US3597878A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Animated toy
Assignee: Mattel Inc
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Filing: 1969-06-02
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Granted: 1971-08-10
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Expires: 1989-06-02
Abstract
Abstract An animated doll, energizable by a reversible DC motor, selectively animating a stepping motion or a rotational motion with head spotting. The doll includes a rotatable shaft which is movable along its axis of rotation from a neutral position to an upward position in which the shaft engages a crankshaft assembly to cause the doll''s legs to move with respect to the doll''s torso to produce a stepping motion. The rotatable shaft is also movable to a downward position in which the shaft is inhibited from rotating, thereby causing the motor''s housing, which is connected to the doll''s torso, to rotate and to rotate the torso therewith. The doll''s head is coupled to the torso with a torsion spring, which forms part of a head-spotting assembly. The latter is used to inhibit the rotation of the head during a fixed preselected portion of each revolution of the doll''s torso. All the doll''s motions are controlled by a knob extending out of the doll''s head.
Inventors
- 👤 Cedric E Iwasaki
- 👤 Raymond J Douglas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:13
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H13/00; A63H11/00; A63H11/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
287 words
A toy comprising: a body having a first body member and a second body member; a source of energy and a motor having a rotatable shaft in said body; a control member adapted to be in either a first or a second member position and in a intermediary position, between said first and second positions; switch means coupled to said control member for energizing said motor with energy from said source to provide rotary motion to said motor shaft when said control member is in either said first position or said second position anD for disconnecting said motor from said switch means when said control member is in said intermediary position; and gear train means coupled to said motor and to said second body member, and including a rotatable element and means for biasing said element to be in a first element position when said control member is in said first member position for utilizing the rotary motion of said motor shaft to move said second body member with respect to said first body member, said rotatable element being biasable by said control member when the latter is in said second member position to assume a second element position in which said second body member does not move with respect to said first body member, said control member and said rotatable element including means for engaging said control member with said rotatable element when the latter are in their second positions, whereby said control member rotates as a function of the rotary motion of said motor shaft, said control member being adapted to be held stationary to inhibit the rotation of said motor shaft, so that said first and second body members rotate about said control member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
287 words
A toy comprising: a body having a first body member and a second body member; a source of energy and a motor having a rotatable shaft in said body; a control member adapted to be in either a first or a second member position and in a intermediary position, between said first and second positions; switch means coupled to said control member for energizing said motor with energy from said source to provide rotary motion to said motor shaft when said control member is in either said first position or said second position anD for disconnecting said motor from said switch means when said control member is in said intermediary position; and gear train means coupled to said motor and to said second body member, and including a rotatable element and means for biasing said element to be in a first element position when said control member is in said first member position for utilizing the rotary motion of said motor shaft to move said second body member with respect to said first body member, said rotatable element being biasable by said control member when the latter is in said second member position to assume a second element position in which said second body member does not move with respect to said first body member, said control member and said rotatable element including means for engaging said control member with said rotatable element when the latter are in their second positions, whereby said control member rotates as a function of the rotary motion of said motor shaft, said control member being adapted to be held stationary to inhibit the rotation of said motor shaft, so that said first and second body members rotate about said control member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein said first body member comprises a torso and a head of a doll and said second body member comprises the doll''s legs, and said control member comprises an elongated control shaft having an end extending through the top of the doll''s head, said control shaft being adapted to be pulled in a direction away from the doll''s head to assume said first member position and said control shaft being adapted to be pushed toward said head to assume said second member position in which said control shaft rotates unless inhibited.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 2 wherein said motor is a reversible DC motor and said source of energy is a battery and said switch means include means for reversing the connections between said motor and said battery as a function of successive changes in the position of said control shaft from said intermediary shaft position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 2 wherein said toy further includes head-spotting means, operable in association with said torso and said head for controlling the rotation of said head as a function of the rotation of said torso when said control shaft is in said second position and said torso and the legs rotate about said control shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 4 wherein said motor is a reversible DC motor and said source of energy is a battery and said switch means include means for reversing the connections between said motor and said battery, as a function of successive changes in the position of said control shaft from said intermediary shaft position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
