Abstract:
An action figure includes an upper body having robotic features and a lower body interconnected with the upper body. The upper body includes a head and arms connected to a torso that connects to the lower body. The lower body includes construction tools, a chassis and front and rear wheels attached to the chassis. The action figure has a sound generation system that generates a sound such as a whistle or a phrase by actuation of sound activating switches.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/211,494 titled “TOY WITH CHARACTER AND VEHICLE COMPONENTS” and filed on Jun. 14, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0002]    This invention relates to toy action figures.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0003]    Action figures include toys with robotic, human or animal characteristics. Action figures may have legs or wheels for mobility and may hurl or grasp objects with their arms.  
           [0004]    Some action figures generate sounds. Action figures also may be convertible from a character into a vehicle such as a truck, an airplane, or a rocket.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0005]    In one general aspect, an action figure includes an upper body having robotic features and a lower body interconnected with the upper body. The upper body includes a head and arms connected to a torso that connects to the lower body. The lower body includes construction tools, a chassis, and front and rear wheels attached to the chassis.  
           [0006]    Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the wheels may be encircled by treads. One of the arms may include a fist capable of being propelled. The fist may be positioned parallel to the ground and may be capable of being rotated relative to an axis that is perpendicular to the torso. The second arm may include a release mechanism enabling propulsion of the fist. One arm may include characteristics of a shovel. Similarly, the upper body may include other characteristics of construction equipment, such as an arm that includes features of a backhoe. The upper body may be capable of being rotated relative to the lower body.  
           [0007]    The construction tools on the lower body may include earth moving equipment such as a loader bucket attached to the chassis by support members. The support members may have characteristics of robotic legs. The lower body may have a hinge connecting a support member to the loader bucket and enabling movement of the loader bucket relative to the chassis. The lower body may also have a lever for moving the loader bucket. One of the arms may also include a telescoping support member for movement of the loader bucket.  
           [0008]    The action figure may have a sound generation system that generates a sound such as a whistle or a phrase by actuation of sound activating switches. For example, movement of a loader bucket attached to the chassis by a support member may generate a sound by actuating a sound activating switch. Movement of the arms may generate a sound by actuating a sound-activating switch. The torso may include a button, and a sound may be generated by the sound generation system upon pressing the button.  
           [0009]    The action figure has the advantages of a toy that includes an upper body with robotic features and a lower body with a chassis and front and rear wheels. The action figure generates sounds and phrases to engage a person in playing with the toy.  
           [0010]    Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective and top views of a toy.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIGS. 2, 3A, and  3 B are front and side schematic views of handle and arm components of the toy of FIGS.  1 A-B.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic views of a system for operating a claw of the toy of FIGS.  1 A-B.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic views of a system for moving a head of the toy of FIGS.  1 A-B.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a processor and related components of the toy of FIGS.  1 A-B.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a side view of a toy.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a processor and related components of the toy of FIG. 7.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is a side view of a toy.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a processor and related components of the toy of FIG. 9.  
         [0020]    Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]    Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a toy  100  includes a front body section  102  having character features and a rear body section  104  having vehicular features and connected to the front body section  102 . The rear body section  104  includes a chassis  106 . A pair of freely rotatable rear wheels  108  are attached to the chassis  106  on each side of the toy  100 , and a freely rotatable front wheel  110  is attached to the front body section  102 . The pair of rear wheels  108  are positioned with a first of the rear wheels behind a second of the rear wheels, the first of the rear wheels having a larger diameter than the second of the rear wheels. The front wheel  110  has a smaller diameter than the rear wheels  108 . The rear body section  104  also includes a bed  112  that defines a cavity  113  for holding objects. The bed  112  is hingedly connected to the chassis  106  so that the bed may be tilted to dump the objects collected in the bed.  
         [0022]    The front body section  102  includes a torso  116  connected to the chassis  106  and a head  118  connected to the torso, such that the front body section has the features of a character. The torso  116  is rotatable relative to the chassis  106 . Two arms  122 ,  132  are hingedly connected to the torso  116 .  
         [0023]    Referring to FIG. 2, the left arm  122 , referred to as the shovel arm, includes an upper left arm  124 , a lower left arm  126 , and a shovel  128  in place of a hand. The shovel arm  122  is hingedly attached to the torso  116  to allow the shovel arm to rotate relative to the torso. In some implementations, the upper left arm  124 , the lower left arm  126 , and the shovel  128  define a single rigid structure. The upper left arm  124  is hingedly attached to the lower left arm  126  to allow the lower left arm to rotate relative to the upper left arm. In other implementations, the shovel  128  is hingedly attached to the lower left arm  126  to allow the shovel to rotate relative to the lower left arm. In yet other implementations, one or more pairs of components may be connected by ball-and-socket joints to permit a wider range of movement.  
