With Means Facilitating Combination With Diverse Art Device Patents (Class 446/404)
  • Patent number: 5490672
    Abstract: A golf swing practice/training device configured to generate a signal when the power arm of a golfer is properly moved from the top of the backswing to the slot position in the downswing comprising an attachment element to mount the golf swing practice/training device to the upper portion of the power arm of the golfer having a signal generator adjustably attachable at different locations thereon so that the signal generator may be disposed adjacent the inside of the upper portion of the golfer's power arm to engage the side of the golfer's upper body to activate the signal generator when the golfer's power arm is properly positioned relative to the golfer's body during the downswing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Inventor: Chris Johnston
  • Patent number: 5484316
    Abstract: A novelty belt with a control pad for programming and actuating a variety of sound effects emitted through a speaker. The belt also includes a plurality of props that correspond to the sound effects, creating a thematic novelty toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Inventor: Mark E. Poirier
  • Patent number: 5478267
    Abstract: An electronic soap bubble sensing and responsive device which is activated upon making contact between a soap bubble and an electronic sensor. The device consists of two electrodes mounted on a support frame and electrically coupled to internal electrical signal generation circuitry. The soap bubble sensor includes electrodes which are positioned so as to contact the soap bubble conjointly. Soap bubble fluid being conductive allows such contact to complete a trigger circuit, which contact also bursts the bubble, thereby breaking the circuit. The electrodes have a geometric configuration so as to maximum the conjoint contact with spherical bubbles, and the electrodes are supported on a frame so as to minimize wetting of the frame and triggering inadvertent activation. The completed electrical circuit can activate any sensory output as a result of the triggering, including sounds, lights or motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignees: Gerald A. McDonald, Ronald G. Magers
    Inventors: Gerald A. McDonald, Ronald G. Magers, Lee K. Wa
  • Patent number: 5446235
    Abstract: A musical article of furniture, here jewelry armoire (10') which includes a pivotal lid (38') for activating and deactivating a musical movement (19). Mechanical spring wound musical movement (19) is attached to a supporting surface (14') which in turn is attached to lid (38'). Musical movement (19) includes a rotating shaft, also serving as the winding shaft (21), protruding through a top surface of supporting surface (14'). An ornament (34) is affixed to the shaft and the shaft is decoratively finished. Musical movement (19) is provided with a stop-and-start mechanism which includes a control arm (22') being positioned and configured to interfere with the back of housing (39') such that the mechanism will be activated when lid (38') is opened and will shut off when the lid is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Inventors: Bohr-Winn Shih, Barry Shih
  • Patent number: 5422429
    Abstract: A musical article of furniture, here jewelry chest (10) which includes at least one slidable drawer (12) for storage of articles and for activating and deactivating a musical movement (19). Mechanical spring wound musical movement (19) is attached to a supporting surface (14) of the housing (11) of chest (10) and has a rotating shaft, also serving as the winding shaft (21), protruding through an outside surface of chest housing (11). An ornament (34) is affixed to the shaft and the shaft is decoratively finished. Musical movement (19) is provided with a stop-and-start mechanism which includes a control arm (22) being positioned and configured to interfere with the back (13) of upper drawer (12) such that the mechanism will be activated when the drawer is opened and will shut off when the drawer is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Inventors: Bohr-Winn Shih, Barry Shih
  • Patent number: 5368515
    Abstract: A pinwheel vibrates a blade extending across an opening provided with an acoustic column to generate sound as the formations on the pinwheel engage the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Amuse Me, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Mast
  • Patent number: 5352146
    Abstract: A turkey call device is arranged in cooperation with a bow string release to permit an individual to maintain control of an associated bow string while effecting actuation of a turkey call. An arrow release mechanism includes a resilient rod head arranged to receive a bow string, such that the bow string is received within an associated barrel tube, wherein subsequent actuation of a trigger projects the resilient rod head from the tube permitting subsequent release of the associated bow string. Further, the sounding mechanism is directed to a reciprocating rod arranged to project and effect cooperation of a striker plate, with a projecting leg to provide for a turkey call audible signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Inventor: Keith W. Shuart
  • Patent number: 5339479
    Abstract: A child's motivational toothbrush of unitary construction such that no part, of the toothbrush can be nondestructively detached so as to endanger a child. The toothbrush has as a part of its handle construction a three dimensional figure which has a cavity in which an electronic package is sealed, and from which an electronic activation switch is accessible to a user. When the activation switch is pressed the electronic package cycles through a program that produces sounds and electrical impulses that activate lights that blink on and off in a programmed sequence. The intersection between the handle and the toothbrush is provided with and aid for the clean and destructive detachment of the brush end from the handle end so that the brush end can be discarded and the handle end saved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Inventor: Mark Lyman
  • Patent number: 5314372
    Abstract: A battery and generator operated electro-mechanical device looks like an engine and emits engine sounds. The engine attaches to a bicycle frame giving the bicycle the appearance of being a motor bike. The engine makes an authentic idle sound when first started up and sounds like an engine accelerating to full throttle as the bike is pedalled. In a second embodiment, a fully mechanical engine sound is produced whenever the bike is in motion. Both embodiments are housed in an authentic looking engine housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Inventor: Fred J. Kramer
  • Patent number: 5309586
    Abstract: A new and improved blanket apparatus for fitting over a baby seat or carrier which has a top and sides includes a flexible cloth member having dimensions sufficient to fit over the top and sides of the baby seat or carrier. The flexible cloth member has an outer edge; and an elastic strip or a draw string is installed near the outer edge of the flexible cloth member, for gathering the outer edge to form an opening having a plurality of adjustable sizes. A first adjustable size of the opening is sufficiently large to fit over the top and sides of the baby seat or carrier for installing the blanket apparatus on the baby seat or carrier. A second adjustable size of the opening is sufficiently small to resin the blanket apparatus on the baby seat or carrier, by preventing the blanket apparatus from slipping over the sides once the blanket apparatus has been installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Inventors: Bunny L. Sies, Kelley F. Sies
  • Patent number: 5304084
    Abstract: An audible coin bank includes: a hollow container (1) having a dropping slot (11) formed in an upper portion of the container for dropping coins (3) into the container through the slot (11) and a bottom hole (12) formed in a bottom portion of the container, and a casing (20) having a battery-powered audio-actuating device (2) plugged in the bottom hole (12) of the container, which will receive a sound signal of an impacting sound caused by a coin (3) impacting upon a sensor (21) of the audio-actuating device or caused by a mutual impact of the dropping coin (3) with the other coins deposited in the container for producing a voice or music melody by a voice or music producing integrated circuit for entertaining purpose, and wherein the batteries (26) stored in the casing may be replaced or renewed directly from the casing (20) plugged in the bottom portion of the container for prolonging a service life of the coin bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Inventor: Fu-Chiang Liao
  • Patent number: 5244430
    Abstract: A support apparatus is arranged for the sliding reception and securement of a turkey caller therewithin permitting a hunter and the like to permit use of an associated turkey caller structure mounted within the support while permitting transport of accessory hunting equipment. The invention of the support includes a turkey caller assembly complementarily and slidably mounted within an associated support assembly arranged for ease of use and access by a hunter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Inventor: Roy A. Legursky
  • Patent number: 5226846
    Abstract: A sound producing device, to be attached to the frame of a bicycle adjacent the wheels, the device including a clamp member having a pair of clamp arms, each arm including a clamp head and a handle portion at opposite ends thereof, and being hingedly attached to one another at respective mid-sections thereof such that a biasing force exerted on the clamp arms will push the clamp heads towards one another requiring that a compressing force be exerted on the handle portions in order to pull the clamp heads apart when engaging or disengaging the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Inventor: James J. Onori
  • Patent number: 5184971
    Abstract: This invention is a toy audio recorder in the exterior shape of a telephone. The recorder is equipped with large pushbutton assemblies capable of housing illustrations. Depressing one of the pushbutton assemblies will playback the message stored in the storage location associated with that pushbutton assembly, or, if the record switch is depressed simultaneously, a new message will be recorded in that storage location. Messages may be recorded directly or via telephone by using a conventional telephone in concert with the toy telephone recorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Inventor: Susan A. Williams
  • Patent number: 5130693
    Abstract: A battery-powered, electro-mechanical device which automatically generates sound-effects and flashing lights depending on its position or tilt is disclosed. The device, housed in a rigid encasement, consists of a position/tilt actuator and sensor, an electronic circuit board, a sound-effects generator, an amplifier, a speaker, LED lamps and driver. The device can be attached to the underside of a skateboard between the forward and rearward trucks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Inventor: Henri J. Gigandet
  • Patent number: 5085611
    Abstract: An amusement device for a bicycle wheel is disclosed. According to the present invention, the amusement device comprises a whistle, and a means for attaching the whistle to the wheel such that when the wheel rotates, wind passes through the whistle and produces a sound audible to a human ear. The present whistle 10 is a reversible whistle because it will produce a noise when air flows into the whistle from two different directions. The present invention is a double whistle because it funnels air from one direction into two separate whistle elements. The whistle 10 is also a double reversible whistle 10 because it can funnel air into two different whistle elements with air flowing in two different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: NCM International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald R. Sorensen, Raymond J. Gradecki, Daniel J. E. Finkiewicz
  • Patent number: 5032099
    Abstract: A toy musical box having an electronic musical sound reproduction circuit and an electric motor drive for an endless band carrying a continuous picture past a window, so that the musical box can resemble a television set. The operation of the sound reproduction circuit and the motor are remotely controlled by sound impulses from a separate hand-held device, the musical box having a microphone and a discriminator to provide an output signal upon receipt of the sound impulses. Preferably a double sound impulse is acquired to operate the musical box, eg. two clicks one immediately following the other, for differentiation from other extraneous sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Blue Box Toy Factory
    Inventor: Alex Chan
  • Patent number: 4986792
    Abstract: This invention relates to a violin musical toy and in particular to one having string-simulating plates similar to strings of a violin, a control circuit, an engaging member, two copper plates, several keys, a selecting switch, a musical switch and a bow. By drawing the bow on the string plates of the engaging member, like playing a violin, the engaging member will be forced to swing to the left and right side and two protuberances on two ends side of the engaging member will make the two copper plates touch each other continuously which triggers the control circuit to output preset music if the function selecting switch is placed at its, `AUTO` position. By switching the selecting switch to `MANUAL` position, the player may press any one of the keys to output a single tone or any two of the keys at the same time and the violin will output a chromatic scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Inventor: Chen-Hsiung Chen
  • Patent number: 4979925
    Abstract: An amusement device in the form of an openable box is provided wherein a top half and bottom half of the box are formed separately and a hinge member is also formed separately so that the box halves can be interchanged with other box halves to change the exterior appearance of the device. The hinge member may also include a noise maker which is activated by opening and closing of the two box halves to increase the amusement level of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Earl O. Bergersen
    Inventor: Earl O. Bergersen
  • Patent number: 4941858
    Abstract: This box type turkey call is a combination of two calls which share a resonance chamber. The first sounder is elastically engaged to work the arm actuator over the edges of the chamber walls and is pivotally mounted. The second sounder is a stylus with sound tube which is used to scrape the slate on the bottom of the resonance chamber. When not in use the stylus is intended to be mounted through the resonance chamber by placement through a hole in the end wall of the chamber. The two calls may be used together. The presence of one sounder in or on the resonance chamber assists in making appropriate calls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Inventor: Mark C. Adams
  • Patent number: 4932913
    Abstract: A hand held control device for use by a child to simulate directional and speed control of a vehicle, which device includes a wheel for grasping by the hands of a child at opposed parts thereof, a plurality of electrical switches on the device operable to provide signals for predetermined operations of the device, the switches being positioned on the device to be operable by the fingers of a child while the child's hands are engaging the wheel, a housing member, a controller and a sound generating device in the housing member, the controller including a memory storing data representative of sounds created or creatable by the simulated vehicle including sounds simulating the sounds generated when the simulated vehicle is in motion, the sound generating device being coupled to said controller to convert stored data into audio, the finger operated switches providing input signals to the controller to cause the controller to produce sound data to the sound generating device for audio generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Inventors: Roni Raviv, Amir Moses
  • Patent number: 4908000
    Abstract: This invention relates to sound emitting wind wheels mounted on the handle bars of a bicycle. The wind wheels spinning horizontally have wind catching pliable cap-like vanes on the external ends of the flexible horizontal support rods attached to a rotatable hub on the top of a vertical shaft. The vertical shaft utilizing a ball-and-socket clamp arrangement to be compatible with various shaped handle bars.The cup vanes incorporating an air operated whistle which is activated by air flow generated by forward movement of the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Inventor: Gerald W. Counts
  • Patent number: 4904988
    Abstract: A toy that is equipped with a smoke detector that would be extremely portable and thus provide fire and smoke protection wherever you had the toy. The smoke detector is housed inside the toy with smoke sensing openings in several locations. The power supply is electronically coupled to the smoke detector by wires run on the inside of the toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Inventors: Charles E. Nesbit, Mark S. Nesbit
  • Patent number: 4875885
    Abstract: A noisemaker for bicycles and the like includes a housing having a shoulder and a resonator plate seated in the housing on the shoulder. The resonator plate is biased against the shoulder by a compressed spring. A resonator chamber extends from the shoulder, away from the housing. Use of a camming mechanism raises the resonator plate above the shoulder and releases same as it passes so that the resonator plate is urged back against the shoulder by the spring and a surface-engaging noise and air compression noise are directed into the resonator chamber to simulate the sound commonly associated with a vehicle engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Inventor: Horton Johnson
  • Patent number: 4842564
    Abstract: A cap firing mechanism for use with a cap strip and in a toy having a wall and a housing, and comprising an anvil mounted on the wall and a firing mechanism mounted in the housing. The mechanism includes a mounting pin connected to the housing, and a hammer mounted on the pin. A hammer spring connected to the hammer urges the hammer against the anvil in order to fire a cap between the hammer and the anvil. An extended portion of the hammer is manually engageable in order to swing the hammer away from the anvil, and the hammer spring returns the hammer against the anvil when the extended portion is released. An advance wheel is mounted on the pin adjacent the hammer, and an advance mechanism connects the hammer with the advance wheel. The advance mechanism turns the wheel in one direction to advance the cap strip between the anvil and the hammer, the movement of the hammer operating to rotate the advance wheel. The wheel holds the strip during the firing of a cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Tonka Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory L. Gerold, Bruce W. Dickerhoof
  • Patent number: 4840371
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novelty golf club including a body made to resemble a golf club having a head, a shaft and a grip. In reality, the head is hollow and contains a sound producing device powered by batteries contained beneath the handle grip through wires contained within the shaft. An end cap is removably placeable over a battery chamber opening at the upper end of the handle grip. The sound producing device may be activated by a switch conveniently located on the golf head and may contain a miniature record disc having recorded therein such sounds as laughter, barking dogs, fire engine sounds, crying baby sounds, coughing, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Inventor: John C. Harris
  • Patent number: 4768989
    Abstract: A toy tea kettle or the like has a spout and whistling means to simulate the sound made by steam escaping from a boiling kettle. The spout has a lid, and the kettle has a toothed rack coupled to the lid for oscillating the lid to simulate the action of an actual kettle lid in response to steam escaping from the spout. The kettle further has a reciprocally movable plunger coupled to the toothed rack for moving the lid to a fully opened position upon depression of the plunger to prepare the kettle for pouring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventor: David E. Moomaw
  • Patent number: 4735592
    Abstract: A simulated motorcycle exhaust pipe and engine sound device for bicycles including a hollow member which can be outwardly flared from a front end to an open end. This construction simulates, in appearance, an exhaust pipe. A removable spoke engaging member is engaged with the hollow member. When the device is mounted on a bicycle, the spoke engaging member extends between spokes of the bicycle wheel. Means for removably mounting the device to a bike frame are provided. As the bicycle wheel rotates, the spoke engaging member successively engages with the spokes of the bicycle causing the spoke engaging member to vibrate. These vibrations resonate through the hollow member to produce a realistic combustion engine sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Inventor: Leonard R. Griffin
  • Patent number: 4701149
    Abstract: A simulated motor-sound producer for attachment to a frame member of a bicycle includes a toy balloon having a bulbous central portion positionable in the path of travel of the revolving spokes of the bicycle's wheel. The balloon is secured to the bicycle frame member by a pair of flexible, generally elongate straps wrapped around the frame member and end projections of the balloon. Each strap has a first side which comprises first hook and loop securement means and a second side having a frame engaging member and second hook and loop securement means. The frame engaging member of the strap has a reversely bent terminal end portion, the bight of which receives one of the end projections of the balloon. Further, the frame engaging member comprises a band of non-slip material which prevents relative movement between the strap and frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Inventor: James J. Breil
  • Patent number: 4514883
    Abstract: A belt buckle comprising a body adapted to be connected to a belt for wearing on a user and having a structure which simulates a known object having a movable component, for example an automobile, bell, or animal such as a bird. An element is movably connected to the body and located so as to be exposed to view when the buckle is worn on the user, and the element has a structure which simulates the movable component of the object, for example the automobile hood, bell striker or bird beak. An operator member is movably carried by the body and responsive to manual operation, and a motion transmission mechanism carried by the body and operatively connected to the element and to the operator member converts movement of the operator member in response to manual operation into movement of the element relative to the body. As a result, activity of the known object is simulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Assignee: John J. Barbieri
    Inventors: John J. Barbieri, Ross C. Oar
  • Patent number: 4490123
    Abstract: A whistle is integrally formed from the pages of a children's book. Apertures are formed in adjacent, interior pages, and the apertures are positioned to overlap to form a resonant cavity. A slot is provided in one of the interior pages to provide an air inlet passage through which air may be blown into the resonant cavity. The cover of the book has an opening which forms an air outlet passage, through which air from the resonant cavity is exhausted. In operation, the pages of the book are pressed tightly together to seal the resonant cavity and prevent air leakage therefrom. To facilitate such sealing, the book includes printed matter indicating the general location in which the child should place his fingers when pressing the pages together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Inventors: James F. Becker, Andrew S. Mayer