US2660001A - Toy with traveling figurette - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 24, 1953 w. R. SMITH ET AL TOY WITH TRAVELING FIGURETTE 2 Sheets- Filed Feb. 14.

mv mons WILLIAM 2.5mm @AbEHZL Q. MONACO ATTORNEY 0- 24, 1953 w. R. SMITH ET AL 2,660,001

TOY WITH TRAVELING FIGURETTE Filed Feb. 14, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOIZS WILLIAM Q. SNHTH GABQHEL i2. MONACO ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 24, 1953 Ten r-A'rE-s PAT EN T =10'F "F ."I CE 3R.fMonacmfNewHaven, Conn., assignors to --The A: Ci Gilbert' Gompany, New Haven, Conn.,

a; corporation of- Mary land -.'Applic ation' February 14, 1951; Serial him-210,813

1'6 Glaims.

1 Ihisinvention relates to toy"apparatusin'the nature 'oftrac'kside station'as an accessory for toyi railroadsan'd involving a platform whereon "free moving figurettes representing fmen, cattle "or other living beings are animated in a -manner to travel automatically about the platform as -wellas -to'move both into andout of arailway *car'standing on an adjoining stretch'of toyrail- -roadtrack.

A- generalebject of the invention is toimpart automatically to --such figurettes "progressive movement imitative of the natural travel of peo- :-ple -or live -stock ata passengerstation or-at a freight' station" such as a .stockyard or corral.

llt has long been. known-that loose onfree movingi piecesisuch'-: as@-toy figurettes. can be --made to advance along" a. horizontal: floor; vora supportv suraiace by avibratinggsuch surface in various ways. a'llo this end itfhas been; proposed to equip either the-base of :the figurette or :the :fioor surface with :a Lpi lose=s-ubstam1e or some;- equivalent .formation --,of ;fle xi,b1e proj ections upon iwhose +free ends the figurette stands. Whenwsubjected to 'vib a o io n rt surfac n=-wh h th y rest, such projections yield flexibly to vibratory Q. impulses which take place a directionthat .m t Iea ily exe em sh ie ymugh less readily or not at all to drnpulses asting in the opposite .fldirection, namely in a direction head on against their ends. Therefore the pile or shag of :a fabric can act as .a-strutandibaprod- .(led by vibrationin amanner to impart such tiny and rapid increments of intermittent progres- Lsive'inoveinent to the figurettes {that they appear 'to travel Juni iterruptedly in a forward 'rangeior directions. iInfthis imannerffi gurettes "may The made ,to advance without perceptible source off'inotivation' an'd' withjseerningly 's'rriooth andcon'tinuous' motion. 'iTj hefdirection in which they tend to I travel can "be "determined "by the angle' of f'orw'ard; backward; sidewise or diagonal :slant thatis.--given to the flexible proj ections 'or ipilose elements with-respect-to a the facing direction of the figurette. @On -a givenfigurette all :the pilcsegelements sare.--prefer.ably inclined f in a common "directiom andg resilient.

.Mechanical principles -,of figurette animation such as the foregoingare rnade use of broadly in thejpresent invention by vibrating thefloor surface "of'an 'imitative'corral and/or railway car chassis "and/or .'gangplank extending 'there'between, without bodily vibrating the corral, car -Ghassis or =gangp'l-ank'itsel'f.

n0ne object -of the invention is "to ca-use'the ifigurettes :to i-travel iindi'v-idnally 'over =selective v path -within :an :enclosure,. as welltas out of and back into such enclosure, by less easily detected .means of-motivation-than have heretofore been proposed; also tccause the figurettesto progress -.automaticallyin a seemingly more natural man- 5 ner -as though they were ''actually walking smoothly about free from perceptiblevibration,

of bodily nature.

A more particular object is to predetermine courses of travel along which free and unattached :figurettes ;-shall be caused -,to advance automatically "by vibration of the floor surface, and to provide. means for effecting at will selec- ;tive changes.in such courses of travel.

.A related object',-is to causefigurettes-to ascend aramp from a trackside corral located. on a relatively low level and pass into anadjacent railroad car' that is located at a relatively higher level, 101"" to descend suchramp in a return path of 1 travel from the'railroad car back intothe trackside corral.

jA particular'object is to transfer theim'echanical functionfof jmotivating advancing 'figurettes fro'm thevibrating' floor surface of .a trackside platform tor'thevibrating floor surface of a railway car chassiswithout necessitating any percep't'ible =--interruptions -in' the continuous travel ofthe figuret-tes.

A further-object is-to produce'vibration' of the iioorsurfaca-in a toy structure by constituting s'uch surface-as a somewhat stiff, thin, friction :a'fi'0rding sheet of material re'st'ing-on-an underlying support and free for edgewise vibratory '!movement a in isliding relation to such support, as well as in sliding. relation to figurette-iguid-ing astationary fence :st'ructure flanking the designed path {Of movement .of .athe figurettes.

Another obiectvis so to correlate two adj acent vibratory fioorareas bordered and separated by fencing or: partitions -or guard rail structure that 40 they resemble two neighboring corrals within either of which corrals toyfigurettes representative 30f cattle can circulate while still other cattle 'figurettes are moving into or out of the ne ghboring corral.

,"A f contributory object, is to. make use of adjacent gangways 'and se arately adjustable adjacent'ga'tes' located therein' to determine whether theinoving cattle'fig'urettes shall he confined to 'oneor"-jb'oth of the neighboring corrals "orfbe causedtddepart from"or*enter into either of *s'uch corrals.

These andfurther objects of the invention will appear in greater particular 'from the following des'cription'of a su ccessful embodimentof the in- :vention having r'eference to the accompanying :drawings wherein various -mii1i-b'ered sectio'nal views show the structure as observed in the direction of arrows bearing similar numbers.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a toy railway accessory embodying the present invention drawn in suitable actual size.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view taken in section on the planes 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view taken in section on the plane 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an elevation looking lengthwise of the track at Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view taken mostly in section on the planes 5-5 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view taken in section on the plane 6-6 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view taken in section on the plane 'I'! in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view drawn on an enlarged scale taken in section on the plane 8-8 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 shows in elevation one of the free moving figurettes drawn on an enlarged scale.

Figs. 10 and 11 are bottom plan views of the bases of differently colored figurettes which further differ from each other in the oblique direction at which the pilose nap of their base surface is directed.

In Fig. 1 a base plate l2 establishes fixed relationship between a stretch of toy track 13 and a somewhat elevated trackside platform l4 having an extension I5 on its side opposite the track. This extension carries a hollow toy building !6 representing a shed for cattle represented by the loose figurettes I0 and II that are free from random travel about the floor area of platform I4. The edges of platform 14 are bordered by fencing structure I! lined at its base by a guard rail 18 affording generously rounded guiding corners for the floor area of the enclosure that is formed by the fencing structure. One stretch of the fencing structure lies alongside the toy track and contains a break l9 through which extends a gangplank 20 pivotally anchored to platform l4 at 2| so that the gangplank can be swung upward or downward to selected degrees of inclina tion to the horizontal. Any desired degree of inclination is maintained by frictional resistance occasioned by rubbing of the outsprung hinge tabs 23 of the gangplank against flanking tabs that depend from platform l4 as best shown in Fig. 7 at the sides of a break in platform I4 which accommodates the width of the gangplank. The gangplank has upstanding sides 22 for purpose of guiding the figurettes in their travel over the gangplank as will later appear.

