GB2117258A - Toy rocking device - Google Patents

Abstract

A toy rocking device such as a rocking chair (not shown) includes a powered unit 2 having a downwardly- extending ground-engaging member 13 which is coupled through slot 11 to a pin eccentrically mounted on a rotating disc 9, such that in operation the member 13 moves upwardly and downwardly in a regular periodic manner to cause controlled rocking of the chair 1. The member 13 may be driven by a musical box mechanism 6, 7. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Toy rocking device This invention relates to toy rocking devices, such as miniature rocking chairs, including powered means actuable to cause the devices to move back and forth. Such devices have obvious attractions both to children as toys and to adults as ornaments.

Toy rocking chairs are known which include a downwardly displaceable spring-loaded pin positioned close to the ground between the rockers of the chair. At discrete intervals of time, the pin is automatically extended downwardly and then rapidly upwardly so as to momentarily engage the ground and "nudge" the chair into free rocking movement. Thus the chair moves in a largely irregular and intermittent fashion.

It is an object of this invention to provide a toy rocking device of this type wherein the rocking movements of the device are smooth and regular.

Accordingly, the invention provides a toy rocking device having a powered unit mounted thereto, said unit including a rotatable shaft or drum and a generally downwardly extending ground engaging member eccentrically coupled to the shaft or drum whereby, in use, rotation of the shaft or drum causes the member to move upwardly and downwardly in a regular periodic manner so as to cause regular and controlled rocking movement of the device.

Preferably, the ground engaging member is eccentrically mounted to a rotatable disc driven by the shaft or drum. The eccentric mounting may conveniently be achieved by means of a pin projecting from the disc which engages in a slot formed in an uppermost portion of the member.

The powered unit is preferably surrounded by a casing having an opening on its underside through which the ground engaging member extends and which serves to guide the upward and downward movement of the member.

In a preferred embodiment, the powered unit incorporates a musical box and the rotating disc is driven by the musical box drum. Thus, a toy rocking chair may be provided which is both visually and aurally attractive.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a toy rocking chair in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the powered unit of the chair shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the unit shown in Figure 2.

Referring then to the drawings, a toy rocking chair 1 which may be of a suitable plastics material or alternatively carved from wood, includes a powered unit 2 mounted to the underside of the seat of the chair. The unit 2, which is concealed by a casing 3, includes the working mechanism of a musical box, namely, a clockwork motor 4, a speed regulator 5, a rotating musical box drum 6 and a series of chimes 7 which are sequentially sounded as the drum rotates. A key 8 for winding up the mechanism is provided externally to the casing 3.

A disc 9 is mounted at one end of, and is driven by, the drum 6 and is provided with a pin 10 which is mounted eccentrically to the axis of rotation. The pin 10 engages in a slot 11 formed in an upper portion 12 of a generally downwardly extending member 13. The member 1 3 passes through an opening 14 formed at a bottom corner of the casing 3.

In use, as the disc 9 rotates, movement of the member 13 is guided by the action of the casing side walls on the member upper portion 12 and by the opening 14 and, as is clear from Figure 3, the member 13 moves regularly up and down. As shown in Figure 1, the member 1 3 acts on the ground so as to cause the chair 1 to rock smoothly back and forth in a controlled and regulated fashion.

1. A toy rocking device having a powered unit mounted thereto, said unit including a rotatable shaft or drum and a generally downwardly extending ground engaging member eccentrically coupled to the shaft or drum whereby, in use, rotation of the shaft or drum causes the member to move upwardly and downwardly in a regular periodic manner so as to cause regular and controlled rocking movement of the device.

2. A toy rocking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ground engaging member is eccentrically mounted to a rotatable disc driven by the shaft or drum.

3. A toy rocking device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the ground engaging member is eccentrically mounted to the disc by means of a pin projecting from the disc which engages in a slot formed in an upper portion of the member.

4. A toy rocking device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the powered unit is surrounded by a casing having an opening on its underside through which the ground engaging member extends and which serves to guide the upward and downward movement of the member.

5. A toy rocking device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the powered unit incorporates a musical box, the musical box drum being eccentrically coupled to the ground engaging member.

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

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

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Toy rocking device This invention relates to toy rocking devices, such as miniature rocking chairs, including powered means actuable to cause the devices to move back and forth. Such devices have obvious attractions both to children as toys and to adults as ornaments. Toy rocking chairs are known which include a downwardly displaceable spring-loaded pin positioned close to the ground between the rockers of the chair. At discrete intervals of time, the pin is automatically extended downwardly and then rapidly upwardly so as to momentarily engage the ground and "nudge" the chair into free rocking movement. Thus the chair moves in a largely irregular and intermittent fashion. It is an object of this invention to provide a toy rocking device of this type wherein the rocking movements of the device are smooth and regular. Accordingly, the invention provides a toy rocking device having a powered unit mounted thereto, said unit including a rotatable shaft or drum and a generally downwardly extending ground engaging member eccentrically coupled to the shaft or drum whereby, in use, rotation of the shaft or drum causes the member to move upwardly and downwardly in a regular periodic manner so as to cause regular and controlled rocking movement of the device. Preferably, the ground engaging member is eccentrically mounted to a rotatable disc driven by the shaft or drum. The eccentric mounting may conveniently be achieved by means of a pin projecting from the disc which engages in a slot formed in an uppermost portion of the member. The powered unit is preferably surrounded by a casing having an opening on its underside through which the ground engaging member extends and which serves to guide the upward and downward movement of the member. In a preferred embodiment, the powered unit incorporates a musical box and the rotating disc is driven by the musical box drum. Thus, a toy rocking chair may be provided which is both visually and aurally attractive. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a toy rocking chair in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the powered unit of the chair shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the unit shown in Figure 2. Referring then to the drawings, a toy rocking chair 1 which may be of a suitable plastics material or alternatively carved from wood, includes a powered unit 2 mounted to the underside of the seat of the chair. The unit 2, which is concealed by a casing 3, includes the working mechanism of a musical box, namely, a clockwork motor 4, a speed regulator 5, a rotating musical box drum 6 and a series of chimes 7 which are sequentially sounded as the drum rotates. A key 8 for winding up the mechanism is provided externally to the casing 3. A disc 9 is mounted at one end of, and is driven by, the drum 6 and is provided with a pin 10 which is mounted eccentrically to the axis of rotation. The pin 10 engages in a slot 11 formed in an upper portion 12 of a generally downwardly extending member 13. The member 1 3 passes through an opening 14 formed at a bottom corner of the casing 3. In use, as the disc 9 rotates, movement of the member 13 is guided by the action of the casing side walls on the member upper portion 12 and by the opening 14 and, as is clear from Figure 3, the member 13 moves regularly up and down. As shown in Figure 1, the member 1 3 acts on the ground so as to cause the chair 1 to rock smoothly back and forth in a controlled and regulated fashion. CLAIMS

1. A toy rocking device having a powered unit mounted thereto, said unit including a rotatable shaft or drum and a generally downwardly extending ground engaging member eccentrically coupled to the shaft or drum whereby, in use, rotation of the shaft or drum causes the member to move upwardly and downwardly in a regular periodic manner so as to cause regular and controlled rocking movement of the device.

2. A toy rocking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ground engaging member is eccentrically mounted to a rotatable disc driven by the shaft or drum.

3. A toy rocking device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the ground engaging member is eccentrically mounted to the disc by means of a pin projecting from the disc which engages in a slot formed in an upper portion of the member.

4. A toy rocking device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the powered unit is surrounded by a casing having an opening on its underside through which the ground engaging member extends and which serves to guide the upward and downward movement of the member.

5. A toy rocking device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the powered unit incorporates a musical box, the musical box drum being eccentrically coupled to the ground engaging member.

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