Toy Figure With Extending Neck

This invention relates to a toy figure, and more specifically to a toy figure having an extendable neck. Such a figure provides enhanced play value as compared to conventional toy figures.

Toy figures with extendable necks have been known in the art, but such prior figures either utilize special stretchable materials which are expensive and lacking in rigidity or involve complex mechanical linkages which are prone to failure and costly.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages associated with prior toy figures with extendable necks by providing a mechanically simple apparatus which may be suitably made from a wide variety of inexpensive materials, while maintaining structural rigidity.

Considered broadly, the toy figure advantageously includes two sections, first, a head member having an elongated neck and second a body member having a top orifice for slidably receiving the elongated neck so that it may extend from or retract within the body member.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a toy figure with an extendable neck which obviates one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art and produces improved results.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a toy figure with an extendable neck using a simplified and inexpensive mechanical structure.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a toy figure with an extendable neck which may be manufactured from a wide variety of inexpensive materials.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a toy figure with an extendable neck while maintaining structural rigidity.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a head member having an elongated neck portion and a skull portion and a body member having a top orifice for slidably receiving the neck portion so that the neck portion can extend from and retract within the body member. The head member has a skull portion which has a heavy portion eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of the neck portion. The neck portion has a guide member and stop member. The body member has a bottom configured to stably support the figure in a generally upright position, a slot extending generally longitudinally along a portion thereof for engaging the guide member and a stop butt for restrainably engaging the stop member when the neck portion is extended to a predetermined outermost position. In a particular and illustrative embodiment demonstrating the objects and features of the present invention, the body is further provided with pivoting arm members on either side of the top orifice and the bottom of the body has a substantially flat surface and is configured to appear as legs.

The above objects, aspects and advantages of the invention, as well as others, will be apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention considered in conjunction with the drawings, which should be considered in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense, as follows:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in partial section showing the head member with its elongated neck and the body member of the toy figure;

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevational view in partial section of the toy figure of FIG. 1 showing the neck of the head member in a fully extended position;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view in partial section of the toy figure of FIG. 1 showing the neck of the head member in a partially extended position; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the toy figure taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 2 showing the pivotable arm members in place.

Referring to FIG. 1, the complete toy figure 10 having head member 12 and hollow body member 14 is shown. The head member 12 has an elongated neck 15, with a longitudinal surface 24 and a skull 16. The skull 16 has a heavy portion 18 which is positioned eccentrically with regard to the axis of the neck 15. The neck 15 is provided with a guide member 20 and stop member 22 on its longitudinal surface 24. The longitudinal surface 24 of the neck 15 is roughened by a plurality of latitudinal notches 26. The guide member 20 includes, a tab 21 and a thumb button 23.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the body 14 includes a bottom portion 28, a top orifice 30, opposing side orifices 32 and 34, a longitudinal slot 36 and a stop butt 38. The bottom portion 28 is provided with a substantially flat surface 40 which supports the figure 10 in a generally upright position. bottom portion 28 is provided with a substantially flat surface 40 which supports the figure 10 in a generally upright position.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the neck 15 is slidably received by the top orifice 30 so that the neck 15 can extend from and retract within the body member 14 as the tab 21 of the guide member 20 rides within the slot 36. The rear interior surface 17 of the body member 14 is configured to generally abut at least a segment of the longitudinal surface 24 when the neck 15 is in any given position. Since the heavy portion 18 of the skull 16 is eccentrically positioned relative to the axis of the neck 15, the neck 15 is urged to pivot about the periphery of the top orifice 30 and the longitudinal surface 24 of the neck 15 opposite the heavy portion 18 of the skull 16 is urged against the rear interior surface 17 of the body member 14. Accordingly, when the head member 12 is placed in any selected position, it is held in place by frictional engagement between the longitudinal surface 24 of the neck 15 and the rear interior surface 17 of the body member 14. This retention is aided by the latitudinal notches 26 which both increase the coefficient of friction of the longitudinal surface 24 and act as detents which engage the periphery of the top orifice 30. As seen in FIG. 3, the second tab 22 engages the restraining butt 38 when the neck 15 is extended to a predetermined outermost extended position and thereby prevents further extension. Movement of the head member 12 from position to position can easily be accomplished by manipulation of the thumb button 23 of the guide member 20.

Referring to FIG. 5, the pivotable arms 42 and 44 are shown. Pivotable arms 42 and 44 are held within side orifices 32 and 34 by conventional means.

It should be understood that the embodiment described herein is only illustrative of the present invention, and it should be recognized by those skilled in the art that, for example, the invention may also be practiced in other configurations. Accordingly, a latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention.