US2677215A - Movable featured figure toy - Google Patents

Description

y 4, 954 A. M. ZALKIND MOVABLE FEATURED FIGURE TOY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 9, 1950 Ewen/i013 y 4, 1954 A. M. ZALKIND 2,677,215

MOVABLE FEATURED FIGURE TOY Filed Aug. 9, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR May 4, 1954 A. M. ZALKIND MOVABLE FEATURED FIGURE TOY 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 9, 1950 IN VENTOR Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 18 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement devices, and more particularly to a device comprising a comic face having movable features.

It is an object of my invention to provide an amusement device or toy for children having a plurality of moving parts and so devised as to furnish a highly comical effect when set in motion.

It is another object of my invention to provide an amusement device having a simple and rugged mechanism which will not easily break or become out of order.

It is a further object of invention to so construct my device that it may be easily made from die out parts for the most part, and of other elements of relatively simple shape so as to achieve economical manufacture.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a combination of moving parts and mechanism for efiecting motion thereof such as to achieve a maximum amount of motion for a minimum complexity of mechanism.

In general, my invention comprises a representation of a face having movable eyes, ears, and nose, all motivated by a simple arrangement of a crank throw and two crank links or rods actuatable thereby. The construction is such that when the crank throw is manually rotated it effects rotation of the nose while at the same time moving the eyes and the ears in a lifelike and amusing manner. Further, by mounting a representation of an insect such as a bee or butterfly on the nose so as to rotate therewith, the eiTect of the motion of the eyes and ears is such as to appear to follow the path of the insect.

A detailed description of my invention will now be given in conjunction with the appended drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a device incorporating the various aspects thereof,

Figure 2 is a section through 22 of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a section through 3-3 of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a section similar to Figure 3, but showing a modification of the mechanism,

Figure 5 is a section through 5--5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a section similar to Figures 3 and 4, but showing a further modification of the mechanism,

Figure 7 is a section through 1-! of Figure 6,

Figure 8 shows another mode of transmitting power to effect motion of the mechanism, and

Figure 9 is a section through 9--9 of Figure 8.

With reference to Figures 1-3, my invention comprises a pair of plates l6 and I4 maintained in spaced parallel relation by being secured 'to an intermediate block H. In this instance, the plate l0 carries a representation of the face of a dog thereon, and it is cut to provide legs 20, a body portion 23, and head portion 26, all achieved by suitable die cutting and lithographing on a fiat composition material such as ply- Wood or hardboard or other suitable medium used in the toy industry.

Mounted intermediate the plates and rotatively carried thereby is a crank throw which may be comprised of a piece of bent wire. The crank throw terminates at one end in a nose piece 33 and at the other end in a crank handle 31 which may be manually grasped for the purpose of rotating the crank throw and the nose 33 which is keyed thereto. Mounted on the nose so as to revolve therewith is a representation of an insect such as a butterfly, bee, spider, etc., a butterfly being shown in this instance. I Pivotally carried by the throw of the crank are a pair of connecting rods or links 42 which pass slidably through bores in eyes 44 and terminate in ear elements 41. The eye elements may be simple turnings having body portions carried rotatively in the plates I6 and I4, and it will be appreciated that rotation of the crank throw will effect an oscillatory motion of the links 42 in a well-known manner and thus efiect rotary oscillation of the respective eye elements 44, as well as motion of ears 4'! carried at the ends of the links.

Thus, if the handle 3'! be rotated, the effect produced is that of an insect flying about the nose of the dog, the nose of the dog rotating therewith, and the eyes of the dog moving individually and appearing to be focused substantially at the insect in its traverse, or at least to an extent whereat the pupils of the eyes appear crossed at the uppermost points of traverse of the insect so as to achieve a highly comical efiect. Simultaneously, the ears gyrate in what appears to be large, irregular paths as though caused by great fear or extreme aggravation, and considerably augment the over-all efiect.

Figure 3 shows in dot-dash lines the position taken by the ears at one point in the traverse of the crank throw 30, to illustrate the amount of motion effected. The arrangement is such that the eyes and ears appear to move with no apparent phasing therebetween; that is, there appears to be a lack of coordination between the eyes and between the ears, which further augments the illusion of nervous upset which the animal is experiencing.

With reference to the form show in Figures 4 and 5, a variation is illustrated in which the links are flat die cut members 50 and 50' of any suitable material, and provided with slots 53 and 53' slidably engaging flattened crank pins 56 and 56' secured off center of the rotative eye members Gil and 60'. This will be recognized as capable of producing the same effect as the sliding relationship of the links and eyes as shown in Figure 3, but provides the advantage of making the links and their respective ears integral for manufacturing economy. It will be appreciated that under such circumstances the eye elements can be arranged to be supported solely in the front plate 19 in the manner shown in Figure 5. A washer 62 is carried on the throw of the crank so as to eliminate interference between the link and the protruding end of pin 55. It will be understood that the pin 56' which cooperates with link 50 must be made somewhat longer than the pin 56 so as to extend far enough to protrude into the slot of the link 50.

In the form shown in Figures 6 and 7, the general arrangement of the crank throw, links, etc., is the same as shown in Figures 1 through 3 except that a pulley IE! is keyed to the axial portion of the crank throw and the rear plate '52 is provided with bars M which may be fastened to a wall; for example, by screws, as shown. Wrapped around the pulley I0 is a string 16, the ends of which terminate in balls '58. The arrangement is such that the balls 18 may be grasped in the two hands .of a child and the string thus motivated back and forth so that by ric tional engagement with pulley Til reversible rotation thereof and thus of the crank throw is effected.

This particular form of the toy may be utilized in a child's playroom or nursery by being secured permanently to a wall or door, and in efiect provides an animated picture operative by a small child. If desired, a frame may be provided about the device to further augment the effect of a picture hanging on the wall.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 8 and 9 illustrates how my device may be adapted for use as a trundle toy. In this instance the plates [8 and M are secured in any suitable manner to a cross block 80 fastened between standards 82 through which passes an axle 85 keyed to side wheels 88. A bevel gear 93 is keyed to the axle, while a push stick 92 is secured in the front edge of block 86. Thus, pulling or pushing on stick 92 will cause the device to roll on the floor and eifect rotation of the gear 93. A shaft 93 is journaled intermediate block 89 and a spacer block 85, and bevel pinions 9'! and 99 are keyed at the outer ends of shaft 93. Another bevel gear IE2 is keyed on the axial portion of crank throw I05, and it will be understood that rotation of gear 9 engaging pinion 99 serves to rotate shaft 93 which in turn rotates pinion 91, thereby rotating gear I92 which it engages, and thus also rotating crank throw I05 to effect motion of the mechanism, all as hereinabove described. If desired, a tail element 156! may be secured to the outer end of the crank throw for rotation therewith.

It should be particularly noted that the arrangement is such that the face of the animal is toward the stick 92 whereby a child may view the action of the device in pushing or pulling it.

I am aware that various modifications and changes may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and therefore I do not seek to be limited to the specific i1lus- 4 trations embodied herein, except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An amusement device comprising a representation of a face, a pair of movably supported eyes and ears related to said face, and mechanism comprising a crank throw having connecting links operative to effect motion of said eyes and ears and means for rotating said crank throw to motivate said links, for effecting motion of said eyes and ears, at least one of said features being carried on one of said links.

' 2. An amusement device comprising a representation of a face, a pair of movably supported eyesand ears related to said face, and a mecha nism comprising a crank throw having connecting links operative to effect motion of said eyes and ears, and means for rotating said crank throw to motivate said links for effecting motion of said eyes and ears, said eyes bein rotatively mounted, said links having respective sliding connections therewith.

3. An amusement device comprising a representation of a face, a pair of movably supported eyes and ears related to said face, and a mechanism comprising a crank throw having connect ing links operative to effect motion of said eyes and ears, and means for rotating said crank throw to motivate said links for efiecting motion of said eyes and ears, said ears being carried at outer extremities of respective links.

4. An amusement device comprising a representation of a face, a pair of movably supported eyes and ears related to said face, and a mecha-- nism comprising a crank throw having connecting links operative to effect motion of said eyes and ears, and means for rotating said crank throw to motivate said links for effecting motion of said eyes and ears, said eyes being rotatively mounted, said links having respective sliding connections therewith, and said ears being carried at outer extremities of said respective links.

5. An amusement device comprising a representation of a face, a pair of movably supported eyes and ears related to said face, and a mechanism comprising a crank throw having connecting links operative to effect motion of said eyes and ears, and means for rotating said crank throw to motivate said links for effecting motion of said eyes and ears, and a nose element for said face, mounted on an axially rotatable portion of said crank throw and rotatable therewith.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5, including the representation of an insect mounted on and carried by said nose.

7. An amusement device comprising a representation of a face, a pair of movably supported eyes and ears related to said face, and a mechanism comprising a crank throw having connecting links operative to effect motion of said eyes and ears, and means for rotating said crank throw to motivate said links for effecting motion of said eyes and ears, and a representation of an insect supported on said crank throw and rotatable therewith.

8. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said crank throw terminates in a manually operable crank handle for rotation of said crank throw.

9. An amusement device comprising a representation of a face, a pair of movably supported eyes and ears related to said face, and a mechanism comprising a crank throw having connecting links operative to effect motion of said eyes and ears, and means for rotating said crank throw to motivate said links for effecting motion of said eyes and ears, and a pulley secured on an axially rotatable portion of said crank throw, a string wrapped around said pulley having frictional engagement therewith, and having a free end to be pulled for eifecting rotation of said crank throw.

10. An amusement device comprising a representation of a face, a pair of movably supported eyes andears related to said face, and a mechanism comprising a crank throw having connecting links operative to effect motion of said eyes and ears, and means for rotating said crank throw to motivate said links for effecting motion of said'eyes and ears, said link comprises rods and said eyes having bores through which said rods slidably pass, said eyes being constrained to rotative motion with respective said face.

11. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said links comprise elements having elongated slots, said eyes having crank pins slidably engaging respective slots, and said eyes being constrained to rotative motion with respect to said face.

12. A device as set forth in claim 1, including means for mounting said device on wheels for ground propulsion, comprising transmission means intermediate said wheels and said crank throw for rotation of the latter as said device is propelled on the ground.

13. An amusement device comprising a representation of a face, a pair of movably supported eyes and ears related to said face, and a mechanism comprising a crank throw having connecting links operative to effect motion of said eyes and ears, and means for rotating said crank throw to motivate said links for efiecting motion of said eyes and ears, said device comprising a pair of spaced plates, said representation of said face bein on one of said plates and said crank throw being supported between said plates.

14. A device as set forth in claim 13, the respectiv ends of said crank protruding through said plates, one of said ends being bent to form a crank handle for rotation of said crank throw.

15. An amusement device comprising a pair of spaced plates, a crank throw having end portions supported in said plates and disposed for rotation therebetween, a pair of elements rotatively supported in said plates and having a por- 50 iii tion disposed therebetween, and a pair of links rotatively joined to said crank throw and slidably engaging said rotative elements, one of said plates carrying a representation of a face, including movable features motivated by said links.

16. An amusement device comprising a front and rear plate and means for maintaining said plates in spaced parallel relation, a representation of a face on the exterior of one of said plates, a representation of a rear view of said animal on the exterior of the other of said plates, a crank throw rotatively supported between said plates and having axial portions protruding therethrough, one of said axial portions carrying the nose feature of said animal and the other of said axial portions being shaped to provide a crank handle, a pair of sliding links rotatively joined to said crank throw intermediate said plates, a pair of eye elements rotatively supported by said plates and having intermediate portions therebetween provided with bores, said sliding links passing through respective bores in said eye elements, and. representations of ears of said animal secured to the outer ends of respective links.

17. An amusement device comprising a crank throw and a plurality of links pivoted thereto and actuatable thereby, and including a representation of a face having movable features actuatable by respective links, said links having a relative sliding connection with certain of said features and directly carrying others of said features, wherein said certain features are rotatably mounted with respect to said face so as to oscillate by virtue of the sliding connection with said links when said links are actuated by said crank throw.

18. A device as set forth-in claim 17, wherein said links are angularly arranged with respect to each other so that they move in non-paralleled directions so as to eifect out of phase and individually distinctive motions to the features motivated respectively thereby.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 698,324 Sanger Apr. 22, 1902 355,057 Hoyt May 28, 1907 2,519,499 OSullivan Aug. 22, 1950

Images