GB2314783A

GB2314783A - Amusement device or toy

Info

Publication number: GB2314783A
Application number: GB9613805A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lance Warrington
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-07-02
Filing date: 1996-07-02
Publication date: 1998-01-14
Also published as: GB9613805D0

Abstract

A device for producing mildly outrageous noises for amusement purposes has a U-shaped frame (1) with its limbs linked by an elastic drive member (3,4), e.g. a pair of rubber bands, and a rotating striker element (2) carried by the drive member (3,4). The striker element (2) can be pre-wound and then released with the device held in place against a suitable surface e.g. leather furniture whereupon the rapid rotation of the striker element (2) gives rise to a characteristic sound.

Description

AMUSEMENT DEVICE OR TOY This invention has to do with a noise-generating amusement device or toy.

The device has a support, typically in the form of a frame, adapted to lie stably on a surface. It is therefore generally flat, or at least presents a substantially flat face to lie against the surface.

A striker element, preferably of stiff or rigid material, is mounted so as to be able to oscillate relative to the support. The striker element is positioned at an exposed location on the support so that in its oscillation it will repeatedly strike the surface against which the support is placed in use. Any rapid oscillatory movement is appropriate, and may vary according to the shape and material of the striker element, but rotation is preferable because of the ease of mounting and driving the movement. Thus, the preferred striker element has a radial projection relative to a rotation axis. A plate or ring, with the rotation axis lying in its plane, is suitable.

The device also includes a drive to cause the striker element to oscillate. Preferably the drive has a resilient spring element in which energy can be stored by deforming it, so that release from the deformed condition enables the drive to set the striker in motion. With a rotating striker, drive is conveniently obtained from one or more resilient elements connected axially to the striker and adapted to be twisted to energise the device (e.g. by rotating the striker in advance) and to operate the striker by rapidly untwisting when the striker is released.

The striker can be mounted to the support through such a resilient drive element. This has the advantage of enabling the striker to be urged with a moderate force against the neighbouring surface but without complete rigidity, so that the striker is able to rotate easily when the surface is hard, and able to strike it with vigour even when it is soft.

Desirably the support is arranged so that when the striker drive has been energised (e.g. by winding up elastic connectors) and the support is pressed firmly against the appropriate surface, the striker is restrained from rotating. When pressure against the surface is relaxed, the striker is then able to rotate and produce the repeating sound characteristic of the device.

The invention is illustrated by the following description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The illustrated device consists of a frame 1 made of stiff wire bent into a U-shape. This may be for example 4 mm wire, painted or coated to provide an attractive finish. For present purposes various other kinds of frame may be appropriate, provided that they have a pair of spaced mounting locations or limbs of sufficient strength or rigidity.

The end 11 of each limb of the U-frame 1 is bent into a hook which traps one end of a short thick rubber band 3,4. The other ends of the rubber bands 3,4 are looped through a stiff washer 2 (e.g. of plastics, metal or other material) which is thereby held suspended between the limbs of the U-frame.

To use the device, the washer is rotated a number of times (say 20 or 30) around the axis defined by the rubber bands 3,4, so as to twist the rubber bands a corresponding number of times. Holding it in this condition the device is then slid delicately, washer 2 outermost beneath the buttocks of the user, who sits on it with sufficient pressure to ensure that the washer 2 is trapped against the seat surface and cannot rotate.

At some subsequent auspicious moment the user relieves the pressure on one cheek sufficiently that the washer 2 is released and rotates vigorously under the drive of the unwinding rubber bands 3,4. With each rotation the two opposite extremities of the washer 2 flap vigorously against the adjacent seat surface and a characteristic sound issues forth.

Preferable results are achieved when used in contact with plastic or leather-covered upholstery.

Claims

1. A noise-generating amusement device having: a support adapted to lie stably on a surface; a striker element mounted on and able to oscillate relative to said support; and drive means for causing said striker element to oscillate; the striker element being presented on the support at an exposed location such that in its oscillation it will repeatedly strike the surface against which the device is placed in use.

2. An amusement device according to claim 1 wherein the drive means includes a deformable resilient spring member.

3. An amusement device according to claim 2 wherein the striker element is mounted to said support through said resilient spring member.

4. An amusement device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the oscillation of the striker element is rotatory.

5. A noise-generating amusement device comprising a frame having a flat face to lie against a surface in use, a rotating striker element and an elastic band through which the striker element is connected to the frame so that the elastic band can be wound relative to the frame to cause a rapid rotation of the striker element on release thereof, the striker element being disposed at an exposed location relative to the frame so that in its rotation it repeatedly strikes a said surface against which the frame lies in use.

6. An amusement device substantially as described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying figure.