US3667136A

US3667136A - Sound reproducing educational toy bank

Info

Publication number: US3667136A
Application number: US122069A
Authority: US
Inventors: Karen B Goodkind; Brett B Hamilton; Ake L Larsson; Jimmie L Whittington
Original assignee: Mattel Inc
Current assignee: Mattel Inc
Priority date: 1971-03-08
Filing date: 1971-03-08
Publication date: 1972-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-06

Abstract

A toy bank capable of responding to the insertion of a coin of any one of four denominations, including 1 , 5 , 10 and 25 in any one of four coin slots to reproduce any one of 16 unique sayings which is a function of the slot in which the coin is inserted and the coin''s denomination. A 17th saying is reproducible whenever a coin is not inserted in any of the slots.

Description

United States Patent Goodkind et al. [4 1 June 6, 1972 [5 SOUND REPRODUCING EDUCATIONAL 1 References Cited TOY BANK UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventors: Karen B. Goodkind, Los Angeles; Brett B- 2,805,746 9/1957 Grant ..194/l6 Hamilton, Calabasas; Ake L. Larsson, Redondo Beach; Jimmie L. Whittington, THER P BLI ATIONS Mhtt B hallfal'fl an a an eac o c l Ruppert Talking Bank Advertisement in Mascon Toy Co. [73] Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif. Catalog, Mar. 10, 1966 [22] Filed: Mar. 8, 1971 Primary ExammerWm. H. Grieb PP N04 122,069 Attorney-Seymour A. Scholnick 'IRA T Related US. Application Data [57] ABS C [63] Continuatiomimpan of sen No. 783,952, Dec. 1 6 A toy bank capable of responding to the lllSeltlOll of a coin of any one of four denominations, including l. 5. 10 and 25 it in any one of four coin slots to reproduce any one of I6 52 us. Cl. ..3s/s A, 46/4, 46/175 AR unique Sayings which is a function of the $101 in which the coin [51] lnt.Cl. ..G09b 19/00 is inserted a he co ns denomination. A 17th y g is [58] Field of Search ..35/8 A, 9;46/2-5, reproducible whenever a coin is not inserted in any of the slots.

10 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUM 61972 3,667, 136

sum 1 or 4 (,ovEnwg Ava-nan:

QJM

PNENTEDJUH 51972 3.667, 136

sum 2 or 4 m 87 $2 53 irrat/vzl CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of copending application Ser. No. 783,952 filed Dec. 16, 1968.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sound reproducing apparatus and, more particularly, to a sound reproducing device of the type incorporable in a toy, capable of selectively reproducing a selected one of a plurality of recorded sayings.

2. Description of the Prior Art The use of sound reproducing devices in toys, in order to produce talking toys, is well known. Typically, such a sound reproducing device, which is concealably mounted in the toy, includes a disc-like record in which a plurality of discrete sound sequences, hereafter referred to as sayings, are recorded in separate, independent grooves. The device generally includes a drawstring or pull cord which a child may pull to wind a power spring. Once the drawstring is released by the child the power spring unwinds, causing the record to rotate while a stylus, supported in a tone arm, engages one of the grooves. The stylus produces mechanical signals which are used in an associated diaphragm, to produce the desired audio signals or sounds, which together create the saying, recorded in the particular groove.

Herebefore, most of the known sound reproducing devices operated so as to reproduce the sayings either in a fixed sequence or at random. Sequential reproduction is achieved by providing generally complex positioning control mechanisms, which control the relative positions of the tone arm with respect to the record, so that the stylus engages the grooves on the record in a predetermined fixed sequence. For example, in US. Pat. Nos. 3,168,318 and 3,282,590, the primary inventive features relate to mechanisms which are used to successively position or index the tone arm with respect to a multigroove record, so that, as the child repeatedly pulls the drawstring, the tone arm engages successive grooves on the record. In US. Pat. No. 3,245,688, a novel sound reproducing device is disclosed in which the reproductionof sayings in a fixed sequence is achieved by successively controlling the position of the turntable on which the record is supported with respect to a defined tone arm position by means of a turntable indexing mechanism. The sound reproducing device disclosed in the latter mentioned patent may also be operated without the turntable indexing mechanism so that the sayings may be reproduced in a random, rather than a fixed sequence.

Although toys in which sayings are reproduced in either fixed or random sequences are quite entertaining, their educational value is very limited, since the saying which is reproduced bears no relationship to any act, performed by the child. The only act which the child performs is that of pulling the drawstring which is used to wind the power spring to store the energy necessary to rotate the record and reproduce a saying once the drawstring is released. Thus, a need exists for a sound reproducing device in which the reproduced saying bears a relationship to an act, performed by the child.

A device with such a capability may, for example, be used in conjunction with a toy bank to teach a child to distinguish between coins of different denominations, by reproducing a specific saying when a coin of a specific denomination is placed in a particular slot, corresponding thereto while producing other sayings when a coin of the specific denomination is placed in any of a plurality of slots other than the slot corresponding thereto. Although the novel teachings of the present invention may be employed in any toy in which it is desired to reproduce a saying related to a child's act, for explanatory purposes, one specific embodiment of the invention will be described in conjunction with such a toy bank.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is to provide a sound reproducing device capable of reproducing a selected one of a plurality of sayings.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new sound reproducing device in which a saying, out of a plurality of reproducible sayings, is reproduced which has a direct relationship to a specific act.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of I a new turntable indexing mechanism, in a sound reproducing device, to control the sequence in which a plurality of sayings are reproduced to be a function of a corresponding sequence of acts.

Yet another object is to provide a sound reproducing device for use in an educational toy in which the content of a reproduced saying is related to an act performed by a learning child.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing, in a sound reproducing device of the type mountable in a toy, a novel turntable indexing mechanism which enables the turntable to be selectively. indexed with respect to a tone arm, as a result of an act or step, performed by a child, so that the saying which is reproduced audibly informs the child whether the performed act represents a proper or correct step. The novel sound reproducing device may be incorporated in a unique toy bank having a plurality, for example, four slots. The four slots may be associated with coins of denominations of 1 5 l0 '1 and 25 When a penny is properly placed in the 1 slot, representing a proper act, and the drawstring is pulled, the turntable is so indexed with respect to the tone arm so that when the drawstring is released a saying is reproduced which audibly indicates to the child that the proper act was performed. For example, the saying may be, You correctly inserted a penny in the penny slot." On the other other hand if the child places a penny in any of the other slots, representing an improper act or step, the penny located in an improper slot causes the indexing of the turntable with respect to the tone am to reproduce a saying which audibly informs the child that the coin was inserted in the wrong slot. For example, the insertion of a penny in the nickel slot may result in the reproduction of a'saying, You incorrectly inserted a penny in the nickel slot. The novel sound reproducing device of the present invention includes a unique clutch arrangement which enables the proper indexing of the turntable with respect to the tone arm when the drawstring is pulled, hereafter referred to as the Rewind operation or simply, Rewind, while at the same time enabling the power spring to be fully wound. Then, when the drawstring is released representing the start of the saying reproduction or Play, the clutch arrangement operates in a novel way to mechanically lock the rewinding power spring to the turntable to insure the proper rotation of the record for proper saying reproduction.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will best be understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1 and 2 are simplified top and side cross-sectional views of a sound reproducing device, useful in explaining the present invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are two cross-sectional views of a novel clutch arrangement, the views being taken along lines 33 in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are different views of a novel toy bank, incorporating the principles of the present invention;

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are views of a novel no-coin-indexing unit at different stages in the operation of the toy bank of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention; and

5 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The basic principles of the sound reproducing device, incorporating the novel turntable indexing mechanism of the present invention, may best be explained in conjunction with FIG. I wherein reference numeral designates a multigroove disc or record in which sayings are recorded in individual grooves. For explanatory purposes the number of interleaved grooves islimited to four. They are designated by G1-G4. in the FIGURE, only the lead portions of the grooves and a common end convolution 11 are shown. The record 10 is shown supported on a turntable 12 having a tab 14 extending outwardly from its periphery. In the FIGURE, dashed line 15 represents a tone arm 16 pivotally mounted about pin 18. Dashed line 15 represents the tone arm at the end of Play, i.e., atter the reproduction of a saying when a stylus 20 supported by the arm is engaged in the common end convolution 11.

Once a saying is reproduced or replayed, the reproduction of another saying may be accomplished by returning the tone arm 16 to a fixed start position as indicated by solid line 21, in which the arm is shown abutting a stop member 22, while at the same time winding up a power spring, which is used to store the energy necessary to rotate the record 10 by rotating the turntable 12 once the drawstring is released. in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, and in the particular arrangement shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of turntable indexing positions 31-34 are provided about the periphery of the turntable 12, one position being associated with eachgroove on the record. The positions are designed so that a stop member 35 may be inserted at the start of Rewind in any one of them. The function of member 35 is to engage the turntable tab 14 as the turntable 12 is rotated during Rewind thereby stopping the rotational motion of the turntable at a desired point, which controls which groove the stylus engages when the tone arm is in its start position.

in the example diagrammed in FIG. 1, the stop member 35 is assumed to be inserted at position 33, before or right at the start of Rewind, i.e., before or as soon as a drawstring such as drawstring 60, shown in FIG. 2, is pulled. As thestring is pulled, several parts move to their start of play positions. These include the tone arm 16 whichpivots to its start position. Also, a spring spindle 37 to which one end of the drawstring is tied is caused to rotate in a clockwise'direction indicated by arrow 38. As a spindle 37 rotates clockwise, it winds up a power-spring connected thereto.

A clutch arrangement 40 is located in an axial cavity 41 in turntable '12. As will be explained hereafter in .detail, the spring spindle 37 is coupled to the turntable 12 by the clutch arrangement 40, which, in Rewind, causes the turntable 12 to rotate with the rotating spring spindle 37 in the clockwise direction as long as tab 14 does not engage the stopmember 35; Once the tab 14 engages the stop member 35, the tumtable and the record thereon are inhibited from rotating any further. Thus, the groove which the stylus engages when the tone arm is in its start position is controlled by the indexing position at which the tab 14 is engaged.

ln the example, diagrammed in FIG. 1, the stylus 20 is shown engaging groove G3 when stop member 35 is in position.33. Clearly, if member 35 were inserted in position 32, the turntable would rotate an additional one-quarter tum, so that the stylus 20 would engage groove G2. Either of grooves G1 and G4 would be engaged if the stop member 35 were inserted in

positions

31 and 34, respectively. In the present invention, it is assumed that grooves G1-G4 have recorded therein sayings which, when audibly reproduced, relate to the insertion of the stop member 35 in positions 31-34, respectively. 1 I

Once the turntable 12 is stopped at one of the indexing positions, the clutch arrangement 40 operates as a slip clutch to enable the spring spindle 37 to continue to rotate as the drawstring continues to be pulled until the power spring is fully wound. Then, when the drawstring is released the power spring begins to unwind, causing the spindle 37 to rotate counterclockwise as represented by arrow 42. When rotating coun terclockwise, the clutch 40 fixedly engages the turntable ,12 with the spindle 37 causing the former, and the record thereon, to also rotate counterclockwise. It is during this part of the operation, i.e., during Play, that the saying is audibly reproduced.

It should be pointed out that once Play begins, it is necessary to withdraw the stop member 35 so that the turntable 12 is free to rotate the necessary number of revolutions, required for a complete saying reproduction. Otherwise, the tab l4 would, after nearly one complete counterclockwise revolution, engage the stop member 35 once more which would prevent the tumtablefrom freely and uniformly rotating the counterclockwise direction.

It should be appreciated that the number of indexing positions has to equal the number of grooves or sayings on the record 10 so that a specific saying is audibly reproduced when the turntable is stopped or indexed at a specific position, to which the reproduced saying is related. Although in FIG. 1, the record 10 is shown containing only four grooves (GI-G4), associated with four indexing positions (31-34), it should be apparent that any record may contain any number of grooves n, where n is an integer, in which case the turntable 12 may be stopped or indexed at any one of n indexing positions to reproduce a saying, related to the indexing position.

It should further be pointed out that in the present invention, since the reproduced saying is selected by selecting the indexing position, at which the turntable is stopped,the same saying may be reproduced repeatedly by repeatedly stopping the turntable at the same indexing position. Thus, the sequence in which the sayings are reproduced is neither fixed nor independently random. Rather, the sequence is one which is a function of the sequence of indexing positions at which the turntable is stopped in a sequence of Rewind steps. For example, if in a sequence of eight Rewind steps the turntable 12 were stopped at

positions

31, 31,33, 32, 32, 34 31, 34, the sequence of reproduced sayings would consist of the sayings in grooves G1, G1, G3, G2, G2, G4, G1 and G4.

For a more complete description of the present invention as related to the novel turntable indexing arrangement, reference is again made to FIG. 2 which is a cross-sectional diagram of a toy housing 45 in whicha sound reproducing device, incorporating the principles of the present invention, is positioned. In FIG. 2, elements like those previously described are designated bylike numerals.

As may beseen from FIG. 2, power spindle 37 has ends 51 and 52 rotatably mounted in bosses 53 and 54, respectively. The bosses are fixedly supported in housing 45. Supported on spindle 37 above end 52 are a pair of spaced apart

discs

56 and 57 which together form a pulley or arbor designed to contain drawstring 60, one end of which is tied to the spindle 37. The other string end terminates in a ring 61, located outside the housing 45. The string 60 extends to the housing exterior, through an eyelet 62 in the housing 45. The power spindle 37 is connected to one end of a spiral windable power spring 65, whose other end (not shown) is fixedly connected to the housing 45.

As is appreciated by those familiar with the art, the power spindle, power spring 65 and drawstring 60 co-operate in such a way that when the string, which at the end of Play is wrapped around spindle 37 is pulled outwardly by a playing child, the spindle rotates in a first direction, for example, clockwise, causing spring 65 to be wound up. This occurs during Rewind.

In the present invention, as the spindle 37 rotates during Rewind, in the clockwise direction, the clutch arrangement 40 mechanically couples the turntable l2 thereto so that the turntable also rotates in the clockwise direction. However, once the turntable tab 14 engages stop member 35 at any of the indexing positions, the turntable 12 is prevented from further rotation, .with the clutch, thereafter acting as a slip clutch to enable the spindle to continue to rotate in the clockwise direction even though the turntable 12 has been stopped or indexed at the desired indexing position. This is necessary in order to fully wind up spring 65, to store sufiicient energy therein required for turning the turntable l2 and the record thereon during Play.

Then, when the string is released, i.e., during Play, the power spring unwinds, causing the spindle 37 and the turntable 12 to rotate in an opposite direction, for example, counterclockwise, so that the released string 60 is pulled into the housing and becomes wound up in the arbor, defined by

discs

56 and 57. When the spindle 37 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the clutch 40 is fully engaged, so as to mechanically lock the turntable 12 to the spindle 37 thereby causing the former to also rotate in the counterclockwise direction. It is during this period which represents the Play cycle that the saying, recorded in the groove in which the stylus 20 is engaged, is reproduced.

In the sound reproducing device of the present invention, it is assumed that as the drawstring 60 is first pulled during Rewind, it first engages the tone arm 16 raising it from record to disengage the stylus from the common end convolution such as convolution 11 on record 10. The pulled drawstring also pivots arm 16 to its start position. The manner in which this is accomplished is well known, one example being described in the above referred to U.S. Pat. No. 3,245,688. Consequently, it will not be described herein in any further detail.

As is appreciated, the actual sound is produced by a sound producing cone, generally designated in FIG. 2 by numeral 70. Cone 70 together with tone arm 16 and the stylus 20 form a tone arm assembly which is designated in FIG. 2 by numeral 71. Preferably, the spindle 37 is coupled to a governor assembly whose function is to regulate the rotation of the tumtable 12 during Play to insure proper and uniform sound reproduction. Since'such a governor assembly is well known, the governor assembly of the sound reproducing device of the present invention is simply represented by a block 72.

Pulleys

73 and 74 fixedly secured to spindle 37 and assembly 72, respectively provides the coupling therebetween by means of a belt or O-ring 75.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3 which is a cross-sectional diagram along lines 3-3 in FIG. 2. The diagram is particularly useful to describe the novel clutch arrangement 40, with elements like those previously described being designated by like numerals. The clutch arrangement 40 includes a first clutch element 80 which is fixedly connected to the spindle 37, and a second clutch element 81 formed by a plurality of interconnected arms 82, each one of which carries a block member or simply block 83. The interconnections between the arms 82 are purposely deleted in order to simplify the diagram. The portion of the turntable 12 which defines the cavity 41 in which the clutch arrangement 40 is located may be thought of as the third clutch element. For explanatory purposes, unit 81 shown including three blocks 83.

Each block 83 has an exterior surface 84 which is designed to engage the inner surface of the third clutch element, i.e., the turntable 12. To insure engagement between the two, the clutch arrangement preferably includes a snap ring 85 which provides each of the blocks 83 with a radially, outwardly directed force. The inner side of each block 83 is shaped to form a circumferential camming surface 86 and a substantially radially directed camming surface 87, the radial directions being with respect to the center 90 of spindle 37. When element 81 consists of the blocks 83 the first clutch element 80 defines a first set of three substantially radial camming sur faces 91 and a second set of three circumferential spiralling camming surfaces 92. i

In operation, during Rewind, as the spindle rotates in the clockwise direction (arrow 38), the first clutch element 80 continuously rotates therewith. At some point during the first clockwise revolution cam surfaces 91 engage the radial cam surfaces 87 of blocks 83, providing rotational forces thereto.

Any radial force is very small and therefore may be neglected. Consequently, the second clutch unit 81 starts to rotate in a clockwise direction. The radial force which is supplied to blocks 83 by the snap ring 85 is sufficient to cause their surfaces 84 to frictionally engage the turntable 12 with sufficient force to cause the turntable 12 to also rotate in the clockwise direction. Thus, all three clutch elements rotate in the clockwise direction.

The turntable l2, representing the third clutch element, continues to rotate in the clockwise direction until its tab 14 engages the stop member 35. Once this occurs, the turntable 12 stops rotating. The rotational force applied by unit 80 to the blocks 83 is greater than the radial force applied thereto by ring 85. Consequently, the blocks 83 continue to rotate, with their surfaces 84 sliding or slipping with respect to the inner surface of the turntable l2. Alternately stated, during this point in the operation, the clutch arrangement operates as a slip clutch, until the drawstring is fully drawn and the power spring 65 is fully wound.

Then, during Play, when the power spring 65 unwinds, it causes the spindle and the first clutch element 80 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction, as indicated by arrow 42 in FIG. 4, which is another cross-sectional diagram of the clutch arrangement 40. Each cam surface 92 of unit 80 has a radial distance from center 90 which is greater than the radial distance of a portion of the cam surface 85 of a block 83. Consequently, as the element 80 rotates counterclockwise, these surface portions engage one another. When contact is made between the two,cam surfaces 92 apply to surfaces 85 rotational as well as radial forces. The rotational forces are sufficient to cause blocks 83 to rotate counterclockwise together with unit 80. The radial forces represented by arrows 94 have magnitudes sufficient to cause surfaces 84 to frictionally engage the turntable without slipping. Consequently, the turntable 12 starts to rotate in the counterclockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 4 by arrow 95.

From the foregoing it should thus be appreciated that the novel clutch arrangement provides the sound reproducing device of the present invention with the capability of indexing, i.e., stopping the turntable 12 at any desired indexing position during Rewind, so that during Play, a saying, which is related to or associated with the position at which the turntable was 4 stopped, is reproduced. The clutch arrangement may be thought of as a two-way clutch except that in Rewind, after the turntable is properly indexed, it also acts as a slip clutch.

Although herebefore the invention has been described in connection with a turntable 12 with a single tab 14, it should be appreciated that the turntable 12 may incorporate a plurality of tabs, at different positions about its periphery, as well as at different axial positions. Each tab may be engagable by a stop member inserted in any one of the indexing positions associated therewith. To describe such a multiposition turntable indexing mechanism one embodiment of the invention will hereafter be described in conjunction with FIGS. 5-7 which are different views of a novel educational toy bank, which incorporates the invention. When serving as a toy bank housing 45, in addition to supporting the various parts herebefore described also includes a wall which separates a bank chamber 101 from the rest of the housing. As seen from FIG. 6, wall 100 has an annular curved portion 102 spaced from but adjacent to the periphery of turntable 12.

An annular shaped slot forming member 103 is positioned in chamber 101, with the inner side thereof adjacent the curved surface portion 102. Member 103 is shaped to form four radially directed coin receiving slots 105-108. Each slot has a corresponding opening in the top side of housing 45. The function of the latter mentioned openings is to enable a child to place a coin of any one of four denominations in any one of the four slots. For explanatory purposes, it is assumed that slots 105-108 are associated with a penny, a nickel, a dime and a quarter, respectively.

The chamber 101 further contains an outer movable annular wall which is positioned adjacent the outer side of member 103. Wall 110 is supported to be in an upward position by a horizontal bracket 1 11 (see FIG. 5) which includes a skirt 112, rotatably positioned about boss 54. The wall 110 is capable of circumferential movement with respect to member 103 between first and second positions as represented by arrows 115 and 116 in FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively. The positions of wall 110 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 may hereafter be referred to as the closed and open positions, respectively.

The wall 110 is shaped to form four annular ridges, designated in FIG. 5 by numerals 121-124. The function of these ridges,'when the wall is in the closed position, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is to control the position of a coin within any of the slots 105-108. as a function of the coins diameter. Clearly, since a dime has the smallest diameter of the four coins, herebefore referred to, if a dime is dropped into any of slots 105-108, it is supported in the slot by ridge 121 and the surface of the curved portion 102. A dropped penny would stop and rest on ridge 122, while the positions of a nickel and a quarter within any of the slots would be controlled by

ridges

123 and 124, respectively. In FIG. 5, circles 131-134 represent a dime, a penny, a nickel and a quarter, respectively.

The curved portion 102 of wall 100 defines four annular slots or grooves 141-144 at elevational positions in the vertical axis which correspond to the elevational positions, which the four different coins may assume in each of slots 105-108. Thus, when a dime is dropped in any of the slots 105-108, and wall 110 is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 6, the dime rests on ridge 121 and abuts against groove 141. Likewise, if a penny, a nickel or a quarter is dropped it would abut against one of grooves 142-144, respectively. Grooves 141-144 may be referred to, hereafter, as the dime groove, the penny groove, the nickel groove, and the quarter groove, respectively, since coins of such denominations, when dropped in any of the coin slots, abut against them.

As seen from FIGS. 5 and 6, the turntable 12 has four tabs designated 151-154, radially extending from the periphery thereof at different radial, as well as axial positions. In FIG. 5, which is a side cross-sectional view, only

tabs

154 and 152 are seen at different elevational or axial positions along the axis of rotation of the turntable l2. Briefly, tab 154 which may be referred to as the quarter tab is at an elevational position so four sayings recorded in grooves 161-164 depends on the coin that when the turntable rotates, as the tab 154 passes by the curved wall portion 102, it in essence passes through the quarter slot 144. Clearly, if a quarter is not dropped in any of the coin slots nothing engages the tab 154 and therefore the turntable is free to continue to rotate. However, if a quarter is dropped in any of the slots,- the quarter acts as the stop member 35, previously referred to. Thus, as the turntable 12 rotates tab 154 engages the dropped quarter, causing the turntable to stop. Thus, the turntable is stopped or indexed at the indexing position defined by the coin slot in which the quarter is located.

Since the quarter may be dropped in any of the four coin slots 105-108, the radial positions of these slots, with respect to center 90, together with a quarter dropped in any of them and quarter tab 154 define four indexing positions at which the turntable 12 may be stopped. As a result any one of four points on the record 10 mounted on table 12 may be positioned at the tip of the stylus 20 at the start position. Such four points are designated in FIG. 7 by numerals 161-164.

Record 10 is assumed to have recorded thereon l7 sayings, 16 of which are reproducible as a function of the insertions of coins of the various denominations in the four coin-receiving slots 105-108. The [7th saying is reproduced when no coin is inserted many of the slots. Numeral 161 represents the point of the record which would come in contact with stylus 20 when the turntable is stopped by quarter tab 154 energizing a quarter in the penny slot 105 while numerals 162-164 represent three other points on the record which would come in contact with the stylus 20 if a quarter were dropped prior to Rewind in the nickel, dime and quarter coin slots 106-108, respectively.

slot in which the quarter is dropped. When serving as an educational toy, the saying recorded in groove 164, which the stylus engages only if a quarter is dropped in the quarter slot 108,

may be for example, Very good. You dropped a quarter in the quarter coin slot," thereby indicating that a proper act was performed. On the other hand, the saying in groove 161 may be, Try again. You dropped the wrong coin in the penny coin slot, thereby indicating to the playing child that an incorrect act was performed. Like sayings, indicating the performance of improper acts may be recorded in

grooves

162 and 163.

Similarly, each of the other three tabs 151-153, (such as 151) together with the locations of the four coin slots -108 and a coin of a denomination (such as a penny) associated with the particular tab (tab 152), define four other indexing positions.- In FIG. 7, numerals 165-168, 169-172 and 173-176 represent points or grooves on the record 10 which the stylus 20 would engage when a nickel or a penny or a dime, respectively, is inserted in the four coin slots. It should be stressed, however, that at any given time only one coin should be inserted in only one of the slots.

Grooves

166, 169 and 175 have recorded therein sayings which represent proper acts, namely when a nickel, a penny or a dime is inserted in its corresponding coin slot.

In addition to the 16 sayings, recorded in grooves 161-176, any one of which is reproduced as a function of the coin denomination and the particular coin slot in which it is inserted, the record in the toy bank described herein, includes a 17th saying in a groove 177 which is engaged by the stylus 20 if the playing child rewinds the toy by pulling the drawstring 60, without inserting any coin in any of the coin slots. The indexing of the turntable 12 by means of a no-coin-indexing unit so that the stylus engages groove 177 in the absence of a coin will be described hereafter in conjunction with FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 wherein the no-coin-indexing unit is designated by numeral 180.

However, before proceeding to describe unit 180 and how it 'functions it should be recalled that once the turntable 12 is indexed during Rewind, by a stop member 35 (FIG. 1) or a coin as herebefore described, as soon as Play begins it is necessary to retrieve the stop member in order not to inhibit the free rotation of the turntable 12-dun'ng PLAY. Thus, in the novel toy bank of the present invention, it is necessary to enable an inserted coin to fall out of a coin slot in which it was inserted once Play begins. Such a capability is provided by the annular wall 110 which is biased so that once Play begins it moves to its open position (see FIG. 7) in which four openings defined therein -188 are aligned with coin slots 105-108, respectively. Openings 185-188 are large enough to insure that any coin in any of the coin slots falls out thereto. The annular wall 1 10 remains in the open position until the end of Play at which time it is again biased to its closed position (FIG. 6) to close the coin slots to enable them to retain a coin dropped therein at the start of a succeeding Rewind cycle.

The biasing of the annular wall 110 between the open and closed positions may best be explained in conjunction with FIGS. 6 and 7. Briefly, horizontal bracket 111 supports a pin 190. A blade 191 of a spring 192 which is secured in housing 45 at point 194 is biased against the pin in such a way that, in the absence of other countering biasing forces, the bracket 1 11 and, more particularly, the annular wall 110 pivots about center 90 in a clockwise direction about boss 54 or center 90, thereby urging the wall 110 to its open position. End 196 of bracket 1 I l is located adjacent a stop post 198, vertically supported in housing 45.

In operation, whenever the drawstring 60 is taut, it overcomes the biasing force of blade 191 and biases end 196 of bracket 111 towards post 198, thereby pivoting the annular wall 1 10 in a counterclockwise direction to assume the closed position as shown in FIG. 6. Clearly, the drawstring 60 is taut when pulled by a child. Thus, during Rewind, the wall is in the closed position to contain any coin dropped in any of the slots. However, once the drawstring is released and Play begins, the drawstring is slack, thereby no longer biasing the end 196 toward post 198. As a result, the blade 191 again biases, by means of pin 190 and bracket 111, wall 110 to its open position, to enable an inserted coin to fall out of the coin slot in which it was inserted.

It should be recalled that at the end of Play it is desired that the wall 1 again be biased to be in its closed position to enable the insertion of a new coin. This is achieved by controlling the length of the drawstring or by any other means so that after a complete saying is reproduced the drawstring is again taut to bias the wall to its closed position. In summary, it is required that wall 110 be in its closed position at all times except during the period when a saying is actually reproduced, which occurs when the drawstring is slack and the power spring unwinds, rotating the record 10 while the stylus 20 is engaged in one of the record grooves for sound reproduction.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 6-10, particular attention being directed to FIGS. 8 through 10 in conjunction with which the no-coin-position-indexing unit 180 will be described. The unit includes a member 200 (near wall 100) (see FIG. 6) supported by a pin 201 for pivotal or rotational motion thereabout. Member 200 is shaped to form three radially directed finger-like members, hereafter referred to as

fingers

202, 203 and 204. Finger 204 has a perpendicular pin 205 extending therefrom. The unit is arranged to co-operate with the dime tab 151 as will be explained later in detail. Fixed to member 200 is a cam 207 which also rotates about pin 201. The cam 207 has preferably two

flat surfaces

211, 212 which may be separated by a detent surface 213. Any one of these surfaces may come in contact with a biasing spring blade 215 ofspring 192.

FIG. 8 represents the position of the unit 180 during Play, in which blade 215 engages the flat cam surface 211 to maintain the member 201 in the shown position. In this position the tip of finger 202 clears the tip ofthe dime tab 151 ofturntable 12. Indeed, as will be appreciated from the following description, as Play starts and the turntable 12 rotates in a counterclockwise direction (arrow 42) the tab 151 sequentially engages fingers 203 and/or 202 to rotate

members

200 and 207 in a clockwise direction to assume the position shown in FIG. 8. In this position the pin 205 of finger 204 is adjacent but does not engage a flange 218 of wall 110 which at this point in the operation is in its open position (see FIG. 7).

At the end of Play, as the wall 110 is biased to its closed position, as herebefore explained, the wall moves in a counterclockwise direction (arrow 116). As a result, flange 218 engages pin 205 causing

members

200 and 207 to rotate counterclockwise and to assume a position as shown in FIG. 9. In this position, which may be regarded as a first counterclockwise position, spring blade 215 engages the detent surface 213 between the

flat surfaces

211 and 212. Finger 202 is positioned so that if during Rewind when the turntable 12 rotates in a clockwise direction (arrow 38) dime tab 151 passes by unit 180, it engages the top of finger 202, rotating the unit 180 counterclockwise. As a result, the unit assumes a second counterclockwise position (see FIG. 10) in which flat surface 212 is engaged by spring blade 215, holding finger 202 against a stop member 220. The function of the latter is to prevent the unit from further rotation in the clockwise direction.

In this position, the top of finger 203 is in the path of dime tab 151. Consequently, if during Rewind the dime tab 15] passes by unit 180 a second time, it engages finger 203. However, since at this position finger 202 is biased against member 220 which inhibits the further rotation of the member 200 in the counterclockwise direction, the finger 203 acts as a stop member which inhibits the further rotation of the turntable in a manner identical with that performed by a coin in any of the coin slots. When indexed by finger 203, the saying, recorded in groove 177 (see FIG. 7) is reproduced. It should be pointed out that if a coin is inserted in any of the slots, the turntable is indexed within the first complete revolution of the turntable 12. Only when a coin is not used for indexing in the turntable free to turn more than one complete revolution during Rewind. However, in such a case the turntable is indexed when dime tab 151 passes by unit for the second successive time when it engages finger 203.

Summarizing the foregoing description, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a novel sound reproducing device is provided in which a unique turntable indexing arrangement is included, with which the turntable may be selectively indexed at any one of a plurality of positions during Rewind so that a saying, out of a plurality of recorded sayings, which is associated with the particular selected indexing position may be reproduced. Clearly, since the sayings are associated with the indexing positions, the sayings may be reproduced in any desired sequence by indexing the turntable at positions, selected to be in a corresponding sequence.

Herebefore, one embodiment of the invention has been described in conjunction with a toy bank in which the reproduced saying, except for one saying, is a function of the relationship of four coin slots and the dropping (representing an act) of a coin of any one of four denominations in any of four slots. As herein defined, the absence of the insertion of a coin in any of the slots may also be regarded as an act. In the particular embodiment, four coin slots, associated with coin denominations of a penny, a nickel, a dime and a quarter are incorporated to teach the child to distinguish and learn the denominations or names of the various four coins. This is achieved by controlling the sound reproducing device to reproduce a saying, indicating the proper performance of an act only when a coin of given denomination is inserted in its corresponding coin slot. Sayings indicating the incorrect performance of the act, are reproduced whenever a coin is placed in a coin slot, other than the coin slot associated with its denomination. A special saying is reproduced if no coin is inserted. Defining the number of slots as m and the number of coins as n, the total number of sayings x may be defined as x nm-l-l.

A novel clutch arrangement, herebefore described in conjunction with FIGS. 3 and 4, provides the capability of the selective indexing or positioning of the turntable to control the saying which is reproduced.

In the foregoing description it has been assumed that the clutch arrangement 40 is located in the axial cavity 41 of the turntable 12 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Consequently, as soon as the ring 61 is released and the string 60 is slackened, the main spindle 37 starts to rotate, and nearly simultaneously therewith, the clutch engages the table 12. Since by releasing the ring 61, the slackened string 60 also enables the stylus to engage the record on table 12, a likelihood, though remote, exists that unless the ring is properly released to permit the stylus to quickly engage the record before the latter starts turning, the turntable may in fact start to rotate before the stylus is in proper engagement with a record thereon. This would result in a reproduction of a wrong saying. To overcome such likelihood, in another embodiment of the invention, the axial cavity in which the clutch arrangement 40 is located is formed by a separate unit other than the turntable. This separate unit, the turntable and the stylus co-engage in a way to insure that the turntable starts to rotate during Play only after the stylus engages a selected groove of a record, supported thereon.

The manner in which these elements co-engage may best be explained in conjunction with the partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 1 wherein elements, like those previously explained, are designated by like numerals. As shown therein, the clutch arrangement 40 is located in an axial cavity formed by a cupshaped unit 41x which is axially aligned within a larger size axial cavity 41y in turntable 12. The table which in FIG. 1 1 is shown in the Rewind cycle or before Play, is shown supported near its periphery on a table support unit 12.x, at its upper surface 12y.

In this particular embodiment, when the ring 61 is released and the string 60 is slackened, the spindle 37 starts to rotate,

I causing the clutch arrangement 40 to engage unit 41): to cause the latter to rotate with the spindle. Unit 41:: has one or more radial outwardly directed protuberances 412 which are designed to engage a protuberance 12z inwardly extending from cavity 40 of table 12. Only when one of protuberances 4lz engages protuberance l2z does table 12 start to rotate during Play. These protuberances are located so that the unit 41x generally rotates a portion of a revolution before table 12 is engaged for rotation. The time required for such a partial revolution is sufficient for stylus 20 of unit 16, which is biased toward table 12, to engage the record on the turntable and bias the table away, such as upwardly, from surface 12y. Consequently, the stylus engages the desired groove of the record on the turntable, which at this point is still stationary, even though the spindle 37 and unit 41x are already turning.

' From the foregoing, it should thus be appreciated that in the embodiment diagrammed in FIG. 11, when the ring 61 is released at the start of Play, the table 12 remains stationary for a portion of a revolution to providesufi'icient time for the stylus to engage the proper groove of the record on the stationary table. Only thereafter, is the turntable engaged to rotate and thereby cause the saying reproduction.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it'is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art. One example of a possible modification is in the actual construction of the chamber 101 (FIGS. 5 and 6) and the annular shaped walls 100 and 1 10 and the slot-forming member 103.- Since may toys are presently constructed with molded plastic material, if desired, the previously described elements may be replaced by several, such as four, molded slot-defining units, one of which is shown in isometric view in FIG. 12 and in cross-sectional view in FIG. 13 to which reference is made herein. The unit which is designated by numeral 250 defines an upper coin slot 251, such as slot 105 in FIG. 6. The unit is supported within the toy housing 45 by an anchor post 252 positionable ina bearing plate (not shown) in the bottom plate of housing 45. Locating

flanges

253, 254 and 255 are used to fit into a housing upper plate bearing (not shown) so that the unit 250 is securely held in the housing with slot 251 exposed to receive a coin, which may be inserted therein.

Unit 250 has two substantially parallel

solid walls

256 and 257 and a side wall 258 in which are defined four horizontal slots 261-264, which are analogous to slots 141-154, shown in FIG. 5. The unit 250 is constructed so that when coins such as a dime, a penny, a nickel or quarter are inserted therein, such four coins are exposed through slots 261-264, respectively.

As seen fromFlGS. l2 and 13, unit 250 includes a molded member 270 which is hinged to the rest of the unit by means of a hinge arrangement 271, known in the art as a living hinge. Member 270 includes a flange 272 which acts as a closing wall for unit 250 in the position shown in FIG. 12. Member 270 also includes a crank pin 275 which is activated by a lever (not shown) causing the member 270 to assume an open position as shown by the dashed line. As is apparent from the foregoing description, the member 270 need be in the open position at the start of Playto enable the coin which is in unit 250 to exit the unit, in order not to interfere with the free rotation of the turntable during Play. ls should be appreciated that other modifications may be made in the various embodiments herebefore described, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A sound reproducing device comprising:

a housing;

a slot-forming member in said housing defining at least one coin receiving slot and being adapted to receive a coin of any one of a plurality of selected denominations;

sound reproducing means in said housing for reproducing any one of a plurality of sound sequences;

means responsive to an inserted coin for controlling said sound reproducing means to reproduce a unique sound sequence as a function of the denomination of a coin inserted in said at least one slot; and

means for controlling said sound reproducing means to reproduce a unique sound sequence in the absence of a coin in said at least one slot.

2. A sound reproducing device comprising:

a housing;

sound reproducing means insaid housing for reproducing any one of a plurality of sound sequences;

means responsive to an inserted coin for controlling said sound reproducing means to reproduce a unique sound sequence as a function of'the denomination of a coin. inserted in said at least one slot; and

said slot forming member defining m slots, each associated with a different coin denomination, said sound reproducing means being operable to reproduce a different one of m selected sound sequences only when a coin of one of said denominations is inserted in a coin slot associated with the denomination thereof.

3. A sound reproducing device as recited in claim 2 further including means for controlling said sound reproducing means to reproduce a unique sound sequence in the absence of a coin in any of said m slots.

4. A sound reproducing device comprising:

a housing;

said slot-forming member defining at least first, second, third and fourth slots, each slot associated with at least first, second, third and fourth coin denominations, respectively, said sound reproducing means being operable to reproduce one of at least 16 selected sound sequences, the reproduced saying being a function of the coin denomination and the slot in which it is inserted, coins of different denominations being of different diameters.

5. A sound reproducing device as recited in claim 4 further including means for controlling said sound reproducing means to reproduce a unique sound sequence in the absence of a coin in said slots.

6. In a sound reproducing device for use in a toy or the like, the arrangement comprising:

A. a record member movably mounted on said device and having recorded thereon a plurality of discrete sound sequences, arranged to be separately reproduced;

B. driving means mounted on said device and drivingly connected to said record member for moving said record member in a first direction an amount to reproduce any one of said sound sequences, individually;

C. movable sound reproducing means on said device mounted for engaging said record member, when said movable sound reproducing means is in a first position, for reproducing one of said discrete sound sequences recorded thereon, as said record member is moved in said first direction and said movable sound reproducing means remain in engagement with said record member while moving from said first position to a second position;

D. record member indexing means for selectively indexing said record member to control the point of engagement thereof with said movable sound reproducing means when the latter is in said first position, thereby to control the discrete sound sequence out of said plurality of sequences which is reproduced;

E. energy storing means for energizing said driving means with energy stored therein to drive said record member in said first direction to reproduce a selected one of said discrete sound sequences;

F. manually operable means for storing energy in said energy storing means;

I. said manually operable means including means for moving said energy storing means in a second direction opposite said first direction to store energy therein, said means for moving including clutch means for selectively engaging said record member to move it in said second direction an amount controlled by said record member indexing means thereby to control the point of engagement of said record member with said movable sound reproducing means when the latter is in said first position;

ll. said first and second directions are a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation opposite said first direction, respectively;

lll. said energy storing means comprising a windable power spring;

lV. said manually operable means including a rotatable member coupled to said spring;

G. a drawstring coupled to said rotatable member for winding up said spring by rotating said rotatable member and said spring in said second direction when said drawstring is drawn to store energy in said spring, sufficient to cause said spring to unwind when said drawstring is released, to rotate said record member in said first direction;

V said clutch means being coupled to said rotatable member for controlling the rotation of said record member in said second direction an amount, controlled by said record member indexing means without impeding and continued rotation in said second direction of said rotatable member and spring coupled thereto, to store sufficient energy therein Vl. said clutch means including means for securely engaging said rotatable member to said record member when said spring rotates said rotatable member in said first direction to continuously rotate said record member therewith; and

H. a turntable supporting said record member for rotation;

Vll. said record member indexing means including means for engaging said turntable at any one of a plurality of positions about its periphery to control the rotation of said turntable and the record member supported thereof in said second direction;

Vlll. said record member indexing means also including n tabs extending from said turntable for engaging a stop member in any one of a plurality of positions, each tab being associated with a different one of n coin denominations;

lX. said record member indexing means further including a member defining m coin-receiving slots, each slot being adapted to receive any coin said n denominations, with said tabs co-operating with coins-of different denominations in said slots whereby mm of mn+1 sayings recorded in mn+l sound sequences of said record member are reproducible as a function of the engagements of said n tabs by coins of said n denominations in said in coin-receiving slots.

7. A sound reproducing device as recited in claim 6 including means for controlling the position of said turntable in the absence of a coin of any of said n denominations in any of said m slots to reproduce a saying other than mn sayings.

8. A sound reproducing device comprising:

a housing;

a slot-forming member in said housing defining at least one coin-receiving slot adapted to receive a coin of any one of a plurality of denominations;

a movable record means in said housing having a plurality of different sound sequences recorded thereon; sound reproducing means in said housing for reproduclng any one of said sound sequences; and

positioning means responsive to a coin in said slot for relatively positioning said movable record means and said sound reproducing means to reproduce a particular one of said sound sequences, determined by the denomination of said coin.

9. A sound reproducing device as defined in claim 8 including means responsive to commencement of sound reproduction by said reproducing means to discharge said coin from said slot to the interior of said housing.

10. A sound reproducing device as defined in claim 8 wherein said slot-forming member is configured to hold coins of different denominations at respectively different positions therein; said positioning means including sensing means on said record means for detecting the position of a coin in said slot.

Claims

1. A sound reproducing device comprising: a housing; a slot-forming member in said housing defining at least one coin receiving slot and being adapted to receive a coin of any one of a plurality of selected denominations; sound reproducing means in said housing for reproducing any one of a plurality of sound sequences; means responsivE to an inserted coin for controlling said sound reproducing means to reproduce a unique sound sequence as a function of the denomination of a coin inserted in said at least one slot; and means for controlling said sound reproducing means to reproduce a unique sound sequence in the absence of a coin in said at least one slot.

2. A sound reproducing device comprising: a housing; a slot-forming member in said housing defining at least one coin receiving slot and being adapted to receive a coin of any one of a plurality of selected denominations; sound reproducing means in said housing for reproducing any one of a plurality of sound sequences; means responsive to an inserted coin for controlling said sound reproducing means to reproduce a unique sound sequence as a function of the denomination of a coin inserted in said at least one slot; and said slot forming member defining m slots, each associated with a different coin denomination, said sound reproducing means being operable to reproduce a different one of m selected sound sequences only when a coin of one of said denominations is inserted in a coin slot associated with the denomination thereof.

4. A sound reproducing device comprising: a housing; a slot-forming member in said housing defining at least one coin receiving slot and being adapted to receive a coin of any one of a plurality of selected denominations; sound reproducing means in said housing for reproducing any one of a plurality of sound sequences; means responsive to an inserted coin for controlling said sound reproducing means to reproduce a unique sound sequence as a function of the denomination of a coin inserted in said at least one slot; and said slot-forming member defining at least first, second, third and fourth slots, each slot associated with at least first, second, third and fourth coin denominations, respectively, said sound reproducing means being operable to reproduce one of at least 16 selected sound sequences, the reproduced saying being a function of the coin denomination and the slot in which it is inserted, coins of different denominations being of different diameters.

6. In a sound reproducing device for use in a toy or the like, the arrangement comprising: A. a record member movably mounted on said device and having recorded thereon a plurality of discrete sound sequences, arranged to be separately reproduced; B. driving means mounted on said device and drivingly connected to said record member for moving said record member in a first direction an amount to reproduce any one of said sound sequences, individually; C. movable sound reproducing means on said device mounted for engaging said record member, when said movable sound reproducing means is in a first position, for reproducing one of said discrete sound sequences recorded thereon, as said record member is moved in said first direction and said movable sound reproducing means remain in engagement with said record member while moving from said first position to a second position; D. record member indexing means for selectively indexing said record member to control the point of engagement thereof with said movable sound reproducing means when the latter is in said first position, thereby to control the discrete sound sequence out of said plurality of sequences which is reproduced; E. energy storing means for energizing said driving means with energy stored therein to drive said record member in said first direction to reproduce a selected one of said discrEte sound sequences; F. manually operable means for storing energy in said energy storing means; I. said manually operable means including means for moving said energy storing means in a second direction opposite said first direction to store energy therein, said means for moving including clutch means for selectively engaging said record member to move it in said second direction an amount controlled by said record member indexing means thereby to control the point of engagement of said record member with said movable sound reproducing means when the latter is in said first position; II. said first and second directions are a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation opposite said first direction, respectively; III. said energy storing means comprising a windable power spring; IV. said manually operable means including a rotatable member coupled to said spring; G. a drawstring coupled to said rotatable member for winding up said spring by rotating said rotatable member and said spring in said second direction when said drawstring is drawn to store energy in said spring, sufficient to cause said spring to unwind when said drawstring is released, to rotate said record member in said first direction; V. said clutch means being coupled to said rotatable member for controlling the rotation of said record member in said second direction an amount, controlled by said record member indexing means without impeding and continued rotation in said second direction of said rotatable member and spring coupled thereto, to store sufficient energy therein VI. said clutch means including means for securely engaging said rotatable member to said record member when said spring rotates said rotatable member in said first direction to continuously rotate said record member therewith; and H. a turntable supporting said record member for rotation; VII. said record member indexing means including means for engaging said turntable at any one of a plurality of positions about its periphery to control the rotation of said turntable and the record member supported thereof in said second direction; VIII. said record member indexing means also including n tabs extending from said turntable for engaging a stop member in any one of a plurality of positions, each tab being associated with a different one of n coin denominations; IX. said record member indexing means further including a member defining m coin-receiving slots, each slot being adapted to receive any coin said n denominations, with said tabs co-operating with coins of different denominations in said slots whereby mm of mn+1 sayings recorded in mn+1 sound sequences of said record member are reproducible as a function of the engagements of said n tabs by coins of said n denominations in said m coin-receiving slots.

8. A sound reproducing device comprising: a housing; a slot-forming member in said housing defining at least one coin-receiving slot adapted to receive a coin of any one of a plurality of denominations; a movable record means in said housing having a plurality of different sound sequences recorded thereon; sound reproducing means in said housing for reproducing any one of said sound sequences; and positioning means responsive to a coin in said slot for relatively positioning said movable record means and said sound reproducing means to reproduce a particular one of said sound sequences, determined by the denomination of said coin.