US3823946A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toy gramophone
Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co Ltd
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Filing: 1973-04-30
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Granted: 1974-07-16
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Expires: 1993-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A gramophone for incorporation within a toy provided with a housing having a rotatably mounted door which may be opened and closed, as desired, a spindle reciprocably mounted to the door so as to normally extend into the housing, the spindle being provided with a continuous electrical contact at one end thereof, a turntable mounted on the spindle and an interchangeable sound disc supported thereon, a motor mounted within the housing and arranged such that the shaft thereof directly engages and drives the turntable, a pick-up arm provided with a platform within which is mounted a stylus, the arm normally being urged by a spring such that the stylus engages the sound disc at the beginning thereof, appropriate electrical means operatively connecting a source of energy to the motor, including a pair of electrical conductive prongs normally engaging the electrical contact of the spindle so as to complete the circuit, one of the prongs being positioned in the path of rotation of the platform such that when the stylus reaches the end of the sound disc the platform engages and pushes the prong away from the electrical contact of the spindle opening the circuit, a speaker cone mounted within the housing such that the platform of the arm makes sliding contact with the apex of the speaker cone during movement of the stylus across the sound disc and a manually operated actuating member for moving the reciprocably mounted sound disc and spindle toward the door of the housing thus disengaging the stylus from the grooves of the sound disc permitting the arm to return to its starting position.
Inventors
- 👤 T Nakajima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:55
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B3/00; G11B3/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
319 words
A gramophone device, comprising: a housing; a door rotatably mounted to said housing; a spindle, means operatively mounting said spindle to said door for rotation and reciprocation, said spindle being provided with an electrical contact, a turn-table mounted on said spindle for rotation therewith and a sound disc provided with a continuous groove supported on said turn-table; a motor and source of energy therefor mounted within said housing, and means operatively connecting said motor and said turn-table for rotating same; a pick-up arm provided with a platform within which is mounted a stylus, means mounting said arm to rotate between a first position wherein said stylus is within the beginning of said groove of said sound disc and a second position wherein said stylus is within the end of said groove of said sound disc, and means normally urging said arm to said first position; a speaker cone mounted with said housing such that said platform of said arm makes sliding contact with the apex of said speaker cone during movement of said arm between said first and sEcond positions; a pair of electrically conductive prongs mounted within said housing so as to normally engage said electrical contact of said spindle, circuit means electrically connecting said prongs to said motor and source of energy, means positioning one of said prongs in the path of travel of said platform of said pick-up arm such that as said stylus reaches said second position said platform engages said one prong removing same from engagement with said electrical contact member so as to open said circuit means de-energizing said motor; and means moving said sound disc out of engagement with said stylus of said pick-up arm permitting said pick-up arm to move to said first position at which time said one of said prongs returns into engagement with said electrical contact member of said spindle to close said circuit means energizing said motor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
319 words
A gramophone device, comprising: a housing; a door rotatably mounted to said housing; a spindle, means operatively mounting said spindle to said door for rotation and reciprocation, said spindle being provided with an electrical contact, a turn-table mounted on said spindle for rotation therewith and a sound disc provided with a continuous groove supported on said turn-table; a motor and source of energy therefor mounted within said housing, and means operatively connecting said motor and said turn-table for rotating same; a pick-up arm provided with a platform within which is mounted a stylus, means mounting said arm to rotate between a first position wherein said stylus is within the beginning of said groove of said sound disc and a second position wherein said stylus is within the end of said groove of said sound disc, and means normally urging said arm to said first position; a speaker cone mounted with said housing such that said platform of said arm makes sliding contact with the apex of said speaker cone during movement of said arm between said first and sEcond positions; a pair of electrically conductive prongs mounted within said housing so as to normally engage said electrical contact of said spindle, circuit means electrically connecting said prongs to said motor and source of energy, means positioning one of said prongs in the path of travel of said platform of said pick-up arm such that as said stylus reaches said second position said platform engages said one prong removing same from engagement with said electrical contact member so as to open said circuit means de-energizing said motor; and means moving said sound disc out of engagement with said stylus of said pick-up arm permitting said pick-up arm to move to said first position at which time said one of said prongs returns into engagement with said electrical contact member of said spindle to close said circuit means energizing said motor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A gramophone device as in claim 1, wherein said means moving said sound disc comprises a plunger operatively mounted for reciprocating movement within said housing, said plunger having an end adapted to engage and push against said sound disc so as to cause said spindle to reciprocate, and means normally urging said end of said plunger out of engagement with said sound disc.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A gramophone device as in claim 1, wherein said means operatively connecting said motor and said turn-table for rotating same comprises a resilient band surrounding and continuously engaging the entire periphery of said turn-table, said motor being provided with a rotating shaft directly engaging said band, and means urging said shaft of said motor into engagement with said band.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
259 words
In a toy gramophone device of the type having a housing, a door rotatably mounted to the housing, a spindle operatively mounted to the door for rotation and having a turn-table secured thereto upon which a sound disc is positioned, a motor within the housing and a source of energy for same, a pick-up arm provided with a platform within which is mounted a stylus, the arm mounted to rotate between a first position wherein the stylus is within the beginning of the groove of the sound disc and a second position wherein the stylus is within the end of the groove of the sound disc, a system for normally urging the arm to the first position, a speaker cone mounted within the housing such that the platform of the arm makes sliding contact with the apex of the speaker cone during movement of the arm between the first and second positions, the improvement comprising an electrical contact member mounted on the spindle, and a pair of electrically conductive prongs mounted within the casing and positioned on opposite sides of the spindle to normally engage the electrical contact member of the spindle so as to complete an electrical circuit operating the motor, one of the electrically conductive prongs being positioned in the path of travel of the platform of the pick-up arm such that as the arm reaches its second position the platform engages the one electrically conductive prong moving same away from contact with the electrical contact member of the spindle opening the circuit to stop the motor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
259 words
In a toy gramophone device of the type having a housing, a door rotatably mounted to the housing, a spindle operatively mounted to the door for rotation and having a turn-table secured thereto upon which a sound disc is positioned, a motor within the housing and a source of energy for same, a pick-up arm provided with a platform within which is mounted a stylus, the arm mounted to rotate between a first position wherein the stylus is within the beginning of the groove of the sound disc and a second position wherein the stylus is within the end of the groove of the sound disc, a system for normally urging the arm to the first position, a speaker cone mounted within the housing such that the platform of the arm makes sliding contact with the apex of the speaker cone during movement of the arm between the first and second positions, the improvement comprising an electrical contact member mounted on the spindle, and a pair of electrically conductive prongs mounted within the casing and positioned on opposite sides of the spindle to normally engage the electrical contact member of the spindle so as to complete an electrical circuit operating the motor, one of the electrically conductive prongs being positioned in the path of travel of the platform of the pick-up arm such that as the arm reaches its second position the platform engages the one electrically conductive prong moving same away from contact with the electrical contact member of the spindle opening the circuit to stop the motor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
A toy gramophone device as in claim 4, wherein the spindle and turn-table are mounted for reciprocating movement with respect to the door and there is provided a plunger having an end adapted to engage and push against the sound disc permitting the spindle and turn-table to move away from the stylus releasing the arm to move from the second position to the first position under the influence of a spring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A toy gramophone device as in claim 4, including a resilient member positioned around the entire periphery of the turntable, the motor being arranged such that the shaft thereof directly engages the resilient member so as to directly drive the turn-table.
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) | 1977-07-15 | 1978-01-14 | 1978-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-15 | 1982-01-14 | 1982-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-15 | 1986-01-14 | 1986-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |