US2488483A - Animated device for ornamental and advertising purposes - Google Patents

Description

1949 J. s. THATCHER ANIMATED DEVICE FOR ORNAMENTAL AND ADVERTISING PURPOSES Filed March 6 1945 Patented Nov. 15, 1949 ANIMATED DEVICE FOR ORNAMENTAL AND ADVERTISING PURPOSES John Stanley Thatcher, Blackpool, England Application March 6, 1945, Serial No. 581,283 In Great Britain March 14, 1944 1 6 Glaims.

This invention relates to animated devices for ornamental and advertising purposes and the object of the invention is to provide an improved device for such purposes which is of simple construction and effective in use.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a three dimensional object, for example a model ship which is so mounted or supported as to simulate combined pitching and rolling movements to produce the realistic effects of a ship in water. ihat is to say, the present invention provides an animated device, for advertising and ornamental purposes comprising an object or model having depth and perspective supported at one end on a cam surface while near its opposite end the object or model is supported on an axle or rod disposed at an oblique angle across the longitudinal axis of the object or model, so that when the cam means is suitably rotated the oscillation of the object about its pivotal axis on the rod or axle will impart a longitudinal dipping and rolling motion to the entire object.

A further object of the invention is to provide an object such as a model ship which because of the nature of its supporting means may be readily placed in an opening in a platform arranged above the rotating cam means, and also readily removed from said opening, when desired, to permit the substitution of another ship having different characteristics from the one removed. In other words, one of the features of the invention is to provide means which permits the ready interchangeability of models in respect to the supporting and operating means.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which the figure is a perspective view of an advertising device including the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, the invention may be embodied in an appropriate cabinet or casing, such for example, as a clock cabinet or housing having an opening or window through which the ship or other object may be readily seen. As shown, the cabinet or casing may be provided with a platform in viewing relation to the window, platform having an opening for receiving a miniature model ship. The area surrounding said platform may be decorated to simulate the sea and other suitable scenic background.

According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, a device having the said member in the form of a miniature model ship is shown incorporated with an electric clock, and wherein a bracket 4 rotatably carries a spindle I having secured thereto a cam 2 formed with relative high and low surfaces and a suitable gear wheel 3 which engages and is driven by an existing pinion (not shown) found in and revolving at a speed peculiar to electric clock movements.

The model ship 5 is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axle 6 constituting the pivotal axis, passing through a groove with a bore which is larger in diameter than the diameter of said axle in the bottom of the ship at an angle to the longitudinal axis thereof and conveniently located at a distance from the rear or stern end of the ship by about one third of the total length thereof.

The front end of the ship is supported by means of a support which serves as a cam follower 1 which is secured to and depends from the undersurface thereof to bear against the face of relative high and low surfaces of the cam 2.

The rotation by the clock movement of the cam 2 imparts an oscillating movement to the ship about the axle 6 which, by virtue of being inclined to the longitudinal axis of the ship, be-

comes a combined longitudinal dipping and a lateral rolling motion.

The model ship which may be any type of seagoing vessel, fits into an aperture cut out in the sea simulating base, so that no part of the mechanism can be seen.

As the ship is only supported on the axle 6 and the front cam follower 1 it can be readily lifted out and replaced by another type of vessel provided the models are made interchangeable.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that the distinctive feature of the present invention resides in providing a three dimensional object supported near its rear end on a horizontal member in the nature of a rod or axle which is, disposed at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the body, to provide a line contact while near its front end the object is provided with a depending supportin member adapted to engage the high and low surfaces of a cam, which upon rotation imparts a rocking motion to the object on the angularly disposed support thereby to impart a longitudinal rocking or pitching motion to the object simultaneously with a lateral rolling thereof to produce the realistic effects of a ship in water, or a similar object having the compound motion referred to.

Although in the above described example of this invention the said member has been described as being in the form of a ship, said member may be in any other form, such for example as a model aeroplane, a model human or animal figure or any pictorial representation, preferably associated with an appropriate background.

Such models or representations may be formed as an integral part of said member or said member may be in bar or other suitable form to constitute a separate base to which the model or representation is permanently or detachably secured.

Further in the construction of the device which is not incorporated with an electric clock or driven by electric clock movement, the device may be driven by any other suitable prime. mover,,

such as an electric motor associated with suitable gearing.

I claim:

1. An animated device for advertising and ornamental purposes, compris ng, in combination, a platform having an opening therein, the upper surface of said platform b ng decorated to simulate water; a three dimensional miniature model ship detachably and movably mounted in said opening, said ship having a "pore in. the rear of the bottom of its hull porti a disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis thereof, a zontal axle secured. to the under surface c .d platform and extending across the platform opening adapted to loosely engage in and make line contact with the said groove in the be of the ship, to permit limited lateral movem to thereby pivotally mount the same toward the stern, a cam follower secured to the front end of the ship and depending below the under surface of the platform to support said front end the ship, a rotatable member including a surface having relative high and low points adapted. to contact the end of the said cam follower below the platform, and means adapted to impart rotary movement to the said member, whereby dipping and rolling movements are simultaneously imparted to said ship to produce the realistic effects of a ship in water.

2. An animated device for advertising and ornamental purposes, comprising, a three dimensional miniature model ship having a transverse angular groove formed in the bottom surface thereof, a horizontal axle disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the model ship adapted to fit loosely within said groove and to make line contact with the groove for supporting the model ship towards its stern, a cam follower depending from the front end of the ship to sup port the front end thereof, and a cam having a surface formed with high and low points for imparting oscillatory movement to the cam follower to thereby cause a dipping and rolling movement of the ship on said axle, a shaft for said cam, a gear wheel keyed to said shaft, and power means in mesh with said gear wheel to drive the cam.

3. An animated device for advertising and ornamental purposes, comprising, in combina tion, a platform having an opening therein, an elongated three-dimensional object having a groove extending across its bottom face at an angle oblique to the longitudinal axes of the object, an axle carried by the under side of the platform and extending across the opening therein said axle fitting loosely in said groove to support the object near one end for rocking and rolling movement, a support depending from the front end portion of the object, a cam having a surface engaging the lower end of the support, said surface including high and low points for imparting a dipping and rolling motion to the object, and means for driving said cam.

4. An animated device for advertising and ornamental purposes, comprising, a three dimensional miniature model, a horizontal axle making line contact loosely with the bottom of the model and disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the model for demountably supporting said model towards its rear end and to effect lateral movement of the model thereby to permit a dipping and rolling movement thereof, a cam follower depending from the front end of the model to support the said front end, and a cam having a surface formed with relatively high and low points for imparting said clipping and rolling movement to the model through said cam follower as it foilows the said high and low points of the cam surface, and means for driving the cam.

5. An animated device for advertising and ornamental purposes, comprising, in combination, a three dimensional miniature model ship, a horizontal axle disposed at an angle oblique to the longitudinal axis of the model ship for making line contact with the bottom of the ship and loosely supporting the latter towards its stern, a cam follower depending from the front end of the ship to support said front end, a cam formed with high and low surfaces for imparting oscillatory movement to the said cam follower, and means for driving said cam.

6. An animated device for advertising and ornamental purposes, comprising, a three dimensional miniature model, a horizontal axle disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the model for making line contact with the bottom of the model and loosely supporting said model towards its rear end to permit lateral movement of the model, to thereby effect a dipping and rolling movement thereof, a cam follower depending from the front end of the model to support the said front end, and a cam having a surface formed with relatively high and low points for imparting said dipping and rolling movement to the model through said cam follower as it follows the said high and low points of the cam surface.

JOHN STANLEY THATCHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 668,686 Marshall Feb. 26, 1901 1,788,921 Maas Jan. 13, 1931 1,913,150 Atwater June 6, 1933

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