WO2014023996A2

WO2014023996A2 - Articulated structure applied to toys

Info

Publication number: WO2014023996A2
Application number: PCT/IB2012/002001
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Antonio Martins De CARVALHO JUNIOR
Original assignee: SBV GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: SBV GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 2012-08-08
Filing date: 2012-08-08
Publication date: 2014-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 2015-02-08
Also published as: WO2014023996A3

Description

ARTICULATED STRUCTURE APPLIED TO TOYS

Background of the Invention

Nowadays, there are toy products that have skeletons with joints that are human-like; however, they are not very flexible and they use fabric as the external coating. Also, they do not use sound or a voice recognition electronic system.

Brazilian Patent PI0900833-0 for an ARTICULATION SYSTEM FOR ARMS, LEGS, WAIST AND NECK OF PUPPETS AND/OR DOLLS is directed to an articulation system with arms, legs, waist and neck of puppets and/or dolls made of vinyl through roto-molding. A method for fitting the doll together is carried out by attaching a limb into the body of the doll by pressing one of two spheres into internal places and by forcing a second sphere to fit completely into its place.

Brazilian Utility Model MU8700108-0 for a DISPOSITION INTRODUCED INTO ARTICULATION ELEMENT FOR LEGS OF TOYS LIKE DOLLS OR SIMILAR refers to a device for moving the lower limbs of doll-like toys controlled by a motor that allows the alternated movement of the lower limbs just by the child's holding the doll with the hands and, through a slight sideward movement of the doll body, the walking movement gets started. Brazilian Patent PI0506272-1 entitled IMPROVEMENTS

INTRODUCED TO LOWER LIMBS OF AN ARTICULATION DEVICE THAT SIMULATES STEPS IN DOLLS AND/OR DUMMIES discloses a device for limb articulation of dolls in order to simulate steps in dolls, basically consisting of two distinct elements that are orthogonally set up between themselves, with one element being supporting, superior and fixed into the body of the doll and the other element being movable, inferior and pivoted through a central pin that joins the inferior, movable element with the supporting element. The device has a hook or a bolt on each of its distal endings where it is coupled, with a free movement, and a corresponding commanding button that configures an angle drawing lever. All of these prior art devices are different from the present invention as they have distinct elements, whereas the present invention has a fitting system for the articulated parts through elements that are similar to conical and articulated vertebrae and other elements that are fitted into each other in several ways. All of the prior art devices do not allow movement and flexibility through the vinyl itself, only allowing movement through connectors on their edges.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention refers to an articulated structure for a toy with joints that allow bending and spinning movements in all directions and that keeps the toy in a desired position. The toy is preferably manufactured with hard and resistant material, estimated in 45 shore A. Besides the fitting and overlapping system of the materials of which the toy is made, the invention uses a coating that is preferably made of soft, elastic plastic like PVC, without phthalate, to be overlapped onto the articulated structure after the toy is assembled.

The articulation system is preferably used in the arms, legs, waist and neck of dolls, having constructive features that allow easy movements. Besides the fact that its constructive aspects are significantly simplified, the invention simulates the human shape both in movement and in the elastic and soft skin-like coating. The articulated skeleton enables the toy to be positioned in different ways, increasing the child's interaction with the toy. The structure allows the coupling of a voice recognition electronic system/device or a simple electronic sound device with pre-recorded phrases to be adapted into the soft PVC plastic structure, which is similar to human skin, thus providing the child with a pleasant feeling when the toy is touched and permitting the child to interact by touch, speech and hearing with the toy.

The articulated structure and the external parts - head, trunk and limbs - can be easily remolded for a new character with either a human or animal structure or for several toys. The recognition system/device or simple electronic sound system/device with pre-recorded phrases can be easily developed for the new character or for another language. Brief Description of the Drawings

One of the ways that performance of the articulated structure applied to toys can be understood is through the attached figures and their descriptions, in which: Figure 1 shows a view of an assembled articulated structure kit;

Figure 2 shows a view of a connective element of a head to a neck;

Figure 3 shows a view of a standardized structure of conical and pivoted elements; Figure 4 shows a view of a back part of a trunk structure;

Figure 5 shows a view of a front part of the trunk structure;

Figure 6 shows a view of the trunk structure molded with an undercut for fitting a voice recognition system that is interlinked with a head connector; Figure 7 shows a view of a voice recognition system starting button;

Figure 8 shows a view of a battery housing cover to be fixed into the back part of the trunk structure;

Figure 9 shows an underside view of an arm structure; Figure 10 shows an upper view of the arm structure with a conical and pivoted element on its ending;

Figure 1 1 shows a view of the arm with the conical and pivoted elements being set up;

Figure 12 shows an underside perspective view of a hand structure;

Figure 13 shows an upper perspective view of the hand structure;

Figure 14 shows a view of the arm structure fitted into the hand structure with a showing of articulated movement; Figure 15 shows an upper view of an upper hip structure;

Figure 16 shows an underside view of a lower hip structure;

Figure 17 shows a whole hip structure set up;

Figure 18 shows a fitting of the whole hip structure to conical and pivoted elements that make up legs;

Figure 19 shows a view of a left side of a leg structure;

Figure 20 shows a view of a right side of the leg structure:

Figure 21 shows a view of the leg structure interconnected with the conical and pivoted elements that make up the legs; Figure 22 shows a view of a left shoe upper structure;

Figure 23 shows a view of a left shoe under structure;

Figure 24 shows a view of a right shoe upper structure;

Figure 25 shows a view of a right shoe under structure;

Figure 26 shows a view of a plastic structure shaped like pants that go over the legs;

Figure 27 shows a view of a plastic structure shaped like a shirt that goes over the trunk structure; and

Figure 28 shows a view of a plastic structure shaped like the right arm structure and the hand structure. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

According to Figures 1 through 25, an articulated structure 1 is comprised of: a trunk 13 consisting of a back part 13a and a front part 13b fitted between themselves and having an undercut 13e made in the front part 13b for fitting in a voice recognition system; a conical lug 13c on top of the front part 13b for fitting a head connector 6 and undercuts 13d made in opposite sides of the front part 13b for fitting arms 1 1 ; undercuts made in the back part 13a for fitting a starting button 4 and a battery housing cover 5; a hip 10 consisting of an upper part 10a and a lower part 10b having undercuts and fittings for articulation with the trunk 13 and legs 7; the arms 1 1 consisting of an upper part 1 1 a to be fitted into a lower part 1 1 b having a hole in its lower end 1 1 c for fitting a hand structure 12 and a conical element 9 on its upper end to be successively fitted into other pivoted conical elements 9 for making the arms 1 1 articulated; the hand structure 12 consisting of an upper part 12a to be fitted into a lower part 12b; the legs 7 consisting of an upper part 7a to be fitted into a lower part 7b having holes for the purpose of receiving the pivoted conical element 9 to be successively fitted at one end of a chain of other pivoted conical elements 9 in order to make the legs 7 articulated; a left shoe 2 consisting of an upper structure 2a overlapped onto a lower structure 2b; a right shoe 3 consisting of an upper structure 3a overlapped onto a lower structure 3b; the head connector 6 having a spherical cavity 6a with a radius that is slightly greater than a radius of the conical lug 13c of the trunk 13.

According to Figures 1 through 25, the assembling process of the articulated structure 1 is started with setting up of the arms 1 1 ; setting up of the legs 7; setting up of the hip 10; and setting up of the trunk 13 together with the head connector 6. The connection system consists of conical elements 9 that are pivoted through their solid spherical ending, being fitted by mechanical pressure of one solid spherical end 9a into the spherical cavity 9b of a slightly greater radius. The fitting allows the two articulated parts to move between themselves, forming angles of 30 degrees at most; when twelve conical elements 9 are used, rotational and bending movements of up to 360 degrees can be achieved in whichever direction is desired.

According to Figures 26 through 28, an external coating of the toy is formed by several pieces that are preferably made of lasting foldable and resistant plastic, with the shape shown in Figures 26 through 28, being that the plastic structure is shaped like pants 18, a shirt 19, a right arm 20, a left arm, and a head, which, after being assembled, results in a doll .

The main advantages of the present invention are that the articulated structure allows the desired movement; the coating made of plastic material provides a different touch; and an integrated voice recognition system offers a better interaction between the child and the toy, thus influencing positively the child's development.

Claims

Claims What I claim as my invention is as follows:

1 . An articulated structure for a toy, comprising: a trunk having a back part and a front part fitted together; a voice recognition system fitted into an undercut made in the front part of the trunk; a conical lug fitted on top of the front part of the trunk and having a radius; a head connector having a spherical cavity with a radius slightly greater than the radius of the conical lug in order to fit onto the conical lug; arms, each having a lower part and also having an upper part fitted into undercuts made in opposite sides of the front part of the trunk; a hip having an upper part, a lower part, and fittings in the upper part for articulation with the back part of the trunk; conical elements, each being fitted on an upper end of the lower part of the each of the arms in order to make the arms articulated; and legs, each having a lower part and also having an upper part fitted into the lower part of the hip, said lower part of the hip having holes configured to receive a pivoted conical element fitted at one end of a chain of other pivoted conical elements in order to make the legs articulated.

2. The articulated structure according to claim 1 , further comprising: a battery housing cover fitted into the back part of the trunk.

3. The articulated structure according to claim 1 , further comprising: a button configured to start the voice recognition system and fitted into the back part of the trunk.

4. The articulated structure according to claim 1 , further comprising: hands, each being fitted into a hole in a lower end of the lower part of each of the arms.

5. The articulated structure according to claim 1 , further comprising: left and right shoes, each having an upper structure overlapped onto a lower structure and fitted onto the lower part of each of the legs.

6. The articulated structure according to claim 1 , further comprising: a foldable plastic structure shaped like pants and configured to be externally coated over the legs.

7. The articulated structure according to claim 1 , further comprising: a foldable plastic structure shaped like a shirt and configured to be externally coated over the trunk.

8. The articulated structure according to claim 1 , further comprising: a foldable plastic structure externally coated over the arms.

9. A method for making an articulated structure for a toy, comprising: fitting together a back part and a front part of trunk; fitting a voice recognition system into an undercut made in the front part of the trunk; fitting a conical lug with a radius on top of the front part of the trunk; fitting a head connector, having a spherical cavity with a radius slightly greater than the radius of the conical lug, onto the conical lug; fitting upper parts of arms, each also having a lower part, into undercuts made in opposite sides of the front part of the trunk; fitting an upper part of a hip, also having a lower part, for articulation with the back part of the trunk; fitting a conical element on an upper end of the lower part of each of the arms in order to make the arms articulated; and fitting upper parts of legs, each also having a lower part, into the lower part of the hip, said lower part of the hip having holes configured to receive a pivoted conical element fitted into a chain of other pivoted conical elements in order to make the legs articulated.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: fitting a battery housing cover into the back part of the trunk.

1 1 . The method according to claim 9, further comprising: fitting a button, configured to start the voice recognition system, into the back part of the trunk.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: fitting a hand into a hole in the lower end of the lower part of each of the arms.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: fitting a shoe onto the lower part of each of the legs, each shoe having an upper structure overlapped onto a lower structure.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: coating the legs externally with a foldable plastic structure shaped like pants.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: coating the trunk externally with a foldable plastic structure shaped like a shirt.

16. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: coating the arms externally with a foldable plastic structure.