Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6224455
-
Patent Number
6,224,455
-
Date Filed
Thursday, August 3, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 1, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Ackun, Jr.; Jacob K.
- Miller; Bena B.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 446 297
- 446 298
- 446 303
- 446 408
- 446 330
- 446 352
- 446 353
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A toy figure includes a head, torso, arms and legs conforming generally to a plush figure. The head defines a mouth and the arms are pivotally secured to the torso. The arms each support a hand between which a simulated harmonica is secured. The arms and simulated harmonica are pivotable between and arms lowered position to an intermediate arms forward position and to an arms raised position. In the arms raised position, the simulated harmonica is placed against the mouth providing a harmonica play posture. A sound and control circuit within the torso of the toy figure respond to arm position to provide silence in the arms lowered position, speech or singing in the arms forward position, and harmonica music in the arms raised position. A light emitting diode is supported within the transparent body of the simulated harmonica and is caused to flash by the sound and control circuit when the arms are raised to the harmonica play posture.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to toy figures and particularly to those having sound producing apparatus therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Through the years practitioner's in the toy art have provided a great number of toy figures and dolls. In attempting to advance the toy arts associated with such toy figures and dolls, practitioner's have provided a virtually endless variety thereof. One approach to enhancing dolls and toy figures has been found in providing one or more so-called action features.
Thus, toy figures have been provided which perform action features such as walking, talking and skating to name a few. With the advent of low-cost mass-produced digital electronic sound and speech circuitry, practitioner's have been quick to add features such as speech, singing and/or music to dolls and toy figures. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,561 issued to Pracas sets forth a TALKING DOLL having a microphone and sound recording device along with a sound playback device and speaker. The doll is provided with contacts or buttons to activate the sound recording device and the sound playback device. A child may speak to the doll and record messages, which may be played back at a later time.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,403 issued to Weiser sets forth a FINGER OPERATED MAGICIAN SIMULATING ANIMATED TOY having a hollow base which supports a hollow upright animal figure which in turn includes a pair of swingable arms. A housing communicates with, and is located upon the base in front of the figure. The housing includes a slot through which panels are vertically slidable. A plurality of levers are housed in the base and include exposed buttons. A lever is coupled to each arm of the figure and to each panel to individually swing the arms and raise and lower the panels. As the buttons are pushed, the figures arms are moved simulating independent action of the figure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,449 issued to Handy et al. sets forth an APPENDAGE MOTION RESPONSIVE DOLL having a body defining a torso portion and outwardly extending leg and arm appendages. The body further supports a neck and head. The arm appendages are pivotally secured to the torso to permit motion thereof. The arms are further fabricated in a manner permitting bending or flexing the arm appendages. One or more sensors are supported within one or more of the arms to provide signals when the arms are bent. An internally supported voice unit produces a selected group of sounds responsive to the degree of motion signals provided as the arm is bent.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,172 issued to Basile sets forth a DOLL INCLUDING RECORDED MESSAGE MEANS having a head, a body and a motorized appendage for proving a caress. The doll further includes a recorder for recording a personal message. The doll also includes disengagement means for disengaging the motor upon an applied force exceeding a predetermined threshold level.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,271,744 issued to Kulesza sets forth a MUSICAL TOY having a bellows for creating a flow of air and an air tube connecting the bellows to a musical instrument such as a harmonica. The musical instrument is selectively moved relative to the outlet of the air tube to create different tones as the bellows are operated to provide air flow.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,571,674 issued to Kingsley sets forth a MECHANICAL TOY having a base supporting a human-like toy figure which includes wind-up drive motor mechanism and a movable arm. The toy figure holds a simulated slide trombone having a movable slide joined to the movable arm. As the wind-up drive unit operates the arm is moved to manipulate the slide of the trombone. Means within the torso of the figure are also driven by the wind-up drive mechanism to produce music.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,770,455 issued to Berger sets forth a MECHANICALLY OPERATED FIGURE TOY having a housing upon which a plurality of figures are supported. A wind-up mechanism within the housing drives a plurality of articulating crack members which in turn operate the arms supported upon the housing associated with each figure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,911 issued to Klose et al. sets forth an INTERACTIVE COMMUNICATING TOY FIGURE having a doll including electronic control circuitry which responds to selection of one of a plurality of switches on the doll. In response, the control circuitry selects associated vocal messages. The control circuitry includes a stored program of instructions and also permits a problem-solution mode of operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,205 issued to Spector sets forth a SOUND TAPE PLAYER HAVING ANIMATED CHARACTER having a player for pre-recorded sound magnetic tape packages in a cartridge or cassette format together with a three-dimensional character related to the recording. The character is provided with eye and mouth openings covered by translucent elements. Within the character, light guides extend upwardly from a light source to the eye and mouth elements. As recorded sound is produced, the light emitted by the light source is modulated in accordance therewith.
