Vacuum assisted wall climbing toy

Abstract

The toy of the subject invention is an action figure or plush character toy that climbs or moves on walls and other vertical surfaces by means of suction adhesion. The toy could also crawl across the floor. The toy has suction cups on its arms and legs that allow it to adhere to the wall by selective sequential application and release of a vacuum. A swiveling motion at the waist of the toy provides the means for locomotion. Arms and legs lift off the wall and make contact in a way that advances across the wall.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention pertains to wall climbing toys, and more specifically to wall climbing toys employing suction cups under which a vacuum is sequentially applied and released.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,503,152 to Aoki et al. discloses a wall climbing amusement device having centrally-hinged limbs, each of said limbs having suction cups thereon which are alternatively actuated by a vacuum pump and turned by a motor to allow the device to traverse a vertical surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,525 to Pack et al. discloses a centrally hinged wall climbing robot with suction cups on each of its limbs, the actuation of which are timed along with the movement of each limb to affect an “inch-worm” like movement up a vertical surface.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0119726 to Wilk discloses a toy using a vacuum pump, valves, and motors in coordination with limbs having suctions cups on the bottoms thereof to allow the robot to walk on walls and ceilings.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,346 to Yberle discloses a four-sided wall climbing robot with suction cups at the end of limbs which are moved in unison with the actuation of gripping suction cups and the movement of the non-gripping suction cups.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,510 to Collie discloses a four-sided wall climbing robot which utilizes a vacuum pump to remove air from a suction cup via actuation of a valve timed for movement of the robot along a vertical surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,009 to Wolfe et al. discloses a robot which has suction cups on various limbs that are actuated by valve-controlled ejectors and motors timed to move the limbs of the robot in sequence to afford movement.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,658 to Danel et al. discloses a vehicle able to walk on vertical surfaces using vacuum-actuated suction cups on limbs which are moved in sequence along with the activation and deactivation of the vacuum.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,500 to Anderson discloses a wall climbing toy using suction cups on the ends of limbs and a motor to move the limbs to move the toy up the wall.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,259 to Pin-Huang discloses an amusement device having suction cups on limbs which are sequentially moved by a motor to allow the device to climb a wall.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,572 to Sze discloses legs for a toy having a motor that operates to open a valve in a suction cup on the bottom of each leg to release a vacuum in the suction cup before movement of the leg.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,199 to Locricchio discloses a manually actuated toy having legs with suction cups on the bottoms thereof which are deactivated upon the opening of a valve in the suction cup the leg is lifted in a waling movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The toy of the subject invention is an action figure or plush character toy that climbs or moves on walls and other vertical surfaces by means of suction adhesion. The toy could also crawl across the floor. The toy has suction cups on its arms and legs that allow it to adhere to the wall by selective sequential application and release of a vacuum. A swiveling motion at the waist of the toy provides the means for locomotion. Arms and legs lift off the wall and make contact in a way that advances across the wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the toy of the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the toy of the subject invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the toy of the subject invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the locomotion and wall adhesion components of the toy of the subject invention;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the vacuum release valve of the toy of the subject invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a second embodiment of the subject invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the vacuum release valve of the second embodiment of the subject invention;

FIG. 8 is an exposed side view of the vacuum release valve holding a vacuum of the second embodiment of the subject invention; and

FIG. 9 is an exposed side view of the vacuum release valve during vacuum release of the second embodiment of the subject invention.

These and other subjects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of a best mode embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the toy of the subject invention includes: two vacuum bellows pumps 102 and 103 powered by a bellows gear motor 104; two air tube systems 106 and 108; four ribbed suction cups 110; two spring-loaded release valves 112 and 114; one articulated chassis/frame 116 and 117; and one drive crankshaft 118 powered by a drive gear motor 120.

A. Vacuum Bellows

This toy 100 of the subject invention adheres to walls through the use of two independent vacuum systems. Two vacuum bellows pumps 102 being moved in and out with a reciprocating bellows crankshaft 122 or camshaft create the vacuum. A single electric bellows gear motor 104 powers both vacuum bellows. There are vacuum release valves 112 and 114 in each bellows assembly that causes the airflow to move in one direction through the network of tubing, pulling air in through the suction cups 114 to create a vacuum.

B. Air Tube Systems

The suction cups 110 on right arm and left leg are fed by one vacuum pump bellows 102. Another vacuum bellows pump 103 feeds the suction cups on left arm and right leg. There is preferably a single air line from each vacuum bellows pump 102 or 103 that splits into two, one tube attaching to each of the two suction cups 114 fed by that vacuum bellows pump 102 or 103.