         [0024]    The toy  100  also includes a left handle  130  attached at the top of the torso  116 . The left handle  130  is used to manipulate the shovel arm  122 . The handle  130  is attached to the left arm  112  and movement of the handle  130  results in movement of the left arm  122  by rotating about a hinge  200 .  
         [0025]    Referring also to FIGS. 3A and 3B, in another implementation, the left handle  130  rotates a shaft  300  having a friction clutch  305  that includes two lubricated flat disks  310  and restrains movement of the shovel arm  122  to prevent the operator of the shovel arm from throwing objects using the shovel  128 . In particular, the disks  310  rotate together when the left handle is moved relatively slowly (i.e., at a rate that would not throw objects), and move relative to each other to allow slippage when the handle is moved quickly (i.e., at a rate that would throw objects). A spring  315  biases the left handle  130  in an upright position.  
         [0026]    The shaft  300  includes a gear  320  that translates the rotation of the left handle  130  and the shaft into rotation of the shovel arm  122 . In particular, rotation of the shaft  300  rotates the gear  320 , which, in turn, rotates a gear  325  and a gear  330  connected to the shovel arm  122 . This rotation of the shovel arm  122  allows the operator to dump materials into the cavity  113  of the bed  112  of the toy  100 .  
         [0027]    In other implementations, the handle  130  is attached directly to the left arm  112 . With such an attachment, movement of the handle  130  directly results in movement of the left arm  122 .  
         [0028]    The right arm, referred to as the claw arm  132 , includes an upper right arm  134 , a lower right arm  136 , and a claw fist  138 . The claw arm  132  is hingedly attached to the torso  116  to allow the claw arm to rotate relative to the torso. The upper right arm  134  is hingedly attached to the lower right arm  136  to allow the lower right arm to rotate relative to the upper right arm  134 . The claw fist  138  is hingedly attached to the lower right arm  136  to allow the claw fist to rotate relative to the lower arm. In other implementations, the upper right arm  134  and the lower right arm  136 , the lower right arm  136  and the claw fist  138 , or all three components, may define a single rigid structure. In yet other implementations, one or more pairs of components may be connected by ball-and-socket joints to permit a wider range of movement.  
         [0029]    The toy  100  also includes a right handle  140  attached to the top of the claw arm  132 . The right handle  140  is used to manipulate the claw arm  132 . Like the left handle  130 , a spring may bias the right handle  140  back to an upright position.  
         [0030]    The claw fist  138  includes movable claws  141  that may be made to open and close by movement of the right handle  140 . Referring to FIG. 4A, movement of the right handle  140  in a downward direction extends a lever  403  springedly connected to the right handle that presses against tabs  407  on the base of the movable claws  141  causing them to open. A spring  411  biases the movable claw  141  to a closed position when the right handle  140  is released.  
         [0031]    Referring to FIG. 4B, in another implementation, a button  142  presses on a bellows or bladder  400  that pushes air through a tube  405  to a cylinder  410 . Air entering the cylinder  410  moves a plunger  415  that drives a lever  420  to open the claw  141 . When the button is released, a spring  425  biases the claw  141  back to a closed position. In a further implementation, the right handle  140  rotates a shaft having a friction clutch and a gear train to move the claw fist  138 .  
         [0032]    Referring to FIG. 5A, the head  118  is connected to the torso  116  in a manner that allows the head to rotate relative to the torso. A motor  500  with a shaft  501  connects to a circular disk  502 . A rod  503  connects to the perimeter of the disk to the head  118 . The motor  500  rotates the head  118  and the spring  504  connected to pivot bars  506  returns the head  118  to a forward position. The head  118  may have an animated appearance giving the toy  100  the appearance of a dinosaur or robot. The head  118  also includes a jaw  160  that is hinged to move up and down relative to the head.  
         [0033]    In another implementation, as shown FIG. 5B, a motor  500  with a pinion  505  and a spur gear  510  are connected to rotate the head. The motor has a clutch (not shown) that allows the head  118  to be rotated  360  degrees without breaking the toy  100 . In this implementation, the movement of the jaw is controlled by a solenoid  515 .  
         [0034]    The handles  130 ,  140  may be used to steer the toy  100 . In particular, pushing one handle forward and pulling the other handle back causes the front wheels  110  to turn relative to the chassis  106  in the direction of the handle that is pulled back.  
