EP2985061A1

EP2985061A1 - A toy which comprises a toy figure in the form of a quadruped animal

Info

Publication number: EP2985061A1
Application number: EP15382401.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Albert Antoli Nerin; David Mansilla Gonzalez; Pau Lopez Soriano
Original assignee: IMC Toys SA
Current assignee: IMC Toys SA
Priority date: 2014-08-06
Filing date: 2015-07-30
Publication date: 2016-02-17
Also published as: ES2558734B1; ES2558734A1

Abstract

A toy which comprises a toy figure with four legs articulated via a frame and a first motor module which comprises a first motor, the output shaft of which drives, by means of a transmission, the coordinated movement of the legs to make the toy figure walk when it rotates in a first direction, the toy comprising a tract which is interposed between an inlet opening and an outlet opening, accessible by way of an exterior cover which confers the desired image on the toy figure; and the toy has a set of pieces configured for being introducible through the inlet opening and being expulsed through the outlet opening of the cited tract, the tract being equipped with means for regulating the transit of a piece along the tract, actuatable by the cited first motor when the output shaft thereof rotates in the direction opposed to the first direction.

Description

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to a toy which comprises a toy figure in the form of a quadruped animal such as a dog which comprises four legs articulated via a frame and motorized means which drive the movement of the toy figure and also other play actions which simulate those of a real animal.

Background of the invention

In the scope of the invention, there are numerous proposals of toys in the form of quadruped animals. There are versions in which the toy has articulated parts, manually actuatable and more complex versions in which the toy is provided with different motorized mechanisms, equipping the toy with the capacity to be commanded to execute different actions, such as for example to walk, emit sounds or other actions.
A first objective of the invention is to improve the playability of these types of toys, such that they can execute more actions without impacting too much on the mechanical complexity and therefore on the manufacturing cost of the toys. Therefore, it is desired that the toy can carry out more actions without it being necessary, for example to use a motor to carry out each one of these different actions.
It is also desirable that the toy is capable of carrying out more actions and that these can be commanded in a simple manner, without increasing the buttons or keys which are required to control the toy. Again, this fact allows the construction of the toy to be simplified in addition to making it more accessible for smaller children.
It is also another objective of the invention to equip the toy with the capacity to carry out new actions, which although they are common in real animals, have not been emulated in toy animals in an attractive and fun manner, again without this meaning increasing too greatly the constructive complexity of the toy.

Description of the invention

The toy of the invention is a toy which comprises a toy figure in the form of a quadruped animal such as a dog, which comprises four legs articulated via a frame and a first motor module with a first motor, the output shaft of which drives, by means of a transmission, the coordinated movement of the legs to make the toy figure walk when said motor rotates in a first direction.
The toy is characterized in that the toy figure comprises a tract which is interposed between an inlet opening and an outlet opening, accessible by way of an exterior cover which confers the desired image on the toy figure; and the toy has a set of pieces configured for being introducible through the inlet opening and being expelled through the outlet opening of the cited tract, the tract being equipped with means for regulating the transit of a piece along the tract, these means for regulating the pieces in transit being actuated by the cited first motor when the output shaft thereof rotates in the direction opposed to the first direction.
Advantageously, the toy is provided with greater playability, using the same motor means which are used to move the legs.
In an embodiment, the first motor module comprises a clutch mechanism which allows the output shaft of the first motor to be automatically engaged with the transmission of the movement to the legs or with the means for regulating the transit of the pieces through the tract, according to the direction of rotation of the output shaft thereof.
By means of this characteristic, it is not necessary to use two buttons for each one of the actions which is associated with the same motor.
According to a variant of interest, the clutch mechanism comprises a driving crown wheel coupled to the output shaft of the first motor and two driven crown wheels each one positioned at one side of the driving crown wheel and one associated with the transmission of the movement to the legs and the other with the means for regulating the transit of a piece along the tract, the driving crown wheel being mounted with the capacity to be displaced longitudinally along the axis of rotation thereof and provided on each face with a toothing which cooperates with the toothing of the opposing driven crown wheel in order for a rotational pull to be produced in one single direction of rotation which is opposed for each driven crown wheel such that the automatic disengagement of the driving crown wheel from the driven crown wheel arranged at one side of the driving crown wheel causes, by overthrusting the respective toothings, the displacement of the driving crown wheel in the direction of the driven crown wheel arranged at the other side of the driving crown wheel and as a consequence the automatic clutch thereof.
According to another aspect of the invention, the means for regulating the transit of a piece along the tract comprise a transporter belt positioned in the tract and the direction of travel of which matches that of the direction which a piece follows through the tract towards the expulsion opening.
Preferably the belt is made of flexible material.
According to an embodiment, the belt is positioned in the tract such that it partially obstructs it and stops the transit of the pieces through the tract when it is static, while the travel of the belt causes the pulling through the tract of the piece by friction with the material of the belt, this material being suitable for being deformed through contact with the piece to allow the piece to pass while the pulling thereof is produced through the cited tract.
The invention envisaged that the tract is arranged inclined at least from the inlet opening or from a point close to this, up to the level of the means for regulating the transit of the pieces along said tract, with which the pieces introduced through the inlet opening thereof reach the means for regulating the transit of the pieces by the effect of gravity when the toy is maintained erect on the legs thereof on a horizontal surface.
According to another aspect of the invention, the transmission which connects the output shaft of the first motor to the legs comprises two rod and crank mechanisms each one associated with a corresponding front leg of the quadrupled, each one of said mechanisms in turn being connected, by means of a respective transmission rod, to two rotational rocker arms around corresponding support axles, each one associated with a rear leg, all of which such that the rotation of the first motor in the first direction of rotation causes the synchronized movement of the four legs of the quadrupled, equipping it with the capacity to walk forwards.
In one variant of interest, the toy comprises a second motor module with a second motor, the output shaft of which is connected to a transmission mechanism which simultaneously displaces the support axle of the rocker arms associated with the rear legs, causing the lowering of the rear legs, around the articulated joining of the transmission rod and each rocker arm, forwards, with which the quadrupled sits, or backwards, the quadrupled standing up, according to the direction of rotation of the second motor.
This confers on the toy greater realism, even more so when it is envisaged that the action of removing the pieces from the tract can only be carried out when the toy figure is seated.
In a variant of interest, the displacement of the support axles of the rocker arms associated with the rear legs is guided by means of two curved sliders.
According to another aspect of the invention, it is envisaged that the toy comprises a remote control with a control lever with the capacity to adopt two different positions, A and B and other electronic means designed to determine the instantaneous position of the rear legs and which implement a finite-state machine such that the arrangement of the lever in at least one of the positions, A or B determines the actuation of the first motor according to the first direction of rotation or according to the opposite direction as a function of the state which determines the instantaneous position of the rear legs.
In a complete variant, in which the toy is equipped with a second motor module, it is envisaged that the arrangement of the lever, not only in one but any of the positions A or B, determines the actuation of the first or second motor according to the first direction of rotation or according to the opposite direction as a function of the state which determines the instantaneous position of the rear legs.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a toy according to the invention which comprises an articulated toy figure, in this case with the appearance of a dog, commanded by a remote control, and a set of pieces to interact with the toy figure;
Figure 2 shows the toy figure of Fig. 1, not provided with an exterior cover;
Figures 3 and 4 show a part of the toy figure, having removed the middle of the principal frame and some interior components in order to show the transmission for the coordinated movement of the legs to make the toy walk;
Figure 5 shows a part of the toy figure seen from the opposite side to that of Figs. 3 and 4, having removed the middle of the principal frame and some components in order to show in this case a clutch mechanism and the motor modules which cause the functioning of the toy;
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are detail views of the clutch mechanism; and
Figure 9 is a diagram of the finite-state machine which follows the control of the toy according to an embodiment.

