Toy Figure with Articulating Limbs and Body

Abstract

A posable toy figure having a body, a head, and limbs that are held together by at least one elastic cord. The limbs are comprised of limb pieces that are also held together by the elastic cords. Each limb has multiple flat contact surfaces. Each limb is biased against the body at an abutment joint. Each limb is selectively moveable about the abutment joint into one of a few stable orientations relative the body. In each of the different stable orientations, a different one of the flat contact surfaces of a limb abuts against the body. Limb pieces create secondary abutment joints that enable the limbs to be configured into different stable poses. This provides the toy figure with a large, yet limited, number of posable configurations. The various posable configurations are readily indexed and can be easily repeated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A posable toy figure, comprising:
 a body;   an arm piece having four flat side surfaces that extend between a first end and an opposite second end, said arm piece having a central axis that extends through said arm piece from said first end to said second end,   wherein said four flat side surfaces include a first flat side surface of a first length and a second flat side surface of a different second length;   wherein said first end has a partial bevel that provides said first end with a first flat end surface that is perpendicular to said central axis and a second flat end surface that is inclined relative to said central axis;   a slot formed in said first end that extends from said first flat side surface to said second flat side surface, wherein said slot crosses said central axis;   an elastic element that biases said first end of said arm piece against said body, wherein said elastic element extends into said arm piece in said slot on said first end of said arm piece along said central axis.   
     
     
         2 . The toy figure according to  claim 1 , further including a second arm piece, wherein said elastic element extends through said arm piece and engages said second arm piece, therein biasing said second arm piece against said second end of said arm piece. 
     
     
         3 . The toy figure according to  claim 2 , wherein said second end of said arm piece is slotted. 
     
     
         4 . The toy figure according to  claim 1 , wherein said arm piece is adjustable to cause a different surface of said arm element to be in stable contact with said body under bias from said elastic element, wherein said different surface is selected from a group consisting of said first flat side surface, said first flat end surface and said second flat end surface. 
     
     
         5 . The toy figure according to  claim 1 , further including a head that is biased against said body by a second elastic element. 
     
     
         6 . The toy figure according to  claim 5 , further including at least one leg that is biased against said body by a third elastic element. 
     
     
         7 . The toy figure according to  claim 6 , wherein said body includes a torso piece and a pelvic piece that are joined together by said second elastic element. 
     
     
         8 . The toy figure according to  claim 7 , wherein said head, said arm piece, and said at least one leg all terminate along a common circular path, wherein said circular path is centered around a point on said pelvic piece. 
     
     
         9 . A posable toy figure, comprising:
 a body;   a leg piece having four flat side surfaces that extend between a first end and an opposite second end, said leg piece having a central axis that extends through said leg piece from said first end to said second end,   wherein said four flat side surfaces include a first flat side surface of a first length and a second flat side surface of a different second length;   wherein said first end has a partial bevel that provides said first end with a first flat end surface that is perpendicular to said central axis and a second flat end surface that is inclined relative to said central axis;   a slot formed in said first end that extends from said first flat side surface to said second flat side surface, wherein said slot crosses said central axis;   an elastic element that biases said first end of said leg piece against said body, wherein said elastic element extends into said leg piece in said slot on said first end of said leg piece along said central axis.   
     
     
         10 . The toy figure according to  claim 9 , wherein said body includes a pelvic piece with a leg relief, wherein said leg piece is biased against said pelvic piece in said leg relief. 
     
     
         11 . The toy figure according to  claim 10 , wherein said leg relief is defined, in part, by a ledge on said pelvic piece, wherein said leg piece contacts said ledge and said ledge orients said leg element. 
     
     
         12 . The toy figure according to  claim 9 , further including a second leg piece, wherein said elastic element extends through said leg piece and engages said second leg piece, therein biasing said second leg piece against said second end of said leg piece. 
     
     
         13 . The toy figure according to  claim 12 , wherein said second end of said leg piece is slotted. 
     
     
         14 . The toy figure according to  claim 9 , wherein said leg element is adjustable to cause a different surface of said leg element to be in stable contact with said body under bias from said elastic element, wherein said different surface is selected from a group consisting of said first flat side surface, said first flat end surface and said second flat end surface. 
     
     
         15 . The toy figure according to  claim 9 , further including a head that is biased against said body by a second elastic element. 
     
     
         16 . The toy figure according to  claim 15 , further including at least one arm that is biased against said body by a third elastic element. 
     
     
         17 . The toy figure according to  claim 16 , wherein said torso piece and said pelvic piece are joined together by said second elastic element. 
     
     
         18 . The toy figure according to  claim 17 , wherein said head, said leg piece, and said at least one arm all terminate along a common circular path, wherein said circular path is centered around a point on said pelvic piece. 
     
     
         19 . A posable toy figure, comprising:
 a body;   a limb piece having flat side surfaces that extend between a first end and an opposite second end, said limb piece having a central axis extending from said first end to said second end,   wherein said flat side surfaces include a first flat side surface of a first length and a second flat side surface of a different second length;   wherein said first end has a beveled corner that provides said first end with a first flat end surface that is perpendicular to said central axis and a second flat end surface that is inclined relative to said central axis; and   an elastic element that biases said first end of said limb piece against said body in one of a plurality of possible stable configurations, wherein said elastic element extends into said limb piece along said central axis.   
     
     
         20 . The toy figure according to  claim 19 , wherein a slot is formed in said first end that extends from said first flat side surface to said second flat side surface, wherein said slot crosses said central axis.