Toy figure with connector for appendage

Abstract

A toy figure includes a connector for coupling two parts of the toy figure together. The connector has a first portion, a second portion, and a middle portion located between and coupled to both the first portion and the second portion. The middle portion is asymmetrically located between the first portion and the second portion, which creates a larger notch and facilitates a larger range of movement between the two parts of the toy figure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toy figure, comprising:
 a first body component defining a first receptacle;   a second body component defining a second receptacle; and   a connector that couples the first body component to the second body component, the connector enabling the second body component to move relative to the first body component, the connector including:
 a first connector portion engageable with the first receptacle of the first body component, the first body component is rotatable relative to the first connector portion about a first rotational axis when the first connector portion is located in the first receptacle; 
 a second connector portion engageable with the second receptacle of the second body component; and 
 a middle portion located between the first connector portion and the second connector portion, the middle portion having:
 a first end coupled to the first connector portion; 
 a second end coupled to the second connector portion; and 
 a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the longitudinal axis is offset from and perpendicular to the first rotational axis. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The toy figure of  claim 1 , wherein the second connector portion is rotatable about a second rotational axis when the second connector portion is located in the second receptacle, and the longitudinal axis is offset from and parallel to the second rotational axis. 
     
     
         3 . The toy figure of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis is a first longitudinal axis, the connector has a connector first end, a connector second end opposite the connector first end and a second longitudinal axis that extends from the connector first end to the connector second end, and the first longitudinal axis is offset from and parallel to the second longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         4 . The toy figure of  claim 1 , wherein the second connector portion has a ring portion with a first outer surface, the middle portion has a second outer surface, and the second outer surface extends is aligned and continuous with the first outer surface. 
     
     
         5 . The toy figure of  claim 4 , wherein the ring portion is a first ring portion, the second connector portion includes a second ring portion with a third outer surface, and the second outer surface is aligned with the third outer surface. 
     
     
         6 . The toy figure of  claim 4 , wherein the middle portion has a square cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         7 . The toy figure of  claim 1 , wherein the middle portion is asymmetrically located between the first connector portion and the second connector portion. 
     
     
         8 . The toy figure of  claim 1 , wherein the first body component is a toy figure arm, the second body component is a toy figure torso, the first body component includes a slot formed therein, and the middle portion of the connector travels back and forth in the slot. 
     
     
         9 . The toy figure of  claim 8 , wherein the toy figure arm has an arm longitudinal axis, the toy figure torso has a torso longitudinal axis, and the toy figure arm can be moved relative to the toy figure torso so that the arm longitudinal axis extends perpendicularly to the torso longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . A toy figure, comprising:
 an arm defining a first receptacle;   a torso defining a second receptacle; and   a connector that movably couples the arm to the torso, the connector having a first longitudinal axis, the connector including:
 a first connector portion engageable with the first receptacle, the arm being rotatable relative to the first connector portion about a first rotational axis; 
 a second connector portion engageable with the second receptacle and rotatable about a second rotational axis, the second rotational axis being perpendicular to the first rotational axis; and 
 a middle portion located between the first connector portion and the second connector portion, the middle portion having a second longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis being offset from the first longitudinal axis. 
   
     
     
         11 . The toy figure of  claim 10 , wherein the second longitudinal axis is offset from and perpendicular to the first rotational axis. 
     
     
         12 . The toy figure of  claim 11 , wherein the second longitudinal axis is offset from and parallel to the second rotational axis. 
     
     
         13 . The toy figure of  claim 10 , wherein the second connector portion has a first ring portion with a first outer surface, a second ring portion with a second outer surface, the middle portion has a third outer surface, and the third outer surface extends is aligned with the first outer surface and the second outer surface. 
     
     
         14 . The toy figure of  claim 10 , wherein the middle portion is asymmetrically located between the first connector portion and the second connector portion. 
     
     
         15 . The toy figure of  claim 14 , wherein the arm has an arm longitudinal axis, the torso has a torso longitudinal axis, and the arm can be moved relative to the torso so that the arm longitudinal axis extends perpendicularly to the torso longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         16 . A toy figure, comprising:
 an arm;   a torso; and   a connector that movably couples the arm to the torso, the connector having a first longitudinal axis, the connector including:
 a first portion engageable with the arm, the arm being rotatable relative to the first portion about a first rotational axis; 
 a second portion engageable with the torso, the second portion being rotatable about a second rotational axis, the second rotational axis being perpendicular to the first rotational axis; and 
 a middle portion located between the first portion and the second portion, the middle portion having a second longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis being offset from the first longitudinal axis. 
   
     
     
         17 . The toy figure of  claim 16 , wherein the second longitudinal axis is offset from and perpendicular to the first rotational axis. 
     
     
         18 . The toy figure of  claim 17 , wherein the second longitudinal axis is offset from and parallel to the second rotational axis. 
     
     
         19 . The toy figure of  claim 16 , wherein the first portion includes a body with a first body side and a second body side opposite to the first body side, the first body side having a first extension extending outwardly therefrom, the second body side having a second extension extending outwardly therefrom, and the first rotational axis passes through the first extension and the second extension. 
     
     
         20 . The toy figure of  claim 16 , wherein the middle portion is asymmetrically located between the first portion and the second portion.