Plural Flaccid Elements To Manipulate Plural Body Parts Patents (Class 446/362)
  • Patent number: 11691088
    Abstract: Provided is an inflatable doll, including a body, at least one airbag and an air blower assembly. The body includes a primary portion having a first air inlet, and a secondary portion. Each airbag defines a second air inlet, the airbag is connected with the primary portion and/or the secondary portion. The air blower assembly includes a first air blower adjacent to the first air inlet, and at least one second air blower at least partially received in the second air inlet. The first air blower is configured to inflate the primary portion, the secondary portion and the airbag. The at least one second air blower is configured to deflate the primary portion and/or the secondary portion. The second air blower is intermittently actuated, so that the primary portion and/or the secondary portion is intermittently inflated or deflated, for bringing the primary portion and/or the secondary portion to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: COMIN INTERNATIONAL INC
    Inventor: Yumin Gu
  • Patent number: 10624595
    Abstract: The invention describes a device suspension arrangement comprising a ceiling region, at least one mobile device comprising a ceiling interface with at least one freely rotatable element arranged to partially protrude from the ceiling interface to facilitate movement of the suspended device to an arbitrary ceiling position; and at least one magnetic field generator realised to generate a magnetic field between the ceiling region and the ceiling interface of a mobile device. The invention further describes a mobile device for use in such a device suspension arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Sebastian Vogt
  • Patent number: 9546069
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter includes techniques for controlling lines. An example method includes receiving power at a motor to rotate a control surface and a line brace. The method also includes receiving programmed movements at a control circuit. The method further includes receiving a controlled force based on the programmed movements to arrange a skate in a predetermined position along a skate track in a skate surface. The method also includes rotating the control surface to cause a peg ramp on the control surface to move a peg in the skate towards a wedge fixed to a line. The method further includes causing the line to move to a new position along the direction of the skate track via a force of the peg against the wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Allen Callaway
  • Patent number: 9454236
    Abstract: Provided are a three-dimensional mouse device using several body parts, and a marionette control system using the same. The three-dimensional mouse device includes: a support member that is worn on at least one of a head, a face, an arm, and a foot among body parts; an action recognition module that is mounted on the support member; and an action recognition module that is attached to the support member to sense a motion of the body parts and output a sensing signal to the action recognition module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Hoseo University Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Keun Ho Rew, Kyeong Min Cheon, Seok Bum Lee, Hak Su Kim, Dong Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 9011197
    Abstract: An apparatus for suspending and positioning marionettes. The apparatus includes a thin, planar support membrane such as a plastic sheet. A tender vehicle is positioned on the upper side of the support membrane. A motor or other drive mechanism selectively positions the tender vehicle relative to the support membrane. The apparatus includes a puppeteer vehicle from which a marionette is suspended. The puppeteer vehicle is positioned proximate to the lower side of the support membrane opposite the tender vehicle. To support the puppeteer vehicle, one or both of the vehicles includes one or more rotatable magnetic elements such that the attractive forces support the weight of the puppeteer vehicle and the marionette. Typically, the puppeteer vehicle is a passive follower, and the drive mechanism of the tender vehicle includes motors to move the magnetic elements and position the tender and following puppeteer vehicle with its marionette to provide a show.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Timothy Caldwell, Gary W. Schnuckle
  • Publication number: 20100227527
    Abstract: An apparatus for suspending and positioning marionettes. The apparatus includes a thin, planar support membrane such as a plastic sheet. A tender vehicle is positioned on the upper side of the support membrane. A motor or other drive mechanism selectively positions the tender vehicle relative to the support membrane. The apparatus includes a puppeteer vehicle from which a marionette is suspended. The puppeteer vehicle is positioned proximate to the lower side of the support membrane opposite the tender vehicle. To support the puppeteer vehicle, one or both of the vehicles includes one or more rotatable magnetic elements such that the attractive forces support the weight of the puppeteer vehicle and the marionette. Typically, the puppeteer vehicle is a passive follower, and the drive mechanism of the tender vehicle includes motors to move the magnetic elements and position the tender and following puppeteer vehicle with its marionette to provide a show.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Lanny S. Smoot, Timothy Caldwell, Gary W. Schnuckle
  • Publication number: 20090197505
    Abstract: A marionette toy is provided with a container to accommodate a marionette, a lid for the container, a plurality of suspending members and a driving mechanism. One end of each of the suspending members one is connected to the marionette to suspend the marionette. The driving mechanism drives at least one of the suspending members and is arranged inside the lid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: BANDAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kaori KITSUGI, Hiroko Ono, Atsunori Kojima, Takeshi Kubota
  • Patent number: 5870842
    Abstract: An animated figure method and apparatus including an animated figure having moveable elements and a base unit for supporting the animated figure. The apparatus of the present invention includes multiple control cables, a first end of each control cable connects to a cable driver assembly or cable driver mounted on the base unit and a second end of each control cable attaches to a corresponding animated figure moveable element or assembly. The cable drivers that are attached to the base unit drive the control cables, and propel the animated figure's moveable elements. The present invention achieves detailed control of many animated figure functions using intricate control cable branching which may require many bends in the control cable. In addition, a walk mechanism provides both horizontal and vertical movement of the animated figure's feet to achieve simulated stepping movements in a very realistic manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Ogden, Marshall M. Monroe, David F. Barnett
  • Patent number: 5651717
    Abstract: An actuating mechanism for a doll includes a pair of arms rotatably attached to a body member for rotation about a horizontal axis, and a lever connected to the proximal ends of the arms. The first end of a deflectable member is attached to the body member, and the second of the deflectable member is movable along the body member. The deflectable member include outwardly bowing intermediate portions. The first ends of a pair of tendons are attached to the arms, and the second ends are anchored to the body member at a point between the ends of the deflectable member. The tendon is curved around the second end of the deflectable member, past the first end, and into the arms through the lever. When the deflectable member is compressed, such as when the doll is hugged by a person, its second end is deflected away from the first end. The tendons are thus pulled by the second end of the deflectable member, and the lever is rotated by the tendons to raise the arms to a hugging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Patricia Hamilton
    Inventors: Patricia Hamilton, Tom Louchard
  • Patent number: 5380234
    Abstract: An inflatable and deflatable combatant action toy includes a rigid support base, a flexible body having an inflatable and deflatable bladder therein, a pair of pivotal arms manually actuatable for delivering an impact force to another similar combatant action toy, and an air inflation support system. The bladder of the flexible body is inflatable and deflatable respectively upon supply therein and discharge therefrom of a gas under pressure. The flexible body is attached upon the rigid support base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Inventor: Kevin D. Ledford
  • Patent number: 5306199
    Abstract: Manually actuated toy dinosaur structure and method. The dinosaur structure includes a rigid body member, a head positioned on the body member, structure for lowering a lower jaw and then turning the head to one side, two legs having suction cup feet and ankle portions, structure for first releasing suction in the suction cups and then moving the legs to produce walking of the toy, a tail, and means for moving the tail. The method includes the steps of selectively actuating finger trigger members on a cable control member to selectively produce first opening of the lower jaw of the dinosaur followed by turning of the dinosaur's head to one side, alternately breaking the suction cup seal on one of the leg portions followed by lifting of the leg portion and subsequent returning of the leg portion to its initial position and to cause the dinosaur toy to appear to walk, and moving of the tail transversely over center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Inventor: Salvatore Locricchio
  • Patent number: 5299967
    Abstract: A model figure connected to a remote pistol grip handle has one or more activity motions for the figure controlled from the handle. Unlike other model figures which have activity motions, there is a pivot arrangement between the handle and the figure that allows the operator to easily move the figure on a surface. The model figure has a middle torso portion with a pin extending therethrough, a model limb for the figure is mounted to pivot on the pin, a rotating pulley is mounted on the pin to pivot the limb, and the remote pistol grip handle is connected to the figure through a wand. There is a linkage system from a trigger mechanism on the handle to the rotating pulley so that movement of the trigger mechanism pivots the limb on the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Inventor: John M. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 5254029
    Abstract: The articulated assembly consists, on the one hand, of a cross-shaped neck-and shoulder element (1) made of roundwoods (6, 7) which encompasses the neck (2) and shoulder articulations (3, 4) and, on the other hand, of foot articulation elements (31, 32). Each of said articulations (2, 3, 4) at the neck-shoulder element (1) is formed by a closed eyelet (13, 15, 16) and a loop (12, 17, 18) passing through it, which loop is secured by its free end to the one side of the articulation. The hip articulation is formed by a piping hem (27) into which a roundwood (28) has been inserted. The foot articulations consist of a roundwood (31, 32) which exhibits a slot (33, 34) below, in which an eyebolt (35, 36), supported by a transverse nail, dangles, which eyebolt can be screwed into a wooden foot or a wooden shoe (37, 38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Glorex AG
    Inventor: Mel Myland
  • Patent number: 5139827
    Abstract: A statue has a body with at least one raisable and lowerable extremity, and a motor drive connected with the extremity through a counterweight, so that the extremity is lowered under the action of its own weight and raised by the motor drive with the assistance of the counterweight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Inventor: Oleg Faigel
  • Patent number: 4948373
    Abstract: A structural model of the human craniomandibular system, comprises a cranium part, a flexible column formed by a plurality of vertebra parts interconnected by at least two elastic bands and by universal couplings, the top vertebra part rotatably supporting the cranium part. The cranium part is provided in opposite side faces thereof with cavities serving as bearing surfaces. A mandible part has top faces adapted to cooperate with said bearing surfaces and form a joint for movement of the mandible part, according to several degrees of freedom. Further, there are provided a hyoid part, a sternum part (41), a pair of clavicle parts coupled with said sternum part by universal couplings as well as a pair of scapula parts coupled with a respective clavicle part by universal couplings, the aforementioned parts being interconnected by a plurality of resilient members, arranged in pairs, which simulate the muscle functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Inventor: Paul A. Engels
  • Patent number: 4894936
    Abstract: System for the simulation of human movements of a puppet as used in a programmable puppet show, which puppet is provided with mutually hingeable parts of the body, in which a number of cam disks to be driven synchronously by a motor (3) are present, each of which can be followed by a roll (4) attached to one end of a lever (6), while the other end of the lever (6) is connected to a Bowden cable (11) capable of transmitting the movement of the lever (6) to a mechanical construction which can make a part of the body perform a desired movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: De Efteling B.V.
    Inventors: Marinus J. L. Van Heumen, Hendricus Smulders, Antoni N. J. Merkx
  • Patent number: 4690655
    Abstract: An amusement device comprising a marionette possessing lifelike qualities, including the appearance of ability to speak through a coordination of head movements and audio input to a speaker disposed in the mouth area of the marionette, provided with a theatre setting for use with the marionette when a realistic setting is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Inventor: Samuel G. Bailey
  • Patent number: 4578888
    Abstract: A fish mobile structure adapted to be displayed in a windy environment, such as near an open window or in a patio area, or the like, is disclosed, including a plurality of segmented portions collectively forming a fish body structure, each of the segmented portions being joined in spaced-apart relationships to one another by a plurality of strings, a plurality of fin structures secured to portions of the fish body structure by means of strings and disposed in spaced-apart relationship thereto, and weights secured to the segmented portions to maintain the fish body structure in a vertical arrangement and to draw the strings taunt to allow and encourage pivotal movement of the various string-joined together portions of the mobile when such are moved by wind currents flowing thereabout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1986
    Inventor: Howard Gomez
  • Patent number: 4544365
    Abstract: A puppet constructed from a hamburger container having a hinged lid.Finger-receiving means are provided as holes in the container or as cylindrical portions to be attached to it. Face portions may be drawn or constructed and attached to the container. A string may be attached to the lower portion, passed out through the upper portion and attached to a wall by means of tape to hang the puppet. An attachment may be attached to the container as a puppet body. Movable arms on the body may be made to move by means of string running from the arms to the lid. The attachments may be provided as cutout portions on a placemat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Inventor: James E. Donovan
  • Patent number: 4476650
    Abstract: A puppet or doll having a plurality of articulated limbs and a pistol grip attached to the puppet body for selectively activating the limbs. The limbs are pivotally connected to the puppet body and the grip includes openings therein for insertion of one's fingers and trigger assemblies actuable from the openings connected to the limbs by strings for activating the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Assignee: Intervisual Communications Inc.
    Inventor: Tor Lokvig
  • Patent number: 4461158
    Abstract: An article of jewellery, especially in the shape of a butterfly or insect has two attachments, one for each end of a chain or a string. The attachments are fixed to the free ends of inherently rigid wires, the other ends of said wires being fastened to a body of said article of jewellery in such a way that they articulate freely with said body. An eye or sleeve encircling each one of said wires and being slideable along these wires is fixed to one end of an elongated part of a pair of such elongated parts, the other ends of the latter being fastened to the body of the article of jewellery in such a way that they articulate freely with said body, the points of attachment of said elongated parts on said body being spaced apart from the points of attachment of said wires on said body. This construction allows a movement between different parts of the article of jewellery when the wearer of the article of jewellery moves, creating interesting changes in the contour of the article of jewellery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1984
    Inventor: Walter Diehl