GB2214832A

GB2214832A - Musical toy

Info

Publication number: GB2214832A
Application number: GB8803618A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bend Yu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-02-17
Filing date: 1988-02-17
Publication date: 1989-09-13
Also published as: GB8803618D0

Abstract

A musical toy comprises two hemispheres (1, 5) forming a ball containing a PC board (2), a buzzer (4) and an attitude sensitive switch assembly (3) having contacts (32) bridgeable by a freely movable conductive ball (34). As the toy rolls, the switch controls the circuit on the board to produce a preset music automatically. For periods of non-use, an insulator can be inserted through a slot in hemisphere (5) to break a connection at battery assembly (22). <IMAGE>

Description

MUSICAL TOY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: The present invention relates to a new design of musical toy and is exemplified by a musical ball which can provide a preset fascinating music for enjoyment.

There are many and various kinds of toys having their own special features to attract people. One such feature is the production of music or sound. As is well known, all such musical toys which are electrically operated have ordinarily a switch mounted on the toy which controls a power supply so that the toy is to sound when turned on and to stop when turned off. Such toys can only provide a dull impression and experience without interest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is to provide an automatic musical ball which provides much of fun and is better than all known toys.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide an automatic musical ball which can sound a preset music as being rolled.

The present invention provides, a musical toy comprising: a housing, a battery operated sound generator; and switch apparatus for turning on and off the sound generator, which switch apparatus comprises at least one pair of switch contacts, a moveable electrically conductive member, means supporting said moveable member for movement in response to changes of attitude of the toy such that the moveable member is moveable into a position to bridge said contacts and out of said contact bridging position in response to said changes of attitude.

Preferably, said supporting means defines a path and said moveable member is rollable along the path to and from the or each said contact bridging position.

Preferably, there are a plurality of first switch contacts of one polarity and at least one switch contact of opposite polarity and said support means supports said moveable member for movement to and from a plurality of contact bridging positions in each of which said moveable member bridges between a said first switch contact and the or a respective second switch contact.

Said path may comprise a hub portion and a plurality of arms radiating from the hub portion, said first switch contacts each being located in a respective one of said arms.

Said path preferably takes the form of a cross and pairs of first and second switch contacts are preferably provided in three out of the four arms of the cross.

A respective second contact may be provided in each one of said arms in which a first contact is provided.

Preferably a recess is provided at said hub portion of the path into which said moveable member is receivable.

Said path may be arcuate in cross-section and said moveable member may be a ball.

The housing preferably takes the form of a ball.

The housing preferably has an aperture therein, and a probe member having an electrically insulating region or being electrically insulating is preferably provided which is insertable through said aperture.

Said battery operated sound generator preferably includes a pair of electrical contacts between which said probe is receivable to break the electrical connection between said contacts.

In an alternative aspect, the invention provides an automatic musical ball, comprising: A lower semi-ball having four symmetrical receivers mounted on the circumference, a box disposed centrally with two bores at both sides and a slot at bottom; A PC board having two parallel conducting plates for receiving a battery assembly and being put into the said box; A conducting means having a cross aperture inside with a round hole centerly, a conducting ball being placed in the cross aperture and being moveable freely; three sets of electric wires extended from three ends of the cross aperture and each connected with PC board and battery respectively; the said means being fixed by using two screws penetrating both sides and PC board and screwed to the said bores; An upper semi-ball having four sticks inserting into the receivers of the lower semi-ball forming a round music ball but still leaving a concave in between for separating; a buzzer being provided inside; An insulator being provided which can be inserted into the slot and positioned between the battery assembly for cutting power supply.

According to the mentioned objectives, the present invention includes a ball which is formed by connecting two semi-balls provided with a PC board and conducting means. As the ball is rolling, the conductive means can control the circuit on the PC board in conductivity on or off without any switch and produces a musical sound automatically.

The above and other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a conducting means in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 3 illustrating a conducting position of a conducting ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to Figures 1 and 2 thereof, the musical ball according to the present invention generally includes an upper semi-ball (5) and a lower semi-ball (l), wherein the latter has four symmetrical receivers (11) mounted on the opened circumference, a box (12) disposed centrally with two bores (14) at both sides and a slot (13) provided at bottom communicating outdoors; the former has four sticks (51) which can insert into the said receivers (11) for connection two semi-ball (1) (5) to form a complete ball which still leaves a concave (15) in between for user to separate them. Further, a buzzer (4) is connected with a V-shaped flange (52) which is mounted inside the upper semi-ball (5).

