Abstract:
A toy figure has a loosely held skeleton with multiple structural elements resembling or simulating bones of the skeleton. The skeleton also includes a fluid or liquid material that resembles a soft tissue coupled to a portion of the structural elements. In addition, a play set includes a receptacle in which a viscous fluid is located so that a portion of the skeleton can be moved to engage the fluid. A child can move a portion of the skeleton away from the receptacle, thereby displaying the fluid on the structural elements.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and is based on U.S. Patent Application. No. 61/454,351, filed Mar. 18, 2012, entitled “Toy with Viscous Skeleton,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to a toy figure having a loosely held skeleton and fluid soft tissue. The toy figure provides a novel structure for encouraging play and incorporates a viscous fluid element for greater flexibility and manipulation of the toy figure. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The use of slime, flubber and other viscous fluids has long been an attractive feature for children&#39;s toys. The flexibility and strong bonding nature of these fluids have fascinated children and adults alike, and have provided hours of entertainment. The present invention imparts a novel apparatus for play by providing a toy figure having a skeleton loosely tethered together and incorporating a viscous fluid. The viscous fluid is configured to tackily adhere to the skeleton and comply with skeletal movement. The tackily adhered fluid mimics the decaying soft tissue and/or organs of the toy figure to create an interesting play effect. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment a toy figure is provided, wherein the toy figure comprises a skeleton having at least two structural members or bones tethered together by a resilient member, and a viscous fluid configured to tackily adhere to the skeleton. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the resilient member tethering the at least two structural members or bones is an elastomer, a fabric, a string, a wire, plastic filament, other tethering means known in the art, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. 
     In another embodiment, the toy figure and/or the viscous fluid may further comprise a visual effect to enhance play. The visual effect may include various elements known in the art, including but not limited to, lights, a photochromic paint or dye, a thermochromic paint or dye, a hologram, a fluorescent paint or dye, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. 
     In yet another embodiment, the toy figure further comprises a sound effect to enhance play. The sound effect may include various elements known in the art. In some embodiments, the sound effect may comprise a speaker, a processor, pre-recorded audio sounds, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the toy figure further comprises a play surface for use in conjunction with the toy figure and configured to retain the viscous fluid associated with the figure. The play set may comprise a receptacle or basin for retaining the fluid. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the viscous fluid may comprise solid or semi-solid components configured to emulate organic elements. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, a toy figure comprises a skeleton body having a first structural member and a second structural member; a resilient member coupling the structural members to each other; and a viscous fluid adhering to the structural members of the skeleton. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the toy figure includes a skull coupled to the skeleton body. The skull includes an articulating jaw member and an actuator coupled to the jaw member, the actuator being operable to move the jaw member relative to the skull. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the structural members resemble bones of the skeleton body. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, a toy assembly comprises a toy figure including a skeleton body having a first structural member, a second structural member, and a flexible elongate member coupling the structural members together; and a base including a play surface defining a receptacle, the receptacle being configured to receive a portion of the toy figure, the receptacle containing a viscous fluid disposed therein, the viscous fluid being adhered to the toy figure when the portion of the toy figure engages the fluid. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the elongate member is coupled to the base. 
     In other embodiments, the toy assembly includes a projectile launcher, a second figure, and/or a stand coupled to the base, the stand configured to support the second figure relative to the base. 
     In one embodiment, a toy assembly comprises a toy figure including a body portion having a first structural member resembling a bone and a second structural member resembling a bone; and an elongate member coupling the structural members together, the elongate member being flexible; and a play set including a base having a surface defining a receptacle, the receptacle being configured to receive a portion of the toy figure; and a viscous fluid disposed in the receptacle, wherein the viscous fluid tackily adheres to the toy figure when the toy figure is engaged with the viscous fluid. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the toy figure includes a handle portion coupled to the skull, the handle portion being configured to be grasped by a user. The handle portion is useable to move at least one of the structural members into engagement with the viscous fluid. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the receptacle is configured to receive at least one of the structural members. 
     In an alternative embodiment, each of the structural members has a hole defined therein, and the elongate member extends through a hole of each structural member. Also, the elongate member is coupled to the base. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be understood more readily after consideration of the Detailed Description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a side perspective view of a toy figure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a side perspective view of a toy figure and play surface in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side perspective view of a toy figure and play surface in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic block diagram of a play set or play surface in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , side perspective views of a toy  FIG. 10  (and in the case of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a play set or surface  26  as well) in accordance with embodiments of the present invention are illustrated. The toy  FIG. 10  comprises a skeleton or skeleton body  12  having at least two structural members  16  resembling or simulating bones of a skeleton. The skeleton  12  also includes a resilient member  14  tethering the at least two structural members or bones  16  together. The resilient member  14  is an elongate member with opposite ends, and in one embodiment, is a flexible member. 
     The structural members or bones  16  are attached to the resilient member  14  at various distances to accomplish the look of a floating skeleton  12 . In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the floating skeleton  12  is formed by employing knots at various points of the resilient member  14  and passing the resilient member  14  through a hole formed on each structural member or bone  16 , thus allowing each bone  16  to rest against one of the knots. The outer circumference of the hole found on the bone  16  is less than the outer circumference of the knot formed in the resilient member  14 . 
     In other embodiments, the resilient member  14  may be attached to the bone  16  by various means known in the art. The pliant nature of the resilient member  14  allows for movement of the  FIG. 10  in all three axes, while retaining the overall skeletal shape of the  FIG. 10 . The toy  FIG. 10  further comprises a fluid  30  (see  FIG. 3 ), configured to be tacky yet viscous, to allow the fluid  30  to partially adhere to the  FIG. 10 . The at least two bones  16  of floating skeleton  12  provide ample surface area for adhering the fluid  30  to the skeleton  12 . The pliant nature of the skeleton  12  in combination with the tacky fluid  30  allows the fluid  30  to tackily adhere to the skeleton  12  as the  FIG. 10  is manipulated and maneuvered, creating an interesting and entertaining gelatinous play toy figure. In further embodiments, the tackily adhered fluid  30  may include various components configured to emulate organic elements, including soft tissue, organs, tendons, bones, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , a skull  18  is attached to the top of the skeleton or skeleton body  12  as an additional play element. The skull  18  comprises a jawbone or jaw member  24  and a handle portion with a trigger or actuator  22  for articulating or moving the jawbone  24 . The jawbone  24  is mechanically articulated about the pivot point  20  by engaging the trigger  22 . Although a mechanical trigger  22  has been disclosed, the articulated jawbone  24  may be actuated by an alternative mechanism. The handle portion  23  is coupled to the skull  18  and is configured to be grasped by a user. The handle portion  23  is useable to move the skeleton proximate to the base  25  and into engagement with the viscous fluid. 
     The resilient member  14  may be fabricated from any suitable material, or combinations of materials, such as supple natural or synthetic materials including, but not limited to, cotton, elastomers, polyester, wire, plastic filament, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. The bones  16  and skull  18  may be fabricated from any suitable material, or combination of materials, such as plastic, foamed plastic, wood, cardboard, pressed paper, metal, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. Suitable plastics may include high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), or the like. Suitable foamed plastics may include expanded or extruded polystyrene, expanded or extruded polypropylene, EVA foam, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. 
     The fluid  30  may be composed of any suitable ingredient, or combination of ingredients, including a binder (e.g. polyvinyl alcohol, guar gum), water, oil (e.g. mineral oil, vegetable oil), starch, glycerin, talc, silica, a crosslinking system, variations or derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the fluid  30  comprises water, a binder, and a crosslinking system, wherein the crosslinking system comprises potassium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, and a borate salt. In various embodiments, the crosslinking system may comprise a phosphoric acid salt, a carbonic acid salt and a boric acid salt. In yet another embodiment, the fluid  30  comprises about 92-97 wt % water, about 0.5-1.5 wt % binder, about 0.1-1.5 wt % sodium phosphate, about 0.01-0.5 wt % sodium carbonate, and about 0.005-0.2 wt % sodium tetraborate. In an exemplary embodiment, the fluid  30  comprises about 95 wt % water, about 1 wt % binder, about 0.40 wt % sodium phosphate, about 0.15 wt % sodium carbonate, and about 0.05 wt % sodium tetraborate. Reference is made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/957,721 to Cordova, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,387,169 to Cordova, U.S. Pat. No. 6,380,300 to Cordova, U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,205 to Cordova, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,092 to Cordova, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the toy assembly includes a base  25  with a play surface  26  for use with the  FIG. 10  as illustrated. The base  25  is configured to be placed on a support surface. In one embodiment, the play surface  26  comprises a receptacle or basin  28  configured to hold a fluid  30 . The basin  28  is configured to allow the  FIG. 10  to be at least partially submerged in the basin  28 , allowing the  FIG. 10  to contact the fluid  30 . In one embodiment, the receptacle  28  is configured so that a portion of the  FIG. 10  is engageable with the viscous fluid  30  in the receptacle  28 . The resilient or elongate member  14  is coupled to the base  25 . As shown, another toy  FIG. 11  can be used with the base  25  having the play surface  26 . 
       FIG. 3  also illustrates a second  FIG. 32  removably attached to the play surface  26  by placing the figure on a stand  34 . The second  FIG. 32  may further comprise at least one projectile  36  and projectile launching means  37  for launching the projectile  36  at a target. The second  FIG. 32  may be manually adjusted using a rotating base  38  for aiming the projectile  36  at a target.  FIG. 3  also provides a third  FIG. 40  removably attached to the  FIG. 10  using a stand  42 . The third  FIG. 40  may comprise at least one projectile  44  and projectile launcher  46  as an additional play feature. 
     In further embodiments, the  FIG. 10  and/or the fluid  30  may comprise a visual effect to enhance play features of the toy  FIG. 10  and provide added entertainment. The visual effect may include various elements known in the art, including but not limited to, lights, a photochromic paint or dye, a thermochromic paint or dye, a hologram, a fluorescent paint or dye, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. 
     In additional embodiments, the  FIG. 10  may comprise a sound effect to enhance play features of the toy  FIG. 10  and provide added entertainment. The sound effect may include various elements known in the art. Sound effects may comprise a speaker, a processor, a microphone, pre-recorded audio sounds, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. 
     In an embodiment, the  FIG. 10  is further tethered to the play surface  26  restricting movement of the  FIG. 10  and accompanying fluid  30 , and containing the  FIG. 10  and fluid  30  about the play surface  26 . 
     In yet another embodiment, the play surface  26  further comprises a projectile launcher for launching a projectile at a target. The projectile launcher may be manually adjustable for aiming the projectile at a target. The target may comprise the  FIG. 10 . 
     In yet another embodiment, the play set  26  and/or  FIG. 10  further comprise at least one stand for retaining at least a second figure. The second figure may include a projectile launcher and/or target. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , an alternative embodiment of a toy assembly according to the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, the toy assembly  100  includes a play set  110  that has one or more play surfaces  120  and a receptacle or basin  122 . As described above, a toy  figure 150  can be coupled to the play set  110  and engageable with the contents in the receptacle  122 . In addition, the play set  110  includes an electronic system  130  with a controller  140 , a power source  142 , a memory  144 , an input mechanism  146  such as a microphone, and an output mechanism  148 . In various embodiments of the invention, the output mechanism  148  is configured to generate a visual output (such as lights), an audible output (such as speech, sound effects, and/or music), and/or a combination of a visual output and an audible output. The output mechanism  148  can be a light emitting device, such as a light emitting diode, or a speaker or transducer. 
     Alternative means to describe the present invention include the following descriptions. 
     A toy figure comprising a skeleton having at least two bones; a resilient member loosely tethering the at least two bones; and a viscous fluid, wherein, the viscous fluid tackily adheres to the skeleton. 
     The toy figure described above, further comprising a skull and jawbone loosely tethered to the skeleton. 
     The toy figure and skull described above, wherein the skull comprises an articulating jawbone operable by a mechanical trigger configured on the skull. 
     The toy figure described above, further comprising a sound effect for playing a sound, a sound effect for recording a sound, a visual effect, and/or a stand for retaining a second figure. 
     Alternatively, a toy play set comprising a toy figure comprising a skeleton having at least two bones and a resilient member loosely tethering the at least two bones; a play surface comprising a basin configured to at least partially receive the toy figure; and a viscous fluid situated in the basin, wherein, the viscous fluid tackily adheres to the toy figure. 
     The toy play set described above, further comprising a skull and jawbone loosely tethered to the skeleton. 
     The toy play set described above, wherein the skull comprises an articulating jawbone operable by a mechanical trigger configured on the skull. 
     The toy play set described above, further comprising a sound effect for playing a sound, a sound effect for recording a sound, and/or a visual effect. 
     The toy play set described above, wherein the resilient member is tethered to the play surface. 
     The toy play set described above, further comprising a projectile launcher. 
     The toy play set described above, further comprising a stand for retaining a second figure. In one embodiment, the second figure further comprises a projectile launcher. 
     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 a 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. Similarly, where any description recites “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such disclosure should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. 
     While the invention has been described in detail and with references to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. For example, the majority of the elements can be formed of molded plastic. However, in alternative embodiments, the elements can be formed of a material other than plastic provided that the material has sufficient strength for the component&#39;s intended function.