US3267608A - Walking toy - Google Patents

Walking toy Download PDF

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Publication number
US3267608A
US3267608A US477146A US47714665A US3267608A US 3267608 A US3267608 A US 3267608A US 477146 A US477146 A US 477146A US 47714665 A US47714665 A US 47714665A US 3267608 A US3267608 A US 3267608A
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United States
Prior art keywords
leg
torso
toy
legs
cam
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US477146A
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English (en)
Inventor
John W Ryan
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Mattel Inc
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Mattel Inc
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First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=23894712&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=US3267608(A) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Mattel Inc filed Critical Mattel Inc
Priority to US477146A priority Critical patent/US3267608A/en
Priority to FR38317A priority patent/FR1467075A/fr
Priority to GB50085/65A priority patent/GB1077099A/en
Priority to CH1814465A priority patent/CH459850A/fr
Priority to BE674958D priority patent/BE674958A/xx
Priority to NL6604645A priority patent/NL6604645A/xx
Priority to ES0325429A priority patent/ES325429A1/es
Priority to DE1603450A priority patent/DE1603450C3/de
Priority to DEM55806U priority patent/DE1945538U/de
Priority to US573570A priority patent/US3445960A/en
Publication of US3267608A publication Critical patent/US3267608A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H11/00—Self-movable toy figures
    • A63H11/18—Figure toys which perform a realistic walking motion

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a walking toy. More specilically, the present invention involves a doll adapted to walk independently with natural body and leg motions.
  • walking toys such as walking dolls
  • walking dolls While generally satisfactory, these walking dolls do have certain dis advantages.
  • leg motion is usually a function of the angle between the body unit and the leg unit.
  • a still further disadvantage with prior art walking toys resides in the fact that the entire length of cach individual foot of the toy does not contact the floor simultaneously with the result that a heel of the foot usually contacts the tloor first ⁇ giving a point contact which is unstable.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a walking toy of the type described having power means connected to the toys leg unit and its b ody unit in such a manner that the toy will move with a uniform velocity regardless of the power supplied to the power unit and the speed thereof.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a walking toy having a cam which is spring loaded against a clutching means in such a manner that, when the cam is employed to drive the fore and aft motion of the toys legs, leg motion will automatically be oriented to a rocking action between the power unit which carries the cam and the body portion of the toy regardless of the initial position of the legs.
  • A. still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful cam for a walking toy which actuates the fore and aft action of the toy's legs in such n
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide i a cam and clutch arrangement for a walking toy which is designed and arranged in such a manner that the legs of the toy can be driven backward but not forward while the weight of the toy is on a particular leg, whereby the cam and clutch arrangement coordinates with a rocking of the leg unit relative to the ground and independent of the rocking of the leg unit relative to the body.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to pro' vide a new and useful leg and foot arrangement for a walking toy which is so constructed and arranged that the foot will"I remain parallel to the floor at all times during fore and aft motion of the associated leg, whereby the entire length of the foot contacts the tloor uniformly during the ground-contacting portion of each leg stroke.
  • Another object of the present invention is a walking doll wherein the leg motions are adjustable independently of the body motions.
  • Still another object of the present invention is a walking toy wherein the body controls the drive means for such toy to synchronize the movement of the body and legs and the drive means.
  • Still another object of the present invention is a walking doll wherein the body motions include both bending of the torso and twisting of the torso and such bending and twisting motions may be varied independently.
  • Still another object of the present invention is a wall@ ing doll wherein the pivotal attachment between the torso and each of the legs includes a first pivot means for rotating said leg approximately about a side lateral axis of the torso and a second pivot means for rotating said leg approximately about a forward-rear lateral axis of the torso.
  • the present invention involves a toy adapted to walk independently with natural body and leg motions.
  • a rst embodiment comprises a body including a torso and legs pivotally attached thereto.
  • the torso has drive means mounted therein for bending the torso and lifting the legs in sequence. by the body to synchronize the movement of the body ⁇ and the drive means.
  • the drive means is directly connected to the legs to cause the above-described movements of the torso and the legs.
  • the leg motions of the toy may be adjusted independently of the body motions and the toy includes control means for directing the movement of said legs.
  • a new and useful walking toy is provided in the t'orm of a walking doll.
