US20130244534A1

US20130244534A1 - Wing mechanism for a doll

Info

Publication number: US20130244534A1
Application number: US13/420,127
Authority: US
Inventors: Danielle Dineen
Original assignee: Jakks Pacific Inc
Current assignee: Jakks Pacific Inc
Priority date: 2012-03-14
Filing date: 2012-03-14
Publication date: 2013-09-19

Abstract

A winged toy is described. The winged toy includes a wing mechanism and a doll. The wing mechanism includes a first wing arm and a second wing arm (each with wings). Each of the two wing arms are connected with one another via gears to allow the wings to flap in unison. The gears include teeth that are engaged with one another such that rotation of one gear causes the other gear to rotate at an equal rate and in a direction opposite to that of the first gear, thereby causing the wings to flap in unison. Additionally, the wing mechanism includes a plug having a distinct pattern. Finally, the doll has a rear side with a receptacle. The receptacle is formed in a distinct pattern that matches the distinct pattern of the plug, thereby allowing a user to selectively plug the wing mechanism into the doll.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a winged toy and, more particularly, to a mechanism for flapping a pair of wings for a doll/figure that are hinged to flap in unison.
(2) Description of Related Art
Winged figurines and toys have long been known in the art. For example, one can imagine a doll with wings to cause the doll to appear as a fairy. Alternatively, a toy Pegasus includes wings. Such toys allow a child to role and fantasy play by pretending that the toy can fly. Traditionally, such wings are affixed with the doll or toy such that they remain stable and do not flap or, if they do flap; they are each individually attached with the doll such that they do not flap in unison.
Thus, a continuing need exists for a winged toy that includes a pair of wings that are hinged to flap in unison.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to winged toy. The winged toy includes a wing mechanism and a doll. The wing mechanism includes a first wing arm with a wing and a second wing arm with a wing. Each of the two wing arms are connected with one another via first and second gears to allow the wings to flap in unison. The first and second gears include teeth that are engaged with one another such that rotation of the first gear causes the second gear to rotate at an equal rate and in a direction opposite to that of the first gear, thereby causing the wings to flap in unison. Additionally, the wing mechanism further includes a plug protruding therefrom, the plug having a distinct pattern. Further, the doll has a rear side with a receptacle formed therein. The receptacle is formed in a distinct pattern that matches the distinct pattern of the plug, thereby allowing a user to selectively plug the wing mechanism into the doll.
Finally, as can be appreciated by one in the art, the present invention also comprises a method for forming and using the invention described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the various aspects of the invention in conjunction with reference to the following drawings, where:

FIG. 1 is a side-view illustration of a doll having a wing mechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a front-view illustration of the wing mechanism according to the present invention, depicting the wing mechanism with wings attached thereto;

FIG. 2B is a side-view illustration of the wing mechanism according to the present invention, depicting the wing mechanism with wings attached thereto;

FIG. 2C is a rear-view illustration of the wing mechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a front-view illustration of the wing mechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a side-view illustration of the wing mechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 3C is a rear-view illustration of the wing mechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a top-view illustration of the wing mechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a top, interior-view illustration of the wing mechanism, depicting interior gears in a first position;

FIG. 4C is a top, interior-view illustration of the wing mechanism, depicting interior gears in a second position;

FIG. 4D is a top, interior-view illustration of the wing mechanism, depicting interior gears in a third position;

FIG. 5A is a front-view illustration of the wing mechanism according to the present invention, depicting a plug pattern on the wing mechanism;

FIG. 5B is a rear-view illustration of a doll according to the present invention, depicting a receptacle pattern for receiving the plug of the wing mechanism;

FIG. 6A is a rear-view illustration of a doll according to the present invention, depicting the wing mechanism attached with the doll, with the wings in a collapsed position; and

FIG. 6B is a rear-view illustration of a doll according to the present invention, depicting the wing mechanism attached with the doll, with the wings in an expanded position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a winged toy and, more particularly, to a mechanism for flapping a pair of wings for a doll/figure that are hinged to flap in unison. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without necessarily being limited to these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.
The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All the features disclosed in this specification, (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is only one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
Furthermore, any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” or “act of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6.
Please note, if used, the labels left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise and counter clockwise have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction.
Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions between various portions of an object.

(1) Description

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is directed to a doll 100 with a wing mechanism 102 for flapping a pair of wings 104 that are hinged to flap in unison. FIG. 1 is a side-view illustration of the doll 100, showing the wing mechanism 102 attached thereto. It should be understood that the term doll 100 is used herein to refer to any winged toy item, non-limiting examples of which include a traditional doll (as depicted), a figurine, a monster, a fairy, a creature, an animal, etc. For example, while depicted as a doll or fairy, the doll 100 can be any winged toy, such as a Pegasus horse or other flying toy item. Regardless of the doll's 100 form, the present invention improves upon the prior art in that the wing mechanism 102 can be selectively attached with the doll 100, with the wing mechanism 102 allowing the wings 104 to flap in unison. These aspects are described in further detail below.
FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are front, side, and rear-view illustrations, respectively, of the wing mechanism 102 without the doll, showing the wings 104 in a collapsed state. As shown in FIG. 2B, the wings 104 are attached with the wing mechanism 102 via wing arms 200. As described in further detail below with respect to FIGS. 4A through 4C, the wing arms 200 are attached with a gear mechanism that allows the wings 104 to flap in unison, between the collapsed position (as shown in FIGS. 2A through 2C) and expanded position (as shown in FIG. 6B). The wings 104 can be fixedly attached (e.g., glued, molded, affixed, etc.) with the wing arms 200 or detachably attachable with the wing arms 200. As a non-limiting example, the wings 104 can include an attachment mechanism, such as a slot, that slides over the wing arm 200.
It should be noted that the wing mechanism 102 can be selectively attached/detached from the doll using any suitable attachment mechanism or device. As a non-limiting example, the attachment mechanism is a plug 202 with a distinct pattern that is formed to slide into a recess (on the doll) with a corresponding pattern. FIG. 2B clearly shows the plug 202 protruding from the wing mechanism 102. As shown in FIG. 2A, the plug 202 is formed in a distinct pattern that allows for it to plug into the corresponding recess on the doll. As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, other attachment mechanisms may be employed to affix the wing mechanism 102 with the doll, such as magnets, clips, snaps, etc. In another aspect, the wing mechanism 102 is fixedly attached with the doll, such as being integrally formed or permanently adhered to the doll. However, as noted above, the wing mechanism 102 is desirably detachably attachable with the doll.
For further understanding of the wing mechanism 102, FIGS. 3A through 3C illustrate the wing mechanism 102 without the wings. More specifically, FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C illustrate front, side, and rear-view illustrations, respectively, of the wing mechanism 102. The plug 202 with its distinct pattern can be seen in FIG. 3A. The side-view of FIG. 3B also shows the plug 202 and wing arm 200. Finally, with the wings removed, the wing arms 200 are also visible in FIG. 3C. As shown in FIG. 3C, the wing mechanism 102 includes two wing arms 200 (one for each wing). As described in further detail below, the wing arms 200 are connected with one another to allow the wings to flap in unison.
For example and as a reference point, FIG. 4A provides a top-view illustration of the wing mechanism 102, showing a first wing arm 200A and a second wing arm 200B. Alternatively, FIGS. 4B through 4C provide interior-views that depict gears in operation to illustrate the flapping motion of the wing mechanism 102. As shown in FIG. 4B, the first and second wing arms 200A and 200B are pivotally connected with one another to allow the rotational motion in one wing arm to be almost exactly opposite to the rotational motion in the other wing arm. For example, the first wing arm 200A is attached with a first gear 400A. Alternatively, the second wing arm 200B is attached with a second gear 400B. The first and second gears 400A and 400B each include teeth that are engages with one another. Further, the first and second gears 400A and 400B are rotationally attached with the wing mechanism 102 such that as the first wing arm 200A is turned, it causes the first gear 400A to rotate. Because the teeth of the first gear 400A are engaged with the teeth of the second gear 400B, the second gear 400B begins to rotate at an equal rate and in a direction opposite to that of the first gear 400A. In doing so, the second gear 400B rotates the second wing arm 200B (and its attached wing). The motion of the first and second gears 400A and 400B and its effect on the first and second wing arms 200A and 200B is depicted through FIGS. 4B, 4C, and 4D, which show the wing arms 200A and 200B rotating further apart. Thus, FIG. 4B shows the gears 400A and 400B in a first position, which results in an attached wing being in collapsed position. FIG. 4C shows the gears 400A and 400B in a second position, which results in the attached wings being in an intermediate position. Finally, FIG. 4D shows the gears 400A and 400B in a third position, which results in the attached wings being in an expanded position.
As noted above and depicted in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the wing mechanism 102 includes a plug 202 that is formed in a distinct pattern that allows for it to plug into a corresponding receptacle 500 on the doll 100. Thus, while any suitable connection mechanism can be used to allow a user to selectively attach and detach the wing mechanism 102, desirably, the connection mechanism is a plug 202 that includes a pattern that corresponds to a receptacle 500 pattern on the doll 100. In this aspect, the user can simply plug and unplug the wing mechanism 102 and its corresponding wings 104.
As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the wing mechanism 102 can be affixed with the doll 100, thereby allowing user to move (i.e., flap) the wings 104 between the collapsed position (as shown in FIG. 6A) and the expanded position (as shown in FIG. 6B).

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A winged toy, comprising:

a wing mechanism, the wing mechanism including:

a first wing arm with a wing attached thereto;

a second wing arm with a wing attached thereto; and

wherein the two wing arms are connected with one another to allow the wings to flap in unison.

2. The winged toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wing mechanism further includes a first gear attached with the first wing arm and a second gear attached with the second wing arm, the first and second gears having teeth and engaged with one another such that rotation of the first gear causes the second gear to rotate at an equal rate and in a direction opposite to that of the first gear.

3. The winged toy as set forth in claim 2, wherein the wing mechanism further includes a plug protruding therefrom, the plug having a distinct pattern.

4. The winged toy as set forth in claim 3, further comprising a doll, the doll having a rear side with a receptacle formed therein, the receptacle having a distinct pattern that matches the distinct pattern of the plug, thereby allowing a user to selectively plug the wing mechanism into the doll.

5. The winged toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wing mechanism further includes a plug protruding therefrom, the plug having a distinct pattern.

6. The winged toy as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a doll, the doll having a rear side with a receptacle formed therein, the receptacle having a distinct pattern that matches the distinct pattern of the plug, thereby allowing a user to selectively plug the wing mechanism into the doll.