered by a fabric, garment, skin or other covering of a “costume.”

It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein. Where the claims recite “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such claims include one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Further, ordinal indicators, such as first, second or third, for identified elements are used to distinguish between the elements, and do not indicate a required or limited number of such elements, and do not indicate a particular position or order of such elements unless otherwise specifically stated.

Inventions embodied in various combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through presentation of claims in a related application. Such claims, whether they are directed to different inventions or directed to the same invention, whether different, broader, narrower or equal in scope, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.