Poseable figure

Abstract

A bendable portion for a toy figure includes a bendable internal piece, a first rigid element coupled to the bendable internal piece to prevent it from being bent in the region to which the first rigid element is coupled, and a resilient outer layer covering the bendable internal piece and the first rigid element. The bendable internal piece has a shape that permits the bendable internal piece to be bent about a first axis to establish different configurations, that retains those configurations after being bent, and that impedes bending of the bendable internal piece about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis such that a force required to bend the bendable internal piece about the second axis is more than twice a force required to bend the bendable internal piece about the first axis. The resilient outer layer defines an outer surface of the bendable portion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bendable portion for a toy figure, the portion comprising: 
 a bendable internal piece made from a material and having a shape that permits the bendable internal piece to be bent about a first axis to establish different configurations, that retains those configurations after being bent, and that impedes bending of the bendable internal piece about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis such that a force required to bend the bendable internal piece about the second axis is more than twice a force required to bend the bendable internal piece about the first axis;    a first rigid element coupled to the bendable internal piece such that the bendable internal piece is prevented from being bent in a region to which the first rigid element is coupled; and    a resilient outer layer covering the bendable internal piece and the first rigid element to define an outer surface of the bendable portion of the toy figure.    
     
     
         2 . The portion of  claim 1  in which the material of the bendable internal piece includes sheet metal.  
     
     
         3 . The portion of  claim 1  in which the bendable internal piece includes: 
 a body to which the first rigid element is coupled; and  
 an extension emanating from the body.  
 
     
     
         4 . The portion of  claim 3  in which the bendable internal piece includes a projection emanating from the body at end that is opposite the end from which the extension emanates.  
     
     
         5 . The portion of  claim 4  in which: 
 the body is in the form of a palm of a hand;  
 the extension is in the form of a forearm; and  
 the projection is in the form of a finger.  
 
     
     
         6 . The portion of  claim 3  in which an area of the projection is smaller than an area of the body.  
     
     
         7 . The portion of  claim 3  further comprising a second rigid element coupled to a first portion of the extension such that the bendable internal piece is prevented from being bent within first portion.  
     
     
         8 . The portion of  claim 7  in which the first and second rigid elements are configured to permit the bendable internal piece to be bent within a second portion of the extension that is between the body and the first portion of the extension.  
     
     
         9 . The portion of  claim 7  in which the second rigid element includes plastic.  
     
     
         10 . The portion of  claim 1  in which the first rigid element includes plastic.  
     
     
         11 . The portion of  claim 1  in which the resilient outer layer is made from a material that includes a resilient material.  
     
     
         12 . The portion of  claim 11  in which the resilient material is molded around the bendable internal piece and the first rigid element to form the resilient outer layer.  
     
     
         13 . The portion of  claim 1  in which the resilient outer layer is made from a material that includes one or more of latex, synthetic resin, foam, and rubber.  
     
     
         14 . The portion of  claim 1  in which the resilient outer layer is made from a material that is selected to permit bending and retention of the configurations of the bendable internal piece.  
     
     
         15 . A bendable portion for a toy figure, the portion comprising: 
 a bendable internal piece made from a material and having a shape that permits the bendable internal piece to be bent about a first axis to establish different configurations, that retains those configurations after being bent, and that impedes bending of the bendable internal piece about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis such that a force required to bend the bendable internal piece about the second axis is more than twice a force required to bend the bendable internal piece about the first axis, the bendable internal piece includes: 
 a body shaped in the form of a palm of a human hand,  
 an extension emanating from the body and shaped in the form of a wrist and forearm of the human hand, and  
 projections emanating from the body and shaped in the form of fingers of the human hand;  
   a first rigid element coupled to the body of the bendable internal piece such that the bendable internal piece is prevented from being bent in the body;    a second rigid element coupled to a portion of the extension that is shaped like a forearm such that the bendable internal piece is prevented from being bent in the extension portion; and    a resilient outer layer covering the bendable internal piece and the first and second rigid elements to define an outer surface of the bendable portion of the toy figure;    in which a region of the piece not coupled to the first and second rigid elements is bendable into a pose in a direction about a bend axis that is perpendicular to the side surface in the region at which the piece is bent.