Extensible quick configuration-changing toy

Claim 2

A configuration-changing toy comprising: a pair of housing members, each having first and second end portions, said housing members pivotally coupled to each other at said first end portions thereof, and said housing members having concave surfaces facing each other to form a hollow housing which can be opened and closed when said housing members are pivoted apart and together, respectively; a receivable apparatus comprising at least two substantially rigid movable members pivotally coupled to each other, one of said movable members being pivotally coupled to one of said housing members adjacent the second end thereof and movable between a first position wherein said one movable member is within said hollow housing while it is closed and with said other movable member hinged to lie therealong and extend toward said second end portions of said housing, and a second position wherein said first movable member extends outwardly of said housing past said second end portions thereof with said other movable member extending outwardly in generally aligned relation to said one movable member with said housing closed; and spring means secured to two of said members for urging said apparatus to move from one said position, wherein said spring means is stressed, toward the other of said positions.

Claim 3

The toy described in claim 1 wherein: said spring means includes an elongated elastic member which, when said receivable apparatus is in said second position, extends tautly in a path that leads from one of said housing members past said one movable member and thence to said other movable member.

Claim 4

The toy described in claim 1 wherein: at least one of said movable members includes a stop to prevent folding of said movable members on one another in a predetermined direction; and said elastic means includes an elongated elastic member which, when said apparatus is in said second position, extends from one of said housing members along said first movable member and to said second movable member, in a path that applies tension to urge said members to fold in said predetermined direction and urges said first movable member to pivot to a position within said housing apparatus.

Claim 5

The toy described in claim 3 including: stop means mounted on said one movable member and one of said housing members to engage and disengage when said housing is closed and opened, respectively, for preventing said one movable member from pivoting into said housing apparatus when it is closed, and allowing it to pivot therein when said housing apparatus is opened.

Claim 6

The toy apparatus described in claim 1 wherein: said receivable apparatus includes a third movable member pivotally coupled to the second end portion of a second of said housing members and pivotally coupled to said one and other movable members.

Claim 7

A gulper toy comprising: a pair of housing members having first ends which are pivotally joined and second ends, said housing members having concave portions facing each other to form a hollow chamber; a receivable apparatus mounted for movement between a first position extending from said chamber and a second position substantially within said chamber; spring means for urging said receivable apparatus to move from said first position toward said second position and for urging said housing members to remain closed on each other; said receivable apparatus including first and second elongated members, said first elongated member pivotally joined at one end to a first of said housing members and said second elongated member pivotally joined to an end of said first elongated member opposite the end which is joined to said first housing member; and including first stop means mounted on at least one of said elongated members to resist relative pivoting thereof in a predetermined direction past a position wherein said elongated members are substantially parallel and in tandem; second stop means mounted on said second housing member for preventing pivoting of said first elongated member in a direction to enter said hollow chamber until said second housing member is pivoted away from said first housing member; and said spring means includes a member which extends between said first housing member and second elongated member and is oriented to urge said elongated members to initially pivot in said predetermined relative direction to hold them locked in said substantially parallel and tandem orientation, and to urge said first elongated member to pivot in a direction to enter said hollow chamber.

Claim 8

A gulper toy comprising: a pair of housing members having first ends which are pivotally joined and second ends, said housing members having concave portions facing each other to form a hollow chamber; a receivable apparatus mounted for movement between a first position extending from said chamber and a second position substantially within said chamber; spring means for urging said receivable apparatus to move from said first position toward said second position and for urging said housing members to remain closed on each other; said receivable apparatus including first and second elongated members, said first elongated member pivotally joined at one end to a first of said housing members and said second elongated member pivotally joined to an end of said first elongated member opposite the end which is joined to said first housing member; and including first stop means mounted on at least one of said elongated members to resist relative pivoting thereof in a predetermined direction past a position wherein said elongated members are substantially parallel and in tandem; second stop means mounted on said second housing member for preventing pivoting of said first elongated member in a direction to enter said hollow chamber until said second housing member is pivoted away from said first housing member; and said spring means includes a member which extends between said first housing member and second elongated member and is oriented to urge said elongated members to initially pivot in said predetermined relative direction to hold them locked in said substantially parallel and tandem orientation, and to urge said first elongated member to pivot in a direction to enter said hollow chamber.

Claim 9

The toy described in claim 6 wherein: said spring means includes a member coupling said housing members to urge them to close.

Claim 10

A pop-up toy comprising: a pair of housing members having first ends which are pivotally joined and second ends, said housing members having concave portions facing each other to form a hollow chamber which can be opened and closed when said housing members are pivoted apart and together, respectively; receivable means for reception and expulsion from said hollow chamber including first and second substantially rigid receivable members, each having first ends pivotally joined to the second end of a different said housing member and second ends, and a third substantially rigid receivable member having a first end portion pivotally joined to said second ends of said first and second receivable members; and an elastic member secured to two of said members and extending between said second ends of said housing members, said elastic member extending over and biased against a portion of said receivable means near said first end portion of said third receivable member to tend to expel it from within said hollow chamber when said receivable means is within said hollow chamber to cause said first and second members to extend from said housing and said third member to extend outwardly from said first and second members in generally aligned relation thereto, when said receivable means is within said housing and said third member lies along at least one of said first and second members and extends toward said second ends of said housing.

Claim 11

A pop-up toy comprising: a pair of housing members having first ends which are pivotally joined and second ends, said housing members having concave portions facing each other to form a hollow chamber which can be opened and closed when said housing members are pivoted apart and together, respectively; receivable means for reception and expulsion from said hollow chamber including first and second substantially rigid receivable members, each having first ends pivotally joined to the second end of a different said housing member and second ends, and a third substantially rigid receivable member having a first end portion pivotally joined to said second ends of said first and second receivable members; and an elastic member secured to two of said members and extending between said second ends of said housing members, said elastic member extending over and biased against a portion of said receivable means near said first end portion of said third receivable member to tend to expel it from within said hollow chamber when said receivable means is within said hollow chamber to cause said first and second members to extend from said housing and said third member to extend outwardly from said first and second members in generally aligned relation thereto, when said receivable means is within said housing and said third member lies along at least one of said first and second members and extends toward said second ends of said housing.

Claim 12

The toy described in claim 8 wherein: said housing members have outer surfaces formed to represent the head of a figure; said first and second receivable members are formed to represent the body of the figure; and said third receivable member is formed to represent an end of said figure opposite the head, whereby to provide a figure whose body can appear to suddenly grow.

Claim 13

The toy described in claim 8 wherein: a majority of said members which form said hollow chamber and receivable means are integral with each other and are formed with regions of reduced thickness defining living hinges where the members are pivotally coupled to one another.

Claim 14

A pop-up toy comprising: a pair of housing members having first ends which are pivotally joined and second ends, said housing members having concave portions facing each other to form a hollow chamber which can be opened and closed when said housing members are pivoted apart and together, respectively; receivable means for reception and expulsion from said hollow chamber including first and second substantially rigid receivable members, each having a first enD pivotally joined to the second end of a different said housing member and a second end; a third substantially rigid receivable member having a first end portion pivotally joined to said second ends of said first and second receivable members; and an elastic member secured to two of said members and extending between said first and second receivable members in a path that extends across said third receivable member and arranged to expel said receivable means from said housing to cause said first and second members to extend from said housing and said third member to extend outwardly from said first and second members in generally aligned relation thereto, when said receivable means is within said housing said third member lies along at least one of said first and second members and extends toward said second ends of said housing.

Claim 15

A pop-up toy comprising: a pair of housing members having first ends which are pivotally joined and second ends, said housing members having concave portions facing each other to form a hollow chamber which can be opened and closed when said housing members are pivoted apart and together, respectively; receivable means for reception and expulsion from said hollow chamber including first and second substantially rigid receivable members, each having a first enD pivotally joined to the second end of a different said housing member and a second end; a third substantially rigid receivable member having a first end portion pivotally joined to said second ends of said first and second receivable members; and an elastic member secured to two of said members and extending between said first and second receivable members in a path that extends across said third receivable member and arranged to expel said receivable means from said housing to cause said first and second members to extend from said housing and said third member to extend outwardly from said first and second members in generally aligned relation thereto, when said receivable means is within said housing said third member lies along at least one of said first and second members and extends toward said second ends of said housing.

Claim 16

The toy described in claim 11 wherein: said third receivable member has a hollow portion; and said elastic member extends in a path that leads into and out of said hollow portion.