Simulated Walking Toy
A toy simulating a walking or crawling creature comprising, a drive wheel assembly with at least a drive wheel, and a plurality of shafts that are eccentrically configured with respect to the main rotational axis of the drive wheel. A plurality of limbs are loosely coupled to said drive wheel through the plurality of shafts. The joint end of a limb is loosely coupled to a shaft so the limb can freely pivot around the shaft. A pair of left and right limbs coupled to a shaft further comprise at least a rotation stop that reciprocally restrain the rotational movement of the paired limbs. The terminal tip ends of limbs extend outward and downward to make contact with a surface continuously or temporarily through a rotation cycle of the drive wheel assembly. The limbs slide linearly and reciprocally on a surface as the drive wheel assembly is rotated.
This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/852,060, filed Mar. 15, 2013, entitled Rolling Cam Walking Animal or Creature, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to walking toys and particularly to an apparatus for simulating the crawling or walking movements of multi-limbed creatures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCrawling or walking toys are generally known and well established in the art. Toys designed to imitate the movement of multi-limbed creatures, especially those with four or more limbs, however, have struggled to provide a realistic and natural simulation of their walk cycles. While there are many examples of two-legged toys that achieve their desired effects with comparatively simple mechanisms, an operative mechanism that imparts realistic and natural limb action in toys with four or more limbs, such as crustaceans, insects, and arthropods, is lacking. Existing mechanisms apply overly complicated designs, or require separate driving force to actuate each individual limb. This is due in part to the increased complexity of motion involved in creatures with four or more limbs, where the relative actions of the additional limbs are staggered.
In a continuing effort to meet this need, practitioners in the toy arts have provided a wide variety of operative mechanisms which are directed towards walking or crawling toys having multiple limbs. Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a simpler and improved mechanism to actuate a greater plurality of limbs. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a mechanism that actuates a plurality of limbs in a synchronized, oscillated, and partially staggered movement that imparts a realistic sense of crawling or walking motion. Such said mechanism may be manufactured, assembled and incorporated into various walking or crawling toys without undue complexity or expense.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the present invention, there is provided a drive wheel assembly that transfers the rotational force of a drive wheel into synchronized, staggered, linear movement of multiple limbs. Said drive wheel assembly comprises at least a drive wheel and a plurality of shafts configured in an offset and eccentric relation with respect to the main rotational axis of such drive wheel. The joint end of a first limb is coupled to one of these shafts and can freely pivot around said shaft. In a preferred embodiment, a second limb is coupled to the same shaft in the same mechanism but in a mirrored or opposite direction. A plurality of limbs can be paired and coupled to the drive wheel assembly in the same mechanism to one or more eccentrically configured shafts.
The drive wheel assembly allows the separate pairs of limbs coupled at different eccentrically configured shafts that are offset at different angles to move in a synchronized and partially staggered fashion. It will be seen that as an eccentric shaft is moving towards the highest point in its elliptical operative cycle, it imparts the simulation that the pair of limbs coupled to said shaft are contracting. Conversely, as said shaft is moving towards the lowest point in the elliptical cycle, it imparts the simulation that such limbs are extending.
Each limb may further comprise a rotation stop that reciprocally restrains the rotational range of the paired joint ends to impart limitations when joints extend and contract with respect to a body. The rotation stops also ensure that limbs retain their respective orientations when lifted off and then placed backed on to a surface. The tip ends of the limbs extend outwardly and downwardly to make contact with a surface such as a floor or tabletop. The tip ends slide linearly, back and forth on a surface as the limbs are actuated when the drive wheel assembly rolls on a surface. Some of the tip ends may continuously or periodically lift off a surface as the drive wheel assembly rolls on a surface. As the drive wheel assembly rolls on a surface, the limbs cycle through a movement sequence which presents a realistic and natural crawling or walking motion of a multi-limbed creature. Limbs, due to being joined at multiple shafts that are offset at different angles and eccentric to the main rotational axis, simulate contraction and extension of limbs. The present invention actuates multi-limb movements without the need for interior power to propel each limb separately.
The walking toy disclosed herein is a drive wheel assembly adapted to be propelled along a surface, such as on a floor or tabletop, by pulling or pushing manually. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, alternative motive power for the propulsion can be provided via other means, such as an electric or battery-powered motor, or a spring-loaded drive mechanism.
As a user continues to propel the walking toy across a surface, at the completion of each operative cycle, the limb positions will return to their initial positions in the new cycle. The cycles repeat as a user continues pulling or pushing toy 1 across a surface. A frictional element is optionally coupled to the drive wheel assembly to provide frictional engagement with the surface to prevent skidding as the walking creature is propelled across a smooth surface, such as glass or tile. Rough surfaces, such as carpets, sandy beaches, and gravel pavements are operable due to the flexibility in the joint ends being freely and pivotally coupled to shafts.
It will be understood that while the walking toy disclosed here is preferably configured in the shape of a crab. The present invention is not limited to any particular six-legged creature. Accordingly, a variety of multi-limbed creatures with more than four limbs may be operated using the present mechanism without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a preferred embodiment of the invention. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
In the drawings:
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words, “up,” “down,” “right,” “left,” “front,” and “back” designate orientation in the drawings to which reference is made. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives of, and words of similar import.
The toy can be shaped to resemble or represent any multi-limbed creature, real or imaginary. For examples, such toy can be shaped to resemble crustaceans, spiders, insects, robots, or aliens. In the accompanying drawings, a six-limbed creature is shown as one of the various illustrative embodiments of this invention. With the operative mechanism of the present invention set forth below in greater detail, it is within the spirit and scope of the present invention to provide a drive wheel assembly that simulates the crawling or walking movement of any creature with four or more limbs.
By the mechanism as explained below in greater detail and as illustrated in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
As illustrated in in
As described in greater detail below and illustrated in the drawings, drive wheel assembly 20 comprises a front drive wheel 27a and a back drive wheel 27b mounted in space with relation to each other. Said drive wheel assembly 20 further comprises links 22 and 23, and shafts 24, 25 and 26. In a preferred embodiment as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, said shafts 24, 25, and 26 and links 22 and 23 are shown as housed between drive wheels 27a and 27b. It will be understood that said shafts and links can also be coupled exterior to, or the outfacing side, of either drive wheel 27a or 27b.
In a preferred embodiment, shafts 24, 25, and 26 are configured eccentrically with respect to the main rotational axis of drive wheels 27a and 27b. As drive wheel assembly 20 is rotated clockwisely or counter-clockwisely, it actuates shafts 24, 25 and 26 to oscillate in height and position with respect to each other. Because said shafts are eccentric to the common rotational axis, their operative cycles are elliptical and out of phase. It will be understood that said shafts can also be configured concentrically or in phase with respect to each other, although the effect is less desirable in simulating crawling or walking motions of creatures with more than four limbs.
It is shown in a preferred embodiment that drive wheel assembly 20 comprises of a pair of drive wheels 27a and 27b for added rotational stability. It will be understood that it is functionally sufficient to have a single drive wheel with said shafts configured and coupled to the drive wheel eccentrically with respect to the rotational axis of the drive wheel. It is feasible to add or remove any number of drive wheels, shafts, links, or limbs to drive wheel assembly 20. It will be understood that the present invention may comprise more than two drive wheels, three shafts, two links, and six limbs.
Referring to
Referring to
For example, as shaft 24 reaches its highest vertical point with respect to a surface in an operative cycle, joint ends 15a and 15b coupled to shaft 24 also reach their highest and most contracted positions. As drive wheel assembly 20 continues to rotate, shaft 24 gradually descends, and either leftwardly or rightwardly, to the lowest point in an operative cycle, causing joint ends 15a and 15b to transition into their lowest and fully extended positions.
In accordance with the anticipated operation of the present invention crab toy 1, a user may push, pull, or lift up toy 1 by inserting fingers in recessed pocket handle 59. Other alternative drive mechanisms such as an electric or battery operative motor, or a spring-loaded drive mechanism may be incorporated to the present invention to act as a propelling force for said drive wheels. As drive wheel assembly 20 rolls along a surface, shafts 24, 25 and 26, in their respective offset and eccentric positions, actuate the limbs coupled thereon by extending and contracting each pair of joint ends. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in
As back limb 10a pivots upwardly into a contracted position, back limb 10b also pivots upwardly in a mirrored fashion. Simultaneously, front limbs 18a and 18b pivot downwardly into their extended positions. Middle limbs 16a and 16b are in the midpoint positions in the operative cycle. When drive wheel assembly 20 rotates along a surface, actuated limbs 10a, 10b, 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b move linearly and reciprocally. Such particular motion may be described as a continuous series of full contractions and extensions of joint ends of each pair of limbs, with the outer tips engaging the ground and sliding between their left and right extremity positions. As each operative cycle continues, each limb repeatedly moves upwardly or downwardly, and leftwardly or rightwardly.
As demonstrated in
As better seen in
Referring to
Referring to a preferred embodiment, it is desirable to have a rotation stop on each joint end in order to achieve efficient production and assembly by eliminating the need to differentiate between left from right joint end. It is functionally sufficient, however, to have only one rotation stop per pair of joint ends. As aforementioned, an advantage of having rotation stops on joint ends is to keep limbs 10a and 10b within limited rotational range with respect to each other. The rotation stops also ensure that limbs retain their respective orientations when lifted off and then placed backed on to a surface. For example, when lifted off a surface, said rotation stops prevent said limbs from collapsing downwardly completely. It is also permissible to have no rotation stop on joint ends, although the effect is less desirable.
Limbs 10a, 10b, 16a, 16b, 18a and 18b each terminates at a tip end, which extends outwardly and downwardly to contact a surface. In a preferred embodiment, the terminal tip ends are frictionless so limbs can slide across a surface back and forth as drive wheel assembly 20 is rotated clockwisely or counter-clockwisely. It will be understood that not all tip ends need to be in continuous contact with a surface throughout an operative cycle of said toy 1. Some can stay afloat or temporarily lift off a surface during an operative cycle.
Referring to
Said front claw attachment 30 comprises a right alignment bar 31, left alignment bar 32; fastener 33; bottom left half circle 34; bottom right half circle 35; right claw 36; left claw 37; receiving slot 38. Top shell 50 has a cavity as housing of drive wheel assembly 20. Said top shell 50 unit comprises a right front attachment alignment slot 51, left front attachment alignment slot 52, back shell wheel bracket 53, back shell axle port 54, top right half circle 55, top left half circle 56, front body wheel bracket 57, front shell axle port 58, and recessed pocket handle 59.
Referring to
Axle 29a on drive wheel assembly 20 is slidably received in slot 38 of front attachment unit 30. Front body wheel bracket 57 of top shell unit 50 is further slidably received in slot 38. Axle 29a is rotatably snapped into front between Front body wheel bracket 57 with front shell axle port 58. Fastener 33 further secures axle 29a to front attachment unit. It will be understood that other means for fastening can be substituted to secure such front attachment unit to drive wheel assembly 20. Similarly, although not shown in the figures, back shell wheel bracket 53 is coupled to back axle 29b. Back axle 29b snaps into back shell axle port 54. The broken lines in
Referring to
Top shell unit 50 is further coupled to front attachment 30 by means as set forth below in greater detail. Right attachment alignment slot 51 of top shell 50 mates with right alignment bar 31 of front attachment unit 30. Left front attachment alignment slot 52 mates with left alight bar 32 on front attachment unit 30. It will be understood that other means for coupling can be substituted to secure such front claw attachment unit 30 to top shell unit 50.
Although only front drive wheel 27a is shown to have a tracking groove, it will be understood that back drive wheel 27b optionally can also have a tracking groove for driving a single or a plurality of components, such as a limb, tail, or signage, using the same mechanism.
Particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A drive wheel assembly comprising:
- a first and second drive wheels;
- said first drive wheel is operatively coupled to a first shaft;
- said second drive wheel is operatively coupled to a second shaft;
- a third shaft is operatively coupled to said first and second shafts; and
- at least a limb operatively coupled to each said shaft.
2. The drive wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein said first drive wheel is rotatable with said second drive wheel along a common rotational axis.
3. The drive wheel assembly of claim 2, wherein each said shaft is eccentric to said rotational axis.
4. The drive wheel assembly of claim 3, wherein said first, second, and third shafts are offset at different angles from said rotational axis.
5. The drive wheel assembly of claim 4, wherein a first pair of limbs is operatively coupled to said first shaft.
6. The drive wheel assembly of claim 5, wherein a second pair of limbs is operatively coupled to said second shaft.
7. The drive wheel assembly of claim 6, wherein a third pair of limbs is operatively coupled to said third shaft.
8. The drive wheel assembly of claim 7, each said pair of limbs further comprises a rotation stop.
9. The drive wheel assembly of claim 8 further comprises a first tracking groove integrated to said first drive wheel.
10. The drive wheel assembly of claim 9 further comprises a second tracking groove integrated to said second drive wheel.
11. A drive wheel assembly comprising:
- a drive wheel;
- a plurality of shafts;
- a plurality of limbs;
- said drive wheel is operatively coupled to said shafts; and
- each said limb is operatively coupled to at least one of said shafts.
12. The drive wheel assembly of claim 11, wherein said shafts are coupled eccentrically to said drive wheel.
13. The drive wheel assembly of claim 12, wherein at least two said limbs are coupled to each said shaft.
14. The drive wheel assembly of claim 13, wherein said two limbs further comprise at least a rotation stop.
15. The drive wheel assembly of claim 14 further comprises a tracking groove integrated to said drive wheel.
16. A walking toy device comprising:
- a driving wheel,
- a plurality of shafts; and
- a plurality of limbs paired in horizontally opposed directions.
17. The walking toy device of claim 16, further comprises a link.
18. The walking toy device of claim 17, further comprises a tracking groove.
19. The walking toy device of claim 18, further comprises a rotation stop.
20. The walking toy device of claim 19, further comprises a stabilizer.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 14, 2014
Publication Date: Jan 21, 2016
Inventor: Brian M. WHITE (Berkeley, CA)
Application Number: 14/775,682