Patent Application
20080261483
This document is a request for a Patent of Invention for “IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXER PUPPETS AND REPRODUCTION OF BOXING MOVEMENTS”, particularly boxer puppets which include a series of movements ordered through commands mounted beside the ring and manually activated by two competitors, so that these referred puppets can apply various blows, using the arms, body and legs, creating a fighting situation very close to reality.
The present state of technique is composed of boxer puppets deposited by this inventor under no. PI 0100497-2, which analogously refers to the execution of fighting movements through commands activated by the competitors. In summary, there is a ring and, in two of its opposed vertices, commands for the right and left hands of each competitor, so that the corresponding boxer puppet moves by command of the respective competitor.
Although these boxer puppets have satisfactory efficiency, considering the state of technique, the inventor, searching for constant advance and improvement in the operational and manufacturing functions of the product, now requests important improvements put into effect in various devices of the boxer puppet. In general, the previous patent describes two boxer puppets, where each one has its own, identical and individual movement, manipulated by two players. It also affirms that they are fixed, one in front of the other on a square base, simulating a ring, having four controls, two for each boxer.
The previously mentioned patent document also affirms that the puppets oppose one another, launching a variety of blows, as in a conventional boxing match, even possibly causing a knockout. In this case, a blow of predetermined intensity on the head could activate a lock on the knee, causing the puppet which was hit to fall on its back; this mechanism can be reactivated.
The operation of the puppet, using the previous technique, was of an extremely complex construction, with an excessive number of parts, notably in reference to the body and arm movements, including helicoids springs. Besides this, the activators revealed an assembly of parts which had the purpose to pass, guide and move the activation cables; however, the movement and guiding system needed some modifications to offer greater durability, efficiency and a quick response from the various activators.
It should be noted that in the drawing of Figure C of the previous patent request, the puppet's body showed a cylinder to rotate it, besides the helicoid spring, interconnecting the arms and, last, a complex mechanism of couplings for the arms and cables to move the head.
The invention presented here has a series of improved constructive aspects, when compared to the previous technique. These characteristics extend to all sectors of the toy, that is, going from the activators, activation, rotation and cable guide mechanisms, as well as the mechanism to move the puppet's body, arms and head.
Technically, the improved boxer puppets use a shaft with a sphere inside the ring on each command mechanism, so that this sphere supports the fixed and rotating claws which transmit the movements to the various parts of the puppet through cables.
In each command mechanism mentioned there is a trigger through which a cable passes over the sphere and ascends inside the puppet, arriving at a crosspiece system which operates the puppet's arm movements, simplifying the response and making it more efficient, when compared to the mechanism of the previous technique.
Another aspect altered in the present invention consists in the head moving mechanism, which is designed to be moved when activating the respective cable which connects to a rod terminal.
The mechanism to move the puppet's body was also altered to gain more efficiency, durability and simplicity in construction, basically, a type of intermediary ring pivotally coupled to the puppet's lower members; this ring receives two terminals in diametrically opposed points, also pivotally coupled and projecting till a larger diameter ring, placed above them which, on its part, is topped by a relatively thin plastic sheet (34) projecting towards the puppet's head (35), where there are terminals (36), to receive the respective cables and over which covers are placed, forming the heads themselves (37).
The plastic sheet mentioned is composed of intermediate vertical slits, in which a transverse shaft is coupled, which projects from these slits beyond the sheet, where it is pivotally coupled, so that the cables coming from the activation trigger are fixed on the free ends of this shaft, as well as the shafts which extend to the right and left arms of the puppet, each one corresponding to its respective trigger. In summary, the invention stands out by proposing movements through activation controls, installed on the sides of the ring, diagonally opposite, two activators on each contrary sector, that is, one for the right hand and another for the left. In summary, each activating command mentioned performs four basic movements, so that each assembly, jointly, performs all the trunk, head, leg and arm movements of the puppets.
With the construction mentioned here, the boxer puppets can be manipulated with greater efficiency by the competitors, with quick responses, besides the fact that important innovations were added to the mechanism to move the trunk, head, arms and to move the feet.
The invention will be explained below, based on the drawings enclosed, which represent:
The “IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXER PUPPETS AND REPRODUCTION OF BOXING MOVEMENTS”, the object of this request for Patent of Invention, consists in a toy, composed of boxer puppets (1), which are positioned on a small ring (2) and are monitored by two competitors by activating controls (3) disposed in pairs in two opposite points of the mentioned ring (1), preferentially on a diagonal.
The ring (2) is similar to a natural ring, that is, composed of a floor and side protection with ropes (or similar) distributed on the four sides. Each boxer puppet (1) mentioned is standing on the ring (2) floor, with the right foot (4) pivotally coupled to a specific mechanism, while the left foot (5) is also supported on a specific mechanism.
Each activating command (3) is composed by the activator itself (6) in the form of a handle (like a joystick), which is coupled on the bottom to a shaft (7) projecting inside the ring (2), passing concentrically to a guiding device (8) for the cables which will provide the actions. The shaft (7) is directly coupled to a cylindrical nucleus (9), but it is fixed to a seat (10) where a spherical joint (11) operates, enveloped by a ring (12), with ‘ears’ (13) for fixation. Just a bit ahead of the ring (12) there is a second cylindrical assembly (14), incorporating ‘ears’ (15) fixing it to the bottom, while a cable guide (16) is inserted near this second cylindrical assembly (14), while orifices (17) also serve as guides for the various cables.
After going through the orifices, already inside the ring (2), the cables meet on each side a group of support panels (18), each one equipped with a plurality of orifices (19) to direct the mentioned cables, one panel for each handle mentioned. To better understand the arrangement, the right support panel is numbered (18D), while the left support panel is numbered (18E) and these two alphabetical references also apply to the cables to be described in detail.
As to the body of each boxer puppet (1), it is formed by right (4) and left (5) feet and from each foot mentioned, there are plastic covers (20) projecting vertically, forming the puppet's legs; these covers (20) are pivoted near the feet through couplings (21) and also in the knee region, from where other covers (22) project forming the upper portion of the legs; these covers (22) end in an intermediate surrounding element (23) representing the genital and buttock regions of the puppet, where some cable passage guides (24) are concentrated. In the upper central region of this intermediate element (23) there is a connector (25) whose extremities form coupling pins for pivoting bearings (26) which incorporate a large diameter ring (27), on which the covers (28) which form the front and back parts of the puppet's (1) trunk are located.
The trunk includes a cable passage guide (29) fixed onto the mentioned cover, while two levers (30) for the arms are aligned with the passages of the cable guide mentioned (29), each one with a side ‘ear’ (31) having an orifice to receive the lower end of helicoid springs (32), whose upper ends are fixed to seats (33) incorporated to a relatively thin plastic sheet (34) projecting in the direction of the puppet's head (35), where there are terminals (36) to receive the respective cables and the covers which form the heads themselves (37). In this manner, the boxer puppet's (1) head will be movable to front and back with relative flexibility, notably the action of the head (35) in association with the helicoid springs (32).
The mentioned relatively thin plastic sheet (34) is composed of intermediate vertical slits (38), through which passes the cylindrical section (39) crosspiece which projects from these vertical slits beyond the sheet, where it pivots onto the levers (30), consequently activating the helicoid springs (32). On the free ends of this mentioned crosspiece (39) there are cylindrical sleeves (40) acting as seats for the cylindrical extremities (41) which incorporate equally cylindrical sleeves (42), with orthogonally positioned shafts in relation to the previous ones, which receive cable holder devices (43), besides helicoid springs (43a) which work to return the mentioned crosspiece (39) through a joint.
The covers (44) forming the arms are pivotally coupled onto this assembly described, which fit into seats (45) on the trunk covers, while the covers (46) forming the forearm are pivotally coupled onto those of the arms; these covers (46) incorporate the gloves (47).
The boxer puppet's (1) right foot (4) is arranged on the ring (2), particularly onto a vertical device (48), whose end forms a fixed sleeve (49) with the central shaft (50) providing a small movement for the right foot in relation to the central shaft (50), for they are united, while the mentioned vertical device is coupled onto a terminal base (51) on the side of which there is a small cylindrical tower (52), on whose diametrically opposed sector the terminals of a helicoid spring (53) are compressed, around the mentioned vertical device (48), so as to provide the right foot's return (4), whenever it rotates in translation, activated by the cable system. The left foot (5) is seated on a cylindrical device (54), in front of which a base (55) is conjugated, receiving a helicoid spring (56), with the function to always pull the left leg, folding it.
In the region of the right leg's knee, or immediately above it, the boxer puppet (1) has a knee disarming device, should the puppet receive a blow on the chin, simulating a knockout, that is, a locking element is foreseen, substantially in the form of an “L” (57), articulated onto the shaft (58); one of the ends of this locking element (57), forms a point (59) to be normally retained by the tooth (60) foreseen on the lower right leg cover, while the other end of the “L” mentioned receives a cable holder (61); a flexible side extension (62) with teeth, acts as a pressure element and locks the boxer puppet (1) in the armed position.
The activation controls (3) are divided into right command (3D) and left command (3E); the right command (3D) receives the right cables (1D), (2D), (4D), (5D) and (7D), which, after passing by the mentioned right command (3D) project inside the ring (2), go through the right support panel (18D) and extend till the respective holders.
In relation to the left command (3E) it receives the left cables (1E), (2E) (3E), (4E), (5E), which then go through the mentioned left command (3E) and project inside the ring (2), pass through the left support panel (18E) and extend till the respective holders.
Cable (3E) extends till the left foot of the boxer puppet (1), where it couples under the mentioned left foot, so that, when activated by the left handle (6) in the direction to pull cable (3E), the left leg will move backward (stretching it), that is, it leaves the left leg in an extended position, returning to normal when the knee inclines toward the front by action of the helicoid spring (56), which has the function to pull the leg and fold it. On the other hand, moving the left handle (6) sidewards, causes the right foot to rotate and, consequently, the right leg. These movements are better explained in the section where the movements are described.
Thus, the cables mentioned are projected inside the boxer puppet (1); cables (1E) and (2E), activated by the left handle, extend till the cylindrical terminals (30), directly acting on the crosspiece (39), so that these cables are responsible for raising (rotating) the arms, through the lever effect caused by the mentioned crosspiece (39).
The right and left forearms (46), respectively, receive cables (4D) and (4E), each one responsible for activating the correspondent forearm (46) when a left or right punch is provoked.
In relation to the trunk or thorax of the boxer puppet (1), it can be moved forward and to the sides. For this, cables (5D), (6D) and (7D) act on ring (27) to move the thorax forward and to the sides, while cables (1D) and (2D) are applied to the cover immediately above ring (27), so that, responding to the user's command, it allows the thorax to move to the left or right, by the rotating shaft (27a).
A stretcher (63) projects from the back of the boxer puppet's head (1), till the ring region (27) to maintain the head looking towards the front while the thorax moves, simulating the posture of an athlete practicing this sport.
On the other hand, two side stretchers (64) project from the upper portion of the internal structure of the puppet's head, which go through the ring (27) and extend till the intermediary element (23), to maintain the head aligned sideways while the thorax moves.
On the back and upper parts of the head, there is a cable holder (65) from where cable (66) is extended till holder (61), that is, it is a wire or cable (65) connecting the lever (67) of the chin and the lock (57) of the right leg. Thus, when the puppet receives a punch on the chin, the wire or cable (65) activates the lock (57) mentioned on the right leg, liberating its folding, causing the boxer to fall, simulating a knockout. To rearm the right leg and continue the fight, one must only bring the right leg forward, for the lock (57) to place it again in position. In reality, boxer puppet (1) can perform, in essence, four movements, activated by the right and left commands (3). Let us see the movements made by the right activating command:
Movement 1 (D): trunk rotation is performed starting by rotating the activator itself (6), as described;
Movement 2 (D): moving the activator itself (6) up makes the trunk incline forward, and returning the activator automatically makes the trunk return, as described;
Movement 3 (D): moving the activator itself (6) sideways (without rotating it), makes the boxer puppet's (1) waist move right or left, as described;
Movement 4 (D): the activator itself (6) has a trigger (G) (like a joystick) which, on being moved, sends the right arm forward, as described, and releasing the trigger, the arm returns.
Let us see the movements made by the left activator:
Movement 1 (E): rotating the left activator itself (6) to the right and left, makes the corresponding arm move up and down, in quick movements, as described;
Movement 2 (E): taking the activator itself (6) down, the left leg remains extended; on returning to normal, the knee inclines lightly forward, as described;
Movement 3 (E): by moving the activator itself (6) sideways, the right foot (4) rotates (consequently the right leg), from a small movement of the heel, besides causing an angular movement of the body, keeping the left foot (5) (consequently the left leg) fixed;
Movement 4 (E): the same movement 4 (D), for the left arm.
