Flexible dolls and posable action figures
AssigneeMattel, Inc.
InventorsMark S. Wittenberg, Ahmad A. Asbaghi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved posable figure having extended life and resistance to failure, and being repeatedly posable in a realistic fashion. The posable figure has an inner skeleton including one or more primary members constructed of a bendable material such as metal wire, and an outer molded body covering constructed of a flexible substance such as an elastomer material. The inner skeleton also may include one or more secondary members molded over portions of the primary members, to limit flexion of the primary members and/or to connect the primary members to form an articulated structure.
Claims25
A posable figure comprising:
- a body having a torso and limbs, the body made of at least one soft flesh-like outer layer molded over an inner skeleton, the skeleton including:
- at least one continuous primary member having first and second ends, the primary member being configured to flex in response to an externally applied force;
- and
- at least one secondary member, molded over a portion of the primary member, the secondary member being configured to substantially limit flexion of the primary member where the secondary member is molded over the primary member;
- wherein the primary member includes at least one intermediate bend between the first and second ends, the intermediate bend being configured to retain the at least one secondary member at a predefined location on the primary member.
A method of manufacturing a posable figure, comprising:
- bonding a plurality of primary members, each having first and second ends and at least one intermediate bend between the first and second ends, into an integral skeleton in an insert molding process that includes molding secondary members to partially surround the primary members, the intermediate bends being configured to retain the secondary members at predefined locations on the primary members;
- covering first portions of the skeleton with a first elastic body material in a first body molding step;
- and
- covering second portions of the skeleton with a second elastic body material in a second body molding step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.