Abstract:
A toy figure body formed as a four legged animal includes an outer skin and interior padding to assume an animal-like form. Within the front legs and feet of the animal body a front leg armature passed upwardly from the animal&#39;s feet through the front legs and across the lower portion of the body. A rear leg armature separate from the front leg armature extends upwardly from the animals feet through the rear legs and passes therebetween through the animal&#39;s body. A tail armature extends from with padded animal body outwardly to support a posable tail. In an alternate embodiment, the three separate armatures are covered with a fabric sleeve.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 10/159,668 filed May 31, 2002 entitled POSABLE PLUSH TOY FIGURE having the same applicant. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to dolls and toy figures and particularly to those known generally in the art as “plush figures”.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Posable toy figures are well known in the art and for many years have been provided in a variety of shapes, sizes, configurations and materials. While substantial variation is present in posable toy figures and dolls, basically dolls and toy figures are designated as being posable when they exhibit the property of having the capability of being bent or shaped by the user to configurations, postures or poses which the doll or toy figures then maintains after release by the user. A certain amount of posability may be achieved in dolls and toy figures by selecting fabrication materials which are known to exhibit a characteristic malleability and ductility. When formed of such material, dolls and toy figures tend to maintain any shape imposed upon them. A substantial number of newly developed plastic materials suitable for use in molding dolls and toy figures have been developed which posses this malleability and ductility.  
           [0004]    Other posable dolls and toy figures acquire the posability through fabrication of relatively rigid components which are joined by articulated joints. Posability arises in the provision of restriction of movement or friction within the figures joints allowing the figure to maintain a posed position. Achieving posability in this manner requires what is, in essence, an interference fit between joint components or some other friction mechanism.  
           [0005]    For the most part however, not withstanding the foregoing types of posable figures, practitioner&#39;s in the art usually achieve posability by combining a ductile or malleable armature which is supported within a covering body formed of a flexible resilient material such as molded plastic or rubber or the like. In such figures, the posability or maintenance of a given pose is provided by the strength and ductility of the armature which resists the tendency of the molded body covering to return to its original position.  
           [0006]    Plush toys and dolls, so named because of their soft padded bodies, are often difficult to provide in a posable fabrication. In a typical plush toy or doll, the body is formed of a flexible fabric outer covering which is stuffed with a resilient padding material. In practice, the use of a malleable or ductile armature within such plush padded figures is subject to several difficulties. For example, the typical plush material padding used in doll&#39;s or toy figures often interferes with flexing or bending of the armature material itself. Another problem arises as the padding material moves during posing and allows the armature to move within the padded interior of the toy figure thereby shifting the armature rather than bending it as desired.  
           [0007]    There arises therefore a continuing need in the art for improved posable plush toy figures which readily accommodate a malleable ductile armature within the padded interior for optimum posing.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved posable plush toy figure. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved posable plush toy figure which supports an armature within the padded figure interior in a manner facilitating posability. It is a still more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved posable plush toy figure having a malleable internal armature which maintains accurate positioning within the toy figure interior.  
           [0009]    In accordance with the present invention there is provided a posable plush toy figure comprising: a figure body having a flexible outer skin and a padded body filled with padding material, the body including front legs, front feet, rear legs and rear feet; a front leg armature formed of a ductile material having front foot loops within the front feet and extending upwardly through the front legs and passing through the body; and a rear leg armature, separate from and independent of the front leg armature, formed of a ductile material having rear foot loops within the rear feet and extending upwardly through the rear legs and passing through the body, the front leg armature and the rear leg armature being tightly surrounded by the padding material within the front and rear legs and feet respectively and the front leg armature and the rear leg armature being posable independent of each other. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 sets forth a front perspective view of a posable plush toy figure constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 sets forth a partially sectioned side elevation view of a posable plush toy figure constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 sets forth a partially sectioned side elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention posable plush toy figure. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 sets forth a front perspective view of a posable plush toy figure constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral  10 . Toy FIG. 10 is shown in FIG. 1 in a standing pose having its four legs supporting the figures weight and having the figures tail and head raised to a normal standing position.  
         [0015]    More specifically, posable plush toy FIG. 10 includes a body  11  supporting a tail  12  and a head  13 . Body  11  is in turn supported by a quartet of legs  14 ,  15 ,  16  and  17 . Legs  14  through  17  are in turn supported by a plurality of feet  24 ,  25 ,  26  and  27  respectively. Body  11 , tail  12 , head  13 , as well as legs  14  through  17  and feet  24  through  27  are fabricated of a soft outer fabric skin which is preferably flexible together with an interior supply of relatively densely packed padding material. The attachment between the elements forming the outer skin of toy FIG. 10 is carried forward using conventional attachment such as sewing stitches or the like. In accordance with the present invention, toy FIG. 10 further includes a front leg armature  30 , a rear leg armature  40 , and a tail armature  50 . Armatures  30 ,  40  and  50  are preferable formed of a malleable ductile material such as soft metal or the like. Front leg armature  30  includes portions extending downwardly through legs  14  and  15  into feet  24  and  25 . Within feet  24  and  25 , front leg armature  30  is formed into foot loops  31  and  32  respectively. Front leg armature  30  further includes an upper bend portion  33  extending between legs  14  and  15  and passing through the lower portion of body  11 .  
