US3160983A

US3160983A - Self-powered mobile toy

Info

Publication number: US3160983A
Application number: US278609A
Authority: US
Inventors: Smith James; Raymond J Lohr; Carver Richard
Original assignee: Louis Marx and Co Inc
Current assignee: Louis Marx and Co Inc
Priority date: 1963-05-07
Filing date: 1963-05-07
Publication date: 1964-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-15
Also published as: GB1032676A

Description

Dec. 15, 1964 Filed May 7, 1963 J. SMITH ETAL SELF-POWERED MOBILE TOY 18 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTORS ATTORNE YS Dec. 15, 1964 J. SMITH ETAL 3,160,983

SELF-POWERED MOBILE TOY Filed May '7, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS /5 JAA/fes SML/77- ATTORNE YS Dec- 15, 1964 .1.sMlTH ETAI. 3,160,983

SELF-POWERED MOBILE TOY Filed May 7, 1965 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 64 50 Illu G /6 /7 'I f 5f" Tn-LII ATTORNE YS United States Patent O 3,160,983 SELF-PWElijED MHLE TOY James Smith, Raymond l'. Lohr, and Richard Carver, Erie, Pa., assignors to Louis Marx it Co., Ine., New York, NSK, a corporation oi New York Filed May 7, 1953, Ser. No. 278,659

Claims. (Cl. (l5-232) l This invention relates to motor driven toy animals and, more particularly, to a self-powered mobile toy animal which, when moving in a given direction and with its body either striking an obstruction or receiving an impact, will reverse the relative orientation of its body and reverse its direction of movement while, during such reversal of relative orientation, emitting a growling or snarling sound.

Various types oi motor driven toys are known in which the toy will change direction upon. encountering an obstruction or the like. Most toys of these types are wheeled vehicles such as trucks or cars. While some of them have self-contained power sources, a number must be connected to an outside power source such as a convenience outlet.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a self-powered mobile toy animal including a motor driven carriage, and a body oscillatably supported in suspended relation on said carriage and capable of having its orientation reversed with respect to the carriage upon reversal of the direction of movement of the carraige, which latter is preferably non-dirigible. Such reversal of the direction of movement of the carriage, and of the relative orientation of the body on the carriage, is elfeoted as a consequence of an external impact on the body such as, for example, the body encountering an obstruction or the body receiving an impact as from a cork or suction cup type of dart discharged from a spring gun or the like.

More particularly, the toy animal of the invention comprises a Wheeled carriage having driving means thereon drivingly connected to supportitng wheels for the carriage and control means selectively operable to activate the driving means to drive the carriage. A relatively elongated support mast is mounted on the carriage to extend substantially vertically upward from or perpendicularly to the carriage, and a substantially hollow animal body is provided having a skirt arranged -to substantially surround and conceal the carriage, there being universal suspension means supporting the body on the upper end of the mast for lateral oscillation of the body in any direction. Cooperating means are provided on the body and the mast and are operable, through the driving means and upon movement of the body from a substantially plumb position, to reverse the direction of movement of the carriage, and further, and again through the driving means, to reverse the relative orientation of the body on the carriage. This is effected through rotation of the mast elative to the body about an axis extending longitudinally of the mast, the universal suspension means constraining the hollow animal body against rotation relative to the mast so that the body rotates with the mast.

In a specic embodiment of the invention, an electric motor is mounted on the carriage and a battery is mounted in a two-part compartment on the carriage, with the control means comprising switch means arranged to connect the battery to the driving means to drive the carriage. A

3,169,983 Patented Dec. 15, 19564 rested by an abutment means. A sound producer, such as a diaphragm type device, is mounted on the carriage and is arranged to be energized by the motor when the sound producer is in the active position; During normal movement of the carriage in one direction or the other, the sound producer is maintained out of its active position, but the sound producer is biased into the activeposition immediately upon the start of a reversal of the orientation of the body relative to the carriage, the activation oi the sound producer being terminated as soon as the body has reached a reverse orientation with respect to the carriage. The frictional connection between the driving means and the mast permits the carriage to be `operated in a given direction without rotation of the mast after the latter has reached its limit of rotation in either direction. i

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Y

FIG. l is aside elevational view of a self-powered Y mobile toy4 animal embodying the invention;

FG. 2 is a top plan View of the animal;

FIG. 3 is a, longitudinal vertical sectional view through the animal taken on the line 3 -3 of FG. 2;

FIG, 4 is a partial transverse sectional View through the animal, taken on the line 4 4 of FIG. l;

FIG. 5` is a partial horizontal sectional View of the animal taken on the line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FlG. 6 is a partial sectional view, corresponding to a portion of FIG. 4, and illustrating the operation of a novel normally open switch means controlling reversal or" the direction of movementy and of the relative orientation of the body and the carriage;

FIG. 7 is a partial vertical sectional View taken at substantially right angles to the plane of FIG. 4;

FLG. S is a sectional view of a reversing switch incorporated in the invention; and Y FlG. 9 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electric circuitry of the toy animal.

Referring to the drawings, the mobile toy animal ernbodying the invention comprises a wheeled carriage 10 preferably formed ot electrically conductive sheet metal, on which there is oscillatably suspended a substantially hollow animal body 7i? having a skirt arranged to substantially surround and concealy carriage 10. Body 70, in the illustrated embodiment, has the general appearance of an angry bear. A relatively elongated mast is rotatably mounted on carriage 10 to extend substan-` p vertical direction, and universal suspension means, generally indicated at '75, support body 7i) on the upper end of mast t5 for lateral oscillation of body 70 in any direction relative to carriage it?, Body 70, while being oscillatably supported on the upper end of mast 45;, is'

constrained to rotate with the mast so that it may occupy two positions, degrees apart, in each of which it is in general alignment with the longitudinal direction of travel of carriage lil.

Carriage liti comprises a lower substantially horizontal Wall or platform 1l, an upper horizontal Wall or platform 12, and

side walls

13 and 14 interconnectingv platforms ll'and 12. In a particular embodiment` shown, side Walls i3 and 14 are integral with the lower wall or platform i1 and are secured to upper wall or plat-` form 12 by means of tabs extended 'through slots in upper wall 12 and twisted. One end of lower wall 11 extends as a segment of a circle beyond the edges of s

ide walls

13 and 1,4 and has an outer periphery which is substantially coaxial with

mast

4,5, this extension 16 being provided with a reinforcing lip or ange 17; y y

Lower wall 11 is formed with a pair of substantially parallel slots 18 which extend partly into the forward extension 16 and receive the driving wheels 15 for carriage 10. Tabs 21 are bent vertically from the inner edges of slots 18 and are juxtaposed with vertical legs 22 of a shelf 20 disposed in upwardly spaced parallel relation to wall 11. Wheels are non-rotatably secured or xed to the opposite ends of an axle 24 which extends through upwardly opening slots in tabs 21 and downwardly opening slots in legs 22. Legs 22 are secured to lower wall 11 of carriage 10 by means of tabs extending through slots in the lower wall and bent over. For a purpose to be described, a spur gear 20, having teeth extending parallel to its axis, has its hub 27 anchored to driving axle 24. In a manner to be described, gear is driven by the driving mechanism operated by the self-powered motor means for the device.

Oper-ating power for the toy animal is provided by a battery comprising a plurality of relatively small ashlight type dry cells 28 mounted in a battery compartment 30. Compartment 3) comprises upper and

lower sections

30A and 30B, respectively, molded of a suitable plastic composition material. These sections cooperate to form an enclosure for the battery comprising dry cells 28 and, to this end, the relatively larger upper section 30A opens downwardly and the relatively smaller lower section 30B opens upwardly. Upper section 30A is anchored to

side walls

13 and 14 of carriage 10, where-as lower section 30B is detachable from the carriage.

Compartment 30 has an inner arcuate wall and an outer arcuate wall radially spaced from the inner wall iby a little more than the diameter of cells 28. Both walls preferably are concentric with the axis of mast 45. Upper section 30A of the battery compartment has a top wall 33, and lower section 36B of the battery compartment has a bottom wall 34.

Detachable lower section 30B of the battery compartment is releasably retained in closing relation with upper section 30A by spring metal clips 35 which are relatively elongated. Two of these spring clips are riveted t0 the outer surfaces of

walls

13 and 14 respectively by rivets extending through the outer wall 32A of the upper compartment section 30A. The third spring clip k35 is riveted, as by rivets 36, to outer wall 32A of upper compartment section 30A at substantially the center thereof. Each clip 35 is relatively elongated so that yit will extend substantially the full height of compartment 30, and has a bent inwardly projecting spring end 37 at its lower end arranged to have spring engagement with the outer surface of the lower wall 34 of compartment section 30B. Dry cells 28 are arranged in alternately reversed orientation within compartment 30 and are interconnected in series by

metal conductor strips

38A and 38B respectively extending along top wall 33 and bottom wall 34 of the compartment.

Ears 41 are molded integrally with the lower wall 34 of compartment section 30B and project downwardly therefrom in laterally spaced relation to support an axle 42 on which are rotatably mounted second supporting wheels which are not driven but merely act as freely rotating supporting wheels for carriage 10. While the diameters of

wheels

15 and 40 are illustrated as differing somewhat, although they may be of equal diameter, the relative positioning thereof is such that walls 11 and 12 of carriage 10 are maintained substantially horizontal. Wheels 40 may be molded of a suitable plastic composition material of a relatively hard nature, although they may also be molded of a material which will have some cushioning effect.

Mast 45 is rotatably supported on carriage 10 to extend perpendicularly to upper and lower platforms 11 and 12. This mast 45 is a relatively elongated circular shaft of electrically conductive metal, and its lowermost end extends through an aperture in lower platform 11 and is reduced and threaded to receive a nut 46. A

suitable washer may be interposed between nut 46 and the lower surface of platform 11. Immediately adjacent the upper surface of lower platform 11, a relatively heavy metal collar 47, preferably made of brass, is secured coaxially to mast 45 and has a generally sectorshaped integral support 48 extending radially in coplanar relation from adjacent its upper surface, support 48 being spaced somewhat above lower platform 11 of carriage 10. The upper surface of collar 47 is in frictional engagement with the lower surface of hub 51 of a relatively large diameter spur gear 50 which is rotatable on mast 45. A relatively axially elongated second collar 52 is secured to mast 45 above spur gear 50, and has its lower end surface in frictional engagement with the spur gear. The upper end of collar 52 is non-rotatably secured to an upper generally sector-shaped support 53 to thus anchor support 53 to rotate with lower sectorshaped support 43. A pair of vertically extending posts 54 interconnect supports 4S and 53 for operation as a unit with mast 45.

