Abstract:
An illuminating toy figure for use with a conductive surface and an energy source is disclosed. The toy figure includes a structure having means for securing a battery and a first and second terminal, a light source having a third and fourth terminals, a first and second appendages, and a circuit. The circuit provides for an arrangement where the first, second, third and fourth terminals are connected to a first and second conductive plates located in the first and second appendages, respectively, such that when the first and second conductive plates are in electrical contact via the conductive surface, the light source is illuminated. The toy figure further includes magnetic properties in order to adhere to metal surfaces and a plastic structure embodying humanoid qualities.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a toy figure, and more particularly, a toy figure with an automated internal lighting capability. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Humanoid toy figures that employ lights or other illuminating devices are generally known. However, many of these toys require relatively larger cylindrical battery(ies) as a power source. Consequently, the toy figures are comparatively cumbersome and, since they are larger, tend to be more expensive in cost due to the additional material and labor required. Many times children become disappointed in being unable to transport the toy figures in question, such as on trips and in situations where the presence of larger toy figures is frowned upon. Additionally, such toys generally require a manual switch to be operated in order for the toy to be illuminated. Children, either through stubbornness or forgetfulness, often fail to turn off the illuminated toy figure, subsequently draining the power source. Parents must then spend additional amounts of money in order to purchase additional batteries to power to the toy figures. Although various attempts have been made to solve these and other problems associated with illuminating toy figures, as popularity of these figures become increases with respect to different types of cartoon and cinematic characters, an improved design is needed to provide a smaller, automated, and configurable illuminating toy figure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a toy figure that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a toy figure that illuminates without requiring the operation of a manual switch and that does not remain illuminated unless so desired. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy figure that has magnetic properties so as to allow the figure to adhere to surfaces having magnetic properties. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated toy figure that is relatively smaller in size and less costly as well as configurable according to popular taste. 
     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
     To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a toy figure for use with a conductive surface and an energy source, comprising a structure having means for securing a battery and a first and second terminal, a light source having a third and fourth terminal, a first and second appendages, and a circuit wherein the first, second, third and fourth terminals are connected to a first and second conductive plates located in the first and second appendages, respectively, such that when the first and second conductive plates are in electrical contact via the conductive surface, the light source is illuminated. 
     According to one aspect of the preferred embodiment, the light source of the toy figure is one or more light emitting diodes (LED&#39;s). 
     According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the conductive plates are magnetized. 
     According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the structure is of a plastic material. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the toy figure does not require use of a conductive surface. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide a further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     FIG. 1A illustrates a front perspective view of an assembled illuminating toy figure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 1B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the head and neck of the illuminating toy figure according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 1C illustrates a front perspective view of the disassembled torso of the illuminating toy figure according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a front perspective view of the disassembled upper body of the illuminating toy figure according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a front perspective view of the disassembled lower body of the illuminating toy figure according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a front perspective view of the disassembled lower body of the illuminating toy figure according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the drawings, the embodiments incorporating the principles, features and concepts of the present invention will be described. 
     FIG. 1A illustrates a front perspective view of the assembled illuminating toy FIG. 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Preferably made of a plastic, the FIG. 10 with head  12  stands atop a metal or conductive surface  5  in order to complete a circuit, which causes a light-emitting diode (LED) to illuminate (not shown) within a casing formed by securing the rear torso  18  to the front torso  20 . The circuit and LED are best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 and further described below. The rear torso  18 , which includes a slot  23  for inserting a battery, and front torso  20  are secured together by means known well to one skilled in the art, such as snap-fit or friction fit. These means of attachment hold true for the entire assembly of the toy FIG.  10 . 
     In FIG. 1B, the head  12  contains a socket into which a ball  14  is inserted, thus creating a ball-and-socket joint that allows the head to rotate and swivel. The ball  14  is attached to a stem  16 , which is further attached to the upper side of the rear torso  18 . A semicircular cut-out, which is not shown, is located on the top edge of the front torso  20  to correspond to the front half of the neck stem  16  protruding from the top edge of the rear torso  18  (best seen in FIG.  3 ). Alternatively, the neck stem  16  can be removably secured to the torso by means of the rear torso  18  and front torso  20  portions clamping the neck stem  16 . 
     FIG. 1C illustrates a perspective view of the rear torso  18  attached to the pelvis  22 , which includes a horizontal plane that is centrally secured atop a vertical plane, forming an elongated T-structure. Both the rear torso  18  and front torso  20  (not shown) include semicircular cutouts at their respective bottom edges in order to clasp the circular T-joint structure  24 , located atop the horizontal plane of the pelvis  22 . When the rear and front torsos  18  and  20  are secured with the T-joint structure  24  in place, the pelvis  22  is attached to the torso. The circular T-joint structure  24  consists of an upper collar with inner and outer diameters secured to a lower collar with inner and outer diameters, thereby providing a hollow cylindrical opening into the pelvis  22 . The upper and lower collars share the same inner diameter but the upper collar&#39;s outer diameter is greater than that of the lower collar, thereby forming a “T” when viewed cross-sectionally. The circular T-joint structure  24  not only serves as a means for attachment of the pelvis  22  to the torso, but also provides a conduit for terminals to pass through to the legs of the toy FIG. 10 (best seen in FIG.  2 ). 
     Also, in FIG. 1C, a battery  21 , having positive and negative terminals, is shown being inserted into the slot  23  located on the rear part of the rear torso  18  in order to illuminate the LED (see FIG.  2 ). The battery  21  is preferably of the flat disc or coin type battery commonly found in wrist watches and small electronic items. Alternatively, the rear torso  18  can contain a compartment or cavity on the outer surface to house the battery  21 . The rear torso  18 , as well as the front torso  20  (shown in FIG.  3 ), includes graduated semicircular cutouts located on the upper sides to provide means for attaching the arms (best seen in FIG.  2 ). Finally, the pelvis  22  includes two ball members,  26   a  and  26   b , located on either side of the vertical plane. On the surface of the two ball members  26   a  and  26   b  are electrical wire conduits  27   a  and  27   b  which consist part of the circuit and are in contact with the terminals that pass through the conduit provided by the circular T-joint structure  24 . Alternatively, the two ball members  26   a  and  26   b  can be located underneath the horizontal plane of the pelvis and be situated adjacent and parallel to the vertical plane. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the upper portions of the toy FIG.  10 . Two shoulder joints,  28   a  and  28   b , consist of circular collars attached to circular T-joints similar in description to the circular T-joint  24  of the pelvis  22  as described above, but without any cylindrical openings. These shoulder joints  28   a  and  28   b  are to be situated in the graduated semicircular cutouts located on upper sides of the front and rear torsos  20  and  18 , respectively. When the front torso  20  and the rear torso  18  are secured together via snap-fit means or the like, the shoulder joints are also secured. The collars of the shoulder joints  28   a  and  28   b  are inserted into slots located in the upper area of the arms  32   a  and  32   b , respectively. Once the collars of the shoulder joints  28   a  and  28   b  are placed inside the slots, shoulder pins  30   a  and  30   b  are inserted into holes, which are also located in the upper area of the arms  32   a  and  32   b  adjacent to the aforementioned slots, and through the collars of the shoulder joints  28   a  and  28   b . As stated above, the pins are secured in place by means of friction fit, snap-fit, or other means well known by one of ordinary skill in the art. Finally, hands  34   a  and  34   b , which include pegs, are inserted into holes and are maintained again by means of friction fit, snap-fit, and the like. 
     Also in FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view of the pelvis  22  is shown when attached to the rear torso  18 . As described in FIG. 1C, the battery  21  is inserted into the slot  23  on the rear torso  18 . In preferred embodiments, an electrical conduit or lead  25  is in contact with the negative terminal of the battery  21 . The conduit  25  is connected to an LED  47 . Another electrical conduit  29  extends from the LED through the circular T-joint structure  24  (located on the pelvis  22 ), and is in contact with the conduit  27   a , which is located on the ball member  26   a . Similarly, an electrical conduit or lead  37  is in contact with the positive terminal of the battery  21 , extends through the circular T-joint structure  24  located on the pelvis  22 , and is in contact with the conduit  27   b  located on the ball member  26   b.    
     In preferred embodiments, assembly of the upper portions of the toy FIG. 10 is completed when the front torso  20  is fitted to the rear torso  18  after the shoulder joints  28   a  and  28   b  are situated in the graduated semi-circular cutouts located on either side of the rear torso and the circular T-joint structure  24  of the pelvis  22  is placed in the semicircular cutout located on the bottom of the rear torso. The shoulder joints  28   a  and  28   b  and the pelvis  22  are locked into place after attaching the front torso  20  to the rear torso  18 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the lower ions of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the pelvis  24  contains ball members  26   a  and  26   b , which contain electrical conduits  27   a  and  27   b . These electrical conduits  27   a  and  27   b  are in contact with conduits  29  and  37  (shown in FIG.  2 ), which extend through the hollow cylinder of the circular T-joint  24 . The legs of the toy FIG. 10 consist of two leg pieces for each of two legs,  36   a  and  36   b  and  38   a  and  38   b . For example, the left leg is formed by attaching the leg piece  36   a  to its corresponding piece  36   b  by means of snap fit, friction fit or the like. The formation of the leg creates an upper and lower socket to receive ball members, such as  26   b  and  40   b , and create ball-and-socket joints for the thigh and foot (described below). Also, a vertical shaft is created between the upper and lower sockets when the two leg pieces  36   a  and  36   b  are formed together in order to house an electrical conduit  31   b , preferably in the shape of a spring. Consequently, when the leg pieces  36   a  and  36   b  are formed with the conduit  31   b  in between and around the ball members  26   b  and  40   b , the circuit is extended because the electrical conduits  27   b  and  33   b  are in contact with the conduit  31   b . The assembly is repeated for the right leg and foot, which involves leg pieces  38   a  and  38   b , the electrical conduit  31  a, the ball members  26   a  and  40   a , and the electrical conduits  27   a  and  33   a . In preferred embodiments, the electrical conduits  31   a  and  31   b  are springs in order to facilitate fluid movement of the legs and feet while maintaining the circuit. 
