GB2161087A

GB2161087A - Toy figure apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2161087A
Application number: GB08516563A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wit James Peter De; Wit Janet Patricia De
Original assignee: WIT JANET PATRICIA DE
Current assignee: WIT JANET PATRICIA DE
Priority date: 1984-07-03
Filing date: 1985-07-01
Publication date: 1986-01-08
Also published as: GB8416838D0; GB2161087B; GB8516563D0

Abstract

A toy figure has a body (8) and at least one limb (10,12) which is movable such that it carries out a repetitive movement. Drive means (6) being for moving the limb comprises a rotatable disc (38) which has an abutment pin (40) which cooperates with a slotted member 34 to push the limb for a first part of a rotation cycle of the disc (38) to cause the limb to effect one half of its repetitive movement. On a second part of the rotation cycle of the disc (38) the limb operates under gravity to effect the other half of its repetitive movement. Both legs are driven and a drive (not shown) is also provided for one arm. The device is manually powered, a handle (not shown) being provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Toy figure apparatus This invention relates to toy figure apparatus.

Toy figure apparatus in which a toy figure appears to be moving, for example walking or waving, is known. The known toy figure apparatus is usually such that the moving action is unrealistic and it is an aim of the present invention to provide toy figure apparatus in which at least one toy figure is capable of a realistic movement.

Accordingly, this invention provides toy figure apparatus comprising at least one toy figure and drive means, the toy figure having a body and at least one limb which is movable such that it carries out a repetitive movement, the drive means being for moving the limb, the limb having a first limb section and a second limb section, the first limb section being joined at a first end portion to the body and at a second end portion to the second limb section. the drive means comprising a rotatable device which has an abutment which contacts the limb and causes the limb to move as the rotatable device rotates,and the contact between the abutment and the limb being a loose contact such that the abutment pushes on the limb for a first part of a rotation cycle of the rotatable device to cause the limb to effect one half of a repetitive movement, and such that on a second part of the rotation cycle of the rotatable device the limb operates under gravity to effect the other half of the repetitive movement.

The loose contact between the abutment and the limb enables the limb to effect its repetitive movement with a crisp action which in effect is a straight there and back action.

There is no rotary cycling type of action as will be the case if the abutment were positively secured to the limb as, for example, by a pivot pin. The repetitive movement may thus be realistic and appropriate for the particular toy figure. Thus, where one or more limbs in the form of legs are arranged to be movable, then the toy figure may realistically appear to be walking, marching, running or dancing. Alternatively or in addition, where the one or more limbs are in the form of arms, then the toy figure may realistically wave, remove its hat or make any other desired type of repetitive movement.

The toy figure may be in the form of a human being, a cartoon character or an animal.

The figure of the human being may be that of an officer, a rifleman, a dancer, a city gentleman with an umbrella, a runner or a soldier.

The figure of a cartoon character may be that of a bear, for example Ruper Bear, or it may be that of a Mouse, for example Mickey Mouse.

The figure of an animal may be that of a bear, an elephant or a horse.

The toy figure apparatus may be such that there is only one toy figure. Alternatively, there may be more than one toy figure.

Where the toy apparatus is such that there are more than one figure, then the toy figures may be arranged in a single line and behind one another. Alternatively, if desired, the toy figures may be arranged side by side. The toy figures can also be arranged to face each other.

As indicated above, the limb may be an arm or leg.

Preferably, the toy figure has two of the movable limbs in the form of movable legs. It is to be appreciated however that movable legs and/or movable arms can be in any combination so that one or more legs and/or one or more arms are arranged to be movable.

Where more than one limb is movable, all of the movable limbs will normally operate off of the same drive means. Obviously, the drive means will require an increasing number of connections for an increasing number of movable limbs.

Preferably, when the toy figure apparatus is such that the toy figure has at least one movable leg, then the or each leg is provided with a stop arrangement for preventing the second limb section from pivoting beyond a predetermined position to an un-natural position.

Preferably, the drive means is such that the rotatable device is a disc, and the abutment is a pin.

The pin preferably runs in an open slot in the second limb section, whereby the contact between the abutment and the second limb section is a sliding connection. Although an open slot is preferred, the slot could be a closed slot if it were of a sufficient length or it could be a formed recess having in effect just the top and one side of an open slot.

The drive means may also be such that the rotatable device is a disc, and the abutment is a cam on the periphery of the disc, the second limb section then being such as to rest on the periphery of the disc.

The drive means may be manually operated or it may be powered by a motor. The motor may be mains and/or battery operated.

The toy figure apparatus may include support means for the toy figure.

The support means may be an upstanding panel. The upstanding panel may be provided with scenery appropriate to the figure.

The toy figure apparatus may include a recording of music appropriate to the action of the toy figure.

The toy figure apparatus may include a box in which the toy figure and the drive means are housed. The box may have a removable cover.

The toy figure apparatus may include wheel means for wheeling the toy figure apparatus along a surface.

