US4250659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pendoulously supported magnetically actuated figurine
Assignee: OTAGIRI MERCANTILE CO Inc
•
Filing: 1979-07-25
•
Granted: 1981-02-17
•
Expires: 1999-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A magnetically actuated toy is disclosed in the toy class including a supporting structure, a magnet disposed in the base of said supporting structure, an object (preferably a figurine) having a coacting magnet attached thereto, and means for pendulously suspending the object from the base structure in a position to swing with the respective magnets opposed. In this structure, an improvement includes in the pendulous support a rigid (or rod) segment and a torsion segment (or member). The magnet in the object and base are placed with poles opposed. The center of gravity of the suspended object lies off-axis to the forces between the opposed magnets on the object and the base. The torsion member, forming the second part of the pendulous support, is typically a short nylon string. Kinetic energy of the object exists in two arcuate forms; pendulous motion and rotational pendulous motion. Potential energy of the object exists in two forms; the vertical elevation of the object above the platform as result of the twisting of the torsional segment and the vertical elevation of the object above the platform as a result of the arcuate pendulous motion. Successive unpredictable discharges and transformations of the above four types of potential and kinetic energy in the swinging, twirling object provides lifelike motions to such object. Various objects are disclosed, including a figurine on a skateboard, a ballerina and paired disco dancers.
Inventors
- 👤 Tamezo Ishiguro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:09
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H13/00; A63H13/02; A63H13/04; A63H13/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
In the combination of a base, a rod having a first end embedded in the base and a second end over said base, said second end having a support point positioned medially over said base, an object supported over said base, pendulous support means between said object and said support point, coacting magnets, a first magnet in said base and a second magnet in said object, the improvement in said support means comprising: said support means including a torsion segment having a tensive member capable of receiving, storing, and discharging torsional energy from said supported object; said support means including further a rigid segment not capable of storing appreciable torsional energy; said object having a center of gravity eccentric from a line extending between said support point and said second magnet on said object whereby pendular movement of said supported object can be converted to spinning motion of said object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
In the combination of a base, a rod having a first end embedded in the base and a second end over said base, said second end having a support point positioned medially over said base, an object supported over said base, pendulous support means between said object and said support point, coacting magnets, a first magnet in said base and a second magnet in said object, the improvement in said support means comprising: said support means including a torsion segment having a tensive member capable of receiving, storing, and discharging torsional energy from said supported object; said support means including further a rigid segment not capable of storing appreciable torsional energy; said object having a center of gravity eccentric from a line extending between said support point and said second magnet on said object whereby pendular movement of said supported object can be converted to spinning motion of said object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 1 and wherein said support means includes two torsional segments.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention of claim 1 and wherein said support means supports two objects.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention of claim 1 and wherein said rigid segment of said support means has an inverted Y-shape comprising a vertical portion and two arms, said vertical portion of said inverted Y-shape disposed towards said support point and at least one of said arms of said Y supporting at an extreme end thereof a supported object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
183 words
A combination comprising: a base; a rod having a first end embedded in said base and a second end extending over said base; said second end having a support point positioned medially over said base; pendulous support means depending from the support point of said rod including a rigid portion and a torsional segment; an object supported by said pendulous support means immediately over said base; a first magnet having a substantially vertical polar alignment affixed to said base; a second magnet affixed to said object, said second magnet having a substantially vertical polar alignment; said magnet in said base and said magnet in said object having like poles disposed towards one another whereby said poles repel; said pendulous support means including a torsional segment for receiving, storing, and discharging torsional energy from said object; said rigid portion rigidly attached to said object at the lower end thereof; said object including a center of gravity non-concentric to an axis described between said support point and said second magnet whereby spinning motion can be imparted to said object from pendular motion of said object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
183 words
A combination comprising: a base; a rod having a first end embedded in said base and a second end extending over said base; said second end having a support point positioned medially over said base; pendulous support means depending from the support point of said rod including a rigid portion and a torsional segment; an object supported by said pendulous support means immediately over said base; a first magnet having a substantially vertical polar alignment affixed to said base; a second magnet affixed to said object, said second magnet having a substantially vertical polar alignment; said magnet in said base and said magnet in said object having like poles disposed towards one another whereby said poles repel; said pendulous support means including a torsional segment for receiving, storing, and discharging torsional energy from said object; said rigid portion rigidly attached to said object at the lower end thereof; said object including a center of gravity non-concentric to an axis described between said support point and said second magnet whereby spinning motion can be imparted to said object from pendular motion of said object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention of claim 5 and wherein said object is a figurine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 5 and wherein said object is a figurine on a skate board including a magnet affixed to said skateboard.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 5 and wherein said pendulous support means includes one torsional segment in said support means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a toy of the type having a base and a support member extending upwardly from said base for pendulous support of an object, comprising: a first magnet affixed to said base; a second magnet affixed to said object, said first and second magnets having poles in parallel alignment with adjacent poles being of like polarity whereby said magnets repel one another; said support member having a support point positioned centrally over said base; a pendulous support means extending between said object and said support point, said pendulous support means including a torsional portion and a rigid portion, said torsional portion including first and second torsionally fixed ends with a flexible length therebetween capable of receiving, storing, and discharging torsional energy from said supported toy; said rigid portion extending to and rigidly affixed to said object from said torsional portion; said second magnet on said object being eccentric to an axis described between said support point and the center of gravity of said object and second magnet therewith whereby spinning motion can be randomly imparted to and/or recovered from said object.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a toy of the type having a base and a support member extending upwardly from said base for pendulous support of an object, comprising: a first magnet affixed to said base; a second magnet affixed to said object, said first and second magnets having poles in parallel alignment with adjacent poles being of like polarity whereby said magnets repel one another; said support member having a support point positioned centrally over said base; a pendulous support means extending between said object and said support point, said pendulous support means including a torsional portion and a rigid portion, said torsional portion including first and second torsionally fixed ends with a flexible length therebetween capable of receiving, storing, and discharging torsional energy from said supported toy; said rigid portion extending to and rigidly affixed to said object from said torsional portion; said second magnet on said object being eccentric to an axis described between said support point and the center of gravity of said object and second magnet therewith whereby spinning motion can be randomly imparted to and/or recovered from said object.
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) | 1984-02-17 | 1984-08-18 | 1985-02-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-02-17 | 1988-08-18 | 1989-02-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-02-17 | 1992-08-18 | 1993-02-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |