Toy with directionally selectable spring-loaded propulsion mechanisms

• US 5,964,639 A
• Filed: 09/12/1997
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maxim, John G.
• Original Assignee: Maxim, John G.
• Inventors: Maxim, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Muir, D Neal
• Application Number:
  US08/928,108
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 446/4, 446/6, 446/310, 446/312, 446/409, 446/429, 446/430, 446/431, 446/437, 446/458, 446/459, 446/462, 446/486, 473/571, 473/595, 434/300, 434/302
• US Class Current: 446/437
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 11/06 Jumping toys

Abstract

A toy is for entertaining a user includes a shell portion configured to execute a play function, and at least one propulsion mechanism including a spring-loaded, directionally selectable propulsion member connected to the shell portion. The triggering object is optionally a play surface and the shell portion optionally includes a play ball having several of the propulsion mechanisms distributed over its surface for depressing and tilting by the user in individually selected directions into engagement with the shoulder engaging structure, so that projecting the ball against the play surface causes at least one of the projection members to contact the play surface and release the at least one projection member from engagement with its shoulder engaging structure, and so that the at least one projection member springs outwardly and delivers a propulsion member force against the play surface in a direction corresponding to the direction in which the projection member was tilted and the force combines with and alters the existing directional momentum of the play ball.

Claims

1. A toy for entertaining a user, comprising:

a shell portion configured to execute a jumping play function;

and at least two propulsion mechanisms, each propulsion mechanism including a spring-loaded, directionally selectable propulsion member forming part of said shell portion;

wherein said at least two propulsion mechanisms comprise;

one projection member;

a coil spring having a compressed mode and a relaxed mode and having a spring base end and a spring free end, said spring base end being connected to said shell portion and a said spring free end being connected to said projection member;

means for retaining said spring in a compressed mode and angled to a selected direction;

and means for releasing said spring from said compressed mode upon impact of said projection member with a triggering object to propel said toy and said triggering object apart from each other;

wherein said at least two projection members each comprise an outwardly extending contact end and an inwardly directed stop end;

wherein said means for retaining said spring and said means for releasing said spring comprise a circumferential shoulder between said contact end and said stop end;

and wherein said projection member protrudes outwardly from within an inwardly directed shell portion port, such that pressing said projection member into said inwardly directed shell portion port against the biasing of said spring and then tilting said projection member laterally in said selected direction causes said shoulder to move underneath part of said inwardly directed shell portion port, and such that subsequently reducing pressing force against said projection member causes said shoulder to move against and into engaging contact with said inwardly directed shell portion port, and such that impact of said projection member with said triggering object dislodges said shoulder from said inwardly directed shell portion port, thereby freeing said projection member to accelerate outwardly with the force of said coil spring against said triggering object;

such that the outward acceleration of one said projection member provides sufficient energy to propel said toy off a support surface, and such that gravity induced return of said toy to said support surface may cause triggering of another one of said at least two propulsion mechanisms.

2. A toy for entertaining a user, comprising:

a shell portion configured to execute a play function,

and at least one propulsion mechanism including a spring-loaded, directionally selectable propulsion member connected to said shell portion;

wherein said at least one propulsion mechanism comprises;

one said projection member;

a coil spring having a compressed mode and a relaxed mode and having a spring base end and a spring free end, said spring base end being connected to said shell portion and a said spring free end being connected to said projection member;

means for retaining said spring in a compressed mode and angled to a selected direction;

and means for releasing said spring from said compressed mode upon impact of said projection member with a triggering object to propel said shell portion and said triggering object apart from each other;

wherein said at least one projection member comprises an outwardly extending contact end and an inwardly directed stop end;

wherein said means for retaining said spring and said means for releasing said spring comprise a circumferential shoulder between said contact end and said stop end;

and wherein said projection member protrudes outwardly from said shell portion between opposing and spaced apart said shoulder engaging structure portions, such that pressing said projection member toward said shell portion against the biasing of said spring and then tilting said projection member laterally to a certain angle in said selected direction causes said shoulder to move underneath one said shoulder engaging structure portion, and such that subsequently reducing pressing force against said projection member causes said shoulder to move against and into engaging contact with said shoulder engaging structure portion, and such that impact of said projection member with said triggering object dislodges said shoulder from said shoulder engaging structure portion, thereby freeing said projection member to accelerate outwardly with the force of said coil spring against said triggering object;

wherein said projection member is a projection cup member having a substantially circular cup end wall and a tubular cup side wall, and wherein said shoulder is a circumferential jog along said cup side wall, and wherein said spring base end is anchored within a recess in said shell portion;

wherein said spring is longer in said relaxed mode than said projection cup member and extends into said cup member, wherein said spring free end is connected to said cup end wall;

and wherein said shoulder engagement structure comprises a lip protruding radially inwardly around the outer end of said recess.

3. A toy according to claim 2, wherein said recess comprises a recess cup member fitted into a recess receiving port in said shell portion and having a circular recess bottom wall and a tubular recess side wall and comprises an outwardly bent shell engaging rim which engages the edge of said recess receiving port.

4. A toy according to claim 2, wherein said triggering object is a play surface and wherein said shell portion comprises:

a play ball having a plurality of said propulsion mechanisms distributed over its surface for depressing and tilting by the user in individually selected directions into engagement with said shoulder engaging structure, such that projecting said ball against a play surface causes at least one said projection member to contact said play surface and release said at least one projection member from engagement with its shoulder engaging structure, and such that said at least one projection member springs outwardly and delivers a propulsion member force against said play surface in a direction corresponding to the direction in which said projection member was tilted and said force combines with and alters the existing directional momentum of said play ball.

5. A toy according to claim 2, wherein said triggering object is a play surface and wherein said shell portion comprises a figure having at least first and second limbs and a projection member extending to and connecting each of said first and second limbs to said figure, such that delivering said toy against a play surface and impacting said first limb releases the projection member within said first limb from its shoulder engagement structure, accelerating said toy away from said play surface, and such that delivering said toy against said play surface and impacting said second limb releases the projection member within said second limb from its shoulder engagement structure, again accelerating said toy away from said play surface.

6. A toy according to claim 2, wherein said shell portion comprises a playing board with a board upper surface and a plurality of said propulsion mechanisms extending upwardly from and scattered over said board upper surface,

said toy additionally comprising a board ball for rolling over said board, striking and triggering said propulsion mechanisms in sequence, such that said board ball is propelled by said propulsion mechanisms in a sequence of directions corresponding to said projection member selected directions.

7. A toy according to claim 2, wherein said shell portion comprises a tubular network of branch tubes, each said branch tube having a tube connected end joined to a side of another said branch tube and at least one said branch tube having a tube free end fitted with a propulsion mechanism.

8. A toy according to claim 7, wherein said branch tubes are of several different lengths.