C. Spring Loaded Vacuum Release Valves

The spring loaded vacuum release valves 112 and 114 are located in each of the two arm suction cups 110. When one arm and its opposite leg pull away from the wall, the air seal is broken as the force of the arm being pulled opens the associated release valve 112 or 114, detaching those suction cups 110 from the wall.

D. Ribbed Suction Cups

The suction cups 110 associated with each arm and leg preferably have multiple concentric ribs 124 on the inner surface in order to create a few separate independent seals. They also serve as traction treads.

E. Articulated Chassis/Frame

The chassis of the toy 100 has all components mounted on it, and the overall shape represents a human, animal, or vehicular figure with its limbs outstretched. There is articulation at the waist that allows it to swivel in order to facilitate pivoting movement of the upper frame 116 of the chassis relative to the lower frame 117 of the chassis.

F. Drive Crankshaft

The drive crankshaft 118 of the toy 100 is powered by an independent drive gear motor 120. Two opposing cranks on each end of the drive crank shaft 118 are mounted in the lower frame 117. The two opposing cranks are trapped in two fixed points in the upper frame 116, which causes the toy 100 to gyrate or pivot at the center waist portion.

The sequence of events of the operation of the subject invention is as follows:

A switch 126 on the toy 100 activates the two battery 128 operated motors 104 and 120 at once. The toy 100 starts swiveling at the waist and the vacuum bellow pumps 102 and 103 are activated, pulling air through the suction cups 110. The toy 100 is then placed against a smooth wall.

Assume that the right arm and left leg of the toy are making contact with the wall at a given point. The left arm and right leg will swivel as the upper frame 116 and lower frame 117 portions pivot with respect to each other, and make contact with, and are held firmly to, the wall due to the vacuum created under the left arm and right leg suction cups 110. Also at this time, the right arm and left leg, already attached to the wall, will pull away from the wall. More specifically, the vacuum release valve 114 associated with the right suction cup 110 will be opened by the force of the drive gear motor 120 lifting the right arm suction cup from the wall, which results in release of the vacuum under both the right arm suction cup 110 and the left leg suction cup 110 as they share the same air tube vacuum system 108.

Next, the right arm and left leg advance as the upper frame 116 and lower frame 1117 portions pivot in the opposite directions of their prior motion described above. Contemporaneously with the above described movement of the right arm and left leg portions and subsequent reattachment thereof, the left arm and right leg suction cups 110 are pulled off of the wall (just after the right arm and left leg suction cups reattach to the wall) as the vacuum release valve 112 associated with the left arm is opened by the force of the drive gear motor 120 lifting the left arm suction cup 110 from the wall which results in release of the vacuum under both the left arm suction cup and right suction cup 110 as they share the same vacuum air tube system 106.

Referring specifically to FIG. 5, spring loaded release valve 112 located on the left arm portion of toy 100 and spring loaded release valve 114 located on the right arm portion of toy 100 are next described. Each of the valves 112 and 114 are attached to frame 130 and are in air communication with a ribbed suction cup 110. Vacuum connection 132 provides vacuum to ribbed suction cup 110 through valves 112 and 114. Compression spring 134 biases airway block 136 having o-ring seal 138 toward plunger 140 such that o-ring seal 138 and plunger 140 initially form an air seal. The movement of toy 100 that lifts the arm portion associated with valve 112 or 114 will cause airway block 136 to move against the bias of compression spring 134 and toward ribbed suction cup 110 thus breaking the air seal between o-ring seal 138 on airway block 136 and plunger 140 which results in air/vacuum release by release valve 112 or release valve 114.

Next referring to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 in which a second embodiment of the subject invention is shown, the first embodiment thereof is incorporated by reference and elements and element numbers therein referred to in discussion of the second embodiment of the subject invention are specifically so incorporated in the second embodiment. FIG. 6 shows a top view of the second embodiment. Instead of vacuum bellows pumps 102 and 103 of the first embodiment, traditional vacuum motors 142 and 144 well known in the art are employed. Additionally, instead of spring loaded release valve 112 located on the left arm portion of toy 100 and spring loaded release valve 114 located on the right arm portion of toy 100, as shown in the first embodiment, the second embodiment employs first membrane valve 146 in vacuum communication with air tube system 108 and second membrane valve 148 in vacuum communication with air tube system 106. Instead of being located on the left arm portion and right arm portion of toy 100, first membrane valve 146 and second membrane valve 148 are located within lower articulated frame 117 of the toy 100.

