US3863539A

US3863539A - Changeable music box toy

Info

Publication number: US3863539A
Application number: US284383A
Authority: US
Inventors: Derek J Gay; William H Smedley
Original assignee: Mattel Inc
Current assignee: Mattel Inc
Priority date: 1972-08-28
Filing date: 1972-08-28
Publication date: 1975-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-04
Also published as: CA978745A

Abstract

A simple music box toy that can play changeable records, and which is suitable for operation by young children. Each record is in the form of a cartridge which is completely enclosed except at one edge, the cartridge containing a pair of pulleys and a rubber belt extending around the pulleys, and the belt having projections formed therein for plucking the tines of a music box comb. One of the belt projections operates a release mechanism at the end of the tune to permit a spring in the player to move the cartridge partially out of the player.

Description

Patent 11 1 1111 3,863,539 Gay et a1. Feb. 4, 1975 [54] CHANGEABLE MUSIC BOX TOY 2,487,413 11/1949 Barnum. 84/97 [7 Inventors: Derek J G y, Palos Verdes 2,504,632 4/1950 B1811" 1. 84/101 X g g gl g ifi Primary ExaminerLawrence R. Franklin Orrance O 0 a1 I Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Max E. Shirk [73] Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif. 22 Filed: Aug. 28, 1972 l ABSTRACT A simple music box toy that can play changeable re PP N05 2841383 cords, and which is suitable for operation by young children. Each record is in the form of a cartridge 52 us. 01 84/94, 84/101 which is Completely enclosed except at one edge the 51 Int. Cl. G101 l/06 Cartridge containing a P Of p y and rubber belt [58] Field of Search 84/94, 101 extending around the P y and the belt having p jections formed therein for plucking the tines of a [56] References Cited music box comb. One of the belt projections operates UNITED STATES PATENTS a release mechanism at the end of the tune to permit a spring in the player to move the cartridge partially 467,388 1/1892 Tuller 84/95 out Ofthe player 519,816 5/1894 Langfelder.... 84/95 2,487,138 11/1949 Howe 84/101 X 15 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATEHTEU FEB 41375 SHEET 10F 3 PATH-NED FEB 5 SHEET 2 BF 3 PA I ENTED FEB 5 SHEET 3 OF 3 CHANGEABLE MUSIC BOX TOY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to music box toys of the type that include tines that can be plucked to create musical sounds.

Music box toys of the type that include a comb with tines that can be plucked to create a tune are popular toys for younger children. The entertainment value of these toys could be increased if a varietyv of different tunes could be played on them. Music boxes are known which can receive changeable records for plucking the tines, but the mechanisms known heretofore are generally unsatisfactory for use by younger children. Many of these devices require manipulation of levers and the like which cannot be easily performed by the children. Furthermore, many of these devices used records that were easily damaged by the children or which had projections that could injure the children.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a music toy is provided which is of simple construction and which utilizes changeable recordsthat can be easilyinstalled and removed by children and which resist damage by children or injury to the children. The music toy includes a player with a slot for receiving record cartridges and a comb with pluckable tines at the bottom of the slot. The record cartridge includes a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted in a frame and a rubber belt that extends around the pulleys and which contains projections for plucking the tines. The frame completely encloses the belt except along one edge of the frame. This protects the belt and also permits the frame to be attractively shaped and decorated. One of the pulleys extends along the open edge of the frame and carries a gear which meshes with a gear in the player, the gear in the player rotating when a child turns a crank. A spring constantly urges the cartridge to move away from a play position, and a projection on the belt operates a release mechanism at the end of the tune to release the cartridge so it can move partially out of the player housing.

The player housing is in the form of a pop-up toaster and the cartridges are in the form of slices of bread or toast. A child installs a cartridge by dropping it into a slot of the toaster housing and pushing it down until it is caught by a hook in the play position. When the child then turns a handle on the toaster housing, a tune is played. At the end of the tune, the cartridge pops up in the same manner as a piece of toast in a toaster. Each cartridge contains two belts that play different tunes. As a result, a child does not have to make sure the cartridge is installed in the proper direction in order to play a tune.

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

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a changeable music box toy constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the toy of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, but'with the record cartridge in a playing position;

FIG. 5 is a partial view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3, but with the record cartridge in a playing position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the mechanism near the end of a playing cycle when the cartridge is being released; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the mechanism after the release of the record cartridge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a music box toy which includes a player 10 and a pair of record cartridges l2, 14 which can be installed in the player to play different tunes. The player 10 is in the form of a pop-up toaster while the

record cartridges

12, 14 are in the form of slices of bread or toast. The player I0 has a pair of openings or slots l6, 18 for receiving the cartridges. One of the slots 18 merely serves as a storage region for holding a cartridge when it is not being played. The other slot 16 receives a cartridge, a child inserts a cartridge 12 into the slot 16 and then presses down on the cartridge until it is captured in a playing position within the player 10. A child then turns a handle 20 to play a tune, the particular tune which is played being determined by the cartridge 12 which has been installed. At the end ofthe tune, the cartridge 12 automatically pops up to its initial position wherein it partially projects from the slot 16. A child can play a different tune by removing the cartridge 12 from the slot 16 and installing another cartridge in its place. Each cartridge defines two tunes, so that a child can play a different tune by removing the cartridge 12 and installing it in a reverse position in the slot 16.

The player 10 includes a housing 22 formed by three

housing portions

24, 26 and 28. The housing portion 24 contains a comb 30 with numerous tines 32 that can be plucked to produce sounds of different pitches. A shaft 34 which is rotatably mounted in the housing portion 24, is formed as a crank at one end which holds the handle 20. A gear 36 formed at the other end of the shaft 34 serves to transmit power to the cartridge 12. When the cartridge 12 is pushed down into a playing position, it is held in that position by a holding mechanism 38 that is mounted at one end of the comb 30. The middle housing portion 26 holds a spring 40 that causes the cartridge to pop up when released by the holding mechanism 38. The other housing portion 28 covers the rear ofthe housing and also forms the slot 18 which stores a cartridge 14 that is not being played.

The cartridge 12 includes a frame 42 having a width W and length L which are both greater than its thickness T. The frame substantially completely encloses the mechanism therein except along the lower edge portion 44 which is open. A pair of shafts or

pulleys

46, 48 is rotatably mounted on the frame. A pair of

belts

50, 52 extend around the

pulleys

46, 48. Each of the belts has numerous projections 54 for plucking the tines 32 of the comb. The belt projections 54 on each belt are spaced along the width of the belt to produce notes of different pitches and are spaced along the length of the belt to produce notes at different times. The particular notes which are played and their times of playing are chosen to produce a predetermined common tune, such as Pop Goes The Weasel or Mary Had A Little Lamb. Each ofthe belts has a width that is less than one-half the length of either

pulley

46, 48, and the belts are engaged with opposite end portions of the pulleys. A gear 56 is fixed to the lower pulley 48 at a location between the two belts. The lower pulley 48 lies adjacent to the open edge 44 of the frame. Access to the belts to permit the belt projections to pluck the tines, and access to the gear 56 to permit the gear36 in the player to drive the gear 56, is obtained through the lower edge of the cartridge.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, the walls of the slot 16 closely guide the record cartridge 12 in vertical slideable movement. When the cartridge 12 is pushed down to a playing position, the gear 56 on the cartridge 12 reaches-a position 56a wherein it engages the gear 36 on the player 10. In addition, the belt 50 reaches the position 50a adjacent to the tines 32 of the player so that the belt projections can pluck the tines. When the cartridge 12 is pushed down to the playing position, it is automatically held in that position by a hook 58 of the holding apparatus, which engages thelower pulley 48 of the cartridge as illustrated in FIG. 5. The hook has an inclined upper surface 60, so that when the cartridge is pushed down to the playing position, the lower pulley 48thereof deflects the hook and then is captured by the hook.

After the cartridge has been locked in the playing position, the handle on the shaft 34 can be turned to rotate the driving gear 36. This causes the gear 56 fixed to the lower shaft 48 to turn and drive the belts in an endless patharound the pulleys; It is generally necessary to transmit considerable torque through the gears 36, 56. If the gear 56 of the cartridge were to lie directly over the driving gear 36, then the torque transmitted between them would result in a substantial upward force being applied to the upper gear 56, thereby placing an additional load on the retaining hook 58. Instead of using such an arrangment, the gears 56, 36 are offset from one another as illustrated in FIG. 4. This offsetting causes the line of force indicated by arrow 62 to be substantially horizontal. This reduces the upward force on the cartridge and therefore reduces the force on the retaining lever 58.

The player and cartridge are constructed so that at the end of a tune playing, the cartridge 12 is automatically released to pop up. FIGS. 5-7 illustrate the manner in which this is accomplished. The belt 50 is provided with a release projection 64 near one edge of the belt. At the end of the playing of the tune, the release projection 64 reaches the bottom pulley 48 at aposition near to that shown in FIG. 6. The projection 64 is then engaged with a release lever 66. Both the release lever 66 and the retaining lever 58 are pivotally mounted at 68 on the comb 30. The release projection 64 causes the release lever 66 to pivot until a portion 70 on the lever engages a portion 72 on the hook 58. As the lever 66 continues to pivot, it forces the hook 58 to pivot to the position shown in FIG. 6 wherein it disengages the bottom pulley 48 of the cartridge, thereby permitting the cartridge to move upwardly. As mentioned earlier, the spring 40 in the player constantly urges the cartridge to pop up, so that when the cartridge is released from the hook, it immediately pops up.

The reason why the release lever 66 is provided is to assure that when the cartridge pops up, the release projection 64 will not be in a releasing position. Otherwise, the next time .the cartridge was pressed down to a playing position, its projection '64 would prevent the hook 58 from retaining the cartridge in the'playing position. The release lever 66 helps to prevent this condition by not releasing the cartridge as soon as it contacts a portion of the holding mechanism, but instead requiring additional belt movement. When the cartridge is released and pops up, the projection 64 is in the position shown in FIG. 7. If the cartridge is then pushed down again, the projection 64 will not engage the lever 66. Both the lever 66 and hook 58 are urged towards their normal position by

springs

74, 76. The lateral position along the width of the belt where the release projection 64 is located does not contain any note projections. The release projection 64 as well as the note projections 54 are all formed integrally with the belt, so that the cartridge can be constructed at low cost and the release projection is easily positioned at the end of the tune.

The use of two

belts

50, 52 in each cartridge not only makes efficient use of the available space in the cartridge frame, but also facilitates installation of a cartridge. If the cartridge contained a single centrally located belt, it might be difficult for a younger child to properly install the cartridge. It is easy for a child to install the cartridge so that the open edge 44 faces downwardly, but it is more difficult for him to determine whether the front face of the cartridge is facing the front or the rear of the toaster-player 10. If the cartridge had a single belt and were installed with the front face to the rear, then the projections intended to plunk the highest-pitched tines would plunk the lowestpitched tines and vice versa, and also the belt would be rotated backwardly. The use of two

belts

50, 52 which are symmetrically placed in the cartridge assures that the belt which is played is correctly played, and reversal of the cartridge position merely results in playing of a different tune. The gear 56 which drives the belts is symmetrically located at the center of the lower shaft 48, so that it is engaged with the gear 36 in the player for either position of the cartridge. When the position of the cartridge is reversed, the gear 56 will be driven in a different direction. This is accounted for by constructing the belts so that each one plays its tune for a different direction of rotation around the pulleys. It also may be noted that the release projection 64 on one belt 50 is located symmetrically with respect to the release projection 65 of the other belt 52, both ofthe projections being located at a side of their respective belts nearest the center of the cartridge.

In normal operation of the music box toy, the cartridge is released only at the end of a tune. However, the apparatus is constructed so that the cartridge can be released to pop up at any time, merely by turning the handle 20 a short distance in reverse. The handle 20 is normally turned in a clockwise direction (as viewed from the side of the housing from which the handle projects) which is the most natural direction of turning for a child. During this direction of handle rotation, the lower shaft 48 turns in the direction of arrow 78 as indicated in FIG. 5. Friction between the retaining hook and the lower pulley 48 which is constantly being urged to move up, merely urges the hook towards its retaining position. However, when the handle 20 is turned counterclockwise, which causes the lower pulley to turn in a direction opposite to arrow 78, the lower pulley urges the hook 58 towards the release position of FIG. 6. It requires only a small amount of such counterclockwise turning of the handle to move the hook far enough that the cartridge is released to pop up.

Thus, the invention provides a music box toy with changeable records, which is constructed in a simple manner and which can be operated by even younger children. The toy utilizes a cartridge record with a record belt therein that can pluck the tines of a comb in the player. The cartridge frame is enclosed, except at one edge where it is accessible to the tines and to the driving gear. The belt not only carries discrete means for plucking these projections, but also carries a release means that causes the player to release the cartridge from a playing position at the end of the tune. The player is in the form of a toaster while the cartridge is in the form of a slice of bread, this combination being especially suitable because children readily understand how the bread-like cartridge should move in the toaster-like player. It is also possible to use other combinations of players and cartridges, such as a spare wheel that mounts on a car, a sandwich that is received in a lunch box, film that is received in a camera, letters received in a letter box, and books receivedin a school house.

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 and consequently it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.

What is claimed is:

l. A music-box type toy, comprising:

a music comb having a plurality of tines which produce tones of different pitches when plucked;

a cartridge having a plurality of plucking protuberances mounted therein; said protuberances being distributed in a pattern which produces a predetermined tune when said protuberances are moved past said tines in plucking engagement therewith;

means mounted adjacent said comb for releasably holding said cartridge so that said protuberances lie adjacent said tines, whereby said protuberances will pluck said tines when said protuberances are moved past said tines;

driving means mounted adjacent said holding means for driving said protuberances past said tines; and

means responsive to movement of a predetermined portion of said cartridge after protuberances pass said tines to release said holding means and move said cartridge away from said comb.

2. A music toy comprising:

a toy player housing;

a plurality of tines mounted in said housing for producing musical sounds when plucked;

record holding means mounted in said housing for retaining a record at a predetermined play position therein, including a moveable release member for releasing the record;

a record having a plurality of discrete note means formed thereon for plucking said tines to produce a predetermined tune and a discrete release means formed thereon for engaging and moving said release member to release the record immediately after the end of the tune; and

spring means constantly urging said record away from said play position.

3. A music toy which can play a changeable belt record cartridge that includes a belt having plucking means and extending around a plurality of pulleys and that also includes power receiving means for driving the belt, comprising:

a toy player housing;

a comb mounted in said housing, said comb having a plurality of tines which produce tones of different pitches when plucked;

means in'said housing for releasably holding a belt record cartridge so that the belt lies adjacent to the tines of the comb and the plucking means can pluck the tines; and

means in said housing for driving the power receiving means of the record cartridge;

said housing having opening means for rapidly receiving the record cartridge to a position where it is held by said holding means and for rapidly passing out the cartridge.

4. The music toy described in claim 3 wherein:

said releasable holding means is activatable by said belt to immediately release the record cartridge, whereby the cartridge can be released at a predetermined time in relationship to the tune.

5. The music toy described in claim 3 including:

a belt record cartridge including a cartridge frame, a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted in the frame, a belt extending in an endless path around the pulleys and containing a plucking means, and power receiving means coupled to one of said pulleys to transfer power to it.

6. The music toy described in claim 3 wherein:

said toy player housing is in the form of a toaster with at least one slot in the top forming said opening means; and including a belt record cartridge in the form of a slice of bread,

said cartridge being slideable in said slot.

7. A record cartridge for use in a player that includes a cartridge holding apparatus that is operable to' release the cartridge and pluckable tine means for producing notes comprising:

a cartridge frame;

a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted in said frame; and

a flexible belt extending in an endless path around said pulleys, said belt having a plurality of note projections for playing notes, the projections being spaced along the length of the belt to define different playing times for the notes and spaced laterally across the width of the belt to define notes of different pitches, said note projections being positioned to play a predetermined tune having an end, said belt also having a release projection at a lateral position different from all note projections and located immediately after the note projections at the end of the tune for operating the cartridge holding apparatus of the player to release the cartridge.

8. The record cartridge described in claim 7 including:

a player having comb means with a plurality of tines that can be plucked and cartridge-holding means for holding said cartridge at a predetermined position wherein said note projections pass across said tines to pluck them as the belt turns, said cartridge holding means being operable by a projection at the position of said release projection to release the cartrige.

9. A record cartridge for use in a player that includes pluckable tine means for producing notes and a drive, comprising:

a cartridge frame;

tone-producing means 'moveable mounted in said cartridge frame, said tone-producing means having a plurality of note projections for plucking said tines; and

power receiving means connected to said toneproducing means to drive it;

said frame having awidth and length each' greater than its thickness and being substantially enclosed except along one edge which is open.

10. The record cartridge described in claim 9 wherein:

said cartridge is in the form of a slice of bread, and said open edge extends along the bottom of the slice of bread.

11. A record cartridge for use in a player that includes pluckable tine means for producing notes and a drive, comprising:

a cartridge frame;

a pair of parallel pulleys rotatably mounted in said frame;

a pair of tune belts extending in endless paths about said pulleys, each belt having a width less than half the length of either pulley and said belts engaged with opposite end portions of the pulleys, each belt having a plurality of note projections for plucking th'e tine means and the projections of each belt defining tune which is different from the projections of the other belt; and

power receiving means connected to one of said pulleys to drive it.

12. The record cartridge described in claim 11 wherein:

said power receiving means includes gear means fixed to one of said pulleys at a location between said belts, and each belt defines a commonly known tune when rotated in a predetermined direction opposite to that of the other belt, whereby each belt is driven in the proper direction even though the gear means is driven in opposite directions for opposite orientations of the cartridge in the player.

13. A music toy comprising:

a toy player housing;

a comb mounted in said housing and having a plurality of tines which produce tones of different pitches when plucked;

a changeable belt record cartridge including a frame, a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted on the frame, a belt extending in an endless path around said pulleys and having a pluralty of projections, and power receiving means for driving one of the pulleys;

cartridge retaining means including a hook pivotally mounted on the player housing for pivoting between a retain position wherein it hooks over a first pulley of said cartridge to retain it in a play position in the housing and a release position wherein it releases the pulley, and spring means for urging said hook toward said retaining position;

a spring having first and second portions respectively bearing against said cartridge and said toy player housing, to urge said cartridge away from said play position;

a manually rotatable handle mounted on said player housing and rotatable in a clockwise direction during normal play and also rotatable in a counterclockwise direction; and

transmission means coupled to said handle for turning the first pulley in a first direction wherein friction of the first pulley on the hook urges the hook toward said retain position when the handle turns in said clockwise direction, and for turning the first pulley turn in a second direction wherein the friction urges the hook toward said release position when the handle turns in a counterclockwise direction, whereby the cartridge can be released at any time by turning the handle counterclockwise.

14. A music box comprising:

a housing;

a music comb unit having a plurality of tines fixedly mounted in said housing;

interchangeable actuator means for cooperating with said music comb unit to play music;

each of said actuator means including a casing, an endless belt mounted in said casing around spaced shafts, said endless belt having appropriately positioned striking keys thereon, said casing having an opening at one end, and driven means within said casing adjacent said opening;

means for receiving one of said interchangeable actuator means adjacent said music comb unit;

and drive means mounted in said housing for driving said endless belt by engaging said driven means when said one actuator means is received in said receiving means and positioned adjacent said music comb unit so that said striking keys on said endless belt may pluck said tines.

15. An interchangeable music actuator adapted to be positioned adjacent a music producing unit in a music box adapted to receive it comprising:

a casing having an open end;

an endless belt having striking keys positioned thereon, said endless belt being mounted around shafts rotatably secured within said casing, one of said shafts being adjacent said open end;

and rotating means within said casing adjacent said opening for rotating said endlessbelt.

Claims

1. A music-box type toy, comprising: a music comb having a plurality of tines which produce tones of different pitches when plucked; a cartridge having a plurality of plucking protuberances mounted therein; said protuberances being distributed in a pattern which produces a predetermined tune when said protuberances are moved past said tines in plucking engagement therewith; means mounted adjacent said comb for releasably holding said cartridge so that said protuberances lie adjacent said tines, whereby said protuberances will pluck said tines when said protuberances are moved past said tines; driving means mounted adjacent said holding means for driving said protuberances past said tines; and means responsive to movement of a predetermined portion of said cartridge after protuberances pass said tines to release said holding means and move said cartridge away from said comb.

2. A music toy comprising: a toy player housing; a plurality of tines mounted in said housing for producing musical sounds when plucked; record holding means mounted in said housing for retaining a record at a predetermined play position therein, including a moveable release member for releasing the record; a record having a plurality of discrete note means formed thereon for plucking said tines to produce a predetermined tune and a discrete release means formed thereon for engaging and moving said release member to release the record immediately after the end of the tune; and spring means constantly urging said record away from said play position.

3. A music toy which can play a changeable belt record cartridge that includes a belt having plucking means and extending around a plurality of pulleys and that also includes power receiving means for driving the belt, comprising: a toy player housing; a comb mounted in said housing, said comb having a plurality of tines which produce tones of different pitches when plucked; means in said housing for releasably holding a belt record cartridge so that the belt lies adjacent to the tines of the comb and the plucking means can pluck the tines; and means in said housing for driving the power receiving means of the record cartridge; said housing having opening means for rapidly receiving the record cartridge to a position where it is held by said holding means and for rapidly passing out the cartridge.

4. The music toy described in claim 3 wherein: said releasable holding means is activatable by said belt to immediately release the record cartridge, whereby the cartridge can be released at a predetermined time in relationship to the tune.

5. The music toy described in claim 3 including: a belt record cartridge including a cartridge frame, a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted in the frame, a belt extending in an endless path around the pulleys and containing a plucking means, and power receiving means coupled to one of said pulleys to transfer power to it.

6. The music toy described in claim 3 wherein: said toy player housing is in the form of a toaster with at least one slot in the top forming said opening means; and including a belt record cartridge in the form of a slice of bread, said cartridge being slideable in said slot.

7. A record cartridge for use in a player that includes a cartridge holding apparatus that is operablE to release the cartridge and pluckable tine means for producing notes comprising: a cartridge frame; a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted in said frame; and a flexible belt extending in an endless path around said pulleys, said belt having a plurality of note projections for playing notes, the projections being spaced along the length of the belt to define different playing times for the notes and spaced laterally across the width of the belt to define notes of different pitches, said note projections being positioned to play a predetermined tune having an end, said belt also having a release projection at a lateral position different from all note projections and located immediately after the note projections at the end of the tune for operating the cartridge holding apparatus of the player to release the cartridge.

8. The record cartridge described in claim 7 including: a player having comb means with a plurality of tines that can be plucked and cartridge-holding means for holding said cartridge at a predetermined position wherein said note projections pass across said tines to pluck them as the belt turns, said cartridge holding means being operable by a projection at the position of said release projection to release the cartrige.

9. A record cartridge for use in a player that includes pluckable tine means for producing notes and a drive, comprising: a cartridge frame; tone-producing means moveable mounted in said cartridge frame, said tone-producing means having a plurality of note projections for plucking said tines; and power receiving means connected to said tone-producing means to drive it; said frame having a width and length each greater than its thickness and being substantially enclosed except along one edge which is open.

10. The record cartridge described in claim 9 wherein: said cartridge is in the form of a slice of bread, and said open edge extends along the bottom of the slice of bread.

11. A record cartridge for use in a player that includes pluckable tine means for producing notes and a drive, comprising: a cartridge frame; a pair of parallel pulleys rotatably mounted in said frame; a pair of tune belts extending in endless paths about said pulleys, each belt having a width less than half the length of either pulley and said belts engaged with opposite end portions of the pulleys, each belt having a plurality of note projections for plucking the tine means and the projections of each belt defining tune which is different from the projections of the other belt; and power receiving means connected to one of said pulleys to drive it.

12. The record cartridge described in claim 11 wherein: said power receiving means includes gear means fixed to one of said pulleys at a location between said belts, and each belt defines a commonly known tune when rotated in a predetermined direction opposite to that of the other belt, whereby each belt is driven in the proper direction even though the gear means is driven in opposite directions for opposite orientations of the cartridge in the player.

13. A music toy comprising: a toy player housing; a comb mounted in said housing and having a plurality of tines which produce tones of different pitches when plucked; a changeable belt record cartridge including a frame, a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted on the frame, a belt extending in an endless path around said pulleys and having a pluralty of projections, and power receiving means for driving one of the pulleys; cartridge retaining means including a hook pivotally mounted on the player housing for pivoting between a retain position wherein it hooks over a first pulley of said cartridge to retain it in a play position in the housing and a release position wherein it releases the pulley, and spring means for urging said hook toward said retaining position; a spring having first and second portions respectively bearing against said cartridge and saId toy player housing, to urge said cartridge away from said play position; a manually rotatable handle mounted on said player housing and rotatable in a clockwise direction during normal play and also rotatable in a counterclockwise direction; and transmission means coupled to said handle for turning the first pulley in a first direction wherein friction of the first pulley on the hook urges the hook toward said retain position when the handle turns in said clockwise direction, and for turning the first pulley turn in a second direction wherein the friction urges the hook toward said release position when the handle turns in a counterclockwise direction, whereby the cartridge can be released at any time by turning the handle counterclockwise.

14. A music box comprising: a housing; a music comb unit having a plurality of tines fixedly mounted in said housing; interchangeable actuator means for cooperating with said music comb unit to play music; each of said actuator means including a casing, an endless belt mounted in said casing around spaced shafts, said endless belt having appropriately positioned striking keys thereon, said casing having an opening at one end, and driven means within said casing adjacent said opening; means for receiving one of said interchangeable actuator means adjacent said music comb unit; and drive means mounted in said housing for driving said endless belt by engaging said driven means when said one actuator means is received in said receiving means and positioned adjacent said music comb unit so that said striking keys on said endless belt may pluck said tines.

15. An interchangeable music actuator adapted to be positioned adjacent a music producing unit in a music box adapted to receive it comprising: a casing having an open end; an endless belt having striking keys positioned thereon, said endless belt being mounted around shafts rotatably secured within said casing, one of said shafts being adjacent said open end; and rotating means within said casing adjacent said opening for rotating said endless belt.