GB2106404A - Action toy - Google Patents

Abstract

An action toy has primary and secondary three-dimensional character elements detachably mounted in front of a character background to produce an amusing facial characterization on a supporting surface. A gear assembly operated with a crank handle communicates rotation to the primary elements to change the facial expression of the character in an amusing manner. As the primary elements rotate, the secondary elements ride on cams on the primary elements and thereby move up and down in front of the background to provide further amusing animation in the character. The primary elements, the secondary elements and the background are removably attached to the toy so that a child can use various different elements and backgrounds to construct various amusing funny faced characters for animation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Action toy Background and Summary of the Invention The instant invention relates to children's action toys and more particularly to an action toy having a plurality of three-dimensional elements which are movable in front of a background to animate an interesting character in an amusing manner.

Previously known action toys which have incorporated one or more movable facial elements or the like have heretofore been available in the general field of children's action toys and amusement devices and in this regard particular reference is made to the U.S. patents to ROESCHER, No. 559,609; HOYT, No. 857,057; LAUREAU et al., No. 2,476,742; SALKIND, No.

2,677,215; KNOTT, No.2,728,167; ROSENFELD, No. 3,193,969; KATZ et al., No. 3,287,848; JANISZEWSKI, No. 3,417,996; and FORSMAN, No. 3,829,821 as representing the closest prior art of which applicants are aware. The majority of the devices disclosed in the above patents incorporate movable facial elements which may be mechanicaliy manipulated to alter the expressions on a human or animal face.

The instant invention similarly includes movable facial elements which may be mechanically manipulated to alter the expressions on the face of an amusing character. However, in contrast to the previously known action toys of this type, the toy of the instant invention incorporates a plurality of interchangeable facial elements which are removably attached to the toy in front of a facial background on a supporting surface. Both primary and secondary threedimensional elements are provided being animated by means of a crank handle on the toy.

Upon rotation of the handle, a gear drive assembly rotates the primary elements in front of the background while the secondary elements ride on cam members on the primary elements traveling up and down in front of the background. Various interchangeable primary elements, secondary elements and backgrounds are provided to allow a child to make various interesting and amusing faces with the toy which are animated as the crank handle is turned. By providing a plurality of interchangeable elements and backgrounds which may be removably attached to the toy, the instant invention represents a novel approach to action toys which provides a source of amusement for children both in the construction of various characters and in their subsequent animation.The device herein disclosed therefore represents a significant development in the art of children's toys and represents a substantial departure from those toys heretofore available. In addition to providing a plurality of different types of threedimensional elements which cooperate in animation as a group in different types of movement, the toy of the instant invention incorporates novel structure in providing an interesting and amusing child's action toy which also represents a further improvement in the art.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

Description of the Drawings In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the base portion of the action toy of the instant invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the toy including a facial background and facial elements; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the eye and eyebrow elements of the device illustrated in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the elements illustrated in Fig. 5; and Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view taken along line 8-8 in Fig. 3.

Description of the Invention Referring now to the drawings, the action toy of the instant invention is illustrated in Fig. 2 at 10 and comprises generally a base portion 1 2 having a substantially flat supporting surface 14 on which a facial background 1 6 is detachably mounted with corner mounting brackets 1 7. A plurality of rotatable shafts 1 8 extend through the surface 1 4 and through aligned apertures in the background 1 6 for mounting primary three-dimensional elements having visual characteristics such as eyes 20, ears 21, a nose 22 and a mouth 23 on the toy 10 in front of the background 1 6.

Secondary three-dimensional elements such as a mustache 24, eyebrows 25 and a hat 26 are mounted on the primary elements moving up and down in front of the background 1 6 as the primary elements are rotated. A crank handle 28 communicates with the shafts 1 8 to rotate the primary elements 20, 21,22 and 23 in front of the background 1 6 to thereby change the facial expressions of the character created on the toy 10 in an amusing and interesting manner.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 , the base 12 which is preferably formed of a suitably rigid molded plastic, defines a split housing comprising a front section 30, a rear section 32 and a support section 34. The front section 30 defines the substantially flat support surface 14 and the support section 34 extends integrally rearwardly from the rear section 32 to position the base 12 with the surface 14 at an inclination of approximately 45 degree. A compartment door 36 having a latch 38 covers an opening 40 in the front section 30 and is hingedly attached to the rear section 34 as at 42 to provide access to the interior of the base 12 where the primary and secondary elements may be contained for storage and carrying. A handle 44 provides a convenient means for carrying the toy 1 0.

The internal gearing mechanism which communicates rotation to the shafts 1 8 from the handle 28 is illustrated most clearly in Figs. 3 and 7. As will be seen, the handle 28 is attached to a drive shaft 48 which is preferably molded of a rigid plastic material and has a bevel gear 50 integrally attached to the end thereof. The bevel gear 50 communicates with a main drive gear 52 which communicates with a plurality of intermeshing primary and smaller secondary spur gears 54 and 56 disposed within the base 12 substantially parallel to the surface 14 and adjacently therebehind. The shafts 1 8 extend coaxially from the gears 54 and 56 and through the surface 14 at spaced locations, as shown, to rotate the primary elements 20, 21,22 and 23.As will be seen, the shafts 1 8 are oriented on the surface 14 so that they are suitably positioned to receive various primary elements which comprise three dimensional facial elements to adapt the toy 10 for forming interesting character faces on the surface 14. The gears 54 and 56 form a conventional intermeshing network of gears which operates to rotate some of the shafts 1 8 clockwise while rotating others counter clockwise, it being understood, however, that various other suitable gearing arrangements are possible for this purpose.

