Sound reproducing device for toys

Claim 1

A sound reproducing device for toys and the like comprising a frame, a cylindrical drum journaled on said frame for rotation relative thereto, manually actuated drive mechanism operatively connected with said drum for rotating the drum in a forward direction, an operating spring connected with said drum and being operable to revolve the drum in a reverse direction to return the drum to its starting position, said drum having a pair of sound grooves of uniform depth in its circumferential surface, a sound producing pickup mechanism comprising a stylus engaging in said grooves and a bias spring connected with said stylus and urging the stylus in constant engagement with the grooves during rotation of the drum to thereby cause reproduction of sound when the drum is revolved, said bias spring also urging the stylus toward a position medial of the drum, one of said sound grooves being a forward groove extending helically from its starting end adjacent one end of the drum toward the other end of the drum to its terminal end, the other of said sound grooves being a return groove extending helically from its starting end adjacent the other end of the drum toward said one end of the drum to its terminal end, the starting end of one sound groove being disposed adjacent the terminal end of the other sound groove, each of the terminal ends of the grooves being disposed adjacent the respective end of the drum and being disposed between the end of the drum and the adjacent starting end of the other groove, a pair of guiding grooves each extending between and coextensively interconnecting the terminal end of one of said sound grooves with the starting end of the other of said sound grooves, each of said guiding grooves being arranged in end-toend relation with the sound grooves to comprise the only exit and entry relative to the terminal and starting end of the adjoining sound grooves, the starting and terminal ends of each sound groove being connected only to the adjoining guiding grooves to insure stylus travel only between the sound groove and the adjoining guiding grooves, each guiding groove defining with said forward and return sound grooves a closed continuous loop of uniform depth comprised of a pair of rounded included angles, the included angle between the terminal end of one of said sound grooves and the adjoining guiding groove comprising an obtuse angle, and the included angle between the guiding groove and the starting end of the other of said first mentioned grooves comprising an acute angle whereby during rotation of the drum, the stylus is confined and guided directly from the guiding groove throuGh the acute angular change in direction directly to the starting end of one of said sound grooves.