Posable Toy and Method of Interconnection

Abstract

A toy with a frame assembly having a plurality of frame members each having a gear and centering aperture. Each gear has a plurality of rounded tetrahedral teeth. A flexible fastener connects the first and second frame members together with their gears in alignment with one another. The flexible fastener applies a force to the first and second gears to releasably engage said first and second gears with one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toy comprising:
 a frame assembly for posing, opening and closing said toy said frame, said frame assembly comprising:   a plurality of frame portions of a suitable material, geometry and configuration to support outer materials and assembly of outer materials to said frame portion for said toy, each of said frame portions having alignment aperture and a gear feature comprising a plurality of gear teeth configured radially outward from said alignment aperture, wherein two or more said frame portions are placed adjacent one another with their respective alignment apertures aligned and gear portions overlapping; and   a flexible fastener thru said alignment apertures to join the two or more said frame portions together, wherein said flexible fastener applies pressure to said overlapping gears.   
     
     
         2 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein each said gear comprises a plurality of teeth designed in a rounded edge tetrahedral configuration such that a mating gear of an opposing frame portion, also of a rounded edge tetrahedral configuration, allows for a controlled gear engagement and disengagement. 
     
     
         3 . A toy according to  claim 1  wherein said rounded edge, radial tetrahedral gear define a number of discrete positions for posing said toy. 
     
     
         4 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said rounded edge, radial tetrahedral gear teeth are reduced to a textured surface to almost smooth providing near-continuous of said toy. 
     
     
         5 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of fame portions are formed from polycarbonate materials. 
     
     
         6 . A toy comprising:
 a frame comprising:
 a first frame member having first and second ends, said first and second ends each having a gear; 
 a second frame member having first and second ends, said first and second ends each having a gear; 
 a third frame member having first and second ends, said first and second ends each having a gear, wherein said first end of said third frame member is connected to said first end of said first frame member in an overlapping fashion such that mating gears mesh, held in place by use of a flexible fastener, and said second end of said third frame member is connected to said first end of said second frame member in an over lapping fashion such that gears mesh, held in place by use of a flexible fastener; and 
 a fourth frame member having first and second ends, said first and second ends each having a gear, wherein said first end of said fourth frame member is connected to said second end of said first frame member in an overlapping fashion such that mating gears mesh, held in place by use of a flexible fastener, and said second end of said fourth frame member is connected to said second end of said second frame member in an overlapping fashion such that mating gears mesh, held in place by use of an overlapping fastener; 
 wherein each of said gears of said third and fourth frame members opposes a gear of one of said first and second frame members; 
 wherein said first and second frame members are movable toward and away from one another and said gears engage and then disengage, by the travel allowance and constant tension applied by a flexible fastener, said first and second frame members in a plurality of different positions. 
   
     
     
         7 . A toy according to  claim 6  wherein said mating gears require a force of 2-3 pounds to disengage. 
     
     
         8 . A toy comprising:
 a frame assembly comprising:
 a first frame member having a first gear and an aperture, said first gear comprising a plurality of rounded tetrahedral teeth; 
 a second frame member having a second gear and an aperture, said second gear comprising a plurality of rounded tetrahedral teeth; and 
 a flexible fastener for connecting said first and second frame members together with said first gear and said second gear in alignment with one another, wherein said fastener applies a force to said first and second gears to releasably engage said first and second gears with one another. 
   
     
     
         9 . A toy according to  claim 8  wherein said second frame members has two gears having rounded tetrahedral teeth and two apertures and said toy further comprises:
 a third frame member having a third gear and an aperture, said third gear comprising a plurality of rounded tetrahedral teeth; and 
 a second flexible fastener for connecting said second and third frame members together with said third gear in alignment with one of said two gears of said second frame member, wherein said flexible fastener applies a force to said aligned gears to releasably engage said gears with one another.