Soft propellable toy
First Claim
1. A soft, easily propellable toy, comprising:
- (a) a body having an exterior of soft, compressible, resilient material;
(b) transportation means attached to said body for moving the toy; and
(c) conversion means attached to said body for converting the expansion of said compressible body material when said body is compressed and then released into rotational motion and communicating said rotational motion to said transportation means of the toy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An easily propellable toy constructed substantially of a soft, compressible, resilient material such as polyurethane foam or other foam rubber-like material, wherein the resiliency of the material is captured and converted to rotational motion which moves the toy. A compression plate on the top portion of the toy is depressed by the child playing with the toy, causing compression of the foam rubber body of the toy. When the compression plate is released, the natural resiliency of the foam material pushes the compression plate up, simultaneously causing linear movement of an elongate member which is attached to the underside of the compression plate. This linear movement of the elongate member is converted, by means of a gear train, to rotational movement which is then communicated to the wheels of the toy.
7 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A soft, easily propellable toy, comprising:
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(a) a body having an exterior of soft, compressible, resilient material; (b) transportation means attached to said body for moving the toy; and (c) conversion means attached to said body for converting the expansion of said compressible body material when said body is compressed and then released into rotational motion and communicating said rotational motion to said transportation means of the toy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An easily propellable, soft toy, comprising:
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(a) a base plate; (b) at least one axle journaled through said base plate; (c) at least one wheel attached to said axle; (d) a gear wheel on said axle; (e) a gear box attached to said base plate near said axle; (f) a gear train in said gear box, said gear train comprising at least a first gear wheel, a second gear wheel and a clutch gear therebetween, said clutch gear designed and constructed so as to permit transfer of rotational movement from said first gear wheel to said second gear wheel in one direction only, said second gear wheel meshing with said axle gear wheel; (g) a channel in said gear box adjacent to said first gear wheel; (h) an elongate member slidable between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position in said gear box channel, said elongate member having a rack gear on a first end thereof, said rack gear engaging said first gear wheel of said gear train in said gear box, and having a second end extending out of and above said gear box, perpendicularly to said base plate; (i) a body of soft, compressible, resilient material, sculptured to the desired exterior shape of the toy, having an interior cavity accommodating said gear box therein and allowing said elongate member to extend therethrough, said body fitted over said gear box and said elongate member, and resting upon said base plate, the relative dimensions of said body material, elongate member and gear box being designed and constructed such that when the body material is in the natural uncompressed position, said elongate member, in its fully extended position, reaches to the top of said body material; and (j) a compression plate attached to said second end of said elongate member whereby pressing on said compression plate causes the body material to be compressed and simultaneously pushes said elongate member through said channel in said gear box to a fully retracted position, and upon releasing said compression plate, the resiliency of said body material pushes against said compression plate thereby pulling said elongate member to its fully extended position, during which time, said rack gear on said elongate member acts upon said first gear wheel on said gear train, causing said wheel of the toy to rotate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification