Self-propelled toy

• US 6,257,950 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2000
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jamal M. Saleh
• Original Assignee: Jamal M. Saleh
• Inventors: Saleh, Jamal M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Muir, D. Neal
• Application Number:
  US09/569,405
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 446/236, 446/330, 446/352, 446/353, 446/354, 446/355, 446/356, 446/377, 446/316, 446/307, 446/309, 446/311, 446/390
• US Class Current: 446/356
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 11/00 Self-movable toy figures

Abstract

A self-propelled toy including a body member in the shape of an animal such as a gorilla. The body member includes a torso with a pair of legs and a pair of rotatably attached arms that are slightly longer than the legs when rotated to their lowermost position. A rotary drive, such as a battery powered DC motor or a wound spring drive, is operably attached to the body member with its output drivably coupled to the arms. The arms rotate 360° with respect to the torso in synchronization with each other. Pivotally connected hand and feet portions provide a degree of freedom for better landing and balance. As the arms rotate, the hands contact the floor to raise the body member and move it a step forward. Each complete revolution of the arms advances the toy another step forward.

Claims

1. A self-propelled toy, comprising:

a body member including a torso having a lower portion and an upper portion, a pair of legs depending down from the lower portion of the torso, and a pair of arms rotatably attached to the upper portion of the torso at opposite lateral sides thereof, wherein the arms extend beyond the legs when the arms are in their lowermost position; and

a rotary drive operably attached to the body member and including a rotary output drivably coupled to the arms, wherein the arms are driven to rotate 360°

in synchronization with each other to intermittently engage that surface the toy is placed upon to effect propulsion.

2. The self-propelled toy of claim 1 wherein the rotary drive is a battery powered electric motor.

3. The self-propelled toy of claim 1 wherein the body member is formed in the shape of an animal.

4. The shelf-propelled toy of claim 3 wherein the animal is a gorilla.

5. A self-propelled toy, comprising:

a body member including a torso having a lower portion and an upper portion, a pair of legs depending down from the lower portion of the torso, and a pair of arms rotatably attached to the upper portion of the torso at opposite lateral sides thereof, wherein the arms extend beyond the legs when the arms are in their lowermost position;

a rotary drive operably attached to the body member and including a rotary output drivably coupled to the arms, wherein the arms rotate 360°

in synchronization with each other; and

wherein the arms include pivotally connected hand portions.

6. The self-propelled toy of claim 5 wherein the legs include pivotally connected feet portions.

7. The self-propelled toy of claim 5 wherein the rotary drive is a battery powered electric motor.

8. The self-propelled toy of claim 5 wherein the body member is formed in the shape of an animal.

9. The shelf-propelled toy of claim 8 wherein the animal is a gorilla.

10. A self-propelled toy, comprising:

a body member including a torso having a lower portion and an upper portion, a pair of legs depending down from the lower portion of the torso, and a pair of arms rotatably attached to the upper portion of the torso at opposite lateral sides thereof, wherein the arms extend beyond the legs when the arms are in their lowermost position;

a rotary drive operably attached to the body member and including a rotary output drivably coupled to the arms, wherein the arms rotate 360°

in synchronization with each other; and

wherein the legs include pivotally connected feet portions.

11. The self-propelled toy of claim 10 wherein the arms include pivotally connected hand portions.

12. The self-propelled toy of claim 10 wherein the rotary drive is a battery powered electric motor.

13. The self-propelled toy of claim 10 wherein the body member is formed in the shape of an animal.

14. The shelf-propelled toy of claim 13 wherein the animal is a gorilla.