The toy figure apparatus may also include a handle for pushing or pulling the toy figure apparatus along the surface.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of toy figure apparatus; Figure 2 is a side view of the toy figure apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear view of the toy figure apparatus shown in Figure 1; and Figure 4 shows a limb of the toy figure apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown toy figure apparatus 2 comprising a toy figure 4 in the form of a soldier. The apparatus 2 also comprises drive means 6.

The toy figure 4 comprises a body 8 and four limbs, the limbs being in the form of two legs 10,12 and two arms 14,16. The legs 10,1 2 are both movable so that each leg carries out a repetitive marching movement.

The drive means 6 is effective to drive the legs 10,1 2 to give the marching movement as will be described in detail hereinbelow.

As can be seen most clearly from Figure 1, the legs 10,1 2 each have a first limb section 1 8 which is in the form of a thigh, and a second limb section 20 which is in the form of a foot 22 and a lower leg portion between the foot 22 and a knee portion 24. The first limb portion 1 8 is joined at a first end portion 26 to the body 8, and at a second end portion 28 to the second limb section 20. The connection of the second end portion 28 to the second limb section 20 is by means of pivots 30. The connection of the two first end portions 26 of the two first limb sections 1 8 is by means of a single pivot shaft 32 as indicated in Figure 2.

The second limb sections 20 are each formed with an extension member 34 which extends below the foot 22 and which forms a part of the second limb sections 20 and therefore forms a part of the entire leg 10 or 1 2. Each extension member 34 is provided with an open slot 36 which co-operates with drive means for driving the legs 10,1 2.

The drive means comprises a rotable device in the form of a disc 38 and an abutment in the form of a pin 40. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, there is a disc 38 and a pin 40 for each leg 10,12. The pin 40 extending between the two discs 38 in effect locks the two discs 38 together so that they rotate together.

The rotation of the two discs 38 is effected by a front handle 42 which is mounted on a front face 44 of a frame 46 of the apparatus 2. The front handle 42 and the front face 44 have been omitted from Figure 1 for clarity.

The disc 38 nearest the front face 44 as shown in Figure 2 is mounted on a spindle 48 which is rotated by the front handle 42.

The frame 46 comprises a base 50 and an upstanding back panel 52. The back panel 52 supports a spindle 54 and a disc 56 is rotatably mounted on the spindle 54 and is rotated by the pin 40 which extends between the discs 38,56. The spindle 54 rotatably supports a disc 58 which is mounted on the opposite side of the back panel 52 to the disc 56. Since all the discs 38,56,58 are connected as shown in Figure 2, the disc 58 can be rotated by the front handle 42. If desired, the disc 58 and therefore the attached discs 56 and 38 can be rotated by a rear handle 60. The rear handle 60 is connected to the disc 58 by a spindle 62. A connecting rod 64 connects at one end portion 66 to the spindle 62 and it connects at its other end portion 68 to a pivot 70. The pivot 70 is attached to a connecting rod 72 and the connecting rod 72 is itself further securely attached to a spindle 74.The spindle 74 is received in a recess 76 in the body 8 of the toy figure 4 so that the spindle 74 is rotatable in the recess 76.

Rotation of the disc 58 in the direction of the arrow 78 shown in Figure 3 causes the connecting rod 64 to effect a reciprocatory movement up and down and this in turn causes the connecting rod 72 to pivot backwards and forwards to appro imately 90 about the spindle 74. The spindle\72 is fixed to the arm 1 4 as can be seen fromVFigure 2 so that the arm 14 is caused to move up and down through approximately 90 during rotation of the disc 58.

The arm 1 6 of the toy figure 4 is stationary and it holds a rifle 80. The rifle 80 has a bayonet 82 fixed to it.

The toy figure 4 has a head 84 and the head 84 is provided with a busby 86. A support pin 88 passes through the busby 86 and is fixed to the back panel 52. The support pin 88 and the back panel 52 thus support the toy figure 4 in its illustrated upstanding position. The front face 90 of the back panel 52 can be provided with a scene (not shown) appropriate to the type of toy figure 4.

Figure 4 illustrates in detail the leg 10. The leg 1 2 is similarly constructed.

Figure 4 shows most clearly that the second end portion 28 of the first limb section 18 is provided with a stop member 92 against which a lug section 84 on the second limb section 20 abuts. This stops the leg 10 moving to an un-natural position in which the second limb section 20 moves beyond the substantially straight position illustrated in Figure 4 and carries on upwards in an anticlockwise manner.

The apparatus 2 can be made from any desired materials. Wood is a presently preferred material but plastics materials and metals may be employed.

The toy figure 4 moves with a precise marching action and in particular, the legs move straight up and down in a precise marching action. This is achievable because of the loose contacts between the pins 40 and the extension members 34. It will be apparent that on rotation of the front handle 42 or the rear handle 60, each pin 40 will push on its leg 10 or 1 2 for a first part of a rotation cycle of its disc 38 to cause the leg 10 or 12 to effect one half of its repetitive marching movement. The loose contact of each pin with its leg 10 or 1 2 will be such that on a second part of the rotation cycle of its disc 38, the limb 10 or 12 will fall under gravity to effect the other half of the repetitive marching movement.The leg 10 or 1 2 will fall under gravity because the pin 40 will then be moving away from the closed end of the slot 36 towards the open end of the slot 40, i.e. from the position of the pin 40 in the slot 36 for the leg 1 2 to the position of the pin 40 in the slot 36 for the leg 10 as shown in Figure 1. If the pins 40 were pivotally fixed to the extension members 34, then the legs 10,12 would operate with a sort of rotary cycling motion which would not be a true marching action so that the toy figure 4 would lose authenticity.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, any combination of the legs 10,12 and the arms 14,1 6 can be arranged to move or be stationary. The illustrated toy figure 4 can be that of another human being such for example as an officer, a dancer, a city gentleman with an umbrella, or a runner. Alternatively, the toy figure 4 can be that of a cartoon character such as that of a bear or a mouse, or the toy figure 4 can be that of an animal such for example as a bear, an elephant or a horse.

More than one toy figure can be employed and, in this case, the toy figures can be arranged one behind each other, side by side or facing each other. Where a movable arm is employed, it may be arranged to make a waving action or it may be arranged to remove a hat. Generally, the legs can be arranged to effect any desired action and the arms can similarly be arranged to effect any desired action. The base 50 may be provided with one or more wheels so that the apparatus 2 can be wheeled across a surface. The apparatus 2 can be provided with a handle to effect the wheeling action. The apparatus 2 can be held in a box and the box can also be used for storing and transporting the apparatus 2. If desired, the apparatus 2 can be sold with a sound recording appropriate to the moving action of the toy figure. Indeed, if desired, the apparatus 2 can be provided with complete sound reproduction equipment.

Claims

1. Toy figure apparatus comprising at least one toy figure and drive means, the toy figure having a body and at least one limb which is movable such that it carries out a repetitive movement, the drive means being for moving the limb, the limb having a first limb section and a second limb section, the first limb section being joined at a first end portion to the body and at a second end portion to the second limb section, the drive means comprising a rotatable device which has an abutment which contacts the limb and causes the limb to move as the rotatable device rotates, and the contact between the abutment and the limb being a loose contact such that the abutment pushes on the limb for a first part of a rotation cycle of the rotatable device to cause the limb to effect one half of a repetitive movement, and such that on a second part of the rotation cycle of the rotatable device the limb operates under gravity to effect the other half of the repetitive movement.

2. Toy figure apparatus according to claim 1 and which is a figure of a human being, a cartoon character or an animal.

3. Toy figure apparatus according to claim 2 in which the figure of a human being is that of an officer, a rifleman, a dancer, a city gentleman with an umbrella, a runner, or a soldier.

4. Toy figure apparatus according to claim 2 in which the figure of a cartoon character is that of a bear, or a mouse.

5. Toy figure apparatus according to claim 2 in which the figure of an animal is that of a bear, an elephant or a horse.

6. Toy figure apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and in which there is only one toy figure.

7. Toy figure apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which there are more than one toy figure.

8. Toy figure apparatus according to claim 7 in which the toy figures are arranged in a single line, being one behind each other or side by side.

9. Toy figure apparatus according to claim 7 in which the toy figures face each other.

10. Toy figure apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the limb is an arm or a leg.

11. Toy figure apparatus according to claim 10 in which the toy figure has two of the movable limbs in the form of movable legs.

1 2. Toy figure apparatus according to claim 10 or claim 11 in which the or each leg is provided with a stop arrangement for preventing the second limb section from pivoting beyond a predetermined position to an unnatural position.

1 3. Toy figure apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the drive means is such that the rotatable device is a disc, and the abutment is a pin.

14. Toy figure apparatus according to claim 1 3 in which the pin runs in an open slot in the second limb section whereby the contact between the abutment and the second limb section is a sliding connection.

1 5. Toy figure apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 1 2 in which the drive means is such that the rotatable device is a disc, and the abutment is a cam on the periphery of the disc, the second limb section then being such as to rest on the periphery of the disc.

1 6. Toy figure apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the drive means is manually operated or is powered by a motor.

1 7. Toy figure apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including support means for the toy figure.

1 8. Toy figure apparatus according to claim 1 7 in which the support means is an upstanding panel.

1 9. Toy figure apparatus according to claim 18 in which the upstanding panel is provided with scenery appropriate to the figure.

20. Toy figure apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a recording of music appropriate to the action of the toy figure.

21. Toy figure apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a box in which the toy figure and the drive means are housed.

22. Toy figure apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including wheel means for wheeling the toy figure apparatus along a surface.

23. Toy figure apparatus according to claim 22 and including a handle for pushing or pulling the toy figure apparatus along the surface.

24. Toy figure apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.