GB1563544A

GB1563544A - Toy record player

Info

Publication number: GB1563544A
Application number: GB36576/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: WATANABE KENKUYSHO YK; Watanabe Kenkyusho KK
Current assignee: WATANABE KENKUYSHO YK; Watanabe Kenkyusho KK
Priority date: 1977-05-28
Filing date: 1977-09-01
Publication date: 1980-03-26
Also published as: DE2741694A1; HK50380A; JPS53147501A; FR2392467A1; ES462689A1; DE2741694C2; IT7868218A0; IT1107814B; FR2392467B1; JPS592105B2

Description

(54) TOY RECORD PLAYER (71) We, YUGEN KAISHA WATANABE KENKYUSHO, a Japanese company, of Ozenji 371, Tama-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawaken, Japan, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a toy record player of a type having a housing on which a record disc is mounted for reproduction.

More particularly, the invention is concerned with a toy record player in which a reproduction system adapted for reproduction of a selected one of a plurality of recording grooves on a record disc is started by an axial movement of a shaft and is reset to the starting condition automatically when reproduction is over. The structure may be made compact and easy to handle, and the toy attractive.

Such a toy record player has been proposed for reproduction of a selected one of a plurality of recording grooves formed in a record disc. This type of toy record player is constructed to provide an operation which is as simple and safe as possible, and to involve an automatic returning of the tone arm.

It is true that the conventional toy record players of this type have been designed to meet these requirements. However, unfortunately, the size of these conventional toy record players has been rendered unacceptably large, due to the fact that the mechanism for fitting the stylus into the recording groove, electric switches, discsupporting mechanism and other constituents are separately designed and installed.

Recently, there is an increasing demand for minimising the size of toy record player and for a simplified operation and handling.

From the view point of minimizing the size, the electric starting switch is preferably installed at a position, such that the handling of the switch may be made without being hindered by the record disc mounted on the housing.

Thus, in toy record players having a smallsized housing, the upper face of the housing is covered almost entirely by the record disc when the latter is mounted, so that the starting switch is usually installed at a side of the housing. Alternatively, the switch is installed at a small area uncovered by the disc, scarcely left on the upper face of the housing.

When the switch is provided at a side of the housing, the compact and light-weight record player has to be held by one hand, while the switch is operated by the other hand. This manner of operation is considerably troublesome and may result in knocking of the record disc which may cause the stylus to move out of position.

If the switch is installed in the small area on the upper face of the housing, it is not necessary to manipulate the player by both hands. However, since the switch is located in close proximity of the record disc, there still is the fear that the record disc will be accidentally touched by hand causing displacement of the recording groove from the stylus.

Thus, in those toy record players of the type having a record disc provided with a plurality of grooves and adapted to be installed on the housing, it is highly desirable to make the. size and weight small and keep malfunctioning to a minimum.

There have been proposed toy record players in which the record disc is enclosed by a housing, even when the disc has a plurality of recording grooves. It is true that some of the conventional toy record players of this type rely upon an axial movement of the record disc for bringing it into and out of engagement with the stylus. This previously proposed type of player requires, however, a rod engaging the record disc, as well as mechanisms associated with the rod, which increases the size. Moreover, this type of toy record player has a different appearance.

For instance, U.S. Patent Specification No.

3,017,187 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6100/1969 disclose a toy record player in which a record disc having a plurality of recording grooves is adapted to be housed in a doll or a housing, and the Japanese Publication discloses a knob having arrow signs adapted to be rotated for selecting the recording groove.

This player has an appearance different from that provided by a player on which the disc is externally mounted. In addition, this type of player is larger, because the tone arm has to be moved to and from the recording surface, for bringing the stylus into and out of engagement with the recording groove.

This movement of the tone arm can be performed only by an additional or specific mechanism for actuating the-tone arm, or by a combination of a pulling cord adapted to lift the tone arm and an expensive spring motor capable of imparting a torque to the record disc.

Thus, there has been no compact toy record player for mounting thereon a record disc having a plurality of recording grooves, for a selective reproduction of one of these grooves.

It is therefore an obiect of the invention to provide a toy record player adapted to mount thereon a record disc having a plurality of recording grooves, for a selective reproduction of one of these record grooves.

According to this invention there is provided a toy record player of the type in which a record disc having a plurality of interleaved and parallel recording grooves formed in its lower face and carrying marks representing the recording grooves at its upper face is mounted on the record player, the marks on said record disc being at positions corresponding to respective starting positions of the recording grooves, with one of the marks aligned with an index mark provided on the housing of said record player to select a recording groove, so as to put the selected recording groove into register with a stylus for performing the reproduction, and the reproduction is stopped automatically, when the stylus has been driven to the final position of the recording grooves, whereupon a tone arm carrying said stylus is automatically returned to a starting position; comprising an upwardly biased push button which acts as a record holder, for driving and holding said record disc, said push button being coupled to a motor and axially movable in a housing; a pair of switch contacts disposed beneath said push button so as to be engaged by said push button when said push button is axially depressed, to complete an electric circuit for said motor and arranged to open said circuit when said push button is released and returned to the raised position; a latch provided on said housing and normally biased for keeping a sliding contact with a shaft of said push button, and for engaging a circumferential groove formed in said shaft when said push button has been depressed to the lower position, thereby to latch or lock said push button at that axial position while allowing the rotation of said push button; and an actuating rod associated with said latch and with said tone arm carrying the stylus so as to apply a force to said latch opposing the biasing force exerted on the latch and arranged to receive a force from said tone arm when the stylus is in the final position of the groove, to force said latch out of said circumferential groove.

The invention can provide a toy record player which is easy to use. Further, the toy record player can be reduced in size and may be capable of being started by a single touch.

The invention can further provide a toy record player, in which accidental displacement of the stylus from the selected recording groove is unlikely.

Preferably, said shaft of said push button has a tubular form, said tubular shaft is rotatably supported by a center pin provided on the bottom plate of said housing to extend upwardly therefrom into said tubular shaft, and said push button is supported and biased upwardly by a coiled spring disposed on the top end of said center pin received by said tubular shaft.

Preferably, said push button comprises a supporting surface for supporting said record disc along the plane of rotation of the latter; a finger capable of moving in the plane of rotation of said record disc and having ends opposed to said supporting surface for cooperating with the latter in cramping the edge of the central hole of said record disc therebetween; an actuating piece disposed in said tubular shaft of said push button and axially moveable to engage said fingers, said actuating piece having tapered surfaces arranged to urge said fingers outwardly, when it is moved axially as a result of a depression of said push button; a spring adapted to bias said fingers radially inwardy; fingers and a coiled spring adapted to bias the push button upwardly and to resiliently bias said actuating piece downwardly.

Embodiments of this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toy record player which constitutes an embodimeat of the invention, wherein a record disc is replaceably mounted on a record holder which plays also the role of a push button for starting the player; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the toy record player as shown in Figure 1, with its cover removed to show the inner structure; Figure 3 is a vertical sectional perspective view of a central portion of the toy record player as shown in Figure 1, with the shaft kept unsectioned; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a record holder capable of playing the role of starting push button as shown in Figure 1, with its cover removed; Figure 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention in which a record disc is secured integrally with the record holder adapted to play the role of a starting push button; and Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the portion at which the record disc is attached to the record holder capable of playing the role of the starting push button.

Figure 1 shows a record player constituting an embodiment of the invention in which a replaceable record disc is mounted on the player, and Figures 2 to 4 show mechanisms incorporated in the embodiment shown in Figure 1. Figure 5 shows another embodiment having a simplified construction in which the record disc is materially fixedly mounted on the player, so that the disc is not replaceable.

Referring first to Figure 1 the record player has a housing 1 provided with a top panel or a cover la fixed to the housing 1, so as to cover the inner mechanisms housed by the housing 1.

The cover la has a bore lb for accepting a push button and a guiding slot lc merging onto the bore 1 b for guiding the reproducing needle or stylus. The push button 4 which plays also the role of a record holder, extends upwards from the housing 1 and emerges through the bore 1 b while the stylus 14 carried by an arm 13 pivotally fixed to the housing 1 emerges through the guiding slot lc. A rib 15 which acts as an index mark, is provided near the outer end of the guiding slot lc, so as to be adjacent to the periphery of a record disc 5, when the latter is mounted on the player with its central bore 5a fitted around the aforementioned push button 4. The record disc 5 has a plurality of parallel recording grooves formed in its lower surface, and carries pictures or symbols Sd representing the starting position of respective recording grooves, at its upper face.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the player, with the cover la removed to show the inner mechanism. The housing 1 carries an intermediate plate or a carrier plate 1d which carries intermediate mechanisms necessary for the reproduction. More specifically, the carrier plate 1d has a central communication bore 16 through which projects a vibration tube 18 of a speaker 17 to the upper side of the carrier plate ld. A tubular stem 3 of the push button 4 passes through the vibration tube 18. The push button 4 is normally biased upwardly, by means of a spring, as will be detailed later.

The carrier plate 1d carries a cantilevered sound-transmitting bar 19 which extends across the central communication bore 16.

The sound-transmitting bar 19 is normally biased upwardly, by means of a spring 22, so as to resiliently engage a side of the vibrant on tub 18 of the speaker 17.

The sound-trnnsmitting bar 19 is attached at its one side to an L-shaped resilient arm 20, through which the sound-transmitting bar 19 contacts the other side of the vibration tube 18 of the speaker 17.

This way of engagement of the soundtransmitting bar 19 with the vibration tube 18 advantageously ensures transmission of the reproduced sound, while allowing the displacement of the sound transmitting bar 19 relative to the vibration tube 18 and the speaker 17. In other words, the transmission is not affected at all by the relative displacement of these members.

The carrier plate ld further pivotally carries a tone arm 13 provided with the upwardly directed reproducing stylus 14 near to one end. The tone arm 13 is pivoted at its other end so as to perform a swinging motion over the carrier plate 1d and slightly upwardly. The tone arm 13 slidably rests at its end to which the stylus 14 is near on the sound-transmitting bar 19, so that the reproducing vibration picked up by the reproducing stylus 14 is transmitted to the soundtransmitting bar 19, as the tone arm 13 slides on the sound-transmitting bar 19. The vibraion is then further transmitted to the speaker 17, through the vibration tube 18, so as to be amplified and transduced into sound. The tone arm 13 is resiliently biased upwardly, by the force of the spring 22, through the sound-transmitting bar 19.

The tubular stem 3 carrying the push button 4 is provided, at its peripheral surface emerging from the vibration tube 18, with a circular groove 11. A latch 12 is secured to the carrier plate ld, and is pressed onto the peripheral surface of the tubular stem 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the latch 12 consists of a wire bent into a form of inverted U, having both legs pivoted at their lower ends to the lower surface of the carrier plate ld, and projected upwardly through the central communication bore 16. The latch 12 is resiliently biased into engagement with the peripheral surface of the tubular stem 3, by means of a spring 121. This construction of the latch is not exclusive, and any other member such as a resilient plate or a wire may be used as a latch 12.

An actuating link 21 having projections 21a and 21b at its ends is held between the latch 12 and the final reproducing position of the tone arm 13. The arrangement is such that the tone arm 13 displaces the actuating link 21, as the stylus 14 of the tone arm 13 reaches the final position along the recording groove, and the link in turn presses the latch 12 against the biasing force of the spring.

Thus, the tone arm 13 releases the latch, through the actuating link 21, when it reaches its final position in the course of the reproduction. In the drawings, numeral 13a denotes a reset spring for the tone arm. The actuating link 21 is further extended beyond the final reproducing position. The extended end of the actuating link 21 is tapered for engagement with a conical surface of a manual switch rod 23.

Switch contacts 10a and 10b are disposed beneath the push button 4, but are spaced from each other in the vertical direction.

However, when the push button is depressed, the contact 10a is pushed downwards into contact with the contact 10b.

The housing 1 carries a motor M which is connected to batteries housed in a battery magazine 25 which is also secured to the housing, through lead wires 26, 27 and the contacts 10a, 10b. Symbol VR represents a variable resistance for controlling speed of rotation of the motor M.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the record player, sectioned at a plane which passes through the center of the push button 4, for explaining the inner mechanisms housed by the housing 1. It will be seen that the speaker 17 is mounted to lie beneath the carrier plate Id of the housing 1, so to be directed downwardly. The vibration tube 18 formed on the converging end of the speaker 17 projects upwardly through the central communication bore 16 of the carrier plate. A center pin 28 is provided on the bottom plate le of the housing and extends to an intermediate height in the housing 1.

The lower end of the center pin 28 is received by a boss 24 formed unitarily with the bottom plate le of the housing 1. A tubular driving shaft 2 is fitted around the stem 3, for free rotation on the boss 24.

