US3326324A - Music and moving picture toy - Google Patents

Description

June 20, 1967 MUSIC AND MOVING PICTURE} 'TOY 5 sheets-Sheet 1 4 x fin WHILUHL knuuf -H T 'i'/& /9 3 w 3/ Z /5 H W" l W" V W m?! I I W 5 INVENTOR 450N420 5010/1 10 ATTORNEY Julie 20, 1967 L. SOLOMON 3,326,324

MUSIC AND MOVING PICTURE TOY Original Filed May 8, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR L EON/920 SOLO/WON ATTORNEY June 20, 1967 SOLOMON I 3,326,324

MUSIC AND MOVING PICTURE TOY Original Filed May 8, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Her 8 United States Patent 3,326,324 MUSIC AND MOVING PICTURE TOY Leonard Solomon, Valley Stream, N.Y., assignor to Transogram Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application May 8, 1964, Ser. No. 365,882. Divided and this application July 27, 1966, Ser. No. 596,354

4 Claims. (Cl. 185-43) This is a division of application Ser. No. 365,882, filed on May 8, 1964, now abandoned.

This invention relates to toys of the music box type and more particularly to a music box toy which exposes to view a moving picture synchronized with the music.

Among the objects of this invention is to provide such toy in which an animated picture is presented to view simultaneously with the emission of the music.

A further object of this invention is to provide such toy which is relatively rugged and simple in design, relatively inexpensive to construct, and in which the actuating mechanism for producing the animated picture also actuates the music box.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a toy operated by a spring motor, such as the Well known spring motors for actuating music boxes, and having a mechanism for preventing overwinding of the motor.

In accordance with this invention, a toy provided with a spring motor driven music box has a picture-presenting device comprising a transparent screen or window with a faceted or serrated surface and a picture-carrying member movably mounted behind the screen with at least certain of the portions of the picture depicted in various positions so that, when the picture-carrying member is moved and viewed through the screen, there is the illusion of movement or animation. An actuating device driven by the motor of the music box effects movement of the picture-carrying member simultaneously with operation of the music box.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages -of the invention, will be apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a sound and moving picture toy embodying this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse, vertical sectional view of the toy on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3-3 on FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 on FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is another vertical sectional View, but taken along the line 5-5 on FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 66 on FIGURE 2, and showing the details of the winding device designed to control the extent of winding, i.e., prevent overwinding;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 77 on FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view similar to that of FIGURE 7, but showing another form of such winding device; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 99 on FIGURE 8.

Referring to the drawings, and initiallyto FIGURES l and 2 thereof, the toy 10 embodying this invention is shown, by way of example, in a form simulating an upright piano having a keyboard k, legs I and a handle it fastened to the top of housing 11. It is to be understood, however, that the form or outward appearance of the toy can be varied at will. The housing 11 can be formed of any suitable construction material including plastic, such as polystyrene or polyethylene. Housing 11 has a front wall 12, top and bottom walls 13 and 14 and end Walls 15 and a removable rear wall 16. Rear wall 16 may be held in position by screws 17 (FIGURES 2 and 3) entering tapped holes in bosses 18 formed in the corners between the top and bottom walls 13 and 14 and the end walls 15.

The toy has a sound emitting device, e.g., a music box 19, suitably mounted within the housing 11 and driven by a spring motor 20 (FIGURE 6). The music box in cluding the spring motor can be of any conventional type, such as that shown, for example, in United States Patents 1,123,607 granted Jan. 5, 1915, and 1,876,753 granted Sept. 13, 1932, disclosure of which music boxes are included herein by reference. In FIGURE 6 is shown for purposes of exemplification the spring motor 20 which drives the gear 20a fixed to motor shaft 21. Gear 20a meshes with a pinion 20b which drives cylinder 20c having the prongs 20d on its periphery. Upon rotation of the cylinder 200 the prongs 20d actuate the vibratory tines 2tle fragmentarily shown in FIGURE 6. When tines 20s are thus vibrated, the music box 19 plays a tune or tunes. Energy is imparted to the spring motor 20 by a winding means hereinafter described; upon unwinding of the spring motor 20, shaft 21 thereof is rotated in the reverse direction to drive through the gear 20a fixed to shaft 21, the pinion 2011 on cylinder 200 containing the projections 20d which as noted above actuate the tines 20e to play a tune or tunes.

The front wall 12 of housing 11 has a rectangular, forwardly opening countersunk area or recess 22 having a wall 23 in a vertical plane in back of the front wall 12. Recess 22 accommodates an animated picture presenting device 12 which is operated by an actuating member 24 simultaneously with the operation of the music box 19 by the motor drive for the latter.

The winding mechanism for the spring motor 20 comprises a rotatable knob 25 having a centrally disposed opening 26 of polygonal shape. Fixed in this opening 26 for rotation therewith is a polygonal adapter or sleeve 27 having a threaded bore 28. Shaft 21 of the spring motor has a threaded end 29 which is in threaded engagement with the threaded bore 28. Threaded end 29 terminates short of the left hand end, viewing FIGURE 6, of the threaded bore 28 to provide a clearance space 30, the purposes of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the spring motor 20 has an output or driven shaft 31 which is rotated by the spring motor and during operation of the music box 19 provides the drive for the actuating means for the picture presenting device p. Shaft 31 can be a continuation of shaft 21, as shown in FIGURE 6. Alternatively, the spring motor can have only one shaft which when turned in one direction stores energy in the motor and when released rotates in the opposite direction to drive the actuating means for the picture presenting device p during the playing of the tune or tunes by the music box.

The picture presenting device p employs a known phenomenon for producing an animated effect, namely the combination of a screen and a picture member having several pictures or representations of each item depicted in a different state of motion. Hence the viewer, when viewing the picture through the screen with the picture members behind the screen, obtains an impression of a moving picture or animation of the items portrayed. Device p includes a rectangular plate or carrier member 32 disposed within the recess 22 and dimensioned relative to the latter so as to be capable of reciprocating movement, for example, vertically, as shown. A picture 33 covers the front surface of carrier 32 and is exposed to view through a transparent screen or window 34 which extends across the opening of recess 22 and is held in position by a frame 35. The transparent screen 34 is formed with grooves or serrations providing facets on its surface. These grooves or serrations extend horizontally, that is at right angles to the direction of the reciprocating movement of carrier 32 within recess 22. At least portions of the scene depicted by the picture 33 appear in a number of different positions on picture 33, so that, upon reciprocating movement of carrier member 32 within recess 22, the faceted surface of the screen 34 causes such portions of the picture to appear sequentially at the different positions and thereby provide animation or the illusion of motion.

In order to effect vertical reciprocating movement of the carrier plate 32 during operation of the music box 19, a cam member 36 in the form of a disc is secured on the output shaft 31 for rotation therewith. Ca m member 36 has an undulating periphery or circumference constituting a cam surface 37. The cam surface 37 is engaged by a follower pin 38 projecting rearwardly from a lug 39 secured to the back of carrier plate 32 and extending through an opening 40 formed near the top of wall 23 defining the back of recess 22 (FIGURES 2, 3 and 4). This wall 23 has a further opening or cutout 41 formed at the bottom thereof (FIGURES 2 and 4). A tab 42 is secured to the back of carrier plate 32 adjacent the bottom of the latter and projects downwardly from opening 41 to provide means by which the carrier member 32 can be connected to a spring or resilient means exerting a downward pull thereon. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower end of tab 42 fixed to carrier plate 32 has hooks 44 at its opposite sides (FIGURE 4) engaged by one end of a flexible band 43, the opposite end of which extends around a screw or other anchor 46 extending from front wall 12 adjacent the bottom of the latter. Thus, carrier plate 32 is yieldably urged in a downward direction so as to maintain the cam follower pin 38 in contact with the cam surface 37 of cam member 36. Upon rotation of cam member 36 by the spring motor of music box 19, cam follower pin 38 and carrier plate 32 are repeatedly moved up and down as the pin 38 rides in the cam track or undulations 37, thereby producing the desired animated effect.

The present invention includes a winding device designed so that it cannot be overwound by the child user;

' nor can the spring motor be unwound except at predetermined and controlled speed for which the spring motor is designed for optimum operation. In other words, the present invention controls both the winding and unwinding of the spring motor; prevents winding and unwinding beyond predetermined limits for which the spring motor is designed to give optimum performance; and prevents actuation of the music box at speeds other than that for which the music box is designed for optimum performance.

Knob 25 mounted on shaft 21, as hereinabove described, is formed with a radially outward directed flange 52 received within an annular recess 53 formed in back wall 16 around a circular opening 54 through which the knob projects (FIGURE 6).

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7, the means for preventing overwinding of the spring motor includes a spiral track formed by a groove 55 in the surface 49 of knob 25, that is, in the surface thereof facing toward music box 19. A slider 56 is interposed between knob 25 and music box 19 and has an opening or cutout 47 (FIGURE 7) through which the shaft 21 extends. The ends of slider 56 are longitudinally slidable in diametrically opposed extensions 58 of recess 53. Thus slider 56 can move longitudinally in diametrically opposite directions with respect to the axis of knob 25 but is prevented from turning with the latter. A pin 59 extends from slider 56 into spiral groove 55. Rotation of the knob 25 is limited by engagement of the pin 59 with the ends of the spiral groove 55, i.e., knob 25 can be turned in one direction to wind the spring motor until pin 59 reaches one end of the spiral groove 55 when further rotation is prevented by the end of the spiral groove preventing further movement of pin 59. Similarly, knob 25 can retate in the opposite direction under the influence of the spring motor until pin 59 reaches the opposite end of the spiral groove 55 when further rotation or unwinding is prevented. When the spiral groove has the configuration shown on FIGURE 7, that is, a groove with approximately two complete turns, each extending through 360 degrees, the rotation of knob 25 is limited to approximately two complete revolutions. The number of turns 01' revolutions of the spiral groove 55 is chosen for the spring motor to give a margin of safety and insure that overwind ing of the spring motor of the music box cannot take place.

Recess 53 is dimensioned to provide enough room for the slider 56 to move therein without contacting the extremities or end walls of extensions 58 of recess 53; i.e., these continuations or extensions 58 of recess 53 provide the necessary clearance space for the travel of slider 56 throughout its full extent of travel which takes place when the pin 59 moves throughout the full extent of helical track 55. As shown in FIGURE 6, with the slider 56 in the normal rest or starting position, upper extension 58 is large enough to permit the slider to move in an upward direction throughout the travel of pin 59 in the helical track 55 and leave preferably a small clearance between the upper end of slider 56, viewing FIGURE 6, and the wall 58a defining the end of the upper extension 58 of recess 43.

It will be noted that the spiral groove 55 limits the number of turns which can be imparted to the spring motor by turning the knob 25 and hence the number of turns which can be imparted to the knob 25 to effect winding of the spring motor. When knob 25 is released the spring motor unwinds. Normally it unwinds at a predetermined and controlled rate depending upon the spring of the spring motor. The present invention insures that the unwinding will continue at such predetermined and controlled rate nothwithstanding application of force to the knob 25 in an effort to hasten the unwinding as may occur when a child is playing with the toy and turns the knob 25 in a direction to effect unwinding. Should this occur, the knob 25 will rotate causing the adapter 27 to unthread from the threaded end 29 of the shaft 21. The spring motor, however, continues to unwind at the predetermined and controlled rate because when the adapter 27 unthreads itself on the threaded end 29, this does not affect the rate of rotation of the shaft 21. Rotary movement of the knob 25 can take place until the pin 59 reaches the end of the spiral groove 55 when further rotary movement is prevented. Thus the maximum number of turns which can be imparted to the knob 25 depends on the number of convolutions in the spiral groove 55 and in the illustrated embodiment cannot exceed two revolutions. Clearance space 30 is large enough to permit such maximum number of revolutions of the knob 25 relative to threaded end 29 without engagement between the extremity of threaded end 29 and the wall defining the extreme left hand end, viewing FIGURE 6, of the threaded bore 28.

When the knob 25 has thus been turned to its stop position with pin 59 in engagement with an end of helical groove 55 or to a position short of this stop position as motor shaft 21 rotates, the threaded end 29 threads into the threaded bore the the adapter 27. Hence when the spring motor has given up its energy, imparted thereto during the winding, to drive the shaft 21, threaded end 29 is threaded into the threaded bore 28 to reach its initial or starting position. Accordingly, the parts of the structure are in their desired relation for commencing the winding of the spring motor whenever it is desired so to do, i.e., turning of the knob 25 in a direction to effect winding of the spring motor does so because the adaptor 27 is then threaded on the threaded end 29 of shaft 21 so that there is no play in the winding direction of these parts.

It will 'be noted that clearance space 30 is at least large enough to permit movement of the pin 59 throughout the full extent of the spiral groove 55 without interference. In other words, should a child start to rotate knob 25 at the moment the winding of the motor has been completed and pin 59 has reached the end of the spiral groove 55, clearance space 30 is large enough, in the embodiment shown, for at least two complete revolutions of the knob 25 with consequent movement of pin 59 into the opposite end of the spiral groove, without preventing relative rotary movement between the threaded end 29 and threaded bore 28. During such rotary movement of the knob 25, the adaptor 27 simply threads on threaded end 29 without imparting energy to the spring motor shaft 21 and hence without effecting desired predetermined release of energy by the spring motor 20. This insures that the unwinding will take place at a constant predetermined rate notwithstanding the child applying additional energy to the knob 25.

In the alternative arrangement of the winding device shown on FIGURES 8 and 9, the various parts thereof are identified by the same reference numerals used in describing the corresponding parts of the structure shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, but with the letter a appended thereto. In the apparatus of FIGURES 8 and 9, the knob 25a has a pin 59a projecting therefrom at a radial distance from the axis of rotation of the knob on the shaft 21a. Pin 59a travels in a spiral track formed by a slot 55a in a slider 56a. The slider 56a is interposed between knob 25a and the music box and has an opening 57a through which the shaft 21a of the music box extends with substantial clearance. The rear wall 16a of the housing has a suitably shaped recess 59a accommodating the slider 56a and permitting orbital movement of the latter to the extent required by engagement of the pin 59a in spiral slot 55a. The slider 56a further has an ear or extension 60 formed with an opening 61 loosely receiving a pin 62 extending from rear wall 16a within recess 58a. The engagement of pin 62 in opening 61 prevents rotation of slider 56a about the axis of shaft 21a while permitting orbital movement of the slider to the extent made necessary by the difference between the radial distances from the opposite ends of spiral slot 55a to the axis of shaft 21a. Turning of the knob 25a in both directions is limited by engagement of the pin 59a with the ends of the slot 55a in much the same manner as described above in connection with the embodiment of FIGURES 6 and 7.

Although the spiral groove 55 and the spiral slot 550 have each been shown with approximately two turns, for similarly limiting turning of the associated knob and shaft of the spring motor, it will be apparent that the number of such turns can be either increased or decreased, as desired. In either case, the number of turns of the spiral groove 55 or slot 55a is equal to the number of turns that can be safely imparted to the knob and the shaft of the music box 19 without the danger of overwiuding the spring motor of the latter.

It will be noted that the toy embodying this invention is operative to provide the simultaneous emission of sound or music from the music box 19 and the presentation of an animated picture, both driven from the same spring motor and thereby has unique play or entertainment value, particularly for a child. Since the animated picture presenting device 1) is operated by the spring motor of the music box, the toy is rugged, compact, of simple design and economical to mass produce.

