US3721036A - Slide toy - Google Patents

Abstract

A TOY COMPRISING A SLIDE HAVING UPPER AND LOWER ENDS, A TRACK FOR CARRYING AT LEAST ONE FIGURE FROM THE LOWER END OF THE SLIDE OF A LOCATION AT THE BASE OF THE SLIDE ADJACENT ITS UPPER END, AND A CLIMBING MECHANISM FOR MOVING THE FIGURE FROM THAT LOCATION AT THE BASE TO THE UPPER END OF THE SLIDE IN A MANNER SIMULATING THE MOTION OF A PERSON CLIMBING A STAIRWAY OR A LADDER. THE TOY MAY BE OPERATED CONTINUOUSLY TO AUTOMATICALLY MOVE ONE OR MOVE FIGURES ALONG THE TRACK FROM THE LOWER END OF THE SLIDE TO THE LOCATION AT ITS BASE AND THEN UP TO ITS UPPER END, FROM WHERE THE FIGURE CAN SLIDE DOWN THE SLIDE TO THE TRACK. THE CYCLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY REPEAT SO LONG AS THE TOY IS OPERATED.

Description

March 20, 1973 A. E. GOLDFARB 3,

SLIDE TOY Filed Feb. 25. 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. v INVENTOR.

ADOLPH E. GOLDFARB ROBERT'M. ASHEN ATTORNEY March 20, 1973 A. E. GOLDFARB SLIDE TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25. 1971 INVENTOR ADOLPH E. GOLDFARB ROBERT M. ASHEN ATTOHNFY United States Patent 3,721,036 SLIDE TOY Adolph E. Goldfarb, 4614 Monarca Drive, Tarzana, Calif. 91356 Filed Feb. 25, 1971, Ser. No. 118,777 Int. Cl. A63h 33/00 US. C]. 46-43 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toy comprising a slide having upper and lower ends, a track for carrying at least one figure from the lower end of the slide to a location at the base of the slide adjacent its upper end, and a climbing mechanism for moving the figure from that location at the base to the upper end of the slide in a manner simulating the motion of a person climbing a stairway or a ladder. The toy may be operated continuously to automatically move one or more figures along the track from the lower end of the slide to the location at its base and then up to its upper end, from where the figure can slide down the slide to the track. The cycle will automatically repeat so long as the toy is operated.

Animated toys are particularly interesting to young children. In most prior animated toys, a single object was caused to move or be actuated by winding a spring or through the utilization of a battery driven motor. Such animated toys are expensive and quite complex in construction, and are subject to breakdown through misuse by young children. Further, such prior animated toys did not perform functions that the child himself could associate with. In other words, the toys often performed functions that are not of great interest to the child, though they are fascinating for an adult to watch. Another disadvantage in such prior toys was that a child was unable to control the rate at which the animated object performed its functions. Normally the animated toy was actuated and performed its animations without further control by the child. Accordingly, to better hold the other childs attention, it is desirable to have several objects in an animated toy that are performing various different functions rather than having an object that repeats the same function. It is also desirable that the functions performed by the toy be ones familiar to the child. Further, it is desirable that the child be involved in operating the toy, as by turning a crank, which he can stop and start again and operate at different speeds to exert control over the animations performed.

The herein toy is animated in that it causes objects or figures to perform a function that a young child normally performs, that is, to climb the steps to the top of a slide and then slide down it. Thus, briefly, the herein invention comprises a slide having an inclined slide surface extending from an upper end down to a lower end. A means is provided for transporting a separate figure that has slid down the slide from its lower end to a location at the base of the slide adjacent its upper end. From there, climbing means moves the figure to the upper end of the slide by.

intermittent, incremental movement accompanied by an up and down motion of the figure to simulate stair climbing. There the figure can again slide down to the slides lower end. In a preferred form the invention comprises a housing having a track means comprised of a circular slot and a rotatable turntable which cooperates with the slot to transport the figure from the slide lower end. The turntable may be rotated by means such as a manual crank. The climbing means may be in the form of a mechanical arrangement which is operated by the crank to lift the figure intermittently to successive receptacles leading up to the top of the slide. It is believed that the invention will be further understood from the following detailed description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of a toy which is a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned side view of the toy taken generally along line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectioned view taken generally along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a pictorial representation of a typical figure for utilization with the toy.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are schematic representations of a portion of the climbing mechanism of the toy at successive positions.

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the lower end of the slide of the toy.

Turning now to the drawings, there is seen in FIGS. 1-3 the toy 11 which is a preferred embodiment of this invention. The toy 11 has a circular hollow housing 13 having a bottom wall 12, a side wall 15, and an upper wall 16 having a top surface 17. Extending upwardly from the top surface 17 adjacent its periphery is a slide housing portion 18. The housing portion 18 extends about halfway around the circular housing 13, and defines an inclined slide 21 having a raised upper or rear end 23 and a lower or forward end 27. A continuous smooth slide surface 25 extends from the upper end 23 to the lower end 27 in a curved path following the periphery of the circular housing 13. A moving track 26 is provided from the slide lower end 27 to a location 33 at the base of the slide adjacent its upper end 23. The track 26 comprises a curved slot 19 formed in the housing upper wall 16 adjacent the periphery of the housing 13. The slot 19 extends long a circular path from the lower end 27 to the base location 33. The track 26 is further comprised of a rotatable disc or turntable 29 which is mounted centrally within the circular housing 13, with an edge portion below the circular slot 19. A hand crank 37 (FIG. 3) may be provided for causing the turntable to rotate. A figure 31 seated within the slot 19 will thus ride on the rotating turntable 29 and be carried in a counterclockwise direction from the lower end 27 of the slide toward the location 33. A climbing mechanism 35, also operated 'by the crank 37, engages a figure 31 at location 33 and lifts it up a stair or ladder type arrangement to the slide upper end 23. From there, the figure 31 will slide down and around on the inclined slide surface 25 back to the slide lower end 27, and be deposited onto the rotating turntable 29 to repeat the cycle.

The toy may also include a rotatable carrier platform 38 located at the center of the toy and also actuated by the crank 37. The rotating platform 38 can have figures 31 or other objects or figures disposed thereon to provide a further animated feature to the toy.

The slide housing 18 has opposed side walls 39 and 41. The base of the side walls 39 and 41 are rigidly affixed to the upper wall 16. The portions 40 and 42 of the respective side walls 39 and 41 in the area of the climbing mechanism are generally flat and parallel to each other and extend along the periphery of housing 13 from the location 33 to the slide upper end 23. The rear edges of portions and 42 are inclined at about a angle upwardly from location 33 to end 23. The remaining portions of the side walls 39 and 41 from the upper end 23 to lower end 27 of the slide are also parallel but are curved in general conformity with the curvature of the periphery of the housing 13. The curved slide surface 25 is affixed to and spans between the curved portions of the side walls 39 and 41, being somewhat below their upper edges to provide a pair of guide rails 121. A pair of side support plates 106 and 108 are secured to the inside of wall portions 40 and 42, respectively, as by means of screws or rivets 110 to support the climbing mechanism 35 as will be explained.

The crank 37 is mounted on outer side wall portion 42, being fixed to a horizontally extending axle 43 that is rotatably supported between the plates 106 and 108. Mounted on the axle 43 is a small gear 45. Gear 45 drives a larger gear 47 rotatably mounted by horizontal pin 48 on support plate 106. Gear 47 in turn is engaged with gear 49. Gear 49 is rigidly secured on a long horizontally extending axle 51 rotatably mounted on the lower end portions of side support plates 106 and 108. Axle 51 has a portion 52 which extends through inner wall portion 40 toward the center of the toy. A small gear 53 fixed on axle portion 52 engages a gear of a music box 57 to provide music for the toy when the crank is turning. The free end of the axle portion 52 has a small gear 59 fixed thereon. The gear 59 engages a large upwardly facing ring gear 61 that is rigidly and coaxially mounted on the upper surface of the turntable 29. In order to lend rigidity and strength to the turntable 29, Which is shown as a large flat circular disc, a second disc 63 of the same diameter is spatially disposed below the turntable disc 29 and held in place by several vertical spacer pins 65 secured to the two discs. This turntable structure is fixedly mounted on a vertical axle 67 which extends through the center thereof. The axle 67 is mounted for rotation about the vertical center of the toy. The lower end of the axle 67 is rotatably received in a receptacle 69 in a block 71 mounted upon the bottom wall 12 of the housing, and the upper end of the axle 67 is rotatably received in a top wall 76 of a housing portion 73. The housing portion 73 extends up from the center of the top surface 17 and comprises a generally cylindrical center section 74 and an extension section 77 between the center section 74 and the slide inner wall 39. Section 77 serves to lend additional vertical stability to the slide housing 18 as well as containing certain of the mechanism of the toy. The music box 57 is located in the extension section 77 and is secured to the underside of the upper wall 76 adjacent inner slide wall portion 40. The upper end of the vertical rotatable axle 67 extends above top wall 76 and has the carrier platform 38 secured centrally to it. The platform 38 may be in the form of a horizontal circular disc having an upstanding turnstile 39 at its center. The turnstile 39 may have radially outwardly extending arms 44 spaced around it to cooperate with objects 31 supported on the platform 38 around the turnstile 39. Thus, objects representing figures, animals or the like may be disposed on the platform 38 for rotation. By turning the crank 37, the turntable 29 is rotated, the music box 57 is operated and the platform 38 is also rotated.

One of the most unusal aspects of the herein invention is the climbing mechanism 35 which serves to lift a figure 31 from the location 33 at the base of the slide to the top 23 thereof and release it to slide down the slide. The mechanism 35 operates in a manner to be explained to cause a figure to move up an inclined structure in incremental movements and with an up and down motion to create the impression that the figure is climbing stairs or a ladder.

The figure 31, as seen best in FIG. 4, preferably has a body 78 with opposed flat sides 79 and a weight may be secured inside the body as shown at 87. An arm 80 extends normally from each of the sides 79. The arms 80 are preferably cylindrical. The distance from the end of one arm 80 to the end of the other, or in other words the total span of the two arms, is slightly less than the distance between inner surfaces of side wall portions 40 and 42.

In general, the illustrated climbing mechanism 35 includes an upwardly inclined structure in which a series of stationary, upwardly open receptacles cooperate with a series of reciprocating projections 97 to incrementally and progressively move a figure 31 or other object from receptacle to receptacle up the incline. In the illustrated embodiment, the stationary receptacles 85 are provided by a pair of elongated, inclined, stationary, plate elements 81 and 83 having receptacles formed in their upper edges. The stationary elements 81 and 83 are spaced apart and their receptacles 85 are aligned so that a figure 31 may be supported by having its arms 80 disposed in opposite receptacles. The projections 97 are provided by a pair of elongated inclined movable plate elements 91 and 93 which have the projections 97 formed along their upper edges. The movable elements 9-1 and 93 reciprocate in a manner which moves the projections 97 in a cyclical or repeating path relative to the receptacle 85; each time the projections cycle they lift the arms 80 of the figure upwardly and out of a lower receptacle, and up and over the structure forming a higher receptacle, and then drop the arms down into the higher receptacle.

Now to consider the illustrated climbing mechanism 35 in further detail. The stationary elements 81 and 83 are generally flat vertical plates affixed to the inner surfaces of wall portions 40 and 42, respectively, forwardly of the side support plates 106, 108. The elements 81 and 83 extend upwardly at an incline from the location 33 at the base to the upper end 23 of the slide. As seen in FIG. 2, particularly, element 81, as well as the opposite element 83, is formed along its upper edge with a plurality or series of vertically extending and upwardly opening receptacles 85. Since the stationary elements 81 and 83 extend in an inclined direction, each receptacle 85 moving up along the incline is higher than that before it, and is also an increment forward in the direction of the slide upper end 23. The intermediate tab or divider portions between the receptacles 85 extend vertically upwardly and are rounded off at their upper ends. Each receptacle 85 is thus formed by a short rear wall and an elongated front wall. The elements 81 and 83 are so spaced from each other and proportioned so that the arms 80 of a figure will rest in a pair of aligned opposite receptacles 85.

The movable elements 91 and 93 are also elongated fiat plates spaced slightly inwardly from the stationary elements 81 and 83, respectively. Movable elements 91 and 93 are secured to one another in spaced, parallel relation, by means of an intermediate plate 101, to form a movable unit or assembly. The movable elements 91 and 93 are inclined up to the upper end of the slide at generally the same angle as the stationary elements 81 and 83. The movable elements 91 and 93 are identical. FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration of element 91 which has a series of equally spaced apart projections 97 integrally formed along its upper edge. The projections 97 extend generally normal to the incline of the element 91 and thus angled upwardly as shown in FIG. 2 at, for example 45. The projections 97 are made to describe an orbit relative to the stationary receptacles 85 in a manner explained below. When a figure 31 is supported by its arms 80 in an opposed pair of receptacles 85 as the associated projections 97 move clockwise in their orbit (as viewed in FIG. 2),

the projections will move the arms 80 out of the receptacles they are occupying and into the next pair of receptacles up the incline. The figure stays at that position until the projections orbit around again and lift the arms to the next pair of receptacles and so on. This can be seen in the series of FIG. 5.

In FIG. a, the lowest projection 97a is shown moving clockwise to lift an arm 80 of a figure 31 on the turntable 29, prior to having lifted it into the first receptacle 85a. The figure is stopped at the proper pick up position 33- by one end 34 of the track slot 21. The projection 97 opposite 97a is of course acting in the same manner on the other arm 80 of the figure. The arm 80 is then lifted by projection 97a just over the top of the divider 102a preceding the first receptacle 85a as seen in FIG. 5b. After depositing the arm 80 in receptacle #85a, the projection 97 continues its orbit. When the movable elements 93 and 95 have returned to their starting position as generally seen in FIG. 2, the second projection 97b is disposed below receptacle 85a and as the orbiting continues, projection 97b will engage the arm 80 in receptacle 85a and lift it to the next receptacle 85b as shown in FIG. 50. The figure 31 will thus progress up the line of receptacles. It will be noted that while the figures movement is generally upwardly along the incline, as it leaves a pair of receptacles, it is lifted high enough for its arms 80 to clear a pair of dividers and then drops back down into the following receptacle. Thus, the figure goes through a lifelike up and down motion as it climbs the stars to the top of the slide.

Rotation of the crank 37 serves to move the movable elements 91 and 93, as well as rotate the turntable 29 and the carrier platform 38 in the manner described above. As also described above, the crank 37 effects rotation of gear 47. The rotation is transmitted to the elements 91 and 93 as will now be described. Afiixed to the underside of intermediate plate 101 to which elements 91 and 93 are secured, is a beam 103 that generally extends the length of the plate 101. The beam 103 is medially disposed between the elements 91 and 93, as particularly seen in FIG. 3. The beam 103 is carried on an upper crank 105 and a lower crank 107. Intermediate offset portions 102 and 104- of the respective cranks 105 and 107 freely rotatably extend through the beam 103, while the ends of the legs of the cranks are rotatably supported in the side support plates 106 and 108. Rigidly aflixed to leg 111 of crank 105, is a small gear 117 that is driven by the large gear 47. Similarly, a small gear 119 fixed on leg 115 of crank 107 engages the large gear 47 opposite where it engages small gear 117. Thus, when crank 3-7 is turned, the large gear 47 rotates the small gears 117 and 119 and the cranks 105 and 107 in unison at the same rate. This moves the offset crank portions 102 and 104 in a clockwise circular path as shown by broken line in FIG. 2. It also causes the beam 103, the plate 101, and the movable elements 91 and 93 (and the projections 97 they carry) to move in the orbital path described above, with the elements 91 and 93 maintaining their orientation due to the pivotal connection of the beam 103 with the cranks 105 and 107. FIG. 2 shows, in broken line, the position of the element 91 after the cranks have rotated through 90.

When a figure 31 is moved toward the upper end 23 of the slide, it encounters a final receptacle 85c at the upper end of element #81. It is then lifted from the receptacle 85c to a shallow receptacle 85d. A step at the upper end of the movable element 91 provides a projection 97d to lift the arms 80 of the figure from 8511 to a final receptacle 85e positioned above the upper end 23 of' the slide surface 25. A second step formed on an extension of the upper end of the movable element 91 provides a projection 97a which acts to engage the arms 80 of the figure and thereby lift it from receptacle 85c and release it over the upper end of element 81. The figure 31 is thereby deposited onto the upper end of downwardly inclined slide surface 25.

The rails 121 adjacent the slide surface 25 are parallel and spaced from each other a sufiicient distance to support the arms of the figure 31 as it slides down the slide. The figure will slide with the arms thus straddling the rails 121 with the body 78 extending down the slide as seen in FIG. *6.

The figure 31 must be righted to an upright position when it reaches the lower end of the slide in order for it to then properly be moved on by the rotating turntable 29. The figure 3-1 is righted by the means shown at 128. The means 128 is shown in the form of a pair of righting elements 129 disposed on either side of the track at the lower end 27 of the slide. As shown best in FIG. 6, the righting elements 129 each have a vertical stop wall 130 and a through channel 131. As a figure reaches the lower end of the slide 27 its arms are still supported by the rails 121 but its body 78 is permitted to drop down toward an upright position as shown by the center figure in FIG. 6. The figure slides off the end 27 of the slide and its arms 80 strike the stop walls 130. This stops the momentum of the figure and permits its body to assume a generally upright position. The figure can then drop down in a standing position onto the turntable 29. The channels 131 permit passage therethrough of the arms 80 of the figure as the figure is moved along on the turntable away from the lower end of the slide and toward the climbing mechanism.

What is claimed is: 1. A toy comprising: a slide having a rear upper end that is elevated above a base of said slide and having a forward lower end,

and means for moving a separate object up from a location at the base of said slide to the elevated upper end thereof, said means for moving an object to the elevated upper end moving said object in a series of successive steps, said means for moving an object comprising:

means defining a series of stationary receptacles extending upwardly along an incline,

means defining a series of movable projections disposed adjacent said receptacles for movement relative thereto, and

means for moving said projections relative to said receptacles in a cyclical motion such that an object is intermittently lifted during each cycle from one receptacle to another receptacle.

2. The toy of claim 1 wherein:

the projections move orbitally relative to said receptacles in said fixed plates.

3. The toy of claim 1 further comprising:

an object having two generally horizontal arms disposed apart, said receptacles comprising pairs of spaced-apart grooves, the overall span of said arms being sufiicient to permit said object to be supported by each of said arms engaging one of a pair of said grooves.

4. A toy comprising:

a slide having a rear upper end that is elevated above a base of said slide and having a forward lower end,

means for moving a separate object up from a loca tion at the base of said slide to the elevated upper end thereof,

track means for moving a separate object from adjacent the forward lower end of said slide to said location at the base of said slide, said track means comprising a movable conveyor means and means for causing said conveyor to move, and

fixed guide surfaces disposed above said movable con- 'veyor and leading from said forward end of the slide to said location at the base thereof,

whereby said movable conveyor and guide surfaces cooperate so as to move the object along said track.

5. A toy comprising:

a slide having a rear upper end that is elevated above a base of said slide and having a forward lower end, References Cited and means for moving a separate object up from a D TAT PATENTS location at the base of said slide to the elevated up- UNITE S ES per end thereof, 2,673,421 3/1954 Leonard 46243 M track means for moving a separate object from adjacent 5 3,065,713 11/1962 f 46 2O2 X the forward lower end of said slide to said location 343841991 5/1968 Emfau 46-202 at the base of said slide, said track means for moving the object comprising a LOUIS MANCENE Pnmary Examiner rotatable turntable and means for rotating the turn- D. L. WEIN HOLD, Assistant Examiner table. 10

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