Water play toy with elevatable crown portion

• US 4,205,785 A
• Filed: 09/23/1977
• Issued: 06/03/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wham-O Manufacturing Co.
• Inventors: Stanley, George O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Forman, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US05/836,144
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 239/16-23, 239/211, 239/222.17, 239/381, 239/383, 239/505, 239/506, 239/222.21, 46/41, 46/91, 272/1 B, 272/27 W, 272/27 B, 273/95 C, D23/7, D23/9, D21/173
• US Class Current: 239/17
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/007 involving water
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 23/16 Aquatic toy installations; Harbour arrangements

Abstract

A water play toy comprising a base portion and an elevatable, elongated upper portion having a water deflector mounted at the top. A source of water under pressure is coupled to an upwardly directed nozzle located in the base portion. When the water pressure is turned on, a jet of water is directed upwardly from the nozzle through the upper portion to the deflector and the force of water lifts the upper portion into the air where it balances on the head of the water stream. When the deflector is an impeller, the upper portion rotates and an umbrella-shaped shower of water is broadcast outwardly from the deflector. As long as the water pressure is uninterrupted, the upper portion is balanced on the top of the water stream from the nozzle and continues to spray water in a circular pattern around the toy. The nozzle is slidably positionable to enable it to be positioned to direct the water stream directly vertical.

Claims

1. A water play toy comprising:

a stationary base;

an elongated, hollow, open-ended, moveable crown portion seated on the base, the crown portion having a deflecting surface spaced above the end of the crown portion opposite the base;

a nozzle located at the top of the base below the crown portion;

conduit means for connecting the nozzle to a source of water; and

means for directing a stream of water from the nozzle through the crown portion to the underside of the deflecting surface whereby the surface deflects the stream outwardly through the space between the deflecting surface and the crown portion to raise and suspend the crown portion solely on the stream of water.

2. A toy according to claim 1 wherein the crown portion includes stabilizing means located at the end opposite the deflecting surface.

3. A toy according to claim 2 wherein the crown portion is a truncated cone.

4. A toy according to claim 3 wherein the deflecting surface is dome-shaped with the concave surface thereof facing the nozzle.

5. A toy according to claim 4 including a plurality of impeller vanes spaced around the periphery of the deflecting surface on the concave surface thereof whereby the deflected stream of water is directed against the vanes causing the crown portion to rotate.

6. A water play toy comprising:

means adapted to be connected to a source of water for generating an upwardly directed column of water;

a housing for mounting the water column generating means;

hollow elongated support means having an opening at the bottom and top thereof adapted to be mounted on a housing over the water column generating means; and

a water deflecting surface attached to and spaced above the top opening of the support means whereby water directed generally along the axis of the support means passes through the top opening, strikes the surface, and is deflected outwardly of the support means through the spacing with the force of impingement of the water causing the support means to be lifted off of the housing and balanced solely on the water column.

7. A toy according to claim 6 wherein the hollow elongated support means is a truncated cone and the water deflecting surface is a domed-shaped plate opening toward the support means mounted above and spaced away from the truncated end of the cone.

8. A toy according to claim 7 wherein the domed plate is provided with impeller blades located at spaced intervals around the dome to cause the cone to rotate while balanced on the water column.

9. A toy according to claim 8 wherein the water column generating means is a nozzle mounted in the housing with the outlet directed upwardly.

10. A toy according to claim 9 wherein the nozzle is slidably mounted in the housing for adjusting the direction of the water column emanating therefrom.

11. A toy according to claim 10 wherein the stabilizing means is an upturned rim extending around the circumference of the base, at least one aperture extending through said rim to permit drainage of water therethrough.

12. A toy according to claim 11 wherein the cone includes stabilizing means disposed around the base of the cone.

13. A toy according to claim 12 wherein the stabilizing means is an upturned rim extending around the circumference of the base.

14. A toy according to claim 12 wherein the stabilizing means is a weighted bead extending around the circumference of the base.

15. A liquid play toy comprising:

a base support element;

a hollow removable open-ended upper element seated on the base support element;

means for communicating liquid pressure to an outlet in the support element located beneath the upper element;

means located at the outlet for directing a stream of liquid through the upper element; and

means located on and spaced above the upper element at the end thereof opposite the outlet for deflecting a stream of liquid outwardly through the space between said deflecting means and said upper element whereby the upper element is raised and held above the housing solely by the liquid until the liquid pressure is interrupted.

16. A toy according to claim 15 wherein the stream directing means is a nozzle communicating with the outlet.

17. A toy according to claim 16 wherein the nozzle is slidably secured in the base support element for adjusting the direction of the stream from the nozzle.

18. A toy according to claim 15 wherein the stream deflecting means is a concave surface for deflecting the liquid in an outward and downward direction.

19. A toy according to claim 15 wherein the upper element is a truncated cone having the stream deflecting means mounted above the top of the cone.

20. A toy according to claim 15 wherein the stream deflecting means is a dome having a concave surface facing the stream directing means.

21. A toy according to claim 15 wherein the stream deflecting means comprises a plurality of vanes located on the side of the deflecting means adjacent the upper element and extending radially outwardly whereby the deflected stream of liquid is directed against the vanes causing the upper element to rotate.

22. A water operated animated ornamental display apparatus comprising:

a base member in the form of a figurine or a part thereof having an upwardly facing portion incorporating a nozzle for establishing an upwardly directed jet of water; and

a cooperating crown portion having a hollow interior, an open bottom shaped to seat upon the upwardly facing portion of the base member, and an open top including a jet deflector connected to and spaced above the top of the crown portion to define a space therebetween whereby when the crown portion is seated on the base member over the nozzle and water under pressure is caused to issue as a jet from the nozzle, the action of the jet entering and passing through the crown portion, striking the jet deflector, and being broadcast outwardly through said space serves to levitate the crown portion and causes it to hover in mid air over the base member without additional support.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the base member comprises a head of the figurine and the crown portion is in the form of a hat therefore.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the jet deflector has a plurality of vanes cooperable with the striking water jet to cause the crown portion to spin and to cause the water to spray outwardly from the top of the hovering crown portion.