Toy Figure and Spherical Vending Capsule Combination

Abstract

A generally spherical, hollow vending capsule and toy figure combination for use in bulk vending capsule machines. The capsule includes two hemispheres that securely attach to form a hollow sphere that resembles the head of a humanoid or animal. The capsule also stores at least one toy figure component such as a body or head inside. Each of the two hemispheres includes corresponding component notches that join to form a component mating aperture through the capsule. The toy figure component includes a mating member having a stepped neck that engages the component mating aperture in the capsule to rotatably secure the toy figure component(s) to the capsule such that the combination resembles a toy figure such as a humanoid, alien or animal-like figure. The toy figure combination is capable of being directly dispensed from a capsule machine.

1 . A vending container and toy combination, comprising:
 a hollow, generally spherical capsule, comprising
 a first hemispherical shell member having a mating lip, wherein said mating lip includes
 a first mating surface configured to engage and cooperate with a second mating surface, and 
 a first notch disposed adjacent to said mating lip; 
 
 a second hemispherical shell member having a mating lip, wherein said mating lip includes
 a second mating surface configured to engage and cooperate with said first mating surface, and 
 a second notch disposed adjacent to said mating lip, wherein said second notch is sized to correspond and cooperate with said first notch to form an aperture of a first diameter; and 
 
   a toy figure component disposed within said spherical capsule, wherein said toy figure component includes a mating member having a shank and a head portion, said head portion having a stepped neck and a cross sectional dimension larger than said first diameter and said shank has a cross sectional dimension substantially corresponding to said first diameter where the shank is aligned to be received in said aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The vending container and toy combination of  claim 1 , wherein said first hemispherical shell member and said second hemispherical shell member engage along said first mating surface and said second mating surface. 
     
     
         3 . The vending container and toy combination of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a key way formed in one of said first hemisphere or said second hemisphere, and   an alignment key formed in the other of said first hemisphere of said second hemisphere, wherein said alignment key engages said key way to ensure proper alignment of said first notch and said second notch.   
     
     
         4 . The vending container and toy combination of  claim 1 , wherein said mating member of said toy figure component engages said aperture of said spherical capsule to form a toy figure. 
     
     
         5 . The vending container and toy combination of  claim 5 , wherein said spherical capsule emulates a head of a humanoid or animal. 
     
     
         6 . The vending container and toy combination of  claim 5 , wherein said spherical capsule emulates a body part of a humanoid or animal. 
     
     
         7 . The vending container and toy combination of  claim 5 , wherein said toy figure component emulates a head of a humanoid or animal. 
     
     
         8 . The vending container and toy combination of  claim 5 , wherein said toy figure component emulates a body part of a humanoid or animal. 
     
     
         9 . The vending container and toy combination of  claim 5 , wherein said spherical capsule is capable of rotating with respect to said toy figure component when said toy figure component is engaged with said mating member. 
     
     
         10 . A vending container and toy combination, comprising:
 a hollow capsule, comprising
 a first hemispherical shell member having a mating lip, wherein said mating lip includes
 a first mating surface configured to engage and cooperate with a second mating surface, and 
 a first set of notches disposed adjacent to said mating lip; 
 
 a second hemispherical shell member having a mating lip, wherein said mating lip includes
 a second mating surface configured to engage and cooperate with said first mating surface, and 
 a second set of notches disposed adjacent to said mating lip wherein said second set of notches is sized to correspond and cooperate with said first set of notches to form a set of apertures having a diameter; and 
 
   at least a first toy figure component disposed within said spherical capsule, wherein said first toy figure component includes a mating member having a shank and a head portion, said head portion having a stepped neck and a cross sectional dimension larger than a diameter of a first of said apertures and said shank has a cross sectional dimension substantially corresponding to a diameter of a first of said apertures where the shank is aligned to be received in said aperture.   
     
     
         11 . The vending container and toy combination of  claim 10 , wherein said first hemispherical shell member and said second hemispherical shell member engage along said first mating surface and said second mating surface. 
     
     
         12 . The vending container and toy combination of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at least one key way formed in one of said first hemisphere or said second hemisphere, and   at least one alignment key formed in the other of said first hemisphere of said second hemisphere, wherein said at least one alignment key engages said at least one key way to ensure proper alignment of said first set of notches and said second set of notches.   
     
     
         13 . The vending container and toy combination of  claim 10 , wherein said mating member of said at least one toy figure component engages at least one of said apertures of said spherical capsule to form a toy figure. 
     
     
         14 . The vending container and toy combination of  claim 10 , further comprising at least a second toy figure component disposed within said spherical capsule, wherein said second toy figure component includes a mating member having a shank and stepped neck, said stepped neck having a head portion where said head portion has a cross sectional dimension larger than a diameter of a second of said apertures and said shank has a cross sectional dimension substantially corresponding to a diameter of a second of said apertures where the shank is aligned to be received in said aperture. 
     
     
         15 . The vending container and toy combination of  claim 10 , further comprising at least a third toy figure component disposed within said spherical capsule, wherein said third toy figure component includes a mating member having a shank and stepped neck, said stepped neck having a head portion where said head portion has a cross sectional dimension larger than a diameter of a third of said apertures and said shank has a cross sectional dimension substantially corresponding to a diameter of a third of said apertures where the shank is aligned to be received in said aperture. 
     
     
         16 . The vending container and toy combination of  claim 10 , further comprising at least a fourth toy figure component disposed within said spherical capsule, wherein said fourth toy figure component includes a mating member having a shank and stepped neck, said stepped neck having a head portion where said head portion has a cross sectional dimension larger than a diameter of a fourth of said apertures and said shank has a cross sectional dimension substantially corresponding to a diameter of a fourth of said apertures where the shank is aligned to be received in said aperture. 
     
     
         17 . The vending container and toy combination of  claim 10 , wherein said spherical capsule emulates a head of a humanoid or animal. 
     
     
         18 . The vending container and toy combination of  claim 10 , wherein said spherical capsule emulates a body part of a humanoid or animal. 
     
     
         19 . The vending container and toy combination of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one toy figure component emulates a head of a humanoid or animal. 
     
     
         20 . The vending container and toy combination of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one toy figure component emulates a body part of a humanoid or animal. 
     
     
         21 . The vending container and toy combination of  claim 10 , wherein said spherical capsule is capable of rotating with respect to said at least one toy figure component when said toy figure component is engaged with said mating member.