While the foregoing described prior art devices have to some extent improved the art and have in some instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for ever more improved, interesting and amusing toy figures having associated sound and music play.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved toy figure. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved toy figure capable of producing musical sounds in response to play activity.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a toy figure comprising: a toy figure body having a torso, a pair of legs, a pair of arms, and a pair of hands supported on the arms and a head defining a mouth; a pair of shoulder joints pivotally supporting the arms at the torso for movement between an arms lowered position, an arms forward position and a arms raised position; a common shaft joining the shoulder joints to provide common pivotal movement of the pair of arms; a simulated musical instrument secured between the hands; a sound and control circuit supported within the torso for producing first audible sounds and second audible sounds; switch means coupled to the pair of shoulder joints operative in the arms forward position to cause the sound and control circuit to produce the first audible sounds and operative in the arms raised position to cause the sound and control circuit to produce the second audible sounds, the arms raised position positioning the simulated musical instrument against the mouth to posture the toy figure to simulate play of a musical instrument.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
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:
FIG. 1
sets forth a front perspective view of toy figure constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2
sets forth a partial section side elevation view of the present invention toy figure;
FIG. 3
sets forth a partial section view of the operative mechanism within the present invention toy figure;
FIG. 4
sets forth a partial section view of the mechanism of
FIG. 3
taken along section lines
4
—
4
therein;
FIG. 5
sets forth a partial view of the switch mechanism of the present invention toy figure in the arms fully raised position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1
sets forth a front perspective view of a toy figure constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral
10
. Toy
FIG. 10
includes a plush body
11
fabricated generally in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques, and having a flexible outer cloth “skin” covering a padded interior body. Thus, body
11
includes a torso
12
supporting a head
13
and a pair of arms
20
and
21
. Torso
12
is supported by a pair of legs
15
and
16
. Arms
20
and
21
support respective hands
22
and
23
. Head
13
defines simulated mouth portion
14
.
In accordance with the present invention, a simulated harmonica
30
preferably formed of a material such as molded plastic or the like and preferably having a light transmissive body such as transparent tinted plastic is generally referenced by numeral
30
. Simulated harmonica
30
supports a light source which in the embodiment of
FIG. 1
includes a light emitting diode
33
. In further accordance with the present invention, simulated harmonica
30
is secured to hand
23
by an attachment
32
and as is better seen in
FIG. 2
, is similarly secured to hand
22
by an attachment
31
.
A plurality of connecting wires
35
couple light emitting diode
33
to sound and control circuit
44
(seen in
FIG. 2
) operative within torso
12
.
In accordance with the present invention and as is better seen in
FIG. 2
, arms
20
and
21
are pivotally secured to torso
12
such that hands
22
and
23
and arms
20
and
21
may be positioned at either a lower hand position (dash-line position
51
), a forward extension position (seen in solid-line representation in FIG.
2
), or a fully raised position
53
(shown in dash-line representation in FIG.
2
). Thus, returning to
FIG. 1
, arms
20
and
21
as well as hands
22
and
23
are shown in the forward extension position. As a result, simulated harmonica
30
is held in a forwardly extended position between hands
22
and
23
. In further accordance with the present invention, arms
20
and
21
and hands
22
and
23
may be lowered in the direction indicated by arrow
25
to position toy
FIG. 10
in a hands lowered position. Alternatively, arms
20
and
21
and hands
22
and
23
may be raised upwardly from the arms forward position shown in
FIG. 1
in the direction indicated by arrow
26
. As arms
20
and
21
pivot hands
22
and
23
upwardly in the direction indicated by arrow
26
, simulated harmonica
30
is brought into proximity with mouth
14
. This provides a posture simulating a typical harmonica playing activity. In accordance with the operation of control and sound circuit
44
, (seen in
FIG. 3
) and the operation of shoulder joints
42
and
46
, (also seen in
FIG. 3
) light emitting diode
33
is caused to flash and harmonica playing music is produced by toy FIG.
10
. In this manner, harmonica playing is simulated in an amusing fashion. It has been found that the flashing of light emitting diode enhances the amusement value of this operation.
