Folding card toys

Abstract

The invention provides three-dimensional folding toys constructed from planar sheets as well as kits having material and instructions for creating such toys.

1 . A three-dimensional folding toy, the toy comprising a structure formed from a semi-rigid planar sheet;
 wherein the planar sheet is substantially bilaterally symmetrical;   wherein the sheet comprises one or more cuts, which cuts do not extend across the entire sheet, and which cuts do not entirely isolate any portion of the sheet; and, wherein the one or more cuts form one or more appendages from the sheet, which appendages can fold from the geometric plane of the sheet and optionally interact with the cuts and/or the appendages thereby forming a three-dimensional structure.   
     
     
         2 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the planar sheet comprises at least two cuts which are bilaterally symmetrical in regard to the sheet. 
     
     
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         12 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the planar sheet comprises a top edge, a bottom edge, a left edge, and a right edge, wherein an axis of symmetry runs from the top edge to the bottom edge;
 at least a first pair of body cuts running generally parallel to the axis, defining a body region therebetween;   at least a first pair of appendage cuts located in the sheet which run generally parallel with the axis in at least one or more portions of the cuts, thereby forming at least a first pair of appendages; and,   at least a second pair of appendage cuts located in the sheet which run generally parallel with the axis in at least one or more portions of the cuts, thereby forming at least a second pair of appendages;   wherein the paired cuts are symmetrical with each other across the axis of symmetry.   
     
     
         13 . The toy of  claim 12 , wherein the first appendage cuts and the second appendage cuts create appendages along the left and right edges of the sheet. 
     
     
         14 . The toy of  claim 12 , wherein first and/or the second appendage cuts are the same cuts as the body cuts. 
     
     
         15 . The toy of  claim 12 , wherein the first and/or the second appendage cuts comprise one or more sections that are generally perpendicular to the axis of symmetry. 
     
     
         16 . The toy of  claim 15 , wherein the first and/or the second appendage cuts comprise at least a second section that is generally parallel to the axis of symmetry. 
     
     
         17 . The toy of  claim 12 , wherein the first and/or second appendage cuts form one or more third appendages. 
     
     
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         20 . A three-dimensional folding toy, the toy comprising a bilaterally symmetrical sheet comprising a top edge, a bottom edge, a left edge, and a right edge, wherein an axis of symmetry runs from the top edge to the bottom edge;
 at least a first pair of body cuts located in the sheet and which run generally parallel to the axis, defining a body region therebetween;   at least a first pair of appendage cuts located in the sheet which run generally parallel with the axis in at least one or more portions of the cuts, thereby forming at least a first pair of appendages; and,   at least a second pair of appendage cuts located in the sheet which run generally parallel with the axis in at least one or more portions of the cuts, thereby forming at least a second pair of appendages; and,   wherein the paired cuts are symmetrical with each other across the axis of symmetry.   
     
     
         21 . The toy of  claim 20 , wherein the first appendage cuts and the second appendage cuts create appendages along the left and right edges of the sheet. 
     
     
         22 . The toy of  claim 20 , wherein the first and/or the second appendage cuts are the same cuts as the body cuts. 
     
     
         23 . The toy of  claim 20 , wherein the first and/or the second appendage cuts comprise one or more sections that are generally perpendicular to the axis of symmetry. 
     
     
         24 . The toy of  claim 20 , wherein the first and/or the second appendage cuts comprise at least a second section that is generally parallel to the axis of symmetry. 
     
     
         25 . The toy of  claim 20 , wherein the first and/or second appendage cuts form one or more third appendages. 
     
     
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         40 . A three-dimensional folding toy, the toy comprising:
 a bilaterally symmetrical sheet comprising a top end (up on the sheet), a bottom end (down on the sheet), a left side and a right side, wherein an axis of symmetry runs from the top end to the bottom end;   a pair of body cuts running generally parallel to the axis, defining a body region therebetween;   a pair of top cuts located in a top half of the sheet and running out laterally then turning more downward, wherein the top cuts do not directly intersect body cuts; and,   a pair of bottom cuts originating at the bottoms of the body cuts, running out laterally then turning more upward;   wherein the paired cuts are symmetrical with each other across the axis of symmetry.   
     
     
         41 . The toy of  claim 40 , wherein the top cuts running down and the bottom cuts running up define top and bottom appendage regions respectively between the cuts and respective left and right edges of the sheet. 
     
     
         42 . The toy of  claim 40 , wherein the bottom of the top cuts or top of the bottom cuts turn laterally to intersect the left and right edges. 
     
     
         43 . The toy of  claim 40 , wherein the bottom end of the top cuts terminates at a bottom cutor the card edge; or wherein the top end of the bottom cuts terminates at a top cutor the sheet edge. 
     
     
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