A PC board (2) has two parallel conducting plates (21) for receiving a battery assembly (22) which can be put into the said box (12) and fixed. The electrical circuit on PC board (2) is well known and will not be described here. It can work a certain period of time as being conducted.

The primary feature of the invention is the structure of the conducting means which has a cross aperture (31) inside and provides a round hole (33) at the center of the cross aperture (31). Three sets of electric wires (32) extended from three ends of the cross aperture (31) is connected with PC board (2) and power supply respectively. A conducting ball (34) which can be moved in the cross aperture (31) freely is provided and stayed in the round hole (33) ordinarily. The means can be fixed by using two screws (35) which penetrate both sides of the means (3) and PC board (2) and connect with the bores (14) of the bou (12).

After assemblying, if it is horizontally placed, the conducting ball (34) is stayed at the center of the cross aperture (33) as in Figure 3. The ball (34) does not contact with any set of electric wires (32) and the assembly is thus out of electric conductivity.

However, the conducting means (3) is slant as in Figure 4 when the musical ball rolling; at the meantime, the conducting ball (34) is occasionally contacting with any set of electric wires (32) then the electric circuit is complete to work a period of time providing the buzzer (4) sounded a preset music for enjoyment. It is the purpose of the invention to provide a rolling musical ball automatically without any switch.

Furthermore, the stayed position of the conducting ball (34) is not predictable so everyone does not know whether it will sound or not when it comes to a stop and therefore provides a funny occasional toy.

While it is not used for playing or is conveyed, an insulator can be inserted into the slot (13) of the lower semi-ball (1) and positioned between the battery assembly to cut off the power supply for keeping silent.

Having described specific preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected there in by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A musical toy comprising:a housing; a battery operated sound generator; and switch apparatus for turning on and off the sound generator, which switch apparatus comprises at least one pair of switch contacts, a moveable electrically conductive member, means supporting said moveable member for movement in response to changes of attitude of the toy such that the moveable member is moveable into a position to bridge said contacts and out of said contact bridging position in response to said changes of attitude.

2. A toy as claimed in Claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of first switch contacts of one polarity and at least one switch contact of opposite polarity and said support means supports said moveable member for movement to and from a plurality of contact bridging positions in each of which said moveable member bridges between a said first switch contact and the or a respective second switch contact.

3. A toy as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said supporting means defines a path and said moveable member is rollable along the path to and from the or each said contact bridging position.

4. A toy as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said path comprises a hub portion and a plurality of arms radiating from the hub portion, said first switch contacts each being located in a respective one of said arms.

5. A toy as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said path takes the form of a cross.

6. A toy as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein a respective second contact is provided in each one of said arms in which a first contact is provided.

7. A toy as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6, wherein a recess is provided at said hub portion of the path into which said moveable member is receivable.

8. A toy as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 7, wherein said path is arcuate in cross-section.

9. A toy as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said moveable member is a ball.

10. A toy as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the housing takes the form of a ball.

11. A toy as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the housing has an aperture therein, wherein a probe member having an electrically insulating region or being electrically insulating is provided which is insertable through said aperture, and wherein said battery operated sound generator includes a pair of electrical contacts between which said probe is receivable to break the electrical connection between said contacts.

12. A musical toy substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

13. An automatic musical ball, comprising; a lower semi-ball having four symmetrical receivers mounted on the circumference, a box disposed centrally with two bores at both sides and a slot at bottom; a PC board having two parallel conducting plates for receiving a battery assembly and being put into the said box; a conducting means having a cross aperture inside with a round hole centerly, a conducting ball being placed in the cross aperture and being moveable freely; three sets of electric wires extended from three ends of the cross aperture and each connected with PC board and battery respectively; the said means being fixed by using two screws penetrating both sides and PC board and screwed to the said bores; an upper semi-ball having four sticks inserting into the receivers of the lower semi-ball forming a round music ball but still leaving a concave in between for separating; a buzzer being provided inside; an insulator being provided which can be inserted into the slot and positioned between the battery assembly for cutting power supply.