GB2236686A

GB2236686A - Pneumatically-operated linkage, e.g. for a toy

Info

Publication number: GB2236686A
Application number: GB8919176A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hung Chung
Original assignee: GRACE RESOURCES SERVICE Ltd
Current assignee: GRACE RESOURCES SERVICE Ltd
Priority date: 1989-08-23
Filing date: 1989-08-23
Publication date: 1991-04-17
Also published as: GB8919176D0

Abstract

The linkage includes a guide 14 which is slotted to accommodate member 18 for movement along the slots. A spring urges member 18 to the position shown. Compression of a pneumatic bulb 10 operates a bellows (not shown) in guide 14 to push member 18 from the position shown and thus pivot levers 44, 46, to which toy figure arms 56, 58 may be mounted. <IMAGE>

Description

A LINKAGE This invention relates to a linkage particularly, but not exclusively, for use with a toy, to move one or more parts of the toy in response to pneumatic pressure.

According to the invention,. there is provided a linkage for a toy, the linkage comprising a guide, pneumatically operable means for connection to a part of the toy to be moved, said means being movable so as to be guided by the guide between first and second positions, resilient means for biasing said pneumatically operable means in the first position and pumping means operable to cause the pneumatically operable means to move to the second position.

Preferably the linkage is used to move the arms of a toy figure between an open position and a closed position.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in a disassembled state.

Figure 2 is a perspective part-exploded view of the embodiment of Figure 1 in a first operative position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 in a second operative position.

With reference to the figures, an embodiment of the linkage of the invention is shown which includes a compressible pneumatic bulb 10, connected via a tube 12 to a hollow cylindrical guide 14. The guide 14 is provided with two radially opposed, axially extending guide slits 16 in which a link member 18 is arranged to slide. The guide 14 houses a cylindrical concertina or bellows-like piston member 20, formed from flexible plastics material, which is connected at one open end 26 to free end 22 of tube 12 and at the opposed end 28 to projection 24 of the link member 18. A coil spring 30 is connected between projection 24 and a hollow clip 32 attached to end 22 of the tube 12. The spring 30 runs through piston member 20.

The link member 18 further includes two pairs of parallel bars 40, 42 each pair defining a slot 41, 43 therebetween. Articulated members 44, 46 are coupled to the link member 18 by means of cylindrical projections 48, 50 which are each disposed in a respective slot 41, 43. Each articulated member 44, 46 is pivotablly connected to a support (not shown), at pivot points 52, 54. Longitudinal movement of link member 18 will cause projections 48, 50 to slide in the slots 41, 43 and cause articulated members 44, 46 to rotate about pivot points 52, 54.

The articulated members 44, 46 are connected to respective arms 56, 58 of a toy figure (as shown in more detail in Figure 2, with respect of arm 58) so that backward and forward movement of the link member 18 will cause the arms to close and to open, as illustrated in figures 2 and 3.

In use, the pneumatic linkage is disposed in a hollow body portion of a toy figure (not shown) the guide 14 being fisedly attached to the body portion and the arms being pivotably attached to the body portion at pivot points 52, 54. The bulb 10 is externally disposed. Application of pressure to the bulb 10 will cause piston member 20 to expands against the biasing force of spring 30, to move the link member 18 to the position shown in Figure 3 thus opening arms 56, 58. Release of the bulb will cause the piston member to return to a contracted position under the influence of spring 30, thus closing arms 56, 58 to the position shown in Figure 2.

The pneumatic linkage as described finds particular application in a novelty toy figure, in which hands 60, 62 are each connected to a side of a raincoat in which the figure is dressed.

While one specific embodiment of the invention has been described, this is not to be construed as limitative.

For example, although the guide 14 has been illustrated as of elongate linear form, the guide 14 may guide the link member 18 along a curved path.

Furthermore, by suitable design of the link member 18, several sets of articulated members may be connected to move different parts of the toy.

Although articulated members have been shown, these could alternatively be linearly guided.

While the invention has been shown used with a toy figure, the linkage is equally applicable for use with other toys and novelties as well as having more general applications in industry and the home, for example.

Claims

1) A linkage for a toy, the linkage comprising a guide, pneumatically operable means for connection to a part of the toy to be moved, said means being movable so as to be guided by the guide between first and second positions, resilient means for biasing the pneumatically operable means in the first position and pumping means operable to cause the pneumatically operable means to move to the second position.

2) A linkage as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pneumatically operable means comprising a concertina or bellows like member.

3) A linkage as claimed in claim 2 wherein said guide in of hollow cylindrical form and receives said member therein.

4) A linkage as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the resilient means comprises a spring disposed within the member.

5) A linkage as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the pneumatically operable means further comprises a link member.

6) A linkage as claimed in claim 5 wherein the guide includes at least one first slot for receiving and guiding the link member.

7) A linkage as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the link member includes at least one second slot, each second slot being adapted to receive a pin of an articulated member, the pin being movable in the slot.

8) A linkage as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the pumping means comprises a resilient bulb.

9) A linkage as claim in any one of the preceding claims wherein the pneumatically operable means is guided by the guide along a linear path.

10) A linkage as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the pneumatically operable means is guided by the guide along a curved path.

11) A linkage as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the pumping means is further operable to inflate an elongate flexible pocket.

12) A linkage substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13) A toy including a linkage as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

14) A toy as claimed in claim 13, being a toy figure and wherein said pneumatically operable means is connected to two arms of the figure, the arms being disposed together in said first position and apart in said second position.

15) A toy as claimed in claim 14 wherein the arms are connected to an article of outer clothing.

16) A toy as claimed in claim 15 wherein the article of outer clothing is a raincoat.