TOY WITH PIVOTING PORTIONS CAPABLE OF ROLLING OVER AND METHODS THEREOF

• US 20100075570A1
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Inventors: OLSON, Jeffrey, KUJAWSKI, Brian S., MADDOCKS, Richard J., CAMERON, Don, PECKUS, Linas, Sun, Zhi Xin, Yang, Lc
• Granted Patent: US 8,057,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/330
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 13/02 imitating natural actions, e.g. catching a mouse by a cat, the kicking of an animal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1828 Cam, lever, and slide

Abstract

A toy employing a simple yet unique pivoting mechanism to provide back and forth and side to side pivoting movements and operable to wiggle, twist back and forth, and roll the toy over numerous times imitating a playing, cuddling and rolling over puppy or the like. The toy includes a body portion, a first pivoting portion, and a first linkage coupling the body portion to the first pivoting portion at an angled pivot point offset from a vertical axis intersecting the point at which the body and the first pivoting portions are coupled. An angled surface is included at the first pivoting portion and a gear mechanism is coupled to the body portion and operable to pivot the first pivoting portion with respect to the body portion driving the pivoting action at the angled surface of the first pivoting portion providing back and forth and side to side pivoting movements.

Claims

1. A toy, comprising:

a body portion;

a first pivoting portion;

a first linkage coupling the body portion to the first pivoting portion at an angled pivot point offset from a vertical axis intersecting the point at which the body and the first pivoting portions are coupled;

an angled surface at the first pivoting portion; and

a gear mechanism coupled to the body portion and operable to pivot the first pivoting portion with respect to the body portion driving the pivoting action at the angled surface of the first pivoting portion providing back and forth and side to side pivoting movements.

2. The toy according to claim 1, wherein the first linkage comprises a rotatable drive shaft mechanically engaging the gear mechanism, the rotatable shaft further comprising a surface that interfaces with the angled surface of the first pivoting portion.

3. The toy according to claim 2, wherein the first linkage comprises a telescoping member pivotably coupled to the first pivoting portion to facilitate the pivoting movements of the first pivoting portion.

4. The toy according to claim 3, wherein the telescoping member couples to the first pivoting portion at two or more pivot points in cooperation to provide a loose connection to facilitate the side to side pivoting movements of the first pivoting portion.

5. The toy according to claim 1, wherein the angled surface of the first pivoting portion is offset from a horizontal plane bisecting the first pivoting portion.

6. The toy according to claim 5, further comprising a covering at least partially incorporating the body and first pivoting portions.

7. The toy according to claim 6, further comprising two fin like protrusions projecting from the first pivoting portion along the horizontal plane for facilitating a roll over movement.

8. The toy according to claim 1, further comprising a second pivoting portion coupled to the body portion at an end opposite the first pivoting portion, and a second angled surface at the second pivoting portion.

9. The toy according to claim 8, further comprising a second linkage coupling the body to the second pivoting portion at an angled pivot point offset from a vertical axis intersecting the point at which the body and the second pivoting portions are coupled.

10. The toy according to claim 9, wherein the gear mechanism is operable to pivot the second pivoting portion with respect to the body portion driving a pivoting action at the second angled surface of the second pivoting portion providing back and forth and side to side pivoting movements.

11. A toy, comprising:

a body portion;

a first pivoting portion;

a first linkage coupling the body portion to the first pivoting portion at an angled pivot point offset from a vertical axis intersecting the point at which the body and the first pivoting portions are coupled;

a first angled surface at the first pivoting portion;

a second pivoting portion;

a second linkage coupling the body portion to the second pivoting portion opposite the first pivoting portion at an angled pivot point offset from a vertical axis intersecting the point at which the body and the second pivoting portions are coupled;

a second angled surface at the second pivoting portion; and

a gear mechanism coupled to the body portion and operable to pivot the first and second pivoting portions with respect to the body portion driving the pivoting action of the first pivoting portion at the first angled surface and of the second pivoting portion at the second angled surface providing back and forth and side to side pivoting movements and roll over actions.

12. The toy according to claim 11, wherein the first and second linkages each comprise a rotatable drive shaft mechanically engaging the gear mechanism, the rotatable shafts further comprise a surface that interfaces with one of the first and second angled surfaces.

13. The toy according to claim 12, wherein the first linkage comprises a first telescoping member pivotably coupled to the first pivoting portion to facilitate the pivoting movements of the first pivoting portion.

14. The toy according to claim 13, wherein the second linkage comprises a second telescoping member pivotably coupled to the second pivoting portion to facilitate the pivoting movements of the second pivoting portion.

15. The toy according to claim 14, wherein the first and second telescoping members couple to the first and second pivoting portions, respectively, at two or more pivot points in cooperation to provide a loose connection to facilitate the side to side pivoting movements of the first and second pivoting portions.

16. A method for pivoting a portion of a toy, comprising the steps of;

providing a body portion;

providing a first pivoting portion;

providing a first linkage for coupling the body portion to the first pivoting portion at an angled pivot point offset from a vertical axis intersecting the point at which the body and the first pivoting portions are coupled;

angling a surface at the first pivot point;

coupling a gear mechanism to the body portion operable to pivot the first pivoting portion with respect to the body portion; and

driving the pivoting action at the angled surface of the first pivoting portion providing back and forth and side to side pivoting movements.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first linkage further provides a rotatable drive shaft mechanically engaging the gear mechanism, the rotatable shaft further providing a surface that interfaces with the angled surface of the first pivoting portion.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the first linkage further provides a telescoping member pivotably coupled to the first pivoting portion to facilitate the pivoting movements of the first pivoting portion.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the telescoping member couples to the first pivoting portion at two or more pivot points in cooperation to provide a loose connection to facilitate the side to side pivoting movements of the first pivoting portion.

20. The method according to claim 19, further providing two fin like protrusions projecting from the first pivoting portion along a horizontal plane for facilitating a roll over movement.