EP0310334A2 - Mounting means for a toy mobile - Google Patents
Mounting means for a toy mobile Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0310334A2 EP0310334A2 EP88308944A EP88308944A EP0310334A2 EP 0310334 A2 EP0310334 A2 EP 0310334A2 EP 88308944 A EP88308944 A EP 88308944A EP 88308944 A EP88308944 A EP 88308944A EP 0310334 A2 EP0310334 A2 EP 0310334A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- mobile
- toy
- mounting
- mounting means
- spring
- 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- Withdrawn
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H13/00—Toy figures with self-moving parts, with or without movement of the toy as a whole
- A63H13/20—Toy roundabouts with moving figures; Toy models of fairs or the like, with moving figures
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H33/00—Other toys
- A63H33/40—Windmills; Other toys actuated by air currents
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H33/00—Other toys
- A63H33/006—Infant exercisers, e.g. for attachment to a crib
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to toys, and more specifically to a mounting means for a toy mobile that is mountable on a support surface, such as a crib or the like.
- Toy mobiles of the type that are mountable by mounting means on cribs, playpens or other sturdy support surfaces, are well known in the art.
- the mobiles are normally formed of attractive characters such as animals, birds, butterflies or the like, and in some instances, the mounted mobile is rotatably motor driven and accompanied by music.
- an object of the present invention is to provide an improved mounting means for a toy mobile that is of simple design and construction, that can withstand rough handling by an infant without suffering extensive damage, that will reliably support the mobile in a vertical orientation in different positions of orientation of the mounting means, that will allow free rotation of the mobile without damaging the mounting means, and that is inexpensive and economical to manufacture.
- It is an object of this invention to provide mounting means for a toy mobile comprising: a mounting arm having one end securable to a support and an opposite free end adapted to be arranged in a selected orientation; a movable mobile; and means for coupling the free end of the mounting arm to the mobile for allowing the mobile to hang vertically even though the free end of the mounting arm deviates from its selected orientation.
- Another object of the invention is accomplished by providing mounting means in which a mounting arm thereof has a cylindrical portion for captively supporting an eyelet member that is connected to the mobile.
- Still another object of the invention is accomplished by providing the coupling means between the mobile and mounting arm with a spring and stop shoulders to limit extension and contraction of the spring.
- Still another object of the invention is accomplished by providing a string between the mobile and spring of the coupling means, and at least one bead and chain connector connected to the string to function as a slip clutch to allow unlimited rotation of the mobile in either direction without overwinding and breaking the string.
- a preferred embodiment of a mounting means 10 for mounting a toy mobile 12 to mounting arm 14, one end of which is mountable by any suitable clamp, not shown, to a crib, playpen or support surface, not shown.
- the toy mobile 12 comprises a plurality of connector arms 16, the free ends of which are connected to characters or flat objects 14, such as ornamental animals, flowers, or the like, or to pairs of other connector arms 16, the free ends of which are, in turn, connected to other objects 18 and/or pairs of connector arms 16.
- the mounting means 10 for coupling the toy mobile 12 to mounting arm 14 comprises mobile hanger means 22 and retaining means 24 for retaining the hanger means onto the free end of mounting arm 14.
- the hanger means 22 comprises an eyelet member 26 having an eyelet 28 at one end encircling a cylindrical portion of mounting arm 14.
- the opposite end of eyelet member 26 has a perforated tab 30 to which one end of a helical spring 32 is secured.
- the opposite end of helical spring 32 has a loop 34 for securing the spring to an eyelet 36 of a bead and chain connector 38 of known type.
- the bead and chain connector 38 has spherical hollow beads 40 with diametrically opposed openings.
- the beads 40 are connected to one another by dumbbell shaped links 42 having enlarged ends 44 thereof nesting within the hollow beads.
- the links 42 at the opposite ends of the chain have eyelets 36, one of which receives looped end 34 of spring 32 as indicated earlier, and the opposite eyelet 36 is secured to a string.
- the links 42 serve as slip clutches, in which enlarged ends 44 will slip when string 48 is rotatably wound up upon rotation of the mobile 12, thereby preventing the string from overwinding and breaking.
- the opposite end of string 48 is secured to an eyelet 50 of a stem member 52, the opposite end of which is provided with an eyelet 54 for receiving a hook 56 on mobile 12.
- the helical spring 32, bead and chain connector 38, and upper end of stem member 52 are protectively enclosed within a housing 58.
- the housing comprises mating sections having slots 60 at the upper end for receiving a round or square-shaped flange 62 on eyelet member 26.
- the mating sections of housing 58 are secured together by any suitable means, not shown.
- the lower end of the housing has an enlarged opening 64 through which stem member 52 extends.
- the upper end of stem member 52 has a rim 66 which engages the inner surface of lower end portion 68 of housing 58 to limit how far spring 32 can be extended.
- the opposite end of stem member 52 has a disk 70 adapted to engage the outer surface of lower end portion 68 of housing 58 upon upward movement of mobile 12 when spring 32 rapidly returns to its original position following extension and release thereof.
- the disk 70 is further manually engagable for imparting rotatable movement to mobile 12.
- the retaining means 24 comprises upper and lower dish-shaped oblong sections 72, 74 respectively.
- the lower section 74 as best seen in Figs. 2 and 4, has a rib 76 and an end wall 78 having semi-cylindrical surfaces 80 for receiving a cylindrical portion of mounting arm 14.
- the upper section 72 (see Figs. 2 and 5) has mating ribs 76 and walls 78 having similar semi-cylindrical surfaces 80 for enclosing the cylindrical portion of mounting arm 14.
- the lower section 74 further has an oblong-shaped boss 82 having a blind oblong-shaped bore 84 for receiving an oblong-shaped post 86 at one end of the upper section, as best seen in Fig. 2.
- the post 86 extends through an oblong-shaped opening 88 in a flattened end portion 90 of mounting arm 14, which is interposed between boss 82 and a shoulder 91 on post 86 of the upper section.
- the upper and lower sections 72, 74 are guided together, as best seen in Fig. 6, by cylindrical bosses 92 on lower section 74, having blind bores 94 for receiving mating cylindrical posts 96 on upper section 72.
- the upper section is further provided with spaced ribs 98 (see Figs. 2 and 5) having facing shoulders 100 for capturing eyelet 28 of eyelet member 26 to provide a fixed pivot for the hanger means 22 of mounting means 10.
- the upper and lower sections 72, 74 are secured together by adhesive or the like.
Abstract
A toy mobile (12) is disclosed having an improved mounting mechanism (10) in which the mobile freely hangs vertically without requiring a mounting arm of the mounting mechanism (10) to be positioned in a specific orientation. The toy mobile (12) further has a spring connector (38) to allow vertical movement of the mobile (12) relative to the mounting mechanism (10), and stop surfaces on the mobile to limit the vertical movement to a finite distance. To allow rotatable movement of the mobile, the spring (32) is coupled to the mobile by a string (48) secured to a bead and chain connector (38). The bead and chain connector (38) functions as a slip clutch to prevent the string (48) from overwinding and breaking.
Description
- The present invention relates generally to toys, and more specifically to a mounting means for a toy mobile that is mountable on a support surface, such as a crib or the like.
- Toy mobiles of the type that are mountable by mounting means on cribs, playpens or other sturdy support surfaces, are well known in the art. The mobiles are normally formed of attractive characters such as animals, birds, butterflies or the like, and in some instances, the mounted mobile is rotatably motor driven and accompanied by music. A need still exists, however, for improved mounting means for toy mobiles that allow reliable rotation of the mobile without the need of expensive motors or the like, are capable of withstanding pulling and rough treatment by infants without breakage, and allow the toy mobile to freely hang vertically even though the orientation of the mounting means is changed.
- Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved mounting means for a toy mobile that is of simple design and construction, that can withstand rough handling by an infant without suffering extensive damage, that will reliably support the mobile in a vertical orientation in different positions of orientation of the mounting means, that will allow free rotation of the mobile without damaging the mounting means, and that is inexpensive and economical to manufacture.
- It is an object of this invention to provide mounting means for a toy mobile comprising:
a mounting arm having one end securable to a support and an opposite free end adapted to be arranged in a selected orientation;
a movable mobile; and
means for coupling the free end of the mounting arm to the mobile for allowing the mobile to hang vertically even though the free end of the mounting arm deviates from its selected orientation. - Another object of the invention is accomplished by providing mounting means in which a mounting arm thereof has a cylindrical portion for captively supporting an eyelet member that is connected to the mobile.
- Still another object of the invention is accomplished by providing the coupling means between the mobile and mounting arm with a spring and stop shoulders to limit extension and contraction of the spring.
- Still another object of the invention is accomplished by providing a string between the mobile and spring of the coupling means, and at least one bead and chain connector connected to the string to function as a slip clutch to allow unlimited rotation of the mobile in either direction without overwinding and breaking the string.
- In the detailed description of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of a mounting means for a toy mobile of this invention;
- Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view in section of the portion of the mobile of Fig. 1 coupling the mobile to a support arm;
- Fig. 3 is a segmental section view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 2 with the retaining means of the mounting means for retaining the hanger means on the mounting arm omitted for purposes of clarity;
- Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the bottom section of a portion of the retaining means taken substantially from line 4-4 of Fig. 2;
- Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the top section of the retaining means referred to in Fig. 4 taken substantially from line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and
- Fig. 6 is a section view taken substantially along line 6-6 of Fig. 2 with the mounting arm and eyelet omitted for purposes of clarity.
- With reference to Fig. 1, a preferred embodiment of a mounting means 10 is disclosed for mounting a toy mobile 12 to mounting
arm 14, one end of which is mountable by any suitable clamp, not shown, to a crib, playpen or support surface, not shown. The toy mobile 12 comprises a plurality ofconnector arms 16, the free ends of which are connected to characters orflat objects 14, such as ornamental animals, flowers, or the like, or to pairs ofother connector arms 16, the free ends of which are, in turn, connected toother objects 18 and/or pairs ofconnector arms 16. - The mounting means 10 for coupling the toy mobile 12 to mounting
arm 14 comprises mobile hanger means 22 and retaining means 24 for retaining the hanger means onto the free end ofmounting arm 14. - With reference to Figs. 2 and 3, the hanger means 22 comprises an
eyelet member 26 having aneyelet 28 at one end encircling a cylindrical portion ofmounting arm 14. The opposite end ofeyelet member 26 has aperforated tab 30 to which one end of ahelical spring 32 is secured. The opposite end ofhelical spring 32 has aloop 34 for securing the spring to aneyelet 36 of a bead andchain connector 38 of known type. The bead andchain connector 38 has sphericalhollow beads 40 with diametrically opposed openings. Thebeads 40 are connected to one another by dumbbell shapedlinks 42 having enlargedends 44 thereof nesting within the hollow beads. Thelinks 42 at the opposite ends of the chain haveeyelets 36, one of which receives loopedend 34 ofspring 32 as indicated earlier, and theopposite eyelet 36 is secured to a string. Thelinks 42 serve as slip clutches, in which enlargedends 44 will slip whenstring 48 is rotatably wound up upon rotation of the mobile 12, thereby preventing the string from overwinding and breaking. The opposite end ofstring 48 is secured to aneyelet 50 of astem member 52, the opposite end of which is provided with aneyelet 54 for receiving ahook 56 onmobile 12. - The
helical spring 32, bead andchain connector 38, and upper end ofstem member 52 are protectively enclosed within ahousing 58. The housing comprises matingsections having slots 60 at the upper end for receiving a round or square-shaped flange 62 oneyelet member 26. The mating sections ofhousing 58 are secured together by any suitable means, not shown. The lower end of the housing has an enlargedopening 64 through whichstem member 52 extends. The upper end ofstem member 52 has arim 66 which engages the inner surface oflower end portion 68 ofhousing 58 to limit how farspring 32 can be extended. The opposite end ofstem member 52 has adisk 70 adapted to engage the outer surface oflower end portion 68 ofhousing 58 upon upward movement of mobile 12 whenspring 32 rapidly returns to its original position following extension and release thereof. Thedisk 70 is further manually engagable for imparting rotatable movement to mobile 12. - With reference to Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6, retaining means 24 for mounting
eyelet member 26 to a cylindrical end portion ofmounting arm 14 will now be described. The retaining means 24 comprises upper and lower dish-shapedoblong sections lower section 74, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 4, has arib 76 and anend wall 78 havingsemi-cylindrical surfaces 80 for receiving a cylindrical portion ofmounting arm 14. The upper section 72 (see Figs. 2 and 5) hasmating ribs 76 andwalls 78 having similarsemi-cylindrical surfaces 80 for enclosing the cylindrical portion ofmounting arm 14. - The
lower section 74 further has an oblong-shaped boss 82 having a blind oblong-shaped bore 84 for receiving an oblong-shaped post 86 at one end of the upper section, as best seen in Fig. 2. Thepost 86 extends through an oblong-shaped opening 88 in aflattened end portion 90 ofmounting arm 14, which is interposed betweenboss 82 and ashoulder 91 onpost 86 of the upper section. - The upper and
lower sections cylindrical bosses 92 onlower section 74, havingblind bores 94 for receiving matingcylindrical posts 96 onupper section 72. The upper section is further provided with spaced ribs 98 (see Figs. 2 and 5) having facingshoulders 100 for capturingeyelet 28 ofeyelet member 26 to provide a fixed pivot for the hanger means 22 of mounting means 10. The upper andlower sections - While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described with particularity, it will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one having ordinary skill in the art upon being apprised of the present invention. It is intended to encompass all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.
Claims (12)
1. Mounting means for a toy mobile comprising:
a mounting arm having one end securable to a support and an opposite free end adapted to be arranged in a selected orientation; and
means for coupling the free end of the mounting arm to the mobile for allowing the mobile to hang vertically even though the free end of the mounting arm deviates from its selected orientation.
a mounting arm having one end securable to a support and an opposite free end adapted to be arranged in a selected orientation; and
means for coupling the free end of the mounting arm to the mobile for allowing the mobile to hang vertically even though the free end of the mounting arm deviates from its selected orientation.
2. Mounting means for a toy mobile according to Claim 1 wherein the free end of the mounting arm has a cylindrical portion, and the coupling means comprises an eyelet member connected to the mobile and encircling the cylindrical portion.
3. Mounting means for a toy mobile according to Claim 2 wherein the eyelet member has an eyelet on one end and a tab on the opposite end connected to the mobile.
4. Mounting means for a toy mobile according to Claim 3 wherein the coupling means further comprises a helical spring interconnecting the tab to the mobile for allowing the mobile to be pulled relative to the mounting arm.
5. Mounting means for a toy mobile according to Claim 4 wherein the coupling means further comprises a string having one end connected to the mobile and the opposite end connected to the spring for allowing rotational movement of the mobile.
6. Mounting means for a toy mobile according to Claim 5 wherein the coupling means further comprises slip clutch means interposed between the spring and the opposite end of the string.
7. Mounting means for a toy mobile according to Claim 6 wherein the slip clutch means comprises a bead and chain connector.
8. Mounting means for a toy mobile according to Claim 7 wherein the coupling means comprises a stem member having one end connectable to the mobile and the opposite end connected to one end of the string, and a manually engagable disk on the stem member by which rotatable movement can be imparted to the mobile.
9. Mounting means for a toy mobile according to Claim 8 wherein the coupling means comprises a housing encircling the tab, spring, bead and chain connector, and the opposite end of the stem member.
10. Mounting means for a toy mobile according to Claim 9 wherein the housing has a lower end encircling the opposite end of the stem member, and a rim is provided on the opposite end of the stem member which is engagable with the inner surface of the lower end of the housing to limit the distance the mobile can be pulled in one direction tensioning the spring, and the disk is engagable with the lower end of the housing to limit the distance the mobile can be pulled by the tensioned spring in the opposite direction when the mobile is released.
11. Mounting means for a toy mobile according to Claim 2 wherein the coupling means comprises retaining means for retaining the eyelet member on the mounting arm.
12. Mounting means for a toy mobile according to Claim 11 wherein the retaining means comprises a retaining section secured to the free end of the mounting arm, and spaced shoulders on the section for capturing the eyelet member therebetween.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10198887A | 1987-09-29 | 1987-09-29 | |
US101988 | 1987-09-29 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0310334A2 true EP0310334A2 (en) | 1989-04-05 |
EP0310334A3 EP0310334A3 (en) | 1989-11-23 |
Family
ID=22287528
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP88308944A Withdrawn EP0310334A3 (en) | 1987-09-29 | 1988-09-27 | Mounting means for a toy mobile |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0310334A3 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH01115384A (en) |
KR (1) | KR890004749A (en) |
AU (1) | AU2291488A (en) |
DK (1) | DK540288A (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0868930A1 (en) * | 1997-04-05 | 1998-10-07 | Höh Markus | Mobile with at least one light body rotatably hung |
US7178805B2 (en) * | 2004-07-29 | 2007-02-20 | Herbolich Jr Stephen Albert | Suspended mobile construction game |
USD885491S1 (en) | 2017-08-21 | 2020-05-26 | Stephen Albert Herbolich, Jr. | Set of game pieces |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1949594A (en) * | 1932-05-12 | 1934-03-06 | Wightman Lillian | Baby exerciser and toy rack |
US2769276A (en) * | 1953-10-19 | 1956-11-06 | Bromo Mint Company | Infant's plaything |
US3564759A (en) * | 1968-12-19 | 1971-02-23 | William J Buttermore | Educational toy for an infant,and means for actuation by the infant |
US3978610A (en) * | 1975-09-24 | 1976-09-07 | Kohner, Inc. | Mobile |
US4030237A (en) * | 1975-07-15 | 1977-06-21 | Lewis Nathanial H | Spinning balloon novelty |
EP0092306A2 (en) * | 1982-04-19 | 1983-10-26 | The Dolly Toy Company | Electronic mobile |
NL8601588A (en) * | 1986-06-19 | 1988-01-18 | Ewoud Arie Pronk | Decorative mobile model of bird suspended in room - has body and wings hinged to body with weighted ends, two pairs of pref. polyamide filaments attached to wings near front and rear |
-
1988
- 1988-09-27 EP EP88308944A patent/EP0310334A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1988-09-28 DK DK540288A patent/DK540288A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1988-09-28 KR KR1019880012546A patent/KR890004749A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1988-09-28 AU AU22914/88A patent/AU2291488A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1988-09-29 JP JP63245854A patent/JPH01115384A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1949594A (en) * | 1932-05-12 | 1934-03-06 | Wightman Lillian | Baby exerciser and toy rack |
US2769276A (en) * | 1953-10-19 | 1956-11-06 | Bromo Mint Company | Infant's plaything |
US3564759A (en) * | 1968-12-19 | 1971-02-23 | William J Buttermore | Educational toy for an infant,and means for actuation by the infant |
US4030237A (en) * | 1975-07-15 | 1977-06-21 | Lewis Nathanial H | Spinning balloon novelty |
US3978610A (en) * | 1975-09-24 | 1976-09-07 | Kohner, Inc. | Mobile |
EP0092306A2 (en) * | 1982-04-19 | 1983-10-26 | The Dolly Toy Company | Electronic mobile |
NL8601588A (en) * | 1986-06-19 | 1988-01-18 | Ewoud Arie Pronk | Decorative mobile model of bird suspended in room - has body and wings hinged to body with weighted ends, two pairs of pref. polyamide filaments attached to wings near front and rear |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0868930A1 (en) * | 1997-04-05 | 1998-10-07 | Höh Markus | Mobile with at least one light body rotatably hung |
US7178805B2 (en) * | 2004-07-29 | 2007-02-20 | Herbolich Jr Stephen Albert | Suspended mobile construction game |
USD885491S1 (en) | 2017-08-21 | 2020-05-26 | Stephen Albert Herbolich, Jr. | Set of game pieces |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DK540288A (en) | 1989-03-30 |
KR890004749A (en) | 1989-05-09 |
DK540288D0 (en) | 1988-09-28 |
AU2291488A (en) | 1989-04-06 |
EP0310334A3 (en) | 1989-11-23 |
JPH01115384A (en) | 1989-05-08 |
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