Toys with pivotal members

Abstract

Toys according to the present disclosure include a body, at least one pivotal member that is coupled to the body and biased toward a first position from a second position, and a user release mechanism configured to release the at least one pivotal member from the second position to the first position. In some embodiments, the toys include more than one pivotal member. In some embodiments, a pivotal member is configured to resemble different elements of the toy when in the first position than when in the second position.

1 . A toy, comprising:
 a body having a front end region and a rear end region;   a first pivotal member coupled to the body and configured to pivot relative to the body about a first axis between a forward first-pivotal-member position, in which the first pivotal member generally extends away from the rear end region of the body and at least partially overlaps the body, and a rearward first-pivotal-member position, in which the first pivotal member generally extends away from the front end region of the body; wherein the first pivotal member is biased toward the forward first-pivotal-member position; and wherein the body and the first pivotal member collectively define a first retaining structure configured to selectively retain the first pivotal member in the rearward first-pivotal-member position;   a second pivotal member coupled to the body and configured to pivot relative to the body about a second axis between a forward second-pivotal-member position, in which the second pivotal member generally extends away from the rear end region of the body and at least partially overlaps the body, and a rearward second-pivotal-member position, in which the second pivotal member generally extends away from the front end region of the body; wherein the second pivotal member is biased toward the forward second-pivotal-member position; and wherein the body and the second pivotal member collectively define a second retaining structure configured to selectively retain the second pivotal member in the rearward second-pivotal-member position; and   a user release mechanism configured to receive user input for selective release of the first retaining structure and the second retaining structure and thus for selective release of the first pivotal member from the rearward first-pivotal-member position to the forward first-pivotal-member position and the second pivotal member from the rearward second-pivotal-member position to the forward second-pivotal-member position.   
     
     
         2 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the second axis is not parallel to the first axis. 
     
     
         3 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the second axis is parallel to the first axis. 
     
     
         4 . The toy  claim 1 , wherein the first pivotal member and the second pivotal member are coupled to each other and removably coupled to the body as a single unit. 
     
     
         5 . The toy of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third pivotal member coupled to the body and configured to pivot relative to the body about a third axis between a forward third-pivotal-member position, in which the third pivotal member generally extends away from the rear end region of the body and at least partially overlaps the body, and a rearward third-pivotal-member position, in which the third pivotal member generally extends away from the front end region of the body; wherein the third pivotal member is biased toward the forward third-pivotal-member position; and wherein the body and the third pivotal member collectively define a third retaining structure configured to selectively retain the third pivotal member in the rearward third-pivotal-member position;   wherein the user release mechanism is further configured to receive user input for selective release of the third retaining structure and thus for selective release of the third pivotal member from the rearward third-pivotal-member position to the forward third-pivotal-member position.   
     
     
         6 . The toy of  claim 5 , wherein the third axis is parallel to the first axis. 
     
     
         7 . The toy of  claim 5 , wherein the third axis is not parallel to the first axis. 
     
     
         8 . The toy of  claim 5 , wherein the first pivotal member, the second pivotal member, and the third pivotal member are coupled to each other and are removably coupled to the body as a single unit. 
     
     
         9 . The toy of  claim 5 , wherein the second pivotal member and the third pivotal member are configured to respectively overlap opposed sides of the body when in the forward second-pivotal member position and the forward third-pivotal-member position, respectively. 
     
     
         10 . The toy of  claim 5 , wherein the user release mechanism includes an actuator that is configured to be selectively depressed by a user to release the first retaining structure, the second retaining structure, and the third retaining structure. 
     
     
         11 . The toy of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator is coupled to the first pivotal member, wherein the user release mechanism is configured to release the second retaining structure and the third retaining structure upon depression of the actuator by the user, and wherein the user release mechanism is further configured to release the first retaining structure upon release of the actuator by the user. 
     
     
         12 . The toy of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an extending structure coupled to the body;   wherein the first pivotal member defines a passage;   wherein the extending structure extends at least partially through the passage when the first pivotal member is in the forward first-pivotal-member position and does not extend through the passage when the first pivotal member is in the rearward first-pivotal-member position.   
     
     
         13 . The toy of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an action figure coupled to the body, wherein the action figure includes a head, and further wherein the extending structure includes at least a portion of the head of the action figure.   
     
     
         14 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the body is a toy vehicle body. 
     
     
         15 . The toy of  claim 14 , wherein the toy vehicle body includes a plurality of wheels, and further wherein the plurality of wheels includes a front wheel positioned at the front end region and a rear wheel positioned at the rear end region. 
     
     
         16 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the first pivotal member includes structure configured to resemble a propulsion mechanism when the first pivotal member is in the rearward first-pivotal-member position and further configured to resemble a weapon when the first pivotal member is in the forward first-pivotal-member position. 
     
     
         17 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the first pivotal member includes structure configured to resemble an aerodynamic stabilizer when the first pivotal member is in the rearward first-pivotal-member position and further configured to resemble an armor panel when the first pivotal member is in the forward first-pivotal-member position. 
     
     
         18 . The toy of  claim 17 , wherein the second pivotal member is configured to resemble an aerodynamic stabilizer when the second pivotal member is in the rearward second-pivotal-member position and an armor panel when the second pivotal member is in the forward second-pivotal-member position. 
     
     
         19 . A toy vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle body;   a pivotal member coupled to the vehicle body and configured to pivot relative to the vehicle body between a first position and a second position; wherein the pivotal member is biased toward the first position; wherein the pivotal member is configured to resemble a propulsion mechanism when the pivotal member is in one of the first position and the second position; wherein the pivotal member is configured to resemble a weapon when the pivotal member is in the other of the first position and the second position; and wherein the vehicle body and the pivotal member collectively define a retaining structure configured to selectively retain the pivotal member in the second position; and   a user release mechanism configured to receive user input for selective release of the retaining structure and thus for selective release of the pivotal member from the second position to the first position.   
     
     
         20 . A toy vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle body;   a pivotal member coupled to the vehicle body and configured to pivot relative to the vehicle body between a first position and a second position; wherein the pivotal member is biased toward the first position; wherein the pivotal member is configured to resemble an aerodynamic stabilizer when the pivotal member is in one of the first position and the second position; wherein the pivotal member is configured to resemble an armor panel when the pivotal member is in the other of the first position and the second position; and wherein the vehicle body and the pivotal member collectively define a retaining structure configured to selectively retain the pivotal member in the second position; and   a user release mechanism configured to receive user input for selective release of the retaining structure and thus for selective release of the pivotal member from the second position to the first position.