Patent Grant
7296492
The present invention relates generally to animated toys, and more particularly to a toy including a Geneva mechanism providing for intermittent reciprocal motion of moveable parts of the toy.
In recent years animation in children's toys has become very popular. Animated toys include a system for generating motion, typically driven by small rotating motors that connect to gears, pulleys or levers. Some animation systems for animated toys include a Geneva mechanism designed to produce an intermittent motion, such as those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,764,141; 5,310,377; and 5,405,142, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to animated toys in which parts of the toy undergo intermittent reciprocal motion. This motion is driven by one or more motors, each interconnected to a skeletal structure of the toy through various gears, pulleys, and cables. At least one of the gears pulls on one of the cables to in turn pull on the portion of the skeletal structure that is to be moved, and that gear may cooperate with other gears to have an engaged position and one or more non-rotating positions, as may be found in a Geneva gear mechanism. When the gear is in the engaged position, a motor may rotate the gear to actuate a discrete motion of a part of the toy, and when the gear is in a non-rotating position, the gear may hold that part of the toy in a fixed position, even as other gears driven by the same motor actuate other motions within the toy. Combining a series of these gears, each producing different discrete motions, creates an animated toy capable of complex movements with a lesser number of motors.
This present invention will be more readily understood after a consideration of the drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment.
A children's toy according to the present invention is indicated generally at 10 in
Body 12 may include a head 16, eyes 18, a mouth 20, arms 22 and legs (not shown). Animation mechanism 14 includes a skeletal structure 24, a motor assembly 26, pulleys 28, and cables 30. As discussed below animation mechanism 14 provides toy 10 with motion, such as a turning of head 16 back and forth, an opening and closing of eyes 18 or mouth 20, and a back and forth movement of arms 22 or the legs.
Motor assembly 26 includes at least one motor 32, a gear assembly 34, and a battery pack (not shown). Gear assembly 34 includes at least one gear system 36, and may be adapted to attach to an output 38 of motor assembly 26 or be incorporated into motor assembly 26. Each motor 32 of motor assembly 26 is connected to at least one gear system 36. As motor 32 rotates, gear system 36 rotates, thereby actuating movements in toy 10.
Gear system 36 includes a drive gear 40 and a driven gear 42. Motor 32 is adapted to rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise and configured to induce the same clockwise and counterclockwise rotation in drive gear 40. Drive gear 40 is adapted to selectively impart rotation in driven gear 42. Rotation of driven gear 42, being connected to cable 30 of animation mechanism 14, induces motion in a selected part of the toy's body 12.
It should be understood that motor assembly 26 and gear systems 36 are shown schematically and motor assembly 26 can include a plurality of motors 32. Each motor 32 may be adapted to drive a plurality of stacked drive gears 40, positioned such that drive gears 40 actuate a corresponding plurality of driven gears 42 located at discrete angular positions along the path of rotation of the stack of drive gears 40. Each of driven gears 42 is adapted to actuate a discrete reciprocal movement within a selected part of the toy's body 12.
When drive gear 40 sweeps through the angular location associated with a particular movement of toy 10, drive gear 40 intermeshes with driven gear 42 causing cable 30 to move, thereby actuating motion in a part of toy 10. These movements include, but are not limited to, rotation of the toy's head 16, opening and closing of the toy's eyes 18, movement of the toy's mouth 20, back and forth motion of arms 22 and corresponding back and forth motion of the legs. While cables 30 are shown schematically linking skeletal structure 24 to gear system 36 it should be understood that any suitable linkage structure could be used including belts, chains, rods, etc.
Gear system 36 produces an intermittent motion similar to the Geneva mechanisms that are known in the art. Gear system 36 has two configurations, an engaged configuration and a non-rotating configuration. In the engaged configuration, drive gear 40 is intermeshed with driven gear 42 and rotation of drive gear 40 causes rotation in driven gear 42. In the non-rotating configuration drive gear 40 slidingly engages driven gear 42 such that rotation of drive gear 40, not only does not cause rotation in driven gear 42, but also prevents the driven gear from rotating.
In the present embodiment of gear system 36 drive gear 40 and driven gear 42 are made of a plastic material. It should be understood that any suitable material may be used to form the gears of gear system 36 including metal alloys, polymers, ceramics, and composites of these materials depending upon the load characteristics of the particular application.
Gear system 36 in the engaged configuration rotates in a first direction 50 and a second direction 52. When drive gear 40 rotates in first direction 50, driven gear 42 rotates in response causing cable 30 to move arm 22 in the direction indicated at 50′. Correspondingly, when drive gear 40 rotates in a second direction 52, driven gear 42 causes cable 30 to move arm 22 in the opposite direction 52′. Thus, in the engaged configuration, gear system 36 is adapted to move a corresponding body part, in this case arm 22, in either a first direction 50′ or an opposed second direction 52′. By contrast, when the gear system is in the non-rotating configuration the corresponding body part is at rest or not moving.
In the non-rotating configuration, drive gear 40 slidingly contacts driven gear 42. Thus, rotation of drive gear 40 in either direction while gear system 36 is in the non-rotating configuration induces no motion in driven gear 42. Because driven gear 42 is not moving it does not cause motion in any of the body parts of toy 10. Additionally, in the non-rotating configuration the driven gear is prevented from rotating by the sliding contact between drive gear 40 and driven gear 42.
Drive cam structure 44 includes a cam recess region 52, which is adapted to cooperate with a cam lobe portion 54 of driven cam structure 48. Drive cam structure 44 further includes extended drive teeth 56, which are formed from a portion of the set of drive teeth 46 positioned along a portion of the nominal perimeter of drive gear 40 located within cam recess region 52. Cam lobe portion 54 may include cam lobe teeth 58, which are formed from a portion of the set of driven teeth 50 that extend axially further than the rest of the set of drive teeth 46.
Cam lobe teeth 58 are designed to engage corresponding extended drive teeth 56. This axially extended engagement between the extended drive teeth 56 and cam lobe teeth 58 forms additional bearing contact between drive gear 40 and driven gear 42 which helps to keep gears 40 and 42 in alignment under loading. Cam recess region 52 includes alignment guide surfaces 60, which are adapted to interact with cam lobe portion 54 and align driven teeth 50 with drive teeth 46. Alignment guide surfaces 60 also align extended drive teeth 56 with cam lobe teeth 58 as gear system 36 transitions between the engaged configuration and the non-rotating configuration.
Driven cam structure 48 further includes bearing surface regions 62 and drive cam structure 44 further includes a drive cam bearing surface 64 also referred to as sliding surface 64. Driven gear 42 is prevented from rotating in either of the non-rotating configurations, when drive cam bearing surface 64 contacts either of driven cam bearing surface regions 62.
Turning to
Alignment guide surfaces 60 and the set of extended drive teeth 56, which are longer axially than the remaining drive teeth 46, are shown in more detail in
Drive cam bearing surface 64 slides along driven cam-bearing surface region 62 at a contact area defined by the area of the overlapping surfaces. Arcuate perimeter rim 70 increases the contact area between drive cam bearing surface 64 and corresponding bearing surface region 62 located on driven cam structure 48 of driven gear 42. The increased contact area between drive gear 40 and driven gear 42 improves the alignment of the two gears and helps prevent binding. The interaction of drive cam bearing surface 64 and driven cam-bearing surface regions 62 aid in maintaining alignment of drive gear 40 and driven gear 42, preventing driven gear 42 from rotating when drive cam bearing surface 64 is in contact with either of driven cam-bearing surface regions 62.
As discussed above in addition to bearing surface regions 62, drive cam structure 44 includes cam lobe portion 54 adapted to interact with cam recess region 52. Bearing surface regions 62 interact with drive cam bearing surface 64 when gear system 36 is in any of the non-rotating configurations. As previously discussed, cam lobe portion 54 of driven cam structure 48 may include cam lobe teeth 58. Cam lobe teeth 58 are formed from a portion of the set of driven teeth 50, which extend axially farther than the remaining driven teeth 50 of the set, best illustrated in
Drive gear 40 rotates through a maximum predetermined angular sweep before reversing direction. Drive gear 40 should not rotate beyond a maximum amount of 360 degrees, before reversing the direction of rotation. Drive gear 40 may rotate less than 360 degrees before reversing direction, as desired. The maximum amount of rotation prevents drive teeth 46 from binding against driven gear 42 and possibly damaging gear system 36 from over rotation.
When gear system 36 is in either of the non-rotation configurations, drive gear 40 can be rotating toward engagement with driven gear 42 or away from engagement with driven gear 42. As drive gear 40 rotates toward engagement with driven gear 42, first, drive teeth 46 move into contact with driven teeth 50. Then cam lobe portion 54 slides along alignment guide surface 60 aligning cam lobe teeth 58 with extended drive teeth portion 56 of cam recess notch 52. As the drive teeth 46 engage the driven teeth 50, and cam lobe teeth 54 engage drive teeth portion 56, counter rotation between drive gear 40 and driven gear 42 occurs.
Drive teeth 46 are adapted to impart a predetermined amount of angular rotation to driven gear 42. The maximum amount of angular rotation of driven gear 42 may be 180 degrees.
The rotation of driven gear 42 actuates movement in a part of toy 10, by pulling cable 30, which is attached to a portion of skeletal structure 24, around rotating pulley 28 to move a part of body 12. The movement of cable 30 exerts a force on the portion of skeletal structure 24 that causes the portion of the body of toy 10 supported by that portion of skeletal structure 24 to move.
Alternatively, gear system 36 can be described as twin interengaged, motion coupled, rotors 40, 42. Twin rotors 40 and 42 are operatively mounted for juxtaposed intermittent rotation. Each rotor 40 and 42 includes a toothed region 46, 50, which lies along an arc that is less than a full circle, and each rotor 40 and 42 includes a sliding surface region 62, 64, which includes a portion that lies substantially outside the arc toothed region.
Rotors 40 and 42 are operatively positioned relative to one another in a manner, which enables two different characters of interengaged relative rotation motion. The first character involves toothed region to toothed region driving interengagement, wherein the twin rotors counter rotate relative to one another with a first rotor driving the other rotor. The first character of interengaged relative rotation motion occurs at a predefined sweep of angular orientation between twin rotors 40 and 42.
The second character involving sliding surface to sliding surface non-driving interengagement, wherein the first rotor rotates and the other rotor is stationary. The second character of interengaged relative rotation motion is achieved at two different angular orientation of the second or other rotor. The two angular orientations of the second rotor are spaced apart on either side of the angular sweep that is predefined for the first character of interengaged relative rotation motion.
The toothed regions of the rotors include portions that extend axially across a common plane, which is spaced generally normal to the axial direction.
Turning to
Referring to
In the engaged configuration, cam lobe 254 is interacting with cam recess region 252 and cam lobe teeth 258 are intermeshing with drive teeth 246 causing driven gear 242 to counter rotate from drive gear 240 and actuating a discrete motion in a portion of toy 10 by moving cable 30 that connects to and actuates a portion of skeletal structure 24 that supports that portion of toy 10. In this engaged configuration, a reversal of direction of drive gear 240 will change the direction of motion of the moving portion of toy 10. Thus, the reciprocal motion is achieved by a change in the direction of rotation of drive gear 10.
As drive gear 240 continues to rotate, alignment guide surfaces 260 engage guide surface notch 268 and driven gear 242 begins to disengage from drive gear 240 as illustrated in
Finally, as drive gear bearing surface 264 engages one of driven gear bearing surface regions 262, driven gear 242 is prevented from rotating by the sliding engagement of drive gear bearing surface 264 and driven gear bearing surface region 262, as shown in
It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein. Where claims recite “a” or “a first” element or equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring, nor excluding two or more such elements.
It is believed that the following claims particularly point out certain combinations and sub-combinations that are directed to one of the disclosed inventions and are novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and sub-combinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to a different invention or directed to the same invention, whether different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of the inventions of the present disclosure.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/908,971, filed Jul. 18, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,327 and entitled “Animated Toy with Geneva Mechanism”, which application is based upon and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/224,697, filed Aug. 11, 2000 and entitled “Motorized Doll”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3298130 | Ryan | Jan 1967 | A |
| 3583093 | Glass et al. | Jun 1971 | A |
| 3650065 | Johmann | Mar 1972 | A |
| 3672096 | Johmann | Jun 1972 | A |
| 3846934 | Thorn et al. | Nov 1974 | A |
| 3912694 | Chiappe et al. | Oct 1975 | A |
| 4023254 | Aiple et al. | May 1977 | A |
| 4073088 | Beny et al. | Feb 1978 | A |
| 4177602 | Choi | Dec 1979 | A |
| 4349987 | Bart | Sep 1982 | A |
| 4516951 | Saigo et al. | May 1985 | A |
| 4563163 | Herbstler et al. | Jan 1986 | A |
| 4665640 | Forsse et al. | May 1987 | A |
| 4681993 | Kondo et al. | Jul 1987 | A |
| 4752272 | Karasawa | Jun 1988 | A |
| 4764141 | D'Andrade | Aug 1988 | A |
| 4775352 | Curran et al. | Oct 1988 | A |
| 4819229 | Pritty et al. | Apr 1989 | A |
| 4878870 | Pastor | Nov 1989 | A |
| 5030161 | Pastor | Jul 1991 | A |
| 5092102 | James et al. | Mar 1992 | A |
| 5125865 | Orenstein et al. | Jun 1992 | A |
| 5158492 | Rudell et al. | Oct 1992 | A |
| 5224896 | Terzian | Jul 1993 | A |
| 5236385 | May | Aug 1993 | A |
| 5310377 | Joja | May 1994 | A |
| 5316516 | Saitoh | May 1994 | A |
| 5394766 | Johnson et al. | Mar 1995 | A |
| 5405142 | Arad et al. | Apr 1995 | A |
| 5505652 | Click | Apr 1996 | A |
| 5647787 | Raviv et al. | Jul 1997 | A |
| 5747760 | Skarivoda | May 1998 | A |
| 5820441 | Pracas | Oct 1998 | A |
| 5941756 | Chou | Aug 1999 | A |
| 6547632 | Marine et al. | Apr 2003 | B2 |
| 6623327 | Marine et al. | Sep 2003 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 60241110 | Nov 1985 | JP |
| 2065887 | Mar 1990 | JP |
| 3258282 | Nov 1991 | JP |
| 5253866 | Oct 1993 | JP |
| WO 0149383 | Jul 2001 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040082264 A1 | Apr 2004 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60224697 | Aug 2000 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09908971 | Jul 2001 | US |
| Child | 10661310 | US |
