GB2057277A - Light emitting eyes for toys - Google Patents

Abstract

A light emitting eye for a toy comprises a pupil comprising groups of light-emitting diodes (LED). The groups are capable of emitting respective particular colours of light separately from each other or at the same time by means of operating switches (S5, S11, S12, S13, S41, S21, S31) provided between the groups and a power source (V). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Light emitting eyes This invention relates to light emitting eyes.

According to this invention, there is provided a light emitting eye which comprises a pupil comprising groups of light-emitting diodes, each of the groups comprising diodes which emit a respective colour of light.

The eye would be provided with means whereby the groups are capable of emitting their respective colour of light separately and/or at the same time.

This invention also comprises a toy including an eye according to the invention.

The said means could comprise switches between the said groups and a power source. The switches may be conventional button switches or changeover switches, but it is preferable that they be magnetic switches, touch control switches or the like, where the eye is in a toy, being fitted inside the toy at its head, arms, shoulders, fingers, knees and like parts, particularly at its joints, and designed to be responsive to pressures applied to the various surface parts of the toy.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a toy duck provided with light emitting eyes, Figure 2 is a perspective magnified view of an eye of the toy duck shown in Figure land Figures 3 and 4 show diagrams of electrical circuitry for the light emitting eyes of the toy duck shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, the toy duck shown is one manufactured after the manner of a caricatured duck, using conventional electromotive, mechanical and/or manual toy manufacturing techniques.

Referring to Figure 2, the eye shown comprises an eye-ball 2 and a cover 1, for protecting the eye-ball 2.

The eye-ball 2 may be movable or fixed and comprises a pupil 3 and a portion 4 surrounding the pupil 3 like an ordinary eye-ball. The pupil 3 comprises groups of light-emitting diodes LED, such as groups LED1,LED2 and LED3 (see Figure 3). When actuated, the light-emitting diode groups emit light of different colours, such as red, green and yellow respectively.

Thus, the pupil 3 comprises, for example, a red light-emitting diode group, a green light-emitting diode group and a yellow light-emitting diode group, the groups being regularly interspersed in the pupil 3.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, light-emitting diode groups LED1, LED2 and LED3 are connected in electrical circuitry including a switch Ss, touch control switches S41 and S21r magnetic switches Sii, 512, Sia and S3x, a source V, and a resistance R. Individual light-emitting diodes of the light-emitting diode groups LED1, LED2 and LED3 are conventional light-emitting diodes. For example, if light emitting diodes are used which are energised at a voltage of 2.5 volts (in the range from 2.0 to 2.8 volts), it is convenient that source V is a 3 volt battery, its vol tage being dropped by the resistance R of an appropriate value.The battery V may be inserted in the body of the duck through an opening provided on the body such that the battery V is interchange ably housed therein. A lid 5 (see Figure 1) is fitted to the body to coverthis opening.

Assuming that the light-emitting diode group LED1 is capable of emitting red light, the group LED1 is energised to emit red light immediately after the switch Ss and the magnetic switch S" are closed.

The magnetic switch S" may be operated in association with the touch control switch 521 (Figure 4). A plurality of switches similar two the switch 521 may be used if necessary. The switch Ssi and, if necessary, its equivalents are housed inside soft portions of the body of the toy duck and may be actuated by a blow given to these soft portions by a child playing with the toy duck, with displeasure, or a touch given thereto with affection.The red colour of light emitted by group LED1 is generally indicative of fury and, therefore, the switch S21 for operating the red light emitting diode group LED1, should preferably have a greater gap or stroke such that the group LED1 will not emit a red light unless the soft portion of the body housing the switch Ssi is subjected to a pressure exceeding a certain high level. Thus, the switch 521 will not be closed unless a higher pressure applied, or greater blow is given, to the body of the toy duck. As can be seen from the above, the emission of red light from the eyes of the toy duck can be effected separately from the emission of green or yellow light by the selection of a particular switch.In the same manner, the emission of green light can be effected separately from that of yellow light by locating the switch 512 for the group LED2 at a different part inside the body from the switch 513 for the group LED3.

Referring to Figure 4, when the switch 521 is closed, a coil C, is energized to close the magnetic switches Sii and S21 whereby red light-emitting diode group LED1 is energised to indicate fury, as long as the touch control switch S41 (a "normally on" type switch) is not opened for an instant by the application of an external pressure thereto. If it is desired to stop the emission of red light, it is necessaryto cut the electric current through coil C, by opening the switch S4, for an instant by means of tenderly stroking the toy duck's head in which the switch 541 is housed for example. The group LED1 is thus switched-off and the red light is extinguished. In the same manner, the group LED2, for emitting green light, and group LED3, for emitting yellow light, may be arranged and wired together in combination with the group LED1 for emitting red light, thereby enabling the eyes of the toy duck to appear angry, joyful, sad, etc.

It is, of course, possible to use circuitry which is adapted such that lights of two or more colours can be emitted at the same time.

The power source for the circuitry can be one or more batteries, usually dry batteries, or a combina tion of an A.C. power source and a suitable commercial adapter instead.

An eye according to the present invention may be used not only in a toy, but also in a doll or the like for display or advertisement.

Claims (6)

1. A light emitting eye which comprises a pupil comprising groups of light-emitting diodes, each of the groups comprising diodes which emit a respective colour of light.

2. An eye according to claim 1, provided with means whereby the groups are capable of emitting their respective colour of light separately and/or at the same time.

3. An eye according to claim 2, wherein the said means comprises switches provided between the said groups and a power source.

4. A little emitting eye, substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1, or Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

5. Atoy including a light-emitting eye according to any of claims 1 to 4.

6. A toy, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.