Launchable figurine device

• US 5,525,086 A
• Filed: 03/13/1995
• Issued: 06/11/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Congress Financial Corporation (Wells Fargo & Company)
• Original Assignee: Congress Financial Corporation (Wells Fargo & Company)
• Inventors: Gentile, John, Gentile, Anthony, Silfies, Karyn K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MUIR, DAVID N
• Application Number:
  US08/403,225
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 446/34, 446/36, 446/37, 446/38, 446/39, 446/40, 446/42, 446/43, 446/41, 446/45, 446/48, 446/57, 446/58, 446/59, 446/60, 446/435, 446/234, 446/236, 446/237, 446/238
• US Class Current: 446/41
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 1/04 with string or band winding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 1/20 with figure-like features; with movable objects, especially figures
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1066 Having means to guide movement, e.g. propeller or wings
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/10 Balloons connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; other than toy aspects B64B1/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/14 Starting or launching devices for toy aircraft; Arrangements on toy aircraft for starting or launching for launching objects from an aircraft A63H27/004

Abstract

A launchable figurine device includes a figurine having wings capable of providing aerodynamic lift upon rotation of the figurine. A rotation imparting mechanism is releasably mated with the figurine to provide the requisite rotational velocity for launching the figurine into the air.

Claims

1. A launchable figurine device comprising a figurine, and a rotation imparting mechanism, the figurine has a posterior and an anterior and includes a body stem having a longitudinal axis, a first wing pivotally attached in a first aperture in the body stem and having a range of motion about an axis approximately orthogonal to the body stem longitudinal axis, a second wing pivotally attached in a second aperture in the body stem and having a range of motion about an axis approximately orthogonal to the body stem longitudinal axis, arrestors associated with the apertures to limit wing movement and a release coupling at the bottom-most portion of the body stem, the ranges of motion of the wings are parallel and displaced from each other by that length defined between the apertures, the rotation imparting mechanism being mechanically coupled to the figurine release coupling, wherein upon actuation of the rotation imparting mechanism, the figurine is caused to rotate thus causing the first wing to move anteriorly along the range of motion to an outspread position by centrifugal force imparted by rotation of the figurine and the second wing to move posteriorly along the range of motion to an outspread position by centrifugal force imparted by rotation of the figurine, such that when sufficient rotational velocity is achieved, the wings creates lift sufficient to launch the figurine into the air.

2. A launchable figurine device according to claim 1 wherein the rotation imparting mechanism includes a spring-biased pull string.

3. A launchable figurine device according to claim 2 wherein the rotation imparting mechanism is manually operable and includes a reel and a torsion spring, the pull string having one end secured to the reel and being windable around the reel, the torsion spring connected to the reel for biasing the reel against a force of pulling the pull string and rewinding the pull string.

4. A launchable figurine device according to claim 3 wherein the rotation imparting mechanism includes a first gear coaxially mounted to the reel, a second gear parallel to and in external meshed contact with the first gear, the second gear coaxially mounted to the release coupling of the rotation imparting mechanism, such that upon pulling the pull string, the reel and the first gear rotate which causes the second gear and release coupling of the rotation imparting mechanism to rotate.

5. A launchable figurine device according to claim 1 wherein the range of motion of the wings does not exceed about 100 degrees in relation to the body stem.

6. A launchable figurine device according to claim 1 comprising a self-standing housing containing the rotation imparting mechanism.

7. A launchable figurine device according to claim 1 wherein the rotation imparting mechanism includes a release coupling configured to releasable mate with the figurine release coupling.

8. A launchable figurine device according to claim 7 wherein the figurine release coupling and the release coupling of the rotation imparting mechanism combine and cooperate to form a spiral jaw clutch.

9. A launchable figurine device according to claim 7 wherein the figurine release coupling and the release coupling of the rotation imparting mechanism combine and cooperate to form a saw-tooth clutch.

10. A launchable figurine device according to claim 1 wherein the first and second wings are at least partially made of a soft polymeric material.

11. A launchable figurine device according to claim 10 wherein the polymeric material is in the form of a jackets which are secured to the wings.

12. A launchable figurine device according to claim 1 wherein two wings are pivotally attached opposingly on the figurine.

13. A launchable figurine device according to claim 1 wherein the figurine is in the shape of a humanoid doll having shoulders.

14. A launchable figurine device according to claim 13 wherein the two wings are pivotally attached at the shoulders of the humanoid doll.

15. A launchable figurine device comprising a figurine and a rotation imparting mechanism, the figurine including at least one wing and a release coupling, the rotation imparting mechanism being mechanically coupled to the figurine release coupling, wherein the rotation imparting mechanism includes a first gear assembly and a second gear assembly which operate independently of each other to cause rotation of the figurine, the first gear assembly actuated by a first force imparting member, the second gear assembly actuated by a second force imparting member, such that upon actuation of the rotation imparting mechanism by either of the first and second force imparting members, the figurine is caused to rotate and when sufficient rotational velocity is achieved, the wing creates lift sufficient to launch the figurine into the air.

16. A launchable figurine device according to claim 15 further comprising an override mechanism for allowing the second gear assembly to override and disengage the first gear assembly.

17. A launchable figurine device according to claim 15 wherein the first force imparting member is a wheel capable of rotating when rolled across a suitable surface, the wheel being linked to the release coupling of the rotation imparting mechanism such that rotation of the wheel causes rotation of the release coupling of the rotation imparting mechanism.

18. A launchable figurine device according to claim 17 wherein the wheel is indirectly linked to the release coupling of the rotation imparting mechanism.

