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01-27-2019, 08:22 PM | #3611 |
Get me the PLASMATOX
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Tokyo Disney Sea
Posts: 35
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wrong threas
Last edited by HCC788isCOOL; 01-27-2019 at 08:25 PM.. |
01-28-2019, 09:22 AM | #3612 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,025
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I'm interested in the slight variances to how each company builds their figures. I wonder if the actual mechanics of the figure factors into the patent of the action figures, kind of like Hasbro's original (accidental) reverse thumbnail on the 12" G.I. Joe?
Two suggestions I've thought of for the actual "build" of a highly-articulated action figure are swivel-ball joint shoulders and hands. In other words, you still have the swivel articulation in the shoulder and hand, but where the pieces snap into the torso and arm is a ball joint instead of the flat mushroom (MTF) or arrow peg (Boss Fights). Seems to me the tool & die aspects of the actual figures mechanics would be the same of what MTF and Boss Fight already produce. Plus, I think the added ball joint articulation would give the action figures some nice subtle features. Jason |
01-28-2019, 10:02 AM | #3613 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Hope, ME
Posts: 4,732
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Quote:
But the actual mechanics of how the figure fits together and moves (functionality) would be covered by a utility patent. Design patents are for ornamental aspects of objects that are not purely utilitarian (like the shape of a Coca-Cola bottle).
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01-28-2019, 11:14 AM | #3614 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,442
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Quote:
Two suggestions I've thought of for the actual "build" of a highly-articulated action figure are swivel-ball joint shoulders and hands. In other words, you still have the swivel articulation in the shoulder and hand, but where the pieces snap into the torso and arm is a ball joint instead of the flat mushroom (MTF) or arrow peg (Boss Fights).
Microman 2006 Series - Micro Action Series Superman |
01-28-2019, 12:24 PM | #3615 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,025
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Quote:
Sounds like what Takara did more than a decade ago in the MicroForce line:
Microman 2006 Series - Micro Action Series Superman What I'm talking about is at the torso shoulder joint and the arm wrist joint, you have a socket as you do on head sculpts where they snap to the neck post or MTF torsos where they snap to the waist peg. So, with the arms and hands, you would still have that swivel articulation, which allows the shoulders and hands to move up and down. But where the arm and hands snap into the torso and forearm, instead of a T-shape mushroom as with MTF & Hasbro or the arrow/plug as with MTF/Star Wars/others, you have a ball (like a neck peg) that snaps into the socket. I may draw a picture of what I'm talking about. I think the design would be the same cost in tool & dye as what the companies already offer. However, I think the ball-joint design would give better articulation and probably be even easier for articulation. Depending on the thickness of the forearms, a ball-joint wrist "might" pose an issue, but given that companies don't any issues with swivel-rotation articulation, I don't see where this will be a problem. Anyway, it's just a suggestion that I'm surprised no company has thought about yet. Jason |
01-28-2019, 12:36 PM | #3616 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,025
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Maybe this quick drawing will better illustrate what I’m talking about. I’m just surprised with the range of articulation added with the ball-joints that some company hasn’t tied using this for shoulder and wrist (maybe even knees).
Jason
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http://www.hisstank.com/forum/buy-se...-feedback.html https://gijoerevisited2.blogspot.com/ Last edited by jlw515; 07-02-2021 at 08:40 AM.. |
01-28-2019, 12:47 PM | #3617 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,025
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Quote:
Largely depends on what you're talking about. Generally speaking, I doubt there's enough unique in the EF figures to qualify for a design patent; there's definitely nothing there that would qualify for a utility patent.
But the actual mechanics of how the figure fits together and moves (functionality) would be covered by a utility patent. Design patents are for ornamental aspects of objects that are not purely utilitarian (like the shape of a Coca-Cola bottle). His design was basically a snap-together version of the cardboard "holder" that comes with Purdy or other brand paint brushes. I was amazed that there were actually designs similar to his which pre-dated latex paint. Long story short, he obtained a patent (so he said) because his design was made from plastic (not metal like the early pre-latex paint designs) and other nuanced (snap-together features). So, I didn't know if that even played a part into action figure designs. Personally, I think MTF has pretty much the (almost) perfect action figure design for customizing. Boss Fights is really nice, but I don't care as much for the chest (Hasbro-like) articulation as I do the MTF torso design. So, knowing Marauder's success, if I wanted to design an action figure line, I'd look at something that was compatible to their design. Unless of course, the design/mechanics of the actual action figure are tied into the patent owned by the company. I may be over thinking all of this! LOL! Jason |
01-28-2019, 12:52 PM | #3618 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Hope, ME
Posts: 4,732
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Quote:
About 25 years ago, I worked for a paint contractor who designed a brush holder. This was before the days of the internet, and he paid me to do patent search for him on this product through the State library. If memory serves me correct, you could/can patent similar products based on quirky design features, (talking in terms of action figures now) such as "ball-joint neck post" to "double-ball joint neck post" or even what material the product was made from.
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01-28-2019, 11:47 PM | #3619 |
Cobra Viper
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 304
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That's our hope! We're hoping the new project manager can get this all figured out once Chinese New Year is over.
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01-29-2019, 12:34 AM | #3620 |
LNC Commander
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Sbartek's Guest Room
Posts: 24,536
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When I was a kid there was a commercial on tv that said “ancient Chinese secret”. Just wondering if that is what Chinese New Year is.
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