Fluid Engine and Method of Use Thereof

• US 20110045735A1
• Filed: 08/21/2009
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Mcgaha
• Original Assignee: John Mcgaha
• Inventors: McGaha, John
• Application Number:
  US12/545,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20110045735A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/376
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 13/04 Mechanical figures imitating the movement of players or workers
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 13/18 Toy swinging chairs; Rocking-figure toys
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/10 Driving mechanisms actuated by flowing media
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/24 Details or accessories for drive mechanisms, e.g. means for winding-up or starting toy engines

Abstract

A fluid engine for a figure having a movable appendage, wherein the fluid engine comprises a pivoting container partially filled with fluid disposed within a cavity in the figure. A connector is disposed between the fluid engine and the appendage. Centrifugal force acts upon the fluid within the container and the fluid urges the container to change its disposition, thereby causing the appendage to move.

Claims

1. A fluid engine comprising:

a container;

a fluid disposed within said container, wherein said container is less than full; and

an appendage, wherein said appendage is operatively coupled to said container, and wherein said operatively-coupled appendage is urged from one disposition to another by said container when said container is moved by operation of force on said fluid.

2. The fluid engine of claim 1, wherein said container is disposed within an object, and wherein said object comprises a first movable member in communication between said operatively-coupled appendage and said container, and wherein said operatively-coupled appendage is urged from one disposition to another when said first movable member is moved.

3. The fluid engine of claim 2, wherein said first movable member is hingedly-coupled to said operatively-coupled appendage.

4. The fluid engine of claim 2, wherein said container is disposed on a pivot.

5. The fluid engine of claim 2, wherein said container generally comprises a cylinder having a width and a length, and wherein said length is disposed generally vertically.

6. The fluid engine of claim 2, wherein said container comprises a rectangular prism, and wherein said rectangular prism comprises a length, a width and a height, and wherein said length is disposed generally horizontally.

7. The fluid engine of claim 2, wherein said object comprises a figure, and wherein said figure comprises said operatively-coupled appendage.

8. The fluid engine of claim 7, wherein said object is disposed within a vehicle.

9. The fluid engine of claim 8, wherein said object is disposed on dashboard of a car.

10. The fluid engine of claim 2, wherein said first movable member is in pivotal communication with a second movable member.

11. The fluid engine of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of said second movable member is slidably disposed within a retaining member.

12. The fluid engine of claim 2, further comprising a means for securing said fluid engine to a surface.

13. The fluid engine of claim 2, further comprising a second movable member disposed between said first movable member and said operatively-coupled appendage, wherein said second movable member is rotated by said first movable member.

14. The fluid engine of claim 7, wherein said container pivots on a curved bottom of a cavity within said figure.

15. A method of moving an arm member, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a fluid engine comprising a container, wherein said arm member is operatively-coupled to said container, and wherein said container comprises a fluid therewithin, and wherein said container is less than full;

disposing said fluid engine in an environment wherein force acts upon said fluid;

connecting a portion of a first movable member to said arm member;

moving said container by operation of force on said fluid; and

urging said first movable member from one disposition to another, thereby moving said arm member.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

disposing said first movable member and said arm member within a figure.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

rotating a second movable member by said urging of said first movable member.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

sliding a second movable member by said urging of said first movable member.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of moving said container comprises:

pivoting said container on a pivot point.

20. An action figure comprising:

a fluid engine, wherein said fluid engine comprises a pivoting container partially filled with fluid;

an appendage; and

a connector in communication between said fluid engine and said appendage of said figure, wherein centrifugal force urges said container to change its disposition, thereby causing said appendage to move.