Movable toy with vibrating element

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a movable toy having a vibrator arrangement adapted to be mounted in a toy body. The vibrator includes one or more vibrating elements eccentrically mounted on the shaft of a motor that is energized into rotation by a switch. The rotation of the eccentrically mounted vibrating element causes the toy to vibrate and move in different directions depending on how the vibrator is mounted in the toy body.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a movable toy, and more particularly to a movable soft toy that includes vibrating means and can be vibrated or moved in a pre­determined direction.

[0002] Most consumers prefer a movable toy to an immovable toy because a movable toy such as toy animal can be moved forward or backward while vibrating as if alive. For the purpose of making a toy vibrate or move in a predetermined direction, the toy has to be provided with a mechanical device.

[0003] Conventional mechanical devices, which are housed within the toy body, generally consist of a plurality of gears interconnected with a drive mechanism through a pulley and a belt. Such toy can be vibrated at a stationary position, or moved forward or backward in a predetermined direction in response to the operation of the drive mechanism.

[0004] However, the conventional mechanical device is generally composed of a plurality of various components and its operating mechanism is complicated. It is therefore burdensome to manufacture or assemble the components, which increases manufacturing cost to lower competitive power in the commercial market.

[0005] Moreover, since such conventional mechanical device is adapted to be installed only within a toy having a body made of some hard material, such as a steel plate or a synthetic resin, it is difficult to mount the mechanical device within a toy body made of soft material like cloth or rubber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a movable toy which can be vibrated or moved in a predetermined direction in response to the vibration of a vibrating member mounted eccentrically on a motor shaft within the body of the toy.

[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a movable toy which can be vibrated or moved forwards and backwards in response to the vibration of vibrating members eccentrically mounted on the both sides of the motor shaft.

[0008] A movable toy, in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a toy body and a vibrator. The vibrator has an upper cover and a lower cover and is mounted within the toy body. The vibrator includes a push member with a push plate on one end thereof. A push button switch mechanism is installed in a passthrough opening in the upper cover of the vibrator. A battery housing adapted to receive a battery is located within the covers of the vibrator as is a motor adapted to be energized into rotation by operation of the switch. A vibrating member is eccentrically mounted on the one side of the shaft of the motor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] A particular preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view, partially broken down, illustrating a vibrator in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view, partially broken down, illustrating the push button switch mechanism mounted on the push member;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view, partially broken down, illustrating a vibrator in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view, illustrating forward movement of the toy in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view, illustrating backward movement of the toy in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit used in the embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0010] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a movable soft toy, in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, comprises a vibrator 1 having an upper cover 2 and a lower cover 3. The vibrator 1 is designed to be mounted on the bottom of the toy body 4 (see FIG. 4) which is shaped like an animal and made of some soft material such as cloth, rubber, or synthetic resin. A push member 5 having a circular push plate 5a on one end of a cylindrical body portion 5b is provided with a push button switch mechanism 6 at the other end thereof. Switch me­chanism 6 may be of known design and includes an upper cam 7 and a lower cam 8 installed within a passthrough opening 2a in the bottom of the upper cover 2.

[0011] The vibrator also includes a battery housing 9 adapted to receive a battery 10. The housing 9 is formed on both sides of the upper cover 2 and the lower cover 3 adjacent the push member 5. A motor 11 and a pair of switch plates 12 made of conductive material are fitted between the upper cover 2 and the lower cover 3. The switch plates 12 are each formed with an opening 12a and a pair of stepped portions 12b.

[0012] A circular vibrating member 13 is eccentrically mounted on one end of the motor shaft 14. The switching plates 12 and the push member 5 including the push button switch mechanism 6 form a switch means (SW) to connect and disconnect the motor 11 from the battery 10 (See FIG. 6), thus the vibrator 1 begins to vibrate or stops vibrating. The actual electrical connections schematically illustrated in FIG. 6 are not specifically shown in FIGS. 2, 3 or 4 in order to avoid unnecessarily complicating the drawings. It is clear however that such connections may be easily made by known means.

[0013] A coil spring 15 is resiliently installed around the cylindrical body portion 5b between the push plate 5a and the upper cover 2 as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. A pair of locking openings 16 are formed on both side surfaces of the upper cover 2 to receive corresponding locking lugs 17 of the lower cover 3, respectively. In addition, two pairs of mounting flanges 18, 18′ are formed on the inner surfaces of the upper cover 2 and lower cover 3 to receive two rubber rings 19 in which the motor 11 is supported.

