The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
Various embodiments of the modular design greeting card motion device are shown throughout the figures. As explained more fully herein, the motion device employs a module drive mechanism, or “module”, to generate animation of certain visual elements in response to user initiated input. The module may be integrated into a modified version of a traditional greeting card or similar structure. The visual elements being animated, along with other indicia positioned on the packaging forming the greeting card, provide a theme for the amusement of the user. Additionally, certain motion components of the module are configured for interchangeability and repositioning within the module by the greeting card designer, enabling new animation patterns to be readily generated. The compact nature of the module facilitates the integration of the module into other amusement devices besides greeting cards, such as books and other items.
Referring now to the drawings in more detail and initially to
The base tray 12 includes a bottom floor 22, a perimeter upturned flange wall 24 and a plurality of posts 26 extending upwardly from the floor 22. The posts 26 serve as locations for the axial mounting of the set of gears 14 and pivot hubs 28 that also perform the function of “motion components”. The bottom floor 22 is also formed with a plurality of recesses 30 that serve as bearing regions for operatively supporting the gears 14 and pivot hubs 28 during rotation on the posts 26, as best seen in
Throughout the various embodiments of the module 10 described herein, the term “drive gear” refers to a gear receiving either a direct force input from a user, or a force from another input object with which the user interacts to provide input. The transfer gear 36 is configured to transmit by rotational gear engagement a force from a drive gear 34 to an output gear 38, either directly or through rotational interaction with other transfer gears 36. Each of the gears 14 may have upwardly extending posts 48 spaced from and parallel to the axis of the respective gear. Such posts 48 are particularly utilized by the output gears 38 to engage with the action components 18 and drive the movement of such components 18. Additionally, as can be understood, gears 14 and pivot hubs 28 are not necessarily located on each open post 26 and recess 30. The particular gears 14 and pivot hubs 28 selected are a matter of design choice based on the need to create a specific movement pattern for the visual elements being animated by either the action components 18 or directly by the output gears 38, as explained in further detail herein. It is preferable to form the base tray 12 with a number of posts 26 and recesses 30 sufficient for a module designer to generate many possible combinations of movements depending on the particular motion components implemented in the module 10. Furthermore, a particular gear 14, such as drive gear 34, may also perform the function of another type of gear, such as transfer gear 36 or output gear 38, depending on the particular configuration of the gears 14 selected to produce a desired output motion.
The mid-level cap 16 functions to retain the gears 14 and pivot hubs 28 on the respective posts 26 and within the respective recesses 30 of the bottom floor 22 of the base tray 12. The cap 16 has a number of through holes 49 aligned with the recesses 30. The through holes 49 allow the gears 14 and pivot hubs 28 to at least partially extend through the cap 16, aiding in retention of the gears and hubs while also exposing the posts 48 for engagement with the action components. While a standard cap 16 would be used, the cap 16 could be customized regarding the number and location of through holes 49 depending on the number and location of gears 14 and pivot hubs 28 used in a specific embodiment. Preferably, the mid-level cap 16 has a thickness necessary for a top surface 50 of the cap 16 to be flush with upwardly oriented cylindrical extensions 52 and 54 of the gears 14 and pivot hubs 28, respectively, as shown in
The action components 18 may then be coupled with the output gears 38 and pivot hubs 28, as shown in
Once the desired action components 18 are in place, the top cap 20 is secured over the mid-level cap 16 and the action components 18. The flange wall 24 of the base tray 12 includes corner retainers 74 for securing the top cap 20 on the remaining build-up layers of the module 10. The top cap 20 may be secured with the base tray corner retainers 74 by a variety of methods, such as by sizing the perimeter of the cap 20 to friction fit with the inside walls 76 of the corner retainers 74 or by utilizing an adhesive to secure the cap 20 perimeter to the corner retainers 74. The particular top cap 20 selected should have a number of through holes 78 positioned for alignment with the respective action components 18, enabling the desired visual elements for the greeting card design to be coupled therewith and set in motion by user input on the drive gear 34.
The module 10 is depicted in
In use, a person (e.g., the greeting card product recipient) engages a set of dimples 80 on the lower surface 44 of the drive gear cylindrical extension 42 to effect rotation of the drive gear 34. With continued reference to
As an alternative to the arrangement shown where a user physically drives the motion of the module 10 through drive gear 34, a small electric or spring wound motor (not shown) may be coupled with one of the gears 14 or pivot hubs 28 to drive the movement of the “motion components”. A battery or other power supply (not shown) may be stored within a compartment 88 formed in the base tray 12.
Turning to
The module 100 is formed by a built-up configuration similar to module 10 of
Similar to the base tray 12 of module 10, the base tray 108 includes a bottom floor 118, a plurality of recesses 120 formed into the bottom floor 118 to serve as bearing regions operatively supporting particular gears 110 and pivot hubs 122 in rotation, and a plurality of posts 124 extending upwardly from the bottom floor 118 in the bearing regions and with which the gears 110 and hubs 122 may be axially mounted. The gears 110 include the drive gear 104, which receives a rotation inducing force from the user input mechanism 102, one or more transfer gears 126 and one or more output gears 128 coupled with the action components 112. Selected gears 110 (i.e., gears that are likely to be utilized in the module 100 as output gears 128, depending on the configuration selected by the module designer) have upwardly extending posts 130 spaced from and parallel to the axis of the respective gear.
As with the configuration of the module 10 shown in
One example of a user input mechanism 102 is a pulley system. The pulley system 102 includes a driving pulley wheel 136, a crank arm 138 rigidly connected to the axis of the pulley wheel 136 for imparting rotation thereof, and a flexible band 140 for transferring the motion of the pulley wheel 136 to an extension 142 of the drive gear 104. The pulley wheel 136 may be rotatably mounted to a mounting bracket 144 on an underside of the wheel 136, and to the top cap 114 on an upper side of the wheel 136, via an axial pin (not shown) to stabilize the wheel 104 during rotation. The drive gear extension 142 is generally an axially-aligned, upwardly oriented cylinder with a circumferential groove 146 for receiving and frictionally engaging with the band 140. Likewise, the pulley wheel 136 has a circumferential groove 148 frictionally engaging the band 140. The flexible band 140 may be formed of rubber or other suitable materials. It should be also understood that other alternative user input mechanisms may be substituted for the pulley system 102 of the module 100, such as additional gears, linkage arrangements, levers, and other mechanical structures.
Upon the desired gears 110 and pivot hubs 122 being placed on the appropriate posts 124, the action components 112 are then set in place to create the desired movements to be translated into animation by the attached visual elements 300. With the exemplary arrangement shown in
In use, a person applies an input force on the crank arm 138 to induce movement of the action components 112 and ultimately animation of the visual elements 300. The tension on the band 140 extending around the drive gear extension 142 and the pulley wheel 136 enables the rotation of the wheel 136 via the crank arm 138 to induce rotation of the drive gear 104 and corresponding movement of the motion components (i.e., gears 110, action components 112 and pivot hubs 122). The drive gear 104 transfers the rotational motion to the remaining gears 110, and the output gears 128 transfer the rotational motion via the posts 130 to swivel bar 150 and slide blocks 152. In particular, each swivel bar 150 has a hub 156 mating with an upwardly cylindrical extension 158 of the pivot hub 122 and a slotted finger 160 extending radially from hub 156 and configured to receive the post 130 of the respective output gear 128. The hub 156 undergoes a reciprocating pivot motion, or swivel, as the slotted finger 160 undergoes an oscillating action set in motion via the circular travel path of the output gear post 130. Likewise, each slide block 152 has a slotted base 164 configured to receive the post 130 of the respective output gear 128 and an upper member 166 extending from the base 164. The upper member 166
undergoes a linear back-and-forth motion due to both the circular travel of the post 130 received in the slotted base 164 causing oscillation of the slotted base 164, as well as the elongate configuration of the respective top cap through hole 154 through which the upper member 166 extends establishing a linear travel path.
As referenced above, the module 100 is preferably integrated into a greeting card product 400, or packaging structure, having the cover panel 134 and a bottom panel 168 disposed beneath the bottom plate 116. The greeting card product 400 may optionally have a rear panel (not shown) that cooperates with the bottom panel 168 to provide an interior of the card where a greeting may be placed. The packaging structure 400 may be formed from card stock in a similar configuration to the cover panel 82 and bottom panel 84 of module 10.
With particular reference to
In a similar fashion, the horse riding scene depicted in
As can be appreciated, the various embodiments of the module drive mechanism and other elements forming a greeting card assembly can provide virtually endless combinations of movement for visual elements present on the front of the greeting card product. Other embodiments of and modifications to the invention are beneficial as well and are within the scope of the present invention. For example, the movement of the components can be used to produce mechanical sounds. This sound can be caused, for instance, by a protrusion on one of the motion components contacting a flexible arm. When the arm is released, it strikes a surface and causes a sound. Sound can also be created by having loose items enclosed in a moving component, such as small metal or plastic balls. When the component turns, the balls strike each other, creating sound. Sound can also be produced by clicking, ringing, stirring, and crinkle plastic.
The modular design of the greeting card assembly allows for interchangeability of moving parts, while maintaining a thin profile mechanism desired for greeting cards and the like. The manual user input also means that the user has control over the motion input, and thus, the motion output. The user can start and stop the motion, can reverse motion direction, and can change the speed of the motion. Still further, it should be understood that various other motion components may be implemented into the module drive mechanism to generate a vast array of animation possibilities. Examples of such motion components include worm and helical gears, multi-linkage assemblies, rack and pinion arrangements, and other known components.
From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the invention.
Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative of applications of the principles of this invention, and not in a limiting sense.
This application, having attorney docket number HALC.130460, claims the benefit of and priority to commonly owned U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/821,688, filed Aug. 7, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60821688 | Aug 2006 | US |