US3599367A

US3599367A - Toy electric razor

Info

Publication number: US3599367A
Application number: US55411A
Authority: US
Inventors: Beverly W Taylor
Original assignee: STEVEN Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: STEVEN Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1970-07-16
Filing date: 1970-07-16
Publication date: 1971-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-17
Also published as: JPS4792U; GB1293708A; JPS5119999Y2

Abstract

A toy electric razor has a reciprocating shaving comb driven by battery powered electric operating mean. Realistic operation is provided by requiring two distinct steps to be taken to complete the electric circuit in connecting the electric operating means, which activates the comb, with its associated battery or batteries. Attachment of a simulated wall plug closes a part of the electrical circuit, while selective manipulation of an on-off switch completes that circuit.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Beverly W. Taylor Hermann, Mo. App]. No. 55,4! 1 Filed July 16, 1970 Patented Aug. 17, 1971 Assignee Steven Manufacturing Co.

TOY ELECTRIC RAZOR 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl. 46/243, 46/175 Int. Cl A63h 33/26 FieldofSearch 46/14, 15, 1 75, 2 32, 243

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,011,287 12/1961 Goldfarb 46/232 X FORElGN PATENTS 1,104,910 6/1955 France 46/1 75 Primary Examiner-Antonio F. Guida Assistant Examiner Robert F. Cutting Attorney-Polster and Polster ABSTRACT: A toy electric razor has a reciprocating shaving comb driven by battery powered electric operating mean. Realistic operation is provided by requiring two distinct steps to be taken to complete the electric circuit in connecting the electric operating means, which activates the comb, with its associated battery or batteries. Attachment of a simulated wall plug closes a part of the electrical circuit, while selective manipulation of an on-off switch completes that circuit.

PATENTEDAUGITIHYI 3599367 sum 1 OF 2 I N VENTOF? BEVERLY w. TAYLOR a:

n TT'OFWUEYS TOY ELECTRIC RAZOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to toy electric razors, and in particular, to toy razors or shavers providing realism in their construction.

Toy design realism is a feature sought after by toy manufacturers. This realism is desired especially when the toy is a simulation of a widely used adult item, or when the toy can be used by a child to imitate activities associated with his or her environment. Thus, toy dishes are in demand because children associate that toy with normal, daily activity. As children learn by imitating the actions of others, the more realistically the toy mimics that action, the more likely will be its acceptance by the child. Numerous examples can be found exemplifying this realistic association. Childrens car seats are provided with steering wheels while dolls simulate bodily functions.

Toy razors have been produced commercially. However, the degree of realism exhibited by these prior efiorts has been low. Realism was thought to make the cost of such toys prohibitive.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a low cost, realistic toy with which children can imitate theirparents.

Another object of this invention is to provide a realistic toy razor which is safe when used by children.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the following description and accompanying drawing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, FIG. 1 is an exploded side view in perspective of one illustrative embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded side view in perspective taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the power means for the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 for one illustrative embodiment of this invention, reference numeral 1 indicates a top enclosure for a toy electric razor. Enclosure 1 has a front wall 3, a backwall 4 and sidewalls 5 and 6. Enclosure 1 is open bottomed and a razor head 2 constitutes its top wall. Razor head 2 has rectangular openings 40 extending across its width grid fashion and through the edges where the head meets

walls

3 and 4. Sidewall 6 has a rectangular opening 7 in it where an on-off switch button assembly 8 is fitted. Switch button assembly 8 has a finger actuator section 41, a grooved section 10, and a cam section 9. The switch button assembly is constructed so as to engage the thickness of sidewall 6 between the walls of the groove section 10 in a movable, friction fit. Movement of the button 8.in the long dimension of the opening 7 is thus possible while transverse movement is largely prevented by the interaction of the bottom of the groove 10 and edges of the sidewall 6 defining the long sides of the opening 7. The button assembly 8 can be made in one piece and is preferably made of a resilient material to aid in placing switch button assembly 8 in opening 7.

A bottom enclosure 11 is open topped and has four sidewalls designated 12, l3, 14, 15 and a bottom wall 16. Wall 16 has a receptacle 17 to receive a plug 19 on the end of a toy cord. Plug 19 provides additional realism as it has a male end 28 which fits receptacle 17. The four sidewalls of enclosure '11 are rabbetted near their open top to fonn a step 20 and a flange 34. Flange 34 fits into a complementary lower edge of the top enclosure 1 and step 20 abuts the open end of enclosure 1 when the two enclosures are placed together and when so positioned the enclosures form a chamber for the mechanical and electrical components of the toy razor. Enclosures 1 and 11 are closed by any convenient method, and a friction fit, adhesive, or rivets all work well.

A simulated blade or comb 25 is inverted U-shaped with down-tumed edges 27 and a connecting web 28. Openings 29 extend transversely from each side of a center bar 26 through the web 28 and a part of each edge 27 and imitate, together with shaving head 2, the cutting edges of the razor. A vibrator receiver 30 in the form of a hollow boss, projects from the underside otthe web 28, as is best shown in FIG. 2. Receiver 30, which is generally rectangular, has its long dimension transverse of the comb, and may be made integral with comb 25 initiallyor constructed separately and attached by any convenient method, as by adhesive. In any case, it is positioned to receive an oblong, disc-shaped vibrator 24 in a loose fit. Vibrator 24 acts on receiver 30 in cam fashion to impart reciprocating motion to the comb 25.

Positioned within the two enclosures are an electric motor 21 nand its associated battery power supply 22. Although a polarity for the electrical circuit is indicated in FIG. 3, the direction of motor rotation is an individual design choice. As shown in FIG. 2, motor 21 is enclosed by a rectangular nonconductive covering 50. A motor shaft 23 extends through the covering and the shaft is rotated either directly by the rotor of the motor, or through a gear arrangement within the covering. Vibrator 24 is attached to shaft 23 in a tight friction fit or it may be cemented, or otherwise secured thereto. A U-shaped clasp 51 of electrically insulating material supports motor 21 and holds the battery 22.

The electric circuit of the motor21 and battery 22, as shown in FIG. 3, is unusual because of the steps needed to complete it. An electrical connector strip 31 of flexible material is attached to motor covering 50 at one end and biased away from the positive terminal of battery 22 at its other end. A second strip-type conductor 32 is electrically connected to the negative side of battery 22 and has an open circuit at its second end. A third strip-type conductor 33 is L- shaped in side elevation, and the long leg is attached to the motor enclosure 50 while the short leg is an open circuit.

Connectors

32 and 33 are positioned so that their open-circuit ends may be joined when some external force is applied to one of the conductors. In the preferred embodiment, conductor 33 is shown as the conductor that is closed to complete the circuit, but minor rearrangement of the

conductors

32 and 33 can be made so that conductor 32 is the closing agent. Regardless of the conductor arrangement, the natural bias of the formed conductors willkeep them in a nonnally opened position.

Wires

53 and 54 electrically connect the motor to

conductors

33 and 31 respectively.

In order to complete the electrical circuit, two distinct steps must be taken, and it is these steps that provide realistic operation. The first step is the insertion of simulated plug 19 into receptacle 17. Male end 18 meets the conductor 33 and forces it against conductor 32. One of the switches shown in FIG. 3 is thus closed. The remaining switch is closed by the second step operation of the on-off switch button assembly 8. Cam section 9 of switch 8 is designed to frictionally engage a foot 36 of conductor 31 as switch 8 is pushed towards its on position. Travel length for switch 8 is sufficient to enable this engagement to force conductor 31 against the positive terminal of battery 22, thereby closing the circuit, allowing motor 22 to commence operation. Operation of motor 22 causes vibrator 24 to rotate, in turn causing movement in comb 25.

Numerous variations in the design and arrangement of the standard portions of this invention, within'the scope of the appended claims may be made. For example, the design of enclosures l and 11 may be varied. The shape of the razor head or the comb, or both may be altered. Similarly, the physical arrangement of the battery, motor and conductors may be changed. Thus, the battery and motor may be arranged vertically rather than horizontally or a series of batteries may be used. A doorbell or solenoid-type motor can be substituted for the rotating motor of the preferred embodiment, in which case a direct hinged connection can be used between the motor shaft" and the comb. The simulated plug may either have no prongs at all or may be arranged electrically to bridge between spaced elements of the switch. The two step operation of the electrical-mechanical mechanism of this invention may be applied to other related toys where simulated plug-in and on-off switch operation provides realism. For example, the mechanism of this invention is applicable to toy hair cutters, shears, massagers, toothbrushes and similar articles. These variations are merely illustrative.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A toy electric razor comprising:

an enclosure for electrical-mechanical components of said razor, a portion of which defines a shaving head, and a plug receptacle in said enclosure;

a movable comb reciprocatingly mounted within said enclosure and which together with said shaving head simulates the cutting elements of said razor;

electrically energizable means to vibrate said comb mechanically, said means being electrically connected to an electric circuit including a battery;

a plurality of switches'in said electric circuit, two of said switches being connected essentially in series and both being normally biased to circuit open position;

plug means adapted removably to fit into said plug receptacle for closing one of said switches; and

on-off switch means for selectively closing another of said switches whereby both of said switches must be closed before the battery supplies current to said vibrating means.

2. The toy electric razor of claim 1 wherein the means to vibrate said comb comprise a rotary-type motor and an oblong disc-shaped vibrator attached to a shaft rotated by the rotor of said motor.

3. The toy electric razor of claim 1 wherein only two switch closures are required.

4. The toy electric razor of claim 3 wherein the two closures are accomplished through the mechanical interaction of said simulated wall plug with one switch and the mechanical interaction of said simulated on-off switch means with said other switch to physically close said circuit.

5. An electric toy operated by electrically energizable means, said means being electrically connected to an electric circuit including a battery, wherein said electric circuit has a plurality of switches, two of said switches being connected essentially in series and both being normally biased to circuit open position, plug means adopted for closing one of said switches, and on-off switchv means for selectively closing another of said switches whereby both of said switches must be closed before said battery supplies current to said electrically energizable means.

Claims

1. A toy electric razor comprising: an enclosure for electrical-mechanical components of said razor, a portion of which defines a shaving head, and a plug receptacle in said enclosure; a movable comb reciprocatingly mounted within said enclosure and which together with said shaving head simulates the cutting elements of said razor; electrically energizable means to vibrate said comb mechanically, said means being electrically connected to an electric circuit including a battery; a plurality of switches in said electric circuit, two of said switches being connected essentially in series and both being normally biased to circuit open position; plug means adapted removably to fit into said plug receptacle for closing one of said switches; and on-off switch means for selectively closing another of said switches whereby both of said switches must be closed before the battery supplies current to said vibrating means.

5. An electric toy operated by electrically energizable means, said means being electrically connected to an electric circuit including a battery, wherein said electric circuit has a plurality of switches, two of said switches being connected essentially in series and both being normally biased to circuit open position, plug means adopted for closing one of said switches, and on-off switCh means for selectively closing another of said switches whereby both of said switches must be closed before said battery supplies current to said electrically energizable means.