EDIBLE ACTION FIGURE

Gregory J. Doherty

Cross Reference to Related Application

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent

Application Serial No. 60/677,878, entitled "EDIBLE ACTION FIGURE", filed on May 5, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Many different varieties of flexible dolls and action figures have been developed over the years, mainly for the purposes of entertainment and display. Creation of a flexible or posable figure generally includes creation of a movable articulated body and limbs configured to retain whatever pose the figure is placed into.

[0003] One class of posable figures includes an inner armature or skeleton including joints to recreate the articulation of a human skeleton, and a molded outer covering or body constructed of a flexible material that surrounds and is bonded or otherwise anchored to the inner armature. The most common plastics currently used in action figures and the like are ABS, styrene, PVC, and propylene. ABS and styrene are commonly used as body housings because they are rigid. PVC is commonly used for parts such as arms and legs, and is available in varying levels of hardness. Examples of such toys are found in U.S. Pats. Nos. 280,986, 1,189,585, 1,551,250, 1,590,898, 2,017,023, 2,073,723, 2,109,422, 2,392,024, 2,601,740, 2,684,503, 3,325,939, 3,284,947, 3,395,484, 3,624,691, 3,955,309, 4,123,872, 4,136,484, 4,233,775, 4,932,919, 4,954,118, 4,964,836, 5,516,314, 5,630,745, 5,762,531, 5,800,242, 6,155,904, and 6,217,406, and in publications

JP49-18954, JP49-18955, JP60-97067, JP61-94090, JP61-94091, JP61-94092, JP62-53686, JP62-164092, JP63-103685, JPl 1-221369, WO0067869, and WO0010665. Other examples of flexible doll toys and action figure toys are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,277,601, 3,716,942, 4,470,784, 4,932,919, 5,017,173, and 6,074,270, and in publication WO0108776.

[0004] Edible figures, such as gummi figures and chocolate figures, are also common. Edible gelatin is generally the basic ingredient in gummi candy. Generally, gummi candies are a blend of corn starch, corn syrup, sugar, gelatin, color, and flavor. The ingredients are weighed, mixed, and pumped into a candy cooker that cooks the candy by steam outside of the coil. The cooker then pumps the gummi into a vacuum chamber to remove excess moisture. From the vacuum chamber the gummi moves on to a mix station where colors, flavors, acids, and fruit concentrates may be mixed into the gummi stock. Next, a starch moulding machine pumps the gummi stock into starch filled mould boards that shape the gummi candies. After curing, the gummies are removed from the moulds, packaged, delivered, and sold.

[0005] The resulting gummi candy is, generally, a whimsical gelatinous structure that is simply meant to be eaten. Some gummi candies, such as the gummi worm, are played with as toys before being consumed. Many children find it amusing to have something with which they can both play and eat. Such gummi candies, however, lack many attributes of traditional toys that children enjoy. It would therefore be advantageous to provide an edible food product in combination with the enjoyable features of toys such that children or the like may amuse themselves prior to enjoying the confectionary or snack.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006] Fig. 1 depicts a front view of an edible action figure.

[0007] Fig. 2 depicts a side view of the edible action figure shown in Fig. 1.

[0008] Fig. 3 is a front cross-sectional view of an edible action figure assembled using the "trap" method.

[0009] Fig. 4 is a right side cross-sectional view of an edible action figure assembled using the "trap" method.

[0010] Fig. 5 is a front cross-sectional view of an edible action figure assembled using the "undercut" method, where the flanged posts fit into cavities with retaining lips to hold the members in place.

[0011] Fig. 6 is a front cross-sectional view of an edible action figure assembled using the "undercut" method where the flanged posts are integral with the torso member.

[0012] Fig. 7 is a front cross-sectional view of an edible action figure assembled using a variation of the "undercut" method, where members are held in place by friction between a post and the inside walls of a cavity.

[0013] Fig. 8 is a front cross-sectional view of an edible action figure assembled using the "trap" method where flexible supports are inserted into the flexible limb members such that the individual limb members are posable.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0014] Referring to Figs. 1-2, one version of an edible figure 10 may include a torso member 12, a head member 14, and at least one limb member 16, 18, 20, and 22. The version of Fig. 1 may be configured to resemble a human being, an animal, or any other suitable figure, figurine, or the like. All or a portion of torso member 12, head member 14, and at least one limb member 16, 18, 20, and 22 may be configured, in whole or in part, from an edible material such as, for example, gelatin,

- A -

chocolate, marshmallow, hard candy, and/or any other suitable confection, sweet, edible substance, or candy.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, the figure 10 may be, for example, an action figure. In one version, the figure 10 may be an edible action figure in which the use of food-grade materials is substituted for plastics, hi one version, crystallized sugars, or "hard candies," can serve to replace the ABS or styrene of traditional action figures, and are easily molded into desired shapes. Edible gelatins may serve as replacements for PVC materials, hi the action figure version of figure 10, the various members may be affixed to one another such that they articulate to resemble the movements of a human being, hi, for example, the animal version of figure 10, the various members may be affixed to one another such that they articulate to resemble the movements of a particular animal. It will be appreciated that the articulation or movement of the various members comprising the figure 10 may be achieved in any suitable way. For purposes of the application herein, posable shall be defined as to assume or hold a particular position or posture for a brief or extended duration of time.

