A jumping toy comprising a jumping platform and a toy figure.

The prior art:

The present invention relates to a jumping platform with a toy figure and where the jumping platform comprises a base construction, a figure platform configured attached to the toy figure, and a spring section having a first end connected to the case construction and a second end connected to figure platform.

Jumping toys of the above mentioned kind are known in the art in many dif- ferent embodiments providing different jumping motion and action to the toy figures.

Examples of such prior art are known from e.g.: US appl. no. 2005/0194743 disclosing a toy figure resembling e.g. a basketball player attached to a jumping platform and being configured for holding a separate ball. When the jumping platform is activated the ball is ejected away from the basketball player. US patent no. 163696 showing a toy figure attached to a spring activated jumping platform, and where the spring may be configured for or arranged at different positions on the jumping platform in order to provide different jumping patterns to the toy figure.

The object of the invention: On this background it is the purpose of the present invention to provide a jumping platform with a toy figure giving the user the option of easy adaption of the toy in order to provide different jumping patterns to the toy figure. According to the present invention this is achieved by providing a jumping toy comprising a jumping platform with a toy figure, and where the jumping platform comprises a base construction, a figure platform being movable with respect to the base construction and being attached to the toy figure, and a spring part extending between the base construction and the figure platform, and wherein the toy figure comprises a first toy figure part configured for being attached to the figure platform and a second toy figure part configured for being selectively positioned in any one of at least two different positions in relation to the first toy figure part and to keep the selected position independently of the mutual position of the figure platform and the base construc- tion, and so that the center of gravity of the toy figure is moved with respect to the first toy figure part when the second toy figure part is moved from one position to the other.

In a preferred embodiment the first and the second toy figure part are inter- connected via a first hinge allowing the second figure part to be positioned in said at least two different positions.

The toy figure may comprise a toy figure torso and at least one or two legs attached to the toy figure torso via said first hinge, and where the distal end of the one or two legs are attached to said figure platform.

In this relation the toy figure may also comprise at least one third toy figure part, such as one or two arms, attached to the toy figure torso. Preferably the first toy figure part is releasably attached to the figure platform. In a further preferred embodiment ensuring a firm, but releasable, attachment of the toy figure to the figure platform the figure platform has a substantially plane top surface supporting the toy figure, and at least one coupling knob and where the first toy figure part has a coupling hole configured so that it can be releasably connected to the at least one coupling knob arranged on the figure platform by sliding the coupling hole onto the coupling knob in a direction substantially parallel to the substantially plane top surface of the figure platform. In an especially simple embodiment the spring part is a leaf spring.

In this relation the jumping platform is preferable made from an elongate plastic plate being bent at its mid-section to form a U-shaped element so that each end of the elongated plastic plate forms the legs of the U-shaped ele- ment and thereby the base construction and the figure platform respectively, and said mid-section forms the bottom of the U-shaped element and thereby the leaf spring connecting the base construction and the figure platform.

Furthermore the leg of the U-shaped element forming the base construction may preferably be longer than the leg of the U-shaped element forming the figure platform, so as to form a stable jumping platform when pressing the figure platform in the direction of the base construction.

In this relation the toy figure is preferably attached to the figure platform at a position between the distal end of the leg forming the figure platform, and the position where the leaf spring is attached to the figure platform, so that the distal end of the figure platform forms a key for activating the jumping platform e.g. with a fingertip. The drawing: In the following one or more embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail and with reference to the drawing, where:

Fig. 1 : Is a perspective drawing showing an embodiment of the jumping toy according to the invention.

Fig. 2: Is a perspective drawing of the jumping toy according to figure one, but with the toy figure detached from the jumping platform.

Description of exemplary embodiments:

Fig. 1 and 2 shows one embodiment of a jumping toy according to the invention. The toy comprises a jumping platform 1 with a base construction 10 configured for resting on a plane surface, a figure platform 1 1 connected to the base construction 10 via a leaf spring and a set of coupling knobs 13, 14 each being attached to the substantially plane top surface 15 of the figure platform 1 1 via a console. The toy also comprises a toy figure having a torso 2, a head 3, two legs 4, 5, and two arms 6, 7.

As shown on figure 1 the toy figure is releasably attachable on the jumping platform 1 by attaching the legs 4, 5 to the coupling knobs 13, 14 on the jumping platform 1 . For this purpose a set of coupling holes are arranged (not shown) below the coupling holes 19, 20 at the rear of the legs 4, 5 so that they are frictionally engaging with the coupling knobs 13, 14.

According to the invention the torso 2 of the toy figure is connected to the legs 4, 5 via a frictional hinge connection forming the hinge axis 15, and thereby the torso 2 can rotate in the directions illustrated by the arrow 18 so that the center of gravity of the toy figure can be moved forward or rearward with respect to its position in the toys figures present upright position as shown on the figures.

As the arms 6, 7 are also able to rotate relative to the torso 2 in the directions illustrated by the arrow 17 and about the hinge axis 16, then such movement of the arms may also, and especially if e.g. a relatively heavy item is connected to the hands at the end of the arms 6, 7, displace the center of gravity from its present position in the toy figures upright position. As the hinge connection between the torso 2 and the legs 4, 5 and arms 6, 7 respectively are configured with e.g. a frictional resistance against mutual rotation, then it is possible for the user to arrange the toy figure in a large number of different postures, and thereby to position the center of gravity in a lot of different positions with respect to both the legs 4, 5 of the toy figure and the jumping platform 1 .

When the toy figure is connected to the jumping platform 1 as shown on figure 1 it is made possible for the user, just by putting the toy figure in a selected posture, to cause this assembly to jump in different ways from a surface upon which the base construction of the jumping platform 1 is resting, and thereafter pressing e.g. the distal end 21 the figure platform 1 1 downwardly against the spring force provided by the leaf spring 12 and in the direction of the base construction 10, and releasing it quickly so that it snaps back to its original position.