US2510237A

US2510237A - Drinking glass having a movable figure

Info

Publication number: US2510237A
Application number: US753004A
Authority: US
Inventors: John D Mahoney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-06-06
Filing date: 1947-06-06
Publication date: 1950-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1967-06-06

Description

June 6, 1950 J. D. MAHONEY DRINKING GLASS HAVING A MOVABLE FIGURE Filed June 6, 1947 Patented June 6, 1950 DRINKING GLASS Fl OFFICE A MOVABLE I John D. Mahoney, Newton, Mass. 1 J Application June 6, 1947, Serial No. 753.00; I

2 Claims.

This invention comprises an improved tumbler or drinking glass having a false bottom member secured thereto and providing an enclosed space having a movable figure therein, and cooperating pin and slot elements for restricting the movement of the figure beneath the transparent bottom of the tumbler.

While not limited in its field of use, the tumbler of my invention is particularly useful in feeding children who may become interested in watching the movement of the figure in the bottom of the tumbler and so induced to drink up milk or other beverage provided for them.

The movement of the figure is so controlled that it swings about a pivotal point movable in a predetermined path that prevents the figure from making actual contact with the walls of the space wherein it is confined. The movement of the figure, therefore, is controlled in a manner that is unexpected and intriguing to the observer. The precise mechanism for controlling the movement of the figure is of secondary importance so long as it includes a pin element about which the figure may swing, and a slot element along which the pin may move. It follows, therefore, that the pin may project from the figure into a slot formed in the bottom of the tumbler or in the false bottom member, or that the pin may project from one of these members and the slot element may be formed in the figure itself.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a tumbler equipped with a false bottom member containing the slot element,

Fig. 2 is a view of the same in longitudinal section,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section showing a tumbler in which the slot element is formed in the transparent bottom of the tumbler itself,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a tumbler in which the slot element is formed in the figure itself, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 'l! of Fig. 6.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, an ordinary tumbler or drinking glass It! is shown as having a transparent bottom ll of usual construction. To the bottom of the glass is fitted a false hot-- tom member l2 which has a shouldered circumferential wall ground or otherwise accurately shaped to receive the base of the tumbler l0 and retain its position by frictional engagement. The false bottom member I2 forms with the bottom I l of the tumbler a shallow circular enclosed space and is provided in its bottom with an approximately triangular slot 13. Within the space is located a figure, herein shown as an elephant I4, and from the bottom of this figure projects a pin [5 which is free to slide within the triangular slot l3 and about which the elephant may swing as the glass is rotated into different positions. For example, if the glass is rotated in a counterclockwise position from the position shown in Fig. 3 until the bottom side of the triangular slot slopes downwardly, the elephant will apparently make a short, sharp dash in that direction and bring up when the pin I5 reaches the lower vertex of the triangular slot.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is illustrated a modified construction in which the tumbler 20, having a transparent bottom 2i, is provided with a false bottom member 22. In this case the slot 23 is formed in the bottom 2| of the tumbler and the elephant figure is provided with a pin 25 projecting upwardly into the slot 23.

In Figs. 6 and 7, a tumbler 30, having a transparent bottom 3|, is shown as provided with a false bottom member 32 and forming therewith an enclosed space for the elephant figure 34 which, in this case. is shown as provided with an oval slot 33. Cooperating with this slot is a pin 35 upstanding from the false bottom member 32.

In all three cases it will be observed that the movement of translation of the element is controlled in accordance with the shape of the slot element and that in all positions it is free to swing about an axis provided by the pin element.

Having thus disclosed my invention and described in detail certain illustrative embodiments thereof, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a. tumbler having a transparent bottom as an integral part of its structure and a false bottom member secured thereto and providing therewith an enclosed circular space, a toy figure movable in said space, and cooperating pin and slot elements for restricting the movement of the figure beneath the transparent bottom of the tumbler, the slot lying wholly within the peripheral contour of the enclosed space and thus permitting the figure to swing freely in all positions therein and at the same time preventing it from contacting with the circumferential wall of the space.

.2. In a tumbler having a transparent bottom 3 as an integral part 01' its structure and a false UNITED STATES PATENTS bottom member detachably secured thereto and Number Name Date providing therewith an enclosed space with cir- 74 815 Funston Feb 25 1868 cular walls, a flat toy elephant figure movable 546171 Mantel I: 1895 in said space, a pin projecting from the elephant 5 616508 vedder 1898 figure, and a triangular slot in the false bottom 617209 Watt i 1899 memberinewhmhethewpin is-rfieely-gslmable, "701-2832 Benne tt et a l:::::: 5une 10 1902 triangularslot lying 'ewholly "thei Gilfium- Fantoni t 19 fel'ent ial Wall of the enclosed Space and being Priestnau Dec spaced from the wall sufliciently to permit thegjo v 524615 Diederichs 1925 figiisize to swing freeli! in all positionsthereof mtl l t 5 ,Paul H May 2 1939 cu ouching the wa l.

JOHN D. M AH ONEY. 2,418,922 Berndt et a1 Apr. 15, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS REFERENCES CITED lallkNumber .Country Date The following references are of recordflnthe SL885 Germany May 22, 1897 file of this patent: