EP0116049A1 - Animal propelled toy - Google Patents

Animal propelled toy

Info

Publication number
EP0116049A1
EP0116049A1 EP19830901323 EP83901323A EP0116049A1 EP 0116049 A1 EP0116049 A1 EP 0116049A1 EP 19830901323 EP19830901323 EP 19830901323 EP 83901323 A EP83901323 A EP 83901323A EP 0116049 A1 EP0116049 A1 EP 0116049A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
treadmill
toy
animal
periphery
wheels
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP19830901323
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
John A. Taylor
Silvi Slykhuis
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0116049A1 publication Critical patent/EP0116049A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K15/00—Devices for taming animals, e.g. nose-rings or hobbles; Devices for overturning animals in general; Training or exercising equipment; Covering boxes
    • A01K15/02—Training or exercising equipment, e.g. mazes or labyrinths for animals ; Electric shock devices ; Toys specially adapted for animals
    • A01K15/027—Exercising equipment, e.g. tread mills, carousels
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H29/00—Drive mechanisms for toys in general
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03G—SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03G5/00—Devices for producing mechanical power from muscle energy
    • F03G5/02—Devices for producing mechanical power from muscle energy of endless-walk type, e.g. treadmills

Definitions

  • This invention relates to toys adapted to move upon a surface and which include means to house an animal, such as a mouse, which animal provides the motive power for the toy .
  • the motive power hitherto used for self-propelled car like toys has varied from small internal combustion engines (in sophisticated toys) to clockwork mechanisms and battery powered electric motors. Whilst the foregoing power sources provide predictable performance for the toy there is often a feeling of lack of participation (on the part of the user) in the operation of the toy, except for those very sophisticated toys which are remotely controllable by radio signal or other means.
  • the present invention provides a simple toy with an unpredictable performance, because of the nature of the power source, but allows the user to participate in the operation of the vehicle by encouraging the animal housed in the toy to exercise or walk and so provide the motive power for the toy .
  • the invention can be said to comprise an animal propelled wheeled toy having a body, a plurality of wheels mounted on the body, an animal treadmill to hold an animal captive, said treadmill being mounted on the body so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to the axes of rotation of the wheels, said treadmill having door means to allow an animal to be placed in and removed from the treadmill, said toy being propellable along a surface by the transfer of energy applied to the treadmill to said surface through said treadmill.
  • Fig.l is a side view of a racing car toy according to the invention.
  • Fig.2 is a plan view of the toy illustrated in Fig.l,
  • Fig.3 is a front end view of the toy illustrated in Fig.l, and :-
  • Fig.4 is an enlarged side view of "the animal treadmill used to propel the toy.
  • a body 1 for a toy racing car on which there are mounted two parallel axles 2 and 3 with wheel pairs 4 and 5 fixed thereto or rotatably mounted thereon.
  • an opening 6 through the body to house an animal treadmill 7.
  • the treadmill 7 is comprised of interconnected disc like sides 8 and 9 with stub axles 10 and 11 projecting therefrom.
  • the stub axles 10 and 11 are housed in notches 12 and 13 respectively in upstanding lugs 14 and 15 on the toy body 1.
  • the stub axles 10 and 11 are held captive in the notches 12 and 13 by cap members 16 and 17 rotatable secured to posts 18 and 19.
  • the cap members 16- and 17 include flanges 20 and 21 respectively with cut outs 22 and 23 whereby, when the caps are rotated to align the cut outs 22 and 23 with the stub axles 10 and 11 the latter may be raised from engagement with the notches 12 and 13 in the lugs 14 and 15.
  • the centre height from the axis of rotation of the stub axles l ⁇ and 11 to the surface S upon which the wheels 4 and 5 are adapted to sit is marginally less than the diameter of the treadmill so that the periphery of the treadmill when mounted on the body 1 will bear upon the surface S. It follows that as an animal, such as a mouse, housed in the treadmill walks along the bars 24 joining the treadmill sides 8 and 9 the treadmill will rotate and the periphery thereof will move relative to the surface S thereby causing the body 1 to move forwardly or backwardly ,depending upon the direction the animal is facing in the treadmill.
  • the other ends of the members 26 are-, notched as at 28 so as to be a snap over fit onto the bar 24a thereby retaining the door 25 closed.
  • To allow improved visibility of the animal in the treadmill there are observation panels over openings 29 in opposite sides of the treadmill at positions ninety degrees out of phase.
  • the observation panels are preferably made from clear plastic sheet material and they also serve to retain the animal in the treadmill. More than two observation panels may be provided if desired.
  • One or more of the observation panels may have releasable connections to the treadmill to allow an animal to be loaded into the treadmill or removed therefrom through an opening 29.
  • a belt could be used to connect the treadmill stub axle(s) to one or other of the axles 2 or 3.
  • toothed wheels on the axles 2 and 3 could be provided so