Detailed description of an embodiment

The toy 1 which is described and represented in Fig. 1 by way of example is formed by a toy figure 100, which in this case has the aspect of a small dog, commanded by a remote control 31; and a set of pieces 13, which in this case have an oblong form which ends at both ends in one slightly widened head. The bones intend to reflect the caricaturized form of a femur or bone.
Fig. 2 shows the toy figure 100, not provided with the cover which confers on it the aspect of a small dog. In the toy figure 100, a principal frame 101 is distinguished which provides shape to the core of the small dog, a head 102 which supports jaws with a fixed upper part 103 and a movable lower part 104, subject to the action of elastic means 105 for closing over the fixed part 103. In the toy figure 100, two front legs 2, 3 and two rear legs 4, 5 are also distinguished. As is explained further on, the legs 2 to 5 are movable and confer on the toy figure 100 the capacity to walk. Furthermore, the rear legs 4, 5 can be lowered forwards or backwards, as the arrows in Fig. 2 indicate, such that they confer on the toy figure 100 the capacity to sit down or stand up and vice versa.
The toy 1 is designed such that pieces 13 can be introduced into the toy figure 100 through an inlet opening 11, positioned between the jaws such that it can simulate that the toy figure 100 is being fed. Furthermore, the toy 1 is designed such that these same pieces 13 are expulsed through an outlet opening 12, located at the rear of the toy figure 100 to simulate that the latter is having bowel movements. For such purpose, it is understood that both inlet and outlet openings 11, 12 are accessible by way of the exterior cover which confers on the toy figure 100 the image of a small dog.
The toy 1 is designed to effect all these play maneuvers by way of the remote control 31 and by way of a single control lever 32 in an intuitive manner and suitable for young children. Furthermore, the actions are executed only by two motor modules 7 and 28, all of which is explained below.
Fig. 5 shows the toy figure 100 without a middle of the principal frame 101 which covers the core of the toy figure 100.
Fig. 5 allows it to be seen that the toy figure 100 comprises a tract 10 which is interposed between the inlet opening 11 and the outlet opening 12 and that this tract 10 is provided with means for regulating the transit 14 of the pieces 13 along the tract 10.
The frame 101 houses a first motor module 7 which comprises a first motor 8, the output shaft 8a of which drives, by means of a transmission 9, the coordinated movement of the legs 2 to 5 to make the toy figure 100 walk when it rotates in a first direction. In the toy 1 of the invention, this same motor 8, when the output shaft 8a thereof rotates in the opposite direction to that of the first direction, actuates these means for regulating the transit 14 of the pieces 13 through the tract 10.
For this, the first motor module 7 comprises a clutch mechanism 15 which allows the automatic engagement of the output shaft of the first motor 8 with the transmission 9 of the movement to the legs 2 to 5 or with the means for regulating the transit 14 of the pieces 13 through the tract 10 according to the direction of rotation of the output shaft 8a thereof.
The clutch mechanism 15 which is mounted in the example described is illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 to which reference is now made. This clutch mechanism 15 comprises a driving crown wheel 17 coupled to the output shaft 8a of the first motor 8 by means of a set of pulleys and gears and two driven crown wheels 18, 19, each one positioned at one side of the driving crown wheel 17. The driven crown wheel 18 forms part of the transmission 9 which causes the movement to the leg 2 to 5 to make the toy figure walk; and the driven crown wheel 19 is coupled to the means of regulating the transit 14 of the piece 13 along the tract 10 by means of a set of belts and gears 16.
The driving crown wheel 17 is mounted with the capacity to be displaced longitudinally along the axis of rotation thereof 20, as the arrows in Fig. 7 illustrate and is provided on each face with a toothing 17a, 17b which cooperate with the toothing 18a, 19a of the opposing driven crown wheel 18 or 19 in order for a rotational pull to be produced in one single direction of rotation which is opposed for each driven crown wheel. For such purpose, these toothings show a slope in one of the sides thereof. The effect which this configuration produces is that the automatic disengagement of the driving crown wheel 17 from the driven crown wheel 18 or 19 arranged at one side of the driving crown wheel 17 causes, by overthrusting the respective toothings 17a and 18a or 17a and 19a, the displacement of the driving crown wheel 17 in a direction of the driven crown wheel arranged at the other side of the driving crown wheel and consequently the automatic clutch thereof.
Under the perspective of Fig. 8, the rotation of the driving crown wheel 17 by the motor 8 in the anti-clockwise direction causes the assembly of the toothings 17b and 19a for the rotational pulling between the driving crown wheel 17 and the driven crown wheel 19 associated with the means for regulating the transit 14 of the pieces 13 through the tract 10 by means of the belts and gears 16. The change in the direction of rotation of the driving crown wheel 17 produces, by the effect of the slopes 19a', the overthrusting of the toothing 17b over the toothing 19a and the displacement of the driving crown wheel 17 towards the driven crown wheel 18 until the toothings 17a and 18a are assembled in this case, the cited driving crown wheel 17 and the driven crown wheel 18 being engaged and consequently the motor 8 with the transmission 9 which causes the coordinated movement of the legs 2 to 5 to make the toy figure 100 walk.
