Patent Publication Number: US-11383176-B1

Title: System for removably interlocking at least two independent figurines

Description:
I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a system for interlocking figurines and, more particularly, to a system for removably interlocking figurines that includes one figure that is inserted and interfitted with another figurine using crimped layers to form a single unified structure. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Several designs for figurines have been designed in the past. None of them, however, include a system for removably interlocking at least two independent figurines which are composed of stacked or continuous, circular ovoid members having space in-between. Each of the two independent figurines includes at least two crimped layers which serve as an interlocking mechanism. One figure is then inserted into and interfitted with the other figure to form a single unified structure. The crimped layers of each figurine are then removably interlocked to maintain the single unified structure. In one embodiment, the figurines may come in the form of a man and may have a predetermined color. It is known that figurines are often used for educational purposes. There is a need for a system that may be used as an educational tool used to demonstrate religious symbolism such as the representation of God and human being. 
     Applicant believes that a related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 3,800,442 issued for a sculpture device. Applicant believes that another related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,177 issued for a stacked component assembly toy. However, the cited references differ from the present invention because they fail to disclose the figurines composed of stacked circular or ovoid members with space in between. The figures are then inserted and interfitted with each other to form a single unified structure. 
     Other documents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention. 
     II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a system for removably interlocking at least two independent figurines with crimping layers to allow the figurines to be easily interfitted with each other. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a system for removably interlocking at least two independent figurines which spirals into an enclosure to allow a string or chain to be connected thereby allowing the figurines to be portable. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a system for removably interlocking at least two independent figurines that is educational in teaching religious symbolism. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a device that is inexpensive to implement and maintain while retaining its effectiveness. 
     Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon. 
    
    
     
       III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  represents an operational isometric view showing the figurines of figure assembly  20  being joined together in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows an isometric view of a first figurine of figurine assembly  20  in the form of a humanoid figure in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an isometric view of a second figurine of figurine assembly  20  in the form of a humanoid figure in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a representation of an isometric view of a single unified structure formed by the joining of the first and second figurines of figure assembly  20  in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows a top view of crimping assembly  40  in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of crimping assembly  40  showing one crimping layer being joined with another in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  represents a side view of crimping layer  40  showing stacked crimping layers in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  shows a top view of figurine assembly  20  in a unified position and depicts a chain being received in the top of the unified structure. 
         FIG. 9  shows an operational isometric view of system  100  including a support assembly  120  and an ovoid assembly  140  in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral  10 , it can be observed a system for removably interlocking at least two independent figurines  10  which basically includes a figurine assembly  20  and a crimping assembly  40 . 
     Figurine assembly  20  includes at least two figurine structures which include a first figurine coil  22  and a second figurine coil  24 . In the present embodiment, each of the coils  22  and  24  may be provided as being made of a metal material such as stainless steel, aluminum, or other types of metals. Additionally, each of the coils  22  and  24  should be substantially flexible and not entirely rigid. If the coils  22  and  24  are provided as being made of a completely rigid material, they will be unable to easily lock and be removed from each other. As a result, a flexible configuration is preferred. Further, as observed in the drawings, each of the coils may be modeled after a humanoid figure. However, it should be understood that other variations of figurines may be implemented into the present system and the figurines  22  and  24  are not limited to being a humanoid figure. Other types of figures may include animals, objects, or other forms of religious symbolism and educational models. Each of the coils  22  and  24  should be provided as a continuous string of coil, that is each coil forms the figure as a continuous structure without any interruptions. The coils will include spacing in between that will aid in joining and mating each of the coils into a unified structure. Furthermore, the present embodiment may feature each of the coils  22  and  24  each being a different color. In one embodiment, the first figurine coil  22  is a left coil provided as being a silver color. Additionally, the second figurine coil  24  is a right coil being provided as a gold color. It should be understood that other colors may be used in different embodiments of the system. 
     Each of the first and second figurine coils  22  and  24  are configured to be joined and interfitted with other through crimping assembly  40  in order to form a single unified structure. When joined together, each man spirals into an enclosure  26  on the top of the head where a chain  28  or string may be connected. The structure of the enclosure  26  and the chain may be observed in  FIG. 8  of the provided drawings. It can be seen that the enclosure includes receiving sections that receive the chain  28 . In one embodiment, the flexible material of the top of the figurines  22  and  24  may be manipulated in order to overlap the coils and effectively lock them together to secure the chain  28  to the top enclosure  26 . It should be understood that multiple variations of holder mechanisms may be attached to the figurine and it is not limited to only being a chain  28 . 
     Crimping assembly  40  includes a crimping layer  42  having an indent  44 . The crimping assembly  40  may be effectively observed in  FIGS. 5-7  of the provided drawings. In the present embodiment, the crimping assembly  40  is provided as being an integral structure of each of the first and second figurine coils  22  and  24 . As observed in the drawings, each of the first and second figuring coils  22  and  24  is provided with crimping assemblies  40 . At least two crimping layers  42  are implemented onto the first and second coils  22  and  24 . Two crimping layers may be located on the right arm of the first figurine coil  22  on an upper arm layer and the same on a lower arm layer. Additionally, two crimping layers may be located on the left arm of the second figurine coil  24  on an upper arm layer and the same on a lower arm layer. The crimping layers include indent  44  which are structural indentations in the material of the coils  22  and  24  toward the inside of the body and being bent slight upward. When each of the figurine coils  22  and  24  are interfitted, a crimping layer  42  of the first figurine coil  22  slides over the crimped layer  42  and the top crimping layer is then compressed and pops over the indent  44 . As a result, the top crimping layer nests over the bottom crimped layer. For illustrational purposes, the related figures show the crimping layers  42  drawn as rings. However, it should be understood that the structing of the crimping layers  42  are implemented onto the coil spiral structure of each of the first and second figurine coils  22  and  24 . Further, it should be understood that other embodiments may feature more than two crimping layers  42  being provided for each of the figurines. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , it can be observed another embodiment of a system for removably interlocking at least two independent figurines  100  which basically includes a support assembly  120  and a ovoid assembly  140 . 
     Support assembly  120  includes at least two of rod  122  which may be made of a metal material. It can be observed in the figure, that rod  122  is a substantially curved rod that is morphed into a predetermined shape. The present embodiment depicts a substantially curved rod that supports a humanoid shape. However, other embodiments of morphed rods may be used depending on the shape that the figurine will take. Furthermore, curved rod may include attachment members along a lateral side that will be used to receive ovoid assembly  140 . These attachment members may include attachment means such as magnets, adhesives, snap buttons, crimping mechanism, and the like. Ovoid assembly  140  includes a plurality of circular members  142  that each have a predetermined shape. As observed in the figures, circular members  142  are ovoid structures that when stacked over each other, form a humanoid figure. Circular members  142  are each coupled to the rod  122  along the same lateral side. Each of the circular members  142  has a unique shape that supports the overall humanoid shape of the unified structure. It should be understood that each of the rod  122  and the circular members  142  may be formed into other predetermined shapes to support other variations of unified figurines such as animals, and other educational models. 
     The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.