Toppling toy

• US 4,998,902 A
• Filed: 03/05/1990
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Universal Product Innovations Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Universal Product Innovations Incorporated
• Inventors: Kavanagh, Brian E., Miller, Merrill M., Spring, Gorden W., Garner, Harold E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muir, D. Neal
• Application Number:
  US07/488,709
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 446/2, 446/3, 446/4, 446/478, 446/487, 446/491, 273/292, 273/293, 273/294, 273/295, 273/127 R, 273/127 D, 273/148 R, 273/148 A
• US Class Current: 446/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/28 Chain-reaction games with toppling pieces; Dispensers or positioning devices therefor

Abstract

An improved toppling toy is characterized by a resetting capability that comprises a plurality of finger tip operated actuators, each of which is associated with and coupled to an associated one of the pivotally mounted tiles for joint pivotal movement therewith; and each actuator contains an outer actuator surface exposed on the upper surface of the track to a players finger, such outer surface having a frictional characteristic, whereby dragging movement of the players finger along a finger dragging lane on the track and across and transverse the actuator when the tile is in the down position causes pivoting of the actuator and thereby uprights the associated tile. Suitably the actuator and tile are formed in a unitary one piece structure of molded plastic material. A novel track contains rods to serve as a pivot for the tiles and is also formed of a unitary one piece assembly of molded plastic material.

Claims

1. A toppling toy, comprising a track having an upper surface, a series of tiles each being pivotally mounted to said track to permit said tiles to swivel between a generally upstanding position, said tiles being spaced apart a distance to permit a toppling tile to engage an adjacent upstanding tile and cause said adjacent tile to tip over to create a domino effect with the tiles of said series;

and reset means for resetting said tiles from said down position to an upstanding position, said means comprising;

a plurality of actuators, one associated with and coupled to a corresponding one of said tiles for joint pivotal movement with said associated tile about a common pivot axis;

each said actuator being pivotally mounted on said track with its pivot axis oriented transverse said track;

each said actuator containing an outer surface exposed on the upper surface of said track to a players finger, said track having sufficient width to accommodate said actuator and a player'"'"'s finger said outer surface of said actuator having a frictional characteristic, whereby dragging movement of the players finger along the upper surface of the track and across and in a direction transverse the actuator axis of pivot creates a torque thereon for pivoting the actuator to thereby upright said associated tile.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said track contains a plurality of spaced pivots, one associated with each of said tiles;

and further comprising a plurality of tile base means, each of said plurality of tile base means being coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of tiles for pivotally supporting an associated tile to a corresponding one of said plurality of pivots; and

wherein an associated one of said actuator means is connected to said tile base means for joint pivotal movement therewith.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said actuator means is integral with said associated one of said tile base means to define a unitary one piece assembly and said associated actuator means is mounted to the same pivot as said associated tile base means.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said actuator means includes a generally cylindrical shaped outer surface portion;

said outer surface portion containing a plurality of spaced parallel grooves with said grooves extending parallel to the axis of said pivot.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuator means includes a generally cylindrical shaped outer surface portion;

said outer surface portion containing a plurality of spaced parallel grooves with said grooves extending parallel to the axis of said pivot.

6. A tile unit for use in a track of a toppling tile game, comprising in a unitary one piece molded assembly of plastic material:

a tile, said tile having top and bottom ends with said bottom end being of a first predetermined width;

a tile base member for supporting said tile, said tile base member being of a second predetermined width, said second predetermined width being greater than said first predetermined width, with said bottom end of said tile being connected to said tile base member at a position off of the center of said tile base member to define an extended portion to said base member to define an actuator accessible to a player'"'"'s finger; and

said tile base member further including a pivot member for pivotally seating said tile on a track;

said pivot member including walls defining an open channel, with said channel extending said second predetermined width with said channel including a semi-cylindrical shaped bottom surface and an open front and back ends;

said bottom of said tile further being connected to said base member at a position off the axis of said semi-cylindrical shaped bottom surface; and

wherein at least said extended portion of said tile base member contains a generally cylindrical shaped outer surface with said outer surface containing a plurality of longitudinally extending spaced grooves.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said channel is oriented at a right angle to said tile.

8. A toppling toy, comprising:

track means, said track means comprising an elongated surface defining a path having right and left sides and a finger dragging lane on said surface for permitting a players finger to be drawn along an upper surface of said track means;

a plurality of tile means pivotally mounted in said track means, each said tile means being located on said track means and containing a tile adapted to be pivoted between an upright position and a down position to one side of said upright position;

each said tile means of said plurality being positioned proximate one another to permit a given tile of one tile means to strike the next most adjacent tile of an adjacent tile means upon pivotal movement of said given tile from the upright to said down position to cause said adjacent tile to pivot in turn from the upright to the down position, whereby toppling said given tile creates a chain reaction causing all succeeding tiles in said plurality to pivot in sequence from the upright to the down position;

each said tile means including mechanical actuator means, said actuator means being pivotally mounted in said track transverse the length of said track and integrally connected with and extending to one side of an associated tile for concurrent pivotal movement with said associated tile for permitting movement of said associated tile from the down position to the upright position responsive to pivoting of said actuator means;

said mechanical actuator means being located in and extending transverse of said finger dragging lane of said track means, with said actuator means being positioned to frictionally engage a players finger dragged along said finger dragging lane and translate movement of said players finger to pivotal movement of said associated tile for raising said tile to the upright position;

whereby a player may set all of the tiles to an upright position by dragging the players finger along the length of said finger dragging lane.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8, further including:

stop means for retaining said tile in said upright position and preventing said tile means from falling over to a second down position reverse of said down position.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said stop means is carried by said tile means.

11. The invention as defined in claim 8, further including:

means for pivotally coupling said tile means to said support base, comprising;

a channel with said channel containing a semi-cylindrical surface.

12. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein each said tile means may be lifted from said pivotal coupling to remove said tiles from said track.

13. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said track means comprises a plurality of discrete tracks with said tracks containing connector means for connecting to other tracks.

14. The invention as defined in claim 8, wherein said track means includes a plurality of openings an upper surface thereof;

a plurality of cylindrical shafts, with said shafts being spaced from one another and with each said shaft being positioned within a corresponding one of said plurality of openings in said track and extending between the right and left sides of said track; and

each of said shafts for pivotally supporting a corresponding one of plurality of tile means and actuator means.

15. The invention as defined in claim 14, wherein said tile means includes:

a channel containing a concave semi-cylindrical bottom surface for coupling to and pivotal movement on said associated shaft;

said semi-cylindrical surface extending in a line through the associated tile and actuator means.

16. The invention as defined in claim 15, wherein said actuator means further comprises:

a cylindrical outer surface with said outer surface containing grooves therein to increase the frictional characteristics of said outer surface to thereby enhance frictional engagement with a players finger.

17. The invention as defined in claim 16 wherein said grooves are parallel to one another and oriented in a direction transverse the axis of the actuator means.

18. The invention as defined in claim 14 wherein said tile carried by said tile means further includes

a thin relatively flat rectangular geometry, said tile means being mounted off the axis of pivot;

said tile means further including a side surface for engaging one side of the associated opening in said track surface to prevent movement of said tile means from the upright position to a second down position in a second direction opposite the direction of said first described down position.

19. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said actuator and tile means comprise a unitary structure of molded plastic material.

20. The invention as defined in claim 15 wherein in each said tile means said channel is oriented facing in one direction and wherein said tile is oriented in a direction perpendicular thereto.

21. A toppling toy comprising:

a track, said track containing a first lane for permitting a player to drag a finger therealong;

a plurality of toppling tile means for installation in said track at spaced positions therealong, each said toppling tile means comprising in a unitary one piece molded assembly;

a tile, said tile having top and bottom ends with said bottom end being of a predetermined length;

a tile base member for holding said tile, said tile base member being of a greater length than said predetermined length of said tile, with said bottom end of said tile being connected to and positioned relative to said tile base member to leave an extended portion to said tile base member accessible to a finger, said extended portion being unobstructed by said tile and defining an actuator; and

said tile base member further containing a pivot portion for pivotally seating said toppling tile means on said track in a pivotable relationship with said track;

said toppling tile means being installed on said track with said actuator being located within and extending transverse said first lane of said track;

said actuator comprising a frictional element whereby a player may pivot a toppling tile means from the down to the upright position by dragging a finger along said first lane of said track to engage and pivot each of the plurality of actuators sequentially and hereby upright said tile means.

22. The invention as defined in claim 21 wherein said base member pivot portion further comprises a channel, said channel containing a semi-cylindrical shaped bottom surface.

23. The invention as defined in claim 22 wherein said channel includes an open front and back end;

and wherein said track means further comprises;

an elongate body of a predetermined length, said body including an elongate flat upper surface to form an extending track surface and right and left side walls depending downwardly from said upper surface and bordering said predetermined length thereof;

a plurality of openings in said upper surface with said openings being oriented transverse the length of said surface and extending between said right and left side walls, said openings being of a predetermined width of a generally rectangular shape and of uniform size;

a plurality of cylindrical rods of a predetermined diameter, one of said plurality of rods being associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of openings;

each said rod extending between and supported by said right and left side walls and being disposed central of said corresponding opening to obstruct a center portion of said opening;

each said rod having a predetermined radius with said predetermined radius being less than one half said predetermined width of said corresponding opening to define a pair of slot like openings between the surface and the side of said associated rod; and

wherein said channel of a tile means seats to a corresponding one of said rods, whereby said tile may be pivoted on said rod.

24. The invention as defined in claim 22 wherein said channel includes an open front and back end;

and wherein said track means further comprises;

an elongate body of a predetermined length, said body including an elongate flat upper surface to form an extending track surface and right and left side walls depending downwardly from said upper surface and bordering said predetermined length thereof;

a plurality of openings in said upper surface with said openings being oriented transverse the length of said surface;

a plurality of pivot rods, one of said plurality of pivot rods being associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of openings;

each said rod extending between and supported by said right and left side walls and being disposed central of said corresponding opening;

each said pivot rod having a cylindrical surface exposed to said upper track surface; and

wherein said channel of a tile means seats pivotally to a corresponding one of said rods, whereby said tile may be pivoted on said rod.

25. In combination with a toppling toy of the kind containing a pivotable tile, a track for pivotally supporting said tile comprising:

an elongate body of a predetermined length, said body including an elongate flat upper surface to form an extending track surface and right and left side walls depending downwardly from said upper surface;

a plurality of openings in said upper surface with said openings being oriented transverse the length of said surface and extending between said right and left side walls, said openings being of a predetermined width of a rectangular shape and of uniform size;

a plurality of rods of a predetermined diameter, one of said plurality of rods being associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of openings;

each said rod extending between and supported by said right and left side walls and being disposed central of said corresponding opening to obstruct a portion of said opening;

each said rod having at least an upper surface that is of a cylindrical shape, said shape being of a predetermined radius with said predetermined radius being less than one half said predetermined width of said corresponding opening to define a pair of slot like openings between the surface and the side of said associated rod; and

wherein said pivotable tile includes means for pivotally seating to one of said rods, whereby said tile may be pivoted on a rod.

26. The invention as defined in claim 25, wherein each said rod contains a cylindrical axis;

and

wherein said cylindrical axis of said cylindrical surface of said rod is located at a position on said side walls underlying said upper surface at a distance equal to said radius of said rod to cause said upper surface to appear tangent to said cylindrical surface of said rod.

27. The invention as defined in claim 25 wherein said rod comprises a cylindrical shape of said predetermined radius.