US3696557A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-propelled toy
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-11-17
•
Granted: 1972-10-10
•
Expires: 1989-11-17
Abstract
Abstract A self-propelled toy includes a hollow shell and a motive means which includes a battery-operated motor, enclosed within the shell for causing the shell to roll along a supporting surface. A gravity-operated switch is mounted on the motive means for deenergizing the motor when the toy is not in use. In operation, the motive means is disposed at a lowermost portion of the shell, and the switch is disposed in a position to energize the motive means for causing the shell to revolve about the motive means. When the shell becomes restrained from movement, the motive means moves relative to the shell along the inner surface thereof until the switch reaches a position where it opens the circuit to the motor.
Inventors
- 👤 Reinhold Ruppel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:18
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H33/00; A63H33/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
A toy comprising: a hollow sphere-like shell; electrically energized motive means enclosed wholly within the shell, said motive means having a plurality of spaced-apart drive wheels engaging the inside surface of said shell at the lowermost portion thereof to support solely said motive meanS in a stable manner and to cause the shell to move relative to a supporting surface when said shell is disposed in an unrestrained condition, said plurality of wheels for carrying said motive means upwardly along the inside surface of said shell away from said lowermost portion thereof when said shell is disposed in a restrained stationary condition; gravity actuated switch means enclosed wholly within the shell for permitting energization of said motive means when said shell is disposed in the unrestrained condition and for causing the de-energization of said motive means when said shell is stationary in its restrained condition; and means for mounting said switch means in a position on said motive means to energize said motive means when it is disposed at said lowermost portion of said shell and to de-energize automatically said motive means when said shell is disposed in its restrained condition and when said drive wheels carry said motive means along the inside surface of the stationary shell away from the lowermost portion of said shell to a point on the inside surface thereof spaced by substantially less than 180 degrees from said lowermost portion of said shell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
A toy comprising: a hollow sphere-like shell; electrically energized motive means enclosed wholly within the shell, said motive means having a plurality of spaced-apart drive wheels engaging the inside surface of said shell at the lowermost portion thereof to support solely said motive meanS in a stable manner and to cause the shell to move relative to a supporting surface when said shell is disposed in an unrestrained condition, said plurality of wheels for carrying said motive means upwardly along the inside surface of said shell away from said lowermost portion thereof when said shell is disposed in a restrained stationary condition; gravity actuated switch means enclosed wholly within the shell for permitting energization of said motive means when said shell is disposed in the unrestrained condition and for causing the de-energization of said motive means when said shell is stationary in its restrained condition; and means for mounting said switch means in a position on said motive means to energize said motive means when it is disposed at said lowermost portion of said shell and to de-energize automatically said motive means when said shell is disposed in its restrained condition and when said drive wheels carry said motive means along the inside surface of the stationary shell away from the lowermost portion of said shell to a point on the inside surface thereof spaced by substantially less than 180 degrees from said lowermost portion of said shell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A toy according to claim 1, further comprising restraining means movably connecting said motive means to the shell to maintain said motive means in operative engagement with the shell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A toy according to claim 2, wherein said motive means includes a carriage having a plurality of wheels, an electric motor mounted on the carriage, and means drivingly connecting the output shaft of said motor and said wheels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A toy according to claim 3, wherein said switch means comprises a mercury switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A toy according to claim 2, wherein said restraining means comprises a track extending along an inside surface of said shell, and a member connecting said carriage and said track.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2535396A
Cited
US2949696A
Cited
US2949697A
Cited
US2939246A
Cited
US3312013A
Cited
US3500579A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-10 | 1976-04-10 | 1976-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-10 | 1980-04-10 | 1980-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-10 | 1984-04-10 | 1984-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |