Abstract:
A toy having a humanoid body and a jet pack is provided. The toy includes a first fabric portion partially ejected from a first aperture in the jet pack in response to a lever being moved from a first position to a second position. The toy further includes a fan disposed in the body that blow airs across the first fabric portion. The toy further includes a first light emitting diode that illuminates the first fabric portion when the first fabric portion is partially ejected from the first aperture such that the first fabric portion simulates flames being emitted from the jet pack.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to a toy, and in particular a toy having a humanoid shape. 
     Toys having humanoid shapes or figures have been developed. People enjoy engaging in play with these types of toys to simulate action-hero types of activities. People also desire to play with toys that have several play options. It is therefore desirable to provide people with toys that both simulate activities that they are not able to participate in themselves while also stimulating their imaginations. One way of increasing the available play options is to provide toys with movable components or which facilitate the simulation of imaginary situations, such as having flames exiting one or more vehicles such as a plane or other flying device. 
     Accordingly, while existing toy figures are suitable for their intended purposes, it is desirable to provide a toy or action figure with a humanoid shape having a jet pack with simulated flames exiting the jet pack. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A toy in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is provided. The toy includes a humanoid body and a jet pack attached to the humanoid body. The toy further includes a first fabric portion being partially ejected from a first aperture in the jet pack in response to a lever being moved from a first position to a second position. The toy further includes a fan disposed in the humanoid body configured to blow air through a second aperture in the jet pack across the first fabric portion when a switch has a first operational position. The toy further includes a first light emitting diode disposed on the jet pack configured to illuminate the first fabric portion when the switch has the first operational position and the first fabric portion is partially ejected from the first aperture such that the first fabric portion simulates flames being emitted from the jet pack. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a jet pack configured for use with an action figure is provided. The jet pack includes a housing portion. A first fabric portion is arrange to be partially ejected from a first aperture in the housing portion in response to a lever being moved from a first position to a second position. A fan is disposed in the humanoid body and configured to blow air through a second aperture in the housing portion across the first fabric portion when a switch has a first operational position. A first light emitting diode is disposed on the housing configured to illuminate the first fabric portion when the switch has the first operational position and the first fabric portion is partially ejected from the first aperture such that the first fabric portion simulates flames being emitted from the housing of the jet pack. 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment, a toy is provided having a humanoid body. A housing is coupled to one side of the humanoid body, the housing having a first aperture and a second aperture. A first fabric portion is movably coupled to the housing. A lever is operably coupled to the first fabric portion to move the first fabric portion from the first position to a second position, wherein the first fabric portion extends at least partially through the first aperture when in the second position. A fan is operably coupled to move air through the second aperture. A switch is coupled to fan. At least one first light emitting diode disposed on the housing to direct light onto the first fabric portion when the first fabric portion is in the second position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following description of embodiments, the description referring to the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a toy in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of the toy of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged rear view of a portion of the toy of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the toy of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic of an interior region of the toy of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic of an outer cover of a jet pack in the toy of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic of a movable assembly utilized in the toy of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic of the outer cover of the jet pack of  FIG. 6  holding the movable assembly of  FIG. 7  therein; 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are views of the jet pack of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic of a wing assembly of a jet pack in the toy of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic of a fan utilized in the toy of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram of electrical components utilized in the toy of  FIG. 1 ; and 
     
    
    
     Appendix A illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the FIGS. and in particular to  FIGS. 1-4 ,  8 - 8 C and  11 , a toy or action  FIG. 10  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is provided. The toy or action  FIG. 10  includes a body portion  20  which in one non-limiting exemplary embodiment resembles a humanoid body or course numerous other configurations are contemplated to be within the scope of exemplary embodiments of the present invention non-limiting examples include creatures, aliens, humans, humanoids, robots, story characters or any other type of configuration. 
     The toy also includes a jet pack  22 , a movable assembly  24 , a rod  25 , a lever  26 , fabric portions  32 ,  34 , a fan  40 , a battery or batteries  42 ,  44 ,  46 , a switch  50 , and light emitting diodes (LEDs)  52 ,  54 . In one non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the fabric portions of are die-cut fabric or flame-shaped fabric configured to have a consistency or weave count to make it light enough to be moved by the fan and simulate the flame effect. Non-limiting examples of suitable fabrics are nylon, plastic, having no coatings or a metallic-effect, metallic coating or metallic ink dyed thereon to provide a metallic fabric portion as long as the weight is light enough to allow for the desired flame effect. Still further the fabric portion may be of any suitable color to provide the desired effect in combination with the illumination provided by the LEDs. 
     An advantage of the toy  10  is that the toy utilizes air from the fan  40  to move illuminated fabric portions  32 ,  34  to simulate flame being emitted from the jet pack  22 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  and in one non-limiting embodiment, the humanoid body  20  includes legs  70 ,  72 , a torso  74 , a chest  76 , arms  78 ,  80 , and a head  82 . The legs  70 ,  72  are coupled to the torso  74 , and the torso  74  is coupled between the legs  70 ,  72  and the chest  76 . The arms  78 ,  80  are disposed on opposite sides of the chest  76 . Finally, the head  82  is coupled to an upper portion of the chest  76 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  6 - 9  and in one non-limiting embodiment, the jet pack  22  includes a wing assembly portion  89  and an outer cover  90 . Of course, the jet pack can be configured to not have a wing assembly portion. The wing assembly portion  89  is coupled to a rear portion of the chest  76  of the humanoid body  20 . The outer cover  90  is coupled to the wing assembly portion  89 , and the cover  90  and the portion  89  define an interior region therebetween. The outer cover  90  includes holding portions  108 ,  110  for holding the rod  25  therebetween as will be described in greater detail below. The jet pack  22  includes apertures  102 ,  104 ,  106  extending therethrough. The apertures  102 ,  104  are configured to allow the fabric portions  32 ,  34  to extend therethrough. The aperture  106  is configured to allow air to flow from the fan  40 , disposed in the humanoid body  20 , onto the fabric portions  32 ,  34  disposed through the apertures  102 ,  104  to simulate flame movement. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  7  and  8 , the movable assembly  24  is configured to move the fabric portions  32 ,  34  from an interior region of the jet pack  22  through the apertures  102 ,  104  such that the fabric portions  32 ,  34  are substantially outside of the jet pack  22 , and vice versa. In one non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the movable assembly  24  includes a plate  128 , a tubular portion  129 , and a tab portion  130 . The tubular portion  129  is attached to a central region of the plate  128 . The tab portion  130  is coupled at an end of the plate  128  and is operably coupled to the lever  26 . The tubular portion  129  is slidably received on the elongated rod  25 , which is held between the holding portions  108 ,  110  of the outer cover  90 . Also, the plate  128  is attached to the fabric portions  32 ,  34 . The spring  124  is disposed on the elongated rod  25  between the first end of the rod  25  and the tubular portion  129  and biases the plate  128  and fabric portions  32 ,  34  toward the apertures  102 ,  104 , respectively, in the jet pack  22 . 
     During operation and when the lever  26  is moved from a first position (shown in  FIG. 3 ) to a second position (shown in  FIG. 2 ), the lever  26  moves the moveable assembly  24  downwardly along the elongated rod  25  such that the fabric portions  32 ,  34  are moved from an interior region of the jet pack  22  through the apertures  102 ,  104  to a region outside of the jet pack  22 . Alternately and when the lever  26  is moved from the second position (shown in  FIG. 2 ) to the first position (shown in  FIG. 3 ), the lever  26  moves the moveable assembly  24  upwardly along the elongated rod  25  such that the fabric portions  32 ,  34  are moved through the apertures  102 ,  104  from the region outside of the jet pack  22  into the interior region of the jet pack  22 . Further, the moveable assembly  24  is configured to move a switch  50  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) to a open operational position when the moveable assembly  24  is at a full upward position (as shown in  FIG. 8 ) and the lever  26  is at the first position (shown in  FIG. 8 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , a circuit having the electrical components of the toy  10  will now be described. The circuit includes a power supply such as a battery or batteries  42 ,  44 ,  46 , the switch  50 , the fan  40 , and the LEDs  52 ,  54 . The batteries  42 ,  44 ,  46  are electrically coupled in series between the switch  50  and electrical ground. The switch  50  is electrically coupled between the batteries and the fan  40 . The fan  40  is further electrically coupled to electrical ground. Also, the LEDs  52  and  54  are electrically coupled in series between the switch  50  and electrical ground. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  10  and  11 , during operation, when the switch  50  is moved from an open operational position to a closed operational position by an operator, a voltage from the batteries  42 ,  44 ,  46  is applied to a motor of the fan  40  to turn on the fan  40 . Air from the fan  40  blows through the aperture  106  to cause the fabric portions  32 ,  34  to have fluttering movement. Further, the voltage is applied across the LEDs  52 ,  54  and in response the LEDs  52 ,  54  illuminate the fabric portions  32 ,  34  when the portions  32 ,  34  are positioned substantially outside of the jet pack  22  such that the portions  32 ,  34  simulate flame being emitted from the jet pack  22 . 
     Alternately, when the switch  50  is moved from the closed operational position to the open operational position, a voltage from the batteries  42 ,  44 ,  46  is removed from the motor of the fan  40  to turn off the fan  40 . Further, the voltage is removed from the LEDs  52 ,  54  to turn off the LEDs  52 ,  54 . Further, the movable assembly  24  is configured to move the switch  52  from the closed operational position to the open operational position when the lever  26  is moved from the second position (shown in  FIG. 2 ) to the first position (shown in  FIG. 3 ) to turn off both the fan  40  and LEDs  52 ,  54 . 
     The toy  10  provides a substantial advantage over other toys. In particular, the toy  10  provides a technical effect of ejecting fabric portions from a jet pack and blowing air across the fabric portions while the fabric portions are illuminated to simulate flames being emitted from the jet pack. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the present application.