A portion 24 of fence I! adjoins the building l6 and extends inwardly of the fenced enclosure and fixedly stations two pairs of vertically spaced hinge brackets 25 on which are mounted respectively two like figurette guiding gates 26 and 27 by means of their lugs 28. Lugs 28 are so arranged on the gate with respect to hinge brackets 25 that the former are free to shift vertically relatively to the latter by sliding axially on the pivot pin 29. Upward movement of the gate is yieldingly resisted by the downwardly exerted tension of a spring coil 3! surrounding pin 29 and which is under compression between top hinge bracket 25 and bottom gate lug 28. This spring tension urges each gate downward so that a depending projection 32 on the bottom edge of each gate tends to seat yieldingly in either of two sockets 33 embossed in the sheet metal floor surface of platform 14. These sockets of which there are two pairs enable either gate to remain fixed iii either of two positions. In one of these positions each gate completes the figurette guiding fence enclosure surrounding its corral '10 or H while in the other position it opens a gangway leading from such corral to the foot of gangplank 20. As will later appear the position of either gate determines whether the animated figurettes shall merely circulate over a circuitous route confined to the interior of its corral, or whether the figurettes when they come to the gangway and find it open will leave the corral and proceed up the gangplank 20 toward and into a freight car 36 standing on track l3 with its open doorway positioned to receive them.

The manner in which the figurettes are herein shown to be animated, or caused to advance automatically along selective paths of travel, involves rapid edgewise vibration of a loose covering sheet 3'! for the floor of platform 14. This sheet is of suitable substance to be stiff enough to resist crumpling and may be very thin, light weight, stiff paper or cardboard, or plastic or the like, preferably having a top surface somewhat roughened, as for instance by embedded gritty or hairy content. It is cut to an outline shape sufficiently smaller than the fence bordered floor area of platform l4 to be free for short edgewise vibratory motion in sliding contact with the top surface of the platform. A resinous coated sheet mainly composed of glass fibers and known in the trade by the name of Glasson will prove to be satisfactory. An inclined integral tongue-like projection 38 of the vibrated sheet 31 rests on and extends the full length of the walk of gangplank 20 while an integral wide projecting tab 39 of the same sheet extends freely through a clear- L ance space between platform l4 and the bottom edge of building IE to the interior of the latter therewithin to derive its edgewise vibratory impelling motion.

The source of the vibrating motion within building I6 is an electromagnet energized, say, by

60 cycle alternating current of suitable voltage which may be derived from an ordinary toy transformer. The electromagnet consists of a solenoid winding 41 of insulated wire wound on a magnetically permeable spool core 42 having one of its ends firmly secured by the mounting screw 43 to an upstanding branch 44 of a support bracket 45 whose base flange 46 is removably secured to platform extension l5 by screws 41. The metal of support bracket 45 is also magnetically permeable and is so bent as to roof over solenoid 4|. It then extends downward to serve as a resilient reed-like armature 43 that may be vibrated by the alternating current in the substantially closed magnetic field of solenoid core 52. It is permitted so to vibrate by proper thinness and spacing of the armature 48 with respect to the end of the spool core 42.

Armature 48 is operatively coupled to the tab 39 of vibratory sheet 37 through the instrumentality of its oppositely branching arms 50 each carrying fixedly on its outermost end a depending button 51 of semi-soft rubber that is secured by cement or in any other suitable way to the top surface of sheet tab 39 where the latter lies concealed within the toy building IS. The electromagnet thereby constitutes an invisible source of vibratory motion for the sheet 3! which mostly covers and slides reciprocatively on the floor area cut-out strip of material like that of sheet 3I.

The size-and--outline-shape ofu-sheet' 59 is such as to permit edgew-ise reciprocativemotion thereof 1 lengthwise -ofthe-freight car between" partitions "51 and Y 58. For "imparting -edgewise -vibratory motion to the;chassiscovering sheet-59; the latter' is provided-with a -motivated extension" tab *6 l which may-be anintegral-continuation of its own material and which is freely movable-edgewise along a slot provided-between the -bottom of partition SI-andrthe car-chassis 60,-through which slotthe tab 6l extends. This enables the car floor covering sheet "59 to bevibrated edgewise and lengthwise of the carby the;armature .62 of the solenoid "63 whose spool core "-68, flike that of solenoidj ll, is supported ,on a hold- ]ing bracket fil by means of a removableifastening screw 65. Bracket184 1 is fastened by means of its base; flange 66 to the car chassis 611 by j holding screws69. A rubber buttonSI, which I may be likebutton 5] isfixedly carried on armature 62 and is firmly cemented'tothe: top surface of tab 6|.

The traveling response of the loose 'figurettes I0 .and I I is determined by,the nature of the .bottomsurface of their resnectivebases'n and I3. iwhile each of said bases j has permanently attached or cemented to it a swatch of springy, long-haired, pile fabricsuch as plush, this fabric is placed di fierently on the black figurettes I0 .and brown figurettes II, respectively, so that the downward pointing flexible pile slants transversely of the black figurettes in one diagonal direction, as indicated in Fig. 10, but slants transversely of the brown figurettes inthe opposite diagonal direction, as indicated in Fig. ,11. This gives the black figurettes II] a tendency to move inthe direction of-.,arrow ,L inFig. .11 Whenever .thesurface onwhich the figurette rests, is ,yi- Lbrated in eitherhof the .,dire ctions indicated by arrows X, and gYinFig. 1 1. v But inresponseto floonvibration relative to the brown figurettes I I in either of the directions indicated by arrows X and ,Y. in Fig.,10. the. brownjigurettes will tend .to move. in the direction ofarrow R in Fig. 10.

Thusvibration of the floorcovering sheet .31,

.38 in Fig linthe directions ;of arrowsX in Fig. .1 wil1 cause the black figurettes I0 totend to .drift constantlytoward .theleft andwill cause .the brownfigurettesto tend to drift constantly toward. the right as all the figurettes attempt to advance. ,Also vibrationof the. car. chassis floor covering sheet.59 inthe directionsof arrows Y will cause the black and brown figurettes to drift in their diiierent respective directions above explained. These oppositedirectional traveling tendenciesof the black and brown figurettes .cause the black i'igurettes to follow the guard r il I8; in a l wis course of trav lzinrcorra 10 while the :brown figurettes -,:wil1 .follow .the "guardrail I8 in a counterclockwisecourse of .t1',avel in'corr ali I I :There remains to be described certain-current :conducting 1 fittings 'forenabling the car carried -vibrator magnet -'coil 63 to he I electrically "energized while the car is standing besideqthestock yard corrals I0 and-1|. :Preferably-this isaccomplished by means of .a'third rail'l5, stationedon and insulatedfrom; base plate I2bybracket19 and insulative spacer. and electrically supplied throughanj insulated leadrwire'fl. Current is collected from rail'l5 bythe carcarried contact shoe 'IIiwhich is insulatedifromthepcar and connectselectrically with ,one' end ,oiz-solenoid' winding=63 by means oileadr'lil.

,The other .end of solenoid .winding '63 .is

grounded. to. the car chassis wherebythe current returnsztosource through the ;car wheels and one of the track rails.l3. The'lengthpfthirdrail .15 issuch that shoe '16 may contact therewith when either-of the stock carv doorways "or 40' registers withthe ,end of gangplank 20. When doorway 40' soregisters' the. figurettes will pass .therethroug-h to, or fromithecar. over gangplank ..20.v the same, as they do. through car doorway 40.

Conventional. forms of. slidable doors .49. and 49' may be provided to. closefiandopen theirrespec- :tive doorways. andAD'.

In operation, the figurettesrwill march-in. or-

.derly courses. of travelslidingagainst. the. guard tering. corral -II would. find; themselves. launched into the open. central space-of the. corral :.with temporary loss of. ability. to followwthe guard rail Hi. This might cause them-to enter upon an irregular course of travel .such as would bring them into contactlwith other I cattle moving about in corral I I this. way the invention provides for random millingabout of. cattle figurettes 0f:- the sameor differing colors in. either; corral: and. adds-realism 1; .bysimulating the characteristic performance oi live cattle in a real stock-yard.

