Poseable figure and spine system for use therein

Abstract

A poseable figure has a spine system that is capable of a wide range of life-like movement and capable of being positioned and maintained in numerous life-like poses. The spine system includes a plurality of mating spine segments engaged, in a friction fit, with one another such that the mating spine segments swivel with respect to one another. A soft body portion, such as a foam, is disposed around the spine system to simulate the flesh of the figure and to allow the spine system to be moved into a wide range of positions. In one embodiment, first and second appendage connectors couple a first and second pair of appendages, such as arms and legs, to the spine system such that the appendages swivel with respect to the spine system and can be moved and held in numerous positions. A resilient member preferably extends through the mating spine segments and engages with the head of the figure to hold the head in swiveling engagement with a neck segment coupled to the spine system. In addition to human figures, the spine system can be used in animals and other living or non-living articulated figures.

1 . A doll comprising: 
 a body;    a flexible connector;    a head connected to said body by said flexible connector;    a support system hidden within said body, said support system at least including: 
 a forward section proximal to said head, said forward section having said flexible connector  
 at least one forward limb connected to said forward section;  
 a flexible first component, said flexible first component having a plurality of self-attaching modules;  
 a rearward section distal to said head, said rearward section connected to said forward section by said flexible first component; and  
 at least one rearward limb connected to said rearward section;  
   stuffing material disposed around said support system; and    a flexible integument covering said stuffing material and said support system.    
     
     
         2 . The doll of  claim 1  wherein said forward section and said rearward section are rigid.  
     
     
         3 . The doll of  claim 2  wherein said at least one forward limb and said at least one rearward limb each comprise an upper portion, a lower portion, and a hinge component between said upper portion and said lower portion.  
     
     
         4 . The doll of  claim 3  wherein said support system further comprises a straight component within said supper portion and within said lower portion of said at least one forward limb and within said supper portion and within said lower portion of said lat least one rearward limb.  
     
     
         5 . The doll of  claim 4  wherein said support system further comprises a ball-and-socket component between said forward section and said at least one forward limb and between said rearward section and said at least one rearward limb.  
     
     
         6 . The doll of  claim 1  further comprising a tail connected to said rearward section of said support system.  
     
     
         7 . The doll of  claim 1  wherein said flexible integument has both elasticity and resiliency.  
     
     
         8 . The doll of  claim 1  wherein said flexible integument has a potential stretch length between about 0% and about 100%.  
     
     
         9 . A doll comprising: 
 a body;    a flexible connector;    a head connected to said body by said flexible connector;    a support system hidden within said body, said support system at least including: 
 a forward section;  
 at least one forward limb connected to said forward section, said at least one forward limb having an upper portion and a lower portion;  
 a flexible first component, said flexible first component having a plurality of self-attaching modules;  
 a rearward section connected to said forward section by said flexible first component;  
 at least one rearward limb connected to said rearward section, said at least one rearward limb having an upper portion and a lower portion;  
 a straight component contained within said upper portion and within said lower portion of said at least one forward limb and said at least one rearward limb;  
 a hinge component between said straight component in said upper portion and said straight component in said lower portion; and  
 a ball-and-socket component between said forward section and said at least one forward limb and between said rearward section and said at least one rearward limb;  
   stuffing material disposed around said support system, and    a flexible integument covering said stuffing material and said support system.    
     
     
         10 . The doll of  claim 9  wherein said forward section and said rearward section are rigid.  
     
     
         11 . The doll of  claim 9  further comprising a tail connected to said rearward section of said support system.  
     
     
         12 . The doll of  claim 9  wherein said flexible integument has both elasticity and resiliency.  
     
     
         13 . The doll of  claim 12  wherein said flexible integument has a potential stretch length between about 0% and about 100%.  
     
     
         14 . A doll comprising: 
 a body;    a flexible connector;    a head connected to said body by said flexible connector, said flexible connector causing said head to maintain position when said head moves in relation to said body in a predetermined natural range;    a support system hidden within said body, said support system at least including: 
 a forward section proximal to said head, said forward section having said flexible connector;  
 two forward limbs pivotally connected to opposite sides of said forward section;  
 each of said two forward limbs at least having an upper portion and a lower portion;  
 a flexible first component, said flexible first component having a plurality of self-attaching modules, said self-attaching modules causing said flexible first component to maintain position when said flexible first component is moved in a first predetermined, natural range, said self-attaching modules causing said flexible first component to have an unlimited range of flexion;  
 a rearward section distal to said head, said rearward section connected to said forward section by said flexible first component;  
 two rearward limbs pivotally connected to opposite sides of said rearward section;  
 each of said two rearward limbs at least having an upper portion and a lower portion;  
   stuffing material disposed around said support system, and    a flexible integument covering said stuffing material and said support system, said flexible integument having elasticity and resiliency, said flexible integument having a potential stretch in a range of about 0% to about 100%, said elasticity enabling said flexible integument to stretch and said resiliency enabling said flexible integument to recover when said limbs are moved.    
     
     
         15 . The doll of  claim 14  wherein said forward section and said rearward section are rigid.  
     
     
         16 . The doll of  claim 14  further comprising a tail connected to said rearward section of said support system.  
     
     
         17 . The doll of  claim 14  further comprising a ball-and-socket component between said two forward limbs and said forward section and between said two rearward limbs and said rearward section, said ball-and-socket component causing said two forward limbs and said two rearward limbs to maintain position when said limbs are moved in a second predetermined range.  
     
     
         18 . The doll of  claim 14  further comprising a hinge component between said upper portion and said lower portion of said forward limb, said hinge component causing said lower portion to maintain position when said lower portion is moved in a first predetermined direction a first predetermined number of degrees.  
     
     
         19 . The doll of  claim 14  further comprising a hinge component between said upper portion and said lower portion of said rearward limb, said hinge component causing said lower portion to maintain position when said lower portion is moved in a second predetermined direction a second predetermined number of degrees.  
     
     
         20 . A doll comprising: 
 a body;    a flexible connector;    a head connected to said body by said flexible connector;    a support system hidden within said body, said support system at least including: 
 a forward section proximal to said head, said forward section having said flexible connector  
 at least one forward limb connected to said forward section;  
 a flexible first component, said flexible first component having a plurality of self-attaching modules;  
 a rearward section distal to said head, said rearward section connected to said forward section by said flexible first component; and  
 at least one rearward limb connected to said rearward section;  
 compressible material disposed around said support system; and  
 a flexible integument covering said compressible material and said support system.  
   
     
     
         21 . The doll of  claim 20  wherein the compressible material is a polymer.  
     
     
         22 . A doll comprising: 
 a body;    a support system hidden within said body, said support system at least including: 
 a forward section;  
 at least one forward limb connected to said forward section, said at least one forward limb having an upper portion and a lower portion;  
 a flexible first component, said flexible first component having a plurality of self-attaching modules;  
 a rearward section connected to said forward section by said flexible first component;  
 at least one rearward limb connected to said rearward section, said at least one rearward limb having an upper portion and a lower portion; and  
 a ball-and-socket component between said forward section and said at least one forward limb and between said rearward section and said at least one rearward limb;  
   compressible material disposed around said support system, and    a flexible integument covering said compressible material and said support system.    
     
     
         23 . A doll comprising: 
 a body;    a flexible connector;    a support system hidden within said body, said support system at least including: 
 a forward section proximal to said head, said forward section having said flexible connector;  
 two forward limbs pivotally connected to opposite sides of said forward section;  
 each of said two forward limbs at least having an upper portion and a lower portion;  
 a flexible first component, said flexible first component having a plurality of self-attaching modules, said self-attaching modules causing said flexible first component to maintain position when said flexible first component is moved in a first predetermined, natural range, said self-attaching modules causing said flexible first component to have an unlimited range of flexion;  
 a rearward section distal to said head, said rearward section connected to said forward section by said flexible first component;  
 two rearward limbs pivotally connected to opposite sides of said rearward section;  
 each of said two rearward limbs at least having an upper portion and a lower portion;  
   compressible material disposed around said support system, and    a flexible covering over said compressible material and said support system, said flexible covering having elasticity and resiliency, said flexible covering having a potential stretch in a range of about 0% to about 100%, said elasticity enabling said flexible covering to stretch and said resiliency enabling said flexible covering to recover when said limbs are moved.    
     
     
         24 . A doll comprising: 
 a body;    a flexible connector;    a head connected to said body by said flexible connector;    a support system hidden within said body, said support system at least including: 
 a forward section proximal to said head, said forward section having said flexible connector;  
 at least one forward limb connected to said forward section;  
 a flexible first component, said flexible first component having a plurality of self-attaching modules;  
 a rearward section distal to said head, said rearward section connected to said forward section by said flexible first component; and  
 at least one rearward limb connected to said rearward section; and  
   a flexible, compressible covering over said support system.