GB2413291A

GB2413291A - Pull string toy

Info

Publication number: GB2413291A
Application number: GB0507846A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Casey William Norman; Tony Thatcher; David Gamlin
Original assignee: Genie Toys PLC
Current assignee: Genie Toys PLC
Priority date: 2004-04-20
Filing date: 2005-04-18
Publication date: 2005-10-26
Also published as: GB0408764D0; GB0507846D0

Abstract

A toy having a clockwork motor and yo-yo means comprising a drum (10) or axle and cord means attached to the drum or axle and arranged to be wound therearound, the drum (10) or axle being arranged to store energy in a spring (11) of the clockwork motor, at least indirectly, when the yo-yo means is operated, the entire toy falling and rising as the cord means respectively unwinds from and winds around the drum or axle. Wheels (W) driven by the clockwork motor cause motion of the toy along a surface after operation of the yo-yo means ceases.

Description

241 3291

NOVEL TOY

This invention relates to a toy having a clockwork motor.

Clockwork toys require a winding means, and commonly this is provided by a key or handle extending from the toy and capable of manual rotation against the force of the energy-storing spring. It is also known to provide a cord or string, wound around an axle, which cord winds the clockwork motor when unwound from the axle.

It is an aim of the invention to provide a toy in which a clockwork motor is wound in a novel and entertaining manner.

Accordingly, the invention provides a toy having a clockwork motor and yo yo means comprising a drum or axle and cord means attached to the drum or axle and arranged to be wound therearound, the drum or axle being arranged to store energy in a spring of the clockwork motor, at least indirectly, when the yo-yo means is operated, the entire toy falling and rising as the cord means respectively unwinds from and winds around the drum or axle. Thus, whilst the toy is wound in the manner of a yo-yo, it does not rotate like a conventional yo-yo.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the toy comprises wheels driven by the clockwork motor so as to cause motion of the toy along a surface after operation of the yo-yo means ceases. Alternatively or additionally, the clockwork motor may be arranged to cause a secondary action such as vibration or hopping of the toy, the movement of a part of the toy, e.g. the mouth, eyes and/or limbs of an animal or humanoid figure or the wings of a bird or bat, the emission of sound or light or the firing of projectiles. The toy may be in the form of a vehicle or an animal, human, cartoon or other figure in which any wheels are concealed, or it may comprise a vehicle, a head or another representative object.

The toy may comprise means, such as ratchet means, causing energy to be stored in the spring only on a downward stroke of the yo-yo means. A yoyo spring may be provided to store energy on a downward stroke of the yoyo means and to release energy so as to cause the toy to rise as the cord means winds around the drum or axle.

Clutch means may be provided for preventing over-tensioning of the spring of the clockwork motor.

The toy may comprise means for preventing the transmission of energy from the spring to a final powered component of the toy during winding of the spring. If so, manually operated means may be provided for releasing the energy-transmission-preventing means once the spring is wound and operation of the clockwork motor is desired.

In an embodiment of the invention, a freewheel means is provided for disconnecting a drive train between the spring and a final powered component of the toy once the energy of the spring is substantially exhausted, so that said powered component continues to move by inertia.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, specific embodiments thereof will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 3 are side views of toys according to different embodiments of the invention; Figure 4 is an exploded view showing the mechanism of each of the toys of Figures 1 to 3; and Figure 5 shows a clutch means of the mechanism of Figure 4.

Figures 1 to 3 show yo-yo type toys in the form of animal figures. In particular, the toy of Figure 1 is in the form of a hedgehog, the toy of Figure 2 is in the form of a mouse and the toy of Figure 3 is in the form of a lamb.

A finger loop L, attached to the end of a string or cord, protrudes from an aperture in the top of each toy. When a finger is inserted into this loop and the toy is dropped or thrown, the toy functions in the manner of a conventional yo-yo, except that the animal figure remains in the upright position shown in the drawings as it falls down and rises up the string.

Each of the toys comprises two mutually coaxial wheels W. shown in Figure 4, but concealed at the bottom of the toy and thus not visible in Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the mechanism of the toy. The yo-yo cord C is attached to a winding drum 10 and initially wound therearound so that only the finger loop L protrudes, as shown in Figures 1 to 3. As the yo-yo means of the toy is operated, the cord C is unwound by the action of the mechanism being dropped or thrown away from the operator, the weight of the toy being sufficient to overcome the force of a yo-yo spring 11 housed inside the winding drum 10. The purpose of the yo-yo spring is to allow the toy to climb back up the cord C when it has reached the end of its travel.

One end of the yo-yo spring 11 is fixed inside the winding drum 10, whilst the other end is attached to a hub of a first case part 3.

A gear 22, attached to the winding drum 10, drives an intermediate gear and ratchet 8, which provides a means of transmitting energy only on the downward stroke of the yo-yo means. The gearing allows the force generated on the downward stroke to overcome a power spring 5 in addition to the yo-yo spring 11.

A power gear and ratchet 4 is driven by the intermediate gear 8 and houses the power spring 5. As the power gear is turned, the power spring is wound, but is prevented from unwinding by the action of a sprung pawl 2 on its ratchet. The centre of the power spring 5 is attached to an axle 7 running therethrough. As shown in Figure 5, the outer end of the power spring is fixed in such a way to the specially-shaped inside of the power gear 4 that when the power spring 5 is fully wound, its end can slip in its mountings and overwinding is prevented.

The axle 7 is connected at its end remote from the power gear 4 to a power output gear 19. The power output gear meshes with a sliding intermediate gear 20 which slides in a radial slot 23 so that when force is applied to the power output gear 19, the sliding intermediate gear 20 is forced in to mesh with a final drive gear 18. The final drive gear is mounted on an output axle 13 which drives the wheels W of the toy.

Also mounted on the output axle is a braking gear 24 which prevents rotation of the output axle 13 when the braking gear comes into contact with a rigid pawl 25 provided on the first case part 3. When the rigid pawl is engaged and the output axle 13, intermediate sliding gear 20, power output gear 19 and axle 7 are braked, the power spring 5 can be wound up without unwinding through these output stages.

An output gear chassis 17 is free to rotate on its mountings on the mechanism case. Braking of the output axle is ensured by a release spring 16, which forces the output gear chassis downwards and thus forces the braking gear 24 against the rigid pawl 25. When the mechanism is wound and the toy is to be released, the user presses down on the toy, which compresses the release spring 16 and thus disengages the rigid pawl from the braking gear. The rigid pawl 25 and braking gear 24 are held in these relative positions by a latch 14, urged by a latch spring 15 to engage in a slot 26 in a second case part 1. In this configuration, the power spring 5 is free to discharge its energy through the output drive train and propel the vehicle along. When the energy of the power spring has been exhausted, the sliding intermediate gear 20 is forced out of mesh with the final drive gear 18, causing the toy to freewheel.

As the toy is wound up again, the latch 14 is forced out of the slot 26 by a projection 27 on the power gear and ratchet 4. With the latch 14 disengaged, the release spring 16 once again forces the braking gear 24 against the rigid pawl 25, braking the output axle 13, and the power spring 5 can be rewound.

Each of the toys can comprise a hard casing with a soft covering simulating prickles, fur or wool respectively. Alternatively, the toys can be injection moulded form plastics material and then decorated, or rotationally or slush moulded from softer plastics. They can also be flock-coated.

All forms of the verb "to comprise" used in this specification have the meaning "to consist of or include".

Claims

1. A toy having a clockwork motor and yo-yo means comprising a drum or axle and cord means attached to the drum or axle and arranged to be wound therearound, the drum or axle being arranged to store energy in a spring of the clockwork motor, at least indirectly, when the yo-yo means is operated, the entire toy falling and rising as the cord means respectively unwinds from and winds around the drum or axle.

2. A toy according to claim 1, wherein the toy itself does not rotate as it falls and rises.

3. A toy according to claim 1 or 2, comprising wheels driven by the clockwork motor so as to cause motion of the toy along a surface after operation of the yo-yo means ceases.

4. A toy according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the clockwork motor is arranged to cause vibration or hopping of the toy.

5. A toy according to any preceding claim, wherein the clockwork motor is arranged to cause the movement of at least one part of the toy.

6. A toy according to claim 5, wherein said at least one part comprises at least one of a mouth, eyes, limbs and wings.

7. A toy according to any preceding claim, wherein the clockwork motor is arranged to cause the emission of sound or light.

8. A toy according to any preceding claim, wherein the clockwork motor is arranged to cause the firing of projectiles.

9. A toy according to any preceding claim, in the form of a vehicle.

10. A toy according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in the form of an animal, human, cartoon or other figure in which any wheels are concealed.

11. A toy according to any preceding claim, including means causing energy to be stored in the spring only on a downward stroke of the yo-yo means.

12. A toy according to any preceding claim, including a yo-yo spring arranged to store energy on a downward stroke of the yo-yo means and to release energy so as to cause the toy to rise as the cord means winds around the drum or axle.

13. A toy according to any preceding claim, including clutch means for preventing over-tensioning of the spring of the clockwork motor.

14. A toy according to any preceding claim, including means for preventing the transmission of energy from the spring to a final powered component of the toy during winding of the spring.

15. A toy according to claim 14, including manually operated means for releasing the energy-transmission-preventing means once the spring is wound and operation of the clockwork motor is desired.

16. A toy according to any preceding claim, including a freewheel means for disconnecting a drive train between the spring and a final powered component of the toy once the energy of the spring is substantially exhausted, so that said powered component continues to move by inertia.

17. A toy substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A toy according to claim 17, substantially as described herein with further reference to one of Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.