[0016] Providing articulating members or features on an edible toy may combine the enjoyment of sweets, or the like, with positive attributes of traditional toys to create a fun and tasteful product. The addition of other toy-like features, such as posability, may further increase the sales appeal of the product.

[0017] For example, referring to FIGS. 3-4, in the "trap" method, the torso member 12 comprises a housing with milled pockets 24 for receiving the other components of the figure such as, for example, the head member 14 and the at least one limb member 16, 18, 20, and 22. In one version, head member 14 and the at least one limb member 16, 18, 20, and 22 include cylindrical posts 26 configured to secure, for example, the head member 14 and the at least one limb member 16, 18,

20, and 22 to the torso member 12. In one version, the cylindrical post 26 is provided with a flanged end, where the cylindrical posts 26 are seated into the first half of a torso member 12 such that the flanged end projects into the torso member 12 and is retained therein in by the wall of the torso member 12. After seating the cylindrical post 26, a second half of the torso member 12 may be attached to the first half of the torso member such that the flanged end of the cylindrical post is secured therein.

[0018] The first half and the second half of the torso member 12 may be attached using any suitable method of attachment including, for example, food-grade glue, solvent, sonic welding, screws, friction/press-fit bosses, or a combination thereof. When torso member 12 is assembled, head member 14 and the at least one limb member 16, 18, 20, and 22 may be able to pivot relative to torso member 12. In one version, the head member 14 and the at least one limb member 16, 18, 20, and 22 may be removable from the torso member 12, where the flanged end of the cylindrical post 26 may be deformed and may pass through the hole in the wall of the torso member 12 when the head member 14 or the at least one limb member 16, 18, 20, and 22 are pulled. The deformable flanged end of the cylindrical post may be constructed from a flexible material, such as gelatin, to facilitate removal.

[0019] It will be appreciated that the "trap" method, and all methods presented herein, are disclosed in reference to the action figure version of the figure 10 by way of example only. It will be appreciated that the trap method and the like may be used to construct all or a portion of any suitable figure, shape, figurine, toy, or the like from an edible substance. It will be further appreciated that the figure 10 may include any suitable number of articulating or moveable members where, for

example, the at least one limb member 16, 18, 20, and 22 may include a joint or the like resembling the movement of an elbow or a knee.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 5-6, one version of the "undercut" method is disclosed, where the torso member 12 may be fully assembled before incorporating the head member 14 and the at least one limb member 16, 18, and 28 into the action figure. Referring to FIG. 5, in one version, the torso member 12 and lower limb member 28 include internal cavities 30 into which a flanged post 34 may be inserted. Once inserted, the flanged post 34 may be retained within the internal cavity 30 by retaining lips 32.

[0021] The internal cavities 30 may be configured into any shape, including straight or tapered, suitable for retaining the flanged post 34 or any other suitable attachment device therein. The head member 14 and at least one limb member 16, 18, and 28 may be flexible or ductile to facilitate assembly with the torso member 12. The undercut internal cavities 30 and retaining lips 32 may be configured such that they mate permanently with the flanged posts 34. In a further version, the undercut internal cavities 30 and retaining lips 32 may be configured such that they are detachable from the flanged posts 34. During assembly, heat may be introduced to the head member 14, the torso member 12, and or the at least one limb member 16, 18, and 28 such that they are made less rigid and more inclined to mate with the torso member 12. The flanged posts 34 may be integral to the torso member 12, head member 14, and/or the at least one limb member 16, 18, and 28. Internal cavities 30 may be provided in the torso member 12, head member 14, and/or the at least one limb member 16, 18, and 28.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 7, an additional version of the undercut method is shown, where posts 34 on the torso member 12 fit into cavities 30 in the limbs 16, 18, and 28, and a post 34 on the head member 14 fits into a cavity 30 in the torso member 12. In this embodiment, the members

can be held into place by friction between the posts 34 and inside walls of the cavities 30.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 8, one version of the "wire insert" method is shown.

The wire insert method may be incorporated into the figure 10 to facilitate the posability of individual ductile parts, such as the at least one limb member 16, 18, 20, and 22. A flexible, positionable wire or support 38 may be inserted into a ductile or flexible part of the figure 10 to facilitate posability. The support 38 may be inserted or assembled with the figure 10 in any suitable way, such as through an in-molding process so that placement is consistent and there is no need for a 2-piece design to achieve posability of the limb, hi one version, the support 38 may be constructed from an edible material having memory retention properties. The support 38 may then be surrounded by any suitable edible material, such as gelatin, to flesh out the figure 10. In one version, the support 38 may be constructed from a non- edible material, such as low-durometer plastic, that is then covered with an edible material such as gelatin.

[0024] It should be understood that the preceding detailed description of embodiments of the present invention are exemplary in nature and are not intended to constitute limitations upon the present invention. It is also to be understood that variations of the exemplary embodiments contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art shall concurrently fall within the scope and spirit of the invention. Additionally, this invention is not limited to the discrete disclosure described in the drawings. For example, the product shown in Fig. 8 has a support insert in all four limbs. This invention would also include a product in which fewer or more limbs were provided with a support. Furthermore, this invention should protect the multiple combinations that are logically possible, such as combinations of flexible joints, mechanical joints, trapped joints, and undercut joints within the same

product. The number and configuration of limbs may vary. The product may also be coated or decorated with edible or non-edible material such as dips, paints, powders, or labels.