The operation of the second embodiment of the subject invention is next described. An infrared remote control well known in the art can be employed to facilitate the below operation. Power to vacuum motors 142 and 144 and to drive gear motor 120 is separately applied. Toy 100 is then placed on a wall, ceiling or floor. Vacuum motors 142 and 144 are then deactivated while drive gear motor 120 remains activated to move toy 100. While toy 100 is moving, this motion along with intermittent wall contact provides a pumping action through air tube system 100 and air tube system 108 sufficient to maintain a vacuum that will adhere toy 100 to a wall or ceiling without use of vacuum motors 142 and 144.

Next referring to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 first membrane valve 146 and second membrane valve 148 of the second embodiment are described in detail. Each of first membrane valve 146 and second membrane valve 148 has a tubular base 150 with air passageways 152 that connect with air tube system 106 or air tube system 108. Membrane 154 is located in tubular base 150 and is secured therein by cap 156.

Next referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the functioning of first membrane valve 146 and second membrane valve 148 is described. Membrane 154 of first membrane valve 146 and second membrane valve 148 are comprised of a flexible yet resilient organic polymer and are dome shaped by deformable with sufficient resilience to return to their initial dome shape as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Each membrane 154 has slits 156, preferably x-shaped, in the top thereof. Slits 156 are air/vacuum tight when membrane 154 is in the vacuum retaining configuration of FIG. 8 wherein membrane 154 is dome shaped. Slits 156 are not air/vacuum tight, but instead opens to release the vacuum, when membrane 154 Is in the deformed non-dome shape of FIG. 9. The deformation of membrane 154 and opening of slits 156 to release the vacuum through air passageways 152 or FIG. 9 is initiated by the force of the ribbed suction cup 110 being pulled away as an arm or leg portion of toy 100 lifts from a wall or ceiling.

Claims

1. A toy movable on, and vacuum attachable to, horizontal and vertical surfaces comprising: a body having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion and the lower portion being pivotally connected for swinging movement therebetween; at least four limbs connected to the body including a left upper, right upper, left lower and right lower, the left upper and right lower defining a first opposite limb group and the right upper and left lower defining a second opposite limb group; suction cups on each of the at least four limbs of the first opposite limb group and the second opposite limb group, the suction cups each having an interior with a vacuum passageway therethrough; first vacuum passages in vacuum communication with the first opposite limb group and with the vacuum passageways of the suction cups thereon; second vacuum passages in vacuum communication with the second opposite limb group and with the vacuum passageways of the suction cups thereon; a first vacuum release valve in vacuum communication with the vacuum passageway of at least one of the suction cups on the first opposite limb group; a second vacuum release valve in vacuum communication with the vacuum passageway of at least one of the suction cups on the second opposite limb group; a motor causing the swinging movement between the upper portion of the body and the lower portion of the body; a motor creating a vacuum in the first vacuum passages and in the second vacuum passages, the vacuum being released alternately in the first opposite limb group and in the second opposite limb group by one of the first vacuum release valve and the second vacuum release valve during alternate disengagement from the horizontal or vertical surfaces of the first opposite limb group and the second opposite limb group based upon the swinging movement between the upper portion of the body and the lower portion of the body.

2. The toy of claim 1 further comprising a remote control to control the motor causing the swinging movement and the motor creating a vacuum.

3. The toy of claim 1 wherein the suction cups have on the interior thereof ridges forming concentric rings that provide traction and that form independent vacuum seal chambers.

4. The toy of claim 1 wherein the motor creating a vacuum includes flexible bellows for vacuum formation.

5. The toy of claim 1 wherein the first vacuum release valve and the second vacuum release valve each include a membrane with slits therethrough, the membrane being resiliently deformable from an initial vacuum tight configuration with the slits closed to a subsequent deformed configuration in which the slits open to release the vacuum.

6. The toy of claim 1 wherein the first vacuum release valve and the second vacuum release valve each include a compression spring that initially biases a vacuum passageway block that has a seal thereon toward a plunger on the vacuum release valve for the seal and the plunger to initially form a vacuum seal.

7. The toy of claim 1 wherein the first vacuum release valve is on the at least one of the suction cups of the first opposite limb group and the second vacuum release valve is on the at least one of the suction cups of the second opposite limb group.

8. The toy of claim 1 wherein the first vacuum release valve and the second vacuum release valve are in the lower portion of the body.

