Patent Publication Number: US-7588478-B2

Title: Action figure and accessories

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to toy figures with articulated limbs. More particularly, this invention relates to such figures that are adapted to employ electrically powered accessories. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Dolls and other miniature human figures have been favorite toys from time immemorial. In recent years, toys such as the Star Wars® action figures have enjoyed enormous popularity and success, both as playthings for children and as collectible items for adult enthusiasts. 
   One common characteristic of most such toys is articulate limbs, whereby the figure&#39;s arms are articulated at least at the shoulder and/or the figure&#39;s legs are articulated at least at the hip. Articulation of the limbs enhances the utility of such figures for amusement, in that it allows the user to manipulate the figure&#39;s limbs so that the figure may assume various poses. 
   As an exemplary articulated figure, U.S. Pat. No. 1,176,209 to Dice describes a classic poseable doll with head, legs and arms articulately joined to the doll&#39;s body at the neck, hips and shoulders respectively with double button mechanisms. U.S. Pat. No. 1,566,801 to Millard describes a doll with limbs and head articulately connected to the doll&#39;s body by ball and socket joints. U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,921 to Chin et al. describes an action figure with arms articulated to pivot about the body at the shoulder, characteristic of most action figures, by employing a pivot disc extended from the arm and received by a circular cavity in the body. Chin et al. further describe a neck adapted to attach pivotally to a head. 
   Another common enhancement of the amusement utility of such a toy is the employment of accessories with which the figure may be posed. The figure&#39;s hand is commonly fashioned so that an accessory may be removably retained in the hand as if grasped by the figure. Action figures, in particular, are often provided with toy weapons which may be employed in such a manner. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,955,312 to Pugh describes a gripping hand for dolls or action figures adapted to hold accessories such as weapons. 
   In addition, the figure and accessories may be adapted for attachment to the head of the figure. Such accessories include goggles, visors and the like, as well as hats and various other headgear. 
   The utility of attachable action figure accessories may be further enhanced by providing operational features. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,710,146 to Rasmussen et al. describes a spring-driven simulated weapon accessory for an action figure, while U.S. Pat. No. 4,626,222 to Sweet describes a clockwork operated toy weapon pack accessory. Providing electrically operated features often adds particular amusement utility to such accessories, as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,262 to Lunsford, in which the accessory is motorized, or in U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,551 to Dankman et al., in which the accessory contains a light emitting diode (LED) which may be illuminated to simulate the firing of a laser weapon. 
   Electrical accessories for figures may be small items suitably scaled to be held in the hand of the figure, as in the foregoing examples. Alternatively, larger items, such as toy vehicles, may also advantageously be provided as accessories, wherein the figure may be posed to grasp an appropriate portion of the accessory, as, in the case of a vehicle, the steering wheel or other appropriate simulated hand control. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,949,517 to Reiner et al. describes an action figure adapted to grasp a portion of an electrically motorized motorcycle. Larger electrically operated accessories other than vehicles may also advantageously be provided, such as the musical toy with simulated keyboard and lighted vanity mirror for a doll described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,181 to Bennett et al. 
   Accessories adapted to attach to the head of the figure may also provide enhanced amusement utility by electrical operation. For example, visors or goggles may be provided with LEDs simulating glowing eyes. Headgear may be outfitted with mechanisms employing small electrical motors. 
   In any case, providing electrical power to electrical accessories presents problems. Batteries may be incorporated in the accessories themselves, but the size of even small hearing aid batteries makes them unsuitable for properly scaled small accessories such as handguns for typical five inch action figures. Batteries may instead be incorporated internally in a body cavity in the action figure, such as the batteries in the torso of the doll of Bennett et al., with wire or other conductor providing a path for current from the battery to the accessory. However, the access that must be provided to internal batteries by way of openings with battery covers and the like, so that batteries may be replaced when spent, frustrates the verisimilitude of the figure, thereby diminishing its amusement utility. Power may instead be provided from a source external to the action figure, as in the power supply for the figure of Reiner et al. A battery holder adaptation, such as the backpack power supply of Lunsford, which is both suitably sized for battery form factors and at the same time simulates an appropriately scaled accessory, may be the most desirable form of power supply for an action figure employing electrical accessories. 
   In any case, though, if the accessory power supply is remote from the accessory, current must be conducted from the power supply to the accessory for operation of the accessory. Current can be provided via external wiring, as in the case of the figure of Reiner et al. However, unless some sort of cord or hose would normally attach to the object which the accessory simulates, the presence of the external wiring destroys verisimilitude. Accordingly, a number of improvements have been directed to hidden means of providing current from the power supply to the accessory. 
   Reiner et al. describe figures in which current is supplied to the accessory via wiring running internally through the figure, whereas Bennett et al. teach embodiments wherein the power supply is coupled to the accessory via a conductive coating on the surface of the figure, presumably hidden from view by paint or clothing worn by the figure. In either such case, the hand or other portion of the figure retaining the electric accessory is fashioned with conductive areas to couple with corresponding conductive areas of the accessory. When the accessory is retained by the figure, the accessory may receive operative power. Advantageously, adding to the utility of this arrangement, the user may remove the electric accessory from retention by the figure as desired. 
   However, with articulated figures adapted for electric accessories, the conductive path from the power supply to the figure&#39;s conductive areas must flex at the point of articulation. Heretofore, this requirement has presented particular problems. In figures in which current is conducted via wiring, the conductive wires must bend at the figure&#39;s articulated joints, leading to metal fatigue of the wire the risk of open circuit to the electric accessory. In figures in which current is conducted via conductive coating on the surface of the figure, abrasion of the coating at joints again presents the same risk. 
   What is needed is an articulated action figure with battery pack adapted to provide power to electric accessories. What is needed further is such a battery pack that is both suitably sized for battery form factors and at the same time simulates an appropriately scaled accessory. What is needed further is such an action figure with a conductive area in an extremity, such as a hand, completing an electrical circuit from the battery pack is through an appropriately corresponding electrical amusement accessory, such as a simulated light-saber or a motorized mechanism, thereby supplying power to the accessory. What is needed further is such an action figure in which the circuit path from the battery pack to the figure&#39;s extremity is internal to the figure and in which the current is conducted through points of articulation without flexing of metal or wear on external conductive surfaces. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is an articulated action figure and battery pack, adapted for providing power to electrical accessories that may be removably attached to the figure. Embodiments include a battery pack fashioned as an appropriately scaled accessory, such as a backpack, providing for removable, electrically conductive attachment to a cooperating receiving area of the action figure. The action figure conducts current internally from the battery pack receiving area to conductive surfaces disposed on specific areas of the figure, such as extremities, fashioned for removable retention of accessories. Advantageously, the present invention provides a means of conducting current through the figure at its points of articulation without requiring flexing of conductors. Suitably fashioned electrical accessories, such as simulated laser guns, removably retained by the figure at the aforesaid specific areas, may be provided electrical power through cooperating points in electrical contact with the conductive surfaces of the figure. Embodiments provide for control or modulation of the current supplied from the battery pack through the figure to accessories. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects, advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods, operation and function of related elements of structure, and the combination of parts and economies of deployment, will become apparent upon consideration of the following description and claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a frontal view of a cross section of the torso of the action figure according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2   a  is a rear view of a battery pack according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2   b  is a transparent side view of the battery pack; 
       FIG. 2   c  is a front view of the battery pack; 
       FIG. 3   a  is a transparent side view of a simulated laser handgun accessory according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3   b  is a front view of the handgun; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a shoulder joint and arm of the figure according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 5   a  is a front view of a head and neck of an action figure according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 5   b  is a side view of the head and neck shown in  FIG. 5   a;    
       FIG. 5   c  is a goggles accessory according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a circuit diagram of a pulsing circuit according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  depicts elements of an alternative embodiment of the present invention incorporating both steady and pulsed current circuitry; and 
       FIG. 8  depicts an embodiment of the action figure with a simulated vehicle accessory. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Turning to  FIG. 1 , illustrated is a frontal cross section of the torso  102  of an action figure according to the present invention. Disposed in the action figure&#39;s back (seen here from the inside) is a receptacle  104  for removably receiving and retaining a cooperating portion of a battery pack, described in greater detail in reference to  FIG. 2  below. On either side of receptacle  104  are contacts  106 ,  108  for electrical connection to cooperating contacts on the cooperating portion of the battery pack. Current from contacts  106 ,  108  is conducted through torso  102  via conductors  110 ,  112 . In some embodiments, the figure may be provided with a switch  114 , such as a normally open single pole-single throw switch, for the user to switch current on and off through the figure. 
   Advantageously, current from conductors  110 ,  112 , is transmitted through articulated joint  116  of the figure via pivoting contact apparatus  118 , described in greater detail in reference to  FIG. 4  below. Current is conducted from pivoting contact apparatus  118  through limb  120  via conductors  122 ,  124  to conductive areas  126 ,  128  disposed on either side of a receptacle  130  on extremity  132 , the receptacle fashioned to receive and removably retain a cooperating portion of an electrical action figure accessory, described in greater detail in reference to  FIG. 3  below. Conductive areas  126 ,  128  contact cooperating conductive areas on the accessory to provide operative electrical current. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 2 , illustrated is a battery pack according to the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, battery pack  202  contains receptacles  204 ,  206  for small, disc form factor batteries, such as hearing aid batteries. Batteries are retained in receptacles  204 ,  206 , by battery covers  208 ,  210 , which may be opened on hinges  212 ,  214  for user access to the batteries. Disposed within receptacles  204 ,  206  are contacts  216 ,  218  for receiving positive and negative voltage from the battery, in a manner familiar to those of skill in the art. Voltage from battery contacts  216 ,  218  is conducted to contacts  220 ,  222  on a portion  224  of battery pack  202  fashioned to be received and removably retained by the receptacle on the figure&#39;s back ( 104  in  FIG. 1 ). When portion  224  is retained by the action figure, current may flow through contacts  220 ,  222  to cooperating contacts on the action figure ( 106 ,  108  in  FIG. 1 ). 
   As will be clear to those of skill in the art, other manners of removably receiving and retaining batteries within the battery pack are possible. For example, battery pack  202  may be fashioned in two separable pieces (not illustrated), splitting the battery pack down the middle, the pieces separably joined by hinges, snaps, pages and the like, familiar to those of skill in the art. Such alternative embodiments provide receptacles with contacts for the batteries, and a portion with contacts fashioned to be received and removably retained by the figure, in keeping with the spirit of the present invention. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 3 , illustrated is a simulated laser handgun according to the present invention. Handgun  302  comprises a grip  304  adapted for removable retention in a cooperating receptacle in the hand of the action figure ( 130  in  FIG. 1 ). Disposed on either side of grip  304  are conductive areas  306 ,  308  for contact with cooperating conductive areas on the action figure ( 126 ,  128  in  FIG. 1 ). Current from conductive areas  306 ,  308  is carried by conductor pair  310  through the interior of simulated handgun  302  to cause light emitting diode (LED)  312  to illuminate, thereby simulating firing of a laser. Means may be employed for enhancing the appearance of firing by the laser, such as fiber optical components conducting light from the LED, simulating muzzle flash (not illustrated), as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of the figure&#39;s shoulder joint and arm. The articulated shoulder comprises a hollow molded shoulder piece  402 , running through which is a pair of conductor wires  404 ,  406  for conducting negative and positive voltage respectively. In operation, shoulder piece  402  abuts the torso of the figure, as shown in  FIG. 1 . Wires  404 ,  406  pass into the torso. One wire  404  terminates on a first conducting disc  408 , to which wire  404  is mechanically and electrically connected, by soldering, for example. The other wire  406  passes through the hollow stem of a pin  410  of non-conducting rigid material, such as polystyrene or polyethylene, the head of which separates disc  408  from a second conducting disc  412 , to which wire  406  is mechanically and electrically connected. Discs  408 ,  412  and pin  410  join to form a single assembly. At the point on the torso where shoulder piece  402  abuts, a suitably sized receiving hole receives the stem of pin  410  from the interior of the figure. The stem of pin  410 , along with wires  404 ,  406 , passes through the receiving hole in the torso. Wires  404 ,  406  feed into the interior of hollow shoulder piece  402 , and the stem of pin  410  is firmly connected to shoulder piece  402 , by gluing, for example. 
   Electrical current passes from conductors  414 ,  416  in the interior of the figure (corresponding to conductors  110 ,  112  in  FIG. 1 ), through brushes  418 ,  420  that are retained (by single leaf spring or other means of supplying mechanical tension) in electrical contact with discs  408 ,  412  respectively. Brushes  418 ,  420 , together with the assembly comprising discs  408 ,  412  and pin  410 , thereby form a pivoting contact apparatus, connecting shoulder piece  402  to the torso, conducting current from the conductors inside the torso through the articulated joint, and allowing pivoting of shoulder piece  402  without movement or flexing of wires  404 ,  406 . 
   The figure&#39;s arm may be further articulated by permitting hinged movement at the figure&#39;s elbow. In the depicted embodiment, the invention permits such movement, again without need for flexing or movement of conductors. At the elbow, shoulder piece  402  is fashioned with a groove  422  for receiving a cooperating tongue portion  424  of a hollow forearm piece  426 . On either side of the interior of groove  422  are conductive areas  428 ,  430 , electrically connected to wires  404  and  406  respectively. On either side of the tongue portion  424  of forearm  426  are cooperating conductive areas  432 ,  434 , electrically connected to wires  436 ,  438 , respectively, running through the interior of forearm piece  426 . Forearm  426  is hinged to shoulder piece  402  by retention of tongue  424  within groove  422  by way of a pin arrangement, such as bolt  440  running through a hole passing though shoulder piece  402  and tongue  424  of forearm piece  426 , bolt  440  held in place by nut  442  as depicted. When shoulder piece  402  and forearm piece  426  are so connected, conductive areas  428 ,  430  of shoulder piece  402  are in electrical contact with corresponding conductive areas  432 ,  434  of forearm piece  426 , and current may thereby pass through the elbow to wires  436 ,  438  in the interior of forearm  426 . Groove  422  with its conductive areas  428 ,  430 , engaged by way of pin arrangement  440 ,  442  with tongue  424  with its cooperating conductive areas  432 ,  434 , forms a hinged contact apparatus, connecting shoulder piece  402  to forearm piece  426 , conducting current from the conductors inside shoulder piece  402  through the articulated joint to the conductors inside forearm piece  426 , and allowing hinged movement of forearm piece  426  without movement or flexing of wires  404 ,  406  or wires  436 ,  438 . 
   As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, while it is not illustrated here, a similar hinged contact apparatus may be advantageously employed at the shoulder joint in conjunction with the pivoting contact apparatus to permit arms hinged at the shoulder to be raised and lowered within the principal plane of the torso as well as pivoting at the shoulder as previously described. 
   Furthermore, as will be clear to those of skill in the art, the present invention permits conductive articulation for limbs other than arms. For example, a pivoting contact apparatus may be similarly employed to provide current through a figure&#39;s articulated hip joint, while a hinged contact apparatus may be employed to provide current through a figure&#39;s articulated knee joint. Furthermore, a pivoting contact apparatus may be similarly employed to provide current through a figure&#39;s articulated waist, allowing pivoting in the horizontal plane. Yet further, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the invention also permits employment of a pivoting contact apparatus to provide current to suitably located conductive areas on a figure&#39;s head through the figure&#39;s articulated neck. Because the pivoting contact apparatus technology is the same for articulated waists and necks as it is for articulated shoulders and hips, as used in this description the term “limb” will refer to any portion of the body pivotingly connected to the figure&#39;s torso, such as an arm, a leg, a head, or a lower body. 
   Located on the exterior of head  502  are conductive areas  504 ,  506 . Provided with the figure is a pair of simulated goggles  508  with LEDs  510 ,  512  as eyepieces. Head  502  and goggles  508  are fashioned so that the goggles may be removably retained on the head as eyewear. On the interior portion of goggles  508  are conductive areas  514 ,  516 , so located that, when the goggles are retained on the head, areas  514 ,  516  on the goggles are in electrical contact with conductive areas  504 ,  506  on the head. Current is conducted through head  502  to conductive areas  504 ,  506  via wires  518 ,  520  running through the interior of head  502 . Current is passed from conductors  522 ,  524  in the figure&#39;s torso (corresponding to conductors  110 ,  112  in  FIG. 1 ) through the figure&#39;s pivoting articulated neck by way of a disc and pin assembly  526 , in communication with brushes  528 ,  530 , forming a pivoting contact apparatus such as that discussed above in relation to the shoulder joint depicted in  FIG. 4 . Thereby, current may be conducted from the figure&#39;s torso through the articulated neck and through the figure&#39;s head to operate the LEDs in the goggles. 
   The amusement utility of the present invention may be enhanced by providing pulsed current through the figure, for example to flash LEDs in accessories. A simple circuit for providing flashing functionality is illustrated in  FIG. 6 , wherein PNP transistor  602  is paired with NPN transistor  604  to pulse current from battery  606 , thereby causing LED  608  to flash. As will be clear to those of skill in the art, the flashing circuit may be miniaturized and located inside the action figure&#39;s torso or within a suitably sized accessory in electrical contact with the battery by way of the conducting action figure. In alternative embodiments, a miniaturized flashing circuit may be located within the battery pack. 
   Embodiments of the present invention may conduct current which is either pulsed or steady as selected by the user. For example, as will be understood by those of skill in the art, in some embodiments the figure, cooperating accessory or battery pack may be fitted with one or more microswitches selectively engaging or bypassing a pulsing circuit such as that described above in reference to  FIG. 6 , whereby the user may select between pulsed or steady current supplied to the accessory. 
   Other embodiments of the present invention may also be employed to select pulsed or steady current to be delivered to the figure&#39;s extremities. Turning now to  FIG. 7   a , illustrated is a rear view of a figure&#39;s torso according to the present invention. Rectangular receptacle  702  in torso  704  contains two pairs of conductive areas,  706  and  708 . Conductive area pair  706  is electrically connected to receive current and pass it directly to the figure&#39;s extremities in a steady form. Conductive area pair  708  is electrically connected to a pulsing circuit such as that illustrated in  FIG. 6  above, passing current through conductors to the pulsing circuit to deliver pulsed current to the figure&#39;s extremities. 
     FIGS. 7   b ,  7   c  illustrate a piece  710  adapted to be received by receptacle  702 , on which are located two pairs of conductive areas  712 ,  714 , disposed to provide electrical contact to cooperating conductive areas  706 ,  708  respectively in receptacle  702  in torso  704  when piece  710  is removably retained within receptacle  702 . Piece  710  may be integral to a battery pack such as a simulated backpack  716 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 7   d  and  7   e . In the alternative, as will be clear to those of skill in the art, piece  710  may be removably retained in electrical contact with a battery pack. In any case, electrical conductors within the battery pack selectively conduct electricity either to pair  712  or to pair  714  on piece  710 . When electricity is conducted to pair  712  when piece  710  is retained within receptacle  702 , conductive area pair  706  receives current and passes it directly to the figure&#39;s extremities in steady form. In a like manner, when electricity is conducted to pair  714  when piece  710  is retained within receptacle  702 , conductive area pair  708  receives current and current passes it through conductors to the pulsing circuit to deliver pulsed current to the figure&#39;s extremities. As will be well understood by those of skill in the art, various means may be incorporated in the battery pack for selecting which of pair  712 ,  714  receives current. Such means include placing a manual single pole dual throw switch  718  in the conductive path from the batteries to the pairs of conductive areas. Other means of selecting which pair receives current, such as a relay or a semiconductor switch, will be apparent to those of skill in the art. 
   While the present invention may be usefully employed in providing power from a small battery pack to a small accessory such as the laser handgun or goggles discussed above, the present invention also affords other applications useful for amusement. Turning now to  FIG. 8 , illustrated is an embodiment wherein the figure provides a conduit for electricity from a battery source in a larger accessory, such as a simulated vehicle, to power electrical aspects of the accessory. Action  FIG. 802  is placed within accessory vehicle  804 . Vehicle  804  has a cowling  806  that is hinged  808  to lift up for insertion and removal of  FIG. 802 . Within action  FIG. 802  is a receptacle  810  as described in reference to  FIG. 1  or alternatively in reference to  FIG. 7 , cooperatively receiving piece  812  on the underside of cowling  806 , and electrically connecting  FIG. 802  to receive current from vehicle  804 . Vehicle  804  serves as the battery source, with compartment  814  for retaining batteries to provide power through  FIG. 802 . 
   Current is conducted through  FIG. 802  to conducting areas  816  in the figure&#39;s hands, in contact with conducting areas  818  on the vehicle&#39;s handlebars for receiving current conducted through the figure, as described generally above in reference to  FIG. 1 . Current received by the vehicle in this manner is then conducted within the vehicle to provide power to electrical features of the vehicle, such as motorized feature  820  or LED headlights  822 . In some embodiments, switch  824  on vehicle  804  may be used to turn current supplied to and by the figure on and off. In other embodiments, switch  824  may be used to select between pulsed and steady current supplied by the figure, as discussed above in reference to  FIG. 7 . In yet other embodiments, power is supplied to the accessory vehicle  804  as soon as  FIG. 802  is connected. 
   As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, because this versatile invention provides a means of conducting current through a figure at its points of articulation without requiring flexing of conductors, the figure may be advantageously posed and manipulated to cooperate with any number of other arrangements of power supply and accessory without risk of breaking the continuity of electrical conduction at the figure&#39;s articulated joints. Furthermore, embodiments of this invention permit employment of novel means of selecting pulsed or steady power supply through the figure, enhancing its utility for amusement. 
   Although the detailed descriptions above contain many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Various other embodiments and ramifications are possible within its scope, a number of which are discussed in general terms above. 
   While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it should be recognized that elements thereof may be altered by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications and equivalents as can be reasonably included within the scope of the invention. The invention is limited only by the following claims and their equivalents.