Action Toy Figure with Internal Spring

Abstract

A toy figure that is capable of launching a secondary projectile using a spring action. The toy figure is a solid molded body of flexible material, having a head, torso and limb appendages. One of the limb appendages is an action appendage. A spring is enclosed within the molded body. By bending and releasing the action appendage, the spring is cocked and released. The energy provided by the spring is transferred to the action appendage and to any external projectile that is attached to the action appendage or contacted by the action appendage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toy figure, comprising:
 a solid molded body of flexible material having a back surface and a front surface within a shaped periphery, wherein said molded body has a torso section and an action appendage extending from said torso section;   a spring having a first end, a second end and a central section disposed between said first end and said second end, wherein said spring is encased within said solid molded body, having said first end disposed in said action appendage and said second end disposed in said torso section, wherein said spring creates a spring bias that acts to hold said action appendage and said torso section in alignment in a common plane.   
     
     
         2 . The toy figure according to  claim 1 , wherein said shaped periphery has a maximum width between opposing points and an average thickness between said back surface and said front surface, wherein said maximum width is at least eight times greater than said average thickness. 
     
     
         3 . The toy figure according to  claim 1 , wherein said back surface of said molded body is flat and aligned with said common plane. 
     
     
         4 . The toy figure according to  claim 1 , wherein said front surface contains graphics that provide an appearance of a sport themed character to said front surface of said molded body. 
     
     
         5 . The toy figure according to  claim 4 , wherein said front surface of said molded body is molded with contours that complement said graphics in providing said appearance of said sport themed character. 
     
     
         6 . The toy figure according to  claim 1 , wherein said spring is a straight string. 
     
     
         7 . The toy figure according to  claim 6 , wherein said spring has a cylindrical curvature that propagates from said first end to said second end. 
     
     
         8 . The toy figure according to  claim 1 , further including a reinforcement spring that abuts against said central section of said spring within said molded body. 
     
     
         9 . The toy figure according to  claim 1 , further including an icon on said back surface of said molded body that is positioned just above said central section of said spring within said molded body. 
     
     
         10 . The toy figure according to  claim 1 , further including a depression in said front surface of said molded body proximate said central section of said spring within said molded body. 
     
     
         11 . The toy figure according to  claim 1 , wherein said action appendage has a contact protrusion for striking an external projectile. 
     
     
         12 . The toy figure according to  claim 1 , wherein said action appendage has a depression for receiving an external projectile. 
     
     
         13 . A toy figure, comprising:
 a unistructurally molded body of flexible material having a flat back surface and a contoured front surface within a shaped periphery, wherein said molded body has a torso section and an action appendage extending from said torso section;   a spring molded within said molded body, said spring having a first end, a central section, and a second end, wherein said spring is fully encased within said solid molded body, having said first end extending into said action appendage; and   wherein said shaped periphery has a maximum width between opposing points and an average thickness between said back surface and said contoured front surface, wherein said maximum width is at least eight times greater than said average thickness.   
     
     
         14 . The toy figure according to  claim 13 , wherein said front surface contains graphics that provide an appearance of a sport themed character to said front surface of said molded body. 
     
     
         15 . The toy figure according to  claim 13 , wherein said spring is a straight string. 
     
     
         16 . The toy figure according to  claim 15 , wherein said spring has a cylindrical curvature that propagates from said first end to said second end. 
     
     
         17 . The toy figure according to  claim 13 , further including a reinforcement spring that abuts against said central section of said spring within said molded body. 
     
     
         18 . The toy figure according to  claim 13 , further including an icon on said back surface of said molded body that is positioned just above said central section of said spring within said molded body. 
     
     
         19 . The toy figure according to  claim 13 , further including a depression on said front surface of said molded body proximate said central section of said spring within said molded body. 
     
     
         20 . The toy figure according to  claim 13 , wherein said action appendage has a contact protrusion for striking an external projectile.