Compressible toy

Abstract

A toy is sized and shaped so as to move between a relaxed position and various compressed positions upon the application of force. The toy includes an urging mechanism, such as a rubber band or a coil spring, which functions to urge the toy to its relaxed position.

1 . A toy, comprising: 
 a plurality of panels including a top panel, a bottom panel, and a plurality of side panels, each of said side panels being connected to said top panel and to said bottom panel, and at least one of said side panels including an upper half and a lower half pivotable relative to said upper half, said at least one of said side panels being movable between a relaxed position, in which said upper half is substantially co-planar with said lower half, and a compressed position, in which said upper half is not co-planar with said lower half; and    urging means for urging said at least one of said side panels to its said relaxed position, said urging means being arranged within said plurality of panels.    
   
   
       2 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein said urging means includes a rubber band extending between one of said side panels and another of said side panels positioned opposite to said one of said side panels, said rubber band sized to expand when at least one of said side panels moves to its compressed position.  
   
   
       3 . The toy of  claim 2 , further comprising a first loop extending from said upper half of said one of said side panels and a second loop extending from said lower half of said another of said side panels, one end of said rubber band attached to said first loop and an opposite end of said rubber band attached to said second loop.  
   
   
       4 . The toy of  claim 3 , further comprising a continuous living hinge extending around the perimeter of said side panels, each of said side panels including an upper half and a lower half pivotable relative to said upper half, said continuous living hinge allowing said lower half of each of said side panels to pivot relative to said upper half thereof, thereby allowing each of said side panels to move between said relaxed and compressed positions.  
   
   
       5 . The toy of  claim 4 , wherein said upper half and said lower half of each of said side panels are substantially straight when said side panels are in their relaxed position, and wherein said upper half and said lower half of each of said side panels pivot outwardly as said side panels move toward their compressed position.  
   
   
       6 . The toy of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of first notches formed at the intersection of said upper half and said lower half of each of said side panels, and a plurality of second notches formed at the intersection of each of said side panels and said top panel, said first and second notches sized to facilitate the folding and compressing of said side panels.  
   
   
       7 . The toy of  claim 6 , wherein said side panels move to their compressed position when force is applied to one of said top panel and said bottom panel.  
   
   
       8 . The toy of  claim 7 , wherein said side panels move to their relaxed position upon release of force on one of said top panel and said bottom panel.  
   
   
       9 . The toy of  claim 8 , further comprising an electronic circuit adapted to emit an audible sound as said side panels move toward their compressed position.  
   
   
       10 . The toy of  claim 9 , further comprising an illumination source adapted to provide illumination when said side panels move toward their compressed position.  
   
   
       11 . The toy of  claim 10 , further comprising restricting means for restricting said top panel from contacting said bottom panel when said side panels move to their compressed position.  
   
   
       12 . The toy of  claim 11 , wherein said restricting means includes at least one pin arranged within said plurality of panels, said at least one pin projecting upwardly from said bottom panel.  
   
   
       13 . The toy of  claim 11 , wherein said restricting means includes at least one pin arranged within said plurality of panels, said at least one pin projecting from one of said side panels.  
   
   
       14 . The toy of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of panels cooperate so as to form a cube when said side panels are in their relaxed position.  
   
   
       15 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein said urging means includes a coiled spring extending between said top panel and said bottom panel, said coiled spring sized to compress when said side panels move to their compressed position.  
   
   
       16 . The toy of  claim 15 , further comprising a continuous living hinge extending around the perimeter of said side panels, each of said side panels including an upper half and a lower half pivotable relative to said upper half, said continuous living hinge allowing said lower half of each of said side panels to pivot relative to said upper half thereof, thereby allowing each of said side panels to move between said relaxed and compressed positions.  
   
   
       17 . The toy of  claim 16 , wherein said plurality of panels cooperate to form a cube when said side panels are in their relaxed position.  
   
   
       18 . The toy of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of first hinges formed at the intersection between one edge of each of said side panels and said top panel, said first hinges adapted to allow said side panels to pivot relative to said top panel, and a plurality of second hinges formed at the intersection between a bottom edge of each of said side panels and said bottom panel, said second hinges adapted to allow said side panels to pivot relative to said bottom panel.  
   
   
       19 . A compressible cube, comprising: 
 a plurality of panels cooperating to form said compressible cube, at least one of said panels being movable between a relaxed position, in which said at least one of said panels is substantially straight, and a compressed position, in which said at least one of said panels pivots outwardly; and    urging means for urging said at least one of said panels to its said relaxed position, said urging means being arranged within said plurality of panels.    
   
   
       20 . The compressible cube of  claim 19 , wherein said panels include a top panel, a front panel, a bottom panel, a plurality of side panels, each of said side panels being connected to said top panel and to said bottom panel, each of said side panels being substantially planar along the entire diameter thereof when said at least one of said side panels is in its said relaxed position.