Extensible and retractable figure toy

Oct. 23, 1956 c. m. DEL MAS 2,767,516

EXTENSIBLE AND RETRACTABLE FIGURE TOY

Filed Aug. 7. 1953 . 2 sheets-Sheet 1

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Oct. 23, 1956 c. _{M DEL MAS} 2,767,516

EXTENSIBLE AND RETRACTABLE FIGURE TOY

Filed Aijg. 7, 1953 ₂ gheets-Sheet 2

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United States Patent Office

2,767,516

Patented Oct. 23, 19S6

2,767,516

EXTENSIBLE AND RETRACTABLE FIGURE TOY Christy M, Del Mas, New York, N. Y.

Application August 7,1953, Serial No. 372,898

Claims. (Cl. 46—161)

This invention relates to amusement devices and more particularly to an extensible and retractable figure toy presenting a ludicrous or grotesque appearance and appealing particularly to children of tender years.

Briefly stated one form of the invention includes a hollow body portion having a neck and head extending from one end thereof and with a telescoping portion simulating legs and feet slidably received in the body portion and extending therefrom. The telescoping portion may be retracted within the body portion to provide a relatively short figure or the telescoping portion may be moved to extended position to provide a relatively tall figure. Means is provided to prevent relative movement of the telescoping portion beyond certain limits in each direction and when in extended position the body of the figure leans or tilts forward slightly to retain the telescoping portion in extended position and to give the appearance of a bowed figure.

Another form of the invention is very similar to that briefly described above but when in extended position the body remains substantially upright and biasing or detent means such as springs or the equivalent thereof are provided to releasably retain the figure in extended or retracted position.

The toy of this invention may be molded or otherwise formed of any suitable material such as plastic or metal and for convenience in assembly the body may well be formed in two halves which are subsequently cemented or otherwise secured together with the telescoping portion in place within the body. Obviously, any desired decorative scheme may be utilized and various portions of the device may be coated with suitable colored paints or other materials.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an extensible and retractable figure toy which may be economically manufactured from readily available materials and which is retractable to provide a relatively short figure and extensible to provide a relatively tall figure.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an extensible and retractable figure toy including a body and a telescoping portion simulating feet and legs which toy when in retracted position provides a relatively short figure and when in extended position provides a relatively tall figure with the body tilted slightly forward to present a bowed appearance.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an extensible and retractable figure toy which includes means to prevent inadvertent collapse of the toy when in extended position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an extensible and retractable figure toy in which detent means is provided for retaining the toy in retracted position and interengaging and spring means is provided for positively locking the toy in extended position.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the toy of this invention in retracted position;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary elevational view similar to Fig. 1 and showing the toy in extended position;

Fig. 3, a vertical sectional view of the toy in extended position and showing the interior structure thereof;

Figure 4, a sectional view on the line 4—4 of Fig. 3 and showing the means for retaining the toy in extended position;

Fig. 5, a vertical sectional view of the toy in retracted position and showing the relative positions occupied by the various parts;

Fig. 6, a sectional view on the line 6—6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7, a sectional view on the line 7—7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8, a sectional view on the line 8—8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9, a front elevational view showing a modified form of the toy of this invention in extended position and with parts broken away for greater clarity;

Fig. 10, a vertical sectional view of the modified form 20 of the invention shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11, a sectional view on the line 11—11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12, a sectional view of the modified form of the invention in retracted position;

Fig. 13, a fragmentary sectional view on the line 25 13—13 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14, a sectional view on the line 14—14 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 15, a perspective view showing the telescoping portion of the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 16, a fragmentary sectional view of the body of the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 17, a perspective view of one of the leaf springs utilized in the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 9.

With continued reference to the drawings there is shown in Figs. 1 to 8, the preferred form of the invention which comprises a figure toy having a body 10 which may be molded from plastic, metal or any other suitable material or may be formed in any other desired 40 manner, the body 10 being hollow and having an opening 12 at the lower end thereof. The upper end of the body is closed and is provided with a portion 13 simulating a collar, a neck 14 and a head 15. The front of the body 10 is formed in such a manner as to have a configuration simulating hands 16 and folded arms 17. The head 15 may be provided with a cap 18 formed integral therewith as well as ears 19 and eyes 20, nose 21 and mouth 22 arranged to present a ludicrous or grotesque appearance and the body 10 may be decorated in any desired man50 ner to simulate a coat or other garment terminating in a skirt 23 and having simulated buttons 24.

The body 10 is provided in the interior wall thereof with longitudinally extending opposed grooves 25 closed at their upper ends by a lip 26 and at their lower ends 55 by a lip 27. Each groove 25 adjacent the lower end thereof is provided with a forwardly extending recess 28 having a curved wall 29 in confronting relationship to the lower portion of the straight wall 30 forming one side of the groove 25. The purpose of the grooves 60 25 and recesses 28 will presently be described.

Slidably received within the opening 12 in the lower end of the body 10 is a telescoping portion 31 which may if desired be of hollow molded construction and which may be of such configuration as to simulate legs 32 and 65 33. The telescoping portion 31 terminates at the lower end thereof in simulated feet or shoes 34 and 35 and if desired these feet may be formed of solid material or otherwise weighted in order to provide greater stability when the device is in an upright position resting on 70 the feet.

The telescoping portion 31 may be provided adjacent the upper end thereof with opposed outwardly extending

2,767,516 ³rectangular lugs 36 and 37 which arc slidably received in the grooves 23. The telescoping portion 31 and lugs 36 and 37 may be assembled within the body 10 by forming such body in two halves and cementing or otherwise securing the same together with the telescoping portion 31 and lugs 36 and 37 in place therein.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the toy is in retracted position with the major part of the telescoping portion 31 received within the body 10 and with the lugs 36 and 37 in contact with the lips 26 at the upper ends of the grooves 25. This engagement prevents further inward movement of the telescoping portion 31 and provides a relatively short figure toy as shown in Fig. 1 and which may be set upright on the feet 34 and 35.

If it is desired to extend the device to provide a relatively tall figure it is only necessary to withdraw the telescoping portion 31 from the body 10 until the lugs 36 and 37 contact the lips 27 at the lower ends of grooves 25 at which time the body 10 is tilted slightly forward as shown in Fig. 4 until the edge 38 of lugs 36 and 37 engages the curved wall 29 of the recess 28 and the edge 39 of the lugs 36 and 37 engages the straight wall 30 of the grooves 25 thereby providing sufficient friction to retain the device in extended position and present the appearance of a bowed figure. When it is desired to again retract, the toy it is only necessary to tilt the body 10 forwardly into alignment with the telescoping portion 31 at which time such portion may move within the body 10 to again provide a retracted figure such as that shown in Fig. 1.

While the lugs 36 and 37 are shown as rectangular in form obviously these lugs may be of other polygonal formation it only being necessary that they provide a binding action within the groove 25 and recesses 28 when the body 10 is tilted as shown in Fig. 4 in order to retain the toy in extended position.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figs. 9 to 17 and in which there is provided a body 40 similar to that shown in the preferred form of the invention. As before the body 40 is provided with a collar portion 41, a neck 42, head 43, with a cap 44 thereon, and simulated hands 45 and folded arms 46 are also provided.

The body 40 is provided in the interior wall thereof with opposed grooves 47 and these grooves are closed at their upper ends by inwardly extending lips 48 and at their lower ends by inwardly extending lips 49. The grooves 47 adjacent their lower ends are provided with forwardly off-set recesses 50 which communicate with the grooves 47, the purpose of which will be presently described. A leaf spring 51 is disposed within reach groove 47 adjacent the lower ends thereof with one end 52 of the springs 51 being embedded in the material forming the wall 53 of the groove 47 and with the opposite end 54 of the spring 51 being curved and projecting into the groove 47 opposite the recess 50. A detent in the form of a leaf spring 55 is disposed adjacent the upper end of each groove 47 and spring 55 has one end 56 thereof embedded in the wall 53 of the groove 47, the opposite end 57 of the spring 55 being curved and projecting into the grooves 47. The purpose and operation of the spring 51 and detent 55 will be presently described.

The body 40 is provided at the lower end thereof with an opening 58 in which is slidably received a telescoping portion 59 of a configuration simulating legs 60 and 61 and terminating at the lower end in simulated feet 62 and 63. Telescoping portion 59 is provided adjacent the upper end thereof with opposed outwardly extending rectangular lugs 64 and 65 which are slidably received in grooves 47. Lugs 64 and 65 are provided On one side thereof with depressions 66, the purpose of which will be presently described.

When it is desired to provide a relatively short figure toy the telescoping portion 59 is moved within the body 40 until the lugs 64 and 65 contact the lips 48 extending inwardly at the upper ends of grooves 47 at which time the curved ends 57 of detents 55 will engage the grooves in lugs 64 and 65 and thus retain the telescoping portion 59 in retracted position to provide a relatively short figure which may be set upright on the feet 62 and 63.

When it is desired to provide a relatively tall figure the telescoping portion 59 may be extended by exerting an outward pull thereon sufficient to overcome the friction of the detents 55 engaging in the depressions 66 the telescoping portion 59 being moved outwardly until the lugs 64 and 65 are engaged by the springs 51 which will move such lugs laterally into the recesses 50 and since at this time the lugs 64 and 65 contact the shoulders formed by the upper ends of the recess 59 the telescoping portion 59 will be locked in extended position to provide a relatively tall figure.

When it is desired to again retract the telescoping portion 59 within the body 40 to provide a relatively short figure it is only necessary to move the telescoping portion 59 laterally of the body 40 in a direction to move the lugs 64 and 65 against the action of springs 51 anil out of the recesses 50 at which time the telescoping portion 59 may be moved inwardly of the body 40 to the position shown in Fig. 12.

The above described modified form of the invention provides means whereby the device may be positively locked in extended position and may be resiliently or frictionally held in retracted position. Obviously, if desired, the recesses 50 could be omitted and the device held in extended position by friction provided by the springs 51. Furthermore, if desired, the springs 51 and detent 55 could be formed in other ways such as by coil springs or by protuberances of a resilient or compressible material and it is to be noted that in this form of the invention when the figure is in extendsd position the same is upright and docs not present a bowed appearance as in the first or preferred form of the invention. As before, the telescoping portion 59 may be assembled with the body 49 by making such body in two halves and cementing or otherwise securing these halves together with the telescoping portion 59 and lugs 64 and 65 in place therein.

It will be seen that by the above described invention there has been provided a toy which may be adjusted to present either a short or a tall figure having any desired outward appearance and which in one form of the, invention when extended appears to be in a bowed position and in the other form of the invention when extended is upright. Obviously, the device may be constructed of readily available materials by relatively inexpensive operations, such as molding, thus providing a device which may be manufactured in mass production and sold in a highly competitive market.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.