In further accordance with the present invention, the positioning of arms
20
and
21
in the forwardly position shown in
FIG. 1
causes sound circuit
44
(seen in
FIG. 2
) to produce a different sound such as talking or singing rather than harmonica music. Finally, with arms
20
and
21
pivoted downwardly in the direction indicated by arrow
25
to the arms lowered position, the sound output of control circuit is terminated. Thus, the user is able to determine the sound being produced as toy
FIG. 10
responds to the position of arms
20
and
21
. Of particular importance is the simulated harmonica play achieved as arms
20
and
21
are pivoted fully upwardly to play simulated harmonica
30
against mouth
14
and to play harmonica music with accompanying flashing of light emitting diode
33
.
FIG. 2
sets forth a partial section side view of toy FIG.
10
. As described above, toy
FIG. 10
includes a body
11
having a torso
12
supporting a head
13
. Head
13
defines a mouth
14
. Torso
10
further supports an arm
20
a shoulder joint
42
in a pivotal attachment. Torso
12
further supports a housing
40
within which a plurality of batteries
41
and a sound and control circuit
44
are supported. Shoulder joint
42
includes a shaft
43
extending through the rotating portion of shoulder joint
42
described below. A speaker
45
is supported within housing
40
and is operative coupled to sound and control circuit
44
.
In accordance with the present invention, arm
20
having hand
22
is shown in solid-line representation in
FIG. 2
in its middle or intermediate position corresponding to an arms forward position. As described above, arm
20
(and arm
21
shown in
FIG. 1
) supports a simulated harmonica
30
between hands
22
and
23
(hand
23
seen in FIG.
1
). Thus, simulated harmonica
30
is secured to hand
22
by an attachment
31
.
In accordance with the present invention, arm
20
and arm
21
(seen in
FIG. 1
) may be pivoted downwardly in the direction indicated by arrow
50
to the lowered hand position shown by dashed outline
51
. When so positioned, and by means set forth below in greater detail, sound and control circuit
44
does not produce any sound output. Conversely, with arms
20
and
21
(arm
21
seen in
FIG. 1
) positioned in the intermediate or arms forward position shown in solid-line representation in
FIG. 2
, sound and control circuit
44
is caused by means set forth below in greater detail to produce speaking or singing type sounds which do not include harmonica type music. Finally, and in further accordance with the present invention, with arms
20
and
21
(arm
21
seen in
FIG. 1
) pivoted upwardly in the direction indicated by arrow
52
to the fully raised position shown by dashed-line representation
53
, simulated harmonica
30
is positioned against mouth
14
providing a harmonica playing position for toy FIG.
10
. Means set forth below in greater detail, respond to the fully raised position of arms
20
and
21
to cause sound and control circuit
44
to output harmonica type music. Concurrently, sound and control circuit
44
operates light emitting diode
33
(seen in
FIG. 1
) to provide flashing light within simulated harmonica
30
which is visible due to the transparent material from which harmonica
30
is fabricated.
FIG. 3
sets forth a partial section view of toy
FIG. 10
showing the operative mechanism within housing
40
. Toy
FIG. 10
includes a pair of arms
20
and
21
secured to housing
40
by a pair of shoulder joints
42
and
46
respectively. Shoulder joints
42
and
46
provide the above described pivotal attachment of arms
20
and
21
to torso
12
(seen in FIG.
1
). Thus, housing
40
is supported within the interior of torso
12
by conventional fabrication means (not shown). Housing
40
defines a pair of apertures
60
and
61
. Aperture
60
rotatably supports shoulder joint
42
while aperture
61
rotatably supports shoulder joint
46
.
More specifically, shoulder joint
42
includes a shoulder bearing
62
having an arm attachment
63
secured thereto. Shoulder joint
42
further includes a bearing
64
rotatably supported within aperture
60
. A flange
67
is supported on the interior side of bearing
64
to maintain the position of bearing
64
within aperture
60
. A detent plate
70
set forth below in
FIG. 4
in greater detail is supported within the interior of housing
40
and further supports a detent rotor (seen in FIG.
4
). A post
71
extends from detent plate
77
and receives end
66
of spring
65
. Spring
65
is wound upon the interior portion of flange
67
.
Shoulder joint
46
includes a bearing
90
rotatably supported within aperture
61
and a flange
92
supported within the interior of housing
40
to position bearing
90
. Shoulder joint
46
further includes an arm attachment
91
. An elongated square cross sectioned shaft
43
extends between shoulder joints
42
and
46
. The square cross section of shaft
43
secures arm attachments
63
and
91
such that arms
20
and
21
pivot together about apertures
60
and
61
of housing
40
. A switch wheel
93
having a pair of switch cams
94
and
95
supported on opposite side thereof is coupled to shaft
43
and rotatable therewith.
Housing
40
further supports a sound and control circuit
44
fabricated in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques and including a plurality of electronic components such as components
47
. Sound and control circuit is operatively coupled to batteries
41
(seen in
FIG. 2
) by a plurality of wires such as wire
55
. A further plurality of wires
56
and
57
operatively couples sound and control circuit
44
to speaker
45
(seen in FIG.
2
).
Sound and control circuit
44
further includes a pair of switches
100
and
110
supported with housing
40
by a pair of switch blocks
101
and
111
. Switch
100
includes a pair of elongated spring contacts
102
and
103
supported in a normally open or non-contacting position by block
101
. This non-contacting position is better seen in
FIG. 5
below. Similarly, switch
110
includes a pair of elongated spring contacts
112
and
113
supported in a non-contacting position by block
111
. Switch contact
103
supports a block
104
which extends toward cam
94
of switch wheel
93
. Similarly, spring contact
112
supports a block
114
which extends toward cam
95
of switch wheel
93
.
Switches
100
and
110
are operated by cams
94
and
95
in accordance with the pivotal position of switch wheel
93
. It will be recalled that switch wheel
93
is joined to shaft
43
and as a results pivots in accordance with the pivoting of arms
20
and
21
. In the arm position shown in
FIG. 3
, which corresponds to the arms extended forward position shown in
FIG. 1
, cam
94
contacts block
104
and forces contact
103
against contact
102
. As a result switch
100
is closed. Correspondingly, the position of switch wheel
93
shown in
FIG. 3
moves cam
95
out of contact with block
114
leaving contacts
112
and
113
of switch
110
separated which in turn place switch
110
in an open switch position. Thus, in the arms forward pivotal position of arms
20
and
21
shown in
FIG. 3
, switch
100
is closed and switch
110
is opened. The closure of switch
100
causes sound and control circuit
44
to produce predetermined singing and/speaking type sounds for toy FIG.
10
.
In further accordance with the present invention and as is described above, the pivoting of arms
20
and
21
to the fully lowered position shown in dashed-line representation
51
in
FIG. 2
pivots switch wheel
93
such that cam
94
is moved away from contact with block
104
. As a result, switch
100
returns to the open configuration in which contacts
102
and
103
are separated. The pivoting of switch wheel
93
in response to the arms lowered position moves cam
95
farther from block
114
allowing switch
110
to remain in the open condition shown in FIG.
3
. As a result, sound and control circuit
44
ceases all sound output.
With arms
20
and
21
in the lowered position shown in dashed-line representation
51
in FIG.
2
and with both switches
100
and
110
in the open configuration, the upward pivotal movement of arms
20
and
21
rotates switch wheel
93
. Once this upward pivotal movement reaches the arms forward position shown in
FIG. 3
, switch
100
is closed by the cooperation of cam
94
and block
104
while switch
110
remains open. Thus, the above described arms forward of position of
FIG. 10
is accompanied by a singing and speech sound output from sound and control circuit
44
. Thereafter, as arms
20
and
21
are further pivoted upwardly to the arms raised position shown in dashed-line representation
53
in
FIG. 2
, simulated harmonica
30
(also seen in
FIG. 2
) is positioned against the toy figures mouth. Correspondingly, switch wheel
93
is further pivoted by the upward pivotal movement of arms
20
and
21
moving cam
94
away from block
104
and allowing switch
100
to return to an open configuration. Correspondingly, the pivoting of switch wheel
93
moves cam
95
into contact with block
114
to the configuration shown in FIG.
5
. This results in forcing contact
112
against contact
113
proving closure of switch
110
. With switch
110
closed, sound and control circuit
44
produces output sounds corresponding to harmonica music.
Sound and control circuit
44
may be fabricated in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques utilizing an internal memory having stored audio data and a microprocessor having a stored instruction set to provide sound signal output. It will be well understood by those skilled in the art that virtually any standard sound circuit may be utilized as part of sound and control circuit
44
. The essential characteristic of sound and control circuit
44
is the provision of appropriate signals to speaker
45
(seen in
FIG. 2
) for audiblizing a predetermined speech or singing message each time switch
100
is closed and for producing audible harmonica music each time switch
110
is closed. For example, a combination of a microprocessor, read-only memory, speech synthesizer, an audio output amplifier suitable for functioning within sound and control circuit
44
is formed as a single integrated circuit chip device manufactured by Texas Instruments, Inc. under the device name TMS 50C44. However, it will be understood that a variety of standard integrated circuit may be used within sound and control circuit
44
.
