US3163960A

US3163960A - Walking toy figure

Info

Publication number: US3163960A
Application number: US176236A
Authority: US
Inventors: Iwaya Keikichi; Kuramochi Shigeaki
Original assignee: Louis Marx and Co Inc
Current assignee: Louis Marx and Co Inc
Priority date: 1962-02-28
Filing date: 1962-02-28
Publication date: 1965-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 1982-01-05

Description

Jan. 5, 1965 KElKlcHl lwAYA ETAL 3,163,960

WALKING TOY FIGURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 28. 1962 24 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT ORS Jan. 5, 1965 KElKlcl-n lwAYA ETAL.

WALKING Toy FIGURE Filed Feb. 28. 1962 United States Patent 3,163,960 WALKENG TY FEGURE Keiisichi lwaya andl Shigeairi Kuranrochi, Tokyo, Sapm, assigner-s to Louis Marx Se Company, Inc., New York, NX., a corporation of New Yer-ir Filed Feb. 2d, 1%2, Ser. No. 175,236 17 Claims. (Cl. 456-247) This invention relates to toys, and more particularly to toys simulating animals, especially of the cat family.

The primary object of the present invention is to generally improve toy animals. A more particular object is to provide a toy which simulatedly walks with its head swaying somewhat from side to side. A further object is to provide a toy which stops and lowers and then raises its head, with an accompanying growl or roar. Still another object is to provide such a toy which is operated under remote control, so as to either walk, or stop and roar, as desired.

A still further object is to provide such a toy which seems to move with a crouched stealthy walk, with its claws or foot pads seemingly gliding along the floor, as though silently stalking its prey.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, the invention resides in the toy elements and their relation one to another as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

FIG. l is an elevation showing one side of the mechanism of the toy;

FlG. 2 is a fragmentary plan View showing the manner in which the head is movably mounted on the body;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the exterior of the toy;

FG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing the gearing, drawn to enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken approximately in the plane of the line 5 5 of FlG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a small part of FIG. 1, but drawn to larger scale;

FIG. 7 is a schematic wiring diagram for the toy; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic horizontal section through the body of the toy.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to FIG. 3, the toy is of the cat family, here illustrated in the form of a tiger having a head 4, forward legs 5, and rear legs 6. The legs are on the sides of the toy body. A thin flexible electrical cord 116, preferably considerably longer than is shown in the drawing, extends to a remote control unit which is hand held when operating the toy. This comprises a battery casing 112 which houses a pair of standard flashlight cells. Near one end there are buttons 114 and 116. By pressing button 114 the tiger walks forward with a slinky walk, with the head 4 swaying from side to side. On pressing the button 116 instead of 114 the toy stops walking, and the head 4 is lowered and then raised, and in the raised position emits a realistic growl or roar. This selective control is produced in so simple a manner that the electrical cord 110 is a mere two-wire cord. When neither button is pressed the toy is stopped.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the flashlight cells 118 and 120 are connected in series, and to a reversing switch, which in effect is a double pole, double throw switch. The end contacts are crossed as shown. The center contacts are connected to the flexible conductors 11d which lead to a motor 9. This is a miniature permanent field electric motor of a type now commonly used in toys, and because of the permanent field magnets, a simple reversal of the direction ofcurrent flow to the armature reverses the motor.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the motor 9 is located near the rear of the toy body, and its shaft 10 turns a pinion 11 meshing with a crown gear 12. A reversal in direction of the motor causes a change in drive from one part of the gearing to another, and the manner in which this is done may be explained with referenceV to FIG. 6 of the drawing, which is drawn to larger scale for greater clarity. Motor shaft 1li drives pinion 11 meshing with crown gear 12 which turns pinion 13 meshing with a gear 14 mounted on a shaft 16 which is transversely movable in an elongated bearing or slot 15. Gear 14 is a compound gear, and drives a pinion 17 which is adapted to mesh with either an upper gear 18 when shaft 1d is in the raised position shown, or alternatively, with a lower gear 19 when the pinion is in its lower position 17.

The upper gear 18 is part of a gear train which causes the toy to walk with its head swaying, and the lower gear 19 is part of a gear train which causes lowering of the head and operation of the noise maker. When the motor drives the gearing in one direction, the shaft 16 climbs to its upper position and drives the upper gear train, and when the motor turns in opposite direction, the shaft 16 moves to its lower position and drives the lower gear train.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper gear train drives a crank shaft with two end cranks 22 which are degreesapart, and which move four horizontal links 23 and Z4, which extend to the legs for moving the legs. The upper gear train also turns a crank 27 which moves a horizontal link 26, which extends forward toVv the head and moves the head to one side or the other.

Referring to FIG. 5, the lower gear train drives a cam 32 bearing against the oset surface 35 of a cam follower lever 34. It also drives a serrated wheel 37 thru step up gearing Sil and 3o for producing the growl or roar. v

Reverting to FIG. 1, the cam follower lever 34 is pivoted at 33, and at its upper end is connected by a pin 122 to a horizontal link 41 which extends forward to the head and movesit up and down. The cam follower lever 34 is also rigidly related to a movable platform 8, so that both lever 34 and platform 3 oscillate bodily as a unit about the pivot 33. Platform 8 carries a sound amplifying chamber 7 with a diaphragm 124 cemented across its rear end. The opposite or forward end is preferably open. The cylinder may be made of cardboard, and one-end of a leaf spring is secured at the top of the cylinder, as by means of small rivets. The

leaf spring is bent downwardly, as shown at 3S, andv then rearwardly at S, where it is adjacent the toothed wheel 37. When platform 8 is in raised position, the leaf spring is vibrated by the serrated wheel 37 against the diaphragm and produces the desired noise. This corresponds to the raised position of the head 4. When platform S is in lowered position, the leaf spring 39 is moved away from the serrated wheel 37, and no noise is produced. This corresponds to the lowered position of the head 4.

The head activating crank 27 (FIGS. 4 and 5), which rotates in combination with the leg activating crank 22 through intermediate gears 25 vand 26, drives a link 2d, which is connected to the head 4.

On one end of an axle 31, which rotates in combination with the lower combination gear 19 through intermediate gears 29, Sti, a carn 32 is mounted. The cam 32 is seit facing an offset yor projection 35 of a cam follower lever 34, which is affixed rigidly to the platform 8, which in turn is pivotally mounted in` the mechanism frame 2 by means of pivot 33.

The upper portion of said cam follower lever 34 is connected to the Ymechanism frame 2 by means of a pull spring 4?, and there is an activating link 41 which Patented dan. 5, 1965 is connected at its rear end to lthe lever 34, and at its forward end 'to the head 4 for up and down movement.

On the outside of the toy body 1, which has the mechanism frame 2 installed inside, fore and hind legs 5, 6, shaped to resemble the physique of the animal, are affixed on both sides, and the whole toy body 1 including `the legs 5, 6 is loosely covered with a pile fabric 42, resembling the fur of the animal. The skin 42 is {fartly pasted on each of the legs 5,` 6, so as to have it 'move with the motion of the legs 5, 6.

On each end yof the legs 5, 6, a roller 43 is mounted, respectively, and an anti-reverse plate or pawl 45 having an anti-reverse projection or 'tooth 44 is placed facing the roller 43, and the simulated foot pad 46 on each leg is so arranged as to allow free movement, respectively, by a pivot 150, with the foot 46 restingalways horizontal on the ground, whether Ithe leg is in forward or rearward position. y

The head 4 is molded out of a suitable plastics material, and tis secured to a sheet metal back plate 166. In the present case this is a circular plate with a flange 101. The remainder of the toy is covered with a soft pile fabric which simulates the fur of the tiger, `and this fabric extends forward fto the head of the toy and may terminate around the flange 101.

The plate 100 is carried by a horizontal pivot pin 102 (FIGS. l and 2), for up and down movement. The plate 100 has rearwardly projecting ears to receive the pin 102,. audit has additional ears 104 somewhat higher 'than the pin 102 to receive a coupling pin 166 connected to a link plate 50. This in turn is connected to a horizontally slidable plate 52, by means of a pin 53 received in an arcuate slot 51 cut through the link plate 59. The slidable plate 52 is slidable in fore and aft direction, this being permitted by a slot 54 which receives the upper end of a vertical pin y48, the latter -being the main pivot for the side-to-side movement of the head. The slidable plate 52 is connected by means of pin 141 to the link 41 which-extends back to the cam follower lever (34 in FIGS. 1 and 5) previously mentioned.

For'the connection of the head with the mechanism frame 2 .there is a swivel support 3, which is so atiixed as to let `the head 4 move from side to side. This lis done by means of the vertical `pivot pin 48. At a sidewardly offset point the upper end of swivel support 3 is connected by a'horizontal link 28 back to crank 27. The pin 53 of the slidable support plate, 52 is fitted in an arc-shaped lengthy hol-t 51 of the link plate Si) in order to accommodate the freeside-to-sideV motion -of the head 4. The upper part of said vertical axle 48 is received in a lengthy hole or slot 54 of the slidable plate 52, and the latter is connected to lthe other link V41 which moves the head up and down about the horizontal pin 102. This works whether or not the head' happens at the time to be turned to one side or the other.

To explain the movement of the toy of the present invention, it is as follows: Y

When the motor 9 is started, the axle 16 begins to rotate through intermediate gears 11, 12, A13, 14. By the rotating force, one end of the axle 16 is urged to one end of the slot 1S in the direction of rotation, and thereby the changeover gear 17 on the axle 16 is meshed with one combination gear. If it is the gear 18 the leg activating crank 22 is rotatedthrough

intermediate gears

20 and 21, and the

links

23 and 24 on both sides are set to motion forward and backward, and ,thereby the fore and hind legs and' on both sides are set to motion forwardV and backward. Each set of the claws maintains its position horizontal to the ground, and the body 1 as a whole glides forward on the rollers 43. The skin 42 covering the body of the toy 1 moves with the motion of the legs 5 and 6, and the flesh or muscle appears to swell.

At the same time lthe head activating crank'27 is driven in combination with the leg activating crank 22 lthrough i the intermediate gears 25'and 26. Then the link 23 is moved forward and backward, and the swivel support 3 is set in motion side to side on vertical pin 48. The arc-shaped slot 52 moves relative to pin 53, and the head 4 is swung right and left.

When the rotation of the motor 9 is reversed, the rotation of the axle 10 is also reversed, and by its rotating force, the rotating axle 16 is urged to the other end of the slot 1S in the direction ofrreversed rotation, and thereby the changeover gear 17 on the axle 16 is meshed with combination gear 1? on the other or lower side. Through the

intermediate gears

29 and 30 the cam 32 is set to motion, and contacts intermittently with the projection or offset 35 of the cam follower 34. The forward and backward motion of the cam follower 34 moves link 41 forward and backward. By having the upper part of the vertical axle 48 in a slot 54 of the slidable support 52, and pin 53 in slot 51, the head 4 is moved up and down on horizontal pin 192 by the link plate 5t).

At the same time, the serrated noise making gear 37 is rotated through the

intermediate gears

30 and 36, from the axle 31 of the cam 32, and vibrates the end 39 of the leaf spring. The drum-shaped amplifier chamber 7 is drummed or vibrated by the bent portion 38 of the leaf spring. When the cam 32 bears against the projection 35 of the cam follower 34 and the head 4 is hung down, the movable platform 8 moves down below the mechanism frame 2, and the leaf spring end 39 is moved 'away from the serrated gear 37, and the vibration of the drum-shaped amplier chamber 7 stops.

Then when the cam 32 moves away from surface 35, the cam follower 34 returns rearward by means of vpull spring 4d, and the vibration of the amplifier 7 by the leaf spring 39 begins again.

Thus the toy animal swings its head 4 from side to side as it walks on its legs 5, 6, and as soon as its walking stops, it growls, swinging its head 4 upV and down, and the motion of the toy is just like that of a tiger or other animal of the eat family, presenting a very realistic and interesting action.

The mechanism is carried between two relatively stili sheet metal vertical side plates indicated at V130, 132 in FIG. 5, and constituting the mechanism frame 2. There is an additional body made of two oppositelyconvexed halves of thin sheet metal disposed around the mechanism frame, in order to give the body of the tiger the desired curved contours.

Moreover, each legis itself made of two oppositely convexed pieces of sheet metal, thereby giving the leg a three-dimensional conguration. The forward legs are pivoted on a rod 134 (FIG.` 1) which projects through the mechanism frame and the body, and the links 23 are connected to the forward legs by means of pins 136 which are located below the main pivot rod 134. The link 23 is attached to the inside face of the leg, that is, between the leg and the body. It should be noted that the hollow leg configuration extends upwardly far above the pivots 134 and 135, as is indicated at 138, and this is done for a reason described later.

The rear legs 6 are pivoted on a cross rod 140 extending through the mechanism frame and the body. The links 24 are connected t-o the legs by means of pins 142 located above the main pivot rod 140. Thus the forward and rear legs on one side move toward one another, while those on the other side move away from one another, as in a real animal.

Of course, the forward links 23 could be connected labove pivot 134, and the rea-r links 24'below pivot 149,

instead of as shown.

It will be understood that for most of their length the

links

23 and 24 are located inside the hollow sheet metal body (FIG. '8) of the toy, between the mechanism frame and the sides of the body. At the legs the body is indented and apertured for passage of the link from the inside to the outside of the body, between the leg and the body. In this region the wall of the body is curved inward or concaved, as would anyway be required by the natural configuration of the animal.

A fabric having a long soft pile, and printed with irregular stripes like those of a tiger, completes the toy. This fabric is secured to the lower portions of the legs, as by cementing, and it is also cemented to hollow sheet metal parts which simulate the padded feet, but the flexibility of the fabric readily accommodates the change of angle at pivots 150 between the foot and the leg as the leg moves back and forth, it being understood that the pivot-ing of the foot permits it to seemingly glide along the floor. The fabric is also secured tightly about the sheet metal body at the middle of the body, that is, intermediate the legs. However, at the upper parts of the legs the fabric (42 in FIG. 8) is free of the metal and is loose enough to accommodate the walking motion. The sliding movement of the hollow rounded upper leg portions within the fabric, for example the movement of the upwardly projected part 13?; (FIG. l) of the forward leg, causes a realistic iiexing of the fabric closely resembling the rippling of the muscles lof the real animal as it walks. The upper part 138 is purposely provided and shaped for this purpose.

The fabric at the neck portion between the forward end of the shaped body and the head, readily accommodates the movement of the head, and here again any resulting liexing or rippling of t-he piled fabric simulates the appearance at the neck of a real animal. The tail is preferably a coiled wire spring 144 (FIG. l) enclosed in a sleeve 146 (FIG. 3) of the pile fabric, and because of the spring the tail is flexible and yet not limp, again resembling the tail of the real animal.

The wheels 43 are preferably made of rubber, and the periphery is preferably serrated slightly for better cooperation with pawls 44.

The cam 32 acts at both ends, which are shaped dif-v ferently for shorter and longer duration of sound. This changes the sound and head action for greater realism.

It is believed that the construction and operation of our improved animal toy, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. The gear ratio between the crank shaft for the legs and that for the head is preferably a step-down gear ratio, as shown, so that the swaying of the head from side to side is slow. The gear ratio between the cam shaft for lowering and raising the head andthe noise- ,making shaft is preferably a step-up gear ratio, as shown,

in order to obtain rapid vibration of the diaphragm. The cam for lowering and raising the head is preferably differently shaped on both sides, thus adding variety to the noise-making action, which is brief yone time, and longer sustained the next time.

It will be apparent that while we have shown and described the invention in a preferred form, changes may be made without departing from the Scope of theV invention, as sought to be defined -in the following claims. In the claims, the term body is applied to the body exclusive of the fabric skin therearound. Thus the legs may be pivoted outside the body and yet remain inside the skin, which is the preferred construction.

We claim:

1. A toy comprising a body, forward legs pivoted on the body, rear legs pivoted on the body, a head pivoted on the body for up and down movement, a sound-producing device including an amplifier chamber with a diaphragm stretched across one end of the chamber, a leaf spring bent to provide a part adjacent the diaphragm and another part adjacent a serrated wheel, a motor to drive said wheel and also driving a cam at slower speed, a cam follower, said cam follower being connected to the head to move it up and down and also being connected to the sound-producing device to make the same operative when-the head is raised and inoperative when the head is lowered.

2. A toy simulating an animal of thejcat family, said toy comprising a body, forward legs pivoted on the body, rear legs pivoted on the body, a head pivoted on the body for up and down movement, a sound-producing device including an amplifier chamber with a diaphragm stretched across one end of the chamber, a leaf spring secured to said chamber and bent to provide a part adjacent the diaphragm and another part adjacent a serrated wheel, a motor to drive said wheel and also driving a cam at slower speed, and a cam follower, said cam follower being connected to the head to move it up and down and also being connected to the amplifier chamber and leaf spring to move them bodily toward the serrated wheel when the head is raised and away from the serrated wheel when the head is lowered, whereby the toy simulatedly growls only when the head is raised.

3. A toy comprising a body, forward legs pivoted on said body, rear legs pivoted on said body, a head pivoted on said body for side to side movement and for up and down movement, a noise-making device in said body, a iirst gear train operatively connected to said legs and head to cause the toy to walk with its head swaying from side to side, a second gear train operatively connected to said head and noise-making device to cause the head to move up and down and to cause the noise-making device to operate intermittently, motor means to drive either of said gear trains, a hand-held remote control unit and a control means, and a flexible connection from said unit to said toy, whereby either gear train may be operated.

4. A toy comprising a body, forward legs pivoted on said body, rear legs pivoted on said body, a head pivoted rvon said body for side to side movement and for up and down movement, a noise-making device in said body, a

reversible electric motor in said body driving a oating gear which is movable to either of two positions depending on the direction of rotation of the motor, said gear in one position driving a first gear train operatively connected to said legs and head to cause the toy to walk with its head swaying from side to side, said gear in its other position driving a second gear train operatively connected to said head and noise-making device to cause the head to move up and down and to cause the noise-making device to operate, a hand-held remote control unit including a battery case and a reversing switch, and flexible conductors leading from said reversing switch to the motor in the toy.

5. A toy, simulating an animal of the cat family, said toy comprising a body, forward legs pivoted on said body, rear legs pivoted on said body,'a head pivoted on said body for side to side movement and for up and down movement, a noise-making device in said body, a reversible permanent-magnet-lield electric motor in said body driving a oating gear which is movable to either of two positions dependings on the direction of rotation of the motor, said gear in one position driving a tirst gear train operatively connected-to said legs and head to, cause the toy to walk with its head swaying from side to side, said gear in its other position driving a second 'gear train operatively connected to said head and noise-making device to cause the head to move up and down and to cause the noise-making device to operate intermittently to simulate the growl or roar of the animal, a hand-held remote control unit including a battery case and a reversing switch, and a pair of relatively long exible conductors leading from said reversing switch to the motor in the animal toy.

6. A toy simulating an animal of the cat family, said toy comprising a body, a head pivoted on the body for side-to-side movement and up-and-down movement, forward legs pivoted on the body, rear legs pivoted on the body, a first gear train, a crank shaft driven by said first gear train and having opposed cranks at the sides of the toy, links extending forward from the cranks to the for- Yto move the `head from side to side as the toy walks, a

sound producing device, a second gear train which drives the sound producing device and also drives a cam at slower speed, a cam -follower, said cam follower being connected to the head to move it up and down and also being connected to make the sound `producing device operative or inoperative, motor means to drive either of said gear trains, a hand-held remote control unit including a battery case and a control means, and a exible connection from said unit to said toy whereby either gear train may be operated.

7. VA toy simulating an animal of the cat family, said toy comprising a body, ahead pivoted on the body for side-to-side movement and Aup-and-down movement, forward legs pivoted on the body, rear legs pivoted on the body, a small wheel at the bottom of each leg, pawls to prevent'reverse movement of the wheels, simulated foot pads extending forward at the lower end of each leg, said foot pads being `pivoted on the leg to remain generally horizontal, a first gear train, a crank shaft driven by said first gear train and having opposed cranks at the sides of the toy, links extending forward from the cranks to the forward legs, links extending rearwardly from the cranks to the rear legs, another crank driven by said first gear train, a link extending forward from the latter crank to the head to move the head from side to side as the toy walks, a sound-producing device, a second gear train which drivesthe sound-producing device and also drives arcam at slower speed, a cam follower, said cam follower being connected to the head to move it up and down and also being connected to make the sound-producing device operative or inoperative, motor means to drive either of said gear trains, a hand-held remote control unit including a battery case and a control means, and a exible connection from said unit to said toy whereby either Ygear train may be operated.

8. A toy simulating an animal of the cat family, said toy comprising a body, a head pivoted on the body for side-to-side movement and up-and-down movement, forward legs pivoted on the body, rear legs pivoted on thebody, a reversible electric motor driving a oating gear which is movable to either of two positions depending on the direction of rotation of the motor, said gear in one position driving a first gear train, a crank shaft driven by said first gear train and having opposed cranks at the sides of the toy, links extending -forward from the cranks to the forward legs, links extending rearwardly from the cranks to the rear legs, another crank driven by said first gear train, a link extending forward from the latter crank to the head to move the head from side toside as the toy walks, la sound-producing device, said oating gear in its other position driving a second gear train which drives the Y sound-producing device and also drives a cam at slower speed, a cam follower, said cam follower being connected to the head to move it up and down and also being connected to make the sound-producing device operative or inoperative, a hand-held remote control unit including a battery case and a reversing switch, and flexible conductors leading from said reversing switch to the motor in the toy.

9. A toy simulating an animal of the cat family, said toy comprising a body, a headpivoted on the body for side-to-side` movement and up-and-down movement, forward legs pivoted on the body, rear legs pivoted on the body, a small wheel at the bottom of each leg, pawls to prevent reverse movement of the wheels, simulated foot pads extending forward at the lower end of each leg, said foot pads beingV pivoted on the legsv to remain generally horizontal, a reversible electric motor driving a floating gear which is movable to either of two positions depending on the direction of rotation of the motor, said gear `in one position driving a first gear train, a crank shaft ,driven .by said first .gear train and having opposed cranks at the sides of the toy, links extending forward from the cranks to the forward legs at points below the pivots of the forward legs, links -extending rearwardly from the cranks to the rear legs at points above the pivots of the rear legs, another crank driven by said first gear train, a link extending forward from the latter crank to the head to move the head from side to side as the toy walks, a sound-producing device, said floating gear in its other position driving a second gear train which drives the sound-producing device and also drives a cam at slower speed, a cam follower, said cam follower being connected to the head to move it up and down and also being connected to make the sound-producing device operative or inoperative, a hand-held remote control unit including a battery case and a reversing switch, and flexible conductors leading from said reversing switch to the motor in the toy.