An inverted U-shaped sheet metal bracket 56 is secured to upper metal support 53 as by having tabs bent up from support 53 to extend through slots in horizontal anges 57 on the lower ends of the legs of bracket 56. An electric motor is mounted, with vertical orientation, on upper support 53 and extends between this upper support and the upper wall 58 of bracket 56. Motor 55 is a D.C. motor arranged to operate on a voltage of approximately six volts supplied by the four dry cells 28 in battery compartment 30. The armature shaft of motor 55 extends beyond the ends of the motor casing at each end.

A vertical shaft or pin 60 is mounted slidably through aligned apertures in upper `and lower supports 4S and 53, so that it is vertically displaceable relative to these supports. The function and purpose of shaft or pin 60 will be described hereinafter. However, it may be noted at this time that the lower end of shaft 60 carries an inverted convex operating head 61 which is engageable with the upper surface of lower platform 11 of carriage 10. On the lower end of the motor armature shaft there is secured a pinion 62 which meshes with a relatively large spur gear 63 which is rotatably mounted on pin 60 and is integral with a smaller diameter pinion 64. Pinion 64 meshes with large spur gear 50 previously mentioned as rotatably mounted coaxially of mast 45. The hub 66 of spur gear 63 bears against upper support 53, and the lower surface of pinion 64 bears against a circular boss 67 integral with and on the upper surface of lower support 43.

Large spur gear 50 meshes with an axially elongated pinion 68 extending between shelf 23 and lower platform 11 and rotatably mounted therein. Pinion 68 meshes with a spur gear 43 which forms a unit with a pinion 44. The unit comprising spur gear 43 and pinion 44 is rotatably mounted in lower platform 11 immediately beneath drive axle 24, and pinion 44 meshes with teeth 26 of gear 2t) secured on drive axle 24.

With the described driving means it will be apparent that when motor 55 is energized, driving wheels 15 will be rotated in a selected direction through the medium of the driving means. At the initiation of motor op` eration in either direction, supports 48 and 53, and mast 45, are caused to rotate due to engagement of pinionI 64 with spur gear 5t). However, the extent of such rotation is limited by engagement of lower support 48 with the inner edges of

walls

21 and 22. When support 48 has its motion thus arrested, the driving of wheels 15 continues through large spur gear 50 due to the frictional interengagement between

collars

47 and 52 and spur gear 50 and its hub 51. However, the moment the direction of operation of motor 55 is reversed, supports 48 and 53, and mast 45, are rotated substantially 180 degrees in the opposite direction until the motion of lower support 48 is again interrupted by engagement.

thereotwith the edges of walls. 21 and 22. The purpose of this arrangement will be made apparent hereinafter.

It should further be noted that, at positions substantially 180 degrees apart, there are ramps 65 mounted on the upper surface of lower platform 111; These ramps are -in the path of movement ot` head 61- of vertically displaceable pin or shaft 6); RampsV 65- are .so-located that, at eachV limit of oscillation of mast 45, head 61 of pin d-will ride up-a rampV 65 and thus lift pin 611 In between rampsbS, headtl` of pinldtlrides along the upper surface of platforml 11, thus lowering pin 69 from the elevated positionwhich it occupies when mast 45 is stationary at either limit of its movement. The purpose ofthis will also be made apparent as the description proceeds.

Mast 45, as previously stated, supports body 70 of the animal. The body is molded of a suitable composition` material, appropriately formed and colored on its exterior surface to give the appearance of an angry bear. For reference purposes, it will be noted that the bear has a snout generally indicated at 71 and a tail generally indicatedat 72.

Body 7tlis substantially hollow and includes an inwardly concave upper wall 73 merging smoothly into a skirt. Skirt 74 embraces and substantially conceals carriageV 1i?, and it will be noted that the lower edge '76 of skirt '74 is below the upper level of drive wheels 15 and about at the level of shelf 2-3'. The inner surface of upper wall 73 of body 76)' is formed with a pair or thickened mounting pads 77 and '78; Mounting pads 77 and '78 serve to position a box-shape structure 75 molded ol plastic composition material. Box structure 75 includes an upper wall 81 arranged to engage or substantially engage the mounting pads '77 and 7S, and an end wall 352 projecting upwardly beyond wall 81 and arrangedto engage the inner surface of top wall 73 and to lie against an end surface of pad 77. The bottom wall 83 of structure 'l5 is formed with a substantially central aperture 84. Side walls 86 and intermediate partitiousA 87 of structure 75 define a substantially rectangular central compartment Si) which is centered with respect to aperture S4.

A substantially rectangular, and preferably square, metal plate 85'is disposed within .compartment 80 and has limited clearance on all four edges with the walls defining rectangular compartment 86, Plate 85 is integral with a collar 88 which is immovably secured upon theupper end of mast 45 and extends through aperture 84. Recessed' screws or studs 89 disengageab-ly secure body 70 to box-shaped structure 7'5.