         [0035]    Referring also to FIG. 6, the toy  100  contains a processor  600  that is configured to provide the toy with speech and automatic movements. The processor  600  is connected to switches  605 ,  610  that are actuated by movement of, respectively, the claw arm  132  and the shovel arm  122 . The processor  600  is also connected to a switch  615  that is actuated by movement of the bed  112  and a switch  620  that is actuated by movement of the wheels  108 ,  110 . Finally, the processor  600  is connected to the motor  500 , to the solenoid  515 , and to a speaker  625  located in the toy. The processor  600  is activated by an on/off switch  170  located on the lower body  104 .  
         [0036]    When one of the switches is actuated by movement of a corresponding part of the toy  100 , the processor  600  responds by producing a signal that causes the speaker  625  to produce speech or other sounds. At the same time, the processor  600  sends signals to the motor  500  and the solenoid  515  to cause the head to turn and the jaw  160  to move up and down in a way that simulates speech.  
         [0037]    The processor may produce different sounds and speech in response to actuation of different switches and different combinations of switches. In addition, if a particular switch is actuated multiple times, the processor  600  may produce different sounds and speech in response to each actuation.  
         [0038]    When the toy  100  is not manipulated within a predetermined time period (e.g., if a switch is not actuated within 30 seconds), the processor enters a “bored” mode. In the bored mode, the processor causes the speaker to ask questions. Once in the bored mode, if the toy is not manipulated within a second predetermined time period (e.g., if a switch is not actuated within 30 seconds), the processor causes the speaker to start speaking again. If the toy is not manipulated within a third predetermined time period following the second predetermined time period (e.g., if a switch is not actuated within an additional 60 seconds), the processor causes the speaker to make snoring noises and the processor then enters a sleep mode in which the processor turns off. Once the processor is in sleep mode, the on/off switch  170  must be actuated to turn on the processor.  
         [0039]    Referring to FIG. 7, a toy  700  is configured and operates similarly to the toy  100  of FIGS. 1A and 1B. The toy  700  includes an upper body  702  having character features and a lower body  704  having vehicular features and connected to the upper body  702 . The lower body  704  includes a chassis  706 . The toy  700  includes a freely rotatable rear wheel  708  and a freely rotatable front wheel  710  attached to the chassis  706  on each side of the toy  700 . The front wheels  710  have smaller diameters than the rear wheels  708 .  
         [0040]    The upper body  702  of the toy  700  includes a torso  716  connected to the chassis  706  and a head  718  connected to the torso, such that the upper body has the features of a character. Two arms  720 ,  722  are also connected to the torso  716 .  
         [0041]    The left arm  720  is in the form of a backhoe, and is connected to the torso  716  by a joint that permits the arm to rotate relative to the torso. The left arm  720  includes an upper section  724 , a lower section  726 , and a scoop  728 , all of which are hingedly connected to each other. In other implementations, the upper section and the lower section, the lower section and the scoop, or all three components, form a single rigid structure. In yet other implementations, one or more pairs of the components are connected by ball-and-socket joints to permit increased movement.  
         [0042]    Unlike the toy  100 , the toy  700  does not include a handle for use in manipulating the arm  720 . Instead, a user manipulates the arm by grasping the arm.  
         [0043]    The toy  700  also includes a front loader  730  that is connected to the toy by the arm  722 , which extends between the front loader and the torso  716 , and by a support member  732 , which extends between the front loader and the chassis  706 . In other embodiments, the toy  700  has a support member  732  on each side that extend between the front loader  730  and the chassis  706 .  
         [0044]    A handle  734 , which is connected to a shaft  736  that rotates about an axis  738 , is used to raise and lower the front loader  730 . Rotating the handle about the axis in a clockwise direction causes the handle to push against the support member  732  and lift the front loader  730 . Rotating the handle about the axis in a counter-clockwise direction permits the front loader  730  to go back down. A second handle may be provided on the opposite side of the front loader  730  to permit a load to be dumped from the front loader  730  (i.e., to permit rotation of the front loader relative to the arm and the support member).  
         [0045]    A spring-loaded hat  740  is located on top of the head  718  of the toy  700 . Pressing a button  742  on the torso  716  causes the hat  740  to pop up, and causes the toy to generate a whistling sound.  
         [0046]    Referring to FIG. 8, the toy  700 , like the toy  100 , contains a processor  800  that is configured to make the toy generate speech and sounds. The processor  800  is connected to switches  805 ,  810  and  815  that are actuated by movement of, respectively, the front loader  730 , the backhoe arm  720 , and the button  742 . The processor  800  also is connected to a speaker  820  located in the toy.  
         [0047]    The processor  800  responds to actuation of the switch  815  by producing a signal that causes the speaker to produce the whistling sound noted above. The processor  800  responds to actuation of the other switches by causing the speaker to generate other sounds. For example, in one implementation, the first time that the switch  805  is actuated, the processor  800  causes the speaker to say “Trenches, ditches, you name it, we can dig it.” The second time that the switch  805  is actuated; the processor  800  causes the speaker to say, “Ho, we can dig over here, we can dig back there.” The third time that the switch  805  is actuated, the processor  800  causes the speaker to say “Scooping, digging, this is great.” The fourth time that the switch  805  is actuated; the processor  800  causes the speaker to say “Dig, dig, dig.” The fifth time that the switch  805  is actuated, the processor  800  causes the speaker to say “Hey, let&#39;s dig some over there.” Thereafter, actuations of the switch  805  cause the speaker to cycle between “Dig, dig, dig,” “Hot diggity dig” and “This is great. Similarly, actuation of the switch  810  causes the speaker to cycle through the same phrases. In other implementations, actuation of the switch  805  causes the speaker to say “Let&#39;s get dozin&#39;,”, “Let&#39;s push some dirt,” “Wrecking ball coming through,” “I love to play wreckin&#39; ball,” and “Knocking down.” In another implementation, actuation of the switch  805  causes the speaker to say “Hoo hoo, let&#39;s get to work,” “Let&#39;s push some dirt” and “Rrrrrg, this is heavy.” 
         [0048]    If no switch  805  is actuated within  25  seconds, the speaker says, “let&#39;s dig some over there,” and then the processor  800  turns off. In another implementation, if the toy is left alone for  25  seconds it responds, “Oh, I was dozin&#39; off” “Hoo hoo, let&#39;s get to work,” and then shuts off.  
         [0049]    Referring to FIG. 9, a toy  900  is configured and operates similarly to the toy  100  of FIGS. 1A and 1B. The toy  900  includes an upper body  902  having character features and a lower body  904  having vehicular features and connected to the upper body  902 . The lower body  904  includes a chassis  906 . The toy  900  includes a freely rotatable rear wheel  908  and a freely rotatable front wheel  910  attached to the chassis  906  on each side of the toy  900  and encircled by a track  911 . The front wheels  910  have smaller diameters than the rear wheels  908 .  
         [0050]    The upper body  902  of the toy  900  includes a torso  916  connected to the chassis  906  and a head  918  connected to the torso, such that the upper body has the features of a character. The torso sits on the chassis  906  and is rotatable relative to the chassis. Two arms  920 ,  922  are also connected to the torso  916 .  
         [0051]    The left arm  920  is connected to the torso by a joint that permits the arm to rotate relative to the torso. The left arm  920  includes an upper section  924 , a lower section  926 , and an oversized hand  928 , all of which are rigidly connected to each other. In other implementations, the upper section and the lower section, the lower section and the scoop, or all three components, are connected by hinges or ball-and-socket joints. The arm  920  is manipulated by a user grasping the arm.  
         [0052]    The right arm  922  includes a spring-loaded fist  930  that may be launched by moving the left arm  920 .  
         [0053]    The toy  900  also includes a dozer blade  932  that is coupled to the chassis by support members  934 . The dozer blade  932  is raised and lowered by raising and lowering a lever  936  that extends from the back of the chassis.  
         [0054]    Referring to FIG. 10, the toy  900 , like the toy  100 , contains a processor  1000  that is configured to make the toy generate speech and sounds. The processor  1000  is connected to switches  1005 ,  1010  and  1015  that are actuated by movement of, respectively, the lever  936 , the left arm  920 , and the torso  906 . The processor  1000  also is connected to a speaker  1020  located in the toy.  
         [0055]    The processor responds to actuation of the switches by causing the speaker to produce appropriate sounds. For example, the first time that a switch  1005  is actuated, the speaker says “Hoo hoo, let&#39;s get to work.” When the switch  1005  is actuated again, the speaker says “Let&#39;s push some dirt,” “Time to get the pistons firing,” and “Oh yeah, let&#39;s get dozing.” Subsequent actuations result in grunt sounds.  
         [0056]    If no switch is actuated for 25 seconds, toy responds “Oh, I was dozin&#39; off,” or “Hoo hoo, let&#39;s get to work,” and then the processor turns off.  
         [0057]    Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.