The mounting of the gears 54 and 56 is particularly illustrated in Fig. 5. As will be seen, each of the gears 54 and 56 includes a forwardly extending hub 58 which abuts a hub 60 extending rearwardly from the front section 30 of the base 12. The shafts 18 extend through the hubs 58 and 60, having slightly tapered socket-like openings 62 which communicate with the front surface 14 to rotate the primary elements 20, 21, 22 and 23.

Rear shafts 64 extend rearwardly from each of the gears 54 and 56, being received in hubs (not shown) on a gear retainer panel 66 which is substantially parallel to the surface 14 and disposed within the base 12 to the rear of the gears 54 and 56. The gear retainer panel 66 is retained in position by suitable means such as a screw 68 which extends into a threaded tubular sleeve 70 on the rear side of the front section 30.

A resilient thin walled beam 72 may be integrally molded in the panel 66 engaging one of the gears 54 as at 74 upon rotation thereof to produce a clicking noisemaker sound as the handle 28 is rotated.

As noted, the primary three-dimensional elements 20, 21, 22 and 23 rotate in front of the background 1 6 upon rotation of the handle 28. In the preferred embodiment, various other threedimensional elements (not shown) are also available so that a child may construct various interesting characters with the toy 10.

Accordingly, it is essential that the primary elements be easily attached to and removable from the shafts 1 8. For this reason tapered shafts 76 which are receivable in frictional engagement in the socket openings 62, extend rearwardly from each of the elements 20, 21, 22 and 23 to effect their attachment in front of the background 1 6.

This allows a child to make different characters with the toy simply by "plugging" new threedimensional elements into the openings 62.

Also extending rearwardly from the primary facial elements 20, 21, 22 and 23 are circular cam members 78 which are axially offset from the shafts 76 as shown in Fig. 5. The cam members 78 provide means for effecting reciprocal movement of the secondary elements 24, 25 and 26 in front of the background 16 on the toy 10 when the handle 28 is rotated. As may be seen particularly from Figs. 5 and 6, each of the secondary elements such as the eyebrows 25 is mounted in front of the surface 14 with a bracket 80 including a rear plate 82 which is substantially parallel to its respective secondary element. Each of the plates 82 includes a pair of substantially parallel spaced slots 84 which define center posts 86 thereon.Corresponding pairs of spaced pins 88 are provided on the surface 14 adjacent to each of the shafts 1 8 for mounting the secondary elements 24, 25 and 26 with a pin 88 being receivable in each slot 84. With the secondary elements 24, 25 and 26 positioned in this manner, the posts 86 thereof engage the cam members 78 of adjacent primary elements and the secondary elements ride up and down on the cam members 78 as the primary elements rotate to move them in an interesting manner in front of the background 1 6. This up and down motion is further effected by the inclination of the surface 14 which provides gravitational biasing of the various posts 86 to the cams 78.

It is seen therefore that the toy 10 provides an effective child's action toy which can capture the attention of a small child with a variety of interesting animated characters. Various interchangeable background cards may be mounted on the surface 14 so that different characters can be developed; and as the crank 28 is turned, the elements of the different characters move in an interesting and amusing manner. Any number of different characters can be developed with the toy 10 so that a child can find further amusement in developing odd and different funny faced characters.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. An action toy comprising: a. a base having a substantially flat support surface with a plurality of apertures therethrough; b. means providing a background for an animated characterization on said surface; c. shaft means extending through said apertures; d. handle means rotatably mounted on said base; e. gear means mounted on said base communicating rotation of said handle means to said shaft means; f. a plurality of primary three-dimensional character elements; and g. means detachably mounting a desired combination of said elements on said shaft means with said elements in front of said background means to provide a characterization on said surface whereby when said handle means is rotated, said elements rotate to animate said characterization.

2. In the toy of claim 1, said background means comprising: a. a printed card having a background thereon and a plurality of apertures therethrough; and b. means detachably mounting said card overlaying said surface with said card apertures communicating with at least a portion of said shaft means.

3. In the toy of claim 1, said detachable element mounting means comprising: a. socket means on the ends of said shaft means; b. pin means extending rearwardly from each of said primary elements received in frictional engagement in said socket means to detachably secure said primary elements to said shafts in front of said background means.

4. The toy of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of said cards which are interchangeable to provide different backgrounds on said surface.

5. In the toy of claim 1, said surface being at least slightly inclined, said toy further comprising: a. cam means extending rearwardly from said primary elements adjacent to said pin means; b. a plurality of secondary three-dimensional elements; c. means slidably mounting a desired combination of said secondary elements in gravitationally biased engagement with said cam means so that as said primary elements are rotated said secondary elements ride on said cam means sliding up and down in front of said background means.

6. In the toy of claim 5, said slidable mounting means comprising: a. a plurality of pins which extend outwardly from said surface in spaced pairs which are adjacent to at least a portion of the apertures therein; b. a plate attached to the rear of each of said secondary elements, each of said plates having a pair of spaced open slots which define a central post thereon, said desired combination of secondary elements being mounted on said surface with each of the plates thereof between a different primary element and said surface with said pairs of pins in said pairs of slots, said secondary elements, said pins and said slots being positioned so that said posts engage the cam means of the adjacent primary elements to effect said up and down movement.

7. In the toy of claim 1, said base defining a closed housing having an access opening therein whereby said base may be used for storing said primary elements.

8. In the toy of claim 5, said base defining a closed housing having an access opening therein whereby said base may be used for storing said primary and secondary elements.

9. An action toy constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.