         [0016]    Rear leg armature  40  extends downwardly through legs  16  and  17  into feet  26  and  27  forming foot loops  42  and  41  respectively therein. In a similar fabrication to front leg armature  30 , rear leg armature  40  includes an upper bend  43  passing between legs  16  and  17  and through the lower portion of body  11 .  
         [0017]    Tail armature  50  includes an outer end  52  supported within tail  12  and an interior loop  51  formed within body  11 . Tail armature  50  extends upwardly from loop  51  through body  11  and tail  12  to outer end  52  and provides posable support for tail  12 .  
         [0018]    In accordance with the preferred fabrication of the present invention, front leg armature  30 , rear leg armature  40  and tail armature  50  are each formed of single length of malleable ductile metal or other material. Thus, armatures  30 ,  40  and  50  may be fabricated using presently available materials such as soft copper or soft iron as well as other materials having the desired malleability and ductility.  
         [0019]    As mentioned, FIG. 1 shows posable plush toy FIG. 10 in a standing position. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that in accordance with the present invention, toy FIG. 10 may be posed by bending legs  14  through  17  as well as tail  12  in a typical posing play pattern. It will be noted that the use of loops  31  and  32  within feet  24  and  25  as well as loops  41  and  42  within feet  27  and  26  together with loop  51  within body  11  provides secure anchoring and positional stability for armatures  30 ,  40  and  50  within the present invention toy figure. As is set forth below in greater detail, and in accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the packing or padding material utilized within the interior of toy FIG. 10 is preferably packed in substantial density about armatures  30 ,  40  and  50  with particular attention being paid to the density about loops  31 ,  32 ,  41 ,  42  and  51  to maintain the secure positioning of armatures  30 ,  40  and  50 .  
         [0020]    In accordance with a further advantage of the present invention, toy FIG. 10 utilizes separate unconnected armatures for the front legs, rear legs and tail. It has been found that the avoidance of junction material between the leg and tail armatures greatly improves the posability performance of a plush toy figure. This contravenes conventional armature design in which a single armature having all appendage supports coupled thereto is utilized within the toy figure. Thus, each individual armature is able to maintain its own position and stress load during posing. This has been found particularly advantageous for the fabrication of a padded plush toy figure.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 sets forth a partial section side elevation view of the present invention toy figure once again generally referenced by numeral  10 . In FIG. 2, toy FIG. 10 is shown having legs  14  through  17  posed in a walking position. Similarly, tail  12  is shown posed in an upwardly and forwardly curved pose position. As is indicated by the dash line phantom drawing of the user&#39;s hand applied to leg  15 , this posing is achieved by simply bending leg  15  or other appendages of FIG. 10. The ductile material of armature  30  within leg  15  maintains the posed position.  
         [0022]    More specifically, posable plush toy FIG. 10 includes a body  11  supporting a tail  12  and a head  13 . Body  11  is in turn supported by a quartet of legs  14 ,  15 ,  16  and  17 . Legs  14  through  17  are in turn supported by a plurality of feet  24 ,  25 ,  26  and  27  respectively. Body  11 , tail  12 , head  13 , as well as legs  14  through  17  and feet  24  through  27  are fabricated of a soft outer fabric skin which is preferably flexible together with an interior supply of relatively densely packed padding material. The attachment between the elements forming the outer skin of toy FIG. 10 is carried forward using conventional attachment such as sewing stitches or the like., In accordance with the present invention, toy FIG. 10 further includes a front leg armature  30 , a rear leg armature  40 , and a tail armature  50 . Armatures  30 ,  40  and  50  are preferable formed of a malleable ductile material such as soft metal or the like. Front leg armature  30  includes portions extending downwardly through legs  14  and  15  into feet  24  and  25 . Within feet  24  and  25 , front leg armature  30  is formed into foot loops  31  and  32  respectively. Front leg armature  30  further includes an upper bend portion  33  extending between legs  14  and  15  and passing through the lower portion of body  11 .  
         [0023]    Rear leg armature  40  extends downwardly through legs  16  and  17  into feet  26  and  27  forming foot loops  42  and  41  respectively therein. In a similar fabrication to front leg armature  30 , rear leg armature  40  includes an upper bend  43  passing between legs  16  and  17  and through the lower portion of body  11 .  
         [0024]    Tail armature  50  includes an outer end  52  supported within tail  12  and an interior loop  51  formed within body  11 . Tail armature  50  extends upwardly from loop  51  through body  11  and tail  12  to outer end  52  and provides posable support for tail  12 .  
         [0025]    In accordance with the preferred fabrication of the present invention, front leg armature  30 , rear leg armature  40  and tail armature  50  are each formed of single length of malleable ductile metal or other material. Thus, armatures  30 ,  40  and  50  may be fabricated using presently available materials such as soft copper or soft iron as well as other materials having the desired malleability and ductility.  