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Animal Husbandry (AREA)
  • Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)

Abstract

Jouet à propulsion animale comprenant un corps (1) avec des roues (4 et 5) montées sur le corps (1) et un moulin de discipline en forme de cage (7) monté sur le corps (1) de façon à pouvoir tourner. La rotation du moulin de discipline (7) par un animal, par exemple une souris, prisonnier du moulin de discipline, fournit de l'énergie qui est transférée à une surface sur laquelle on pose le jouet pour qu'il se déplace. Le transfert d'énergie peut s'effectuer à travers un moulin de discipline cylindrique d'un diamètre tel que, lorsque le jouet est posé les roues en bas sur une surface, le pourtour du moulin de discipline va porter sur la surface. Le moulin de discipline (7) comporte un mécanisme de porte (25) pour permettre d'introduire un animal dans le moulin de discipline (7) et de l'en retirer.Animal propelled toy comprising a body (1) with wheels (4 and 5) mounted on the body (1) and a cage-shaped discipline mill (7) mounted on the body (1) so that it can rotate. The rotation of the discipline mill (7) by an animal, for example a mouse, trapped in the discipline mill, supplies energy which is transferred to a surface on which the toy is placed so that it moves. The transfer of energy can be carried out through a cylindrical discipline mill with a diameter such that, when the toy is placed the wheels down on a surface, the periphery of the discipline mill will bear on the surface. The discipline mill (7) has a door mechanism (25) for allowing an animal to be introduced into and removed from the discipline mill (7).

Description

ANIMAL PROPELLED "TOY
This invention relates to toys adapted to move upon a surface and which include means to house an animal, such as a mouse, which animal provides the motive power for the toy .
The natural pleasure which children obtain from playing with animals, such as with dogs in ball games and watching mice in treadmills, is extended by this invention to combine with the pleasure which children obtain from self-propelled toys, such as motor cars and the like. The motive power hitherto used for self-propelled car like toys has varied from small internal combustion engines (in sophisticated toys) to clockwork mechanisms and battery powered electric motors. Whilst the foregoing power sources provide predictable performance for the toy there is often a feeling of lack of participation (on the part of the user) in the operation of the toy, except for those very sophisticated toys which are remotely controllable by radio signal or other means.
The present invention provides a simple toy with an unpredictable performance, because of the nature of the power source, but allows the user to participate in the operation of the vehicle by encouraging the animal housed in the toy to exercise or walk and so provide the motive power for the toy .
In broad terms the invention can be said to comprise an animal propelled wheeled toy having a body, a plurality of wheels mounted on the body, an animal treadmill to hold an animal captive, said treadmill being mounted on the body so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to the axes of rotation of the wheels, said treadmill having door means to allow an animal to be placed in and removed from the treadmill, said toy being propellable along a surface by the transfer of energy applied to the treadmill to said surface through said treadmill.
A presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Fig.l is a side view of a racing car toy according to the invention,
Fig.2 is a plan view of the toy illustrated in Fig.l,
Fig.3 is a front end view of the toy illustrated in Fig.l, and :-
Fig.4 is an enlarged side view of"the animal treadmill used to propel the toy.
As illustrated there is a body 1 for a toy racing car on which there are mounted two parallel axles 2 and 3 with wheel pairs 4 and 5 fixed thereto or rotatably mounted thereon. There is an opening 6 through the body to house an animal treadmill 7.
The treadmill 7 is comprised of interconnected disc like sides 8 and 9 with stub axles 10 and 11 projecting therefrom. The stub axles 10 and 11 are housed in notches 12 and 13 respectively in upstanding lugs 14 and 15 on the toy body 1. The stub axles 10 and 11 are held captive in the notches 12 and 13 by cap members 16 and 17 rotatable secured to posts 18 and 19. The cap members 16- and 17 include flanges 20 and 21 respectively with cut outs 22 and 23 whereby, when the caps are rotated to align the cut outs 22 and 23 with the stub axles 10 and 11 the latter may be raised from engagement with the notches 12 and 13 in the lugs 14 and 15.
The centre height from the axis of rotation of the stub axles lϋ and 11 to the surface S upon which the wheels 4 and 5 are adapted to sit is marginally less than the diameter of the treadmill so that the periphery of the treadmill when mounted on the body 1 will bear upon the surface S. It follows that as an animal, such as a mouse, housed in the treadmill walks along the bars 24 joining the treadmill sides 8 and 9 the treadmill will rotate and the periphery thereof will move relative to the surface S thereby causing the body 1 to move forwardly or backwardly ,depending upon the direction the animal is facing in the treadmill.
To animal is loaded into the treadmill through a door 25 conprises of two side frame members 26 linked by bars 24 and pivoted at first ends at 27 to the trea-dmill sides 8 and 9. The other ends of the members 26 are-, notched as at 28 so as to be a snap over fit onto the bar 24a thereby retaining the door 25 closed. To allow improved visibility of the animal in the treadmill there are observation panels over openings 29 in opposite sides of the treadmill at positions ninety degrees out of phase. The observation panels are preferably made from clear plastic sheet material and they also serve to retain the animal in the treadmill. More than two observation panels may be provided if desired. One or more of the observation panels may have releasable connections to the treadmill to allow an animal to be loaded into the treadmill or removed therefrom through an opening 29.
Whilst the foregoing description has been concerned with the direct drive of the toy body by contact between the periphery of the treadmill and the surface S it is also possible to drive the toy through the wheels 4 and 5 as by arranging the periphery of the treadmill to engage upon a friction wheel mounted on one or both of the axles 2 and 3. The wheels 4 and 5 in such an arrangement would be fixed to the axles 2 and 3.
In a more positive arrangement a belt could be used to connect the treadmill stub axle(s) to one or other of the axles 2 or 3. In another, still more positive arrangement, toothed wheels on the axles 2 and 3 could be provided so
OMPI , that the teeth thereof are engaged with the bars 24 of the treadmill or by gear means fixed to the treadmill or its supporting stub axles(s). In both of these arrangements rotation of the treadmill would result in rotation of the axles 2 and/or 3 and the wheels fixed thereto.
In the three alternate arrangements set out above the periphery of the treadmill would not need to bear on the surface S. Although a cylindrical treadmill is desirable for a number of reasons it will be clear that for some of the alternate arrangements for energy transfer to the wheels 4 and/or 5 a treadmill of another shape would be possible.

Claims

CLA IMS
1. An animal propelled toy having a body, a plurality of wheels mounted on the body, an animal treadmill to hold an animal releasably captive, said treadmill being mounted on the body so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to the axes of rotation of the wheels, said treadmill having door means to allow an animal to be placed in and removed from the treadmill, said toy being propellable along a surface by the transfer of energy applied to the treadmill to said surface through said treadmill.
2. A toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the treadmill is cylindrical in shape with its axis of rotation concentric with the cylindrical periphery of the treadmill and the energy transfer is by direct engagement of the treadmill periphery with said surface.
3. A toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the treadmill is cylindrical in shape with its axis of rotation concentric with the cylindrical periphery of the treadmill and the energy transfer is through the periphery of the treadmill to a wheel axle rotatably mounted'On the body and to which at least one of the toy wheels is fixed.
4. A toy as claimed in claim 3 wherein the periphery of the treadmill engages the periphery of a friction wheel on the wheel axis.
5. A toy as claimed in claim 3 wherein there are two axles rotatably mounted on the body and there are four wheels respectively mounted on the ends of the axles with a friction wheel fixed to each axle and the periphery of the treadmill rests upon both of the friction wheel peripheries.
6. A toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the treadmill is drivingly coupled to a wheel axle rotatably mounted on the body and at least one of said wheels is fixed to the axle.
7. A toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the treadmill is removably mounted on the body.
8. A toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the door means is a hinged portion of the periphery of the treadmill.
9. A toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the door means is a removable panel in a side of the treadmill.
O Pt
EP19830901323 1982-08-11 1983-05-13 Animal propelled toy Withdrawn EP0116049A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU5325/82 1982-08-11
AU532582 1982-08-11

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0116049A1 true EP0116049A1 (en) 1984-08-22

Family

ID=3695795

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19830901323 Withdrawn EP0116049A1 (en) 1982-08-11 1983-05-13 Animal propelled toy

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0116049A1 (en)
AU (1) AU1238983A (en)
WO (1) WO1984000699A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4596534A (en) * 1984-02-14 1986-06-24 Nikko Co., Ltd. Remotely-steered toy car with five wheels
JP2533163Y2 (en) * 1992-10-30 1997-04-23 株式会社トミー Form toys
CN108843526A (en) * 2018-06-26 2018-11-20 边会婷 A kind of energy collecting device of fitness equipment

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3682477A (en) * 1971-04-16 1972-08-08 William Joseph Mcmahon Harkins Rodent racing device

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO8400699A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1984000699A1 (en) 1984-03-01
AU1238983A (en) 1984-02-16

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB LI LU NL SE

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

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18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19841022