GB2280616A - Toy - Google Patents

Description

1 is 2280616 m This invention relates to a childfs toy.

A conventional childfs activity centre consists of an arm having rotating f igures which are free to be pushed round by a child. The arm is generally a rigid arm, attached at one or both ends by a clamp to a cot. highchair or buggy with rotational figures mounted along the length or at the end of the arm. These have a number of disadvantages. There is a lack of f lexibility in the positioning of the figures. Also, where the activity centre consists of an arm attached at both ends to respective sides of a collapsible buggy, it is not possible to collapse the buggy without removing at least one end of the arm.

In accordance with a f irst aspect of the present invention, we provide a toy comprising a toy f igure, a poseable arm and a clamp for mounting the toy to a support. wherein the figure is attached to the clamp by the poseable arm, and wherein the poseable arm can be f lexed into a number of orientations but is sufficiently stiff to remain in each orientation.

The toy can then be attached at one end by the clamp to a cot, high-chair, buggy or other support, and placed in a chosen position and orientation. Also. this gives the advantage of allowing a collapsible buggy to be collapsed immediately without removal of the toy.

A further problem with the prior art is that there is a lack of flexibility in the clamping mechanism.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, we provide a clamp assembly for fixing an item to a support comprising a pivoting clamp having two arms rotatably mounted on a hinge. means to fix the item to the pivoting clamp. and a separate anchor member; whereby in use the clamp assembly can be fixed to a support either by pivoting the two arms to hold the support between them,, or 2 by opening the two arms and holding the support or supports between the pivoting clamp and the anchor member.

This gives greater flexibility in the method of fixing the item, such as a toy figure, to a support or supports.

A further problem with the prior art is that where the figures are driven, it is necessary to keep the arm out of the child's reach, both to protect the child and to protect the drive mechanism.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, we provide a toy comprising an axle, a body rotatably mounted on the axle, and drive means for rotating the body about the axle, the drive means being magnetically coupled to the body.

This presents a new method of providing driven characters which may be placed within a child f s reach. The child may grab the character and stop the rotation without any danger to the child, and without damaging the motor. This is because there is no mechanical connection between the drive means and the body, and the magnetic coupling between the motor and the body may be made sufficiently weak such that it will break if the character is held by the child. The magnetic connection can then be reestablished on a subsequent revolution of the motor.

Examples of toys according to the invention will now be described and contrasted with known toys with reference to the accompanying drawings,, in which:- Figure 1 illustrates a conventional musical mobile attached to a cot; Figure 2 illustrates a conventional activity arm attached to a collapsible buggy; Figure 3 illustrates partly in section an example of an activity arm according to the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates a side view and plan view in selection of the pivoting clamp part of the clamp assembly shown in Figure 3; C 3 Figure 5 illustrates a side view and plan view in section of the anchor member of the clamp assembly shown in Figure 3; Figure 6 shows a plan view in section of the pivoting 5 clamp of Figure 3 being used alone to hold a support; Figure 7 shows a plan view in section of the clamp assembly of Figure 3 being used as a two part clamp; Figure 8 shows a magnetic drive unit according to the third aspect of the invention; Figure 9 shows an end view of character barrel 35 of Figure 3; Figure 10 illustrates a section through the character barrel 35. along a line A-A in Figure 9; Figure 11 illustrates an end view of a graphics barrel 37; Figure 12 illustrates a section through the graphics barrel 37 along a line B-B in Figure 11; Figure 13 illustrates partly in section a second example of an activity arm according to the third aspect of the invention with alternative magnetic drive means.

Figure 1 illustrates a conventional musical mobile fixed to a cot 1. The mobile is held by a rigid arm 2 and is fixed to the cot by a clamp 6. The mobile consists of characters 3 which are driven round in a direction 5 by a geared motor 4. The mobile is kept out of the childIs reach to prevent the child from grabbing one of the characters and damaging the motor. A limited amount of positioning of the mobile may be achieved by, for example, rotating the arm 2 about the clamp 6.

Figure 2 illustrates a conventional activity arm 6 connected to a collapsible buggy at both ends by clamps 13.14. Characters 12 freely rotate about the arm 11. The characters are placed within the child f s reach to allow the child to push them round. At least one clamp 13 j 14 xust be removed to allow the buggy to collapse.

An example of a toy according to the present invention is shown in Figure 3. Musical activity arm 30 is attached 1 4 to the side of a cot 31 by a clamp 32. The arm 3 0 comprises a poseable arm portion 33, a solid character bar 34 rotatably mounted with character barrels 35,,36 and graphics barrel 37 rotatably mounted on a fixed graphic barrel 105. Characters 35a and 36a are attached to the character barrels 35 and 36. The character bar 34 includes a fixed graphic barrel 105 with graphics on its surface.

The graphics barrel 37 is transparent and has graphics on its inner surface. A visual effect is created when the graphics on the barrel 27 more with respect to the static graphics on the fixed barrel 105. A musical motor drive unit 38 causes the character barrels and graphic barrels 35-37 to rotate. Alternatively,, there may be no motor drive unit,, and the characters may be pushed round individually by the child.

The poseable arm 33 supports the character bar 34 over the baby and can be adjusted by the parent to be positioned in reach of the baby or quickly placed to one side out of the way. The poseable arm 33 may also rotate about the clamp 32. The arm will provide enough support to hold the character bar during play yet should the baby grab onto the product. the arm will deflect into the cot remaining attached to the cot side. The poseable arm is made of a spring. wound with a metal coil and shielded by a plastic cover. This type of arm is used for angled lamps.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the clamp assembly 32. The clamp assembly consists of a pivoting clamp 41,, and rigid anchor member 51. The pivoting clamp has two arms 42,,43 which rotate about a hinge 44. Integral with the arm 42 is a receiver 45 for the poseable arm. The arm 42 also has a hole 48 to receive a screw. the hole having a recess 46 to receive a screw head while the arm 43 has a bore 47 to receive the screw. Rigid anchor member 51 has a hole 52 to receive the screw.

Figure 6 shows the pivoting clamp 41 being used alone to grip a support 61 upright of a cot. The arms 42 and 43 are brought together about the hinge 44 to engage with the support 61. The clamp is secured using a metallic threaded screw 62 with a square head 63, and a bolt 64. The bolt 64 has a threaded bore 65 which does not extend all the way through the bolt. By turning the bolt 64, the screw 62 screws into the bore 65 until the square head 63 locks into recess 46. The bolt 65 is made of plastics material, to ensure that there are no exposed sharp metallic surfaces.

Figure 7 shows the clamp assembly being used as a two part clamp to hold cot bars 71 and 72. The arms 42 and 43 of the pivoting clamp are opened out. held against the bars 71 and 72, and the rigid anchor member is placed on the opposite side of the bars. The clamp is then secured by inserting the screw 62 through the hole 48 into receiving hole 52, and winding on the bolt 64 until the head 63 locks into the recess 46.

Figure 8 illustrates a magnetic drive unit as shown at 38 in Figure 3. The motor 38 drives a single gear 81 which engages a second gear 82. The gear 82 supports a disc 83 in which is embedded a single permanent magnet 84 which extends over only part of the circumference of the disc. Instead of a permanent magnet 84, the disc 83 may be embedded with a magnetisable material such as a ferromagnetic alloy. The motor 38 is a conventional 11Sankyoll music unit, wound by a winder 85, which plays music as it rotates. Alternatively, the disc 83 may be driven by a rubber friction drive instead ofa gear mechanism.

Figure 9 illustrates an end view of the character barrel 35. The cylinder 91 has a central bore 92 which is threaded onto the rigid arm 34.

The cylinder is hollow, and has permanent magnets 93 and 94 attached to inner end surfaces 95,96 respectively.

If the drive disc includes a permanent magnet 84, then the magnet 93 may be a magnetisable material such as a ferromagnetic alloy which is magnetisable by and attracted 6 to the permanent magnet 84. In Figure 9, the magnet 94 is attached to the front surface 96. which is partially cut away to reveal the back surface 95. with the magnet 93. The cylinder has slots 97,98 to receive neck portions 99, onto which a chosen character can be attached. The magnet 93 couples with the magnet 84 in the drive unit 38,, causing the character barrel 35 to rotate.

Figure 10 illustrates a section through Figure 9 along a line A-A, in which the magnet 94 can he seen,, but is not in the plane of the section. The graphics barrel 37 rotates about the rigid arm 34, and fixed graphic barrel portion 105 which is fixed to the arm 34. The barrels 37 and 105 carry graphics on their surfaces.

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a graphic barrel 37. The barrel is hollow and embedded with permanent magnets (or,, where possible, magnetisable material) 101 and 102 at opposite ends 103.104 of the barrel. In Figure 11. the front end 104 with magnet 102 is partially cut away to reveal the end 103 with magnet 101. Figure 12 is a section through Figure 11 along a line B-B. The magnet 101 connects with the magnet 94 in the character barrel 35.

The neck portion 99 is shown in dotted lines. having been fitted into the slot 97.

The character barrel 36 is identical to character barrel 35,, but only has a single magnet 93 which couples with magnet 102 in the graphic barrel 37. The music unit 38 is wound up and the disc 83 gently rotates. As the magnet 84 in the disc 83 approaches the magnet 93 in the front end of the character barrel 35,, it attracts the magnet 93 and the character barrel 35 becomes magnetically coupled to the disc 83. As the character barrel rotates. the magnet 94 couples with the magnet 101 in the graphics barrel, which in turn couples with the character barrel 38. Thus. eventually all the magnets connect in sequence following which the two sets of characters and the graphic barrel rotate together. Where a magnetisable material is used instead of a permanent magnet, the adjacent barrel or X 7 drive disc at the respective interface must have a permanent magnet in order to couple with the magnetisable material. The magnetic coupling concept eliminates any strain on the music unit. Should the baby touch the characters the magnetic connections will break allowing them to spin freely. The music unit continues to play turning the main gear wheel which will, after a short delay, pick up and drive the first character again. A second magnetic drive mechanism is shown in Figure 10 13. The motor 38 rotates the drive shaft 34, which is embedded with magnets 111. 112,113. The shaft 34 rotates within a fixed shaft casing 120. Rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft casing 120 are character barrels 35,,36 and graphics barrel 37. with magnets 114. 116 and 115 15 respectively. The magnets 114. 115 and 116 couple with the magnets 111 j 112 and 113, causing the barrels to rotate with the axle. Any one of the barrels can be held, and the magnetic connection with the drive shaft will be broken. Where, in the first embodiment, stopping the character 20 barrel 35 causes the barrels 37 and 36 to stop. in the second embodiment each barrel is driven separately and directly from the drive shaft. via magnetic coupling.

8

Claims (13)

1. A toy comprising a toy figure, a poseable arm and a clamp for mounting the toy to a support, wherein the figure is attached to the clamp by the poseable arm, and wherein the poseable arm can be flexed into a number of orientations but is sufficiently stiff to remain in each orientation.

2. A toy according to claim 1, wherein the poseable arm is made of a spring, wound with a metal coil and shielded by a plastics cover.

3. A clamp assembly for f ixing an item to a support comprising a pivoting clamp having two arms rotatably mounted on a hinge, means to fix the item to the pivoting clamp, and a separate anchor member; whereby in use the clamp assembly can be fixed to a support either by pivoting the two arms to hold the support between them, or by a second method by opening the two arms and holding the support or supports between the pivoting clamp and the anchor member.

4. A clamp assembly according to claim 3, wherein the two arms of the pivoting clamp have respective holes which are aligned when the arms are pivoted to hold a support, such that a securement. member can be inserted between the two holes.

5. A clamp assembly according to claim 3 or claim 4,, wherein the anchor member has a hole which is aligned with one of the holes in the pivoting clamp when a support or supports is held between the pivoting clamp and the anchor member,, such that a securement member can be inserted between the hole in the anchor member, and the respective hole in the pivoting clamp.

6. A clamp assembly according to claim 3, 4, or 5 wherein the first arm of the pivoting clamp has a hole to receive a screw, the hole having a counterbore to receive a knob, and the second arm has a threaded bore to receive a screw, and wherein the anchor member has a hole to receive a screw and knob.

9

7. A toy according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the clamp is a clamp assembly according to any of claims 3-6.

8. A toy comprising an axle. a body rotatably mounted on the axle, and drive means for rotating the body about the axle. the drive means being magnetically coupled to the body.

9. A toy according to claim 8, wherein the drive means comprises a rotating disc, wherein the body is mounted adjacent the rotating disc, and wherein at least one of the rotating disc and the body includes a permanent magnet. the other includes a permanent magnet or magnetisable material, and the magnet or magnetisable material in the rotating disc attracts the magnet or magnetisable material in the body such that the body is coupled to the rotating disc and rotates about the axle.

10. A toy according to claim 8 or claim 9, comprising a plurality of bodies rotatably mounted on the axle and a drive means at one end of the axle, wherein each body includes a magnet or magnetisable material, the body adjacent the drive means magnetically coupling with the drive means, and each body magnetically coupling to each adjacent body.

11. A toy according to claim 8 including a f ixed shaft casing. wherein the drive means causes the axle to rotate within the shaft casing, the body is rotatably mounted on the shaft casing, and wherein the axle magnetically couples to the body.

12. A toy according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the rotating axle and the body includes a permanent magnet, the other includes a permanent magnet or magnetisable material, and wherein the magnet or magnetisable material in the rotating axle attracts the magnet or magnetisable material in the body such that the body is coupled to the rotating axle and rotates about the shaft casing.

13. A toy according to claim 11 or 12, comprising a plurality of bodies rotatably mounted about the shaft casing, each body separately magnetically coupling to the rotating axle.

1