     The feet  42   a  and  42   b  of the toy FIG. 10 shown in FIG. 3 have present ball members  40   a  and  40   b , respectively, situated on their respective upper surfaces. This is in order to create ball-and-socket joints with the lower sockets of the legs as described above. Within the feet  42   a  and  42  and on the surface of the ball member  40   a  and  40   b  are electrical conduits  33   a  and  33   b . The electrical conduits of the feet  33   a  and  33   b  maintain uniform contact with the conduits of the leg  31   a  and  31   b , respectively. When the leg pieces, such as  36   a  and  36   b , are secured together with the electrical conduits  27   b ,  31   b  and  33   b  and the ball members  26   b  and  40   b  situated between the leg pieces, the ball-and-socket joints for the foot  42   b  and leg  36  are formed. Subsequently, the leg  36  is secured to the pelvis  22  and foot  42   b . The assembly described above hold true for the leg  38  and foot  42   a  as well. 
     Finally, in FIG. 3, the bottoms of the feet  42   a  and  42   b  are shown to have conductive plates  35   a  and  35   b , respectively. These conductive plates  35   a  and  35   b  are in contact with the electrical conduits  33   a  and  33   b , respectively. Consequently, when the assembled toy FIG. 10 is placed on a metal or conductive surface  5 , as shown in FIG. 1A, the metal or conductive surface  5  completes the circuit within the toy FIG.  10 . As a result, energy from the battery  21  illuminates the LED  47 . In the preferred embodiment, the conductive plates  35   a  and  35   b  are magnetized and are disposed of on the bottom surface of the feet  42   a  and  42   b . As a result, the figure can remain standing upright on a surface having magnetic properties, even if the surface is inclined or vertical. Alternatively, the feet  42   a  and  42   b  may be magnetized so as to provide the figure those same abilities. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the lower portions of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. As described previously, the pelvis  24  contains ball members  26   a  and  26   b , which contain electrical conduits  27   a  and  27   b . These electrical conduits  27   a  and  27   b  are in contact with conduits  29  and  37  (as shown in FIGS.  2  and  3 ), which extend through the hollow cylinder of the circular T-joint  24 . In this alternative embodiment, the legs consist of two leg pieces for each of two legs,  56   a  and  56   b  and  58   a  and  58   b . Similar to the preferred embodiment described in FIG. 3, the left leg is formed by attaching the leg piece  56   a  to its corresponding piece  56   b  by means of snap fit, friction fit or the like. The formation of the leg creates an upper and lower socket to receive ball members, such as  26   b  and  40   b , and create ball-and-socket joints for the thigh and foot (described above). However, in order to continue the circuit mentioned previously, an electrical conduit  51   b  is inserted between the two leg pieces  56   b  and  56   b . Consequently, when the leg pieces  36   a  and  36   b  are formed with the conduit  31   b  in between and around the ball members  26   b  and  40   b , the circuit is extended because the electrical conduits  27   b  and  33   b  are in contact with the conduit  51   b . The assembly is repeated for the right leg and foot, which involves leg pieces  58   a  and  58   b , the electrical conduit  51   a , the ball members  26   a  and  40   a , and the electrical conduits  27   a  and  33   a . In this alternative embodiment, the electrical conduits  51   a  and  51   b  have curved ends to form fit the sockets, which also facilitate fluid movement of the legs and feet while maintaining the circuit. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, the conductive plates  35   a  and  35   b  can alternatively be disposed within the hands  34   a  and  34   b  so that if the figure were to grip a conductive material, such as a metal rod, then the light source within the figure would be illuminated. Additionally, the structure of the present invention can be applied to figures other than humanoid, such as quadrupeds and vehicles, wherein the conductive plates would be disposed of in the tires for example. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.