GB2232900A - Toy drinking liquid dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A toy includes a reservoir for a dispensable liquid, a liquid jetting nozzle 28 disposed in an agitating portion 30, a pump 24, 25 for pumping liquid from the reservoir 39 to the jetting nozzle 28, an outlet 37 for normally returning liquid jetted into the agitating portion back to the reservoir, and a dispenser 32, slidable, when a drinking vessel is pushed against member 31, to divert the liquid from outlet 37 to dispensing outlet 34 and the vessel. <IMAGE>

Description

JUICER TOY BACKGROUND OF TRI SNVXNTtON rigid of the Invention: The present invention relates to a juicer toy which is adapted to feed juice or the like into a container from an agitating section when the container is inserted below the agitating section.

Description of the elated Art: Heretofore, a juicer toy having an agitating section adapted to jet liquid into a container has been known. An example of such is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model No. 63172500. In this toy, water jetting means and drive means for driving the same are disposed in a container body in which liquid is filled, and and the supply of liquid such as juice or the like is performed by manipulating a cock attached to the container body.

The toy in the above-mentioned conventional technology has such an arrangement that a water jet mechanism is alone disposed in the container body opened at its top, and the cock should be manipulated each time when juice or the like is filled in a drinking cup. Accordingly, there is a need to improve the function and thus enhance the interest in a juicer toy.

SUMMARY OF Z lNvzNTloN The present invention is devised in order to solve the problems in the above-mentioned conventional technology, and therefore there is provided such an arrangement that a body incorporating a reservoir is attached thereto with a machine frame in which a drive mechanism and a pump mechanism inserted in the reservoir are arranged, an agitating section covered with a transparent dome is disposed in the upper sections of the body, a jet nozzle connected to the pump mechanism and a liquid feed outlet communicated with the agitating section are formed in the bottom part of the reservoir, a suspending lever and a water outlet pipe are disposed below the liquid feed outlet while a slide member is disposed being urged forward of the body, and the slide member is slid when the suspending lever is pressed, thereby the water outlet pipe is communicated with the liquid feed outlet formed in the agitating section.

When the drive mechanism is operated after liquid such as juice or the like has been filled in the reservoir, the liquid such as juice or the like is sucked up from the reservoir and is jetted from the jet nozzle formed in the agitating section, and when the suspending lever disposed below the agitating section is pressed, the liquid such as juice or the like is fed from the liquid outlet pipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TIE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an external perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the structure of a machine housing incorporating a drive mechanism used in the Fig. 1 embodiment; Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating the rear side of a cover for the machine housing of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view illustrating the body; and Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the structure of a pump mechanism used in the preferred embodiment.

bZTAILD DB8CRtPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A body 1 is formed in a box-like shape, and has a hollow interior that defines a reservoir 39 for containing a liquid such as juice or the like as shown in Fig. 4. Further, a machine housing 2 is attached to the rear wall side of the body 1. The machine housing 2 defines therein storage sections 2a, 2a for storing batteries 13, 13 as shown in Fig. 2, and incorporates a motor 3 constituting a drive mechanism. Further, a cover 8 is removably attached to the upper part of the machine housing 2, and a rotary knob 9 constituting a power source switch is projected from the cover 8.Further, an overhanging portion la is disposed on the upper part of the body 1, overhanging forwardly therefrom, and a dome member 29 made of a transparent material is removably attached to the upper part of the overhanging section la. A jet nozzle 28 and a feed outlet 37 are formed in the bottom part of the dome member 29 which therefore defines an agitating section 30 for a liquid such as juice or the like. Further, a part 36 extending forwardly from the lower end of the body 1 serves as a stand for a drinking container.

Moreover, a vertical lever 31 and an outlet pipe 34 extend downwardly from a lower forward end of the overhanging section la.

The machine housing 2 has a lower section which is a watertight flat casing, and two side sections thereof form the battery storage spaces 2a, 2a. The motor 3 is fixedly connected to a support plate secured to the center section of the machine housing 2. Further, engaging pawls 14, 14 extending downwardly from opposite side edges of the cover 8 are engageable with and disengageable from latches 15, 15 formed at opposite upper edges of the machine housing 2. A support shaft 10 of the rotary knob 9 is loosely fitted in a bearing hole 11 formed in the upper surface of the cover 8. Further, a pin 9a extending downwardly from the rotary knob 9 is fitted in an arcuate slot 12 formed in the cover 8. This pin 9a is fitted in a through-hole 7a in an electroconductive contact piece 7 journalled to the rear side of the cover 8.Further, a pair of electroconductive contact pieces 6, 6 (Fig. 3) adapted to make contact respectively with terminals of batteries 13, 13 are fixedly connected to the rear side of the cover 8. The electroconductive piece 7 is arranged so as to engage with and to disengage from the electroconductive contact pieces 6, 6 when the rotary knob 10 is manipulated for rotation Accordingly, when contact is made an electrical circuit is closed so as to provide electric current from the batteries to the motor and therefore, the motor 3 is driven.

A pump mechanism, as shown in Fig. 5, is coupled to the center part of the lower surface of the machine housing 2. The machine housing 2 is fitted therein with the upper end portion of a cylinder 16 which is formed by assembling two axial split sections. Each section 16a has a flange portion 16b which extend longitudinally along the cylinder 16. Through-holes 20 are formed in,one of the flange portions 16b, and are fitted therein and joined thereto with projections 21, projected from the other of the flange portions 16b. The flange portion 16b are then firmly clamped by U-like shape clamps 19.

Further, a pipe line 17 through which liquid such as juice or the like is fed, is formed in the center section of the cylinder 16, having upper and lower end portions which are formed therein with bearing plates 18, 18a, respectively. A drive shaft 22 is rotatably journalled in the bearing plates 18, 18a, and is provided at its'upper end with a female coupling 23 which is fitted therein with a male coupling 4 provided on the output shaft of the motor 3, and is also journalled at its lower end with a vane element 24. This water sucking vane element 24 is disposed in the lower end of the cylinder 16. A cylinder 25 in which a water suction hole 25a is formed at the lower end thereof is disposed in the lower part of the cylinder 16. The rotary vane element 24 and cylinder 25 constitutes a pump mechanism which is operated by a drive mechanism which includes the motor 3. Accordingly, liquid sucked up from the water suction hole 25a flows through a through-hole 18b formed in the bearing plate 18a and rises up through the pipe line 17 under a pressurized condition.

A discharge pipe 26 which is bent in an orthogonal direction is provided at the upper portion of the pipe line 17. This discharge pip[e 26 is connected thereto with one end of a connecting pipe 27 made of a highly flexible material. The other end of the connecting pipe 27 is communicated with a liquid jetting nozzle 28 formed in the bottom part of the agitating section 30. An outlet 37 formed in the bottom part of the agitating section 20 is in communication with a feed passage 38 formed in a slide member 32 disposed below the outlet 37.

Accordingly, in a normal condition, liquid such as juice or the like jetted from the nozzle 28 flows in to the reserving section 39, and from there through the outlet 37 and through the feed passage 38 to the reservoir 39, and is circulated therethrough.

The slide member 32 disposed in the overhanging section la of the body 1 is attached thereto with a compression spring 33 for biasing the slide member 32 forwardly of the body 1. This slide member acts as a dispenser. A vertical lever 31 and the water outlet pipe 34 are formed integrally with the slide member 32, so that the vertical lever 31 and the outlet pipe 34 are projected downwardly from a slot 35 formed in the lower surface of the overhanging section la, and are slidable therein.

Further, when a drinking container is inserted below the overhanging section la, the drinking container abuts against the vertical lever 31 which is therefore pushed in. Accordingly, the outlet pipe 34 is positioned below the outlet 37 formed in the agitating section 30 so that the outlet pipe 34 and the outlet 37 are aligned and in communication with each other, and therefore, liquid discharged from the outlet 37 flows into the drinking container through the outlet pipe 34.

The present invention is devised as mentioned above, that is, when the power source switch is closed, the pump mechanism is operated so that liquid is jetted into the agitating section covered with the transparent dome member. Further, when the vertical lever is pushed by a drinking container as is necessary, liquid such as juice or the like is filled in the drinking container from the outlet pipe, thereby it is possible to provide a juicer toy having excellent function, and giving a visually interesting appearance which has not been seen heretofore and a smooth operation of liquid filling into a drinking container.

Claims (12)

CLAIMS:

1. A juicer toy comprising: a hollow body having a reservoir for containing a dispensable liquid and an upper agitating portion; a liquid jetting nozzle disposed in the agitating portion pump means disposed in the reservoir for pumping liquid from the reservoir to the jetting nozzle in the agitating portion; an outlet disposed in the agitating portion for returning liquid jetted into the agitating portion back to the reservoir; and dispenser means movable under the outlet of the agitating portion for selectively dispensing liquid from the agitating portion.

2. A juicer toy according to claim 1, wherein the feed passageway is disposed beneath the outlet of the agitating portion and extends inwardly and downwardly towards the reservoir.

3. A juicer toy according to claim 2, wherein the dispenser means comprises a dispenser slidably mounted in the feed passage and having an outlet pipe positionable under the outlet of the agitating portion to dispense fluid.

4. A juicer toy according to claim 3, wherein the dispenser includes a downwardly extending lever abuttable with a beverage container for pushing the outlet pipe into a position under the outlet of the agitating portion.

5. A juicer toy according to claim 1, wherein the pump means includes a drive motor, a power source for powering the drive motor and a rotary vane member driven by the drive motor.

6. A juicer toy according to claim 5, wherein the drive motor and power source are disposed in a housing mounted on an upper portion of the body.

7. A juicer toy according to claim 6, wherein the drive motor is coupled to the pump through a drive shaft.

8. A juicer toy according to claim 7, wherein the drive shaft is concentrically disposed in a conduit extending upwardly from the pump.

9. A juicer toy according to claim 1, further comprising a pipe connecting the pump means to the liquid jetting nozzle.

10. A juicer toy according to claim 7, wherein the conduit has a radially disposed outlet and a pipe extends between the outlet by the conduit to the liquid jetting nozzle.

11. A juicer toy according to claim 1, wherein the agitating portion includes a clear dome covering a bottom wall, whereby the jetting nozzle is mounted centrally in the bottom wall.

12. A juicer toy according to claim 4, wherein the dispenser includes a return spring disposed in the feed passage and providing a return bias when the dispenser is pushed inwardly.

13 A juicer toy substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.