Patent US4285158A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4285158A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toy for detecting magnetic fields with electrical compass contacts
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1979-07-30
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Granted: 1981-08-25
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Expires: 1999-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A toy including a housing having a front panel, a compass having a magnetic needle mounted on the panel, a pair of LED's on opposite sides of the compass, a sound alarm on the panel, and an electronic circuit, having a pair of contacts, which energizes one of the LED's and the sound alarm in response to the needle being pivoted in one direction to close one of the contacts, and which energizes the other LED and the sound alarm in response to the needle being pivoted in the other direction to close the other contact. The needle is pivoted by strategically positioned bar magnets external of the toy. The electronic circuit can be manually reset or automatically reset after a predetermined period.
Inventors
- 👤 Randall L. Courts
- 👤 Joseph R. Wilfong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:08
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H33/00; A63H33/26; G; G01; G01C; G01C17/00; G01C17/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A toy, comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a compass having a magnetic pivotal needle and being mounted on said housing; (c) first and second energizable means for generating first signals, and third energizable means for generating a second signal different from said first signals, each of said first, second and third energizable means being mounted on said housing; and (d) electronic circuit means having a first contact and a second contact for energizing, respectively, said first energizable means and second energizable means in response to said needle being pivoted in one or another direction to close said first contact or said second contact, means for energizing said third energizable means in response to energization of said first energizable means or said second energizable means, testing means for energizing said first, said second and said third energizable means without said needle closing said first contact or said second contact, and reset means for deenergizing said first, said second and said third energizable means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A toy, comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a compass having a magnetic pivotal needle and being mounted on said housing; (c) first and second energizable means for generating first signals, and third energizable means for generating a second signal different from said first signals, each of said first, second and third energizable means being mounted on said housing; and (d) electronic circuit means having a first contact and a second contact for energizing, respectively, said first energizable means and second energizable means in response to said needle being pivoted in one or another direction to close said first contact or said second contact, means for energizing said third energizable means in response to energization of said first energizable means or said second energizable means, testing means for energizing said first, said second and said third energizable means without said needle closing said first contact or said second contact, and reset means for deenergizing said first, said second and said third energizable means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A toy according to claim 1 further comprising: an antenna rotatably mounted on said housing; and wherein said electronic circuit means includes means for rotating said antenna.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A toy according to claim 2 wherein said first signals are light signals and said second signal is an audible signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
192 words
A toy, comprising: (a) a housing having a front panel. (b) a compass having a magnetic pivotal needle and being mounted on said front panel. (c) a first visual signal generator being mounted on said front panel; (d) a second visual signal generator being mounted on said front panel; (e) an audible signal generator being mounted on said housing; (f) electronic circuit means, having a first contact and a second contact and being mounted inside said housing, for energizing said first visual signal generator or said second visual signal generator in response to said needle being pivoted in one or another direction to close said first contact or said second contact, respectively, and for energizing said audible signal generator in response to said first contact or said second contact being closed by said needle; (g) test switch means, mounted on said housing, for controlling said electronic circuit means to energize simultaneously said first visual signal generator, said second visual signal generator and said audible signal generator; and (h) means for resetting said electronic circuit means to de-energize said first visual signal generator, said second visual signal generator and said audible signal generator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
192 words
A toy, comprising: (a) a housing having a front panel. (b) a compass having a magnetic pivotal needle and being mounted on said front panel. (c) a first visual signal generator being mounted on said front panel; (d) a second visual signal generator being mounted on said front panel; (e) an audible signal generator being mounted on said housing; (f) electronic circuit means, having a first contact and a second contact and being mounted inside said housing, for energizing said first visual signal generator or said second visual signal generator in response to said needle being pivoted in one or another direction to close said first contact or said second contact, respectively, and for energizing said audible signal generator in response to said first contact or said second contact being closed by said needle; (g) test switch means, mounted on said housing, for controlling said electronic circuit means to energize simultaneously said first visual signal generator, said second visual signal generator and said audible signal generator; and (h) means for resetting said electronic circuit means to de-energize said first visual signal generator, said second visual signal generator and said audible signal generator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A toy according to claim 4 wherein said means for resetting comprises a manual reset button being mounted on said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A toy according to claim 4 wherein said means for resetting comprises: means for electrically automatically resetting said electronic circuit means a predetermined time after energization of said first visual signal generator or said second visual signal generator to de-energize said first signal generator and said second signal generator.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-08-24 | 1985-02-23 | 1985-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-08-24 | 1989-02-23 | 1989-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-08-24 | 1993-02-23 | 1993-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |