WO1993011842A1

WO1993011842A1 - Augmented musical toy

Info

Publication number: WO1993011842A1
Application number: PCT/US1992/006610
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark J. Barthold
Original assignee: Mattel, Inc.
Priority date: 1991-12-10
Filing date: 1992-08-10
Publication date: 1993-06-24
Also published as: AU2435692A

Abstract

An augmented musical toy (10) includes a housing (11) defining a semicircular handle (12) and generally planar body (13). A hollow tube (14) is supported upon the body and includes a kazoo sounding unit (30). The body further includes a pair of generally cylindrical sounding cups (40, 50), having disposed therein quantities of moldable plastic material (45, 55). In one embodiment the sounding cups are closed end while in an alternate embodiment a small air passage (146, 156) coupling the cup interiors to the kazoo sounding tube are provided. A flexible tube (15) is coupled between the kazoo and a user mouthpiece (16). In its anticipated use, the user produces sounds using the kazoo sounding unit while augmenting the sounds produced by inserting one or more fingers into each of the sounding cups and imbedding them into the plastic material therein.

Description

AUGMENTED MUSICAL TOY

SPECIFICATION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to musical toys and particularly to those utilizing a hum vibration activated sounding device.

Background of the Invention

Musical and sound producing toys have become extremely pervasive through the years. Children of all ages have, at some time or another, enjoyed producing musical type sounds for music itself. Understandably, practitioners in the art have provided a great number of different musical toy and sound producing toy structures in attempting to satisfy this need among child users. In many cases, musical toys are formed as miniaturized or simplified versions of more conventional musical instruments. Examples are found in the many reduced sized keyboard instruments such as miniature pianos, small wind instruments often having very crude reed structures and so on. In addition, many musical toys are adapted to be more easily manipulated by younger "players" resorting to larger keys or buttons and a fewer number of sound producing elements.

Still other types of sound producing toys have been provided which are not attempts to replicate or simplify conventional musical instruments but instead produce sound through some manual activity such as twirling about the head on a rope or other physical manipulation. One of the most common types of sound producing toys in this category is that which relies upon percussion or produces sound when struck or impacted either externally or by an internally supported movable element.

Because even the simplified types of musical toys which are intended to produce music like sounds require some level of musical skill and practice to successively produce a recognizable musical tune, practitioners in the art have also provided various toys which may be operated without musical skill or extensive practice. One of the most commonly known species of this type of musical toy is generally known by the name "kazoo". While the structure of kazoos produced has varied greatly in shape and form, the basic principle of operation is relatively simple and has not been subject to extensive design modification. The majority of kazoos comprise an elongated hollow tube having a mouthpiece and a discharge opening at the other end. At a convenient point along the hollow tube, a cavity is provided which supports a vibratable diaphragm or membrane. Usually apertures are formed in the cavity surface external to the diaphragm to provide air pressure relief and allow the diaphragm to vibrate more freely. In operation, the user simply "hums" or otherwise produces tuneful sounds into the hollow tube. The sound energy and passing air provided by the user causes the diaphragm or membrane to vibrate imparting a buzzing type sound which alters the resulting sound emanating from the exit opening at the opposite end of the hollow tube.

Kazoos have been extremely successful in the marketplace for many years due primarily to their ease of use and their capability to provide tuneful sounds to users who have virtually no understanding of music. In addition, the use of relatively easily cultivated skill by the user may result in an "instrument-like" sound output.

Because of the extensive and continuous consumer desire for evermore varied musical toys, practitioners in the art have provided a correspondingly wide range of musical toy structures. For example, U.S. Patent 1,502,835 issued to Mclntyre sets forth a MUSICAL TOY of the type generally described as a kazoo. An elongated hollow tube defines a mouth-piece at one end and a discharge orifice at the other end. Intermediate the mouthpiece and discharge orifice, a kazoo diaphragm membrane is supported in a generally domed cavity having a plurality of apertures therein. In accordance with conventional kazoo construction, a vibrating diaphragm is supported within the dome-shaped cavity. In addition, the musical toy supports a vibrating reed which may be played in a whistle like manner to supplement or replace the kazoo sound.

U.S. Patent 3,256,636 issued to Green sets forth a TOY MUSICAL INSTRUMENT WITH REPLACEABLE VOICE ACTUATED DIAPHRAGM. The musical instrument is formed to generally replicate a bugle or similar horn having a mouthpiece, a multiply coiled elongated air passage and an outwardly flared open end. A small cavity near the mouthpiece extends upwardly from the instrument and is in communication with the hollow tube. A removable end cap is securable to the cavity housing and captivates therein a vibrating diaphragm to form a kazoo structure. The diaphragm may be replaced by removal of the end cap.

U.S. Patent 4,832,653 issued to Berghash, et al. sets forth a TOY MUSICAL INSTRUMENT of the type commonly known as a kazoo. The instrument includes an elongated hollow tube having a mouthpiece at one end and a discharge opening at the other end. An open ended turret section extends outwardly from the hollow tube and supports a vibrating membrane and removable membrane retainer. Indexing means are provided between the retainer and the membrane to assure proper membrane position when the retainer is assembled to the turret during membrane replacement.

U.S. Patent 2,637,141 issued to DeNisco sets forth a MUSICAL TOY having an elongated generally cylindrical hollow cylindrical shape. A handle is pivotally secured to the hollow tube proximate one end of the tube permitting the tube to be rotated or spun about the handle by user manipulation. A wind activated sound producing element is supported within the interior passage of the hollow tube. The instrument is operated by the user's rapid twirling or rotating of the hollow tube about the handle to produce an air flow through the tube which activates the sound producing member.

U.S. Patent 4,034,499 issued to Wild sets forth a MUSICAL TUBE WITH INTERNAL RIDGES FOR PRODUCING MUSICAL SOUND in which a hollow open-ended tube of flexible semi¬ rigid material defines a plurality of internally projecting ridges. The ridges are shaped and positioned to produce a musical tone when air flow is induced through the tube by holding it at one end and swinging the other end around in a generally circular path creating a differential pressure between the two ends.

U.S. Patent 4,799,913 issued to Wolfe sets forth a GAME CALL HAVING A TWO DIAPHRAGM SOUNDER AND LIP STRUCTURE. The game call includes a hand operated unit having a sound chamber, a handle including a horn at one end of the chamber, a bellows at the other end of the chamber and openings in both chamber ends. A diaphragm supported within each chamber includes a normally taut edge engaging an opening cord edge. The cord edge includes a lip on the outside wall for preventing the diaphragm from overlapping the wall during vibration.

While the foregoing described musical and sound producing toys have improved the general quality and variety of musical and sound producing toys and instruments, there remains nonetheless a continuing need for evermore interesting and varied musical toys.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved musical toy. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved musical toy having an interesting and novel sound augmenting mechanism which may be readily used by younger children.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a musical toy comprises: a body defining an air passage therethrough; a kazoo-type sound producing element supported in communication with the air passage; a first sounding cup defining a first interior cavity and supported by the body; and a first quantity of malleable play material received within the first sounding cup formed of an easily deformable material tending to form an air-tight seal within the first interior cavity when forced therein.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which:

Figure l sets forth a perspective view of an augmented musical toy constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 sets forth a partially sectioned side view of an augmented musical toy constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 sets forth a section view of the augmentation portion of the present invention augmented musical toy;

Figure 4 sets forth a section view of the augmentation portion of Figure 3 during a different portion of the use cycle from that shown in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 sets forth a section view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention augmented musical toy.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Figure 1 sets forth a perspective view of an augmented musical toy constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral 10. Musical toy 10 includes a housing 11 defining a generally semi-circular handle 12, a hollow tubular portion 14 and a generally planar body 13. Hollow tube 14 further includes an exit aperture 21 and an internal passage therethrough (better seen in Figure 5) . A kazoo sounder 30 is constructed in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques and includes a generally cylindrical housing 31 supported upon hollow tube 14 and in communication with the interior thereof. Sounder 30 further includes a generally circular cap 32 supported upon housing 31 and defining a plurality of relief apertures 33. While not shown, it should be understood that kazoo sound 30 is constructed in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques and thus includes a vibrating membrane within housing 31 (not shown) . An elongated flexible tube 15 is joined to and extends from hollow tube 14. Flexible tube 15 further defines a mouthpiece 16 and a mouthpiece aperture 20 formed therein.

As is better seen in Figure 5, flexible tube 14 defines an internal passage 17 which is continuous with internal passage 18 formed in hollow tube 14. Returning to Figure 1, musical toy 10 further includes a pair of generally cylindrical closed end sounding cups 40 and 50 which in their preferred form are integrally molded with body 13. Sounding cup 40 defines a circular rim 41 and a cylindrical interior cavity 42. A cylindrical inner wall 43 is formed within interior cavity 42 and a closed end base 44 completes the cylindrical cup-like structure of sounding unit 40. Sounding cup 50 is generally similar to sounding cup 40 but is somewhat reduced in size. Thus, sounding cup 50 includes a cylindrical cup-like member having a circular rim 51 and a cylindrical interior cavity 52. An inner wall 53 is formed within interior cavity 52 and a closed end base 54 completes sounding cup 50.

In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, a quantity of plastic material 45 is received within interior cavity 42 of sounding cup 40 and a similar plastic material 55 is received within interior cavity 52 of sounding cup 50. While a variety of plastic formable type materials may be used for plastic material 45 and 55, it has been found advantageous to use a material having a dough-like consistency which may be easily molded and formed within interior cavities 42 and 52.

In operation and by means set forth below in greater detail, the user imparts a humming music sound or other kazoo activating sounds into mouthpiece 16 while simultaneously manipulating plastic material portions 45 and 55 within sounding cups 40 and 50 respectively in the manner shown below in Figure 2. When so utilized in the manner set forth below, kazoo sounder 30 produces the conventional kazoo sound characteristic while the manipulation of plastic material portions 45 and 55 produce the augmenting described and set forth below. As will be apparent from examination of Figures 2 and 5, sounding cups 40 and 50 may, alternatively, be isolated from interior passage 18 of hollow tube 14 in the manner shown in Figure 2 or may be coupled thereto by a small diameter air passage in the manner shown in Figure 5. It will apparent to those skilled in the art that further alternative arises in the event one sounding cup is provided with an air passage in the manner of Figure 5 while the other remains closed end in the manner shown in Figure 2. In either event, the energetic manipulation of plastic materials 45 and 55 in the manner described below provides an interesting and unusual augmented sound accompaniment to increase the interest value of musical toy 10.

Figure 2 sets forth a partially sectioned view of musical toy 10 in a typical use by a user generally referenced by numeral 65. As described above, musical toy 10 includes a housing 11 defining a semicircular handle 13 and a planar body 13. A kazoo sounder 30 having a housing 31, a cap 32 and a plurality of apertures 33 defined therein is constructed in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques and is supported upon a hollow tube 14. In its preferred fabrication, hollow tube 14 and housing 31 are integrally molded with the remainder of body 13. Body 13 supports a pair of closed end generally cylindrical sounding cups 40 and 50. Sounding cup 40 defines an interior cavity 42 having a surrounding rim 41, an inner wall 43 and a closed base 44. Sounding cup 50 defines a cylindrical interior cavity 52 having a surrounding rim 51, an interior wall 53 and a closed end 54. A quantity of plastic material 45 is received within sounding cup 40 and a quantity of similar material 55 is received within interior cavity 52 of sounding cup 50.

A flexible tube 15 having an interior passage 17 (seen in Figure 5) and a mouthpiece 16 is joined to and extends from hollow tube 14. Mouthpiece 16 further defines a mouthpiece aperture 20 providing an entrance to passage 17 (seen in Figure 5) .

In operation, a typical user generally referenced by numeral 65 places one hand 60 through handle 12 and secures a reliable grip thereto while the remaining hand generally referenced by numeral 61 is positioned in the manner shown in Figure 2. Thereafter, user 65 extends fingers 62 and 63 into sounding cups 40 and 50 respectively to imbed the finger tips thereof within plastic material quantities 45 and 55. In its preferred form, plastic material 45 and 55 is sufficiently moldable to be readily formed and reformed within interior cavities 42 and 52 of sounding cups 40 and 50 by the user's manipulation of fingers 62 and 63. In addition, it is preferable that plastic material 45 and 55 exhibit a somewhat clinging characteristic to fingers 62 and 63 of user 65.

In the anticipated manipulation and use of musical toy 10, the user places mouth 66 against mouthpiece 20 and thereafter hums or otherwise introduces sounds such as music into flexible tube 15 and activates kazoo sounder 30 to provide kazoo-like sounds which emanate from exit aperture 21 of hollow tube 14. Concurrently, the user may augment the kazoo sound provided by musical toy 10 by rapidly moving fingers 62 and 63 within sounding cups 40 and 50 in a manner in which is intermittently introduced into sounding cups 40 and 50, trapped and compressed therein, and forced outwardly about plastic material 45 and 55 in the manner indicated by arrows 70 and 71 thereby producing a "flopping" type sound on a repeated basis. With the exercise of some dexterity in the manner shown in Figures 3 and 4, the user may also manipulate plastic material 45 and 55 to provide various flopping and whooshing type sounds during both the air inrush to sounding cups 40 and 50 caused when plastic material 45 and 55 is rapidly drawn outwardly therefrom as well as sounds produced by air exiting sounding cups 40 and 50 as plastic material 45 and 55 is rapidly driven into sounding cups 40 and 50. Thus, as the user becomes accustomed to musical toy 10, the user becomes more skilled at coordinated the types of sound produced by kazoo sounder 30 and the whooshing and flopping sounds produced by air movement about plastic material 45 and 55 in sounding cups 40 and 50 respectively.

Figures 3 and 4 set forth the sound producing manipulation of the plastic material within sounding cups 40 and 50 using inrushing and outwardly rushing air through manipulation of the plastic material within the sounding cups. For purposes of illustration. Figures 3 and 4 set forth the operation of sounding cup 40 and plastic material 45. It will be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that the manipulation of plastic material 55 within sounding cup 50 is carried forward in the identical manner and the descriptions of Figures 3 and 4 apply equally well thereto. With specific reference to Figure 3, sounding cup 40 is shown in section view having a quantity of plastic material 45 disposed therein. As described above, sounding cup 40 is generally cylindrical in shape and defines an interior cavity 42 having a surrounding rim 41 and a closed end base 44. Interior cavity 42 further defines an inner wall 43. In the anticipated use described above, the user has inserted finger 62 into plastic material 45. As also described above, plastic material 45 in its preferred form exhibits a clinging characteristic with respect to the user's fingers. Thus, in the position shown in Figure 3, the user is rapidly withdrawing finger 62 and therewith material 45 in an outward direction indicated by arrow 47. As plastic material 45 is drawn outwardly, a constricted area 46 between the outer surface of plastic material 45 and inner wall 43 is created. In addition, the rapid outward motion of plastic material 45 produces a partial vacuum or low pressure within interior cavity 42 near base 44. To equalize this pressure, air is drawn rapidly through constricted area 46 into interior cavity 45 in the manner shown by arrows 48 and 49. As plastic material 45 initially separates from inner wall 43 during this process to form constricted area 46, the rapid air motion through constricted area 46 produces the desired flopping, whooshing, or other similar sound as plastic material 45 flutters and flaps due to the rapid air motion into interior cavity 42.

Figure 4 sets forth the converse sound producing manipulation of plastic material 45 in which air is rapidly expelled outwardly from interior cavity 42. Specifically, having completed the withdrawing motion shown in Figure 3, the user thereafter may rapidly plunge finger 62 into interior cavity 42 of sounding cup 40. This inward motion forces plastic material 45 into interior cavity 42 and tends to deform plastic material 45 against inner wall 43 and trap air within interior cavity 42. As the user continues to force finger 62 against plastic material 45, the increased pressure within interior cavity 42 forces a portion of plastic material 45 away from inner wall 43 creating a constricted area 83. Thereafter, the pressurized air previously trapped within interior cavity 42 flows outwardly in a rapid air flow in the direction indicated by arrows 80 and 81 through constricted area 83. Once again, the rapid air flow across material 45 as it separates from wall 43 produces the desired fluttering thereof which in turn creates sounds such as flapping, whooshing, or other similar sounds.

Thus, the user through rapid manipulation of the plastic material within the sounding cups of the present invention musical toy can produce interesting augmenting sounds which with some practice may be coordinated to the sound produced by the kazoo sounder.

Figure 5 sets forth a section view of an alternate embodiment to that set forth in Figures 1 through 4. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art by comparison of Figures 1 through 4 and Figure 5 that the embodiment of Figure 5 differs solely in the inclusion of a pair of slow diameter flow restricted air passages which couple the sounding cups to the interior of the kazoo sounding tube.

Thus, the alternate embodiment of the present invention musical toy generally referenced by numeral 110 includes a housing 111 defining a handle 112, a body 113 and a hollow tube 114 together with a pair of sounding cups 140 and 150. In its preferred form, housing 111, handle 112, body 113, hollow tube 114 and sounding cups 140 and 150 are formed of a integrally molded structure. A flexible tube 115 defines a mouthpiece 116, an opening 120 and a passage 17 therethrough. Hollow tube 114 defines an interior passage 18 which is continuous with passage 17 and which terminates in an exit aperture 121. While not seen in Figure 5, it should be understood that musical toy 110 includes kazoo sounder 30 (seen in Figure 2) . Sounding cups 140 and 150 define generally cylindrical members having cylindrical interior cavities 142 and 152 respectively. Sounding cup 140 defines an interior wall 143 while sounding cup 150 defines an interior wall 153. A base member 144 completes interior cavity 142 while a similar base portion 154 completes interior cavity 152. Sounding cup 140 further includes a restricted air flow passage 146 coupled between interior cavity 142 and interior passage 18 of hollow tube 114. Similarly, sounding cup 150 includes a restricted air flow passage 156 coupled between interior cavity 152 and interior passage 18.

As mentioned above, musical toy 110 is generally identical to musical toy 10 described above with the exception of the addition of restricted air flow passages 146 and 156 to musical toy 110. Thus, the above- described manipulation of plastic material 145 and 155 within sounding cups 140 and 150 respectively is carried forward in the identical manner described above. The advantage of musical toy 110 is found in the user's ability to provide further sound augmentation by the introduction of rapidly moving air and sounds into the interior of hollow tube 114. It should be noted that, in its preferred form, musical toy 110 is fabricated such that passages 146 and 156 are of small enough diameter to permit the user to still manipulate plastic material 145 and 155 in the manner described above producing the sounds during air intake and expulsion described therein.

Thus, the user operating musical toy 110 proceeds in the much the same fashion as the user operation described above for musical toy 10. The primary difference arises in that the character of sound augmentation is subjected to an interesting variation due to the provision of passages 146 and 156. In all other respects, however, musical toy 110 and musical toy 10 (seen in Figure 2) are generally identical.

What has been shown is an improved augmented musical toy having the capability to produce a variety of augmenting sounds having an interesting and unusual character. The toy provided increases the interest and amusement value of a kazoo-like musical instrument beyond that provided by conventional kazoo-type toys. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that while the embodiments set forth in Figures 1 through 5 utilize a pair of sounding cups, the present invention system may be practiced using a single sounding cup or, alternatively, an increased number of sounding cups without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

THAT WHICH IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A musical toy comprising:

a body defining an air passage therethrough;

a kazoo-type sound producing element supported in communication with said air passage;

a first sounding cup defining a first interior cavity and supported by said body; and

a first quantity of malleable play material received within said first sounding cup formed of an easily deformable material tending to form an air-tight seal within said first interior cavity when forced therein.

2. A musical toy as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said body further defines a second sounding cup defining a second interior cavity, and wherein said musical toy further includes a second quantity of malleable play material received within said second interior cavity of said second sounding cup.

3. A musical toy as set forth in Claim 2 wherein said first and second interior cavities of said first and second sounding cups are generally cylindrical.

4. A musical toy as set forth in Claim 3 wherein said irst and second interior cavities define respective first and second generally closed ends and first and second respective open ends.

5. A musical toy as set forth in Claim 4 further including an elongated tube coupled to said body and having an interior passage generally continuous with said air passage.

6. A musical toy as set forth in Claim 5 wherein said first closed end defines a first restrictive flow air passage having a diameter no greater than one-fifth that of said first interior cavity and extending between said first interior cavity and said air passage.

7. A musical toy as set forth in Claim 6 wherein said second closed end defines a second restrictive flow air passage having a diameter no greater than one-fifth that of said second interior cavity and extending between said second interior cavity and said air passage.

8. A musical toy as set forth in Claim 7 wherein said body defines a generally semicircular handle.

9. A musical toy as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said first sounding cup includes an air passage coupled to said first interior cavity to said air passage.