Body 71B is secured to structure 75 in such a manner that snout V'71 always extends in the direction of movement of carriage 1). It will be noted that the described mounting arrangements for the body permits lateral oscillation of the body in any direction, and this lateral oscillation is utilized to elect a reversal of movement of carriage 1d and a reversal of the orientation of body 71B on carriage 10. Such oscillation of body 7 il may be eiected in anymanner as, for example, by skirt 74 striking an obstruction. Alternatively, a spring gun may be used to fire suction cup darts at the toy animal and these darts, striking skirt 74 or any other part ot the body, will kcause the latter to oscillate about its mounting on mast 45 and thus to effect a reversal of movement of carriage 1i? and a reversal of orientation of body 7) on carriage 1lb. Such reversal of movement and reversal or orientation are effected by suitable means which will now be described.

lust above upper platform 12 of carriage 10, a dielectric sprinty seat 90 is secured to mast 45 against axial displacement therealong. Spring seat 91B may be molded of any suitable plastic composition material and includes a lower hub 91, an upper hub 92, and a peripheral ilange resting on iiauge 93. Coil spring 95 has an internal diameter somewhat larger than the diameter of mast 45, so that coil spring 95 is normally out of contact with mast 45. Due to the dielectric spring seat 9i), the lower end of coil spring Q@ is electrically isolated from mast 45. In a manner to be described, any contact between spring 95 and mast 45 initiates the aforementioned carriage reversing and body orientation reversing movements.

To effect engagement of the upper portion of spring 95 with mast 45 responsive to any oscillation of body 70, a cross bar 9d of plastic composition material extends transversely between the opposite sides of skirt 74 of body 7&1 at the location of mast 45. Cross bar 94 is essentially a strip of plastic composition material and is provided with. reinforcing ribs 96 on its sur-face.` At its midpoint, cross bar 9.4. is formed With areinforced aperture 9.7 arranged to` closely embrace spring 95, and this aperture is in the form of an axially elongated hub. Cross bar 94. has its ends integrally conneted to slcirt 74 at an elevation such that hub 97 will embrace spring,y 9.5 adjacent the upper, or freely movable, portion of spring 95, Thus, any oscillation of body 7 il will', through cross member 9,4, eiect a movement oi coil spring Q5 into en-v gagement with mast d5. Due to the cooperative action of the weight of the suspended body '712, plus the normal straighteningeiiect of coil spring 95, body 70 is normally maintained in a substantially plumb position.

Each engagement of spring,` 95 with mast 45 etlects an operation of a reversing switch generally indicated at 1116, and shown more particularly in FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and 9. Reversing switch 199; includes an inverted tjr-shaped metal bracket 1111 having a metal partition 1&2,.- extending between its side legs above the lower edges thereof and projecting rearwardly from bracket `1611, forV anchoring in mechanical and electrical Contact with upper platform 12,01 metal carriage lll, such anchor-ing being eff-ected, for example, by a suitable hollow rivet 1%. A solenoid is supported on partition 111,2 between this partition and the top wall of bracket 1021. One end of the solenoid winding is electrically connected to a leg of bracket lill, as indicated at 16.4. `The other end of this solenoid winding is electrically connected to a clip type connector 195 mounted on a dielectric plate 16,7 secured to a side wall of bracket 1012. It will thus be apparent that the solenoid winding 195 is in electric circuit connection with carriage 11i and thus with mast 4.5.

Solenoid 105 is operatively associated with a movable magnetic armature which is substantially cylindrical and has a diametric hole bored through its lowerend. This hole receives one leg of a ll-shaped copper wire 111,8

` which depends from the lower end of armature 110.

A pair of congruent dielectric plates 111, 111 are positioned between the lower portions of the legs of bracket 111i) and in engagement with the under surface of partition 1192;. Suitable spacer means, such as indicated at 112, extend between walls 111 to maintain the latter is spaced parallel relation, the walls 111 having projecting tabs received in slots in the legs of bracket 1.91. Walls 111 are formed with transversely aligned vertical slots 113 through which the legs of wire hook 10S extend, the bight of the wire hook lying outside one of the plates 111 as indicated more particularly in FIG. 3. Below slots 113, walls 111 are formed with substantially heartshaped apertures 114 which are aligned with each other. The upwardly extending peripheries of apertures 114 serve as guiding or camming surfaces for the lower leg of wire hook 19S'. g

The lower leg of hook 108 Operates on a quadrantshaped switching member 115 which has hook extensions 116 at each end of its arcuate surface. Member 115 is formed of dielectric material and has dielectric pivot studs 117 extending from either side thereof in coaixal alignment and at a position somewhat above the point thereof. Three transverse contact strips 120A, 120B and 120C are disposed at uniform spacings from each other on the arcuate upper surface of member 115, with strip 120B being at substantially the center of the arcuate surface with

strips

120A and 120C being spaced to either side thereof. Pivot studs 117 are engaged in circular apertures in conductive metal strips 118 each secured to the inner surface of a respective dielectric plate 111, one of strips 11S being illustrated in FIG. 4. Contact strip 120B extends from the arcuate surface of member 115 along a side surface thereof to a pivot stud 117 and is in contact with one of the electrically conductive supports strips 118, as best seen in FIG. 8.

Although not shown in the drawing, contact strips 120A and 120C are extensions of a somewhat wider electrically conductive metal contact strip extending along the opposite side of member 115 to the other pivot stud 117 thereof and in electrical contact with a pivot support strip 118 on the rear side of member 116, as the latter is illustrated in FIG. 8.

Contact strips 120 are arranged to bev engaged by a pair of leaf spring brushes 121D and 121B, each of these brushes 121 being mounted on a terminal metal strip 122D or 122B, respectively, mounted between and secured to plates 111. The spacing of the inner ends of brushes 121 is such that brush 121D will engage either contact strip 120A or contact strip 120B, and brush 121E will engage either contact strip 120B or contact strip 120C, depending upon the angular position of member 115. In the position illustrated in FIG. 8, brush 121D is engaged with contact strip 120B, and brush 121E is engaged with contact strip 120C.

Member 115 is angularly displaceable from the position shown in FIG. 8 to another position in which the point thereof is disposed to the left, or clockwise, f hook 108. Each time solenoid 105 is energized, coil 110 is drawn thereinto and pulls up hook 108 so that the lower leg of hook 108 will ride along a side surface of member 115 and will engage in a hook 116 to rock member 115 through an angle suicient to displace the point thereof from one side of hook 108 to the other side thereof. As this changes the respective contact engagement of brushes 121, a reversal of polarity of the brushes is eiected. This is in the case where pivot support strips 118 are connected to opposite polarity terminals of battery 25. Alternatively, one terminal of battery 25 can be connected to one strip 118 and the other terminal thereof connected to the other strip 118. If battery 25 is connected across strips 11S, then motor 55 is connected to the respective brushes 121, and vice versa. In either case, responsive to each energization of solenoid 105, the respective polarities of the input terminals of motor 55 are reversed upon each actuation of the rcversing switch.

Referring to FIGS. 4, and 9, the positive terminal of battery is connected to one terminal of a switch 123 having an operator 124. Switch 123 is mounted on side wall 13 of frame 10, beneath the lower edge 76 of skirt 74 of body 70, and switch operator 124 extends outwardly for ready access for starting the motion of the toy animal. The other terminal of switch 123 is commonly connected to clip 106 and t0 brush 121B. The negative terminal of battery 125 is connected to the lower end of coil spring 95 and also to brush 121D. One terminal of motor 55 is connected to contact strip 120B, and the other motor terminal is connected in parallel to contact strips 120A land 120C. The connections to

brushes

121D and 121E are made through the respective terminal strips 122D and 122B as indicated, for example, in FIG. 4. The connections to contact strips 120 are made through the respective strips 118, each of which has ears extending through and anchored in slots in the respective adjacent plate 111, and a typical connection of this type is illustrated at 127 in FIG. 4.

When the animal is placed upon a level surface and operator 24 is actuated to close switch 125, the animal will start moving in the direction in which its snout 71 is pointing. Should body 70 be struck at any position below its top wall, or should the body strike an obstruction, the resultant oscillation of the body will, through crossbar 94, cause spring to contact mast 45. This condition is illustrated in FIG. 6. This will close a circuit from the positive terminal of battery 25 through switch 125, solenoid 105, ground (the metal frame of the reversing switch and the metal frame of carriage 10), mast 45, spring 95 and the negative terminal of battery 25. Solenoid will thereupon be energized momentarily and will draw armature and wire hook 108 upwardly. This will pivot member 115 clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 8, and from the contact position shown in FIG. 9, so as to engage brushes 121D and 121B with

contact strips

120B and 120C, respectively, to reverse the connections to motor 55. As the motor reverses its direction of operation, pinion 64 rotating in mesh with gear 50 will tend to rotate this gear and at the same time the

supports

48 and 53 will be rotated through 180 degrees. After such rotation, support 48 will engage an inner edge of

walls

21, 22 and the rotation of

supports

48 and 53 will be arrested but the rotation of gear 50 will continue so that the carriage will be driven in the opposite direction. Such rotation of

supports

48 and 53 will have rotated mast 45 through 180 degrees so that body 70 is reversed in its orientation 0n carriage 10 and snout 71 is now pointing in the opposite direction and in the direction in which carriage 10 is now moving.

As stated, during each reversal of thc relative orientation of body 70 on carriage 10, a growling or snarling sound is produced. The means for producing this comprises a sounding drum 125 of plastic composition material having a vibratable diaphragm extending thereacross. Drum 125 has a partial bottom wall 128 from which there extends a pair of spaced ears 129. A pair of spaced ears 131 extend from the inner leg of inverted U-shaped bracket 56 and are apertured to receive a shaft or pin 132. Shaft 132 also extends through aligned apertures in ears 129, whereby drum 125 is pivotally mounted eccentrcally on bracket 56. Drum 125 is thus bi-ased by gravity to swing in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4. However, to assure this counterclockwise movement of drum 125, a spring 133 is wrapped around shaft 132 and has an end engaged in a wall of bracket 56 and another end engaged with the right-hand edge of drum 125 as viewed in FIG. 4. Movement of drum 125 in such counterclockwise direction is limited by engagement of a ledge 119 on the drum with the upper end of pin 60.

Diaphragm 130 has a pawl 134 secured to project therefrom above the upper end of the armature shaft of motor 55. The upper endof this armature shaft carries a circular ratchet which, when drum 125 is in the position shown in FIG. 7, is engaged with pawl 134.

Normally, drum 125 occupies the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 due to pin 60 being engaged with one of the ramps 65 and thus in its upper position. At the start of an orientation reversal movement of shaft 45, pin 60 rides down the then engaged ramp 65 and this lowers drum 125 t'o the position shown in FIG. 7. This engages pawl 134 with ratchet 135 which is rapidly rotated due to rotation of motor 55. The consequent rapid vibration of diaphragm 130 produces a snarling or growling sound which is terminated as head 61 of pin 6G rides up the other ramp 55 and lifts drum 125 to the position of FIG. 4, thus disengaging pawl 134 from ratchet 135.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-powered mobile toy animal comprising, in combination, a wheeled carriage; driving means on said carriage drivingly connected to supporting wheels thereof; control means selectively operable to activate said driving means to drive said carriage; a Vsubstantially vertical support mast on said carriage; a substantially hollow animal body having a skirt arranged to substantially surround and conceal said carriage; universal pivot means supporting said body on the upper end of said mast for lateral oscillation of `said body in any direction; and cooperating means on said body and said mast operable through said driving means, upon movement' of said body from a substantially plumb position, to reverse the direction of movement of said carriage.

2. A self-powered mobile toy animal comprising, inv

combination, a wheeled carriage; driving means on said carriage drivingly connected to supporting wheels thereof; control means selectively operable to activate said driving means to drive said carriage; a substantially vertical support mast rotatably mounted on said carriage for rotation about a vertical axis; a substantially hollow animal bodyhaving a skirt arranged to substantially surround and conceal said carriage; universal pivot means non-rotatably supporting said body on the upper end of said mast for lateral oscillation of said body in any direction; cooperating means on said body and said mast operable through said driving means, upon movement of said body from a substantially plumb position, to rotate said mast to reverse the relative orientation ofsaid body on said carriage.

3. A self-powered mobile toy animal comprising, incombination, a wheeled carriage; driving means on said carriage drivingly connected to supporting wheels thereof; control means selectively operable to activate said driving means to drive said carriage; a substantially vertical support mast rotatably mounted on said carriage for rotation about a substantially vertical axis; a substantially hollow animal body having a skirt arranged to substantially surround andiconceal said carriage; universal suspension means non-rotatably supporting said body on the upper end of said mast for lateral oscillation of said body in any direction; cooperating means on said body and said mast operable through said driving means, upon movement of said body from a substantially plumb position, to reverse the direction of movement of said carriage; and means operable through said driving means, during such reversal of the direction of movement of said carriage, to rotate said mast to reverse the relative orientation of said body on said carriage.

4. A self-powered mobile toy animal comprising, in combination, a wheeled carriage; a reversible electric motor on said carriage; driving means drivingly connecting said motor to supporting wheels of said carriage, a battery on said carriage; switch means selectively operable to connect said battery to said motor to energize the latter t'o drive said carriage; a substantially vertical support mast on said carriage; a substantially hollow animal body having a skirt arranged to substantially surround and conceal said carriage; universal suspension means supporting said body on the upper end of said mast for lateral oscillation of said body in any direction; and cooperating means on said body and said mast operable, upon movement of said body from a substantially plumb position, to reverse the direction ofv rotation of said motor to reverse the direction of movement of said carriage.

5. A self-powered mobile toy animal comprising, in combination, a wheeled carriage; a reversible electric motor on said carriage; driving means drivingly connecting said motor to supporting wheels of said carriage; a battery on said carriage; switch means selectively operable to connect said battery to said motor to energize the latter to drive said carriage; a substantially vertical support mast rotatably mounted on said carriage for rotation about a substantially vertical axis; a substantially hollow animal body havinga skirt arranged to substantially surround and conceal said carriage; universal l@ suspension means non-rotatably supporting said body on the upper end of said mast for lateral oscillation of said body in any direction; said driving means including a component connected to rotate with said mast; and

cooperating means on said mast operable through said p driving means component, upon movement of said body from a substantially plumb position, to rotate said mast to. reverse the relative orientation of said body on said carriage. Y

6. A self-powered mobile toy animal comprising, in combination, a wheeled carriage; a reversible electric motor on said carriage; driving means drivingly connecting said motor to supporting wheels. of said carriage; a battery on said carriage; switch means selectively operable to connect said battery to said motor to energize the latter to drive said carriage; a substantially vertical support mast rotatably mounted on said carriage for rotation about a substantially vertical axis; a substantially hollow animal body having a skirt arranged to substantially surround and conceal said carriage; universal suspension means non-rotatably supporting said body on the upper end of said mast for lateral oscillation of said body in any direction; cooperating means on said body and said mast operable, upon movement of said body from a substantially plumb position, to reverse the direction of movement of said carriage; said driving means including a component connected to said mast for rotation therewith; said component upon such reversal of the direction of movement of said carriage, rotating said mast to reverse the relative orientation of said body on said carriage.

7. A self-powered mobile toy animal comprising, in combination, a wheeled carriage; a reversible electric motor on said carriage; driving means drivingly connecting said motor to supporting wheels of said carriage; a batterry on said carriage; a motor energizing circuit including said battery, said motor, a selectively operable control switch and a reversing switch, said reversing switch, upon each actuation thereof, reversing the direction of operation of said motor relative to its previous direction of operation; a substantially vertical support mast on said carriage; a substantially hollow animal body having a skirt arranged to substantially surround and conceal said carriage; universal suspension means supporting said body on lthe upper end of said mast for lateral oscillation of said body in any direction; and cooperating means on said body and said mast operable, upon movement of said body from a substantially plumb position, to actuate said reversing switch to reverse the direction of movement of said carriage.

8. A self-powered' mobile toy animal, as claimed in claim 7, in which said reversing switch includes a solenoid actuator therefor; said cooperating means comprising normally open switch means in a series energizing circuit including said solenoid and said battery.

9. A self-powered mobile toy animal, as claimed in claim 8, in which said mast is electrically conductive metal and comprises one contact of said normally open switch means; a coil spring of electrically conductive metal, having a diameter substantially larger than the lateral dimension of said mast, having its lower end supporting in insulating relation on said mast intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof and surrounding said mast in spaced relation thereto; the upper free portion of said coil spring being connected to said body; said coil spring constituting the other contact of said normally open switch means; whereby, upon oscillation of said body in any lateral direction, the upper portion of said coil spring will contact said mast to close said normally open switch means. Y. y

l0; A self-powered mobile toy animal comprising, in

combination, a wheeled carriage; driving means on sai/rlV carriage drivingly connected to supporting wheels thereof; control means selectively operable to activate said driving means to drive said carriage; a substantially vertical support mast rotatably mounted on said carriage for rotation about a substantially vertical axis; a substantially hollow animal body having a skirt arranged to substantially surround and concel said carriage; universal suspension means non-rotatably supporting said body on the upper end of said mast for lateral oscillation of said body in any direction; cooperating means on said body and said rnast operable through said driving means, upon movement of said body from a substantially plumbposition, to reverse the direction of movement of said carriage; means operable through said driving means, during such reversal of the direction of movement of said carriage, to rotate said mast to reverse the relative orientation of said body on said carriage; a sound producer mounted on said carriage; and means operable by said driving means, during each reversal of the relative orientation of said body, to activate said sound producer.

11. A self-powered mobile toy animal comprising, in combination, a wheeled carriage having a substantially horizontal platform; a substantially vertical support mast rotatably mounted on said platform and extending upwardly therefrom for rotation about a substantially vertical axis relative to said platform; a substantially horizontal support secured to said mast in spaced relation to said platform and extending radially from said mast; a reversible electric motor mounted on said support with its axis substantially vertical; a collar secured to said mast; a relatively large gear rotatable on said mast and frictionally engageable with said collar; first gearing drivingly connecting said relatively large gear to supporting wheels of said carriage; second gearing drivingly interconnecting said motor and said relatively large gear; a substantially hollow animal body having its skirt arranged to substantially surround and conceal said carriage; universal suspension means non-rotatably supporting said body on the upper end of said mast for lateral oscillation of said body in any direction, while constraining said body against rotation relative tosaid mast; a battery on said carriage; a motor energizing circuit including said battery, said motor, a selectively operable control switch and a reversing switch, said reverseing switch, upon each actuation thereof, reversing the direction of operation of said motor relative to its previous direction of operation; means engageable with said support to limit rotation of said mast to an angular extent of substantially 180 degrees; and cooperating means on said body and said mast operable, upon movement of said body from a substantially plumb position, to -actuate said reversing switch to reverse the direction of operation of said motor; said motor, upon each reversal of the direction of operation thereof, rotating said support through said second driving means and throughout the angular extent of motion of said support; said motor, upon further motion of said support being limited, rotating said first driving means through said relatively large gear to drive the carriage in the reverse direction; said frictional engagement between said relatively large gear and said collar providing for rotation of'said relatively large gear relative to said mast to drive said carriage while said mast remains stationary.

l2. A self-powered mobile toy animal, as claimed in claim 1l, in which said reversing switch includes a solenoid actuator therefor; said mast being electrically conductive metal and comprising one contact of a normally open switch means in a series energizing circuit including said solenoid and said battery, said normally open switch means constituting said cooperating means; a coil spring of electrically conductive metal, having a diameter substantially larger than the lateral dimension of said mast, having its lower end supported in insulating relation on said mast intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof and surrounding said mast in spaced relation thereto; the upper portion of said coil spring being freely movable relative to said mast; said coil spring constituting the other contact of said normally open switch means; a transverse member within said body substantially below CFI l2 the support point thereof and having an aperture closely embracing the free portion of said coil spring whereby, upon oscillation of said body in any lateral direction, the upper portion of said coil spring will contact said mast to close said normally open switch means.

13. A self-powered mobile toy animal comprising, in combination, a wheeled carriage having a substantially horizontal platform; a substantially vertical support mast rotatably mounted on said platform and extending upwardly therefrom for rotation about a substantially vertical axis relative to said platform; a substantially horizontal support secured to said mast in spaced relation to said platform and extending radially from said mast; a reverible electric motor mounted on said support with its axis substantially vertical; a collar secured to said mast; a relatively large gear rotatable on said mast and frictionally engageable with said collar; first gearing drivingly connecting said relatively large gear to supporting wheels of said carriage; second gearing drivingly interconnecting said motor and said relatively large gear; a substantially hollow animal body having its skirt arranged to substantially surround and conceal said carriage; universal suspension means non-rotatably supporting said body on the upper end of said mast for lateral oscillation of said body in any direction, while constraining said body against rotation relative to said mast; a battery on said carriage; a motor energizing circuit including said battery, said motor, a selectively operable control switch and a reversing switch, said reversing switch, upon each actuation thereof, reversing the direction of operation of said motor relative to its previous direction of operation; means engageable with said support to limit rotation of said mast to an angular extent of substantially 180 degrees; and cooperating means on said body and said mast operable, upon movement of said body from a substantially plumb position, to actuate said reversing switch to reverse the direction of operation of said motor; said motor, upon each reversal of the direction of operation thereof, rotating said support through said second driving means and throughout the angular extent of motion of said support; said motor, upon further motion of said support being limited, rotating said first driving means through said relatively large gear to drive the carriage in the reverse direction; said frictional engagement between said relatively large gear and said collar providing for rotation of said relatively large gear relative to said mast to drive said carriage while said mast remains stationary; a diaphragm type sound producer mounted on said platform for oscillation about a substantially horizontal axis and extending above the upper end of said motor; the upper end of the motor shaft having a circular ratchet thereon cooperable with a pawl secured to the diaphragm of said sound producer; means biasing said sound producer in a direction to engage said pawl and said ratchet; a substantially vertically extending pin slidably mounted through said support for reciprocation in a vertical direction and having a lower end engaged with said platform and an upper end engaged with said sound producer; said pin, when its lower end is engaged with said platform, providing for said sound producer to move to a position to interengage said ratchet and said pawl; and ramp means on said platform at each limit of movement of said support engageable with said pin to elevate the latter to tilt said sound producer to disengage said pawl from said ratchet; whereby said sound producer will be activated during each reversal of the orientation of said mast relative to said body.

14. A self-powered mobile toy animal, as claimed in claim 13, in which said motor is disposed to one side of said mast and the horizontal pivot for said sound producer is disposed to the opposite side of said mast; whereby said sound producer is gravity biased to engage said pawl with said ratchet; and spring means interengaged between said support and said sound producer and augmenting the gravity bias of said sound producer.

15. A self-powered mobile toy animal, as claimed in claim 1l, in which said body and said transverse memberl are molded of a plastic composition material. Y

16. A self-powered mobile toy animal, as claimed in claim 11, in which said universal suspension means comprises a substantially rectangular horizontal plate secured to the upper end of said mast, and a substantially rectanguiar box-like structure secured to said body and embracing said plate with clearance, with the upper Wall of said box-like structure resting upon said plate and the lower wall of said box-like structure being formed with an aperture having substantial clearance with said mast; the clearance between the edges of said plate and the adjacent side walls of said box-like structure being sufficient to provide for oscillation of said body while constraining said body against any substantial rotation relative to said mast.

17. A self-powered mobile toy animal, as claimed in claim 4, including two pairs of supporting wheels for said carriage; the supporting wheels connected to said driving means being mounted directly on said carriage; a twopart battery compartment for said battery supported on said carriage and including an upper downwardly opening compartment section fixedly secured to said carriage and a lower mating upwardly opening compartment section releasably secured to said carriage` and to said upper compartment section; the other pair of supporting wheels of said carriage being secured to said lower supporting compartment section and being removable therewith during replacement of said battery.

18. A self-powered mobile toy animal, as claimed in claim l, in which said carriage is non-dirigible.

19. A self-powered mobile toy animal, as claimed in claim V9, in which said carriage is metal; said metal mast being in electrical engagement with said carriage, and one terminal of said solenoid being electrically connected to said metal carriage whereby said metal carriage constitutes part ofsaid series energizing circuit for said solenoid.

20. A self-powered mobile toy comprising, in combination, a wheeled carriage, driving means on said carriage drivingly connected to supporting wheels thereof, control ieans selectively operable to activate said driving means to drive said carriage, a substantially vertical support mast on said carriage, a substantially hollow body, universal pivot means supporting said body on the upper end of said mast for lateral oscillation of said body in any direction, and cooperating means on said body and said mast operable through said driving means, upon movement of said body from a substantially plumb position, to reverse the direction of movement of said carriage.

Weigel f-- Feb. i3, 1912 1,753,127 Machiel Apr. 1, 1930 2,770,074

Jones et al Nov. 13, 1956

Claims

10. A SELF-POWERED MOBILE TOY ANIMAL COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A WHEELED CARRIAGE; DRIVING MEANS ON SAID CARRIAGE DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SUPPORTING WHEELS THEREOF; CONTROL MEANS SELECTIVELY OPERABLE TO ACTIVATE SAID DRIVING MEANS TO DRIVE SAID CARRIAGE; A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL SUPPORT MAST ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE FOR ROTATION ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AXIS; A SUBSTANTIALLY HOLLOW ANIMAL BODY HAVING A SKIRT ARRANGED TO SUBSTANTIALLY SURROUND AND CONCEL SAID CARRIAGE; UNIVERSAL SUSPENSION MEANS NON-ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID BODY ON THE UPPER END OF SAID MAST FOR LATERAL OSCILLATION OF SAID BODY IN ANY DIRECTION; COOPERATING MEANS ON SAID BODY AND SAID MAST OPERABLE THROUGH SAID DRIVING MEANS, UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID BODY FROM A SUBSTANTIALLY PLUMB POSITION, TO REVERSE THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIAGE; MEANS OPERABLE THROUGH SAID DRIVING MEANS, DURING SUCH REVERSAL OF THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIAGE, TO ROTATE SAID MAST TO REVERSE THE RELATIVE ORIENTATION OF SAID BODY ON SAID CARRIAGE; A SOUND PRODUCER MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE; AND MEANS OPERABLE BY SAID DRIVING MEANS, DURING EACH REVERSAL OF THE RELATIVE ORIENTATION OF SAID BODY, TO ACTIVATE SAID SOUND PRODUCER.