US2449147A - Toy - Google Patents

Description

TOY

Filed March 22, 1947 FIE--1- INVENTOR:

Llgyd mlliam Smuds,

ATTORN EY.

Patented Sept. 14, 1948 '1 TOY Lloyd William .Samuels,'.Allentown, Pa. ADDIicatiOn'MarcHZZ, 1947, Serial No. 736,529

This invention relates to toys of the type comprising an-:inflata*ble -device, such as a rubber balloon, and cooperating means adapted to facilitate 'inflation of the device and release thereof for free flight action induced by the discharge or escapementtherefrom of the air, orother fluid means; initially stored therein.

'-Oneobject of myinvention is to-provide a novel toy ofthe type indicated, which has certain structural-and functional features of advantage over the similar prior art devices.

Another object is to provide such a toy comprisinga balloon-like device having a' novel air, or other fluid; intake and discharge member, arranged to carry out a: certain "sound-producing vibrating-action during the time that the device is in free fli ht and while the fluid stored within the --device' is being discharged, or" escapes, through 'said member.

A furtherdbject *isto'provide such a'toy comprising means for inflating the said balloon-like device; Which' means'includes a novel element adapted to be temporarily in-serted intothe-fluid intake member of the devicein such manner as to form a fluid-tight connection therewith during the timeithatthe device; is being inflated, and which. element facilitates release of the device for simultaneously carrying out itsfree flight action and sound-producing effect, after inflation thereof to, the desired extent.

It'is also "an object toprovide'such a toy comprisingmeans for inflating thesaid balloon-like device, which means includes a novelelement adapted tohave the device frictionally secured thereto in such manner as to 'eflect s'elf-disem gagement of; the device from said element when the device isinfiated to a certain extent.

Other objectsof the invention are, to'provide such a=toy including aballoon-like device integrally formed of stretchable elastic material, such as rubben and comprisingan inflatable section, and an elongated air inlet and discharge section, thewall' at the forwardend of which lattersection is or substantially uniform thicknessto and including the edge portion defining the. opening thereof; and to provide such a toy comprising a tubular unitfor inflating a balloon-like devicevof the indicated type, which unitis provided witha mouth piece tat one end having a check valve associated therewith, and at its, opposite end is provided with a; tip elementgof lengthwise extending forwardly tapered configuration, arranged.

slitha't theair inlet'and discharge" section of. the balloon ,device maybefri'ctionally engaged jtherewith inairtight relationand in such manner as tofacilitate=releasecorselfsdisengagementziofithe ballooon when the-air within the devicesreachesa certain pressure.

' With these and otherobjects in=view,- which will become. more, apparentifrorm': the followingalde tailed description .of. a practical :a-nd illustrative embodiment'of myrimprov'ed toy shown in the=accompanying drawings; the invention comprises the novel balloon-like device;thecinflating deuice used-in conjunction -therewith, as well as thenovel elements, -features ot construction and ar rangement .ofr pa-rts in cooperative relationship, as+moreparticularly d'eiln'ed: aby the hereto ap-- pended claims.

- In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view of one-form nt my novel-toy; as itrappears-when-in readinessfor use-and while the balloon-like device thereot is deflated; the scale of"the=* toy "shownbeing about one-half full size.

Fig. 2: is a central longitudinai section -oi=-the'- toy shown in Fig. 1.

"Fig. 3 is. an elevati'onal" cross-seetional :view. taken substantially as indicated-by ine arrows- 3-'-3:on' Fig. 2.

Fig. 4-is an elevational:cross-sectional view, takensubstantially as indicated by the arrows 4 -4 on Fig; 2; and Fig. S isasideelevational viewof one typeof balloon-dike device forming-part of my invention; as it-appears when inflated so as-to be capable of simultaneously carrying out itsfree flight ac: tion and sound-producing*efiect.

As shown in the drawings; my novel toy generallycomprises -"two separate" cooperating; r le-'- vices, a balloon-like device I, and a device'i ior inflating thelatter.

Theballoon-like device'l isintegrally formed or thin stretchable elastic-material, such ,as rub;- ber, -and comprisesaninflatable sectionor member 3; which maybe of-the configuration shown, or-some othercon-figuration, and a reduced section ormember 4,- whicl'i forms a neck through which/the air freely flows. when the member 3 isebeing inflated or'deflated.

. "The balloon-dike device difiers fmmsuchodeeviceslofi-the' prior artinthatxthe wall of the mem-- her 4? is throughout its "entire: length, that is, to and-inc u in -t e dQer r iQnw ich d n s h front. opening thereof. I: have. ifound inr practice, that when the forward endof the member. 4. is, provided with, such a. wall structure and the Fair. inflated device I. is released for freeflightaction discharge, 'or escapementyoftheair through the .of substantially. uniform thickness member 4 will not only function to propel the device I in the usual manner well known in this art, but will simultaneously cause the member 4' to carry out a vibrating action that produces a noise, tone, or sound effect. This sound effect, which is somewhat like a relatively loud buzzing noise, or tone, adds considerable pleasure to the use of the toy by children, in that they imaginatively associate the flight action of the device I and the simultaneously created buzzing sound, with the conditions prevailing when an airplane or the like, is in flight. This added sound feature, therefore, greatly enhances the saleability of my toy. When making a selection of a toy of this type,.

children are obviously inclined to prefer one which not only simulates the flight of ana'irplane,

but also the sound thereof.

The device 2 is particularly 7 designed to facilitate inflation and launching of the balloon-like device I by children, without danger of detrimental consequences in the event that the device I should break or burst during the inflating action. The device .2 comprises a tubular member 5 of cardboard, plastic material,

or the like, having a mouth piece 6 secured thereto at one end, and a tip element I at its opposite, or front end.. The mouth piece 6 is made of wood or the like, and is generally of a conical, or tapered, configuration. Centrally extending through the piece 6, is a bore or passage 8. At

its inner end, the mouth piece 6 is provided with a check-valve member 9, in the form of a circular piece of flexible sheet material, such as rubber, which is secured to the flat end surface of the piece 6, at some point adjacent the bore 8, by suitable means, such as an adhesive material indicated by the numeral Ill. The hinge-like connection thus formed between the valve member 9 and mouth piece,permits movement of the upper part of the member 9 away from the fiat inner surface of the mouth piece 6, when air is blown through the device 2 in the direction of thgballoon device I-.; When flow of air takes place through the device 2, in the opposite direction, that is, from the balloon device I, the valve member 9 is pressed tightly against the flat inner surface of the mouth piece 6, thus closing the passage 8. Accordingl air is blown through the device 2 for the purpose of inflating a balloon device I which is temporarily attached to the front end of the device 2 as shown in Fig. l, and during the time'that a child, or person, is inhaling air, the check-valve member 9 automatically closes the passage 8, thereby preventing the air already in the balloon device I from escaping through the device 2. I

The tip element I, secured to the front end of the tubular member- 5, may also be made of wood or the like, and is generally made the same in size and shape .as the mouth piece 6,-With a view toward effecting low production cost of the device 2. The element -I is provided with a centrally located longitudinally extending:bore ,or passage II of substantially the-same diameter as the passage 8 of the mouth piece 6. The conical or 'tapered outer front surface portion of the tip element l ismade smooth and is adapted to receive and have'frictionally connected thereto a portion of the open end of the balloon member 4. By inserting the tip element I into the open end of the member 4 until the latter is stretched or expanded to a greater or lesser extent, the gripping or holdingconnection between the element Iandrnember 4.can be regulatedgas desired.

constructed and I flying off action, dorwardly tapered smooth outer surface of the After the balloon device I has been connected or attached to the tip element I, as explained, and shown in Fig. 1, the toy is pointed upwardly and air is blown through the device 2 so as to inflate the device I. As soon as a certain amount of air has been blown into the balloon device I, and the latter expanded or inflated to a certain point, so that the'air pressure in the device I is sufliciently great to overcome the frictional connection thereof with thetip element. I, the balloon device I will be automatically released, or will fly off the tip element I. This release, or is facilitated by reason of the element I. After release or disconnection of the balloon device I, it will be propelled upwardly and caused to fly about in various directions, during'escape of air through the member 4, and the latter will simultaneously carry out the soundproducing vibrations and produce the buzzing noise or sound, as previously explained- ITheflying action and sound effect of the device I, will continue until thelatter is substantially entirely deflated. Thereafter, it will obviously drop to the ground.

Instead of insertingthe tip element I into the balloon device member 4 to such an extent that these parts will be morefirmly frictionally connected, to carry out the self-releasing action of the balloon device I, as above explained, a lighter air-tight connection can be effected by inserting the tip I into the member 4 to alesser extent, and holding the member 4 in place with the fingers of the hand. When so held, the. balloon device I can be released at will, and irrespective of the amount of air pressure in the balloon device I.

The mouth piece .6 and tip element I may be provided with shouldered portions 6 and l at their inner ends, so as to effect a smooth fitting joint, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and may be either frictionally connected with .the tubular member 5, or by some suitable means such as an adhesive material.

Of course, the toy device herein shown and described can be changed and modified in various ways by the substitution of equivalent ma-. terials and parts, or in other ways which-will become. readily apparent to thoseskilled in this art from the disclosureu'nade, without however departing from the scope of the invention which is more particularly indicated by the hereto ap-. pended claims.

I claim:

l. A My comprising the combination with a balloon formed of stretchable elastic rubber which balloon is provided with a fluid inlet mem inflating fluid within the balloon reaches 'a 'cer tain pressure. i

2. A toy comprising the combination witha balloon formed of stretchable elastic rubber which balloon is providedfwith anjelongated air inlet member j of atubular devicefi r inflating" the balloon, which device" is provided with ,a mouth piece at oneendandf at its opposite e'nd with a tip element of lengthwisetapered ,con-

figuration arranged sothatthe open end of. said member may be frictionally engaged therewith in si ichmanner as to, facilitate self-disengage 5 ment of the balloon when the air within the latter reaches a pressure which overcomes the frictional engagement of the member and element.

3. A toy comprising in combination; a balloon integrally formed of thin rubber, which balloon is provided with an inflatable section having an elongated air inlet member the wall of which is of substantially uniform thickness to and including the edge portion defining the opening thereof; and a separate elongated tubular device for inflating the balloon, which device is provided at the rear end thereof with a mouthpiece of substantially uniform thickness to and inelement arranged to be temporarily inserted into the open end of the air inlet member in such manner as to effect an airtight connection between the device and member during inflation of the balloon and to facilitate disengagement of the balloon from the device after the latter has been inflated to a desired extent.

LLOYD WILLIAM SAMUELS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the

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