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(11) | EP 0 640 365 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Toy character |
| (57) A toy character, for example a baby duck, having a body, has at least two user operable
and movable features (2,3,8) mounted on the body. An actuating mechanism within the
body and coupled to the features includes an elongate flexible cord (19) urged into
a first retracted position and extending through a hole (20) in the body. When the
flexible cord (20) is pulled away from the first position against the urging action,
both features are moved. The features may be the duck's wings and a sound generator. |
[0002] In accordance with the present invention, a toy character has a body; at least two user operable and movable features mounted on the body; and an actuating mechanism within the body and coupled to the features, the actuating mechanism including an elongate, flexible member urged into a first, retracted position and extending through a hole in the body, whereby when the flexible member is pulled away from the first position against the urging action, both features are moved.
[0003] The invention provides a particularly attractive feature for use within a toy character in which pulling the flexible member causes at least two features to be operated. A variety of features could be used including a sound generator which, in the case of a toy duck for example could generate a quacking sound, and a movable limb or pair of limbs, such as movable wings.
[0004] It is important that the features can be actuated relatively easily and simply and that there is a minimum of complexity within the actuating mechanism in view of the treatment which the toy character is likely to receive. Preferably, therefore the actuating mechanism includes a first actuator coupled to the first feature, a second actuator coupled to the second feature, and a drive member coupled to the first and second actuators and to the flexible member.
[0005] In the preferred example, the character further comprises a first pulley mounted non-rotatably to the drive member and cooperating with the flexible member such that movement of the flexible member causes the pulley and hence the drive member to rotate.
[0006] Typically, the second actuator will comprise an auxiliary flexible member connected to a second pulley mounted non-rotatably on the drive member, whereby rotation of the second pulley causes the second feature to be moved.
[0007] The features could be positioned at various parts of the body of the toy character but in order to minimise the pulling strength required, preferably the first feature is positioned so that its movement characteristic is in substantially the same direction as the pulling direction of the flexible member.
[0008] The urging action could be provided by specific urging means associated with the flexible member, for example a spring. However, conveniently at least one of the features includes resilient means to urge the feature into a rest position, the resilient means providing the urging action on the flexible member.
[0009] An example of a toy character in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a front view, with the front member 1A removed, of a unit for placing within the toy character;
Figure 2 is a front view of the unit with the front member 1A in place;
Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 in Figure 1; and,
Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 in Figure 3.
[0010] The unit shown in the drawings is for use in the body of a soft toy, for example a baby duck. For clarity, the toy body has been omitted. The unit comprises an injection moulded plastics housing 1 to which is pivoted a pair of injection moulded wing members 2,3. The members 2,3 are mounted on respective pivots 4,5 extending through respective bores 6,7 of the unit. Normally, the wing members 2,3 would be covered by soft material sown to the remainder of the body. The wings are urged into an open position as shown in the drawings by means of a spring 11 (Figure 2) coupled between inner ends of the two wing members 2,3.
[0011] Also mounted to the unit is a sound generating device 8 attached to a loud speaker 9. The device 8 has a flexible wall 10 which, upon flexing, causes a "quacking" sound to be emitted by the loud speaker 9.
[0012] As can be seen in Figure 3, the housing 1 is formed of two members 1A,1B which are joined together via spigot and socket connections 12,13,13'. Normally, the two housing members would be glued together.
[0013] In a lower section of the housing 1 is journalled a shaft 14 on which is mounted a number of pulleys. These can be most easily seen in Figure 1 and comprise a one piece moulding defining outer pulleys 15,16 and inner pulleys 17,18. Around the pulley 18 is coiled a nylon cord 19 which extends outwardly from the housing 1 through an aperture 20 and is connected to a handle 21 (shown in Figure 3).
[0014] A nylon cord 22 is coiled around the pulley 17 and extends through an aperture 23 where it extends through and is fixed to the rear of the sound generator 8. A pair of nylon cords 24,25 are coiled around the pulleys 15,16 respectively and are connected to respective connectors 26,27 of the wing members 2,3 after passing around pulleys 30,31.
[0015] In operation, the child will grasp the handle 21 and pull it outwardly. This will cause the pulley 18 to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 3, and hence also cause anti-clockwise rotation of the pulleys 15,16 and 17. Rotation of these latter 3 pulleys will cause the cords 22,24,25 to be coiled up onto their pulleys with the result that the wing members 2,3 are pivoted towards each other about the pivots 4 against the resilience of the spring 11, and the sound generator 8 is activated by causing the wall 10 to flex inwards.
[0016] When the child releases the handle 21, the spring 11 will urge the wing members 2,3 apart causing the cords 24,25 to rotate their respective pulleys in a clockwise direction and hence coil the cord 19 onto its pulley 18. The sound generator 23 will have inherent resilience so that the cord 22 will be unwound from its pulley 17.
1. A toy character having a body; at least two user operable and movable features (2,3,8)
mounted on the body; and an actuating mechanism within the body and coupled to the
features (2,3,8), the actuating mechanism including an elongate, flexible member (19)
urged into a first, retracted position and extending through a hole (20) in the body,
whereby when the flexible member is pulled away from the first position against the
urging action, both features are moved.
2. A toy character according to claim 1, wherein the actuating mechanism includes a first
actuator (24,25) coupled to the first feature (2,3), a second actuator (22) coupled
to the second feature (8), and a drive member (14) coupled to the first and second
actuators and to the flexible member (19).
3. A toy character according to claim 2, further comprising a first pulley (18) mounted
non-rotatably to the drive member (14) and cooperating with the flexible member (19)
such that movement of the flexible member (19) causes the pulley and hence the drive
member (14) to rotate.
4. A toy character according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the second actuator comprises
an auxiliary flexible member (22) connected to a second pulley (17) mounted non-rotatably
on the drive member (14), whereby rotation of the second pulley causes the second
feature (8) to be moved.
5. A toy character according to claim 4, wherein the first and second pulleys (17,18)
are mounted coaxially to the drive member.
6. A toy character according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first feature
is positioned so that its movement characteristic is in substantially the same direction
as the pulling direction of the flexible member.
7. A toy character according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of
the features includes resilient means (11) to urge the feature (2,3) into a rest position,
the resilient means providing the urging action on the flexible member.
8. A toy character according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one of the features
comprises a sound generating mechanism (8).
9. A toy character according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one of the features
comprises a movable limb (2,3).
10. A toy character according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible member
(19) comprises a flexible cord.
11. A toy character according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the body is made
of a soft material.