US2887820A - Movable figures with changing face expressions - Google Patents

Description

F. BEYE'R May 26, 1959 MOVABLE FIGURES WITH CHANGING FACE EXPRESSIONS Filed Dec. 16, 1957 [-76 5 INVENTOR.

FRITZ BEYER 14;;- o'zA/e Y FIG: 4

United. States Patent MOVABLE FIGURES WITI-I CHANGING FACE EXPRESSIONS Fritz Beyer, Stamford, Conn.

\ Application December 16, 1957, Serial No. 703,090

2 Claims. (Cl. 46-120) The present invention relates to improvements in animated toys, and more specifically to toys representing figures ofpersons or animals, such as cartoon characters or the like.

One object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the character described which, when moving parts representing the limbs of a character, also moves a facial part which is constructed and arranged in such a manner that its movement represents not only a movement of the eyes but also of other parts of the face, so as to change the entire face expression.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the character described which is primarily flat and consists of simple, inexpensive pieces of cardboard or the like which can be assembled easily and speedily, and which is light in weight, which requires only very little space for storing and shipping, and which can be manipulated easily and without the application of any appreciable amount of skill.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing a preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing:

Figure l is a front view of a preferred embodiment of my invention shown in a first position;

Fig. 2 is a rear view showing the embodiment in a second position;

Fig. 3 is a rear view showing the device in the first position of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial front view of the device in the second position of Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 5 is a fractional sectional view on the line 55 of of Fig. 4.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The example shown in the drawing and denominated by the numeral represents a monkey figure, or a character known as Jumping Jack. However, it will be obvious that the principle of my invention can be applied also to any other cardboard figures.

The numerals 11 and 12 denote movable arm portions and the numerals 13 and 14 denote movable leg portions, while the numeral 15 denotes a movable longitudinal member, which by means of a plate 16 (Fig. 5) is attached to a face portion 17, illustrating a pair of eyes, eyelids and a chin with a lower mouth portion. A pair of plates 18 are secured at one side to an upper face portion 19, representing the face from the upper lip and nose to the forehead and hair, and at the other side to a main body plate at either side of the element 17, so that the element 17 is guided between the plates 18 when it slides up and down between the elements 19 and 20. Intermediate the plates 18 there is provided in the plate 20 an upright slot 30 through which extends slidably the plate 16, which joins the element 17 to the member 15.- The elements 11 and 12 as well as 13 and "14 are pivotally connected to eachother, and the elements 11 and 13: are pivotally connected to the body plate 20 by means of rivets 21 or by any other suitable means. A full string 24 has a substantially straight main portion'and two pairs of branch portions, of which one pair extends laterally, inopposite direction from each other, from the upper extremity. of the string 24 'whereas theiother pair of branch portions extends from a section of the string 24 which section is in spaced relation to the aforesaid upper extremity thereof. Eccentric'sections 22 of the elements- 11 and 13 are connected to the outer extremities of said branch portions of thestring 24, and asection 23.0f the:

member 15 is connected to the main portion of the pull string 24. To the upper portion of the body plate 20 is secured a suspension string 25. If a person holds the device at the string 25 with one hand, while pulling the string 24 with the other hand, as is illustrated in Fig. 1 the parts 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 move from their respective positions shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5 to the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The extent of this movement is limited by the plate 16 sliding in the slot 30. The element 19 has eye-shaped window holes 31 at the area of the eyes. Through the holes 31 are visible the eyes and eye brows shown on the element 17, while the lower mouth portion and the chin on the element 17 protrude beyond the lower edge of the element 19. Thus, while pulling the string 24, the mouth appears wide open andthe eyes appear reduced or partially or entirely closed as if the character were screaming, shouting, singing, laughing or crying.

As soon as the string 24 is released, the weight of the arm and leg portions 11 to 14 causes them to swing downwardly thereby pulling the parts 15, 16 and 17 upwardly, so as to regain the normal face expression shown in Fig. 4.

While in the present instance only window holes representing eye openings have been shown, it is obvious that also other window holes on the body or face of a character could be utilized in the same manner as explained above for letting appear and disappear any designs, images, slogans, advertising matter or the like.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article and ditferent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A movable figure with changing face expressions comprising a substantially flat body member having a trunk portion and a head portion provided with a vertical slot, a pair of guide members parallel to said slot being secured at either side of the slot to said body member, an upper face member having eye holes and being secured to said guide members so as to cover the head portion of said body member and to be in spaced relation thereto, a first plate representing a pair of eyes with eyelashes and a lower mouth portion and being shiftably interposed between said guide members and said face and body members, a block slidably extended through said slot being secured to said first plate, a second plate being slidable on the back of said body member and secured to said block, limbs pivoted to said body member, and a string Patented May 26, 1959s extending beyond the lower end of the figure and having a main portion as well as branch portions laterally extending from said main portion and having said branch portions connected to eccentric sections to said limbs while said main portion is connected to said second plate so as to cause by pulling said string an upwards swinging of the limbs and a downward movement of said plates, thereby changing the position of the eyes, eye lashes and mouth portion on said first plate relative to said upper face member to such an extent as to simulate a changing of the entire face expression of the figure.

2'. A device of the character described comprising a body member having an opening, an upper face member having eye holes being attached to one side of said body member and in spaced relation thereto, a first plate slidably interposed between said body member and said upper face member and representing eyes with eye lashes and a lower mouth portion, a second plate being slidable on the back of said body member and being connected through said opening to said first plate, limbs pivoted to 20 said body member, and a string having a main portion and References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 436,455 Crandall Sept. 16, 1890 839,770 Kalkbrenner Dec. 25, 1906 1,447,926 Conway Mar. 6, 1923 2,595,971 Mossbauer May 6, 1952 2,716,839- Young Sept. 6, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 104,280 Great Britain Mar. 1, 1917

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