Push-pull toy having pivoting arms

• US 6,176,759 B1
• Filed: 02/04/1999
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Trageser, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): MUIR, DAVID N
• Application Number:
  US09/244,614
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 446/376, 446/270, 446/272, 446/274, 446/275, 446/278, 446/279, 446/286, 446/287, 446/448, 446/450, 446/466, 446/425
• US Class Current: 446/272
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 11/12 Wheeled toys with figures performing a wriggling motion when moving
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 5/00 Musical or noise- producing devices for additional toy effects other than acoustical musical tops A63H1/28; sound-producing dolls A63H3/28; musical toy vehicles A63H17/268; acoustical vehicle-signalling devices A63H17/32; whistling toy locomotive arrangements A63H19/14; music, sound or noise production in general G10

Abstract

A toy body formed to generally fanciful creature includes a tail portion and a head portion. A cockpit suitable for receiving and retaining a plush toy figure is positioned between the head and tail. A conventional sound circuit is supported within the interior of the head portion while a rotatable string reel is supported within the interior of the tail section. The reel supports a length of flexible string which includes an outer end secured to a toy life saver. A pocket within the body is provided for storing the toy life saver. The four supporting wheels of the push-pull toys body are supported upon respective axels in an offset or eccentric attachment. In addition, the front two wheel each include an offset cam and cam follower which cooperate and pivot an upwardly extending arm. The upwardly extending arm provides pivotal coupling to the forwardly extending arms and imparts pivotal motion thereto.

Claims

1. A push-pull toy comprising:

a body defining an upwardly open cockpit;

a toy figure receivable within said cockpit;

a plurality of wheels rotatably secured to said body in an off-center attachment;

at least one of said wheels having an offset cam rotatable therewith;

at least one pivot arm pivotally supported by said body and including a cam follower receiving said offset cam, whereby rotation of said at least one wheel pivots said pivot arm; and

an external arm secured to said at least one pivot arm so as to pivot vertically as said at least one pivot arm is pivoted by said cam,

said wheels having their respective off-center character out of phase with each other causing said body to undulate in horizontal and vertical planes as said push-pull toy is rolled.

2. The push-pull toy set forth in claim 1 further including a sound circuit and switch cooperating to provide audible sound when said switch is actuated.

3. The push-pull toy set forth in claim 2 wherein said plurality of wheels is comprised of four wheels arranged on said body as a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels.

4. The push-pull toy set forth in claim 3 wherein said least one wheel is one of said pair of front wheels.

5. The push-pull toy set forth in claim 4 wherein said body includes a tail having an interior cavity therein and a rotatable string reel supported by said tail and wherein said push-pull toy includes a length of string secured to and wound upon said reel and having an outer end.

6. The push-pull toy set forth in claim 5 further including a toy article secured to said outer end.

7. The push-pull toy set forth in claim 6 wherein said toy article is a toroidal toy lifesaver.

8. A push-pull toy comprising:

a body defining an upwardly open cockpit;

a toy figure receivable within said cockpit;

a plurality of wheels including a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels each rotatably secured to said body in an off-center attachment;

said pair of front wheels each having an offset cam rotatable therewith;

a pair of pivot arms pivotally supported by said body and including a pair of cam followers receiving said offset cams, whereby rotation of said pair of wheels pivots said pivot arms; and

a pair of external arms secured to said pivot arms so as to pivot vertically as said pivot arms are pivoted by said cams,

said wheels having their respective off-center character out of phase with each other causing said body to undulate in horizontal and vertical planes as said push-pull toy is rolled.

9. The push-pull toy set forth in claim 8 wherein said body includes a tail having an interior cavity therein and a rotatable string reel supported by said tail and wherein said push-pull toy includes a length of string secured to and wound upon said reel and having an outer end.

10. The push-pull toy set forth in claim 9 further including a toy article secured to said outer end.

11. The push-pull toy set forth in claim 10 wherein said toy article is a toroidal toy lifesaver.

12. The push-pull toy set forth in claim 8 further including a sound circuit and switch cooperating to provide audible sound when said switch is actuated.