Electric Patents (Class 446/484)
  • Patent number: 4728871
    Abstract: A permanent magnet armature is arranged to be moved initially in spaced proximity to an induction coil connected in an electric circuit across the series arrangement of a source of electric potential and an electronic switch such that when the moving magnetic field of the magnet cuts the coil turns the resulting induced current operates the switch momentarily to connect the source of electric potential across the coil. The resulting current flow through the coil produces a magnetic field which is imposed upon the moving magnet such as to accelerate its movement. An RC time constant circuit is connected across the coil to establish the time period of battery connection across the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Inventor: Roger W. Andrews
  • Patent number: 4727299
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a rocker with a curved base, and an activating base supporting and continuously activating the rocker. Two magnets, whose north poles point in opposite directions, one upward and the other downward, are respectively disposed on either side, towards which rocker rocks, of the center of gravity of the curved base. A first induction coil is set within the activating base and under the rocker so as to produce induced a current when the rocker is rocking in the direction of one of the two magnets. An operational amplifier integrated circuit (OP AMP IC) is provided within the activating base so as to amplify the induced current. A second induction coil, which is connected to the output of the OP AMP IC, is provided so as to induce a magnetic field. This magnetic field applies an attractive force on the magnet when it moves closer to the activating base, and a repelling force on the other magnet moving away from the activating base so as to activate the rocking means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Inventor: Kuo A. Liu
  • Patent number: 4713039
    Abstract: A battery driven toy top containing a motor rotated flywheel enclosed in a domed housing. The top may be spun on either the dome or preferably on the opposite end of the tubular housing and contains noise generators and flashing lights controlled by a novel centrifugal switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: Wong & Bibaoco
    Inventor: Raymond Wong
  • Patent number: 4697133
    Abstract: An article having an electric motor which is powered by a battery which is capable of being recharged and which is connected and disconnected to the electric motor by movement of the battery between an operating position and a recharging position. The battery is housed within a casing which is movably supported within the article within which the electric motor is mounted and which article may take the form of a vehicular toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Inventor: Grigorios Pergandis
  • Patent number: 4591347
    Abstract: Accessible at both sides of this toy vehicle is a shifter element that enables a user to control the vehicle using only one hand, and without picking the vehicle up or even obstructing its forward travel. The shifter element may be used to turn the vehicle on or off. If the vehicle has two or more operating modes the shifter may be used to select between the modes. The shifter thus enhances the play fantasy, since "real" vehicles start and stop without being raised from the street by their drivers. The shifter element moves transversely relative to the vehicle. In one position the element protrudes at one side of the vehicle, and if pushed inwardly there the element moves toward the other side of the vehicle. In the other position the element protrudes at the other side of the toy; if pushed inwardly it moves toward the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: Adolph E. Goldfarb
    Inventors: Adolph E. Goldfarb, Delmar K. Everitt, Norman J. Burger
  • Patent number: 4588386
    Abstract: A motorized toy car which upon frontal impact with an obstruction simulates a crash and its consequences. The wheeled car has a chassis, a body thereon defined by a front hood section having a simulated bumper prow, an intermediate cockpit section accommodating a hinged side door, and a rear trunk section having a trunk lid hinged thereon. The intermediate and rear sections are rigid and attached to the chassis, whereas the front section is resilient and free of the chassis. Slidable along the chassis is a sled whose front end is attached to the prow, a coil spring urging the sled to a retracted position in which the front section is deformed to assume a crushed appearance. The side door and the trunk lid are operatively coupled to the sled so that swinging them from their fully open to their closed positions advances the sled against the spring to an extended position which is held by a spring-biased detent and in which the car has a normal appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1986
    Assignee: Buddy L Corporation
    Inventors: Melvin R. Kennedy, Dietmar Nagel, Abraham A. Arad
  • Patent number: 4579539
    Abstract: A breakdance doll (10) has a body (11) having a back (12), buttocks (13), and a neck (38) joining a head (40) to the body (11). The back (12) has a laterally extending slot (24) positioned between chest height and the buttocks (13). A rotatable drive wheel (22) extends from the slot (24) and is connected to a motor (26) mounted in the body (11) above the slot (24) by shaft (28). The motor (26) and a battery (36) are positioned to provide a suitable weight distribution for the doll (10), so that the doll (10) will pivot about a point (16) on the back (12) above the slot (24) as the drive wheel (22) rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1986
    Inventors: Joseph M. Ganeff, Matthew G. Morris
  • Patent number: 4579540
    Abstract: A radio toy having a plastic toy structure with a body portion erectly fixed on the top of a hollow base and a head portion with a movable lower jaw disposed on the top of the body portion, includes a radio set installed in the hollow base and a magnetic device provided in the mouth of the toy structure in connection with the radio set; thereby, opening and closing of the toy mouth will be automatically effected along with the amplitude of the audio frequency produced by the radio set so as to increase the amusing actions of the radio toy and to stimulate the intelligence of the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1986
    Assignee: Giraffe Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Karl Ho
  • Patent number: 4575355
    Abstract: A toy vehicle has a seat with a simulated seat belt in the form of two semi-circular parts which are able to rotate between an opened and closed position, the closed position simulating fastened seat belts. A power release push button is centrally positioned on the vehicle so that it does not exert any unbalanced force on the vehicle when it is pressed. When the seat belt is opened, the push button is captured in a raised position so that the vehicle cannot run. When the seat belt is closed, the capture is released from the push button so that is can be pushed. Thereafter, the push button is pushed, the power is released, and the toy vehicle is propelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Assignee: Zima Products, Ltd.
    Inventors: James S. W. Lee, Kwong-Wai Chow, Alfred T. Y. Lau, Ming-Ngar Chow
  • Patent number: 4565538
    Abstract: A toy work vehicle propelled by a bi-directional d-c motor in a forward or reverse direction depending on the polarity of battery voltage applied thereto, the vehicle including a power take-off device driven by the same motor to raise or lower a load. A gear shift mechanism operatively coupled either to the wheel axles or to the power take-off device, is controlled by a shift stick which in neutral operatively couples the motor only to the power take-off device. The shift stick is movable to a lateral position having a forward and a reverse mode in which the motor is operatively coupled to the wheel axles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: Buddy L. Corporation
    Inventors: Melvin R. Kennedy, Dietmar Nagel, Abraham A. Arad
  • Patent number: 4556393
    Abstract: A building block having side walls and a front face perpendicular to these is provided with two rows of coupling pins on one side of the front face and counter-coupling tubes on the other side for mechanically coupling two building blocks by means of a clamping action. In each row, each second coupling pin has an electrically conducting surface, while the coupling pins lying between these are electrically insulating. One row of conducting pins is displaced in the direction of the rows by one coupling pin from the adjacent row. On the other side of the front wall a contact bar is arranged which is connected electrically with the conducting coupling pins of an associated row. The bar has a contact area for producing electrical contact with a row of conducting coupling pins of an adjacent, coupled building block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Assignee: Interlego AG
    Inventor: Peter Bolli
  • Patent number: 4552541
    Abstract: A building block is provided having side walls and a top face with two rows of coupling pins on the one side of the top face and counter-coupling tubes on the other side for mechanically coupling two such building blocks by means of a clamping action. On their side faces, the coupling pins have electrically conducting regions, which extend over an angular range. The angular range of one row being turned by 180.degree. relative to those of the other row. All the conducting regions are connected to a contact bar, which is arranged on the side of the counter-coupling tubes along one side wall. When two building blocks are coupled arbitrarily, at least one conducting region of each row of coupling pins of the one building block makes contact with a contact bar of the other building block in such a way, that a short circuit cannot occur in the two electrical circuits assigned to each row of coupling pins or each contact bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Inventor: Peter Bolli
  • Patent number: 4547169
    Abstract: A conductive fluid activated device for use in toys and the like is provided. The device includes resistive responsive circuitry adapted to produce various sounds or to control electric components such as motors, solenoids and the like. A fluid retaining reservoir is adapted to receive probes which extend from and are connected to the circuitry. Various configurations of the reservoir and the probes allow the resistive responsive circuitry to respond differently depending on the configuration of the reservoir and the probes by sensing resistive changes created by the presence and motion of various fluids in or passing through the reservoir and probes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1985
    Inventor: John Maxim
  • 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
  • Patent number: 4507097
    Abstract: A toy assembly which is battery operated to provide a moving design pattern which is visually enhanced by a transparent cover of varying density, the assembly including a unique actuating and interrupting switch arrangement and a unique coupling arrangement for several of the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: Handi-Pac, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald R. Klawitter
  • Patent number: 4496149
    Abstract: There is disclosed a game apparatus employing a container having located therein an electronic circuit capable of emitting a repetitive audio signal of a controllable volume and repetition rate. The container includes a compartment in which a prize or award is placed by the players. The container is then hidden by one of the players who selects the repetition rate and volume to thereby cause audio signals to propagate. The participants then attempt to locate the container in response to the emitted signals and the first participant who finds the container has access to the prize. The degree of difficulty is determined by the volume and repetition rate of the signal as controlled by the player hiding the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1985
    Inventor: Robert B. Schwartzberg
  • Patent number: 4479327
    Abstract: A toy car with a winch mechanism is disclosed, which comprises a clutch shaft associated with a driving shaft of a motor and movable axially with an oscillating rod, a winch drum shaft and a wheel driving shaft supported on a frame, a clutch gear on the clutch shaft, driving gears on the winch drum shaft and the wheel driving shaft for selectively meshing with the clutch gear, a winch rope with a hook secured to the winch drum shaft, a brush resiliently contacted with the winch drum shaft, a rope guiding frame movably contacted with the brush, and a switch for discontinuing the hoisting operating of the winch.The toy car with the winch mechanism thus constructed allows both forward movement of the car and the hoisting operation of the winch by use of a single motor, and prevents the motor from being damaged or burnt out by overload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Assignee: Mitsuwa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kakuichi Wakimura
  • Patent number: 4476648
    Abstract: A motorized toy vehicle actuated by liquid such as water is provided. The toy vehicle includes a frame having wheels rotatably supported thereon and a motor operatively coupled to the wheels for rotating the wheels. A reservoir having a float disposed therein is supported on the toy vehicle frame. A switch selectively actuated by the float is coupled to the motor. When a predetermined amount of liquid is present in the reservoir, the float will actuate the switch thereby turning on the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Inventor: John Maxim
  • Patent number: 4459438
    Abstract: A combination of a track formed from sections which are joined one to another with articles such as toy vehicles for movement therealong is provided in which the power for movement of the articles is transmitted onto a magnet in the article from an electric magnetic field supplied to the track. The articles thus are moved without any electrical or mechanical contact with the track. Additional magnets are provided in the articles to provide steering and different speeds of movement of the articles and different frequencies may be induced simultaneously into the track separately to control different articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Inventor: Helmut Kaiser