Apparatus for a toy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12337254-B2
Application number	US-202017103291-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 24, 2020
Priority date	Dec 20, 2019
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

An apparatus includes: a foldable material including a first portion and a second portion, the second portion at least partially surrounding the first portion; an inner connection structure; and an outer connection structure. The inner connection structure is configured to rotate relative to the outer connection structure; at least part of the first portion of the foldable material is attached to the inner connection structure and at least part of the second portion of the foldable material is attached to the outer connection structure; and the foldable material changes shape when the inner connection structure rotates relative to the outer connection structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a foldable material comprising a first portion and a second portion, the second portion at least partially surrounding the first portion;
an inner connection structure; and
an outer connection structure, wherein
the inner connection structure is configured to rotate relative to the outer connection structure; at least part of the first portion of the foldable material is attached to the inner connection structure and at least part of the second portion of the foldable material is attached to the outer connection structure; the foldable material changes shape when the inner connection structure rotates relative to the outer connection structure; and the apparatus is a replica eye for a toy, the first portion is a pupil portion, and the second portion is an iris portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a central region of the first portion is attached to the inner connection structure, and an outer edge of the second portion is attached to the outer connection structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inner connection structure has a rotational range of motion from a first position to a second position, the inner connection structure is configured to rotate from the second position to the first position in a first direction, and the inner connection structure is configured to rotate from the first position to the second position in a second direction.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first portion of the foldable material is attached to an end of the inner connection structure, and the inner connection structure is recessed relative to the outer connection structure such that a recessed region exists at the end of the inner connection structure, and the first portion is drawn into the recessed region when the inner connection structure is rotated in the first direction.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the foldable material changes shape by folding.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the foldable material folds to form one or more folds only when the inner connection structure is not at the second position, and the foldable material does not comprise any folds when the inner connection structure is at the second position.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the foldable material comprises one or more pre-formed fold regions, and the foldable material folds along the one or more pre-formed fold regions.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein one or more folds are pre-formed in the foldable material prior to attaching the foldable material to the inner connection structure, and additional folding or unfolding occurs when the inner connection structure rotates relative.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the inner connection structure comprises a rod mechanically coupled to a driving mechanism;
the outer connection structure comprises a sidewall that extends along a longitudinal axis, and a curved surface at one end of the sidewall;
the curved surface defines a central region, and the curved surface has a tangent that is perpendicular to the sidewall;
the rod extends into the central region of the curved surface and is recessed from the tangent;
the foldable material contacts the curved surface;
the outer portion of the foldable material is attached to the sidewall; and
the inner portion of the foldable material is attached to the rod.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the foldable material comprises a flexible material.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second portion changes shape when the inner connection structure rotates relative to the outer connection structure.

12. An apparatus for a toy, the apparatus comprising:
a pliable material;
an outer connection structure; and
an inner connection structure configured to move relative to the outer connection structure, wherein
an outer region of the pliable material is attached to the outer connection structure,
an inner region of the pliable material is attached to the inner connection structure,
the pliable material changes shape when the inner connection structure moves relative to the outer connection structure,
the inner connection structure is configured to translate relative to the outer connection structure in a first direction and a second direction that is opposite the first direction, and the first and second directions are perpendicular to a surface tangent of the outer connection structure, and
the pliable material is pulled into a recessed region at an end of the inner connection structure when the inner connection structure moves in the second direction to thereby change the shape of the pliable material.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the pliable material comprises a foldable fabric, and the inner connection structure is configured to rotate relative to the outer connection structure.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the foldable fabric changes shape by folding or unfolding when the inner connection structure rotates.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is a replica eye for a toy, and the pliable material comprises a first portion that is a pupil portion and a second portion that is an iris portion.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is a reveal feature on a toy, and the first portion comprises a fanciful design configured to be revealed by moving the inner connection structure relative to the outer connection structure.

17. A toy comprising:
a body;
an activation feature on the body; and
one or more apparatuses, each apparatus comprising:
a foldable material comprising a first portion and a second portion, the second portion at least partially surrounding the first portion;
an inner connection structure coupled to the activation feature; and
an outer connection structure, wherein
the inner connection structure is configured to rotate relative to the outer connection structure in response to movement of the activation feature; at least part of the first portion of the foldable material is attached to the inner connection structure and at least part of the second portion of the foldable material is attached to the outer connection structure; the foldable material changes shape when the inner connection structure rotates relative to the outer connection structure; and

each of the one or more apparatuses is a replica eye for the toy, wherein the first portion is a pupil portion and the second portion is an iris portion.

18. The toy of claim 17 , wherein the toy comprises a doll comprising a face portion and two of the one or more apparatuses.

19. The toy of claim 18 , wherein the first portions of the foldable material of the first and second apparatuses change shape by expanding or contracting in unison in response to movement of the activation feature.

20. An apparatus comprising:
a foldable material comprising a first portion and a second portion, the second portion at least partially surrounding the first portion;
an inner connection structure; and
an outer connection structure, wherein the inner connection structure is configured to rotate relative to the outer connection structure; at least part of the first portion of the foldable material is attached to the inner connection structure and at least part of the second portion of the foldable material is attached to the outer connection structure; and the foldable material changes shape when the inner connection structure rotates relative to the outer connection structure; and wherein
the inner connection structure has

Assignees

• Hasbro Inc

Inventors

• Marvin Nicholas
• Roberts Spencer

Classifications

• A63H33/003

  Convertible toys, e.g. robots convertible into rockets or vehicles convertible into planes · CPC title

• A63H3/42

  Manufacture of eyes (artificial eyes for human beings A61F2/14) · CPC title

• A63H3/40 Primary

  movable · CPC title