GB2081111A

GB2081111A - Toy

Info

Publication number: GB2081111A
Application number: GB8024674A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TAIMING PLASTIC PRODUCTS CO LT
Current assignee: TAIMING PLASTIC PRODUCTS CO LT
Priority date: 1980-07-28
Filing date: 1980-07-28
Publication date: 1982-02-17
Also published as: GB2081111B; HK84684A

Abstract

Strings 13, 14 follow different paths through a first series (8b, 8a 6, 4, 3, 4, 6, 9a, 9b) and a second series (11b, 11a, 6, 7, 6, 12a, 12b), respectively, of juxtaposed, relatively movable members. The strings 13, 14 extend through a base 2 and are connected to respective spring-loaded push-buttons 18, 19 which maintain the strings 13, 14 under tension so that the figure 1 formed by the juxtaposed members is stable. The push-buttons 18, 19 are individually actuable to slacken the respective strings 13, 14 and thereby render the first or second series of members unstable, so that the attitude of the figure 1 can be altered. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Toy This invention relates to a toy comprising a figure mounted on a base, the figure being made up of juxtaposed, relatively movable members threaded on flexible elongate elements (e.g. strings) which extend through the base, the flexible elements following different paths through respective series of the members and being connected to respective spring-loaded actuators which maintain the flexible elements under tension so that the figure is stable, the actuators being individually actuable to slacken the respective flexible elements, thereby rendering the respective series of members unstable.

Thus, when an actuator is actuated, the attitude of the figure can be altered underthe effect of gravity or by manipulating the unstable series of members, and the attitudes can be adjusted by actuating different individual actuators or combinations of actuators.

According to the present invention, the actuators comprise a pair of opposed push-buttons mounted below the base for movement parallel to the base and urged apart by a compression spring acting between them. Thus the push-buttons can easily be held between the thumb and fingers, while supporting the toy, and can be selectively manipulated without difficulty. The construction is compact and uncomplicated.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toy comprising a figure of a horse mounted on a base; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but with the figure shown in phantom; Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the toy, in horizontal section; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but with the actuators pressed in; and Figure 5 is a vertical section on line V-V in Figure 3.

The toy illustrated comprises a figure 1 (which, by way of example, represents a horse) mounted on a base 2. The figure is made up ofthe following juxtaposed members, which are movable relative to one another and are in fact separable from one another: a head 3, a neck 4, a body 6, a tail 7, upper and lower front left and right leg portions 8a,b and 9a,b, and upper and lower rear left and right leg portions 1 1a,b and 12a,b.

The juxtaposed members are threaded on two threads or strings 13, 14 which extend through holes in the base 2 and whose ends 13a,b and 14a,b are tied to lugs 16a,b and 17a,b integral with moulded plastics push-buttons 18 and 19, respectively. The string 13 is threaded through a front series of the members in the following sequence: 8b, 8a, 6,4,3,4,6, 9a, 9b. The string 14 is threaded through a rear series of the members in the following sequence: 1 1b, 1 lea, 6,7,6,12a, 12b.

The push-buttons 18, 19 are of hollow construction and are guided by the undersurface of the base 2, by a pair of vertical side-walls 22 integral with the base, and by a bottom wall 23 fitted between the sidewalls 22 and having pins 24 fixed in hollow projections 26 depending from the base. The base 2, the push-buttons 18, 19, the side-walls 22, and the bottom wall 23 thus form a pedestal on which the figure 1 stands. In the normal situation illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 and 5, the push-buttons 18, 19 are held apart in their furthest extended positions by a compression spring 27 acting between them. The spring 27 is guided between the bottom wall 23 and a flange 28 depending from the base 2 and between lateral extensions 29 of the projections 26.In the normal situation, stops 31 in the form of flanges on the push-buttons 18, 19 engage with similar stops 32 on the side-walls 22, and the strings 13, 14 are under tension so that the front and rear series of members are both stable.

If both push-buttons 18,19 are pressed in (Figure 4) the strings 13, 14 are both slackened and both series of members become unstable, with the members only loosely connected by the strings, so that the attitude of the figure 1 can be altered by manipulation or by tilting the base 2 so that gravity acts on the figure. If the front button 18 alone is pushed in, the action of gravity on the head 3 tends to make it tilt down together with the neck 4. If the rear button 19 alone is pushed in, the tail 7 tends to tilt down.

Thus the attitude of the figure 1 can be varied by selectively actuating the push-buttons 18, to varying degrees.

Various modifications may be made. For instance, the push-buttons may be connected to only one end of the respective strings, the other end being cor- nected to a fixed part, such as the base 2. The strings 13,14 may be fixed to the head 3 and the tail 7, respectively, rather than passing freely through them.