214 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 4 wherein said head-spotting means includes a first tab connected to said torso to rotate therewith, a second tab connected to said head, torsion spring means for coacting with said first and second tabs to urge said head to rotate with said torso in the absence of a force inhibiting the rotation of said head, a cam member connected to said torso to rotate therewith, said member defining a central opening through which said control shaft extends, said cam member further defining an annular groove having a first concentric groove portion and a second nonconcentric groove portion, a cap member coupled to said head and having a radial inwardly directed tab, and a nonrotatable clutch member having a cam follower extending therefrom which is engaged to follow in the groove of said cam member, said clutch member being movable in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said cam member as a function of the cam follower, following in said groove, said clutch member further including a radial outwardly directed member for engaging the tab of said cap member to stop the rotation of said cap member and the head connected thereto when said cam follower of said clutch member is in said concentric groove portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 6 wherein said motor is a reversible DC motor and said source of energy is a battery and said switch means include means for reversing the connections between said motor and said battery as a function of successive changes in the position of said control shaft from said intermediary shaft position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
288 words
A doll comprising: a doll body including a torso, a head, a pair of legs and a pair of arms; a DC motor having a motor shaft in a motor housing, said housing being fixedly mounted to and in said torso; a battery; switch means for controlling the connections between said battery and said motor, to control the energization of said motor thereby to control the rotation of said motor shaft; a crank axle having crank ends disposed 180* apart with respect to said axle, for supporting said legs thereon and for moving said legs with respect to said torso as said crank axle is rotated; gear train means including a first gear and a second gear, and spring means for biasing said first gear to engage said second gear whereby said crank axle rotates when said motor shaft rotates; and a control shaft having a manually operable end extending through said head, and a second opposite end disposed in said doll body, said control shaft being adapted to be manually pulled to assume a first shaft position in which said second shaft end is displaced from said first gear to enable said first gear to engage said second gear, said control shaft being adapted to be pushed toward said head to assume a second shaft position in which the shaft second end biases said first gear away from said second gear to inhibit the rotation of said crank axle, said shaft further including engageable means at said second end for engaging said first gear when the control shaft is in said second position, whereby inhibiting the rotation of said control shaft, said motor housing and the torso to which it is coupled rotate about said control shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
288 words
A doll comprising: a doll body including a torso, a head, a pair of legs and a pair of arms; a DC motor having a motor shaft in a motor housing, said housing being fixedly mounted to and in said torso; a battery; switch means for controlling the connections between said battery and said motor, to control the energization of said motor thereby to control the rotation of said motor shaft; a crank axle having crank ends disposed 180* apart with respect to said axle, for supporting said legs thereon and for moving said legs with respect to said torso as said crank axle is rotated; gear train means including a first gear and a second gear, and spring means for biasing said first gear to engage said second gear whereby said crank axle rotates when said motor shaft rotates; and a control shaft having a manually operable end extending through said head, and a second opposite end disposed in said doll body, said control shaft being adapted to be manually pulled to assume a first shaft position in which said second shaft end is displaced from said first gear to enable said first gear to engage said second gear, said control shaft being adapted to be pushed toward said head to assume a second shaft position in which the shaft second end biases said first gear away from said second gear to inhibit the rotation of said crank axle, said shaft further including engageable means at said second end for engaging said first gear when the control shaft is in said second position, whereby inhibiting the rotation of said control shaft, said motor housing and the torso to which it is coupled rotate about said control shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 8 further including head-spotting means for coupling said head to said torso so that during each revolution of said torso said head is stationary for a portion of each revolution facing forward and during the rest of the revolution said head is snapped and follows the torso in its rotation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 9 wherein said control shaft is operable to assume a NEUTRAL position between said first and second shaft positions, and said switch means include means coupled to said control shaft for controlling the motor to be connected to said battery only when said control shaft is in either said first or said second shaft positions and is disconnected from said battery when said control shaft is in said NEUTRAL position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
139 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 10 wherein said motor is a reversible DC motor of the type whose shaft rotates in a first direction when terminals of said motor are connected to a battery in a first polarity sense and the shaft rotates in a second direction when the terminals of said motor are connected to said battery in a second polarity sense, opposite said first, and said switch means includes a multitab disc, concentrically mounted for rotation in a multitab ring, and means for rotating said disc and ring whereby each time said shaft changes position said disc and ring control the sense of connection between said motor and said battery, to change between said first and second polarity senses, as a function of successive changes in the position of said control shaft from said NEUTRAL position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
90 words
In an animated figure toy including a head, a body and legs, the combination comprising: shaft means rotatably mounted in said figure toy; means for supporting said figure toy for rotation about a vertical axis while standing on at least one of said legs; holding means on said shaft extending upwardly from the top of said head, said holding means being grippable by a user oF said toy to support said toy in an upright position and hold said shaft against rotation while said body is rotated about said shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
90 words
In an animated figure toy including a head, a body and legs, the combination comprising: shaft means rotatably mounted in said figure toy; means for supporting said figure toy for rotation about a vertical axis while standing on at least one of said legs; holding means on said shaft extending upwardly from the top of said head, said holding means being grippable by a user oF said toy to support said toy in an upright position and hold said shaft against rotation while said body is rotated about said shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination described in claim 12 including motor means for relatively rotating said shaft and body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-09 | 1975-02-08 | 1975-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-09 | 1979-02-08 | 1979-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-09 | 1983-02-08 | 1983-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |