Abstract:
A toy action figure includes a cape and a spring-loaded arm. The upper torso of the toy action figure includes two pivotally coupled arms. The first pivotally coupled arm is configured to retract the cape. An actuator button may be provided on the front of the torso to actuate the cape into an extended position with the assistance of a spring. The second pivotally coupled arm may include a spring-loaded arm to launch a projective therefrom.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the priority and benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/972,813 filed on Sep. 16, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Toy action figures have become an extremely popular and well known type of product in the toy arts. Toy action figures often resemble character-oriented heroes and villains. Common character themes for such action figures include warriors, soldiers and athletes, as well as science-fiction character themes, such as robots, cyborgs, androids and superheroes, and fantasy characters, such as wizards, gnomes and trolls. While the appearance and physical size of toy action figures may vary substantially, most toy action figures include a plastic body formed in a shape corresponding to the associated character theme. The plastic body of an action figure is often movable by joints. Many toy action figures provide additional movement features to further enhance the play value of the figure. Such movement features may include, for example, the ability to punch or kick. In many instances, accessories such shields and weapons are also provided for use in combination with toy action figures. Despite substantial success in the market place on the part of such action figures, there remains a continuing need in the art for more interesting and exciting toy action figures. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A toy action figure is disclosed herein. In one aspect, the toy action figure includes a body having an upper torso. A compartment is configured about a portion of the upper torso. The toy action figure, in various aspects, includes a cape having a concealed position and an extended position. The cape is generally contained within the compartment in the concealed position and the cape is generally extended forth from the compartment in the extended position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of a toy action figure; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side elevation view of the toy action figure of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top plan view of the toy action figure of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front elevation view of the toy action figure of  FIG. 1  with the springing cape in an extended position; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top plan view of the toy action figure of  FIG. 1  with the springing cape in an extended position; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  illustrates a rear perspective view of the toy action figure of  FIG. 1  with the springing cape in an extended position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is an assembly drawing that illustrates a front elevation view of the action figure of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is an assembly drawing that illustrates a rear perspective view of the drum located within an exemplary embodiment of the toy action figure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  illustrates a side perspective view of an exemplary drum located within the toy action figure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  illustrates a side perspective view of an exemplary drum with related components of a ratchet assembly; 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  illustrates a side perspective view of the inside of an exemplary drum; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the toy action figure that includes a spring-loaded arm for launching a projectile. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a toy action  FIG. 10  in accordance with the present invention. The toy action  FIG. 10  is formed in the shape of a fictional character. The toy action  FIG. 10  may, however, be formed in the shape of various characters, including but not limited to warriors, soldiers, athletes, robots, cyborgs, androids and the like. The toy action  FIG. 10  is formed with a body and limbs that correspond to the character theme of the toy action  FIG. 10 . The toy action  FIG. 10  may be formed from a suitable material such as plastic. The toy action  FIG. 10 , as illustrated, includes an upper torso  12 . The upper torso  12  is configured to enclose a springing cape  22  ( FIG. 2 ). A first arm  14  and a second arm  16 , in this implementation, are pivotally coupled to the upper torso  12 . The first arm  14 , in this implementation, performs functions associated with the springing cape  22 . The second arm  16  may perform functions associated with a throwing action in this implementation. The front of the upper torso  12  in this implementation includes an actuator button  18  for actuating the springing cape  22 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the toy action figure of  FIG. 1 . As illustrated, the upper torso  12  of the toy action  FIG. 10  forms a portion of a compartment  120 , and a lid  21  hingedly secured by hinge  27  about the upper torso  12  of the toy action  FIG. 10  encloses the compartment  120 . The lid  21  is generally biased about other portions of the toy action  FIG. 10  to enclose the compartment  120 . The compartment  120  generally encloses and conceals a springing cape  22 . In this implementation, compartment  120  is illustrated as a portion of the toy action  FIG. 10  formed as a backpack  20 , but compartment  120  may be formed, at least in part, as a shirt, a vest, the back of the toy action figure, or the like. Thus, lid  21  may formed as a portion of an object such as a backpack as in  FIG. 2 , or formed as a portion of a shirt, vest, part of the upper torso  12  or otherwise formed about the toy action  FIG. 10 . 
         [0019]    The springing cape  22  has a concealed position and an extended position, and the user moves the springing cape  22  between these positions. Springing cape  22  is shown in  FIG. 2  in a semi-concealed position, as the springing cape  22  is moved between the extended position and the concealed position. In the concealed position, springing cape  22  may be fully retracted into the toy action  FIG. 10  to be enclosed and concealed within the compartment  120 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of an implementation of the toy action  FIG. 10  in which the first arm  14 , second arm  16 , compartment  120 , and lid  21  are visible. Springing cape  22  is fully retracted into the back of upper torso  12  of toy action FIG.  10 , and, therefore, not seen in this  FIG. 3 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of an implementation of the toy action  FIG. 10  of  FIG. 1  with the springing cape  22  in the extended position. The extended position is achieved when the actuator button  18  on the front of the upper torso  12  in this implementation is actuated by a user. The actuator button  18  may be pushable, slidable, or otherwise formed to be actuated by the user in various implementations. When actuated, the actuator button  18  releases the springing cape  22  from the concealed position such that the springing cape  22  springs forth from the compartment  120  and opens into the extended position. The lid  21 , as illustrated, pivots on the hinge  27  to allow the springing cape  22  to spring forth from the chamber  120 . As can be seen when in the extended position, the springing cape  22  includes a fabric portion  23  and two resilient strip members  24  in this implementation. In other implementations, the springing cape  22  may include more or fewer resilient strip members  24 . The fabric portion  23  forms the body of the springing cape  22  and may, for example, be formed in the shape of wings or a cape. 
         [0022]    The fabric portion  23  and the resilient strip members  24  are configured to retract into the upper torso  12  of the toy action  FIG. 10 . Returning to  FIG. 2 , when the user motions the first arm  14 , the springing cape  22  may be retracted from the extended position into the compartment  120  to be positioned in the concealed position within the compartment  120 . As illustrated, the first arm  14  is pivotably coupled to the upper torso  12  such that first arm  14  can be motioned by rotating the first arm  14  through a succession of ratcheting motions. As the first arm  14  is so rotated, the springing cape  22  is wound around a drum  30  (see  FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  11 ) located generally within compartment  120 . A single ratcheting motion may be, for example, movement of the first arm  14  through an angle of about 90 degree in a counter-clockwise direction, followed by movement of the first arm  14  through an angle of about 90 degrees in a clockwise direction. In some embodiments, the first arm  14  may be moved in a circular, cranking motion either clockwise or counterclockwise to retract springing cape  22  around the drum  30  and compress the associated spring  54  ( FIG. 11 ). In still other embodiments, the arm may be moved in a circular, cranking motion to release the springing cape  22  from the compartment  120  into the expanded position. In  FIG. 2 , springing cape  22  is shown in a partially retracted position. 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top plan view of the toy action  FIG. 10  in which the fabric portion  23  and resilient strip members  24  of the springing cape  22  are visible.  FIG. 6  illustrates a rear perspective view of an implementation of the toy action  FIG. 10  in which the fabric portion  23  of the springing cape  22  is visible.  FIG. 7  illustrates by assembly drawing a front view of an implementation of the toy action  FIG. 10 . The layout for upper torso  12 , first arm  14 , second arm  16 , actuator button  18 , and resilient strip members  24  in an implementation of the toy action  FIG. 10  is generally illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Resilient strip members  24  are illustrated in the extended position without the associated fabric portion  23 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 8  illustrates by an assembly drawing a rear perspective view of an implementation of drum  30  as the drum  30  is housed within toy action  FIG. 10 . The drum  30  is configured to facilitate the storage of the springing cape  22  in the concealed position by enabling the circular wrapping of the springing cape  22  including the fabric portion  23  and resilient strip members  24  around a drum outer surface  32  of the drum  30 . A lip  31  generally disposed within compartment  120  is used to direct the springing cape  22  around the drum outer surface  32  of drum  30  as the springing cape  22  is retracted into the compartment  120  from the expanded position to the concealed position. The resilient strip members  24  are in the extended position without the associated fabric portion  23  as illustrated in the implementation of  FIG. 8 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 9  illustrates a side perspective view of the drum  30  located within the toy action  FIG. 10 . In this exemplary implementation, rails  33  located peripherally about the drum outer surface  32  of drum  30  direct the springing cape  22  onto drum outer surface  32  of drum  30  as the springing cape  22  is retracted from the expanded position to the concealed position. The toy action  FIG. 10  may include a ratchet assembly  38 , as illustrated, that allows the user to return the springing cape  22  to the concealed position through a series of ratcheting motions of, for example, first arm  14  of the toy action  FIG. 10 . The toy action  FIG. 10  may include various additional springs, such as spring  34  to facilitate the ratcheting of the springing cape. Also illustrated in  FIG. 9  is gear  36  associated with the optional throwing action of the toy action figure that is discussed below with reference to  FIG. 12 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 10  illustrates a side perspective view of an exemplary drum  30  along with related components of a ratchet assembly  38 . Ratchet assembly  38  may include a gear  40 , a spring  42 , an axle  44 , and a lever  46  for linking ratchet assembly  38  to first arm  14  of the toy action  FIG. 10 . As illustrated, gear  40  is fixedly secured to a drum side surface  35  of drum  30  and lever  46  is secured to the first arm  14  that in turn is rotationally secured to the upper torso  12  such that, when first arm  14  is rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise, lever  46  is rotated correspondingly about gear  40 . In this implementation, when lever  46  is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the lever end  47  of lever  46  engages with gear  40  to rotate the drum about axis  44 . The springing cape  22 , a portion of which is secured to the drum  30 , is then gathered over the drum outer surface  32  of the drum  30  as the drum  30  so rotates. The lever end  47  of lever  46  disengages from gear  40  when the lever  46  is rotated in the clockwise direction to allow the lever  46  to rotate freely in the clockwise direction. Accordingly, a ratcheting motion may be applied to the first arm  14  to rotate the drum  30  and, hence, gather the springing cape  22  thereupon. 
         [0027]      FIG. 11  illustrates a side perspective view of the inside of an exemplary drum. The inside of drum  30  may include a lever  52  and a spring  54 . Spring  54  is engaged with drum  30  so that, as drum  30  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, spring  54  is tensioned to apply a force that would rotate drum  30  in the clockwise direction. With continuing reference to the implementation of  FIG. 11 , the drum  30  is configured with teeth  58  having flat faces  57  and angled faces  59 . Pawl  56  engages the flat faces  57  to prevent rotation of the drum  30  in the clockwise direction. The pawl  56  generally slides over the angled faces  59  when the drum is rotated in the counterclockwise direction so that rotation of the drum in the counterclockwise direction is generally not impeded by the pawl  56 . The pawl  56  cooperates mechanically with axle  44  and is held against the flat face  57  by spring  42  ( FIG. 10 ). When sufficient force is applied to axle end  45  of axle  44  to compress spring  42 , axle  44  slides axially such that pawl  56 , which cooperates with axle  44 , is disengaged from flat face  57 . When pawl  56  is disengaged from flat face  57 , the tension, if any, accrued in the spring  54  causes the drum  30  to rotate in the clockwise direction. The spring cape  22 , if wound around drum outer surface  32  of drum  30  would be thereby unwound from the drum outer surface  32  of drum  30  to be positioned in the expanded position. 
         [0028]    In various implementations, the actuator button  18  may mechanically cooperate with axle  44  such that actuation of the actuator button  18  compresses the spring  42  so that axle  44  slides axially and pawl  56  is thereby disengaged from flat face  57 . When the pawl  57  is disengaged from flat face  57 , the drum  30  rotates to deploy the springing cape  22  into the expanded position. 
         [0029]      FIG. 12  illustrates an embodiment of the toy action  FIG. 10  of  FIG. 1  that includes a spring-loaded arm  16  for launching a projectile  64 . The spring-loaded arm  16 , as illustrated, is pivotally coupled to the upper torso of the toy action  FIG. 10  at an elbow  62 . The spring-loaded arm  16  includes an attachment point  60  for removably attaching the projectile  64 . The attachment point  60  is configured to hold the projectile  64  while the spring-loaded arm  16  is forced by the user into a throwing position. The attachment point  60  may be formed, for example, in the shape of a hand. The projectile  64  may be formed, for example, in the shape of an object corresponding to the character theme of the toy action  FIG. 10 . When the user rotates the spring-loaded arm  16 , a throwing force is developed by an internal spring (not shown). When the user releases the spring-loaded arm  16 , the projectile  64  is launched. 
         [0030]    While the specification has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that those of ordinary skill in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these embodiments. These and other modifications and variations may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present subject matter covers such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.