1. A toy comprising a figure mounted on a base, the figure being made of up juxtaposed, relatively movable members threaded on flexible elongate elements which extend through the base, the flexible elements following different paths through respective series of the members and being connected to respective spring-loaded actuators which maintain theflexible elements under tension so that the figure is stable, the actuators being individually actuable to slacken the respective flexible elements, thereby rendering the respective series of members unstable, characterised in that the actuators comprise a pair of opposed pushbuttons mounted below the base for movement parallel to the base and urged apart by a compression spring acting between them.

2. A toy as claimed in claim 1, in which the figure stands on a pedestal constituted by the base, the push-buttons, a pair of vertical side-walls between which the push-buttons are guided, and a bottom wall extending between the side-walls below the push-buttons.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Toy This invention relates to a toy comprising a figure mounted on a base, the figure being made up of juxtaposed, relatively movable members threaded on flexible elongate elements (e.g. strings) which extend through the base, the flexible elements following different paths through respective series of the members and being connected to respective spring-loaded actuators which maintain the flexible elements under tension so that the figure is stable, the actuators being individually actuable to slacken the respective flexible elements, thereby rendering the respective series of members unstable. Thus, when an actuator is actuated, the attitude of the figure can be altered underthe effect of gravity or by manipulating the unstable series of members, and the attitudes can be adjusted by actuating different individual actuators or combinations of actuators. According to the present invention, the actuators comprise a pair of opposed push-buttons mounted below the base for movement parallel to the base and urged apart by a compression spring acting between them. Thus the push-buttons can easily be held between the thumb and fingers, while supporting the toy, and can be selectively manipulated without difficulty. The construction is compact and uncomplicated. The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toy comprising a figure of a horse mounted on a base; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but with the figure shown in phantom; Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the toy, in horizontal section; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but with the actuators pressed in; and Figure 5 is a vertical section on line V-V in Figure 3. The toy illustrated comprises a figure 1 (which, by way of example, represents a horse) mounted on a base 2. The figure is made up ofthe following juxtaposed members, which are movable relative to one another and are in fact separable from one another: a head 3, a neck 4, a body 6, a tail 7, upper and lower front left and right leg portions 8a,b and 9a,b, and upper and lower rear left and right leg portions 1 1a,b and 12a,b. The juxtaposed members are threaded on two threads or strings 13, 14 which extend through holes in the base 2 and whose ends 13a,b and 14a,b are tied to lugs 16a,b and 17a,b integral with moulded plastics push-buttons 18 and 19, respectively. The string 13 is threaded through a front series of the members in the following sequence: 8b, 8a, 6,4,3,4,6, 9a, 9b. The string 14 is threaded through a rear series of the members in the following sequence: 1 1b, 1 lea, 6,7,6,12a, 12b. The push-buttons 18, 19 are of hollow construction and are guided by the undersurface of the base 2, by a pair of vertical side-walls 22 integral with the base, and by a bottom wall 23 fitted between the sidewalls 22 and having pins 24 fixed in hollow projections 26 depending from the base. The base 2, the push-buttons 18, 19, the side-walls 22, and the bottom wall 23 thus form a pedestal on which the figure 1 stands. In the normal situation illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 and 5, the push-buttons 18, 19 are held apart in their furthest extended positions by a compression spring 27 acting between them. The spring 27 is guided between the bottom wall 23 and a flange 28 depending from the base 2 and between lateral extensions 29 of the projections 26.In the normal situation, stops 31 in the form of flanges on the push-buttons 18, 19 engage with similar stops 32 on the side-walls 22, and the strings 13, 14 are under tension so that the front and rear series of members are both stable. If both push-buttons 18,19 are pressed in (Figure 4) the strings 13, 14 are both slackened and both series of members become unstable, with the members only loosely connected by the strings, so that the attitude of the figure 1 can be altered by manipulation or by tilting the base 2 so that gravity acts on the figure. If the front button 18 alone is pushed in, the action of gravity on the head 3 tends to make it tilt down together with the neck 4. If the rear button 19 alone is pushed in, the tail 7 tends to tilt down. Thus the attitude of the figure 1 can be varied by selectively actuating the push-buttons 18, to varying degrees. Various modifications may be made. For instance, the push-buttons may be connected to only one end of the respective strings, the other end being cor- nected to a fixed part, such as the base 2. The strings 13,14 may be fixed to the head 3 and the tail 7, respectively, rather than passing freely through them. CLAIMS

3. Atoy as claimed in claim 1 or2, in which both ends of at least one of the flexible elements extend through the base.

4. A toy as claimed in claim 3, in which both ends are connected to the same actuator.

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