FIG. 4
sets forth a partial section view of toy
FIG. 10
taken along section lines
4
—
4
in FIG.
3
. Toy
FIG. 10
includes a plate
70
supported within housing
40
(seen in FIG.
3
). Detent plate
70
defines a detent recess
72
having an arcuate slot
77
and a detent notch
76
formed therein. A detent rotor
73
includes a detent tab
78
and an arcuate slot
75
. Detent rotor
73
defines a square aperture
74
which receives shaft
43
to support detent rotor
73
within detent recess
72
. Slot
75
provides a spring action for the support of detent notch
76
. A post
71
is supported upon detent plate
70
and receives spring end
66
of spring
65
(seen in FIG.
3
).
In the position shown in solid-line representation in FIG. the arms (arms
20
and
21
seen in
FIG. 3
) are positioned in the arms lowered position shown dashed-line representation
51
in FIG.
2
. Accordingly, detent tab
78
is received within detent notch
76
. As a result, the force of spring
65
(seen in
FIG. 3
) is resisted and arms
20
and
21
(also seen in
FIG. 3
) are latched in the arms lowered position.
When arms
20
and
21
are pivoted upwardly, detent rotor
73
is pivoted in the direction indicated by arrow
79
. The action of detent tab
78
and the resilient support thereof provided by slot
75
cooperate to require that the pivoting force upon arms
20
and
21
(seen in
FIG. 3
) be sufficient to overcome the detent action and move detent tab
78
from notch
76
into slot
77
. Once detent tab
78
has moved into slot
77
, no further resistance to pivoting movement is provided. When detent rotor
73
is again pivoted as arms
20
and
21
(seen in
FIG. 3
) are again pivoted to the arms lowered position, detent tab
73
is again received within notch
76
providing an arms down positioning.
FIG. 5
sets forth a partial view of switch wheel
93
in combination within switches
100
and
110
.
FIG. 5
shows the positions of switches
100
and
110
when switch wheel
93
is pivoted in response to the pivoting of arms
20
and
21
to the fully raised position shown in dashed-line representation
53
in FIG.
2
. As described above, switch
100
includes a switch block
101
supporting a pair of spring contacts
102
and
103
. Contact
103
further supports a block
104
extending toward switch wheel
93
. Similarly, switch
110
includes a switch block
111
supporting a pair of spring contacts
112
and
113
. Switch contact
112
further supports a block
114
extending toward switch wheel
93
. In the position shown, cam
94
has moved beyond block
104
and as a result contacts
102
and
103
are separated and switch
100
is open. Conversely, the position of switch wheel
93
moves cam
95
against block
114
causing contact
112
to be moved against contact
113
providing closure of switch
110
.
What has been shown is a toy figure which simulates musical instrument play in response to arm positioning. The simulated play includes establishing a first arm position in which no sound is produced by the internal sound and control circuit. An arms forward position causes the sound and control circuit to provide singing and/or speaking while a fully raises arm position places a simulated harmonica against the figures mouth to provide a harmonica play posture. Correspondingly, the sound and control circuit within the toy figure respond to the simulated harmonica play position by outputting sound corresponding to harmonica music.
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
- 1. A toy figure comprising:a toy figure body having a torso, a pair of legs, a pair of arms, and a pair of hands supported on said arms and a head defining a mouth; a pair of shoulder joints pivotally supporting said arms at said torso for movement between an arms lowered position, arms forward position and an arms raised position; a common shaft joining said shoulder joints to provide common pivotal movement of said pair of arms; a simulated musical instrument secured between said hands; a sound and control circuit supported within said torso for producing first audible sounds and second audible sounds; switch means coupled to said pair of shoulder joints operative in said arms forward position to cause said sound and control circuit to produce said first audible sounds and operative in said arms raised position to cause said sound and control circuit to produce said second audible sounds, said arms raised position positioning said simulated musical instrument against said mouth to posture said toy figure to simulate play of a musical instrument.
- 2. The toy figure set forth in claim 1 wherein said simulated musical instrument includes a light emitting diode coupled to said sound and control circuit and wherein said sound and control circuit blinks said light emitting when said arms are in said arms raised position.
- 3. The toy figure set forth in claim 2 wherein said simulated musical instrument is constructed to resemble a harmonica and wherein said second audible sounds resemble a harmonic sound.
- 4. The toy figure set forth in claim 3 wherein said switch means include a switch wheel joined to said shaft and having a pair of cams and a pair of switches coupled to said sound and control circuit operated between open and closed states by said cams.
US Referenced Citations (16)