Method and apparatus for stabilizing and powering walking animated figures

• US 4,878,878 A
• Filed: 02/24/1987
• Issued: 11/07/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: The Walt Disney Company
• Inventors: Bittner, Ronny E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muir, D. Neal
• Application Number:
  US07/017,635
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 446/139, 446/136, 446/135, 446/137, 446/138, 446/131, 446/129, 446/330, 446/333, 446/352, 446/353, 446/354, 446/355, 446/377, 446/376
• US Class Current: 446/139
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 11/18 Figure toys which perform a realistic walking motion
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 18/10 with magnetic means for steering

Abstract

A system for stabilizing, powering and controlling walking animatronic figures or vehicles by magnetically attracting and/or repelling the feet of such structures, using various cooperative combinations of interacting ferromagnetic plates and electromagnets to guide and stabilize the structures along a platform, as well as facilitating transformer coupling of AC power and/or command signals from the platform to the walking figure without the need for an umbilical.

Claims

1. In an animated figure which simulates walking of the type wherein jointed appendages are rotatably mounted to a frame and selectively lifted off a platform surface by the interaction of a plurality of electronically controlled drive motors and gears, an improvement which comprises:

first electromagnetic means secured to a jointed appendage for (1) generating a stabilizing holding force, and (2) inductively receiving an energization signal and command signals; and

second electromagnetic means secured to a platform beneath said platform surface and adapted to be energized by a direct current for selectively interacting with said first electromagnetic means for stabilizing said figure by selective magnetic attraction therebetween, said second electromagnetic means being further adapted to be energized by (1) an alternating current, and (2) a modulated current for transmission of said energization and command signals to said first electromagnetic means, said electromagnetic means includes a plurality of electromagnet elements arranged in a matrix, each of said plurality of elements being selectively energized and deenergized for providing said stabilization of said figure and said signals.

2. An improvement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said appendage is formed in the shape of a foot;

said first electromagnetic means is an electromagnet; and

said matrix of electromagnet elements of said second electromagnetic means defines a path said figure is intended to traverse.