REALISTIC COORDINATING OF SPECIFIC BODY PART MOVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL TOYS
A realistic electromechanical toy that can replicate lifelike resting and active positions and movements of animals and other creatures while they are supported on a surface as well as when they are picked up by a user by coordinating the positioning and movement of specific body parts. To this end it is regarded that through observation of real live animals, the animals are seen to drop down or droop their legs when they are picked up off a supporting surface. Cats in particular can easily be shown to drop down or droop their legs in what looks like a relaxed and non-flexing position when they are picked up from a supporting surface. An upper limb portion facilitates extension of an intermediate limb portion when the upper limb portion is in its extended position, and retracts the intermediate limb portion when the upper limb portion is in its resting position with a biased joint positioning the intermediate limb portion to its extended position when the body is elevated away from a supporting surface. Accordingly the limbs of the present invention provides for emulating this drop down or drooping leg positioning by overriding the retracting function of each limb portion when the body is elevated from a supporting surface providing a realistic drop down leg feature in each limb.
This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/740,613, filed on Sep. 20, 2006 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to mechanical toys with movable body parts. More particularly, the invention relates to a realistic electromechanical toy that can replicate lifelike resting and active positions and movements of animals and other creatures while they are supported on a surface as well as when they are picked up by a user by coordinating the positioning and movement of specific body parts.
2. Description of the Related Art
The toy industry has seen an evolution of technology in recent years which has coincided with a consumer demand for more and more realistic toys and games. Several sectors of the toy industry have used technological advancements to make toys and games more realistic and lifelike. For example, video games are more realistic and lifelike than anyone could have imagined even ten years ago, baseballs can measure their own velocities when thrown, and dolls can now speak, walk, and even roller skate. As technology continues to improve, consumers want toys that have more capabilities or that are more realistic.
Consumer driven evolutions in the industry is found in toys embodied as creatures, animals, dolls and various other life forms real or imagined. To provide a more realistic and interactive doll or toy, a cost-technology trade off becomes important. As is known, new technologies cannot typically be implemented to meet customer demands because of other constraints played on the industry by consumers. One of the most important constraints is cost. Therefore, even though technologies may exist to meet consumer demands, those technologies cannot be applied to this industry until they have adapted in such a way as to be more cost effective. To this end, the toy industry has employed relatively inexpensive motors and linkage assemblies to provide realistic mechanical dolls and toys. However, although such dolls may provide some realistic movable body parts, the dolls do not exhibit realistic limb movements and postures in both active and resting positions, while the doll is supported on a surface as well as when the doll is picked up to be held by a user.
Recent attempts to increase the realism of a doll or toys' appendage has focused on improved structures in the appendage system. One improved appendage system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,703 entitled “Electromechanical Toy” to Iaconis et al., issued Jan. 18, 2005, and assigned to Applicants' Assignee. The '703 patent incorporates an arm fixed to rotate in a circular path at one end and having a second unfixed end capable of movement in a non-circular path, providing an uncomplicated and low cost appendage system which provides realistic movement in response to sensed conditions.
In view of the foregoing, a need exists for a limb or appendage system to coordinate realistic limb movements and postures in both active and resting positions, while the doll or toy is supported on a surface as well as when the doll or toy is picked up to be held by a user, such that the doll or toy provides lifelike movements facilitating realistic interaction with a user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONBriefly summarized, an embodiment of the invention provides realistic mechanical toy operations that can replicate lifelike resting and active positions and movements of animals and other creatures while they are supported on a surface as well as when they are picked up by a user by coordinating the positioning and movement of specific body parts. An upper limb portion facilitates extension of an intermediate limb portion when the upper limb portion is in its extended position, and retracts the intermediate limb portion when the upper limb portion is in its resting position with a biased joint positioning the intermediate limb portion to its extended position when the body is elevated away from a supporting surface. Accordingly the limbs of the present invention provides for emulating this drop down or drooping leg positioning by overriding the retracting function of each limb portion when the body is elevated from a supporting surface providing a realistic drop down leg feature in each limb.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth below with reference to the drawings and the detailed description. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the examples provided in the description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out for a variety of applications and in various ways.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A realistic electromechanical toy, generally shown in
Front limb 12 mimics a cat's front limb and includes three limb portions namely an upper limb portion 22, an intermediate limb portion 24 and a lower limb portion 26. It is contemplated however, that a front limb of a different creature or animal embodied by the present invention may contain more or less than three limb portions. Upper limb portion 22 is pivotally attached to the body 20 allowing reciprocatory movement of the upper limb portion 22 between a first resting position as seen in
The intermediate limb portion 24 is pivotally attached to the upper limb portion 22 which extends the intermediate limb portion 24 when the upper limb portion 22 is in the second extended position as seen in
A lower limb portion 26 is pivotally attached to the intermediate limb portion 24 by a spring biased joint 32 as seen in
Movement of the front limb portions is driven by the motor and directed by the drive assembly 28 which cooperates with a linkage assembly 40 and/or a gear sector linkage 100 coupled to limb portions 22 and 24. The drive assembly 28 (discussed in detail below) includes a cam mechanism 56 and a linkage 58, having two arms 58a and 58b, coupled to upper limb portion 22 at arm 58a for directing the reciprocatory movement of limb portion 22. Further, a stop assembly 31 is linked to the upper limb portion 22 for limiting the range of movement of limb portion 22. The stop assembly 31, as seen in FIGS. 1A-C and 2, comprises a fixed post, screw, or protrusion 33 attached to or integral with the body 20 extending through a slot 35 cut through front upper limb portion 22. As is seen in FIGS. 1A-C and 2 the range of reciprocatory movement of upper limb portion 22 extends to the length of the slot 35 as the post 33 stops movement of the limb portion 22 beyond the slot length. Likewise, alternative stop assemblies, known in the art, or a post located on either side of the width of the upper limb portion 22 rather than extending through the limb portion, can also be utilized in alternate embodiments of the present invention.
The linkage assembly 40 discussed herein includes two generally flat, elongated, and non-flexible links 40a and 40b which work together to extend and retract the intermediate limb portion 24 when the upper limb portion 22 is in the second extended position as seen in
Similar to link 40a, elongated link 40b includes ends 45 and 47, however, end 45 is pivotally attached, by a screw, or pin, or any other known means, to intermediate limb portion 24 at an attachment point 48 toward a proximate end 25 of intermediate limb portion 24, as seen in
Front limb 14 includes the same three limb portions, connections, and linkages as described for front limb 12 and moves and positions simultaneously and in the same manner as described for front limb 12. As front limbs 22 and 24 are extended, links 40A and 40B are rigid and strong enough to hold the toy 10 in a cat-like sitting position, as seen in FIGS. 1A-B. Additionally, as front limbs 22 and 24 are retracted, links 40A and 40B pivot to retract the front limb portions such that the toy appears as a cat resting in a laying position as partially seen in
In a present described embodiment, movement of the front upper limb portions may be directed by the drive assembly 28 cooperating with the gear sector linkage 100 coupled to limb portions 22 and 24 and operative to extend the intermediate limb portion 24 when the upper limb portion 22 is in the second extended position as seen in
First gear sector link 102 is generally flat, elongated and coupled through a pivot point 106 fixed to the upper limb portion 22. First gear sector link 102 has a first end 108 which includes a span of teeth that engage with teeth included in second gear sector link 104 extending and retracting the intermediate limb portion 24 as the first gear sector link 102 rotates around pivot point 106. To this end, the drive assembly 28 provides the gear assembly of first and second sector gears 102, 104 coupling the upper limb portion to the intermediate limb portion for directing movement of the intermediate limb portion. First gear sector link 102 has a second end 110 which includes a captive elongated slot 112 through which post 33 extends, providing a stop assembly linked to the upper limb portion for limiting the range of movement of the upper limb portion similar to described stop assembly 31.
As described above, post 33 is attached to or integral with the body 20 and moves within the perimeter of slot 112 rotating the first gear sector link 102 about pivot point 106 as the upper limb portion 22 is extended and retracted. Engagement of first gear link 102 with second gear link 104 as link 102 is rotated extends and retracts the intermediate limb portion 24 as the upper limb portion 22 is extended and retracted, respectively. As front limbs 22 and 24 are extended, links 102 and 104 are rigid and strong enough to hold the toy 10 in a cat-like sitting position, as seen in
In another embodiment, movement of the front upper limb portions may be directed by the drive assembly 28 cooperating with a gear assembly coupling the upper limb portion 22 to the body 20 for directing movement of the upper limb portion 22. The gear assembly contemplated may include a stop assembly similar to stop assembly 31, described above, for limiting the range of movement of the upper limb portion. As the drive assembly 28 extends and retracts the upper limb portion 22, the coupled gear assembly simultaneously extends and retracts the intermediate limb portion 24, respectively, and the spring biased joint coupling limb portions 22 and 24 together biases the limb portion 24 to an extended position.
The cam mechanism 56, as seen in
The cam mechanism 56, as seen in
This separating and coming together of body portions 78 and 80 further coordinates the realistic positioning and movement of specific limb portions, and also serves to generate a kneading motion commonly seen in real cats while in a downward position with retracted front limbs. The kneading motion occurs with movement of the body portions 78 and 80 while the toy 10 is in a first resting position, as seen in
Rear or hind limb 16 mimics a cat's rear or hind limb and includes three limb portions namely a rear upper limb portion 84, a rear intermediate limb portion 86 and a rear lower limb portion 88. It is contemplated however, that a rear limb of a different creature or animal embodied by the present invention may contain more or less than three limb portions. Rear upper limb portion 84 is pivotally attached to body 20, and more particularly, to the lower body portion 80, as seen in
A rear intermediate limb portion 86 is pivotally attached to the rear upper limb portion 84 and is retracted and extended as the rear upper limb portion 84 retracts and extends, respectively. A rear lower limb portion 88 is pivotally attached to the rear intermediate limb portion 86 by a spring biased joint 94, as seen in
Rear limb 18 includes the same three limb portions, connections, and linkages as described for rear limb 16 and moves and positions simultaneously and in the same manner as described for rear limb 16.
It should be appreciated that a wide range of changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments of the inventions as described herein. It is intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting. While there have been illustrated and described particular embodiments of the inventions, it will be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover those changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. An apparatus for realistic movement of a body part, comprising:
- a body;
- an upper limb portion pivotally attached to said body allowing reciprocatory movement of the upper limb portion between a first resting position and a second extended position;
- a biased joint;
- an intermediate limb portion pivotally attached to said upper limb portion;
- said upper limb portion extending said intermediate limb portion when said upper limb portion is in the second extended position, and retracting said intermediate limb portion when said upper limb portion is in the first resting position with the biased joint being operative to bias the position of the intermediate limb portion to the second extended position when said body is elevated away from a supporting surface.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a lower limb portion pivotally attached to said intermediate limb portion by a spring biased joint which is operative to bias the lower limb portion to an extended position when the upper limb portion is in the first resting position, and a stop assembly coupled to the lower limb portion for limiting the range of movement of the lower limb portion.
3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a drive assembly coupled to the upper limb portion and a motor in the body for driving movement of the upper limb portion.
4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the drive assembly comprises a cam mechanism coupled to the motor driving a linkage attached to the upper limb portion for directing movement of the upper limb portion.
5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the intermediate limb portion is attached to the upper limb portion by a spring biased joint, and further comprising a linkage assembly coupled to the upper limb portion and the intermediate limb portion for extending and retracting the intermediate limb portion when the upper limb portion is in the second extended position and the first resting position, respectively.
6. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the drive assembly comprises a gear assembly coupling the upper limb portion to the intermediate limb portion for directing movement of the intermediate limb portion, and comprising a stop assembly linked to the upper limb portion for limiting the range of movement of the upper limb portion.
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the spring biased joint couples the upper limb portion to the body for directing movement of the upper limb portion, and further comprising a stop assembly linked to the upper limb portion for limiting the range of movement of the upper limb portion.
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the body comprises an upper body portion and a lower body portion moving in opposite directions, wherein the body portions are separated when the upper limb portion is in the first resting position and the body portions are together when the upper limb portion is in the second extended position.
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, further comprising a body linkage coupling the body to the cam mechanism for driving the body portions apart when the upper limb portion is in the first resting position and together when the upper limb portion is in the second extended position.
10. A method for coordinating realistic movement of a body part in an apparatus including a body, an upper limb portion pivotally attached to the body allowing reciprocatory movement of the upper limb portion between a first resting position and a second extended position, a biased joint, and an intermediate limb portion pivotally attached to the upper limb portion, comprising the steps of:
- extending the intermediate limb portion when the upper limb portion is in the second extended position; and
- retracting the intermediate limb portion when the upper limb portion is in the first resting position with the biased joint being operative to bias the position of the intermediate limb portion to the second extended position when the body is elevated away from a supporting surface.
11. An apparatus for realistic movement of a body part, comprising:
- a body;
- a front upper limb portion pivotally attached to said body allowing reciprocatory movement of the front upper limb portion between a first resting position and a second extended position;
- a front intermediate limb portion pivotally attached by a first biased joint to the front upper limb portion;
- a rear upper limb portion pivotally attached by a second biased joint to said body allowing recriprocatory movement of the rear upper limb portion between a first resting position and a second extended position;
- a rear intermediate limb portion pivotally attached to said rear upper limb portion;
- the front and rear upper limb portions extending the front and rear intermediate limb portions, respectively, when the front and rear upper limb portions are in the second extended position, and retracting the front and rear intermediate limb portions, respectively, when the front and rear upper limb portions are in the first resting position, with the first spring biased joint being operative to bias the position of the front intermediate limb portion to the second extended position and the second biased joint being operative to bias the position of the rear upper limb portion to the second extended position when said body is elevated away from a supporting surface.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising a front lower limb portion pivotally attached by a third biased joint to the front intermediated portion, and a rear lower limb portion pivotally attached by a fourth biased joint to the rear intermediate limb portion, with the third and fourth biased joints being operative to bias the position of the front and rear lower limb portions, respectively, to the second extended position when the body is elevated away from a supporting surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 25, 2006
Publication Date: May 31, 2007
Inventors: Richard Maddocks (Barrington, RI), Jeffrey Olson (West Warwick, RI), Peter Hall (Norfolk)
Application Number: 11/552,732
International Classification: A63H 7/00 (20060101);