It will be further noted that the present invention provides a winding mechanism for the spring motor which is fool-proof; the spring motor of the music box cannot be overwound, nor can it be unwound at a rate to cause damage thereto. The present invention insures that the spring motor when unwound actuates the music box at the desired pie-determined controlled rate and this even though the child user attempts to accelerate the unwinding of the spring motor by turning the knob actuating member for the spring motor.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications can be made therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Hence this invention is not to be limited to this disclosure except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toy operated by a spring motor and having a shaft extending therefrom for winding of the motor, the combination of a knob mounted on the shaft for manual turning of the latter, a slider member located adjacent said knob and being movable in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, means holding said slider member against rotation about said axis, one of said knob and slider members having a spiral track therein and the other of said knob and member having a pin slidable in said track to limit turning of said knob by engagement of the pin with the ends of said track.

2. In a toy operated by a spring motor and having a housing with an opening through which a winding shaft extends from the motor, the combination of an annular recess extending around said opening at the inside of the housing and having diametrically opposed extensions, a knob on said winding shaft extending out of said opening for manual turning of said shaft and having a radially directed flange engaged in said annular recess to prevent removal of the knob from the shaft, the inner end surface of said knob having a spiral track therein, an elongated slider disposed adjacent said inner end surface of the knob and having an opening receiving said shaft with substantial clearance, said slider having its ends engaged in said diametrical extensions of the recess so as to be movable diametrically and held against rotation about said shaft, and a pin on said slider engaging in said track to limit turning of said knob by engagement with the ends of said track.

3. In a toy operated by a spring motor and having a housing with an opening through which a winding shaft extends from the motor, the combination of an annular recess extending around said opening at the inside of the housing, a knob on the shaft extending out of said opening for manual turning thereof and having a radially directed flange at the inner end of the knob engaged in said recess to prevent removal of the knob from the shaft, a slider disposed adjacent the inner end surface of the knob and having an opening loosely received the shaft to permit orbital movement of the slider around the shaft, means holding said slider against rotation about the shaft, said slider having a spiral track around said opening of the slider, and said knob having a pin projecting from said inner end surface at a location spaced radially from the shaft and engaging in said track to limit turning of the knob by contact of the pin with the ends of the track.

4. In a toy operated by a spring motor and having a housing with an opening through which a winding shaft extends from the motor, a knob on the shaft for manually turning to effect winding of the spring motor, said knob having a centrally disposed opening extending with its axis coaxial with that of the knob, an adapter disposed within said opening and fixed to the knob so that rotation .of the knob effects rotation of said adapter, said adapter having a threaded bore, said shaft having a threaded extremity which is in threaded engagement with the threaded bore in said adapter, a slider disposed adjacent the inner end surface of the knob and having an opening through which the shaft extends, said slider being movable relative to said knob, a pin on said slider, said knob having a spiral groove on the surface thereof in which groove said pin moves whereby the ends of said spiral groove limit the turning movement of said knob pre- .venting overwinding of said motor, and the threaded connection between the threaded bore of said adapter and the threaded end of said shaft permits turning movement of said knob during the unwinding of said spring motor without affecting the rate of unwinding of said spring 1O EDGAR W. GEOGHEGAN, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A TOY OPERATED BY A SPRING MOTOR AND HAVING A SHAFT EXTENDING THEREFROM FOR WINDING OF THE MOTOR, THE COMBINATION OF A KNOB MOUNTED ON THE SHAFT FOR MANUAL TURNING OF THE LATTER, A SLIDER MEMBER LOCATED ADJACENT SAID KNOB AND BEING MOVABLE IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF THE SHAFT, MEANS HOLDING SAID SLIDER MEMBER AGAINST ROTATION ABOUT SAID AXIS, ONE OF SAID KNOB AND SLIDER MEMBERS HAVING A SPIRAL TRACK THEREIN AND THE OTHER OF SAID KNOB AND MEMBER HAVING A PIN SLIDABLE IN SAID TRACK TO LIMIT TURNING OF SAID KNOB BY ENGAGEMENT OF THE PIN WITH THE ENDS OF SAID TRACK.

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