GB2322811A - A toy - Google Patents

Abstract

A humanoid toy that under the influence of gravity will travel down a vertical surface, while tumbling as sticky regions 11A and 12A temporarily and in turn stick to the surface in known manner, the toy comprising a body 10 and two pairs of limbs 11 and 12 that are hingedly connected to the body 10. Each limb is formed in two parts that are hingedly connected together intermediate its length. Alternatively, the limbs may be made of a flexible plastics material.

Description

A TOY The invention relates to a toy.

The invention relates to a toy which under the influence of gravity will travel down a substantially vertical surface and is provided with sticky material at extremities of its limbs, such a toy is claimed and described in U.K. Patent 2222958.

According to the invention there is provided a toy which under the influence of gravity will travel down a substantially vertical surface, said toy comprising a body, a pair of limbs connected to and extending away from each end of the body, and a region of sticky material at the remote end of each limb, in which the limbs are arranged to bend along their lengths and with respect to the body, the adhesivity of the material being selected so that said regions of sticky material will adhere to the surface when they first contact the surface and then under the influence of gravity acting on the toy the upper of said regions or region will become detached from the surface so as to free said toy to rotate or tumble about its body to move successively down the surface.

The limbs may be formed of floppy or flexible plastics material, or rigid material. The limbs may be formed of flexible material that includes flexible plastics, bendable wire with or without a plastic sheath. The rigid material includes plastics, wood or metal, or combinations thereof.

If the limbs are rigid or partly rigid, each limb is preferably pivotably attached to the body and has at least one pivotable joint intermediate its length.

The toy may be in various forms including a humanoid form, animal form, bird form, and insect form with three pairs of limbs for example.

Toys in the form of a humanoid according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of one toy; Figure 2 is a part-sectional front view of another toy; and Figure 3 is a side view of the toy of Figure 2 in a slightly bent posture.

Referring to the drawings, the toys each have a body 10 and two pairs of limbs 11 and 12 connected at each end of the body 10. At the remote end of each limb there is a respective region of sticky material llA and 12A.

Various sticky materials can be used. Examples can be found in U.S. Patent 4764148.

The upper and lower limbs (the arms and legs) of the toy in Figure 1 are made of plastic coated flexible metal wire so that the arms and legs are generally springy or floppy. In practice, this allows the arms and legs to be generally "thrown about" as the toy tumbles down a vertical surface. The sticky regions 11A and 12A cling temporarily and in turn to the surface as the toy tumbles and rolls about its own body 10 in a generally haphazard and playful manner as the toy moves down the surface.

The toy in Figures 2 and 3 has arms and legs that are made of more rigid material. The arms and legs are each formed of two parts, which are hinged together to simulate elbows and knees respectively. The arms and legs are hingedly connected to the body to simulate shoulder and hip joints. The toy of Figures 2 and 3 tumbles down a vertical surface in a generally known manner. The simulated joints (elbows, hips, etc) tend to cause the toy to behave in a somewhat more reliable, predictable and life-like manner than the toy of Figure 1; such a characteristic for a humanoid shaped toy is sometimes more desirable and interesting for a player.

Whereas humanoid toys have been described, the toy may comprise other shapes including animals, birds where the limbs comprise moveable wings, and insects with say three pairs of limbs. The limbs described in Figure 1, and some sections of the limbs described in Figures 2 and 3, may also comprise or include flexible plastics material, or rubber.

Claims (8)

1. A toy which under the influence of gravity will travel down a substantially vertical surface, said toy comprising a body, a pair of limbs connected to and extending away from each end of the body, and a region of sticky material at the remote end of each limb, in which the limbs are arranged to bend along their lengths and with respect to the body, the adhesivity of the material being selected so that said regions of sticky material will adhere to the surface when they first contact the surface and then under the influence of gravity acting on the toy the upper of said regions or region will become detached from the surface so as to free said toy to rotate or tumble about its body to move successively down the surface.

2. A toy according to claim 1, in which the limbs are formed of floppy plastics material.

3. A toy according to claim 2, in which the floppy material comprises material one or more of flexible plastics, bendable wire with a plastic sheath and flexible plastics without a plastic sheath.

4. A toy according to claim 1, in which the limbs are formed with one or more of rigid plastics, wood and metal.

5. A toy according to claim 1, in which each limb is pivotably attached to the body and has at least one pivotable joint intermediate its length.

6. A toy according to any of claims 1 to 5, having a humanoid form.

7. A toy according to any of claims 1 to 5, having an insect form with at least three pairs of limbs.

8. Toys substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.