GB2320701A

GB2320701A - Childrens' book with movable animal or bird's head

Info

Publication number: GB2320701A
Application number: GB9727057A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mathew Langdon White
Original assignee: VICTORIA HOUSE PUBLISHING LIMI
Current assignee: VICTORIA HOUSE PUBLISHING LIMI
Priority date: 1996-12-30
Filing date: 1997-12-22
Publication date: 1998-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 2017-12-22
Also published as: GB9627053D0; GB2320701B; GB9727057D0

Abstract

The book has a moulded animal or bird's head 3 mounted on the upper edge of the rear cover by means of tab 6. The mouth or beak 7 is manually pivotable in the direction of arrow A against the action of a return spring 8.

Description

BOOK OR CARD The present invention relates to a book or card, in particular to a childrens' book or card with moveable means.

Many childrens' books and cards have pop-up structures, three-dimensional displays or moveable slide constructions incorporated into them. Others have models secured to the book or card in some way.

In US-A-4508515, a book is described with a hollow puppet attached to and projecting from one edge of the cover It is also known to incorporate noisegenerating means into a book or card, that are operable by actuating a mechanical or electronic device in the construction. US-A-2742287 discloses a greeting card or folder having an actuating device for an animated figure mounted on the folder, and a control mechanism that is operated by the opening action of the folder.

The motive power for the moveable figure and the noisegenerating device comprises a crank coupled with an elastic band, which can be wound up and released to cause oscillation of the figure and an audible tone.

The present invention is a book or card having a cover, the cover having a three-dimensional excrescence mounted on one edge, the excrescence incorporating, or being, a moveable part. The excrescence is preferably mounted by tabs which are trapped between two pieces of paper or board forming the cover. The front cover of a book may be flush with the front surface of the excrescence, which when mounted on the back cover is stepped towards the front of the book so that the pages are positioned below the moulding.

The excrescence may resemble a part of an animal or bird, for instance, preferably with relevance to the subject matter of the book or card. Moveable parts are incorporated into the excrescence in such a way that all or part of the moulded structure (such as the mouth of the animal or the bill of the bird) may be displaced. The excrescence may include an extension on one side of the moveable part to facilitate moving of the part by the reader. The moveable part is preferably coupled to a spring, so that the part snaps back to its original position after displacement.

In addition, a noise-generating means may be incorporated into the structure, said noise-generating means being repetitively operable by the reader as a necessary consequence of or independently from the displacement of the moveable parts. In one embodiment of the present invention, the noise is generated when the moveable part recoils to its original position after being displaced. It is preferable that the noise generated by such a device is relevant to the subject matter of the book or card.

In a preferred form of the present invention, the subject matter of the book or card cues the reader to actuate the noise-generating device and move the moveable parts at appropriate times during the story or rhyme.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below, with reference to the accompanying diagrams, in which: Figures 1 to 4 show a front view of a first, second, third and fourth embodiment of a toy book of the present invention; Figures 5 to 8 show a front view of the excrescence of the first, second, third and fourth embodiments, with the moveable part displaced from its original position; Figure 9 shows a plan view of a spring used in embodiments of the invention, in the moveable part of the excrescence; and Figure 10 shows a sectional view along X-X.

Referring to the diagrams, Figures 1 to 4 show embodiments of the present invention in which the book 1 has a front cover 2, decorated in such a way as to resemble the lower part of an animal or bird relevant to the subject matter of the book 1. An excrescence 3 is mounted at an edge 4 of one cover of the book 1, and stepped so that the pages 5 of the book are positioned below the moulding 3 and the front cover 2 of the book lies flush with the front surface of the excrescence 3.

Figures 5 to 8 show the excrescences of embodiments of the present invention, comprising a three-dimensional moulding 3, and an extended tab 6 projecting from the lower edge of the moulding 3. The moulding 3 is shaped and coloured to resemble the upper part of the head of a bird or animal, and is pivotable around an axis of rotation 10 such that the mouth or beak 7 of the moulded head 3 can be displaced relative to the main body of the representation. The moveable part 7 is coupled to a spring 8, shown in Figures 9 and 10, and preferably has an extended section 9 at one side of the head, that can be gripped or pressed by the reader to facilitate displacement as shown by arrows A of the part 7 around its axis of rotation 10.

Displacement of the moveable part 7 relative to the main body of the book 1 causes the spring to accumulate potential energy so that the part 7 snaps back to its original position when released.

The spring 8 is enclosed inside the moulding 3, and the extended tabs 6 are trapped between pieces of board forming the back cover of the book. Noise may be generated by the snapping back of the bill or mouth of the animal under the influence of the spring, or there may be a separate noise-generator such as a rattle or squawker around the axis of rotation of the bill or mouth to generate noise as it moves; or there may be an independently-operated noise-making device such as a squeaker or clicker.

The pages 5 can be hinged at a edge, or can be joined in a concertina-like arrangement. The book covers 2, and pages 5 may be made of any suitable material used in childrens' books and toys, including stiff card, plastic or cloth. Similarly, the excrescence 3 can be made of, and decorated with, any suitable material, such as moulded rubber or plastic.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A book or card having a cover, the cover having a three-dimensional excrescence mounted on one edge, the excrescence incorporating, or being, a moveable part.

2. A book or card according to claim 1, wherein the excrescence includes a noise-generating means.

3. A book or card according to claim 2, wherein the noise-making means is actuated when the moveable part moves.

4. A book or card according to claim 3, wherein the noise-making means is actuated as the moveable part returns to its original condition after being displaced.

5. A book or card according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the moveable part is coupled to a spring, so that the moveable part snaps back to its original position after displacement.

6. A book or card according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the excrescence has an extension on one side of the moveable part to facilitate the moving of the moveable part.

7. A book or card according to claim 6, wherein the moveable part is the whole of the excrescence.

8. A book according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the excrescence is mounted by tabs which are trapped between two pieces of paper or board forming the cover.

9. A book or card as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A book according to any one of the preceding claims which has a front and back cover, wherein the excrescence is mounted to the back cover of the book, and the front of the excrescence is flush with the front cover of the book.

10. A book or card as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS: 1. A book or card having a cover, the cover having a three-dimensional excrescence mounted on one edge, the excrescence incorporating, or being, a moveable part, and the excrescence including a noise-generating means.

2. A book or card according to claim 1, wherein the noise-making means is actuated when the moveable part moves.

3. A book or card according to claim 2, wherein the noise-making means is actuated as the moveable part returns to its original condition after being displaced.

4. A book or card according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the moveable part is coupled to a spring, so that the moveable part snaps back to its original position after displacement.

5. A book or card according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the excrescence has an extension on one side of the moveable part to facilitate the moving of the moveable part.

6. A book or card according to claim 5, wherein the moveable part is the whole of the excrescence.

7. A book according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the excrescence is mounted by tabs which are trapped between two pieces of paper or board forming the cover.

8. A book according to any one of the preceding claims which has a front and back cover, wherein the excrescence is mounted to the back cover of the book, and the front of the excrescence is flush with the front cover of the book.