US3290817A - Mobile toy - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 13, 1966 y s, -KRAVATH 3,290,817

MOBILE TOY Filed Jan. 21, 1964 INVENTOR.

BYzW-MW United States Patent O 3,290,817 MOBILE TOY Stanley Kravath, Eastcliester, N.Y., assignor to Stahlwood Toy Mfg. Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 339,137 1 Claim. (Cl. 46-32) This invention relates t toys, and more particularly to a mobile-type toy intended especially for the amusement of infants.

Toys of this type are available in a large variety of motifs, but the present invention is specically directed to a mobile-type toy in which the suspended elements are simulatedvbirds. Usually, toys of the type referred to include means for attaching the mobile to the side of a childs crib or play pen and for holding the suspended elements of the toy over the crib or play pen where they may easily be seen by the infant.

It is a generally object of the present invention to provide a simulated bird, for use as a suspended element in a mobile toy, which isinexpensive and simple to manufacture, maintains its attractive appearance over long periods of time, and in at least one of its embodiments includes wings adapted to iiutter readily in order to attract and maintain the childs interest.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a simulated bird, for use as a suspended element in a mobile toy, having wings formed of thin sheet material projecting outwardly from the body of the bird, and support elements for the wings also projecting outwardly from the bird body to prevent the wings from drooping.

It is another object of the invention to provide-such a simulated bird with means for permitting more than one bird to be suspended, one beneath another, on a single cord.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile toy mounted on a childs bed or crib;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the simulated birds;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, a portion of a childs bed or crib 1 is shown having a top rail 2. Attached to the top rail 2 by means of a clamp 3, or other suitable attaching means, is an upright rod 4, bent at 5 to provide a horizontal arm portion 6 at the top, terminating in a suspension hook 7. A ring 8 is connected by radial spokes 9 to a central hub 10 having a loop 11 rotatably mounted in it, this loop engaging the hook 7 in order to support the mobile from the member 4, 6. The ring 8, therefore, is freely rotatable relative to the arm portion 6.

Suspended from the ring 8 by cords 12, are a plurality of ornaments 13, each of which is shaped and decorated to simulate a ying bird. The construction of each of these birds will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

Each bird includes a light-weight, hollow body 14 preferably composed of a suitable plastic, the body being fitted with a pair of outstretchedwings 15. The body 14 may readily be formed, on a mass production basis, by means 3,290,817 Patented Dec. 13, 1966 of a molding operation. To support each of the wings there is provided at the proper location on each side of the body 14, an angle bracket 16. Each angle bracket 16 has one of its legs 17, adhesively or otherwise, attached to the body 14 of the bird, and its other leg 18 extending laterally and at a relatively flat angle from the body of the bird.

Each of the wings is provided at its inner end with a projecting tongue 19 adapted to be inserted through a slot 20 located in the side of the bird directly above the outwardly projecting leg 18 of each of the brackets 16.

The wings 15 are preferably made of thin, flexible sheet plastic, and they may be shaped, colored or otherwise treated to lend attractiveness or naturalness to the simulated bird. The wings may readily be formed, on a mass production basis, by means of a die cutting operation.

If desired, the wings may be scored along the lines 15 to lend some rigidity to them. Despite the scoring, the thin plastic wings have a tendency to droop due to their weight, and due to the nature of the material usually employed and its thin gauge, after the toy has been in use for a period of time. The birds, as a result, lose much of their attractiveness. According to the present invention,

however, the leg 18 of each bracket 16 supports its respective wing at the weakest and hence most critical point of the wing, i.e., the point at which the relatively narrow tongue 19 joins the main body of the wing 15. Consequently, it has been found that the tendency of the wing to droop is successfully counteracted, and the bird maintains its attractive appearance over long periods of time. In addition to acting as a support, the leg 18 also provides a relatively large surface to which the wing 1S can be attached, as by a suitable adhesive. Thus, a strong, permanent assembly of parts may readily be effected. Such an assembly is illustrated in FIG. 3.

Under certain circumstances, however, it may be desirable to leave each wing 15 free from attachment to the bracket 16 which underlies it. In such a case, reliance can be placed on a tight fit, or an adhesive attachment, Ibetween the tongue 1-9 `and slot 20 to maintain the wing and body in assembled condition. Since the wing is not iixed to the bracket 16, it is permitted to move with respect to it in a simulated utter, as illustrated on the `right-hand side in FIG. 5, under the influence of air currents.

The left-hand side of FIG. 5 illustrates how the wings are assembled with the body. The wing 15 is moved in the direction of the arrow until the tongue 19 enters the slot 20 and the main body of the wing abuts the side of the bird body 14.

Each of the birds is provided at the top of its body in line with its center of gravity with an eyelet 22 by means of which the bird can be suspended from the ring 8 by one of the suspension cords 12. In order to enable a number of the birds to be suspended one above the other on a single cord, the body of each of the birds may be provided with vertically aligned holes 23 and 24. Therefore, a single cord 12, after engaging one of the eyelets 22, can pass through the holes 23 and 24 to allow attachment of the cord to another of the birds located below it.

From the foregoing, the construction and use of the device will be apparent. When mounted above a childs crib or bed, the plurality of suspended simulated birds will serve to interest and attract the child, particularly when the birds are in motion. When motion is imparted to the birds either by vibration or a slight breeze or otherwise, the child will be at once attracted.

The invention has been shown and described in preferred form only, and by way of example, and many variations may be made in the invention which will still be comprised within its spirit. Itis understood, there-fore, that the linvention is not limited to lany specific form or embodiment except insofar as such limitations are included in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a mobile toy having a support adapted to be attached to a childs crib: at least one element suspendable from said support, said element being in the form of a bird having a hollow body, said body being provided with a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinal slots, a pair of angle brackets oppositely secured to the outer surface of said body, each of said angle brackets having a laterally projecting leg, said leg being disposed directly beneath its respective slot, and a pair of oppositely disposed Wings, each of which is provided at its inner end with a narrow projecting tongue, the Width of said tongue being substantially equal to the length of said slot, said tongue snugly tting within said slot and being frictionally retained in said slot, each of said wings being unattached to but supported by one of said projecting legs, thereby 20 permitting slight movement of said wings by a breeze to cause a simulated uttering action of said Wings.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,940,490 12/ 1933 Frazier 46-124 X 2,294,241 8/ 1942 Bober 46-124 X 2,599,227 6/ 1952 Brown 46-124 X 2,739,414 3/ 1956 Cleveland 46-79 X 2,769,276 11/1956 Steiner 46-32 FOREIGN PATENTS 103,335 5/1926 Austria. 607,895 4/ 1926 France.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS J. BOVASSO, Examiner.

Images