Deformable toy articles

Abstract

A toy article ( 10 ) includes a first body ( 14 ), a first engager ( 16 ), a first rotation inhibitor ( 18 ) and a first coupling element ( 20 ). The first engager ( 16 ) engages a second engager ( 16 A) of a second toy article ( 10 A) during a battle. The first rotation inhibitor ( 18 ) inhibits relative rotation between the first engager ( 16 ) and the first body ( 14 ) about an axis ( 37 ) until a predetermined force by the second toy article ( 10 A) deforms the first rotation inhibitor ( 18 ) to allow for relative rotation between the first engager ( 16 ) and the first body ( 14 ) about the axis ( 37 ). The first coupling element ( 20 ) couples the first engager ( 16 ) to the first body ( 14 ). The first coupling element ( 20 ) limits movement of the first engager ( 16 ) along the axis ( 37 ), but allows for relative rotation between the first engager ( 16 ) and the first body ( 14 ) about the axis ( 37 ). The first engager ( 16 ) remains coupled to the first body ( 14 ) and can rotate about the axis ( 37 ) following deformation of the first rotation inhibitor ( 18 ).

1 . A deformable first toy article that engages a deformable second toy article, the first toy article comprising: 
 a first body including a first handle;    a first engager that is adapted to engage a second engager of the second toy article;    a first coupling element that couples the first engager to the first body and allows for relative rotation between the first engager and the first body; and    a first rotation inhibitor that inhibits relative rotation between the first engager and the first body until a predetermined force sufficiently deforms the first rotation inhibitor to allow for relative rotation between the first engager and the first body.    
   
   
       2 . The first toy article of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined force is imparted on the first rotation inhibitor by the second engager during engagement between the first toy article and the second toy article.  
   
   
       3 . The first toy article of  claim 1  wherein the engager rotates about an axis following deformation of the first rotation inhibitor and the first coupling element inhibits movement of the first engager along the axis.  
   
   
       4 . The first toy article of  claim 1  wherein the first engager directly engages the second engager.  
   
   
       5 . The first toy article of  claim 4  wherein the first coupling element is substantially similar to the second coupling element.  
   
   
       6 . The first toy article of  claim 1  wherein the first body includes a base region, and wherein the first coupling element is secured to and extends substantially axially away from the base region to allow the first engager to rotate about the first coupling element.  
   
   
       7 . The first toy article of  claim 1  wherein the first body includes a wall region, and wherein the first coupling element is secured to and cantilevers away from the wall region toward the first engager and wherein the first engager includes a guide slot that receives the first coupling element, the guide slot guiding rotation of the first engager relative to the first body.  
   
   
       8 . The first toy article of  claim 1  wherein the first coupling element is secured to and extends away from the first engager.  
   
   
       9 . The first toy article of  claim 1  wherein the first rotation inhibitor does not inhibit movement of the first engager away from the first body.  
   
   
       10 . The first toy article of  claim 1  wherein the first rotation inhibitor is replaceable.  
   
   
       11 . A combination including the toy article of  claim 1  and a second toy article, the second toy article including (i) a second body having a second handle, (ii) a second engager that is adapted to engage the first engager of the first toy article, (iii) a second coupling element that couples the second engager to the second body and allows for relative rotation between the second engager and the second body; and (iv) a second rotation inhibitor that inhibits relative rotation between the second engager and the second body until a predetermined force sufficiently deforms the second rotation inhibitor to allow relative rotation between the second engager and the second body.  
   
   
       12 . A combination comprising: 
 a first toy article including (i) a first body having a first handle, (ii) a first engager, (iii) a first coupling element that couples the first engager to the first body and allows for relative rotation between the first engager and the first body about a first axis, the first coupling element limiting relative movement between the first engager and the first body along the first axis, and (iv) a first rotation inhibitor that inhibits relative rotation between the first engager and the first body about the first axis until a first predetermined force sufficiently deforms the first rotation inhibitor to allow relative rotation between the first engager and the first body about the first axis; and    a second toy article including (i) a second body having a second handle, (ii) a second engager that directly engages the first engager, (iii) a second coupling element that couples the second engager to the second body and allows for relative rotation between the second engager and the second body about a second axis, the second coupling element limiting relative movement between the second engager and the second body along the second axis, and (iv) a second rotation inhibitor that inhibits relative rotation between the second engager and the second body about the second axis until a second predetermined force sufficiently deforms the second rotation inhibitor to allow relative rotation between the second engager and the second body about the second axis;    wherein relative rotation between the first body and the second body causes sufficient deformation of one the rotation inhibitors.    
   
   
       13 . The combination of  claim 12  wherein the first predetermined force on the first rotation inhibitor is imparted via the second engager during engagement between the first toy article and the second toy article.  
   
   
       14 . The combination of  claim 12  wherein the first body includes a wall region, and wherein the first coupling element is secured to and cantilevers away from the wall region toward the first engager.  
   
   
       15 . The combination of  claim 14  wherein the first engager includes a guide slot that receives the first coupling element, the guide slot guiding rotation of the engager relative to the first body.  
   
   
       16 . The combination of  claim 12  wherein the first rotation inhibitor does not inhibit movement of the first engager along the first axis.  
   
   
       17 . The combination of  claim 12  wherein the first engager and the second engager are substantially identical in shape and size.  
   
   
       18 . A method of manufacturing a deformable first toy article, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first body that includes a handle;    providing a first engager that is adapted to directly engage a second engager of a second toy article;    rotatably coupling the first engager to the first body with a first coupling element; and    inhibiting rotation of the first engager relative to the first body using a deformable first rotation inhibitor, the first rotation inhibitor requiring a predetermined force to cause sufficient deformation of the first rotation inhibitor so that rotation of the first engager relative to the first body is no longer inhibited.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the step of rotatably coupling includes continuing to couple the first engager to the first body after rotation of the first engager is no longer inhibited.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the step of rotatably coupling includes securing the first coupling element to the first body.