         [0026]    As mentioned above, the interior of FIG. 10 is padded with a stuffing or padding material utilized in filling out the form of FIG. 10 and in accordance with the present invention situated to assist in the positioning and support of armatures  30 ,  40  and  50 . Thus, within front legs  14  and  15 , front leg armature  30  is supported by a quantity of padding  46  which completely and preferably tightly fills legs  14  and  15  as well as feet  24  and  25 . The secure positioning of padding material  46  about armature  30  provides substantial advantage for toy FIG. 10. Similarly, a padding material  47  is tightly packed within legs  16  and  17  as well as feet  26  and  27  to maintain the positioning of rear leg armature  16 . Finally, a quantity of padding  45  fills body  11  and tightly surrounds loop  51  and the interior portion of tail armature  50  to provide secure attachment within body  11 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 sets forth a partially sectioned side elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention toy figure still generally referenced as FIG. 10. FIG. 3 is substantially identical to the embodiment of FIG. 2 with the addition of fabric sleeves  35 ,  36  and  37  upon armatures  30 ,  40  and  50  respectively. It has been found that the use of fabric sleeve armatures, formed of a material such as cotton or cotton percale substantially improves the support and posability of the armatures within a plush toy figure padded environment.  
         [0028]    More specifically, posable plush toy FIG. 10 includes a body  11  supporting a tail  12  and a head  13 . Body  11  is in turn supported by a quartet of legs  14 ,  15 ,  16  and  17 . Legs  14  through  17  are in turn supported by a plurality of feet  24 ,  25 ,  26  and  27  respectively. Body  11 , tail  12 , head  13 , as well as legs  14  through  17  and feet  24  through  27  are fabricated of a soft outer fabric skin which is preferably flexible together with an interior supply of relatively densely packed padding material. The attachment between the elements forming the outer skin of toy FIG. 10 is carried forward using conventional attachment such as sewing stitches or the like. In accordance with the present invention, toy FIG. 10 further includes a front leg armature  30 , a rear leg armature  40 , and a tail armature  50 . Armatures  30 ,  40  and  50  are preferable formed of a malleable ductile material such as soft metal or the like. Front leg armature  30  includes portions extending downwardly through legs  14  and  15  into feet  24  and  25 . Within feet  24  and  25 , front leg armature  30  is formed into foot loops  31  and  32  respectively. Front leg armature  30  further includes an upper bend portion  33  extending between legs  14  and  15  and passing through the lower portion of body  11 .  
         [0029]    Rear leg armature  40  extends downwardly through legs  16  and  17  into feet  26  and  27  forming foot loops  42  and  41  respectively therein. In a similar fabrication to front leg armature  30 , rear leg armature  40  includes an upper bend  43  passing between legs  16  and  17  and through the lower portion of body  11 .  
         [0030]    Tail armature  50  includes an outer end  52  supported within tail  12  and an interior loop  51  formed within body  11 . Tail armature  50  extends upwardly from loop  51  through body  11  and tail  12  to outer end  52  and provides posable support for tail  12 .  
         [0031]    In accordance with the preferred fabrication of the present invention, front leg armature  30 , rear leg armature  40  and tail armature  50  are each formed of single length of malleable ductile metal or other material. Thus, armatures  30 ,  40  and  50  may be fabricated using presently available materials such as soft copper or soft iron as well as other materials having the desired malleability and ductility.  
         [0032]    As mentioned above, the interior of FIG. 10 is padded with a stuffing or padding material utilized in filling out the form of FIG. 10 and in accordance with the present invention situated to assist in the positioning and support of armatures  30 ,  40  and  50 . Thus, within front legs  14  and  15 , front leg armature  30  is supported by a quantity of padding  46  which completely and preferably tightly fills legs  14  and  15  as well as feet  24  and  25 . The secure positioning of padding material  46  about armature  30  provides substantial advantage for toy FIG. 10. Similarly, a padding material  47  is tightly packed within legs  16  and  17  as well as feet  26  and  27  to maintain the positioning of rear leg armature  16 . Finally, a quantity of padding  45  fills body  11  and tightly surrounds loop  51  and the interior portion of tail armature  50  to provide secure attachment within body  11 .  
         [0033]    As described above, armature  30  further includes a fabric sleeve  35  which completely covers armature  30 . Fabric sleeve  35  cooperates with padding  46  to allow flexing of armature  30  without allowing armature  30  to move through the material of padding  46 . Similarly, a fabric sleeve  36  completely covers armature  40  and provides corresponding benefits to those described for armature  30  and fabric sleeve  35 . Finally, a fabric sleeve  37  completely covers armature  50  and provides the associated benefits described for armature  30  and fabric sleeve  35 .  
         [0034]    It has been found that the use of fabric sleeves about the individual armatures of the present invention posable toy figure provides substantial improvement over armatures not utilizing the fabric sleeve.  
         [0035]    While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.