  • the doll includes (l) a body unit comprising a body shell, batteries and miscellaneous switch elements and (2) a leg unit comprising a motor, a motor-gear housing having internal mechanism mounted therein for controlling the operation of the toy and legs which are attached by rigid pivots to the motor-gear housing.
  • An action is provided between the body unit and the leg unit in such a manner that, when the motor is energized, the leg unit will rock, lifting first one foot and then the other off the ground.
  • Such drive means is controlled providing a lote and ait pivoting axis between motorgcar housing and the body shell and by providing e L crank.
  • the center imc of the erantt is placed at rient angle to the pivot arde.
  • This supplies o. pore réelle wave .action to the reciting action between the motor-gear ing and the body shell.
  • the motoria ovverccl by a pair oi dry cells which will produce a roc 'ing action of proximately 1Z0 cycles per minute .vhentoliy charged and of approximately 3G cycles per minutie when onder charged.
  • a clutch driven cam ⁇ ia employed to technike g sociatod leg thi-oughta system of spring Washers and detent means which are locked in position during the wall-f.- ing action, but which may oe overcome to facilitate placing the doll in a sitting position.
  • Each toot oi the doll is connected to its associated leg and to the actuator assembly in such a manner that each toot is heet parallel with the ground during lore and ait motion of its esenciated leg, whereby each foot will contact the door ortilormly throughout the length oi each step.
  • the cam includes a slot which has two slopes arranged to drive the leg actuators in such a manner that the legs will be driven bache/ard during 30% of the cam rotation and driven forward during 20% ot the com rotation.
  • the slope or the section of the cam which drives the legs for ward is four times as great as the slope oi the section ot the cam which driven the legs backward.
  • the clutching action or the caro is great enough to overcome the small slope ol the section o the cam that drives the leg hach. leg will be driven bacir until the actuator 'reaches the top end of this section of the cam.
  • the cam is designed in such a manner that a particolar foot starts its backward motion belote it contacte the toor.
  • the cam is also designed to give a constant velocity stroke to the ieg action. Thos, the doll has a forward motion of a more or lesel constant velocity avoiding fore and ait inertia loads that tend to maire the doll unstable.
  • FIG. l is a side cross-sectional view oi a first specihc embodiment of the walking doll of the present invention.
  • PKG.. 2 is a cross-sectional view oi liiii. l teiten along the linea Z-il o liG. l.
  • Pi. .'l is a perspective view oi a portion oi' 2 showing the means pivotally attaching each to the torso.
  • MGS. 7-9 are similar to NGS. 45, eneept that the f corresponding poeitions are shown at theend ⁇ of a eten rey err-'ro te.
  • i9 is an enlarged crose-aectional view tation along linee .iii-i9 ot' FlG. ld.
  • Pi. Ztl is a graphical repreaentation of a com emjioyed in the walking toy of Pi. i7.
  • llG. 2l ie a diagrammatic aide view of the walking toy HG. i7 showing the relationship ot relative porsitiona et' ite lega with respect to the cam of lFlG. 2G doring n walking operation.
  • FIG. 22 a diagrammatic iront view oi the toy ot WG. i7 showing the position of its leg in relationahig to cant oi 20 during a walking; operation.
  • iFlG. 23 is en elevational view ot one et the lega of the toy of Fit".
  • i7 shoe/ing in broken lines, the relationship oi the toot of the toy 'with respect to the leg during o walking operation.
  • ttifG. 2d ie a diagrammatic View illustrating the roching mode oi the toy ci lilG. i7 at approximately titl rein.
  • lCliG. 25 is o diagrammatic view similar to lFlG. 2li! ahowing the rocltirag mode at approximately l2() Mlm.
  • llG. 26 is an exploded, perspective view showing e rhodicd torrn i'or the toy of Fifi. i7.
  • llG. 27 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view o1? the leg structure and actuator ot' the toy of Fifi. 26.
  • lili?. 2h is an enlarged elevational View, with parte shown in cross-section, ot' the toy of FiG. 26.
  • ll'itv. 29 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view teiten along line d--t of llG. 28.
  • Pitt. 3d is an enlarged bottom view of one toot portion ot the toy of lil@ 2b.
