Sound reproducing device

Claim 2

In a toy or the like, a multiple message reproducing apparatus, comprising: a housing; sound reproducing means on said housing for reproducing audible messages including a tracking portion and drive means for moving a sound record relative to said tracking portion, said drive means including a spring motor and pull string for winding the spring motor; a sound record having a plurality of relatively movable adjacent record parts with a plurality of sound track portions on each record part adapted to be engaged seriatim from one record part to another by said tracking portion, each sound track portion containing a different message so that a substantially continuous sound track is formed extending over all of the record parts as the tracking portion moves thereacross; and random indexing means for releasably locking said record parts in any relative angular arrangement and for causing free and random relative movement of the record parts when they are released, said pull string being operatively assoicated with said indexing means for actuating the indexing means in response to tension on the string whereby the content of the continuous sound track changes randomly.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said relatively movable record parts comprise a plurality of generally annular concentric record discs that are mounted for movement toward and away from each other upon actuation of said random indexing means along an axis generally perpendicular thereto.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 including transmission means between said record parts in the form of a blank circular band to separate the sound track portions on one record part from the sound track portions on an adjacent record part so that the tracking portions are allowed to pass randomly from one record part to the other.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 including a circular peripheral chamfered portion about each record part sequentially overlapping the next adjacent record part to facilitate the tracking portion passing from one record part to the next adjoining record part.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the indexing means includes an indexing shaft for receiving the record discs through apertures in the centers thereof, said indexing shaft having an aligning portion that is engageable with all of the discs simultaneously for concentrically aligning said discs for reproducing purposes, said indexing shaft being movable between a locking position wherein the discs are concentrically held together as a unitary sound record by said aligning portion and an indexing position wherein said discs are free to angularly and longitudinally move relative to one another along said shaft in response to tension on the Pull string.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said record apertures are of substantially different diameters so that engagement of each record aperture with the indexing shaft causes substantially different arcuate rotation of each record part.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said indexing shaft has a generally square cross section for engagement with the record apertures to increase the friction between said apertures and said indexing shaft.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said sound reproducing means includes a movable tone arm for carrying said tracking portion, said tone arm being movable between a beginning position wherein said tracking portion is disposed for commencing the play of the record and an ending position, said pull string being operative to move said tone arm from its ending position to its beginning position.

Claim 10

In a toy or the like, a multiple message reproducing apparatus, comprising: a housing; sound reproducing means on said housing for reproducing audible messages from a sound track, said sound reproducing means having a tracking portion, a movable tone arm for carrying said tracking portion, said arm being movable between a beginning position wherein said tracking portion is disposed for commencing the play of the record and an ending position, and drive means for moving a sound record relative to said tracking portion and for moving said tone arm from its ending position to its beginning position; a sound record comprising a plurality of generally annular concentric record discs that are mounted for movement toward and away from each other along an axis generally perpendicular thereto, with a plurality of spaced apart sound track portions formed on each record part adapted to be engaged seriatim from one record part to another by said tracking portion, each sound track portion containing a different message and transition means between each adjacent record comprising a blank circular band to separate the sound track portions on one record part from the sound track portions on an adjacent record part so that the tracking portion is allowed to pass randomly from one record part to the other so that a substantially continuous sound track is formed extending over all of the record parts; and random indexing means for releasably locking said record parts in any relative angular arrangement and providing for relative movement of the record parts, said indexing means comprising an indexing shaft for receiving the record parts through the centers thereof, said indexing shaft having an aligning portion that is engageable with all of the record parts simultaneously for concentrically aligning said record parts, said indexing shaft being movable between a holding position wherein the record parts are concentrically held together as a unitary sound record on said aligning portion and an indexing position wherein said record parts are free to angularly and longitudinally move relative to one another along said shaft.

Claim 11

In a toy or the like, a multiple message reproducing apparatus, comprising: a housing; sound reproducing means on said housing for reproducing audible messages from a sound track, said sound reproducing means having a tracking portion, a movable tone arm for carrying said tracking portion, said arm being movable between a beginning position wherein said tracking portion is disposed for commencing the play of the record and an ending position, and drive means for moving a sound record relative to said tracking portion and for moving said tone arm from its ending position to its beginning position; a sound record comprising a plurality of generally annular concentric record discs that are mounted for movement toward and away from each other along an axis generally perpendicular thereto, with a plurality of spaced apart sound track portions formed on each record part adapted to be engaged seriatim from one record part to another by said tracking portion, each sound track portion containing a different message and transition means between each adjacent record comprising a blank circular band to separate the sound track portions on one record part from the sound track portions on an adjacent record part so that the tracking portion is allowed to pass randomly from one record part to the other so that a substantially continuous sound track is formed extending over all of the record parts; and random indexing means for releasably locking said record parts in any relative angular arrangement and providing for relative movement of the record parts, said indexing means comprising an indexing shaft for receiving the record parts through the centers thereof, said indexing shaft having an aligning portion that is engageable with all of the record parts simultaneously for concentrically aligning said record parts, said indexing shaft being movable between a holding position wherein the record parts are concentrically held together as a unitary sound record on said aligning portion and an indexing position wherein said record parts are free to angularly and longitudinally move relative to one another along said shaft.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said indexing shaft has a generally square cross section and is generally horizontally disposed when the toy is in its intended upright disposition.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the drive means includes a spring motor operatively connected to the record and a pull string actuator to wind said motor whereby activation of said pull string stores energy in the motor, said pull string being operatively associated with said random indexing means so as to move the indexing shaft to unlock the record parts and rotate the indexing shaft to rotate the record parts relative to one another as the record parts rest by gravity on the indexing shaft.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said pull string is operatively associated with said tone arm to move the tone arm to its beginning position when the string is pulled to wind the motor and actuate the indexing means.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 9 including biasing means to constantly urge the indexing shaFt into simultaneous engagement with the record parts.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said blank circular band is disposed on a circular peripheral chamfered portion about each record part sequentially overlapping the next adjacent record part to facilitate the tracking portion passing from one record part to the next adjoining record part.