Balanced Or Self-righting (e.g., Rocking) Patents (Class 446/396)
  • Patent number: 4575353
    Abstract: A toy or novelty is disclosed which is in the form of standing mobile and has a series of parts each pivoted to another and each provided with eccentric weights. The weights and the arrangement of the pivots may be operative to pivot the parts from a position aligned with each other to a position extending from each other when the stability of the parts is sufficiently disturbed from the condition of stability when such parts are filed or folded. Alternatively, the parts may simply rock in an undulating fashion from the extended condition of stability. Some of the parts may have printed matter thereon which make sense or nonsense in one condition of stability or make sense or more sense in the other condition of stability. Some of the parts may include two parallel walls substantially to enclose other of said parts in the filed position. The parts may be circular in form and of reduced diameter in ascending order in one condition of stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Inventor: Jerzy Perkitny
  • Patent number: 4543067
    Abstract: A light weight elongated tubular structure is counter-balanced by a depending weight around a pivot formed by a sharp point in contact with a hard flat horizontal surface, rotating around its pivot point in response to a user's approach to the remote end of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1985
    Inventor: Milton A. Wallen
  • Patent number: 4536167
    Abstract: A rocking mechanism for providing an interesting, apparently random motion for a toy or game using an electric motor with very low battery drain, wherein an unbalancing weight is mounted on a driven wheel driven by a small PM motor, the wheel carrying a cam which controls the action of a first switch connecting the motor to a battery with a second horizontal sensing switch connected in parallel with the first switch, all mounted in a frame which allows it to rock three-dimensionally. In a modified form of rocking mechanism for providing apparently random motion using a spring-loaded motor, an unbalancing weight is mounted on a driven wheel driven by a spring motor linked by a gear train to an oscillating escapement and pin actuator for controlling the unwinding of the motor spring, all mounted in a frame which allows it to rock three-dimensionally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1985
    Assignee: Milton Bradley Company
    Inventor: David C. Hughes