US2894356A - Dancing toy provided with vibrating acoustic devices - Google Patents

Description

July 14, 1959 1 cAMPDERA SALA 2,894,356

DANCING ToY PROVIDED WITH VIBRATINC ACOUSTIC DEVICES Filed March l2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l W BY und ADS July 14, 1959 L. CAMPDERA SALA 2,894,356

' DANCING ToY PROVIDED WITH VIBRATINC ACOUSTIC DEVICES v Filed Maren 12, 1958 42 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent O DANCING TOY PROVIDED WITH VIBRATING ACOUSTIC DEVICES Luis Campdera Sala, Barcelona, Spain Application March 12, 1958, Serial No. 721,019

Claims priority, application Spain November 8, 1954 8 Claims. (Cl. 46-118) The present invention relates to a dancing doll provided -With vibrating acoustic devices. This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 521,870, tiled Iuly 13, 1955, now abandoned.

The prior art describes some toys formed with fulcrum points on which they may rest upon a smooth surface in stable equilibrium, and in which the body of the latter is made to vibrate by means of a vibrating device incorporated in the toy so that the toy vibrates along the said surface and moves thereon in an irregular fashion. Such toys as a general rule are formed with an .integral body, so that the movement of the toy is in fact restricted to irregular movement over a surface.

The object of the present invention is to provide a toy of this kind in which the upper limbs are movable and are provided with vibrating acoustic devices which are operated in such a manner that the movements thereof are combined with the displacement of the toy over the supporting surface so |that the toy performs, for eX- ample, a movement similar -to a dance.

To this end, the invention has a body provided with fulcrum points on which it is supported on a smooth surface, and with a prime mover driving a vibrating device which makes the supporting points vibrate upon the surface so -that the toy moves over this surface. The body has movable limbs carrying vibrating acoustic devices, which limbs are connected with the prime mover through a gearing imparting to the limbs a slow oscillating movement in harmony With the dance performed by the toy, While the acoustic devices are connected with the same prime mover through a gearing imparting to the acoustic devices a rapid vibratory motion suitable for causing operation thereof. To this purpose the position of the center of gravity of the toy is selected so that it inuences in a corresponding manner the displacement of the toy over the surface. y

The combination of the movements, that is to say, the vibrating motion of the toy over the surface and the oscillation of the limbs accompanied by the vibration of the acoustic devices gives completely unexpected results. For example, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the doll is formed as an Andalusian dancer. The body and the lower limbs are integral, the arms :being mounted for oscillation and the hands are provided with pairs of castanets. During the operation of the toy, the body moves and makes fanciful turns over the supporting surface While the arms are rhythmically moved and the castanets play, thereby accompanying the dance in such a manner that a very real imitation of the actual dance is obtained. Furthermore, the feet of the doll are formed as shoes with heels, thereby providing four fulcrum points. The vibration of these fourpoints over a hard surface also produces the typical noise with which the dance is accompanied.

Of course, the above movements may be accompanied v by suitable oscillations of the head to the one and the fplete the effect.

i 2,894,356 Patented July 14, 1959 The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description and claims together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of the body of the doll with parts of operating mechanism omitted;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of the operating mechanism for the doll Iwith the upper part of the body shown in dotted outline;

Fig. 3 is an elevation view of the right side of Fig. 2 with certain parts omitted for clarity;

Fig. 4 is a partial elevation view of the left side of Fig. 2; and

Pig. 5 is a detail of the drive for the acoustic devices.

The hollow body 9 of the doll is formed, preferably, by two halves 10, 11 which engage with one another along a parting line. The two parts 10, 11 are, for example, made of a synthetic resin and connected together Iby means of a conventional joining means (not. shown) so that the separation thereof is easily accomplished in order to service the mechanism contained within the 'hollow body. The part 10 constitutes the front portion of the body 9 while the part 11 constitutes the back thereof.