[0014] Further, a guide protrusion 20, which is adapted to receive the opening 12a of the switch plates 12, is formed on both sides of the upper cover 2. A guide groove 21 which is adapted to receive the stepped portion 12b of the switch plates 12 is formed near each guide protrusion 20. The guide protrusion 20 and the guide groove 21 formed on the right side of the upper cover 2 are slightly higher than those formed on the left side of the upper cover 2 to leave a predetermined gap therebetween. Also a pair of guide slots (not shown) to receive corresponding guide protrusions 20 of the upper cover 2 are formed within each recess 22 of the lower cover 3. Accordingly, when the upper cover 2 and the lower cover 3 are assembled, they do not leave any clearance therebetween. Each end of the switch plates 12 is held between its respective guide protrusion 20 of the lower cover 3 and guide slot of the upper cover 2 to maintain the predetermined gap between the other over­lapping ends to the switch plates 12.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 2, the push button switch mechanism 6 is provided with an upper cam 7 and a lower cam 8. The lower cam 8 is provided with a larger diameter portion having a pair of toothed portions 8a whose surfaces are cut away obliquely, a recess 8b which is formed longitudinally on the periphery thereof, and a smaller diameter portion which is adapted to be fitted within the cylindrical bore 5c of the push member 5. The recess 8b is adapted to cooperate with a stopper 23 formed in the passthrough opening 2a of the upper cover 2 so as to prevent rotation but permit slidable up and down movement.

[0016] The upper cam 7 is provided with first and second toothed portions 7a, 7b whose surfaces are also cut away obliquely and a rectangular opening 7c formed between the toothed portions. Therefore, a pair of the toothed portions 8a, 8b of the lower cam 8 may contact preferentially the first or the second toothed portion 7a, 7b of the upper cam 7.

[0017] Operation of the first embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be explained hereinafter.

[0018] When the push plate 5a of the push member 5 provided with coil spring 15 is pressed, the lower cam 8 whose recess 8b cooperates with the stopper 23 moves straight up. The inclined surface of the toothed portion 8a pushes up the first or the second toothed portion 7a, 7b of the upper cam 7. Accordingly, a driving force is produced between the included surfaces of the toothed portions 7a, 7b, 8a to rotate the upper cam 7.

[0019] At this time, when the rectangular opening 7c of the upper cam 7 does not coincide with the stopper 23, the toothed portions 7a, 7b of the upper cam 7 are raised on the toothed portion 8a of the lower cam 8 to be maintained in its raised position. Therefore, the raised upper cam 7 pushes the left switch plate 12 up to a predetermined height to contact the right switch plate 12, whereby DC current is supplied from the battery 10 to the motor 11 to rotate motor shaft 14 (see FIG. 6). The vibrating member 13 mounted on the motor shaft 14 rotates to produce vibration induced by the unbalanced rotational moment. As a result, the toy vibrates and appears to be alive.

[0020] If the push member 5 is pressed again, the lower cam 8 whose recess 8b cooperates with the stopper 23 again moves straight up. The rectangular opening 7c of the upper cam 7 now coincides with the stopper 23 so that the stopper 23 is slidably received within the opening 7c. Accordingly the upper cam 7 moves down to disconnect the switch plates 12. Therefore DC current from the battery 10 to the motor 11 is cut off, the motor 11 stops rotating and the toy stops vibrating. In other words, the toy in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention either vibrates or stops vibrating by selectively pressing the push member 5.

[0021] Meanwhile, if the vibrating toy is laid on a flat surface such as a floor, it can be moved forward or backward. That is, the vibration induced by the vibrator 1 may change the friction force between the bottom face of the toy body 4 and the flat surface of the floor so that the friction force may vary from a maximum to a minimum value at the bottom face of the toy body 4 where the center of the graving exists. Therefore, the toy itself may be moved forward or backward in the direction upon which the combined forces exert.

[0022] When the vibrator 1 is installed within the toy body 4 in which the motor 11, which occupies a major portion of the weight of the vibrator 1, is headed for forward movement, the center of the gravity of the vibrator 1 may be located at front portion of the toy body 4 so that the toy can be moved forward as shown in FIG. 4. When the vibrator 1 is installed within the toy body 4 with the motor 11 being headed for backward movement, the toy may be moved backward as shown in FIG. 5. Therefore, the moving direction of the toy can be selected by changing the location and the mounting direction of the vibrator 1.

[0023] The toy in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention may not move in a straight line because the vibrating member 13 is mounted on only one end of the motor shaft 14. Thus the resultant force is headed in an oblique direction.

[0024] To provide additional advantageous features to the first embedment of the present invention, there is shown a second embodiment of the present invention in FIG. 3. The construction of the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment except for the switch means (SW) and the vibrating member 13. Accordingly, the same reference numerals are given to the same components, respectively and detailed description of those now will be omitted. In the second embodiment of the present invention, a vibrating member 13 is mounted on each end of the motor shafts 14, respectively and a spring-loaded push button switch 24 with a protrusion 24a is substituted for switch means (SW) of the first embodiment.

[0025] Even though the operation of the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, the vibrating and moving pattern of the toy may be more stable due to the simple construction of the switch means (SW). That is, the push member 5 is provided with coil spring 15 as in FIG. 1. If the push plate 5a is pressed, the protrusion 24a of the push button switch 24, which is fitted within the rectangular bore 5c, moves up and the push button switch 24 is closed. Then DC current is supplied from the battery 10 to the motor 11 to rotate motor shafts 14. Therefore, the vibrating members 13 mounted on both ends of the motor shafts 14 rotate to produce a uniform vibration induced by the unbalanced rotational moment.

[0026] At this time, the rotational moment produced by the opposite vibrating members 13 is symmetrical with the same magnitude and same direction, thereby producing uniform vibration. Therefore, the toy moves in a straight line, forward or backward, owing to the resultant force which is the combined force of the weight of the vibrator 1 and the friction force between the toy body 4 and the floor. As in the first embodiment, the toy can be moved forward or backward by preferentially installing the vibrator with its motor 11 headed for forward or backward motion.

[0027] When the push plate 5a of vibrating toy is pressed again, the push button switch 24 opens to stop the vibrating or moving operation of the toy. As described above, if the push plate 5a is pressed again, the toy is vibrated in a forward or backward motion.

[0028] As described above, a movable toy incorporating the principles of the present invention can be vibrated and moved forward or backward in response to the vibration of the vibrating member 13 mounted eccentrically on one or both ends of the motor shafts 14. Thus the toy may induce curiosity in children. Moreover, since the vibrator 1 which is mounted within the toy body 4 can be made of some soft material such as cloth, rubber, or synthetic resin as well as being simple to construct, the toy in accordance with the principles of the present invention can be applicable to any toy, regardless of its shape or material.

[0029] Although two specific embodiments have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not in any way limited thereto, and it should be recognized that variations and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. For example, the vibrating members are illustrated as being fixed to corresponding positions of the motor shafts, but each vibrating member can be fixed asymmetrically to the motor shafts. This can produce additional types of vibration and movement.

Claims

1. A movable toy having a toy body (4) and a vibra­tor (1) mounted within said toy body, said vibrator compri­sing :
an upper cover (2) having a passthrough opening (2a) therein ;
a lower cover (3) adapted to be assembled with said upper cover ;
a push member (5) including a push plate (5a) on one end thereof and a switch means (6) on the other end thereof, said push member (5) being resiliently installed within said passthrough opening (2a) of said upper cover and adapted to open and close said switch means upon being pressed ;
a battery housing (9) mounted in one of said covers and adapted to receive a battery (10) for electrical connection to said switch means ;
a motor (11) having a motor shaft (14) extending from at least one side thereof, said motor being mounted in one of said covers and adapted to be energized into rotation by said battery when connected thereto by said switch means and ;
at least one vibrating member (13) being eccentri­cally mounted on at least one end of said motor shaft (14).

2. A movable toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said motor shaft (14) extends beyond both sides of said motor and a vibrating member (13) is eccentrically mounted on each end of said shaft.

3. A movable toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said toy body is made of soft material.

4. A movable toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said toy body is made of cloth.

5. A movable toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said toy body is made of synthetic resin.

6. A movable toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said toy body is made of rubber.

7. A movable toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said switch means (6) comprises an upper (7) and a lower (8) cam and a pair of switch plates (12).

8. A movable toy in accordance with claim 7 wherein said switch plates (12) have openings (12a) therein and stepped portions (12b) and said upper cover (2) is provided with a pair of guide protrusions (20) which are fitted within said openings of said switch plates and guide slots in said lower cover in turn, and a pair of guide grooves (21) in said upper cover which receive said stepped portions (125) of said switching plates (12).

9. A movable toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said upper cover (2) is provided with a pair of locking openings (16) on the opposite side surfaces to receive corresponding locking lugs (17) formed on opposite side surfaces of the lower cover (3) when said covers are assem­bled.

10. A movable toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said motor (1)) is provided with a pair of rubber rings (19) around its periphery.

11. A movable toy in accordance with claim 10 wherein said upper and lower covers are formed with two pairs of mounting flanges (18,18′) for said rubber rings (19) on their inner surface, respectively.

12. A movable toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said switch means comprises a spring-loaded push button switch (24).

13. A movable toy in accordance with claim 2 wherein a vibrating member (13) is eccentrically fixed to correspon­ding positions on both ends of said motor shafts (14), respectively.

14. A movable toy in accordance with claim 2 wherein a vibrating member is eccentrically fixed to asymmetrical position on both ends of the motor shafts, respectively.

Drawing