l0. A toy simulating an animal of the `cat family, `said toy comprising a body, a head pivoted on the body for side-to-side movement and up-and-down movement, forward legspivoted on the body, rear legs pivoted on the body, a reversible. electric motor having a permanent magnet field and driving a floating gear which is movable to either of two positions depending on therdirection of rotation of the motor, said gear in one position driving a first gear train, a crank shaft driven by said first gear Vtrain and having opposed cranks at the sides of the toy, links extending forward from the cranks to the forward legs, links extending rearwardly from the cranks to the rear legs, another crank driven by said first gear train, a link extending forward from the latter crank to the head to move the head from side to side as the toy walks, a sound-producing device including an amplifier chamber with a diaphragm stretched across one end of the chamber, a leaf spring secured to said chamber and bent to provide a part adjacent the diaphragm and another part adjacent a serrated wheel, said floating gear in its other position driving a second gear train which drives the serrated wheel and also drives a cam at slower speed, a cam follower, said cam follower being connected to the head to move it up and down and also being connected to the amplifier chamber and leaf spring to move the latter into or out of engagement with the serrated wheel, a handheld remote control unit including a battery case and a reversing switch, and a pair of relatively long flexible conductors leading from said reversing switch to the motor in the toy.

1l. A toy simulating an animal of the cat family, said toy comprising a body, a head pivoted on the body for side-to-side movement and up-and-down movement, Iforward legs pivoted on the body, rear legs pivoted on the body, a small wheel at the bottom of each leg, pawls to prevent reverse movement of the wheels, simulated foot pads extending forward at the lower end of each leg, said foot pads being pivoted on the legs to remain generally horizontal, a reversible electric motor having a permanent magnet field and driving a fioating gear which is movable to either of two positions depending on the direction of rotation of the motor, said gear in one position driving a first gear train, a crank shaft driven by said first gear train and having opposed cranks at the sides of the toy, links extending forward from the cranks to the forward legs at points below the pivots of the forward legs,links extending rearwardly from the cranks to the rear legs at points above the pivots of the rear legs, another crank driven by said first gear train, a link extending forward from` .the latter crank to the head to move the head from side to side as the toy walks, a sound-producing device including an amplifier chamber with a diaphragm stretched across one end of the chamber, a leaf spring secured to said chamber and bent to provide a part adjacent the diaphragm and another part adjacent a serrated wheel, said floating gear in its other position driving a second gear train which drives the serrated wheel and also drives a aieaaeo cam at slower speed, a cam follower, said cam follower being connected to the head to move it up and down and also being connected to the amplifier chamber and leaf spring to move the latter into or out of engagement with the serrated wheel, a hand-held remote control unit including a battery case and a reversing switch, and a pair of relatively long flexible conductors leading from said reversing switch to the motor in the toy.

12. A toy comprising a body, forward legs, pivoted on the body, rear legs pivoted on the body, a head pivoted on the body for up and down movement, a sound-producing device, a motor to drive said sound-producing device and also driving a cam at slower speed, a cam follower, said cam follower being connected to the head to move it up and down and also being connected to make the sound producing device operative when the head is raised and inoperative, when the head is lowered.

13. A toy comprising a body, forward legs, pivoted on said body rear legs, pivoted on said body a noise making device, in said body, a reversible electric motor in said body driving a oating gear which is movable to either of two positions depending on the direction of rotation of the motor, said gear in one position driving a first gear train connected to the legs and causing the toy to walk, said gear in its other position driving a second gear train which causes the noise making device to operate, a hand-held remote control unit including a battery case and a reversing switch, and exible conductors leading from said reversing switch to the motor in the toy.

14. A toy simulating an animal of the cat family, said toy comprising a body, a head pivoted on the body for side to side movement, forward legs pivoted on the body outside the body at a point well below the top of the leg, rear legs pivoted on the body outside the body, a motor in said body, and mechanism driven by said motor and connected to the legs to cause walking movement of the legs and connected to the head to cause side to side movement of the head as the toy walks, the upper portion portion of said legs having a rounded contour, and said body and the upper portions of the legs being enclosed in a common fabric skin which is caused to ripple in simulation of muscle as the upper portions of the legs move relative to the body and relative to the fabric inside the fabric.

15. A toy as defined in claim 14 in which there is a small substantially concealed wheel at the bottom of each leg, pawls to prevent reverse movement of the wheels, and simulated foot pads extending forward at the lower end of each leg, said foot pads being pivoted on the leg to remain generally horizontal as the toy walks, the lower portion of each leg and its foot pad being enclosed in a common fabric skin which is free to ex as the foot pad pivots on the leg, thereby simulating a stealthy gliding walk.

16. A toy simultating au animal of the cat family, said toy comprising a body, a head pivoted on the body for side to side movement, forward legs pivoted on the body outside the body at a point well below the top of the legs, rear legs pivoted on the body outside the body, a motor in said body, a gear -train driven by said motor, a crank shaft driven by said gear train and having opfpos'ed cranks at the sides of the toy, links extending forward from the cranks to the inside of the forward legs at a point below the pivots of the forward legs, links extending rearwardly from the cranks to thefinside of the rear legs at points above the pivots of the rear legs, a third crank driven by said gear train, and a link extending forward from the third crank to the head to move the head from side to side as the toy walks, the upper portions of said legs haw'ng a rounded contour, and said body and the upper portions of the legs being enclosed in a common fabric skin which is caused to ripple in simulation of muscle as the upper portions of the legs move relative to the body and relative to the fabric inside the fabric.

17. A toy as dened in claim 16 in which there is a small substantially concealed wheel at the bottom of each leg, pawls to prevent reverse movement of the wheels, and simulated foot pads extending forward at the lower end of each leg, said foot pads being pivoted on the leg to remain generally horizontal as the toy walks, thereby simulating a stealthy gliding walk.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 261,244 7/ 82 Lund 46-150 1,550,309 8/25 Esser 46-105 2,514,450 7/50 Kopf 46-98 27,591,469 4/52 VSaito 46-150 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Examiner.

Claims

7. A TOY SIMULATING AN ANIMAL OF THE CAT FAMILY, SAID TOY COMPRISING A BODY, A HEAD PIVOTED ON THE BODY FOR SIDE-TO-SIDE MOVEMNET AND UP-AND-DOWN MOVEMENT, FORWARD LEGS PIVOTED ON THE BODY, REAR LEGS PIVOTED ON THE BODY, A SMALL WHEEL AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH LEG, PAWLS TO PREVENT REVERSE MOVEMENT OF THE WHEELS, SIMULATED FOOT PADS EXTENDING FORWARD AT THE LOWER END OF EACH LEG, SAID FOOT PADS BEING PIVOTED ON THE LEG TO RETAIN GENERALLY HORIZONTAL, A FIRST GEAR TRAIN, A CRANK SHAFT DRIVEN BY SAID FIRST GEAR TRAIN AND HAVING OPPOSED CRANKS AT THE SIDES OF THE TOY, LINKS EXTENDING FORWARD FROM THE CRANKS TO THE FORWARD LEGS, LINKS EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM THE CRANKS TO THE REAR LEGS, ANOTHER CRANK DRIVEN BY SAID FIRST GEAR TRAIN, A LINK EXTENDING FORWARD FROM THE LATTER CRANK TO THE HEAD TO MOVE THE HEAD FROM SIDE TO SIDE AS THE TOY WALKS, A SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICE, A SECOND GEAR TRAIN WHICH DRIVES THE SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICE AND ALSO DRIVES A CAM AT SLOWER SPEED, A CAM FOLLOWER, SAID CAM FOLLOWER BEING CONNECTED TO THE HEAD TO MOVE IT UP AND DOWN AND ALSO BEING CONNECTED TO MAKE THE SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICE OPERATIVE OR INOPERATIVE, MOTOR MEANS TO DRIVE EITHER OF SAID GEAR TRAINS, A HAND-HELD REMOTE CONTROL UNIT INCLUDING A BATTERY CASE AND A CONTROL MEANS, AND A FLEXIBLE CONNECTION FROM SAID UNIT TO SAID TOY WHEREBY EITHER GEAR TRAIN MAY BE OPERATED.