Fig. 4 also allows part of the means for regulating the transit 14 of the pieces 13 along the tract 10 to be seen. In this Fig. 4 a piece 13 within the tract 10 is precisely represented, in a position immediately before interacting with these means for regulating the transit 14.
These means for regulating the transit 14 comprise, in the example, a transporter belt 21 made of flexible material positioned in the tract 10 and the direction of travel of which, indicated with an arrow in Fig. 5, matches that of the direction which the piece 13 follows through the tract 10 towards the outlet opening 12.
The belt 21 is positioned in the tract 10 such that, in cooperation with an idle wheel 6, it partially obstructs it and stops the transit of the pieces 13 through the tract 10.
When this occurs, if the advance of the belt 21 is actuated, this causes the pulling through the tract 10 of the piece 13 by friction with the material of the belt, this material being suitable for being deformed by contact with the piece 13 such that this can pass through between the belt 21 and the idle wheel 6. Once the piece 13 has passed through between the belt 21 and the idle wheel 6, it is expulsed by gravity through the outlet opening 12 of the tract 10.
Note that in the example, the tract 10 is arranged inclined at a point close to the inlet opening 11 up to the level of the means for regulating the transit 14, with which the pieces introduced through the inlet opening thereof reach the means for regulating the transit 14 also by the effect of gravity when the toy is maintained erect on the legs 2 to 5 thereof on a horizontal surface.
Figs. 2 and 3 allow the details of the transmission 9 to be seen which connect the motor 8 with the legs 2 to 5.
The transmission 9 comprises a transmission shaft 9a, visible in Fig. 6, which actuates both rod and crank mechanisms 22 each one associated with a corresponding front leg 2, 3 of the toy figure 100, each one of said mechanisms in turn being connected, by means of a respective transmission rod 25, to two rotational rocker arms 26 around corresponding support axles 27, each one associated with a rear leg 4, 5, all of which such that the rotation of the first motor 8 in the first direction of rotation causes the synchronized movement of the four legs 2 to 5 of the toy figure, providing it with the capacity to walk forwards.
Fig. 4 shows the crank 24 of one of the sets of rod and crank 22. This crank 24 is articulatedly connected both to the rod 23 (visible in Fig. 3) which is connected to the front legs 2, 3 of the toy figure 100, as to transmission rod 25. In order to guide the movement of the rod 23, there is a set of guide and pin 30 and 31, respectively.
With this transmission 9, the front legs 2, 3 carry out a circular movement around the transmission shaft 9a while the rear legs 4, 5 carry out an oscillation movement around the support axles 27. Although it cannot be seen in the drawings, the sets of rod and crank 22 at both sides of the toy figure 100 are mounted opposite each other, such that the movement of the front legs 2 and 3 and consequently also of the rear legs 4 and 5, is coordinated to make the toy figure 100 walk.
The playability of the toy 1 increases with the incorporation of the second motor module 28 with a second motor 29, the output shaft of which 29a is connected to a transmission mechanism 30 which simultaneously displaces the support axle 27 of the rocker arms 26 associated with the rear legs 4, 5 such that it causes the lowering of the rear legs 4, 5, around the articulated joining 26a of the transmission rod 25 and each rocker arm 26, forwards, with which the quadrupled sits, or backwards, the quadrupled standing up, according to the direction of rotation of the second motor 29.
This displacement of the support axles 27 of the rocker arms 26 associated with the rear legs 4, 5 is guided by means of two curved sliders 33, the ends of one of which are visible in Fig. 2. These sliders 33 have also been imprinted in Fig. 4.
In the embodiment that is explained by way of example, all the actions of the toy 1 can be executed from a remote control 31 with one single control lever 32 with the capacity to adopt two end positions A and B and a neutral position, which it adopts by default.
For this, the toy figure 100 is provided with electronic means, conventional per se, designed for determining the instantaneous position of the rear legs 4, 5 of the toy figure 100 and which implement a finite-state machine, the logic of which is illustrated in the diagram of Fig. 9.
In the diagram of Fig. 9 the response of the toy figure is shown according to the initial state thereof and in which direction the control lever 32 is actuated. The simplicity of the control makes the toy 1 an especially suitable toy for young children. For such purpose, it is envisaged that the dimensions of the individual parts and specifically the pieces 13 are of the minimum size which the applicable legislation requires.

Claims

A toy (1) which comprises a toy figure (100) in the form of a quadruped animal such as a dog, with four legs (2 to 5) articulated via a frame (101) and a first motor module (7) which comprises a first motor (8), the output shaft (8a) of which drives, by means of a transmission (9), the coordinated movement of the legs to make the toy figure walk when it rotates in a first direction, characterized in that the toy comprises
- a tract (10) which is interposed between an inlet opening (11) and an outlet opening (12), accessible by way of an exterior cover which confers the desired image on the toy figure; and the toy has

- a set of pieces (13) configured for being introducible through the inlet opening and being expulsed through the outlet opening of the tract,
the tract being equipped with means for regulating the transit (14) of a piece along the tract, these means being actuated for regulating the transit of the pieces through the tract by the cited first motor when the output shaft thereof rotates in the direction opposed to the first direction.
The toy (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first motor module (7) comprises a clutch mechanism (15) which allows the output shaft (8a) of the first motor (8) to automatically engage with the transmission (9) of the movement to the legs (2 to 5) or with the means for regulating the transit (14) of the pieces (13) through the tract, according to the direction of rotation of the output shaft thereof.
The toy (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the clutch mechanism (15) comprises a driving crown wheel (17) coupled to the output shaft (8a) of the first motor (8) and two driven crown wheels (18, 19) each one positioned at one side of the driving crown wheel and one associated with the transmission (9) of the movement to the legs and the other with the means for regulating the transit (14) of a piece along the tract, the driving crown wheel (17) being mounted with the capacity to be displaced longitudinally along the axis of rotation (20) thereof and provided on each face with a toothing (17a, 17b) which cooperates with the toothing (18a, 19a) of the opposing driven crown wheel (18 or 19) in order for a rotational pull to be produced in one single direction which is opposed for each driven crown wheel such that the automatic disengagement of the driving crown wheel from the driven crown wheel arranged at one side of the driving crown wheel causes, by overthrusting the respective toothings (17a and 18a or 17a and 19a), the displacement of the driving crown wheel in the direction of the driven crown wheel arranged at the other side of the driving crown wheel and as a consequence the automatic clutch thereof.
The toy (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for regulating the transit (14) of a piece (13) along the tract (10) comprises a transporter belt (21) positioned in the tract and the direction of travel of which matches that of the direction which a piece follows through the tract towards the expulsion opening.
The toy (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the belt (21) is made of flexible material.
The toy (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the belt (21) is positioned in the tract (10) such that it partially obstructs it and stops the transit of the pieces (13) through the tract when it is static, while the travel of the belt causes the pulling through the tract of the piece by friction with the material of the belt, this material being suitable for being deformed through contact with the piece to allow the piece to pass while the pulling thereof is produced through the cited tract.
The toy (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tract (10) is arranged inclined at least from the inlet opening (12) or from a point close to this, up to the level of the means for regulating the transit (14) of the pieces (13) along said tract, with which the pieces introduced through the inlet opening reach the means for regulating the transit (14) of the pieces (13) by the effect of gravity when the toy is maintained erect on the legs (2 to 5) thereof on a horizontal surface.
The toy (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission (9) which connects the output shaft (8a) of the first motor (8) to the legs (2 to 5) comprises two rod and crank mechanisms (22) each one associated with a corresponding front leg (2, 3) of the quadrupled, each one of said mechanisms in turn being connected, by means of a respective transmission rod (25), to two rotational rocker arms (26) around corresponding support axles (27), each one associated with a rear leg (4, 5), all of which such that the rotation of the first motor (8) in the first direction of rotation causes the synchronized movement of the four legs (2 to 5) of the quadrupled, providing it with the capacity to walk forwards.
The toy (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a second motor module (28) with a second motor (29), the output shaft of which (29a) is connected to a transmission mechanism (30) which simultaneously displaces the support axle (27) of the rocker arms (26) associated with the rear legs (4, 5) causing the lowering of the rear legs, around the articulated joining (26a) of the transmission rod (25) and each rocker arm (26), forwards, with which the quadrupled sits, or backwards, the quadrupled standing up, according to the direction of the rotation of the second motor (29).
The toy (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the displacement of the support axles (27) of the rocker arms associated with the rear legs (4, 5) is guided by means of two curved sliders (33).
The toy (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a remote control (31) with a control lever (32) with the capacity to adopt two positions, A and B and electronic means designed to determine the instantaneous position of the rear legs (4, 5) and which implement a finite-state machine such that the arrangement of the lever in at least one of the positions, A or B determines the actuation of the first motor (8) according to the first direction of rotation or according to the opposite direction as a function of the state which determines the instantaneous position of the rear legs.
The toy (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a remote control (31) with a control lever (32) with the capacity to adopt two positions, A and B and other electronic means designed to determine the instantaneous position of the rear legs (4, 5) and which implement a finite-state machine such that the arrangement of the lever any of the positions, A or B determines the actuation of the first or second motor (8, 29) according to the first direction of rotation or according to the opposite direction as a function of the state which determines the instantaneous position of the rear legs.