Toy with moveable component

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to toys that have a pixel-like appearance, giving the impression of having been generated by a computer. Embodiments of these toys can have the shape of a character, an animal, an object such as a vehicle or a bridge, a building, or the like. The embodiments are free-standing, and do so without being attached to a support platform. A toy configured as a character has a moveable head, and can have two arms, one or both of which are moveable. The head is rotatable and removable, and the heads of different toys are interchangeable. Embodiments can be distributed individually, or a group can be bundled as either a play set or collection. Toys are formed of molded plastic, and include various accessories appropriate to the particular toy. A spaceman character could have an accessory ray-gun that fits within a hand.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A toy having a movable component, the toy comprising:
 a lower portion;   a body portion; and   a head portion;   the lower portion having a bottom region defining legs, and an upper region including an attachment mechanism for attaching the lower portion to the body portion   the body portion having a front, a back and sides connecting the front and the back, the body portion having an upper section, a torso section and a lower section, the upper section including a rod extending therefrom, the torso section including a pair of arm receptacles within the sides, and the lower section including an opening therein;   the head portion having a bottom opening, the bottom opening receiving the rod therein, the head portion being pivotably attached to the body portion;   each portion being divided into a grid-like appearance by a plurality of horizontal and vertical dividers, forming a grid-like appearance resembling the appearance of a computer-generated image.   
     
     
         2 . The toy as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of arm members, the arm members comprising a first end terminating in a hand, and a second end terminating in a pivot pin, and wherein the pivot pin is received in the arm receptacles, the arm members are pivotably attached to the torso region. 
     
     
         3 . The toy as described in  claim 2 , wherein the head portion is removably attached to the body portion. 
     
     
         4 . The toy as described in  claim 3 , wherein the head portion of the toy is interchangeable with the head portion of a second toy. 
     
     
         5 . The toy as described in  claim 2 , wherein the dividers have a depth, and the depth ranges from about 0.01 mm to about 5 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The toy as described in  claim 5 , wherein the depth ranges from about 0.01 mm to about 3 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The toy as described in  claim 6 , wherein the depth ranges from about 0.05 mm to about 2 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The toy as described in  claim 7 , wherein the depth ranges from about 0.05 mm to about 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The toy as described in  claim 2 , wherein the dividers are ridges projecting out from the surface of the toy. 
     
     
         10 . The toy as described in  claim 9 , wherein the ridges have a height, and the height ranges from about 0.01 mm to about 5 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The toy as described in  claim 10 , wherein the ridges height ranges from about 0.01 mm to about 3 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The toy as described in  claim 11 , wherein the ridges height ranges from about 0.05 mm to about 2 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The toy as described in  claim 2 , wherein the body portion further comprises indicia. 
     
     
         14 . The toy as described in  claim 2 , wherein the grid is formed to have a shape chosen from the group consisting of a square and a rectangle. 
     
     
         15 . The toy as described in  claim 2 , wherein the grid is formed to have a shape chosen from the group consisting of a triangle, a circle and an oval. 
     
     
         16 . The toy as described in  claim 2 , wherein the hand is formed to include an opening between the thumb and the other fingers, the opening sized to receive an accessory therein. 
     
     
         17 . The toy as described in  claim 2 , wherein the arm further comprises an elbow. 
     
     
         18 . The toy as described in  claim 17 , wherein the arm further comprises an articulating joint, the joint being positioned at the elbow, enabling movement of the arm at the elbow. 
     
     
         19 . The toy as described in  claim 2 , wherein the leg further comprises a knee. 
     
     
         20 . The toy as described in  claim 19 , wherein the leg further comprises an articulating joint, the joint positioned at the knee, enabling movement of the leg at the knee. 
     
     
         21 . The toy as described in  claim 2 , further comprising an accessory piece that attaches to one or more members selected from the group consisting of the hand, the body, the leg and the head. 
     
     
         22 . The toy as described in  claim 2 , wherein the toy has the appearance of a person, a character, an animal, or an object. 
     
     
         23 . A toy having a movable component, the toy comprising:
 a lower portion;   a body portion; and   a head portion;   the lower portion having a bottom region defining legs, and an upper region including an attachment mechanism for attaching the lower portion to the body portion,   the body portion having a front, a back and sides connecting the front and the back, the body portion having an upper section, a torso section and a lower section, the upper section including a rod extending therefrom, the torso section including a pair of arm receptacles within the sides, and the lower section including an opening therein;   a set of arm members that each comprise a first end terminating in a hand, and a second end terminating in a pivot pin, the pivot pin being received in the arm receptacles, the arm members being pivotably attached to the torso region; the hand comprising a thumb and fingers, an opening between the thumb and the fingers, the opening sized to receive an accessory therein;   the head portion having a bottom opening, the bottom opening receiving the rod therein, the head portion being pivotably and removably attached to the body portion, the head portion of the toy being interchangeable with the head portion of a second toy;   each portion being divided into a grid-like appearance by a plurality of horizontal and vertical dividers, wherein the dividers have a depth that ranges from about 0.01 mm to about 5 mm; and forming a grid-like appearance resembling the appearance of a computer-generated image.   
     
     
         24 . The toy as described in  claim 23 , wherein the arm further comprises an elbow and an articulating joint, the joint being positioned at the elbow, enabling movement of the arm at the elbow. 
     
     
         25 . The toy as described in  claim 23 , wherein the leg further comprises a knee and an articulating joint, the joint positioned at the knee, enabling movement of the leg at the knee. 
     
     
         26 . The toy as described in  claim 23 , wherein the toy has the shape of a person, a character, an animal, or an object. 
     
     
         27 . The toy as described in  claim 23 , wherein the grid is formed to have a shape chosen from the group consisting of a square and a rectangle. 
     
     
         28 . The toy as described in  claim 23 , further comprising indicia. 
     
     
         29 . A toy having a movable component, the toy comprising:
 a lower portion;   a body portion; and   a head portion;   the lower portion having a bottom region defining legs, and an upper region including an attachment mechanism for attaching the lower portion to the body portion;   the body portion having a front, a back and sides connecting the front and the back, the body portion having an upper section, a torso section and a lower section, the upper section including a rod extending therefrom, the torso section including a pair of arm receptacles within the sides, and the lower section including an opening therein;   a set of arm members that each comprise a first end terminating in a hand, and a second end terminating in a pivot pin, the pivot pin being received in the arm receptacles, the arm members being pivotably attached to the torso region; the hand comprising a thumb and fingers, an opening between the thumb and the fingers, the opening sized to receive an accessory therein;   the head portion having a bottom opening, the bottom opening receiving the rod therein, the head portion being pivotably and removably attached to the body portion; the head portion of the toy being interchangeable with the head portion of a second toy;   each portion being divided into a grid-like appearance by a plurality of horizontal and vertical dividers, wherein the dividers project outward from the toy to a height that ranges from about 0.01 mm to about 5 mm; and forming a grid-like appearance resembling the appearance of a computer-generated image.   
     
     
         30 . The toy as described in  claim 29 , wherein the arm further comprises an elbow and an articulating joint, the joint being positioned at the elbow, enabling movement of the arm at the elbow. 
     
     
         31 . The toy as described in  claim 29 , wherein the leg further comprises a knee and an articulating joint, the joint positioned at the knee, enabling movement of the leg at the knee. 
     
     
         32 . The toy as described in  claim 29 , wherein the toy has the shape of a person, a character, an animal, or an object.