Many 4 other "varieties of :m-ovement of :the figurettes are predeter-minable at will, such as by placing the rightwise --drifting -brown cattle in corral I9 or -theleftwise-driftingblackcattle in corral II or by placing-either -kindof cattle confinedto the-carwhile facing 'in -either of 0pposite directions. The cattle "figures -maybe so placed andthe-toy so operated thattheblacl:

cattle will-continually circulate -about-in-corral 16! blocked-from escapet-herefromby gate "-26 while the brown cattle are leaving corral l I and advancing one 'by one into the --car. It turned about in the car or if car doorway wdsmoved into register-with the -g-angplank'and its door 49' then opened the cattle --will "return to =the corral. Obviously these performances of the I differently colored cattle can-be interchangedbetweenthe two "corrals -or by closing both gates separately and simultaneously in thetwo corrals.

The appended claims -are-directed to and-intended to cover 'all fair substitutes andequivalents for theherein-disclosed particular 1 shapes and arrangements of parts that-come within the broadest interpretation of the claim language. Claims directed to'thetoy railway car alonc and in combination with figurettes appear in -copending application divisional herefrom, Serial =-No ;369,490, -filed September 13, 1952.

We claim:

1. An animated toy comprising in combination, a base having a vibratory iioor surface clear of obstacles and substantially as wide as it is long, at least one loose figurette equipped to be impelled with a constant tendency to drift laterally as it is caused to advance over said floor surface by vibration of the latter, fencing structure nearly enclosing said floor surface slidably engageable by the side of said figurette toward which the latter tends to drift thereby to guide the figurette in a path of travel following the perimeter of said floor surface, a in said guiding structure wide enough to permit escape of said figurette from said floor surface, and a gate spanning said gangway forming in one position a continuation of said guiding structure and completing the enclosure of said floor surface, said gate being shiitable at will to a position clearing said gangway and operative to guide said figurette in a path of escape through said gangway from said floor surface.

2. An animated toy comprising in combination, side-by-side vibratory floor surfaces, loose figurettes equipped to be impelled respectively about said rloor surfaces by vibration of the latter, fencing structures nearly enclosing of said fioor surfaces slidably engageabie by said figurettes respectively in a manner to direct a figurette on each of said floor surfaces in a path of travel following the perimeter of the floor surface, at least partially coincident gangways including respectively separate openings through said guiding structures permitting escape oi a figurette from the fioor surface enclosed thereby. and adjacent gates independentiy shiitablc between predetermined absolute and relative posi tions, each of said gates in one oi its said positions blocking a different one of said gangways and completing the enclosure of a different one of said floor surfaces and in the other of said positions clearing its gangway to permit escape of figurettes from each of said floor suriaces to a common point of departure therefrom.

3. An animated toy as defined in claim 2, in which both of the said vibratory floor surfaces are formed by a single thin sheet of stiff material, together with a vibrator connected to said sheet in a manner to impart thereto rectilinear edgewise reciprocative movement.

4. An animated toy as defined in claim 3 in V which the said loose figurettes are equipped with pilose bases of two kinds, the pilose base of said figurettes which travel on one of the said floor surfaces having its pile disposed in one diagonal direction and the pilose base of said figurettes which travel on the other of said floor suri'aces having its pile disposed in the opposite diagonal direction.

5. A toy railway accessory comprising in combination with a section of toy track, at least one loose figurette equipped to travel automatically in response to vibration of a surface on which it stands, a figurette animating station presenting a floor area beside said track with respect to which said figurette is free for random travel, a guard rail flanking said floor area slidably en gageable by said figurette in a manner to indwence the path of travel thereof, a miniature gangplank extending from said iioor area in a direction toward said track, a toy railway car stand-- ing on said track at one end of said gangplank, a slidable sheet of material on which said figurette stands and travels, said sheet at least partially covering both said floor area and said gangplanl:

and being sufficiently stiff to resist crumpling when pushed and pulled in edgewise directions. and a vibrator connected to said sheet in a manner to cause rapid edgewise reciprocation thereof in directions toward and away from said track.

6. A toy railway accessory as defined in claim 5, in which the said gangplanlr and that portion of the said vibrated sheet of material coverin the same are inclined in relation to the said floor area.

7. A toy railway accessory as defined in claim 5, in which the said gangplank and that portion of the said vibrated sheet of material covering the same are settable at selective angles of elevation relatively to the said floor area, together with means automatically operative to maintain said gangplank and sheet portion at a set angle of inclination.

8. A toy railway accessory as defined in claim 5, wherein the said vibrator includes a reciprocative actuator connected to the said iioor covering sheet of material at spaced apart points, whereby said sheet is prevented from skewing in relation to said actuator.

9. A vibration animated toy comprising in combination, adjacent imitative corrals, separate fixed fencing structures nearly enclosing said corrals respectively, a vibratory floor in each of said corrals, at least partially coincident gangways aifording exit from said corrals respectively through said fencing structures, and adjacent gates disposed to be shiftable between positions blocking and clearing said gangways respectively.

10. A vibration animated toy as defined in claim 9, in which the said gates are pivotally mounted to swing through overlapping paths of movement.

11. A vibration animated toy as defined in claim 9, in which the said gates are separately movable and thereby selectively positionable to block or clear either or both of the said gangways.

12. A vibration animated toy as defined in claim 9, together with a gangplanl; leading away from the point of coincidence of the said gangways.

13. A vibration animated toy as defined in claim 12, in which the said gates are pivotally mounted at one end on laterally spaced stationary pivots and have their opposite swingable ends disposed to be brought close together while directed toward the said gangplank.

14. A toy railway accessory comprising in combination with a section of toy track, at least one loose figurette equipped to travel automatically in response to vibration of a surface on which it stands, a figurette animating station presenting a floor area beside said track with respect to which said figurette is adapted to travel, a guide rail flanking said floor area slidably engageabie by said figurette in a manner to determine a trackside path of travel thereof over said floor area, a miniature gangplank extending from said floor area in a direction toward said track, a toy railway car including a Wheeled chassis standing on said track at one end of said gangplank, a first slidable sheet of material on the surface of which said figurette stands and travels, said sheet loosely carpeting both said floor area and said gangplank and being suniciently stiff to resist crumpling when pushed and pulled in edgewise directions, a vibrator connected to said sheet in a manner to cause rapid edgewise reciprocation thereof in directions toward and away from said track, a figurette guide rail on said chassis slidably engageable by said figurette in a manner to determine a path of travel thereof aboard said chassis, a second and separate slidable sheet of material on which said figurette is adapted to stand and travel loosely carpeting said path of travel aboard said chassis, and a vibrator connected to said separate sheet in a manner to cause rapid edgewise reciprocation thereof, said first and second sheets being in sufficient edge to edge proximity to enable the figurette temporarily to overlap and rest on both sheets simultaneously wherefore automatically to cause the figurette to be transferred from one to the other 01' said vibrating sheets.

15. A toy railway accessory comprising in combination with a section of toy track, at least one loose figurette equipp d to travel automatically in response to vibration of a surface on which it stands, a figurette animating station presenting a floor area beside said track, a guide rail flanking said fioor area slidably engageable by said figurette in a manner to determine a trackside pathway of travel therefor on said floor area, a toy railway car including a wheeled chassis standing on said track beside said floor area, separate relatively slidable thin stiff sheets of material on which said figurette can stand and travel loosely carpeting said floor area and said chassis respectively, a guide rail on said chassis slidably engageable by said figurette in a manner to determine a pathway of travel therefor aboard said chassis, separate electro-magnetic vibrators connected respectively to said sheets in a manner to cause mechanically independent edgewise reciprocation thereof for propelling said figurette, said sheets being edgewise adjacent at a transfer place and said pathways being codirectional at said transfer place whereby said figurette can be propelled toward and transferred to one of said pathways automatically from the other of said pathways.

16. A toy railway accessory as defined in claim 15 in which at least one of the said pathways is sloping.

WILLIAM R. SMITH. GABRIEL R. MONACO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,035,487 Marx Mar. 31, 1936 2,167,985 Levay Aug. 1, 1939 2,240,124 Smith Apr. 29, 1941 2,302,142 Pettit Nov. 17, 1942 2,450,867 Smith Oct. 5, 1948

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