STARTING SWITCH FOR TOYS

• US 3,739,521 A
• Filed: 11/30/1971
• Issued: 06/19/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James H. Fox
• Original Assignee: James H. Fox
• Inventors: Fox, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shay, F. Barry
• Application Number:
  US05/203,239
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 46/45,226,227,228,232,170,117 200/52R,61.58R
• US Class Current: 446/302
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds

Abstract

A doll with a phonograph that plays each time the lip portion is depressed, the doll being constructed to enable large dimensional tolerances in the location of the switch that is operated by depressing the lips, and the phonograph being constructed to sequentially play different recordings. An electrical switch that turns on the phonograph when the lips are depressed includes a relaxation member extending from the lips to a switch contact, to push the contact against another when the lips are depressed. The relaxation member is constructed of material that soon relaxes under back pressure of the switch and allows the switch to open.

Claims

1. In a toy which includes an electrically energizable device and means for supplying current to energize it, the improvement comprising:

an electrical switch located within said toy, said switch including first and second electrical contacts spring biased apart and stop means for limiting the separation of said electrical contacts;

means electrically coupling said electrical contacts to said device and to said means for supplying current, so that current can flow to said device when said electrical contacts touch one another; and

operating means mounted on said toy for moving said electrical contacts of said switch together against the spring force biasing them apart, said operating means including force receiving means and relaxation means constructed of a relaxable resilient material and extending in a curve between said force receiving means and said switch to press against and transfer forces to said switch which urge said electrical contacts together, said relaxable resilient material being capable of yielding when held in said pressing condition against the reactive force of said biased apart contacts, to allow said contacts to separate.

2. The improvement described in claim 1 wherein said toy includes a hollow shell constructed of resilient material, so that forces applied by a child against a portion thereof deflects that portion inwardly;

and said operating means includes a frame fixed to said shell and a strip of said relaxable resilient material said strip having a first end portion mounted on said frame, a middle portion forming said force receiving means disposed against the inner surface of said hollow shell at a predetermined location thereon, and an outer end lying closely adjacent a movable portion of said switch, so that inward deflection of said shell at said predetermined location moves said middle portion of said strip in a direction to press said outer end portion against said switch portion to move said electrical contacts together.

3. The improvement described in claim 2 wherein:

said strip is bent at said middle portion, so that the strip extends away from said predetermined shell location between said middle and outer end portions, whereby said strip acts largely like a collapsing column in transmitting forces.

4. A doll comprising:

a doll body;

a hollow head mounted on said body, said head being flexible at least at the mouth portion thereof to enable inward depresSion thereat;

a frame mounted in said doll having at least a portion disposed in said head;

an electrical switch mounted on said frame, and including a pair of switch contacts biased away from each other and a stop for limiting their separation;

switch operating means including an elongated relaxation member having an inner end portion mounted on said frame, said member extending to the inner surface of said mouth portion and bent thereat to extend to said switch so that inward deflection of said mouth portion of said head to inwardly deflect said bent portion of said relaxation member urges said switch contacts to touch, said relaxation member constructed of material which is resilient but which relaxes when held against said switch under the reactive force of said biased contacts a time after it is deflected to allow said contacts to separate; and

electrical output means coupled to said switch contacts.