9. The toy of claim 1 wherein the motor creating a vacuum is activated continuously during the movement of the toy.

10. The toy of claim 1 wherein the motor creating a vacuum is deactivated upon movement of the toy.

11. A toy movable on, and vacuum attachable to, horizontal and vertical surfaces comprising: a body having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion and the lower portion being pivotally connected for swinging movement therebetween; at least four limbs connected to the body including a left upper, right upper, left lower and right lower, the left upper and right lower defining a first opposite limb group and the right upper and left lower defining a second opposite limb group; suction cups on each of the at least four limbs of the first opposite limb group and the second opposite limb group, the suction cups each having an interior with a vacuum passageway therethrough; first vacuum passages in vacuum communication with the first opposite limb group and with the vacuum passageways of the suction cups thereon; second vacuum passages in vacuum communication with the second opposite limb group and with the vacuum passageways of the suction cups thereon; a first vacuum release valve in vacuum communication with the vacuum passageway of at least one of the suction cups on the first opposite limb group, the first vacuum release valve on the at least one of the suction cups of the first opposite limb group; a second vacuum release valve in vacuum communication with the vacuum passageway of at least one of the suction cups on the second opposite limb group, the second vacuum release valve on the at least one of the suction cups of the second opposite limb group; a motor causing the swinging movement between the upper portion of the body and the lower portion of the body; a motor creating a vacuum in the first vacuum passages and in the second vacuum passages, the motor creating a vacuum being activated continuously during the movement of the toy, the vacuum being released alternately in the first opposite limb group and in the second opposite limb group by one of the first vacuum release valve and the second vacuum release valve during alternate disengagement from the horizontal or vertical surfaces of the first opposite limb group and the second opposite limb group based upon the swinging movement between the upper portion of the body and the lower portion of the body.

12. The toy of claim 11 further comprising a remote control to control the motor causing the swinging movement and the motor creating a vacuum.

13. The toy of claim 11 wherein the suction cups have on the interior thereof ridges forming concentric rings that provide traction and that form independent vacuum seal chambers.

14. The toy of claim 11 wherein the motor creating a vacuum includes flexible bellows for vacuum formation.

15. The toy of claim 11 wherein the first vacuum release valve and the second vacuum release valve each include a membrane with slits therethrough, the membrane being resiliently deformable from an initial vacuum tight configuration with the slits closed to a subsequent deformed configuration in which the slits open to release the vacuum.

16. The toy of claim 11 wherein the first vacuum release valve and the second vacuum release valve each include a compression spring that initially biases a vacuum passageway block that has a seal thereon toward a plunger on the vacuum release valve for the seal and the plunger to initially form a vacuum seal.

17. A toy movable on, and vacuum attachable to, horizontal and vertical surfaces comprising: a body having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion and the lower portion being pivotally connected for swinging movement therebetween; at least four limbs connected to the body including a left upper, right upper, left lower and right lower, the left upper and right lower defining a first opposite limb group and the right upper and left lower defining a second opposite limb group; suction cups on each of the at least four limbs of the first opposite limb group and the second opposite limb group, the suction cups each having an interior with a vacuum passageway therethrough; first vacuum passages in vacuum communication with the first opposite limb group and with the vacuum passageways of the suction cups thereon; second vacuum passages in vacuum communication with the second opposite limb group and with the vacuum passageways of the suction cups thereon; a first vacuum release valve in vacuum communication with the vacuum passageway of at least one of the suction cups on the first opposite limb group, the first vacuum release valve in the lower portion of the body; a second vacuum release valve in vacuum communication with the vacuum passageway of at least one of the suction cups on the second opposite limb group, the second vacuum release valve in the lower portion of the body; a motor causing the swinging movement between the upper portion of the body and the lower portion of the body; a motor creating a vacuum in the first vacuum passages and in the second vacuum passages, the motor creating a vacuum being deactivated upon the movement of the toy, the vacuum being released alternately in the first opposite limb group and in the second opposite limb group by one of the first vacuum release valve and the second vacuum release valve during alternate disengagement from the horizontal or vertical surfaces of the first opposite limb group and the second opposite limb group based upon the swinging movement between the upper portion of the body and the lower portion of the body.

18. The toy of claim 17 further comprising a remote control to control the motor causing the swinging movement and the motor creating a vacuum.

19. The toy of claim 17 wherein the suction cups have on the interior thereof ridges forming concentric rings that provide traction and that form independent vacuum seal chambers.

20. The toy of claim 17 wherein the motor creating a vacuum includes flexible bellows for vacuum formation.

21. The toy of claim 17 wherein the first vacuum release valve and the second vacuum release valve each include a membrane with slits therethrough, the membrane being resiliently deformable from an initial vacuum tight configuration with the slits closed to a subsequent deformed configuration in which the slits open to release the vacuum.

22. The toy of claim 17 wherein the first vacuum release valve and the second vacuum release valve each include a compression spring that initially biases a vacuum passageway block that has a seal thereon toward a plunger on the vacuum release valve for the seal and the plunger to initially form a vacuum seal.