US3455051A - Rolling music box - Google Patents

Description

July 15, 1969 R. I. GENIN 3,455,051 ROLLING MUSIC BOX 3 Sheets-Sheei 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1967 BY W Filed Jan, 5' 1967 GENIN ROLLING MUSIC OX 5 Sheet 2 INVE OR.

#0359712. GE/V/A/ nited States Patent 01 3,455,051 ROLLING MUSIC BOX Robert I. Genin, Scarsdale, N.Y., assignor to Child Guidance Toys Inc., Bronx, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 5, 1967, Ser. No. 607,462 Int. Cl. A63h /00; Gf 11/06 US. Cl. 46111 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to musical toys, and in particular to a rolling music box which when pulled by a child, produces melodic effects.

Various forms of rolling, sound-producing toys exist which take the form of a small, string-drawn cart, such that as the toy is pulled by the child, sounds are produced. These toys generally include a reciprocating clapper mechanism operatively coupled to the wheels of the cart and arranged to strike tone bars or bells, or to actuate reeds. The tones generated by such toys are repetitive in nature so that one or a small group of notes are endlessly repeated. Hence while the child is able to produce tones as he pulls his cart, these sounds are not in a melodic pattern. As a consequence, the child quickly wearies of such toys and of their repetitive sounds.

In a music box, sounds are produced in a melodic sequence and with harmonic effect, by means of a cylinder having pins thereon so arranged circumferentially as to actuate one or more reeds or other sound-producing elements. The music so produced depends on the pattern of pins on the cylinder, and by the use of different cylinders, a variety of musical compositions may be played. Such devices, which are of elaborate construction, are usually operated by spring-wound motors.

Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide a rolling music box which is adapted to play a musical piece when the box is pulled.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a rolling music box having a series of tone-producing Xylophone bars mounted thereon, as well as a cylinder having a like series of circumferential tracks, each having tabs projecting therefrom at spaced positions in a predetermined pattern, the tabs in each track actuating a respective hammer which is pivotally arranged to strike a corresponding bar, the cylinder being operatively geared to a set of wheels whereby, as the box is pulled, the cylinder is rotated to cause the clappers to strike the bars in a sequence producing melodic effects.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a rolling music box capable of playing various musical pieces without changing the cylinder.

Also an object of the invention is to provide a rolling music box of the above-identified type which is of simple and efficient design, which is relatively foolproof and reliable in operation, and capable of withstanding rough handling.

Briefly stated, these objects are accomplished in a device including a rolling box having two sets of wheels, and means to pull the cart, a bank of tone bars being arranged between the side walls adjacent one end of the box, the bars being of progressively varying length, whereby each bar produces a distinct tone. Rotatably mounted lice adjacent the other end of the box between the side walls thereof is a cylinder which is operatively geared to the front wheels of the cart, whereby as these wheels are turned, the cylinder is caused to rotate. The cylinder is divided into a series of circular tracks equal in number to the bars, each track having a group of tabs projecting therefrom at spaced positions in a predetermined pattern.

Interposed between the cylinder and the bank of bars is a like series of seesaw levers, one end of each lever being in the path of a respective track on the cylinder, the opposing end bearing a hammer which normally rests on a corresponding bar. As the box is pulled and the cylinder is caused to rotate, the tabs on each track successively engage the end of the associated lever, causing a seesaw action wherein the hammer is raised and then dropped to strike its associated bar. The pattern of tabs on the several tracks is made such as to produce a sequence of tones in a melodic pattern.

For a better understanding of the invention, as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rolling music-box toy in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the toy;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section taken through the toy in the plane indicated by lines 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken in the plane indicated by lines 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows in perspective the track structure of the cylinder; and

FIG. 6 is a modified track structure in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, the rolling music box includes a cart having a rear wall 10 and a pair of parallel side walls 11 and 12, as well as a rear set of wheels 13 and 14 and a front set 15 and 16. The cart is pulled by a string S. Supported within the cart between side walls 11 and 12, is a bank of six tone-producing Xylophone-type bars 17. The bars rest across the parallel bridges 18 and 19 spanning the sid walls of the cart, the bridges being formed in a molded frame member. Each bar is provided with a pair of spaced holes to admit a pair of pins 20 and 21 projecting upwardly from the bridges. Rubber spacer rings 22 and 23 are interposed between the undersurface of the bar and the bridges to acoustically isolate the bars from the bridges, and to permit the bars to vibrate freely.

Mounted for rotation between the side walls of the cart adjacent rear wall 10 thereof is a cylinder 24. Cylinder 24 is operatively coupled to the rear set of wheels 13 and 14, so that as the cart is drawn and the wheels turn on the ground or floor, the cylinder is caused to revolve at a rate appropriate to the tempo of the music to be produced. Inasmuch as a single full revolution of the cylinder causes the bars to be struck in a sequence producing all notes of the melody, it is essential that the gear ratio between the cylinder be such that as the wheels make as many turns as is necessary to cause the cart to travel say, ten to twenty feet, the cylinder completes only one revolution.

To this end, wheels 13 and 14 are secured to the ends of a shaft 25, which as best seen in FIG. 4, extends coaxially through the cylinder and passes through side walls 11 and 12, which are of hollow construction. One end of cylinder 24 is enclosed by a cup-shaped member 26 having a gear-toothed hub portion 27, through which shaft 25 passes. Secured to shaft 25 within cup member 26 is a pinion 28 which intermeshes with a gear 29, mounted on a spindle 30 supported in side wall 11. Gear 29 is integral with a smaller gear 31, also mounted on spindle 30, gear 31 intermeshing with the teeth on the surface of hub 27.

Thus as wheels 13 and 14 turn, pinion 28 turns gear 29, which through gear 31 turns hub gear 27, thereby driving the cylinder. The gear train ratio is such as to provide a desired rate of cylinder movement for the anticipated rate of wheel movement. When a child pulls the box, he learns through experience to pull the cart at a speed causing the music to play at the proper tempo.

To facilitate manufacture and assembly, cylinder 24 is constituted by six interlocking collars A, B, C, D, E and F, one for each of the six bars in the bank. It will be appreciated that in practice a greater or smaller number may be used, depending on how complex or simple a musical system is desired. Each collar, which may be individually molded of plastic material, constitutes a record track and includes, as best seen in FIG. 5, in connection with collar A, a ring portion Ar of reduced diameter which is telescopically received within the adjacent collar B. To properly orient the various collars, each collar includes on its ring portion a tongue At which enters a groove Bg in the adjacent collar B.

Molded on each of the track collars and projecting radially therefrom, are small rectangular tabs 32, the tabs on each track being spaced from each other in a predetermined pattern. As the cylinder rotates, the tabs engage the ends of a bank of seesaw levers 33, the levers all being supported on a common fulcrum rod 34 extending between walls 11 and 12. Attached to the opposing ends of these levers by means of sticks 35, are ball-shaped hammers 36, the length of the sticks being such that each hammer normally rests at the center of one of the six tone bars 17.

Thus as the cylinder rotates in the clockwise direction, the tabs on each track are successively brought into contact with the associated lever, and as the tab moves downwardly, the engaged end of the lever swings in the same direction, causing the opposing end to rise and to lift the hammer above the associated bar. As the tab continues to move, it slips out of engagement with the end of the lever, thus releasing it and causing the hammer to fall onto the bar to strike a tone.

It will be obvious that two or more bars may be struck simultaneously to produce harmonic effects and chords. By making the gear ratio such that the cylinder turns slowly, and by making the spacing between tabs relatively short, the length of the musical composition to be played can be made fairly long.

In the embodiment disclosed above, the tabs are permanently afiixed t0 the tracks, hence only one composition can be played. It is also possible, using essentially the same toy construction, to provide for replaceable tabs such that the child can set up various tab patterns to play any melody within the range of the tone bars. Tothis end, as shown in FIG. 6, the cylinder is made up of collars AA, etc., each having a series of equispaced slots-S S etc., formed therein about the circumference, the slots being adapted to receive removable tabs 32. The collars may, for this purpose, be made of a resilient synthetic plastic to provide a clamping action on the tabs.

In this arrangement, the child may be provided with music sheets for different tunes, with instructions to place tabs in particular slots on each track, which slots may be numbered or otherwise identified.

What I claim is:

1. A rolling music box adapted to play a musical composition and comprising:

(a) a cart which may be pulled by a child, said cart having at least one set of wheels supported at the ends of a shaft,

(b) a hollow cylinder rotatably mounted across said cart on said shaft and having a series of circumferential tracks thereon, one end of said cylinder being enclosed by a cup-shaped member positioned within said cylinder and having a gear-toothed hub concentric with said shaft,

(c) means operatively coupling said set of wheels to said cylinder to cause it to make one revolution for a predetermined number of wheel rotations, said means including a pinion mounted on the shaft within said member and first and second gears supported on a common spindle also positioned within said member, said first gear engaging said pinion, said second gear engaging said hub,

(d) a group of tabs projecting from each of said tracks,

the tabs in each group having a predetermined number and spacing appropriate to said composition,

(e) a like series of tone producing elements, and

(f) means associated with each track and actuated by the tabs thereon to activate a corresponding element.

2. A rolling music box as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cylinder is constituted by a series of interlocking collars, each constituting a track, said cup-shaped member nesting in an end collar in said series.

3. A rolling music box as set forth in claim 2, wherein each collarhas a series of equispaced slots therein adapted to receive removable tabs.

4. A rolling music box as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elements are constituted by a series of Xylophone bars of varying length.

5. A rolling music box as set forth in claim 4, wherein said activating means are constituted by a like series of seesaw levers, one end of each lever being disposed in the path of the tabs on a respective track, a hammer being attached to the other end to strike an associated element.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1934 Lauter 84-95 1/ 1968 Nomura 461 11 U.S. Cl. X.R. 84--95

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