The driving shaft 2 carries a pulley 30 of large diameter which is connected to the shaft of the motor M (see Fig. 2) through a belt 31, so as to be driven at a speed less than that of the motor M.

The tubular stem 3 is fitted within the driving shaft 2, for a unitary rotation with the latter. The center pin 28 is inserted into the tubular stem 3 through most of the length of the stem 3, thereby to hold the tubular stem 3 coaxially with the driving shaft 2. The tubular stem 3 has a peripheral flange at its intermediate height, and a circumferential groove 11 formed at its upper journal portion.

Fig. 3 shows the push button 4 depressed downwardly to bring the circumferential groove 11 down to the height of the latch 12 to receive the latter, so that the tubular shaft 3 is latched to preserve the push button 4 at the depressed position.

An actuating piece 8 is inserted from the top opening of the tubular stem 3, i.e. from the lower plate 4e of the push button 4, in line with the center pin 28. The actuating piece 8 is biased upwardly by means of a coiled spring 33 acting between itself and the upper end of the center pin 28. The bottom plate 4e of the push button 4 presents at its peripheral portion a supporting surface 4b for the record disc 5 and is recessed at its center to provide a seat groove 4f. The actuating piece 8 has at its top portion an unitary head 8a having on both sides tapered surfaces 6a, 6b and vertical front and rear surfaces. Thus, the actuating piece 8 is allowed to move axially, being guided by the front and the rear walls of the recessed seat groove 4f, but is locked against rotation relative to the push button 4.

Fingers 4c, 4d extend across the bottom plate 4e of the push button 4 so as to pass over the actuating piece 8. Further, a frustoconical cover 4g is provided to cover the fingers 4c, 4d and has a conical peripheral surface 4a. At the lower end of the cover 4g, are provided a pair of windows 34a, 34b, on opposite sides of the push button 4. The fingers 4c, 4d have downwardly tapered ends tl, t2 which project outwardly through the windows 34a, 34b.

As will be seen from Fig. 4 which is a perspective view with the cover 4g removed, the fingers are guided by a slot (not denoted) which is cut in the central thickened portion of the bottom plate 4e. The fingers 4c, 4d are notched at their intermediate portions to present downwardly tapered faces 7a, 7b adapted to sliding engage the upwardly tapered surface 6a, 6b of the head 8a of the actuating piece 8.

A coiled spring 8b is provided on the head 8a of the actuating piece 8. As will be seen from Figure 3, the spring 8b is compressed between ihe head 8a and the upper inner surface of the cover 4a of the push button 4, so as to support the latter, as well as to resiliently press the actuating piece 8 downwardly, so that the head 8a may be seated on the bottom of the seat groove 4f.

Thus, the push button 4 is always biased upwardly, along the tubular stem 3, while the latch 12 is not retained by the circumferential groove 11 of the tubular stem 3 but is engaged by the lower flange 32, as shown in Figure 2, thereby to prevent the push button 4 from falling. The head 8a of the actuating piece 8 is seated on the seat groove 4f.

The fingers 4a, 4b are normally biased by a spring 9 inwardy, so that the edge tl, t2 may not project outwardly. This results in a sliding contact of the tapered surface 7a, 7b of the fingers 4c, 4d with the tapered surfaces 6a, 6b of the head 8a of the actuating piece 8. Therefore, when there is no downward pressing force applied to the push button 4, the push button 4 is kept at the raised position, being supported by the coiled spring 8b, so that the actuating piece 8 does not project into the push button 4, and the tapered surfaces 6a, 6b of the head do not apply force to the fingers 4c, 4d, so that the ends ti, t2 of the latter do not project out of the windows 34a, 34b.

In operation, the record disc 5 is mounted, as shown in Fig. 3, with its face having record grooves 5b directed downwardly, in such a manner that its central bore 5a engages the peripheral surface 4a of the push button 4. By pressing the push button 4 downwardly, with the record disc 5 supported by the supporting surface 4b, the switch contacts 10a. lOb come to close the circuit to start the motor M. Consequently, the push button 4 is rotated and, at the same time, the fingers 4c, 4d are forced out by the wedging action performed by the tapered surfaces 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b, because the actuating piece 8 enters the push button, so that the ends tl and t2 of the fingers come to cooperate with the supporting surface 4b in cramping the edge of the central bore 5a of the record disc therebetween. In addition, the tubular shaft 3 is also lowered so as to bring the circumferential groove 11 to the position for receiving the latch 12, thereby to lock the tubular shaft 3 against upward returning movement. However, the rotation of the push button 4 and the tubular shaft 3 is never interrupted by this latch 12.