19. A launchable figurine device according to claim 18 wherein the wheel engages a first gear which is oriented in external meshed contact with a second gear, the second gear slidably mounted such that upon rotation of the first gear, the second gear slides in the direction of rotation of the first gear until it engages with a third gear, the third gear coaxially linked with the release coupling of the rotation imparting mechanism, such that upon rotation of the wheel, the first gear is caused to rotate which causes the second gear to engage with and cause rotation of the third gear thus causing rotation of the release coupling of the rotation imparting mechanism.

20. A launchable figurine device according to claim 19 wherein the wheel is in substantially perpendicular contact with a rotatable annular member which is coaxially linked to the first gear such that upon rotation of the wheel, the annular member rotates and transmits rotation to the first gear.

21. A launchable figurine device according to claim 15 wherein the second force imparting member is a pull string, the second gear assembly including a reel and a torsion spring, the pull string having one end secured to the reel and being windable around the wheel, the torsion spring connected to the reel for biasing the reel against the force of pulling the pull string and retracting the pull string.

22. A launchable figurine device according to claim 21 wherein the second gear assembly includes a first gear coaxially mounted to the reel, a second gear parallel to and in external meshed contact with the first gear, the second gear slidably mounted such that upon rotation of the first gear, the second gear slides in the direction of rotation until it meshes with and engages a third gear, the third gear coaxially linked to the release coupling of the rotation imparting mechanism, such that upon pulling the pull string, the first gear causes the second gear to rotate and slide in the direction of the third gear until it engages with the third gear thus causing rotation of the release coupling of the rotation imparting member.

23. A launchable figurine device comprising a figurine and a rotation imparting mechanism, the figurine having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having at least one wing attached thereto, the lower portion having a release coupling mounted thereon, the rotation imparting mechanism having a release coupling configured to releaseably mate with the release coupling of the figurine, wherein the rotation imparting mechanism includes a first gear assembly and a second gear assembly which operate independently of each other to cause rotation of the figurine, the first gear assembly actuated by a first force imparting member, the second gear assembly actuated by a second force imparting member, such that when the figurine and the rotation imparting mechanism are releasably mated and upon actuation of the rotation imparting mechanism by either of the first and second force imparting members the figurine is caused to rotate and when sufficient rotational velocity is achieved, the wing creates lift sufficient to launch the figurine into the air.

24. A launchable figurine device comprising a figurine and a rotation imparting mechanism including a force imparting member, the figurine including an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion including at least one wing attached thereto, the lower portion having a release coupling mounted thereon, the rotation imparting mechanism including a release coupling configured to releaseably mate with the release coupling of the figurine to indirectly couple the force imparting member to the figurine, wherein the rotation imparting mechanism includes a first gear assembly and a second gear assembly which operate independently of each other to cause rotation of the figurine, the first gear assembly actuated by a first force imparting member, the second gear assembly actuated by a second fierce imparting member, such that upon actuation of the rotation imparting mechanism through either of the force imparting members, the figurine is caused to rotate and when sufficient rotational velocity is achieved, the wing creates lift sufficient to launch the figurine into the air.

25. A launchable figurine device comprising a figurine and a free-standing launch assembly, the figurine including at least one wing and a release coupling, the launch assembly including a housing containing a rotation imparting mechanism mechanically coupled to the figurine release coupling, wherein the rotation imparting mechanism includes a first gear assembly and a second gear assembly which operate independently of each other to cause rotation of the figurine, the first gear assembly actuated by a first force imparting member, the second gear assembly actuated by a second force imparting member, such that upon actuation of the rotation imparting mechanism by either of the first and second force imparting members, the figurine is caused to rotate and when sufficient rotational velocity is achieved, the wing creates lift sufficient to launch the figurine into the air.

26. A launchable figurine device comprising a figurine and a rotation imparting mechanism, the figurine including at least one wing and a release coupling, the rotation imparting mechanism having a release coupling configured to releaseably mate with the release coupling of the figurine, wherein the rotation imparting member includes a first gear assembly and a second gear assembly which operate independently of each other to cause rotation of the figurine, the first gear assembly actuated by a first force imparting member, the second gear assembly actuated by a second force imparting member, such that when the figurine and the rotation imparting mechanism are releasably mated and upon actuation of the rotation imparting mechanism by either of the first and second force imparting members, the figurine is caused to rotate and when sufficient rotational velocity is achieved, the wing creates lift sufficient to launch the figurine into the air.

27. A launchable figurine device comprising a figurine and a rotation imparting mechanism, the figurine having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having at least one wing attached thereto, the lower portion having a release coupling mounted thereon, the rotation imparting mechanism being mechanically coupled to the release coupling of the figurine, wherein the rotation imparting mechanism includes a first gear assembly and a second gear assembly which operate independently of each other to cause rotation of the figurine, the first gear assembly actuated by a first force imparting member, the second gear assembly actuated by a second force imparting member, such that actuation of the rotation imparting mechanism by either of the first and second force imparting members, provides torque to the release coupling of the figurine causing the figurine to rotate and when sufficient rotational velocity is achieved, the at least one wing creates lift sufficient to launch the figurine into the air.

28. A launchable figurine device comprising a figurine and a rotation imparting mechanism having a force imparting member, the figurine having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having at least one wing attached thereto, the lower portion having a release coupling mounted thereon, the rotation imparting mechanism being mechanically coupled to the release coupling of the figurine to indirectly couple the force imparting member to the figurine, wherein the rotation imparting mechanism includes a first gear assembly and a second gear assembly which operate independently of each other to cause rotation of the figurine, the first gear assembly actuated by a first force imparting member, the second gear assembly actuated by a second force imparting member, such that actuation of the rotation imparting mechanism through either of the force imparting members provides torque to the release coupling of the figurine causing the figurine to rotate and when sufficient rotational velocity is achieved, the wing creams lift sufficient to launch the figurine into the air.