Abstract:
A toy figure assembly having a body section, limb sections and a head section. The head section is comprised of a pair of diverging loop structures sized and oriented to retain a marble or other spherical device. The loop structures support the marble in position as a visible part of a head to the figure. The loop structure also enables the marble to be grasped by a person&#39;s hand and shot out of the figure when playing the game of marbles. The loop structures used on the head of the figure can also be used as terminations to the limbs of the figure. Consequently, a toy figure is produced that retains at least one marble in a highly visible manner and in a position where the marbles can be readily removed or shot from the figure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     In general, the present invention relates to posable toy figures of the type having a wire frame around which elastomeric material is molded. More particularly, the present invention is related to posable toy figures having uniquely formed head and hand features, that enables the toy figures to support secondary objects. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Toy figures, in the form of dolls, have been in existence many hundreds of years. In that time, dolls have been manufactured in most every conceivable style and shape. There now exists a wide range of different types of dolls and toy figures. One branch of toy figures within that wide range are the wire framed posable figures. Wire framed posable figures contain an internal wire frame that can be manually bent. Elastomeric material is then molded around the wire frame in the shape of a figure. The wire frame provides the elastomeric material with rigidity and enables the toy figure to be posed in different orientations. 
     Over the years, wire framed posable figures have been molded into a countless number of characters. Often, the characters have a visually identifiable head, such as Mickey Mouse, Gumby, Superman or the like. The feet of the figure are typically flat, thereby enabling the figure to be self-standing. The hands of the figure often are flat and are not capable of articulation. In some instances, the hands of the figure are formed into a C-shape, so that the figure can hold a prop, such as a sword or the like. 
     The present invention alters the traditional design of wire framed posable figures. With the present invention, the posable figure has no identifiable head. Rather, the head of the posable figure is a detachable marble. The wire framed posable figure is designed to retain a marble as the head of the figure and, in some instances, marbles as the hands of the figure. The marbles are retained in such a manner so that the marbles can be shot directly from the figures when playing the game of marbles. The unique features of the present invention are described and claimed below. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a toy figure assembly. The toy figure has a body section, limb sections and a head section. The head section is comprised of a pair of diverging loop structures sized and oriented to retain a marble or other spherical device. The loop structures support the marble in position as a visible part of a head to the figure. The loop structure also enables the marble to be grasped by a person&#39;s hand and shot out of the figure when playing the game of marbles. 
     The loop structures used on the head of the figure can also be used as terminations to the limbs of the figure. Consequently, a toy figure is produced that retains at least one marble in a highly visible manner and in a position where the marbles can be readily removed or shot from the figure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a toy figure in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 being held in a person&#39;s hand for use in playing the game of marbles; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of a toy figure in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of a second alternate embodiment of a toy figure in accordance with the present invention. a toy figure in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Although the present invention toy figure can be configured into most any shape, such as that of an animal, a vehicle or the like, it is especially well suited to be configured as a humanoid figure. Consequently, the first embodiment of the present invention toy figure will be embodied as a humanoid figure in order to set forth the best embodiment contemplated. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the present invention toy FIG. 10 is shown. The toy figure has a body section  14 , limb sections  16  and a head section  12 . In the shown embodiment, the body section  14 , limb sections  16  and head section  12  are made of wire. The wire can be coated with a thin layer of elastomeric or plastic material. In alternate embodiments, elastomeric material can be molded around the body section  14  and limb sections  16 , thereby providing the toy figure with an more anatomically correct shape. The wire used in the manufacture of the toy FIG. 10 preferably has ferro-magnetic properties for reasons that will later be explained. 
     In the shown illustration, enlarged feet  18  and hands  19  are joined to the limb sections  16  of the toy FIG.  10 . The enlarged feet  18  provide the toy FIG. 10 with the ability to be self-standing. The enlarged hands  19  are for aesthetic purposes only and are used to visually balance the appearance of the enlarged feet  18 . Within the enlarged hands  19  and feet  18  are disposed magnets. As such, the hands  19  and feet  18  will magnetically adhere to ferro-magnetic metals and other magnets. The strength of the magnets is preferably sufficient enough to support the weight of the overall toy FIG.  10 . As such, the toy figure can hang from a ferro-magnetic surface with only one hand or one foot. 
     The head section  12  of the toy FIG. 10 is unique. The head section  12  of the toy FIG. 10 is comprised of two loop structures  20 ,  22  that join together at a common point P. The loop structures  20 ,  22  are made of wire that may be coated with elastomeric or plastic material. The common point P where the two loop structure join is also the point where the two loop structures  20 ,  22  attach to the body section  14  of the toy FIG.  10 . Both loop structures  20 ,  22  define loops having an inner diameter D 1 . The two loop structures  20 ,  22  diverge away from the common point P of connection. As a result, a constantly widening gap exists between the two loop structures  20 ,  22  as the loop structures extend from the common point P of connection. 
     A marble  24  is provided. The marble  24  serves as the head to the toy FIG.  10 . The marble  24  has a diameter that is larger than the inner diameter D 1  of the loop structures  20 ,  22 . As such, the marble  24  is not capable of passing through the center of the loop structures. The marble  24  fits into the gap that exists between the two loop structures  20 ,  22 . The bottom of the marble  24  rests upon the common point P of connection between the two loop structures  20 ,  22  and the body section  14  of the toy FIG.  10 . The loop structures  20 ,  22  extend around opposite sides of the marble  24 . However, the loop structures  20 ,  22  do not pass over the top of the marble  24 . Rather, the loop structures  20 ,  22  are sized in relation to the marble  24  to just retain the marble  24  in place. Accordingly, the toy FIG. 10 with the marble  24  in place may be moved without the marble  24  falling out from between the two looped structures  20 ,  22 . 
     When the marble  24  is retained between the two looped structures  20 ,  24  of the toy FIG. 10, the marble takes the appearance as the head of the toy FIG.  10 . The looped structures  20 ,  22  only pass along the sides of the marble  24 . The marble  24  is visible through the loops of the looped structures  20 ,  22  and through the gap between the looped structures  20 ,  22 . As such, a majority of the marble  24  remains visible when the marble  24  is retained by the two looped structures  20 ,  22 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the toy FIG. 10 can be folded under a person&#39;s hand. A person can then grasp the marble  24 , while the marble  24  is still retained within the loop structures  20 ,  22 . A person can then squeeze and shoot the marble  24  in the standard way. The loop structures  20 ,  22  do not interfere with the grasping and shooting of the marble  24 . Rather, the structure of the loops helps a person properly grasp the marble  24  and shoot it in the proper manner. The toy FIG. 10 can therefore be used to retain a marble until the marble is used in the game of marbles. The marble  24  can be shot directly from the toy FIG. 10, without the marble  24  having to be removed first from the loop structures  20 ,  22  of the marble  24 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment of a toy FIG. 30 is shown in accordance with the present invention. The toy FIG. 30 is configured as a dinosaur, rather than the humanoid figure previously described. The toy FIG. 30 has a head section  32 , a body section  34 , limb sections  36  and a tail section  38 . The limb sections  36  terminate with feet  39  so that the toy FIG. 30 is capable of being free standing. The head section  32  of the toy FIG. 30 is comprised of two diverging loop structures  40 ,  42 , as was previously described. The loop structures  40 ,  42  retain a marble  44  so that the marble  44  appears to be the head of the toy FIG.  30 . The marble  44  is retained until it is manually removed from the loop structures  40 ,  42  or is grasped and shot from the loop structures  40 ,  42 . 
     On the tail section  38  of the toy FIG. 30, is a tapered helical structure  46 . The tapered helical structure  46  is capable of receiving and retaining another marble  47 . The second marble  47  can be used to physically balance the toy FIG. 30 or to just preserve a second marble  47  in reserve for when the marble  44  in the loop structures  40 ,  42  is shot. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment of a FIG. 50 is shown in accordance with the present invention. The figure is a huminoid figure such as that previously described in conjunction with FIG.  1 . However, in FIG. 4, the FIG. 50 has hands that are formed as tapered helical structures  52 . The tapered helical structure  52  is capable of receiving and retaining a marble  54 . The marble  54  can be set in the looped structures at the head of the figure. By squeezing the marble out of the looped structures, the marble can be shot upwardly and caught in one of the tapered helical structures  52 , as is indicated by arrow  56 . 
     In the shown embodiment, the marbles  54 ,  58 ,  59 ,  60  shown are not ordinary glass marbles. Rather, the marbles  54 ,  58 ,  59 ,  60  are magnetic or have magnetic cores. As such, the magnets  54 ,  58 ,  59 ,  60  are attracted to any material with ferro-magnetic properties, such as the wire within the FIG. 50 or the magnets contained within the feet of the FIG.  50 . By having magnetic marbles and a figure with a ferro-magnetic core material, the marbles  54 ,  58 ,  59 ,  60  will adhere to the FIG.  50 . Consequently, the marble  54  at the head of the FIG. 50 is retained both mechanically and with magnetic forces. Similarly, when a marble lands in one of the tapered helical structures  52 , the marble will tend to remain in that structure due to magnetic attraction. 
     In the embodiments previously described, the body and limbs of the toy figures are made primarily of coated wire. Such a construction is merely exemplary. The body and limbs of the toy figures can be molded to anatomically correct or anatomically exaggerated dimensions. The loop structures at the head of the figures is preferably made of coated wire so as to enable the marble to be seen, grasped and shot. 
     It should also be understood that the shapes of the limbs, hands, feet and tail of the described embodiments are also exemplary. For example, the double loop structure construction previously described as the head sections of the toy figures can also be oriented as the hands or feet of a toy figure. As such, a toy figure can be configured that retains one marble at the head, two marbles at the hands and two additional marbles at the feet. 
     It will also be understood that the embodiments of the present invention toy figure that are described and illustrated herein are merely exemplary and a person skilled in the art can make many variations to the embodiment shown without departing from the scope of the present invention. All variations, modifications and alternate embodiments to these structures that serve the stated function are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.