The push button thus secures the record disc 5, and brings the stylus into engagement with the record groove 5b. As the record disc is rotated, the stylus 14 and the tone arm 13 are guided to the end of the groove and on reaching this the tone arm 13 pushes the projection 21a of the actuating link 12, which in turn pushes the latch, through the projection 21b so as to disengage the latch 12 from the circumferential groove 11.

Consequently, the tubular shaft 3 is unlocked and is returned to the raised position by the force of the spring 8b. Then, the contacts lOa and lOb are opened to disconnect the motor M from the power source. At the same time, the record pressing pieces 4c, 4d is retracted into the push button 4, because the pressing force has been removed thereby to release the record disc. The upward movement of the record disc 5 releases the stylus, so as to allow the tone arm 13 to return to its starting position.

Figure 5 shows another toy record player embodying the invention which is simplified in that the record disc 5 is permanently fixed to the push button 4, i.e. the record disc 5 is not intended for replacement. Therefore, the push button 4 does not need the fingers as used in the foregoing embodiments.

As will be seen from Figure 6, the stem 3 has a tubular form, as is the case of the foregoing embodiment, and is also biased upwardly by means of a coiled spring 33.

At the same time, the stem 3 is adapted to be driven by a driving shaft 2.

Parts of this simplified embodiment other than specifically mentioned are identical or similar to those of the foregoing embodiment and, therefore, are not detailed here.

This embodiment may be modified to allow the replacement of the record disc, by providing means for releasing the disc from the push button, i.e. means for adjusting the degree of frictional engagement between the record disc and the push button. For instance, a leaf spring may be provided to act between the record disc and the push button.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A toy record player of the type in which a record disc having a plurality of interleaved and parallel recording grooves formed in its lower face and carrying marks representing the recording grooves at its upper face is mounted on the record player, the marks on said record disc being at posilions corresponding to respective starting positions of the recording grooves, with one of the marks aligned with an index mark provided on the housing of said record player to select a recording groove, so as to put the selected recording groove into register with a stylus for performing the reproduction, and the reproduction is stopped automatically, when the stylus has been driven to the final position of the recording groove, whereupon a tone arm carrying said stylus is automatically returned to a starting position; comprising an upwardly biased push button which acts as a record holder, for driving and holding said record disc, said push button being coupled to a motor and axially movable in a housing, a pair of switch contacts disposed beneath said push button so as to be engaged by said push button when said push button is axially depressed, to complete an electric circuit for said motor, and arranged to open said circuit when said push button is released and returned to the raised position; a latch provided on said housing and normally biased for keeping a sliding contact with a shaft of said push button, and for engaging a circumferential groove formed in said shaft when said push button has been depressed to the lowered position, thereby to latch or lock said push button at that axial position while allowing the rotation of said push button; and an actuating rod associated with said latch and with said tone arm carrying the stylus so as to apply a force to said

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. surfaces 6a, 6b of the head 8a of the actuating piece 8. Therefore, when there is no downward pressing force applied to the push button 4, the push button 4 is kept at the raised position, being supported by the coiled spring 8b, so that the actuating piece 8 does not project into the push button 4, and the tapered surfaces 6a, 6b of the head do not apply force to the fingers 4c, 4d, so that the ends ti, t2 of the latter do not project out of the windows 34a, 34b. In operation, the record disc 5 is mounted, as shown in Fig. 3, with its face having record grooves 5b directed downwardly, in such a manner that its central bore 5a engages the peripheral surface 4a of the push button 4. By pressing the push button 4 downwardly, with the record disc 5 supported by the supporting surface 4b, the switch contacts 10a. lOb come to close the circuit to start the motor M. Consequently, the push button 4 is rotated and, at the same time, the fingers 4c, 4d are forced out by the wedging action performed by the tapered surfaces 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b, because the actuating piece 8 enters the push button, so that the ends tl and t2 of the fingers come to cooperate with the supporting surface 4b in cramping the edge of the central bore 5a of the record disc therebetween. In addition, the tubular shaft 3 is also lowered so as to bring the circumferential groove 11 to the position for receiving the latch 12, thereby to lock the tubular shaft 3 against upward returning movement. However, the rotation of the push button 4 and the tubular shaft 3 is never interrupted by this latch 12. The push button thus secures the record disc 5, and brings the stylus into engagement with the record groove 5b. As the record disc is rotated, the stylus 14 and the tone arm 13 are guided to the end of the groove and on reaching this the tone arm 13 pushes the projection 21a of the actuating link 12, which in turn pushes the latch, through the projection 21b so as to disengage the latch 12 from the circumferential groove 11. Consequently, the tubular shaft 3 is unlocked and is returned to the raised position by the force of the spring 8b. Then, the contacts lOa and lOb are opened to disconnect the motor M from the power source. At the same time, the record pressing pieces 4c, 4d is retracted into the push button 4, because the pressing force has been removed thereby to release the record disc. The upward movement of the record disc 5 releases the stylus, so as to allow the tone arm 13 to return to its starting position. Figure 5 shows another toy record player embodying the invention which is simplified in that the record disc 5 is permanently fixed to the push button 4, i.e. the record disc 5 is not intended for replacement. Therefore, the push button 4 does not need the fingers as used in the foregoing embodiments. As will be seen from Figure 6, the stem 3 has a tubular form, as is the case of the foregoing embodiment, and is also biased upwardly by means of a coiled spring 33. At the same time, the stem 3 is adapted to be driven by a driving shaft 2. Parts of this simplified embodiment other than specifically mentioned are identical or similar to those of the foregoing embodiment and, therefore, are not detailed here. This embodiment may be modified to allow the replacement of the record disc, by providing means for releasing the disc from the push button, i.e. means for adjusting the degree of frictional engagement between the record disc and the push button. For instance, a leaf spring may be provided to act between the record disc and the push button. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A toy record player of the type in which a record disc having a plurality of interleaved and parallel recording grooves formed in its lower face and carrying marks representing the recording grooves at its upper face is mounted on the record player, the marks on said record disc being at posilions corresponding to respective starting positions of the recording grooves, with one of the marks aligned with an index mark provided on the housing of said record player to select a recording groove, so as to put the selected recording groove into register with a stylus for performing the reproduction, and the reproduction is stopped automatically, when the stylus has been driven to the final position of the recording groove, whereupon a tone arm carrying said stylus is automatically returned to a starting position; comprising an upwardly biased push button which acts as a record holder, for driving and holding said record disc, said push button being coupled to a motor and axially movable in a housing, a pair of switch contacts disposed beneath said push button so as to be engaged by said push button when said push button is axially depressed, to complete an electric circuit for said motor, and arranged to open said circuit when said push button is released and returned to the raised position; a latch provided on said housing and normally biased for keeping a sliding contact with a shaft of said push button, and for engaging a circumferential groove formed in said shaft when said push button has been depressed to the lowered position, thereby to latch or lock said push button at that axial position while allowing the rotation of said push button; and an actuating rod associated with said latch and with said tone arm carrying the stylus so as to apply a force to said

latch opposing the biasing force exerted on the latch and arranged to receive a force from said tone arm when the stylus is in the final position of the groove to force said latch out of said circumferential groove.

2. A toy record player as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shaft of said push button has a tubular form, said tubular shaft is rotatably supported by a center pin provided on the bottom plate of said housing to extend upwardly therefrom into said tubular shaft, and said push button is supported and biased upwardly by a coiled spring disposed on the top end of said center pin received by said tubular shaft.

3. A toy record player as claimed in claim 2 wherein said push button comprises a supporting surface for supporting said record disc in the plane of rotation of the latter; a finger capable of moving in the plane of rotation of said record disc and having ends opposed to said supporting surface for co-operating with the latter in cramping the edge of the central hole of said record disc therebetween; an actuating piece disposed in said tubular shaft of said push button and axially movable to engage said 'fingers, said actuating piece having tapered surfaces arranged to urge said fingers outwardly, when it is moved axially as a result of a depression of said push button; a spring adapted to bias said fingers radially inwardly; fingers and a coiled spring adapted to bias the push button upwardly and to resiliently bias said actuating piece downwardly.

4. A toy record player as claimed in claim 1, wherein said record disc and said push button are fixed to each other.

5. A toy record player substantially as herein described, with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.