Toy article and neck connector therefor

Claim 2

A toy figure, comprising a body formed of a flexible clothlike material and having a filler material disposed therein, the cloth--like material of said body having an open-ended tubular neck portion formed on an end thereof that generally defines the neck area of said toy figure, a neck connector including a lower adaptor that extends through said tubular neck portion and into said filler material in said body and an upper adaptor that is separable from said lower adaptor and that interfits therewith for capturing the tubular neck portion of said body therebetween, wherein said neck connector is secured to said body, and a head portion secured to said upper adaptor above said body and defining the head of said toy figure, one of said adaptors having a socket formed therein and the other adaptor being received in said socket, a portion of the tubular neck portion of said body being foldable into said socket, wherein the interfitting of said adaptors captures said tubular neck portion therebetween.

Claim 3

A toy figure as set forth in claim 1, said lower adaptor having the socket formed therein and said upper adaptor having a cylindrical configuration that is receivable in said socket, and means in said socket for locking said upper adaptor to said lower adaptor.

Claim 4

A toy figure as set forth in claim 2, the lower adaptor further including an extension that projects into said filler material and is embedded therein, thereby anchoring said neck connector in said body in a relatively stable position.

Claim 5

A toy figure as set forth in claim 1, said upper adaptor having an annular flange formed thereon that is spaced from the upper edge of the lower adaptor to define an annular groove when the adaptors are interfitted, said head portion having an annular flange formed on the lower end thereof that is snapable into the annular groove to mount the head portion on said upper adaptor in rotatable relation thereon.

Claim 6

A toy figure as set forth in claim 4, said lower adaptor having a socket formed therein and said upper adaptor having a cylindrical configuration that is receivable in said socket in locking relation, said lower adaptor further including a lower extension that is receivable in said filler material in embedded relation to stabilize the position of said neck connector with respect to said body.

Claim 7

A toy figure as set forth in claim 4, said lower adaptor having a socket formed therein and said upper adaptor having a cylindrical configuration that is receivable in said socket, and a fastener extending through a lower wall of said upper adaptor into said lower adaptor for securing said adaptors in interfitting relation.

Claim 8

A toy figure as set forth in claim 4, said upper adaptor having an upper portion joined thereto that extends into the interior of the head portion when said head portion is Mounted on the interfitted adaptors, wherein accidental removal of said head portion from said adaptors is prevented.

Claim 9

A toy figure, comprising a body formed of a flexible cloth-like material and having a filler material disposed therein, the cloth-like material of said body having an open-ended tubular neck portion formed on an end thereof that generally defines the neck area of said toy figure, a neck connector including a lower adaptor that extends through said tubular neck portion and into said filler material in said body and an upper adaptor that is separable from said lower adaptor and that interfits therewith for capturing the tubular neck portion of said body therebetween, wherein said neck connector is secured to said body, and a head portion secured to said upper adaptor above said body and defining the head of said toy figure, one of said adaptors having a socket formed therein and the other adaptor being received in said socket, a portion of the tubular neck portion of said body being foldable into said socket, wherein the interfitting of said adaptors captures said tubular neck portion therebetween, said lower adaptor having the socket formed therein and said upper adaptor having a cylindrical configuration that is receivable in said socket, and means in said socket for locking said upper adaptor to said lower adaptor, said locking means including a projection extending upwardly from the bottom wall of said socket, and an opening formed in the lower wall of said upper adaptor that receives said projection therein in locking relation when said upper adaptor is interfitted in said lower adaptor.

Claim 10

A toy figure, comprising a body formed of a flexible cloth-like material and having a filler material disposed therein, the cloth-like material of said body having an open-ended tubular neck portion formed on an end thereof that generally defines the neck area of said toy figure, a neck connector including a lower adaptor that extends through said tubular neck portion and into said filler material in said body and an upper adaptor that is separable from said lower adaptor and that interfits therewith for capturing the tubular neck portion of said body therebetween, wherein said neck connector is secured to said body, and a head portion secured to said upper adaptor above said body and defining the head of said toy figure, one of said adaptors having a socket formed therein and the other adaptor being received in said socket, a portion of the tubular neck portion of said body being foldable into said socket, wherein the interfitting of said adaptors captures said tubular neck portion therebetween, said lower adaptor having the socket formed therein and said upper adaptor having a cylindrical configuration that is receivable in said socket, and means in said socket for locking said upper adaptor to said lower adaptor, said locking means including a projection extending upwardly from the bottom wall of said socket, and an opening formed in the lower wall of said upper adaptor that receives said projection therein in locking relation when said upper adaptor is interfitted in said lower adaptor.

Claim 11

A toy figure, comprising a body formed of a flexible cloth-like material and having a filler material disposed therein, the cloth-like material of said body having an open-ended tubular neck portion formed on an end thereof that generally defines the neck area of said toy figure, a neck connector including a lower adaptor that extends through said tubular neck portion and into said filler material in said body and an upper adaptor that is separable from said lower adaptor and that interfits therewith for capturing the tubular neck portion of said body therebetween, wherein said neck connector is secured to said body, and a head portion secured to said upper adaptor above said body and defining the head of said toy figure, one of said adaptors having a socket formed therein and the other adaptor being received in said socket, a portion of the tubular neck portion of said body being foldable into said socket, wherein the interfitting of said adaptors captures said tubular neck portion therebetween, one of said adaptors having a plurality of interior grooves formed therein that extend longitudinally thereof, the other of said adaptors having a plurality of corresponding projections formed thereon that extend longitudinally thereof and that are receivable in said grooves, wherein the cloth-like material captured between the interfitting adaptors is firmly secured therebetween.

Claim 12

A toy figure, comprising a body formed of a flexible cloth-like material and having a filler material disposed therein, the cloth-like material of said body having an open-ended tubular neck portion formed on an end thereof that generally defines the neck area of said toy figure, a neck connector including a lower adaptor that extends through said tubular neck portion and into said filler material in said body and an upper adaptor that is separable from said lower adaptor and that interfits therewith for capturing the tubular neck portion of said body therebetween, wherein said neck connector is secured to said body, and a head portion secured to said upper adaptor above said body and defining the head of said toy figure, one of said adaptors having a socket formed therein and the other adaptor being received in said socket, a portion of the tubular neck portion of said body being foldable into said socket, wherein the interfitting of said adaptors captures said tubular neck portion therebetween, one of said adaptors having a plurality of interior grooves formed therein that extend longitudinally thereof, the other of said adaptors having a plurality of corresponding projections formed thereon that extend longitudinally thereof and that are receivable in said grooves, wherein the cloth-like material captured between the interfitting adaptors is firmly secured therebetween.

Claim 13

A toy figure as set forth in claim 9, said lower adaptor having the socket formed therein and the grooves formed on the interior wall of said socket, the upper adaptor having a generally cylindrical configuration in the outer wall of which the projections are formed, the grooves receiving the projections therein when the upper adaptor is interfitted into the lower adaptor.

Claim 14

A toy figure as set forth in claim 10, the lower wall of said socket having a projection extending upwardly therefrom, the lower wall of said upper adaptor having an opening formed therein through which the projection extends when said adaptors are interfitted, said projection having a locking shoulder formed thereon that interlocks the adaptors in the interfitted position thereof.