Patent Abstract:
Toy figures assembled from components including ball and socket attributes which allow for movement between the components, which allows the user to position the various portions of the figures into desired positions. A kit of components including ball and socket attributes which allow for assembly into a large number of different types of figures or structures of vastly different types and shapes.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/324,994 to Bevirt, filed Jan. 3, 2006. This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/068,229 to Bevirt, filed Mar. 4, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to modular toy elements which can be assembled and arranged into figures, and to kits with a variety of such elements. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Modeling kits typically comprise a plurality of pieces of different types. A structural item may be formed by interconnecting various pieces. Modeling kits are used by children, hobby enthusiasts, educators, and the like. The assembly of a model can used as an educational tool to teach school age children. 
         [0006]    A versatile modeling kit would allow for the creation of a variety of items, such as action figures, animals, structures, vehicles and other items from a fixed plurality of items that could be used in these different applications. 
         [0007]    What is called for is a modeling kit comprising pieces that may easily assembled into a variety of different types of items. What is also called for are figures assembled from such pieces that are easily assembled and disassembled, and which allow for motion between the pieces if such motion is desired by the user. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    Toy figures assembled from components including ball and socket attributes which allow for movement between the components, which allows the user to position the various portions of the figures into desired positions. A kit of components including ball and socket attributes which allow for assembly into a large number of different types of figures or structures of vastly different types and shapes. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates an action figure with a plurality of interconnected connectors according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a partially assembled figure with a plurality of interconnected connectors according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3A-B  illustrate features for action figures with connectors according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 4A-I  illustrate different pieces of a modeling kit according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a structure made from different pieces of a modeling kit according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates a structure made from different pieces of a modeling kit according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  illustrates a structure made from different pieces of a modeling kit according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  illustrates a structure made from different pieces of a modeling kit according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 9A-E  illustrate different pieces of a modeling kit according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  illustrates illustrate different pieces of a modeling kit according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  illustrates illustrate different pieces of a modeling kit according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 12A-B  illustrate action figures according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  illustrates a toy figure according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  illustrates a toy figure according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  illustrates a toy figure according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  illustrates a toy figure according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in  FIG. 1 , a multi-piece toy  FIG. 10  is comprised of a plurality of pieces. The pieces are constructed such that they may be easily assembled and disassembled. The pieces are also constructed such that pieces may be moved positionally relative to each other. The pieces may have a ball and socket construction using internal socket receiving cavities and socket engaging end surfaces. The inner surface of the an internal socket receiving cavity is adapted to fit over the socket engaging end surface of another connector, or of another piece with a similar socket engaging end surface. 
         [0026]    The toy  FIG. 10  is seen as being comprised of a plurality of pieces. The pieces may be part of a kit of pieces adapted to be easily assembled into a variety of figures or structures. The kit of pieces is adapted to allow for assembly into such a variety of figures or structures by the use of a basic selection of pieces which allow for a variety of use to create many underlying structures, and then for completion using a variety of less generic specialized pieces for completion of the figures, such as head, feet, and the like. 
         [0027]    In the case of the toy  FIG. 10  seen in  FIG. 1 , the pieces  16 ,  11  used in the arms and legs, and the pieces  15 ,  17  used as the shoulders and hips, are examples of more generic pieces which can be used in a multitude of ways. The more specialized pieces, such as the head  14 , the hands  13 , and the feet  12 , allow the user to complete an underlying body constructed from the more generic pieces into a more complete toy figure. In this way, a kit of pieces can be utilized to allow for an almost endless variety of objects to be created. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  illustrates an underlying body according to some embodiments of the present invention. The underlying body is similar in the assembly of its components to the body underlying the toy figure of  FIG. 1  with the exception of the components  18  at the base of the legs. Instead of attaching on foot to the end of each leg, as was done in  FIG. 1 , a set of claws, for example, could be added to the base of the legs on each of the balls available for mounting on the components  18  at the base of the legs. As seen here, the use of easily assembled and disassembled pieces which utilize a ball and socket construction allows for a multitude of assembly options. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 3A-B  illustrate some of the more specialized pieces which can be used in conjunction with the generic pieces in the assembly of various character objects. The hand  20  and the foot  21  are seen with socket engaging end surfaces, although they may also use an internal socket receiving cavity in some embodiments, and the kit of pieces may have both types of joint types available. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 4A-I  illustrate component pieces which may be part of a character object, structure, or part of a kit of components according to some embodiments of the present invention. An extension component  11  may have a ball on one end and a socket on the other end, or may have a ball on each end, or a socket on each end. A star component may have balls on all four ends  22 , or sockets on all four ends  23 , or a combination of these features. A triangle connector  26 ,  27  may have balls on all three corners, or another distribution of end features. A T-connector  28 ,  30  may have balls or sockets in line, with a ball or socket at a right angle in between the ends. 
         [0031]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the wall thicknesses of the internal socket receiving cavity or the socket engaging end surface, or both, are constructed so that an interference fit remains after the ball and socket joint connectors are connected. 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  illustrates another useful aspect of the components of a kit according to some embodiments of the present invention. As seen, a wall structure  40  has been created out of a plurality of different types of component pieces. The component pieces used as seen above for the assembly of a toy figure, such as an action character, can also be used to create structure, such as a wall. The ease in which the ball and socket connectors can be attached, separated, re-attached, and assembled allows for a multitude of end uses for the component pieces. As evident, a kit of such component pieces would allow a user the flexibility to create and modify a multitude of toy figures, as well as structures. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  8  illustrate underlying bodies  50 ,  60 ,  70  which have been constructed out of the aforementioned components. The underlying bodies  50 ,  60 ,  70  may be completed with more specialized hand, feet, wing, and head components to complete an action figure. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 9A-E  illustrate more component pieces that may be part of a kit of component pieces according to some embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 9A  illustrates an offset swivel which may allow for motion of a portion of a figure relative to another.  FIG. 9B  illustrates a three into one component which may be used structurally, or as a claw in an action figure.  FIG. 9C  illustrates an angle component.  FIG. 9D  illustrates a component adapted for use in making a wall or other structure. 
         [0035]    In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in  FIG. 10 , a variety of specialty components are seen which can be used to create a specialized action figure. An elephant&#39;s head  81 , tusk  82 , tail  84 , and feet  85  are seen. However, given the flexibility allowed the user, the body of the action figure which may use these specialized components is not so constrained, that is, may be of specialized or eccentric nature.  FIG. 11  illustrates further specialized components, such as lion&#39;s heads  86 ,  89 , and feet  87 ,  88 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  illustrate an advantage of the kit aspect of the present invention. The two action figures of these two Figures are similar in that they use the same specialty components, but have been constructed using different body components to give a different overall look to the action figure. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 13-16  illustrate other action figures according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0038]    As evident from the above description, a wide variety of embodiments may be configured from the description given herein and additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant&#39;s general invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5