A toy having movable portion

Abstract

 The invention relates to the provision of a toy which has at least one portion which is movable in relation to another portion. The problem with known devices of this type is that if they include actuation means in the form of a spring the force of the spring when moving the portion is uncontrolled and can cause injury to the child playing with the toy upon release of the spring and portion. The present invention provides a moving arrangement which can utilise the actions of a spring, if required, but in conjunction with a mechanism and guide means which control the actuating force, prevents jamming of the portions and allows toys to have safely movable portions.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a toy having at least one portion which is movable relative to another portion of the toy which can, in one embodiment, be the base portion. There may be provided more than one movable portion and a series of the same can be provided which move telescopically into and away from one another. The invention provides a toy of this sort wherein each of the portions can be independently movable.

[0002] One of the well-known novelty features which can be incorporated into a toy is the ability to make the same grow larger by a simple action which is capable of being performed by a child. To date, the greater the change in size and the speed with which the change takes place the increase in perception of the child's reaction and the strength of the novelty value. One well-known toy which incorporates this feature is the "jack-in-the-box" wherein a character figure is held in the box and acted upon by a spring which is held in a compressed, biased condition until the catch of the lid of the box is released whereupon the character is propelled upwardly to emerge from the box with a considerable force. Although these toys have been designed to be used at arms length, children have been known to sit over them and this can result in injury when the character, under the influence of the release spring, emerges from the box into the child's face. These incidents have caused the toys to be broadly withdrawn from the toy industry.

[0003] The main cause of these incidents is that the compression spring employed to raise the character and support it at the raised level stores more power when compressed to its minimum height than is required to lift the lower parts or stages of the toy figure character. The release spring can therefore accelerate to the uppermost parts of the toy with a velocity that no longer passes the safety standards of the toy industry. A variety of breaking devices have been developed but these have also been shown to be fallable. Other toys can be minature toys or dolls houses such as that disclosed in, for example, patent US 4508519. A spring mechanism of the known type is required to be located in the centre of the body of the toy in order for the same to act effectively without the movable parts snagging or jamming. Should the toy be for the purpose where the internal space is part of the play area, as in a dolls house, which grows in height or width, then the centrally located mechanism is at least inconvenient. This there is no known toy which can utilise a spring or other actuating force in a manner which is safe and prevents jamming for movement of a portion of said toy.

[0004] The aim of the present invention is to provide a system for moving portions of a toy and giving each portion independently controlled movement means which are limited in the scope of movement of that portion to an extended position. Said portion may be movable to a number of positions which are predetermined or a plurality of movable portions can be provided so that, in combination, each of the portions, when moved to their extended positions, create the desired moving effect in a controlled, safe manner. Furthermore, the ability to provide the moving means located adjacent the walls of the portions is desired to be achieved.

[0005] The present invention relates to a toy having a first portion and at least a second portion which is movable relative to the first portion between a position at least partially retracted within the first portion to at least one predesignated position extended from the first portion, said toy including an actuating means for causing said movement and wherein said actuating means operates a mechanism linked to drive guide means and operation of the mechanism by the actuating means causes the same to move along the drive guide means and hence the second portion to move to or away from the first portion.

[0006] Typically the mechanism is engaged with a plurality of drive guide means and arranged to simultaneously move along said drive guide means when actuated to move the portions in a synchronised manner at all sides of the same hence preventing snagging or jamming of the mechanism during movement.

[0007] In one embodiment, the drive guide means comprises at least one, but preferably a plurality of rack members mounted on one of the first or second portions and each rack member is in engagement with at least one gear wheel movable therealong, said gear wheel provided on the other of the first or second portions.

[0008] Typically the mechanism includes gear wheels linked in pairs and at least one of the gear wheels meshes with a drive wheel which is also formed with gear teeth such that movement of the drive wheel causes simultaneous movement of the gear wheels. Preferably the drive wheel is intermeshed with a main gear wheel of similar configuration and said drive and/or main gear wheel is connected to move the gear wheels with each rack member having at least one gear wheel movable therealong.

[0009] In an alternative embodiment the drive guide means are in the form of a belt passing around at least two sprocket wheels, at least one of the sprocket wheels connected to the drive wheel and at least one sprocket wheel connected to drive a plurality of other sprocket wheels and belts. Typically a toothed belt is used to ensure improved transfer of drive between the sprocket wheels and belt.

[0010] In a further embodiment the drive guide means comprises a number of pulley wheels linked by wires passing therearound, said pulley wheels mounted on the first portion and/or second portions wherein movement of the drive wheel causes movement of the pulley wheels and hence relative movement of the portions.

[0011] In whichever embodiment, the drive guide means are preferably spaced apart and, if the first and/or second portions have walls with corners, a drive guide means is provided adjacent each corner and linked to create synchronized movement of the portion thereby preventing the exertion of a jamming force on the portions from preventing the movement between the portions. It is also envisaged that guide means, not linked to the drive means, may be added to or used to substitute some of the drive guide means to provide additional stability of movement. In whatever form the spacing of the drive guide means around the portions and the linking of the parts of the mechanism in engagement therewith ensures a synchronised relative movement between all parts of the portions hence creating smooth movement between portions to a predesignated position which ensures controlled and predictable movement of the portions.

[0012] In one embodiment the actuating means is in the form of a drive handle connectable with a drive wheel. Typically the handle and drive wheel are rotatable such that the rotation in one direction causes relative movement of the portions in a first direction and the rotation in the other direction causes the portions to move in the opposite direction. Preferably a locking device is provided whereby when the portions are moved to the desired position the handle and/or portion can be locked to prevent further movement.

[0013] In a second embodiment the actuating means is the hand of the child playing with the toy wherein the child can, by exerting a pulling or pushing force on the first portions and/or second portion, operate the drive wheel and drive mechanism to relatively move the first and second portions.

[0014] In a further embodiment the actuating means comprises a resilient member mounted in connection with at least a drive wheel.

[0015] Typically the resilient member is held in a biased, tightened condition such that when the same is released, the release force is applied to the drive wheel and transferred to the drive mechanism and in turn along the drive guide means to move the portions to an extended position. In this embodiment the portions are returned to a retracted position by pushing the same together and held in that position by a catch. At the same time the resilient member is returned to a biased condition until the catch is released.

[0016] Typically the resilient member is a coiled spring, typically mounted on the axis of the drive wheel and connected to the same. Preferably the spring is selected to be of a size and strength such that at, or near, the instant when the spring is at its relaxed stage, the portions have reached the fully extended position. In certain embodiments other forms of spring may be used and in whichever form it is desired that the mechanism be actuated for movement by release of the spring and also that the spring is arranged in relation to the mechanism such that the effect of the spring when released is controlled to create substantially constant movement of the portion during the influence of the spring on the mechanism. This is in contrast to the traditional spring moveable toys wherein, when released, the spring was uncontrolled and the explosive nature of the release led to injuries. Thus the present invention, including the control of the influence of the spring in one particular embodiment, allows the movement of the portions to be controlled yet still use the advantageous actuation provided by the spring when released.

[0017] In a further aspect of the invention the drive means and drive wheel are arranged and located adjacent the walls of the portions. Preferably the drive wheel and drive means are located in wall spaces to prevent the same from being viewed or accessed by children and allowing the interior of the portions to be accessible and an integral part of the toy.

[0018] In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a toy having a first portion and a plurality of movable portions which are movable by operation of an actuating means connected to a mechanism connected to and drive guide means provided in each of the portions wherein each of the portions is independently movable between a substantially retracted position in an adjacent portion to a substantially extended position.

[0019] In one embodiment the movable portions are mounted in a telescopic fashion within the first portion and each of the portions is independently movable. Each of the movable portions is provided with any of the drive means as described hereinbefore.

[0020] In one embodiment each portion is movable in sequence, such that, when the actuating means is a handle, the rotation of the handle causes a first portion to move and when this reaches a fully extended position, further rotation of the handle, or a second handle, acts on a second drive wheel of a further portion which is moved to an extended position, and so on until all of the movable portions are in extended positions. When the actuating means is a resilient member in each movable portion, the release of the catch for a portion causes the same to move to a fully extended position and at the same time, or later, the catch for a further portion is released causing the resilient member of the further portion to move the same to an extended position, and so on sequentially until all of the movable portions are moved to a fully extended position.

[0021] In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a first portion and a second portion which is movable by drive means which are selectively operable by an actuating means and latch mechanism and wherein the movable portion is moved relative to the first portion to at least an intermediate position and to an extended position by selective operation of the actuating means.

[0022] In one embodiment a plurality of predesignated intermediate positions are defined for the movable portion.

[0023] In one embodiment the actuating means is a spring connected to a drive wheel which is selectively released for movement by operation of a latch member.

[0024] In one embodiment the portions, drive guide means mechanism and drive wheel are arranged to allow the second portion to be raised or lowered relative to the first portion.

[0025] It is envisaged that the invention is of particular benefit for use in a toy of a type recreating a house having a number of floors, wherein each movable portion is a floor. Equally the invention could be used to create a "Jack-in-the-Box" effect toy with minimal risk of injury to the child as the invention provides a means whereby the lifting action is controlled. Equally when the effect created is by a number of independently movable portions the lift force required for any one spring, if used, is substantially smaller than that for conventional Jack-in-the-Box devices where a sufficiently strong spring is required to lift the whole device at once and hence the risk of injury to the child is significantly reduced.

[0026] Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein;

Figure 1 illustrates a toy in the form of a toy house with movable portions, in a retracted position;

Figure 2 illustrates a toy house according to Figure 1 with one of the movable portions extended;

Figure 3 illustrates a toy house according to Figures 1 and 2 with all of the movable portions in an extended position;

Figure 4 illustrates a cross sectional end elevation through line A-A of Figure 3;

Figure 5 illustrates a toy house with portions in a fully extended position and shows one embodiment of drive means and actuating means; and

Figure 6 illustrates a drive wheel and actuating means in one embodiment.

Figures 7-9 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention.

[0027] Referring firstly to Figure 1 there is shown a toy house 2 according to the invention. The house 2 includes a first portion in the form of a base portion 4 mounted on a plinth 6. The plinth 6 includes a catch 8 which allows the selected release of the movable portions held in a retracted position within the base portion 4 for movement. The house is provided with a roof section 10 which is hinged 12 and the base and movable portions are all accessible for the child to play with toy figures therein. Typically the base and movable portions are decorated and provided with windows and doors on the outside and with furniture in the interior.

[0028] Figure 2 illustrates the house 2 of Figure 1 with one of the movable portions 14 in an extended position. Thus the house now has two floors which can be accessed by a child.

[0029] Figure 3 illustrates the house 2 of Figures 1 and 2 with the movable portions 14 and 16 moved to an extended position to create a three floor house and each of the portions is accessible to play in. In order to increase the accessibility to the floors, the doors and/or windows or, if required, whole walls or roofs, can be openable once the portions are in the extended position. In the embodiment shown the roof section 10 is openable as shown as are doors 18 and windows 20. The openable elements can, in one embodiment be used as locking elements to prevent the movable portion on which they are provided from being moved down toward a retracted position such that when the elements are open they come into contact with the wall of the portion below.

[0030] In one embodiment as shown in Figure 4 each of the portions can be provided with items of furniture 22 formed therein. As some of the items of furniture are typically higher than the allowable height between the movable portions when in a retracted position they can be positioned and sized on the floors of adjacent portion such that when the same are in a retracted position the items move into each other. This is shown in Figure 4 wherein the clock 24 can move inside the wardrobe 26 when the two are brought together. Alternatively pop up items of furniture can be used wherein when the portions are moved apart the items pop up from the floor.

[0031] Figure 4 also illustrates the manner in which spaces 28 are left adjacent the walls for the location of the lifting arrangements therein thereby allowing the major part of the portions to be used as play areas.

[0032] Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a toy house according to the invention with one form of the drive means shown by removal from the drawings of one of the walls of each portion. The house again includes a base portion 4, and movable portions 14 and 16, portion 14 having a roof section 10. In order for the portions 14 and 16 to be movable to the extended positions shown, drive guide means 32, a mechanism including a drive wheel 34 and an actuating means 36 are provided for each movable portion 14, 16. With reference to the portion 16, the drive guide means 32 comprise a plurality of rack members 38 positioned at the corners of the portion below, which in this case is the base portion 4 and mechanism includes at least one gear wheel 40, 40' provided to be movable on each rack member 38. In this embodiment the gear wheels 40 are mounted for rotation on a common shaft 42 and gear wheels 40' on shaft 42'. Each of the shafts is driven and in this arrangement the drive is provided from the drive wheel 34 which acts directly to drive the shaft 42 and gear wheels 40 and is also meshed with a main gear wheel 44 which drives the shaft 42' and gear wheels 40'.

[0033] In this case the actuating means 36 is a torsion spring which is wrapped around the axis of the drive wheel as shown in more detail in Figure 6. The catch 8 shown in the earlier figures serves to maintain the movable portion 14, 16 in a retracted position and when in the retracted position the torsion spring is held in a biased, torsioned state. Hence when the catch 8 is released for the appropriate portion 14, 16 the portion and the spring is released and so the spring unwinds and as it does so turns the drive wheel 34 and in turn the gear wheels 40, 40' which move upwards along the rack members 38, each of the gear wheels moving at the same speed thereby ensuring that the portion raises in a controlled constant plane. This arrangement is repeated with relative movement in relation to portion 14 wherein the portion 16 acts as a base with rack members mounted thereon and the actuating means 34 thereon is again a spring which can be released by a further operation of a catch 8 or maybe released by the action of the other movable portion reaching a fully extended position.

[0034] Figures 7 to 9 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention wherein the drive guide means 132 again include rack members shown illustratively at 138, positioned at the corners of one of the portions which, in this case, is the base portion 104. In a retracted position, as shown in Figure 7, the portion which is movable 106 is held in a retained position by means of a latch 170 which is held in a centralised latching position by a spring 172 mounted to the base portion 104. In this position, the latch serves to locate on the drive wheel 134 mounted on the movable portion 106 to retain the same in that position against the action of a torsion spring (not shown). The drive wheel 134 meshes with gear wheels 140 which in turn engage with the rack members 138.

[0035] To move the movable portion 106, the latch 170 is pivotally moved as shown in Figure 8 such that a latch recess 176 is released from engagement with the lug 178 on the drive wheel 134. When the same is released the drive wheel moves under the action of the torsion spring and hence the gear wheels 140 move along the rack members and the movable portion 106 moves to a first intermediate position as shown in Figure 8. The intermediate position is determined by the latch means recess 176 contacting a second lug 180 provided on the drive wheel 134 as shown in Figure 8 and thus the intermediate position is fixed.

[0036] When the drive wheel is moved under the effect of the torsion spring, the gear wheels 140 move up the rack members 138 provided on the base portion so that the intermediate position is reached.

[0037] To further raise the movable portion 106 to a fully raised position, as shown in Figure 9, the latch means 170 are again pivotally moved but in a reverse direction to that for moving the movable portion to the intermediate position and the movement of the latching means 170 in an alternate direction causes the lug 180 on the drive wheel to be released from the latch recess 176 on the latching means and hence the action of the torsion spring acts to rotate the drive wheel 134 and hence gear wheels 140 along the racks to a fully extended position as shown in Figure 9.

[0038] By providing the locating lugs 178, 180 on the drive wheel for the location therewith of recess 176 at intervals, so the spring which is similar in arrangement to that shown in Figure 6, is prevented from being fully extended or building up substantial kinetic energy in any one movement. Thus the potentially injurious build-up of acceleration of movement which occurs in conventional spring operated toys is avoided as the spring and the mechanism actuated thereby is only permitted to move for a relatively short distance, between the retracted position to the intermediate position and intermediate position and fully extended position. Thus the provision of lug 180 and the final extended position act as brakes to stop movement of the spring and, at the same time, remove kinetic energy from the moving portion and hence prevent the full effect of the spring from acting on the mechanism, and hence preventing the risk of injury by limiting the scope of influence of the spring on the movable portion.

[0039] To return the portion 106 to a retracted position, the movable portion 106 is simply pressed down such that the latch recess 176 of latching means 170 again locates the lug 178 on the drive wheel 134.

[0040] The use of the spring ensures that, when the same is released, the mechanism drive wheel is driven and hence the gear wheels move along the drive guide means. In addition, the spring is arranged relative to the mechanism such that the mechanism has a controlling effect on the influence of the spring and acts to reduce the explosive effect when the spring is released and creates a more constant influence of movement by the spring on the movment of the portions thereby rendering the toy, as a whole, considerably safer than those existing toys with uncontrolled spring movement.

[0041] It should be appreciated that the drive means described are not the only possible embodiments and that, in whichever embodiment is used, each portion can be independently and relatively movable. This allows increased adaptability of the toy by the child, reduces the opportunity for injury to the child as the size and strength of the actuating means required is reduced as it is only required to move an individual movable portion or a portion to an intermediate position and not to move all the portions to their full extent and furthermore the drive guide means provided can be mounted adjacent to either one of or spaced around, all of the walls of each portion thereby allowing the interior of each portion to be accessible for use as a play area.

[0042] Furthermore the spacing of the drive guide means around the walls of the movable portions and particularly, if provided, the corners of the walls, ensures that when a manual force is exerted onto the same to move the portions from an extended to a retracted position the force can be applied in a part other than the centre of the portions as the portions are held in a relatively steady position and therefore are resistant to lateral movement caused by the exertion of forces other than on the centre of the portion, and are therefore not prone to jamming.

Claims

1. A toy having a first portion (4; 104) and at least a second portion (6; 106) which is movable relative to the first portion between a position at least partially retracted within the first portion to at least one predesignated position extended from the first portion, said toy including an actuating means (36; 170) for causing said movement and characterised in that said actuating means operates a mechanism (34, 40, 40', 42, 42'; 134, 140) linked to drive guide means (32, 38; 138) and operation of the mechanism by the actuating means causes the same to move along the drive guide means and hence the second portion to move to or away from the first portion.

2. A toy according to Claim 1 characterised in that the mechanism is engaged with a plurality of drive guide means (32, 38; 138) and arranged to simultaneously move along said drive guide means when actuated.

3. A toy according to Claims 1 or 2 characterised in that the drive guide means includes at least one rack member (38; 138) on one of the first portion (4; 104) or the second portion (6; 106) and the rack member is in engagement with at least one gear wheel (40, 40'; 140) movable therealong, said gear wheel provided on the other of the first or second portions.

4. A toy according to Claim 3, characterised in that the drive guide means comprises a plurality of rack members, (38; 138) positioned adjacent to the side walls of the portion (4; 104; 6; 106).

5. A toy according to Claim 4 characterised in that the mechanism includes gear wheels (40, 40'; 140) linked to a drive wheel (34; 134) which is also formed with gear teeth.

6. A toy according to Claim 5 characterised in that the gear wheels (40, 40'; 140) are engaged with a drive wheel (34; 134) upon which the actuating means acts, said drive wheel intermeshed with a main gear wheel of similar configuration and said drive and/or main gear wheel connected to gear wheels with each rack member (38; 138) in contact with at least one gear wheel movable therealong.

7. A toy according to Claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the drive guide means are in the form of a belt passing around at least two sprocket wheels, at least one of the sprocket wheels connected to a drive wheel (34; 134).

8. A toy according to Claim 7 characterised in that at least one sprocket wheel is connected to drive a plurality of other sprocket wheels and belts.

9. A toy according to Claim 1 characterised in that the drive guide means comprises a number of pulley wheels linked by filament passing therearound, said pulley wheels mounted on either of the first (4; 104) or second (6; 106) portions wherein movement of the actuating means causes movement of the pulley wheels and hence relative movement of the first (4; 104) and second (6; 106) portions.

10. A toy according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that the actuating means is a drive handle connectable with a drive wheel (34; 134).

11. A toy according to Claim 10 characterised in that the handle and drive wheel (34; 134) are rotatable such that rotation of the same in one direction causes relative movement of the first (4; 104) and second portions (6; 106) in a first direction and rotation in the other direction causes relative movement of the portion in a second direction.

12. A toy according to any of Claims 1 to 9 characterised in that the actuating means (36; 170) is the hand of the person using the toy to apply force to exert a pulling or pushing action on the first and/or second portion (4; 104; 6; 106) to operate the drive wheel (34; 134) and drive guide guide means (38; 138) to move and support the portions towards or away from one another.

13. A toy according to any of Claims 1 to 9 characterised in that the actuating means (36; 136) comprises a resilient member mounted in connection with the mechanism.

14. A toy according to Claim 13 characterised in that the resilient member is held in a biased, tightened condition such that when the same, is released, the release force is applied to the drive wheel of the mechanism and transferred along the drive guide means to move the movable portion to a predesignated, extended position away from the base portion, and/or predesignated intermediate positions therebetween.

15. A toy according to Claim 13 and 14 characterised in that the second portion (6; 106) is returned to a retracted position by pushing the same into the first portion and placing a catch to retain the portion in that position.

16. A toy according to Claim 15 characterised in that the resilient member is returned to a biased condition when the second portion (6; 106) is moved to a retracted position and held therein by a catch.

17. A toy according to Claim 16 characterised in that the resilient member is a coiled spring mounted on the axis of the drive wheel (34; 134) and connected to the same.

18. A toy according to any of claims 13 to 17 characterised in that the resilient member acts on the mechanism to cause movement of the same along the drive guide means (32, 38; 138) and the arrangement between the drive guide means, mechanism and resilient member causes controlled movement of the resilient member when released.

19. A toy according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that the drive wheel (34; 134) is acted upon by a resilient member such that the drive wheel is held in a biased condition and wherein the second portion (6; 106) is held in a retracted position by a latch (170) contacting the drive wheel.

20. A toy according to Claim 19 characterised in that the latch (170) is released by pivotally moving the same around a pivotal point.

21. A toy according to claim 20 characterised in that the pivotal point of the latch (170) is located on the centre vertical axis of the first (4; 104) and second portions (6; 106).

22. A toy according to Claim 20 characterised in that the latch (170) is provided to be actuable in selected pivotal directions to selectively release the drive wheel (34; 134) to allow movement of the movable portion (6; 106) relative to the first portion.

23. A toy having a first portion (104) and a second portion (106) which is movable by a drive means mechanism (134, 140) movable along a set of drive guide means, (138) and characterised in that the mechanism selectively operable by an actuating means and latch mechanism (170) and relative movement between the first and second portions is achieved to move the second portion to at least an intermediate extended position from the first portion and to an extended position by selective operation of the actuating means (170) to selected positions.

24. A toy according to claim 23 comprising at least a first portion and a second portion which is relatively movable along drive guide means linked to the drive mechanism which in turn is linked to an actuating means which is in the form of a latch and movement of the latch in a first direction causes the movment of the second portion from a retracted position to a first intermediate extended position from the first position and further movement of the latch (170) in a second direction causes the second portion to be released and moved to a fully extended position from the first portion.

25. A toy according to Claim 23 wherein the second portion (106) is movable to a plurality of predesignated intermediate positions by selective movement of the latch (170).

26. A toy comprising a first portion (4; 104) and a plurality of movable portions (6; 106; 14; 16) which are movable by operation of an actuating means (36) connected to a mechanism (34, 40, 40', 42, 42', 44) connected to drive guide means (32, 38) provided in the portions wherein each of the portions is independently movable between a substantially retracted position in an adjacent portion to a substantially extended position.

27. In one embodiment the movable portions are mounted in a telescopic fashion within the first portion and each of the portions is independently movable.

Drawing