US3913261A - Toy figure - Google Patents

Abstract

A toy figure has a hollow body and a relatively broad base and houses a traction wheel that extends slightly below the base so the body can roll on the wheel and skid on the base. The traction wheel has a knurled hub engaged by a resilient sounder spring to make a sound on rotation of the wheel in either direction. A friction wheel rests on top of the traction wheel to rotate with the traction wheel and has an axle extending out of opposite sides of the body and carrying simulated hands for rotating as the body moves.

Description

United States Patent [191 Doe [ TOY FIGURE Walter P. Doe, East Aurora, NY.

[73] Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company,

Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Dec. 6, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 312,585

[75] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. 46/98; 46/104; 46/112 [51] Int. Cl. A63H 5/00 [58] Field of Search 46/98, 100, 103, 104, 107,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,230,847 6/1917 Bonte 46/100 2,013,709 9/ 1935 Boissoneau 46/98 2,437,442 3/1948 Siwiec 46/99 2,494,681 1/1950 Wisoff 46/98 2,512,533 6/1950 Savage 46/98 2,881,559 4/1959 Glass 46/119 X 3,267,605 8/1966 Allen 46/99 3,786,596 1/1974 Breslow et a1. 46/98 Primary ExaminerLouis G.- Mancene Assistant Examiner-Jack Q. Lever, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cumpston & Shaw [5 7 ABSTRACT A toy figure has a hollow body and a relatively broad base and houses a traction wheel that extends slightly below the base so the body can roll on the wheel and skid on the base. The traction wheel has a knurled hub engaged by a resilient sounder spring to make a sound on rotation of the wheel in either direction. A friction wheel rests on top of the traction wheel to rotate with the traction wheel and has an axle extending out of opposite sides of the body and carrying simulated hands for rotating as the body moves.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 FIG. 3

TOY FIGURE THE INVENTIVE IMPROVEMENT The invention involves recognition of a simple and practical way of making a rolling toy figure with an entertaining movement and sound. Rolling toy figures with movable parts are well known, but the inventive toy is simpler, more economical, and more entertaining, and the invention also aims at safety, ruggedness, durability, and attractiveness in a toy figure that can withstand rough play.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventive toy figure has a hollow body with a base broad enough to support the body upright. A single traction wheel is supported for rotation within the body and housed substantially within the body to extend slightly below the base so the body can roll on the wheel and skid on the base. The traction wheel has a knurled hub engaged by the free end of the resilient sounder to make a sound on rotation of the traction wheel in either direction. A friction wheel rests on top of the traction wheel to rotate with the traction wheel and has an axle extending out of opposite sides of the body and supporting simulated hands that rotate as the body moves.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the inventive toy;

FIG. 2 is a partially schematic and fragmentary, cutaway view of the toy of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Toy as shown in FIG. 1 has a generally egg-shaped body 11 with a hat 12, bowtie 22, and facial features 13 representing Humpty Dumpty. Body 11 is generally hollow with an upper shell 14 and a lower shell 15 and a generally flat-bottomed base 16 having simulated feet 17. Base 16 is broad enough to support toy 11 in a generally upright position.

Lower shell 15 houses a traction wheel 18 that is supported for rotation between surfaces 19 on lower shell 15 and surfaces 20 extending upward from base 16. Traction wheel 18 is substantially enclosed within lower shell 15, with only the bottom of traction wheel 18 extending slightly below base 16 through an opening in base 16. A glide button 21 formed as a round knob or bump as illustrated extends downward from base 16 forward of traction wheel 18, and traction wheel 18 has a wide enough footing so that toy 10 normally stands upright on traction wheel 18 and glide button 21. Toy 10 can accommodate some sideways tilting without tipping over, because feet 17 extend outward at angles on opposite sides of the normal direction of forward movement of toy 10 and help keep toy l0 upright.

Traction wheel 18 has a knurled hub 23 engaged by the free end of a sounder spring 24 supported on a surface 28 of lower shell 15. As shown in FIG. 3, sounder spring 24 engages hub 23 in either direction of rotation for making a sound against the knurling on hub 23.

A friction wheel 25 rests on top of traction wheel 18 for rotation with traction wheel 18, and axle 26 for friction wheel 25 extends out opposite sides of body 11 to support simulated hands 27 that rotate as toy 10 moves along. Friction wheel 25 is preferably smaller than traction wheel 18 to produce a rapid whirling rotation of hands 27, and friction wheel 25 and axle 26 are preferably loosely housed in body 11 for gravitationally engaging traction wheel 18. Hence, hands 27 rotate whenever traction wheel 18 turns with toy 10 right side up.

Traction wheel 18 preferably has a mass greater than the mass of the rest of toy 10 to develop considerable rotational intertia tending to make toy l0 coast along once it has been set in motion. The weight of wheel 18 also helps keep toy 10 upright, but toy 10 can readily tip over like the original HUMPTY DUMPTY.

Persons wishing to practice the invention should remember that other embodiments and variations can be adapted to particular circumstances. Even though one point of view is necessarily chosen in describing and defining the invention, this should not inhibit broader or related embodiments going beyond the semantic orientation of this application but falling within the spirit of the invention. For example, those skilled in the art will appreciate ways that the invention can be adapted to other moving toy figures.

I claim:

1. A toy figure comprising:

a. a hollow body having a base broad enough to support said body in an upright position;

b. a traction wheel supported for rotation within said body and housed substantially within said body to extend slightly below said base so said body can roll on said wheel and skid on said base;

c. a knurled hub on said traction wheel;

d. a resilient sounder spring having a free end engaging said knurled hub and disposed to make a sound on rotation of said wheel in either direction;

e. a friction wheel resting on top of said traction wheel to rotate with said traction wheel;

f. an axle for said friction wheel extending out of opposite sides of said body; and

g. simulated hands on said. axle for rotating as said body moves;

2. The toy figure of claim 1 including a glide button extending downward from said base forward of said traction wheel and wherein said traction wheel has a wide footing and said toy is balanced to rest normally on said traction wheel and said glide button.

3. The toy figure of claim 1 wherein said body is generally egg-shaped with a hat, bowtie and facial features.

4. The toy figure of claim 1 including simulated feet extending outward from said base.

5. The toy figure of claim 1. wherein the mass of said traction wheel exceeds the mass of the rest of said toy figure.

6. The toy figure of claim 5 including a guide bottom extending downward from said base and forward of said traction wheel and wherein said traction wheel has a wide footing and said toy is balanced to rest nonnally on said traction wheel and said glide button.

7. The toy figure of claim 6 including simulated feet extending outward from said base.

8. The toy of claim 7 wherein said body is generally egg-shaped with a hat, bowtie and facial features.

Claims (8)

1. A toy figure comprising: a. a hollow body having a base broad enough to support said body in an upright position; b. a traction wheel supported for rotation within said body and housed substantially within said body to extend slightly below said base so said body can roll on said wheel and skid on said base; c. a knurled hub on said traction wheel; d. a resilient sounder spring having a free end engaging said knurled hub and disposed to make a sound on rotation of said wheel in either direction; e. a friction wheel resting on top of said traction wheel to rotate with said traction wheel; f. an axle for said friction wheel extending out of opposite sides of said body; and g. simulated hands on said axle for rotating as said body moves;

2. The toy figure of claim 1 including a glide button extending downward from said base forward of said traction wheel and wherein said traction wheel has a wide footing and said toy is balanced to rest normally on said traction wheel and said glide button.

3. The toy figure of claim 1 wherein said body is generally egg-shaped with a hat, bowtie and facial features.

4. The toy figure of claim 1 including simulated feet extending outward from said base.

5. The toy figure of claim 1 wherein the mass of said traction wheel exceeds the mass of the rest of said toy figure.

6. The toy figure of claim 5 including a guide bottom extending downward from said base and forward of said traction wheel and wherein said traction wheel has a wide footing and said toy is balanced to rest normally on said traction wheel and said glide button.

7. The toy figure of claim 6 including simulated feet extending outward from said base.

8. The toy of claim 7 wherein said body is generally egg-shaped with a hat, bowtie and facial features.

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