  • llG. 3l ia an enlarged, exploded perspective view oi portions; ot one leg and foot assembly for the toy of MG. 3?. is an exploded perspective view oi the motorgear assembly which is shown in lilG. 26 and which may be used in the toy of Fl'G. il'.
  • iilG. 33 is o cross-sectional view of the motor-gear asaembly of HG. i7.
  • the irst embodiment of the present invention involves a bilaterally symmetrical doll 2li which is adapted to Wall; independently with natural body and leg motions and to have the leg motions adjustable independently oi the body motions and the body motions adjustable independently oi each other.
  • the doll 2b comprises a body 2l, including a The drive moana escasos 'M
  • the torso 22 comprises a front wall 23 and a rear wail 2d which are oriented substantially perpendicular to a forward-rear lateral axis 25 of the torso 22.
  • the torso 22 has side walls 26 and 27 which are oriented substantially perpendicular to a side lateral aids 2d et the n torso 22.
  • the torso 22 has holes 29 in its lower portion' f through which the drive means may be directly connected.” to the legs 80 and preferably holes 39 for connecting arms A 3l and a hole 32 for connecting a head 33 to the torso 22.
  • the arms 31 and the head 33 may be connected to the w torso 22 by any conventional means.
  • the drive means 40 for the doll body 2l comprises a ⁇ rotatable crank means 41 connecting the torso 22 to the legs 80 and adapted to periodically bend the torso 22 and the legs 8@ towards each other, twist the torso 22 15 'with respect to the legs Sil and lift the legs all with respect to each other alternately to each side.
  • the crank means di are rotated by a gear means and the gear means Sil in turn are driven by a motor means 55.
  • the crank means il comprises a substantially offset shaft d2 having 2t) awgentral body 43 with angle arms 44 at each end extending'in substantially opposite directions from the axis of the central body 43.
  • the angle arms d4 have an angle of 180 therebetween so that the movement of each leg Si?
  • the angle amis 44 extend at substantially right angles to the central body 43. However, other angles may be utilized, as discussed below in connection with the description of the operation of the present invention.
  • Extending outdit wardly at the outer end of each angle arm itl is a finger l5 at an acute angle to the axis 43' of the central body d3 of the shaft 42.
  • the axes 45' of the fingers d5 are displaced from each other.
  • the shaft d2 is mounted on the bottom wall 3d of the torso 22 by means of a pair 35 oi posts 46 having coaxially aligned holes d'7. Seated in the holes 47 of the posts 46 are bearings d8 through which the central body d3 of the shaft 42 extends.
  • the gear means 50 of the drive means dll includes a first gear 5l iixeclly mounted on the central body d3 of all the shaft 42 and a second gear 52 engaged with the hrst gear 51.
  • the second gear 52 is in turn operatively connected to a gear box S3 by means of a shaft 5d ou which it is fixedly mounted.
  • the gear box d2 is in turn connected to a motor means which is adapted to drive 45.
  • the gear box 53 contains a conventional gcaringBookrangement for suitably adjusting the speed of the motor means to the desired rate of rotation of the crank means 4l?. Both the gear box 53 and the motor means 55 are mounted on a stand Sti which is in turn 50 connected to the rear wall 24 of the torso 22.
  • the pivotal attachment between the torso 22 and each of the legs Sli comprises a first pivot means 6i for rotating the leg d0 approximately about a side lateral axis of the torso, i.e., an axis parallel to the side lateral axis g5 28.
  • the first pivot means 61 comprises a block 62 joined to the leg 80 having a bore 63 extending approximately parallel to a side lateral axis of the torso.
  • the finger 45 of the drive means 40 is rotatably received in the bore 63 ot' the block 62.
  • the pivotal attachment 66 also includes gg a second pivot means for rotating the leg Sti approximately about a forward and rear lateral axis of the torso 22, i.c.
  • the second pivot means 70 comprises a yoke 7l which is joined to the leg by mounting the yoke 7l on a plate 75 emg5 bedded in leg 80.
  • the yoke 51 has a rod 72 extending between its ears 73 which extends' approximately paralle! to the forward-rear lateral axis of the torso 22.
  • the second pivot means 7d also includes a second bore 74 in the block 62 of the first pivot means di in which the rod im aide angular displacement of the legs di? and a second 75 I regulator means for governing the forward-rear anf holding means is adapted to restrain the side angular displacement of the second end d? ofthe strut 8S.
  • the second regulator means 9d similar to the first regulator means d2, comprises the hanger 83 having u holding means in the form of an aperture 84 therethrough and the strut 85 with its iirst end lid lixed to the yoke 7l and its second end 87 slidabiy received in the aperture 2d oi the hanger 33.
  • the holding means is adapted to restrain the forward-rear angular displacement of the second end '87 of the strut 35.
  • the second regulator means 9b includes a bracket 91 rotatably mounted at its first end 92 Iabout a side lateral axis in the upper portion of the torso 22.
  • the first end 92 of the bracket 9i is rotatably mounted on a rod 93 and separated therefrom by bearings 9d.
  • the rod 93 extends parallel to a side lateral axis of the doll torso 22 and is mounted on the ribs 95 extending between and attached to the front wall 23 and rear wall 2d of the torso 22.
  • the second end 96 of the bracket 91 is operatively connected to the drive means 40 to follow the forward-rear movement of the drive means 40.
  • the second end 96 of the bracket 9i has a slot 97 therein in which is slidably received the linger d5 of the drive means dit.
  • the configuration of the slot 97 is such that the upand-down movement of the finger l5 caused by the rota tion of the crank means di does not move the bracket 91 while the forward-rear movement of the finger 45 is directly translated to the bracket 91.
  • the hanger 33 is mounted on the bracket 91 adjacent to the leg 80 and preferably, as shown, the hanger d3 is simply punched out of the bracket 91.
  • the forward-rear movement of the bracket 91 is insured by a pair of spaced parallel guide bars 98 which extend between and are attached to the front wall 23 and rear wall 2d of the torso 22.
  • the bracket 9i is slidably received between the guide bars 98 whereby they form a track upon which the bracket 91 travels.
  • the motor means 55 rotates the crank means 4l of the drive means d0 which causes the offset shaft 42 to rotate.
  • the eiiect of the rotation of the shaft l2 is relatively compiex with respect to the torso 22 and the legs 80 and may best be explained by discussion each portion of the configuration of the shaft 42 with respect to the relative movement which such coniiguration causes between the legs and the torso.
  • the le@ 12d (FIGS. 17, 18 and 23) are connected to the housing assembly 112 by rigid pivots, indicated generally at 228, so that the complete leg unit 113 will roclt with respect to the body unit 112 lifting iirst one foot 231i and then the other foot 232 oli the ground. This is accomplished by the pivotal mounting oi the housing assenti:
  • FIG. 25 is one normally encountered at high reciting speeds of approximately 120 cycles per minute.
  • the rocking action shown in FIG. 24 is one that is normally encountered at lower speeds of approxi-mately 80 cycles per minutc. Assuming that FIGS. 24 and 25 are drawn from the back of the walking toy, it will be noted that in FIG. 25 the left foot 230 is on the ground 234 when the body unit 112 is rocking to the right and the right foot 232 is on the ground 23d when the body unit 112 is roclting to the left.
  • the right leg 12d In a rocking situation oi this type, the right leg 12d must move forward when the body unit 112 is rocltiug to the right, relative to the leg unit 112. Contrary to this in the rocking system shown in FIG. 24, the right foot is on the ground 234 when the Abody unit 112' is rocking to the right and the left foot 23@ is on the ground 23d when the body unit 112 is rocking to the left. lin this situation, the right foot 232 must move forward when the body unit 112 is rocking to the left, as viewed in FIG. 24. Since the walking toy will rnove in both the @il r.p.m. rocking male and the 120 r.p.rn.
  • the no-load gear train torque loss is about 3.5 gr./cm. at the motor input shaft.
  • the average torque for normal operation ranged from to 12 gr./cm. although the instantaneous torque was sometimes as high as gr./cm. For a given configuration,
  • the 'body unit 112 leads the leg unit 113 by i60 degrees in phase, i.e., they are rotating in opposite directions.
  • the phase shift becomes less and less. it was observed that the toy 110 cannot be made to operate when the phase lead becomes less than 90 degrees. lt was also observed," that the foot lift increases with the decreased rocking frequency. This is expected because o the non-linear nature of the System.
  • the center of gravity of the body unit 112 is approximately at the location of the batteries 116 and the center of gravity of the ieg unit 118 lies on the pivot axis thereof.
  • the clutch driven cam assembly 236 includes a plastic ⁇ bearing 238 having a hub portion 24u which is ournaled in an aperture 242 provided in the bottom wall 162 and an enlarged annular portion 2M having an upper face 246 providing a clutch surface.
  • the bearing 238 is keyed to the shaft 196 by a key 24d for rotation thereby.
  • the clutch driven cam assembly 136 also includes a cam 249 having an upper cam half 250 and a lower cam half 252 which are rotatably mounted on the shaft 196 in telescopic relation in such a manner that they form a cam slot 254.
  • the upper half 250 includes a clutch face 256 which is biased into engagement with a like clutch face 25S provided on the gear 19d by a compression spring 260 which encompasses the shaft 196 and which engages the cam halves 252 and 254 in such a manner that it tends to spread them apart.
  • the cam half 252 is also provided with a clutching surface 262 which engages the clutch face 246 provided on the bearing 238.
  • the spring 260 is loaded against the cam halves 250 and 252 with a spring load sufficiently light to allow the shaft 195 to continue rotation when the cam halves 250 and 252 remain stationary.
  • the cam driven clutch assembly 236 can be oriented to the shaft 196 in any position. Since the cam assembly 236 is used to drive the fore and aft motion of the legs 124, this motion can, therefore, be oriented to the rocking action between the leg unit 118 and the body unit112 at any position.
  • each leg -124 is rigidly connected to the housing 122 by a leg actuating assembly 22d which includes an axle 270 having an internally threaded end 272 and an end 274 near which a tlanged arm 276 is provided.
  • the end 27% may be inserted through an aper ture 278 provided in the side walls 160 of the housing 122 after which a washer 280 may be placed over the end 27d 'which is -peened over against the washer 280 as indicated at 222.
  • Each flanged arm 276 carries a pin 234 which engages an aperture 286 provided in the housing 122 to prevent the axle 279 from rotating.
  • Each flanged arm 276 is provided with suitable detents, such as the one shown at 283, which are positioned adjacent a hub 299 provided on the axle 27h.
  • An actuator link 292 having an arm 29d which carries a pin 295 and an apertured ilange 293 may be installed on the hub 290 in such a manner that a slot 300 provided on the flange 298 engages an associated detent 288 provided on the axle 270.
  • the mechanism 228 also includes a dctent ring 302 which is provided with an annular flange 304 intermediate its ends 306 and 308.
  • the flange 301i is provided with a plurality of detents, such as the one shown at 310, which arc engagcable with suitable slots, such as the one shown at 312, provided on an actuator assembly 314 when it is in position on the end 3&6 of thc detent ring 302.
  • the detents 282 are caused to engage their associated slots 300 and the dctcnts 31
  • the spring washers 316 exert a sufcient force so that the actuator links 292 and the actuators 314 will move the legs 124 in a manner to be hereinafter described, but are sufficiently light so that the legs 1211i may be swung by hand to overcome the spring tension so that the toy may be placed in a seated position wherein the legs 124 are at right angles to the body unit 112.
  • the cam assembly 24921 includes an upper cam half 250:1 having three unequally spaced pins 360 which depend from the upper cam haif 250a and which are engageable with similar spaced apertures (not shown) provided in a lower cam half 252a sp that the cam halves 250e and 2520 may be connected together with a cam slot formed in proper orientation which is identical to the cam .slot 254 previously described and shown in laid-out form in FIG. ⁇ 20.
  • the cam 249a may be rotatably mounted on the crank shaft 196 on top of the bearing 23311 after which a compression spring 260a and a clutch 362 may be rotatably mounted on the shaft 190 inside the upper cam half.250a in such a manner that an axially extend ing slot 364 provided on the clutch 362 engages a pros tuberance 366 provided in the upper cam half 2S0a in such a manner that the clutch 362 is prevented from rotating while remaining free to reciprocate within the cam half 250:1.
  • the clutch 362 includes an upstanding protuberance 368 which is biased, by the spring 260e, into engagement with a notch 370 provided on the under surface of the gear 194.
  • the difference in slope in the fore and aft sections of the cam 24911 in conjunction with the clutching torque provided by the clutch 362 allow a particular foot to be driven back, but not forward, while the weight of the toy is on that particular foot.
  • the cam 249s is also slipped rotatably until it coordinates with the rocking of the leg unit 118 relative to the ground 234 and independent of the rocking of the leg unit 118 relative to the body unit 112.
  • the gear 194 is provided with a transverse slot 372 which permits mounting the gear 194 on the shaft 190 by moving the gear 194 past the key 212.
  • the gear 194 may then be rotated until a notch 374, which is provided on the upper surface of the gear 194, is aligned with the key 212 after which the gear 194 is moved upwardly into locking engagement with the key 212.
  • the key 212 is maintained in locking engagement with the notch 274 by a C-shaped washer 376 which includes an opening 378 and which is moved into position between the gear 194 and the cam 24911 by passing the opening 378 over the clutch 362.
  • the assembly comprising the gear 194, clutch 362, cam 249a and bearing 238g cannot be removed from the shaft 19t) until the washer 376 is moved laterally away from the clutch 362.
  • the gear 194 may then be moved downwardly sufiiciently to permit rotating it until the slot 372 is aligned with the key 212 permitting the gear 194 to be removed from the shaft 190.
  • the leg unit 118 shown in FIGS. 17-19 may be modified as indicated at 113s in FIGS. 26-31.
  • the leg unit i18n includes a leg actuating assembly 223 which is identical to that shown and described in connection with FIGS. 17-19, and which will not be described further in connection with FIGS. 26-31.
  • Each leg assembly 124g includes an inner housing half 380 and an outer housing half 381 in which an inner leg member 350:1 is mounted.
  • Each member 350d is connected to an associatcd actuator link 292 by a right-angle portion 382 which extends through a slotted aperture 383 provided in a leg cap 320d formed integrally with the inner housing half 380.
  • the cap 320i connects a leg 124a to an as- 254 being 18 sociated leg actuating mechanism 228 in the manner previously described for the leg 124.
  • the housing halves 330 and 381 may be secured together by engaging pins 384 provided on each outer housing half 381 in hollow bosses 386 provided on each inner housing half 380.
  • the assembled housing halves 380 and 381 may be pivotally con nected to a left foot member 230:1 and a right foot member 232e by a first set of pins 388 which pivotaily connect the ankle portions 389 of the housing halves 380 and 381 to an upper foot portion 390 at the rear portion there of and by a set of pins 392 which pivotally connect the instep portions 393 of the members 35011 to an associated upper foot portion 390 near the front portion thereof.
  • This type of connection produces the parallelogram action previously described in connection with FIGS.
  • the feet 230a and 2320 each includes a lower foot portion 394 having offset brackets 396 engageable with pins 398 for connecting the lower foot portion 394 to the upper foot portion 390.
  • the foot portions 390 and 394 include inner edges 400 which are free to reciprocate with respect to each other as indicated by arrows 402 in FIG. 29.
  • the edges 400 are biased apart by a spring member 404 which is cradled in notches 406 provided in an associated lower foot portion 394 and which is engaged by ⁇ a depending tab 408 provided on the upper foot portion 390.
  • the amount that the edges 400 may separate from each other is limited by a stop member 410 (FIG. 29) which depends from the upper foot portion 390 and which is engageable with the lower foot portion 394.
  • This construction constitutes resilient means in the leg unit 1180 which facilitates the raising of a particular foot 23011, 23211 and results in more side-to-side motion of the leg unit 11M for a given angular relation between the body unit 112 and the leg unit 118e in a given rocking mode.
  • the lower foot portion 394 slopes downwardly and laterally from its inner edge 400 to an apex portion 394a which is positioned intermediate the inner edge 400 and an outer edge 40011 while lying closer to the inner edge 400.
  • the toy is not self-starting in a forward direction at lower rocking frequencies.
  • the doll 110 is provided with a 32.811 gear reduction and draws about 250 milliamps. With this gear reduction, it has a crank frequency of 116 r.p.m. at 3 volt terminal voltage.
  • the toy will operate down to 67 r.p.m. at 1.9 volts terminal and the batteries 116 (2 D-cells in series) will have a life of about 3.6 hours continuous duty.
  • the toy is not self starting without the resilient means in the leg unit 113:1. It has been found, on the other hand, that a gear reduction of 25:1 provides a suliiciently high crank frequency for making the toy self-starting.
  • the resilient means in the leg unit 118a is an important feature of the invention because it permits increasing battery life and reducing power consumption by employing a higher gear ratio foi driving the leg unit 1l8a.
  • the rocking action creates a side-to-side motion which, in conjunction with the mas: of the toy, is sutticient to lift the feet off the ground This appears to meet the objective of dening a regior of operating range of the toy 110 for minimum power re quirement and maximum rocking stability.
  • a configura tion that is self-starting is associated with a arge mo mentum of the body unit 112. This means either a heavf body unit, large amplitude of driving function or higl speed of rocking. This, on the other hand, is not com patible with the requirement of low power input or brom region of operating range. It is to be noted that thi d.
  • a walking ligure comprising:
  • a leg assembly comprising a frame portion pvoted to said torso on a generally fore and aft asis;
  • cam means connecting said drive means to said legs to cyclicaliy swing said legs in fore and att directions, said cam means having a predetermined coniiguration for swinging each leg in one direction relative to said torso more slowly than it is swung in the other direction, said drive means being arranged to relatively osciilate said torso and frame and to swing said legs in such timed relation that the weight of said figure is thrown onto one of said legs by an oscillation of said torso and frame while the other leg is being swung forwardly.
  • a walking 'gure as delined in claim 3 including slip clutch means connecting said drive means to said cam means, said slip clutch means controlling said drive means in such a manner that said legs cannot be swung by said drive means unless the weight of said figure is supported by only one leg.
  • a walking figure comprising:
  • a leg assembly comprising a frame portion pivoied to said torso on a generally fore and aft anis;
  • said drive means also being drivingly connected to said le s to cyclicaily swing said legs in fore and aft direct l ns, said drive means being arranged to relatively' oscillate said torso and frame and to swing said legs in such timed relation that the weight of saidtigure is thrown onto one of said legs by an oscillation of said torso and frame while the other leg is being swung forwardly, said drive means being further arranged to start each leg to swing rearwardly before the weight of said figure is shifted thereto.

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US477146A 1965-08-04 1965-08-04 Walking toy Expired - Lifetime US3267608A (en)

Priority Applications (10)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US477146A US3267608A (en) 1965-08-04 1965-08-04 Walking toy
FR38317A FR1467075A (fr) 1965-08-04 1965-11-15 Jouet marcheur
GB50085/65A GB1077099A (en) 1965-08-04 1965-11-25 Walking figure
CH1814465A CH459850A (fr) 1965-08-04 1965-12-31 Jouet marcheur
BE674958D BE674958A (ar) 1965-08-04 1966-01-11
NL6604645A NL6604645A (ar) 1965-08-04 1966-04-06
ES0325429A ES325429A1 (es) 1965-08-04 1966-04-12 Una figura andadora.
DE1603450A DE1603450C3 (de) 1965-08-04 1966-07-25 Antriebseinrichtung für die Beine einer selbstgehenden zweibeinigen Spielfigur
DEM55806U DE1945538U (de) 1965-08-04 1966-07-25 Gehspielzeug.
US573570A US3445960A (en) 1965-08-04 1966-08-19 Walking toy

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US477146A US3267608A (en) 1965-08-04 1965-08-04 Walking toy

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US3267608A true US3267608A (en) 1966-08-23

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BE (1) BE674958A (ar)
CH (1) CH459850A (ar)
DE (2) DE1603450C3 (ar)
ES (1) ES325429A1 (ar)
GB (1) GB1077099A (ar)
NL (1) NL6604645A (ar)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3445960A (en) * 1965-08-04 1969-05-27 Mattel Inc Walking toy
US3475857A (en) * 1968-01-22 1969-11-04 Mattel Inc Self-propelled figure toy combination
US3599364A (en) * 1969-09-25 1971-08-17 Mattel Inc Dancing doll with means interfering with forward movement thereof
US3700384A (en) * 1971-03-25 1972-10-24 Mattel Inc Ballerina doll
US3940879A (en) * 1970-12-14 1976-03-02 Glass Marvin I Walking doll
US4244141A (en) * 1977-02-18 1981-01-13 Mattel, Inc. Walking turning doll mechanism
US4268991A (en) * 1979-02-09 1981-05-26 The Quaker Oats Company Soft flexible articulated doll
US5224896A (en) * 1992-01-24 1993-07-06 Breslow, Morrison, Terzian & Associates, Inc. Ambulatory doll
US6146235A (en) * 1997-05-20 2000-11-14 Giochi Preziosi S.P.A. Movement assembly, particularly for the legs of a doll
US6396191B1 (en) 1999-03-11 2002-05-28 Eneco, Inc. Thermal diode for energy conversion
US6602106B2 (en) * 2001-07-20 2003-08-05 Lik Yuen Cheung Walking device
US8956198B1 (en) 2010-09-27 2015-02-17 Mattel, Inc. Walking toy

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH085753Y2 (ja) * 1990-11-30 1996-02-21 株式会社トミー 歩行玩具
US8333634B2 (en) 2009-04-01 2012-12-18 Genie Toys Plc Frames

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2667719A (en) * 1951-01-04 1954-02-02 John E Edwardson Walking doll action
GB719817A (en) * 1952-04-21 1954-12-08 Lines Bros Ltd Improvements relating to walking figures
CA576396A (en) * 1959-05-26 E. Price Herbert Mechanism for animating walking dolls and the like
US2939246A (en) * 1958-02-24 1960-06-07 Edmond A Glos Toy ball
US3038275A (en) * 1960-05-24 1962-06-12 Curci Alfred Self-walking device
US3128575A (en) * 1959-02-02 1964-04-14 Markes & Co Toy robot and actuating means therefor

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA576396A (en) * 1959-05-26 E. Price Herbert Mechanism for animating walking dolls and the like
US2667719A (en) * 1951-01-04 1954-02-02 John E Edwardson Walking doll action
GB719817A (en) * 1952-04-21 1954-12-08 Lines Bros Ltd Improvements relating to walking figures
US2939246A (en) * 1958-02-24 1960-06-07 Edmond A Glos Toy ball
US3128575A (en) * 1959-02-02 1964-04-14 Markes & Co Toy robot and actuating means therefor
US3038275A (en) * 1960-05-24 1962-06-12 Curci Alfred Self-walking device

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3445960A (en) * 1965-08-04 1969-05-27 Mattel Inc Walking toy
US3475857A (en) * 1968-01-22 1969-11-04 Mattel Inc Self-propelled figure toy combination
US3599364A (en) * 1969-09-25 1971-08-17 Mattel Inc Dancing doll with means interfering with forward movement thereof
US3940879A (en) * 1970-12-14 1976-03-02 Glass Marvin I Walking doll
US3700384A (en) * 1971-03-25 1972-10-24 Mattel Inc Ballerina doll
US4244141A (en) * 1977-02-18 1981-01-13 Mattel, Inc. Walking turning doll mechanism
US4268991A (en) * 1979-02-09 1981-05-26 The Quaker Oats Company Soft flexible articulated doll
US5224896A (en) * 1992-01-24 1993-07-06 Breslow, Morrison, Terzian & Associates, Inc. Ambulatory doll
US6146235A (en) * 1997-05-20 2000-11-14 Giochi Preziosi S.P.A. Movement assembly, particularly for the legs of a doll
US6396191B1 (en) 1999-03-11 2002-05-28 Eneco, Inc. Thermal diode for energy conversion
US6602106B2 (en) * 2001-07-20 2003-08-05 Lik Yuen Cheung Walking device
US8956198B1 (en) 2010-09-27 2015-02-17 Mattel, Inc. Walking toy

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL6604645A (ar) 1967-02-06
GB1077099A (en) 1967-07-26
CH459850A (fr) 1968-07-15
DE1945538U (de) 1966-09-01
ES325429A1 (es) 1967-02-16
BE674958A (ar) 1966-05-03
DE1603450B2 (de) 1973-11-29
DE1603450A1 (de) 1970-04-16
DE1603450C3 (de) 1974-07-04

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