US2310781A

US2310781A - Toy

Info

Publication number: US2310781A
Application number: US401647A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vincent C Harris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-07-09
Filing date: 1941-07-09
Publication date: 1943-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 1960-02-09

Description

Fe b.9,--1943. 'V; H 2,310,781

TOY

Filed July 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 9, 1943. I v. c. HARRIS TOY Filed July 9, 1941 Patented Feb. 9, 1943 were. stares Pr Claims.

The present invention comprehends the provision of a toy of novel construction designed to afford young children considerable pleasure and amusement, in that the means for operating the toy is wholly concealed from view.

One of the chief objects of the instant invention resides in the provision of a figure toy including a movable part adapted to be actuated from a remote point by means wholly concealed from view, whereby the toy in the mind of the child is apparently actuated under mysterious circumstances, thus affording the child considerable amusement and surprise.

Other objects and advantages will appear when the following detail description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a toy constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the operating means therefore.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a modified construction.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the operating means therefore.

The present invention essentially embodies a figure toy having a movable part adapted to be actuated from a remote point, and while I have shown a specific embodiment of the invention in the nature of a toy representing the bust of a human being, any other character of figure toy including a movable part may be used and actuated in accordance with the inventive concept of the instant invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, I have shown a specific form of figure toy representing the bust of a human being, the head of which is hollow and designed to simulate a clown. The head is indicated at In, while the mouth is shown at H. The toy in its entirety can of course be constructed of any suitable material, and may also vary in size and configuration without departing from the spirit of the invention. Normally disposed within the head In is the tongue l3 adapted to be quickly projected from the mouth H incident to the operation of the toy in a manner to be presently set forth. The tongue is preferably secured to the intermediate normally bowed portion of a flat spring I2 arranged within the head If! and having its opposed ends engaging the same above and below the mouth H as illustrated. Wholly disposed within the head Ill is an inflatable bag 14 connected with one end of a tube I5, the opposite end of which has associated therewith a compressible air bulb [6. This inflatable bag Hi directly engages the intermediate bowed portion of the spring 12 as shown. By virtue of this construction it is manifest that when the bulb I6 is compressed air is forced through the tube IE to inflate the bag M, whereupon the spring I2 is substantially straightened to quickly project the tongue 13 from the mouth I! of the head It]. The toy in and of itself affords young children considerable amusement and pleasure, but this is materially enhanced by reason of the fact that the actuating means for the toy is Wholly concealed from view and controlled from a remote point, thereby add ing the element of surprise to the enjoyment derived from its use.

In this connection, the figure toy is adapted to -be mounted upon a suitable support, preferably a wheeled platform indicated at A, and including a handle B of any suitable character having a longitudinal bore or passage therethrough to receive and house the tube l5 whereby the latter is concealed from view. The outer end of the handle is slightly cupped to provide a seat for the compressible bulb l6 whereby the latter is always maintained in a position where it can be conveniently grasped for use. Obviously, when a child playing with the toy compresses the bulb I 6 the tongue I3 is quickly projected from the mouth H of the head It! to both the surprise and amusement of the child, as the operating means therefore is wholly concealed from view. Of course, when the bulb I6 is released, the spring l2 returns to its normal position thereby retracting the tongue l3 within the head l6.

In Figures 4 to 6, inclusive, I have shown a modified form of the invention but one embodying all the essential characteristics thereof. In

other words the figure toy is of the same construc tion hereinabove described, and is mounted on the wheeled platform A having a handle B. The head In of the toy is hollow, and accommodates a bell crank lever pivoted therein as at l8. The branches of this lever are indicated at 19 and 20 respectively. Pivoted to the free end of the branch [9 is the tongue 2 I, while secured within the head In is a spring 22 having one end connected to the free end of the branch 20 of said lever. The spring 22 normally holds the lever in the position indicated by full lines in figure and the tongue 2| retracted within the head and whol- 1y concealed from view. Also connected with the free end of the branch 20 of the lever is an operating element 23, preferably a cord or the like which passes through the handle B of the wheeled platform as illustrated. The outer end of the handle B may be slightly enlarged and hollowed, but is preferably provided with a tubular extension in which is secured a guide eye 24 through which the operating element or cord 23 is trained. The end of this element is attached to the adjacent end of a spring influenced plunger 25. The plunger slides through the end of the handle B and is normally held extended by the spring 26. By virtue of this construction it is obvious that when the plunger is actuated against the tension of the spring 26, a pull is exerted upon the cord 23, thereby operating the bell crank lever which quickly projects the tongue 2| from the mouth of the head [0. During this operation the spring 22 is tensioned so that when the plunger 25 is released, the spring 22 returns the bell crank lever to its normal position, thereby retracting the tongue 2| within the head it At the same time the spring 26 returns the, plunger 25 to its normal position. Manifestly, in both forms of the invention the actuating means for the movable part of the toy is controlled from a remote point and wholly concealed from view, whereby use of the toy affords the child much amusement and pleasure. If desired the invention could also be arranged to operate two or more parts of the figure toy employed.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily understood, I desire to have it known that I do not limit myself to what is herein illustrated as preferred embodiments of the invention, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a figure toy, a wheeled platform having a handle, a body member mounted upon the platform and representing the bust of a human being, including a hollow head, a yieldably influenced tongue supporting member wholly disposed within the head with the tongue normally retracted, and manual means controlled from the end of the handle for actuating said member to quickly project the tongue through the mouth of the head.

2. In a figure toy, a body member representing the bust of a human being and including a hollow head, a normally bowed spring supported within the head, a tongue carried thereby and normally retracted, and means operable from a remote point for substantially straightening said spring and thereby quickly projecting the tongue through the mouth of the head.

3. In a figure toy, a body member representing the bust of a human being and including a hollow head, a normally bowed spring supported within the head, a tongue carried thereby and normally retracted, a normally collapsed inflatable bag arranged within the head, and means operable from a remote point for inflating the bag against said spring, whereby the latter is substantially straightened and the tongue projected through the mouth of the head.

4. In a figure toy, a wheeled platform having a handle, a body member mounted thereon and representing the bust of a human being, including a hollow head, a normally bowed spring supported within the head, a tongue carried thereby and normally retracted, and concealed means operable from the end of the handle to substantially straighten said spring and thereby project the tongue through the mouth of the head.

5. In a figure toy, a body member representing the bust of a human being and including a hollow head, a bell crank lever pivoted therein, a tongue carried by one end of said lever, a spring connected with the other end of the lever, whereby said tongue is held normally retracted, and means operable from a remote point to actuate said lever and project the tongue through the mouth of the head.

VINCENT C. HARRIS.