The said parts 10 and 11. extend over the whole height of the doll and form the :body having legs 8 terminating in heeled shoes 12, so that there are provided two fulcrum points 13 and 14 for each foot. Thus, four fulcrum points are obtained .by means of which the doll maybe placed in stable balance on a smooth surface 15.

The prime mover is a clockwork comprising two side plates 16 secured to the body 9 by means of .the supports 17 within the body portion thereof.

Between the plates 16, which are suitably spaced by means of the cross members 18 at the upper end and cross member at the lower end thereof, are mounted three shafts 19, 20 and 21 adapted to rotate freely in aligned openings.

The shaft 19 protrudes beyond both plates 16. At the right of Fig. 2 shaft 19 has a square end 22 for engagement by a winding key (not shown). At the left of Fig. 2 shaft 19 carries the primary gear 23 of the clockwork, which gear is provided with a winding ratchet 24 for loading the spring 25 IWithout the need for rotating the Whole mechanism in so doing. The spring 25 is mounted between the plate 16 on the right and a guide plate 26 on the shaft 19. As is usual in this type of mechanism, the inner end of =the spring is secured to the shaft 19 while the outer end of the spring is anchored to the member 18. Thus, as will be easily understood, the tension applied to the spring lby rotation of the shaft 19 in the winding direction `tends to rotate the shaft in the unwinding direction, thereby rotating the primary gear 23 and the mechanisms associated therewith.

Shaft 20 also protrudes beyond both plates 16. On the left end it carries the pinion 27 meshing with the primary gear 23, and on the right has secured thereto a transverse pin 28 which may be blocked yby the inturned end 29 of the lever 30 which oscillates about the fixed pivot 31 and is provided with a handle 32 protruding outside of the body. In the position shown in Fig. 2, the pin is free to rotate, but the lever is displaced clockwise, the end 29 thereof moves into the path of the pin thereby stopping it and preventing rotation of the various parts of the clockwork mechanism.

Between the plates 16, shaft 20 has xed thereto a gear 33 meshing 1with the pinion 34 keyed on the shaft 21, and the right end of the shaft 21 extends slightly beyond one of the plates 16 for a purpose to be described. The shaft 21 also carries a bevel gear 35 which meshes with a pinion 36 secured to a shaft 37 journaled ill a bearing 38 on the lower cross member 180.

v44 therein in aligned relation with one another.

Vrotation of the disc 392 causes a vibrating motion of all of the dolls body.

The lower portion of the body is formed as a skirt lguide 40 over which the dolls dress is fit as indicated at 41, and the lower'edges 42 of the skirt, which is, preferably made of fabric having a slight degree of stiffness, just touches the supporting surface 15. The uneven yresistance caused by the folds of theskirt moving on the surface 15 combines with the fanciful displacements of the doll over the surface and produces a realistic imita- `tion of a dance.

The arrangement of the arms is shown in Fig. 2, in a somewhat diagrammatical form, and in Fig. 5, which shows in detail the upper part of the mechanism and the manner in which one arm is coupled thereto.

The upper part of the plates 16 have the holes @nd ole 44 has a greater diameter than hole 43 and has fitted therein the reduced end 45 of a sleeve d6 which reduced Vend 45 protrudes somewhat from the side of the motor.

The remainder of the .sleeve 46 is between the plates 16. The end of a shaft 47 is engaged in the sleeve d6,

'extending through the hole 43, the shaft 47 extending Voutwardly from the plate 16 to the'point of articulation vof one arm 4S to the body 9. A second shaft 49 is inserted from theother side of the motor into the re- Iduced end of the sleeve 45, the said second shaft extending to the point ofrarticulation of the other arm 48 to the body 9.

Within the sleeve 46, the shaft 47 has a terminal threaded hole t! and the shaft 49 has a reduced end 5l threaded in a manner such that it may rotate freely, in threaded relation to shaft 47, in the hole 5t?. This coupling `is elfected in this manner so that the two shafts are permitted to effect some relative rotation movement without being disengaged from one another. By means of this simple construction the relative positions of both axles is positively defined.

On the other hand, the sleeve 46 has a threaded hole which has a set screw 52 therein securing the shaft i7 in the portion of greater diameter in the sleeve 46. The assembly of both shafts is thus axially located as regards the prime mover.

The reduced end 45 of sleeve 46 is rotatably mounted in the hole 4d and the reduced end 45 has fixed thereto, outside of the plate 16, a collar 53 secured to reduced end 45 by means of a set screw 54. This collar, in turn has secured thereon a short lever 55 'the free end of which terminates in a pivot 56.

The shaft 49 has secured thereto, adjacent the reduced end of the sleeve 46, a second collar 57 by means of a vset'screw 5S, and the second collar 57 also has iixed 'thereto a lever '59 which terminates in a pivot 6G.

As will be better seen in Fig. 4, the two levers 55 and 59 are fixed to shaft 429 such that they are located on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through the kshafts 47 and 49, and they have connected to the pivots 56 and 60 the upper ends of connecting rods 61 and 62.

The lower ends of these connecting rods are articulated together on an eccentric pin 63 secured to the primary gear 23.

Pig. 4 shows the levers and connecting rodsv in the `neutral position which corresponds to the position .of 4extension `of :the connecting rods and levers, and it follows that .upon rotation of the primary gear -in either direction .the two levers-are v'd-isplacedin opposite 4 directions, resulting in opposite rotations being imparted to the shafts 47 and 49.

The outer ends of each of said shafts carry the dolls arms. The construction of both arms is the same so that the detailed description of one will suice for both.

The mounting of the arm is by means of a disc member 64 of molded synthetic resin and having a cylindrical portion 65 which ts in a `suitable opening vformed in the dolls body. This cylindrical portion terminates in an outer Harige 66 over which the edge of the hollow body forming the arm 48 is secured. The central part of disc member 64 has a core 67 wherein the closed end of a sleeve 68 is fitted, the open end of the sleeve protruding from the disc member 64 inwardly of the body, the free end of sleeve 68 being fitted on the end of the shaft 47 or 49. In order that the position of both arms may be adjusted at will independently of the drive thereof, the sleeve 6d has a longitudinal slit69 which gives it enough resiliency so that it is frictionally engaged with the shaft and yet will be turned with the shaft.

The ends of the arms, in the vicinity of the wrists, have cylindrical housings 7i? wherein the cylindrical ends 71 of the hands 72 are rotatably fitted. Cables 73 or equivalent flexible members have the one end thereof secured in the ends '71 of the said hands and extend into the arm through an opening 74 formed axially of the bottom of the housings 7). The cables 73 extend along the arms and enter the dolls body through openings 75 formed eccentrically of the axis of the members 64.

Within the dolls body, the ends of the cables coming from the two arms extend into the ends of a sleeve 76, to which they are secured by means of the set screw 77.

The sleeve may rotate freely in two aligned holes formed in the supports 7S secured on plates 16.

One end of the sleeve 76 protrudes laterally of the plate 16 and has secured thereto by means of the set screw 79 a collar having thereon a radial lever .81 with a pivot SZ on the end thereof. This pivot has pivoted thereon one end of the connecting rod 83 extending to the lower part of the clockwork mechanism where it is articulated to the pivot 84 eccentrically secured to the disc 85 on the protruding end of shaft 21.

During the operation of the apparatus, the rotation of the disc 85 reciprocates the connecting rod- 83 which, in turn causes oscillation of lever 81 so that .the .sleeve 76 and other members associated therewith have impartedI thereto a reciprocating rotational movement which is transmitted to the hands of the doll.

It will be noted that the disc 35 is secured to a sha-ft of the clockwork mechanism which rotates at a-,comparatively high speed, so that the reciprocating mot-ion reaching the dolls hands is very rapid and produces a vibrating effect which is suitable for playing a vibrating acoustic device, for example a pair of castanets 90. Furthermore, if the dimensions of the several vmembers are so selected that the oscillating frequency of the parts connected to the cables correspond to the reciprocation speed communicated thereto by the sleeve 76, it is possible to obtain results with a surprising intensity Aand effect.

As regards the movement of the arms, it will be clearly seen VVthatV the primary gear 23 revolves at a very reduced speed so that the connecting rods 61 and 62 impart. to the levers 5S and 59, and these in turn impart to the arms, a slow oscillating movement in the form -of rhythmic upwards and downwards movements of the arms in harmony with the nature of the dance imitated by the toy. At the same time the castanets play in' all the positions of the arms. According to the angular setting given initially to the arms several dancing'fattitudes can be attained.

Of course, the invention lends itself toseverah-vari- Vations which will, likewise, be within the scope'of the i had to an Andalusian dancer, it is obvious that the kind of dancer may be changed, and also the doll may represent figures other than persons, for example grotesque animals which will perform dances of a surprising eifect.

On the other hand, in the described embodiment no reference has been made to a drive for the head, but it is obvious that it will be possible to provide means for imparting suitable movements to the dancers head.

Also, the invention is not to be restricted to the use of the particular prime mover described, but any other motor such as an electric motor, may be used within the scope of the claims.

It is thought that the invention and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A dancing toy comprising a body having a plurality of points thereon on which the doll rests in stable equilibrium on a supporting surfaces, a prime mover mounted in said body, a vibrating device in said body for vibrating the toy on said points and connected to said prime mover, a plurality of limbs movably mounted on said body, means connecting said limbs to said prime mover for moving said limbs in a slow oscillating movement, vibrating acoustic devices on said limbs, and means connecting said Vibrating acoustic devices to said prime mover for vibrating said vibrating acoustic devices rapidly.

2. A dancing toy as claimed in claim l in which said body has a plurality of legs thereon, each leg having two of said points thereon spaced from each other, whereby at least four independent points are provided on which the toy rests.

3. A dancing toy as claimed in claim l in which said means connecting said limbs to said prime mover comprise a shaft for each of said limbs on one end of which the limb is frictionally rotatably mounted, and a linkage means pivotally linked between each shaft and said prime mover.

4. A dancing toy as claimed in claim 3 in which said linkage means comprises a gear wheel driven by said prime mover, and connecting rods eccentrically pivoted to said gear wheel.

5. A dancing toy as claimed in claim 4 in which there are two limbs and two shafts, each shaft carrying one limb, said shafts being coaxially aligned, and said linkage means further comprises two levers, one fixed on each shaft and extending on opposite sides of a vertical plane through said shafts, each of the free ends of said levers being articulated to one of said connecting rods.

6. A dancing toy as claimed in claim 5 and a sleeve rotatably mounted in said body in a position ixed with respect to said prime mover, said sleeve having one of said shafts fixed therein and one of said levers mounted thereon, and said shafts being threadedly engaged with each other for relative rotational movement with correspondingly little relative axial movement.

7. A dancing toy as claimed in claim 1 in which said limbs have hands rotatably mounted on the free ends thereof, said hands having said vibrating acoustic devices mounted thereon, and said means connecting said vibrating acoustic devices to said prime mover being connected to said hands.

8. A dancing toy as claimed in claim 7 in which said means connecting said vibrating acoustic devices to said prime mover comprise exible cable means extending through each of said limbs into said body, a sleeve rotatably mounted in said body to which the flexible cable means from each limb are xed, a lever having one end fixed to said sleeve, a connecting rod having one end pivoted to the other end of said lever, and a Wheel connected to said prime mover for rotation at high speed, said connecting rod having the other end thereof eccentrically pivoted to said wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,654,336 Lindstrom Dec. 27, 1927 2,504,652 Cohn Apr. 18, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 37,498 Germany Nov. 13, 1886

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