Electromechanical toy

• US 6,843,703 B1
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Inventors: Iaconis, Michael J., Askeland, Leif J., Maddocks, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JAMILA O
• Application Number:
  US10/425,992
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 446/369, 446/175, 446/303, 446/355, 446/356, 446/358, 446/330, 446/352, 446/353, 446/376, 446/377, 446/383, 446/371
• US Class Current: 446/371
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 13/02 imitating natural actions, e.g. catching a mouse by a cat, the kicking of an animal
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/46 Connections for limbs

Abstract

A toy includes a body and an appendage system at a side of the body. The appendage system includes an arm and a linkage. The arm includes a first end fixed to rotate in a circular path and a second unfixed end. The arm defines a slot extending between the first and second ends. The linkage includes a linkage rod that is engaged with the slot. The linkage is positionable about a linkage shaft coupled to the body. Rotation of the first end of the arm causes the second unfixed end of the arm to move in a non-circular path that varies depending on the position of the linkage about the linkage shaft.

Claims

1. A toy comprising:

a body; and

an appendage system at a side of the body and including;

an arm including a first end fixed to rotate in a circular path and a second unfixed end, the arm defining a slot extending between the first and second ends; and

a linkage including a linkage rod that is engaged with the slot, the linkage being positionable about a linkage shaft coupled to the body;

wherein rotation of the first end of the arm causes the second unfixed end of the arm to move in a non-circular path that varies depending on the position of the linkage about the linkage shaft.

2. The toy of claim 1 further comprising a disk including an eccentric rod, the disk being rotatable about a disk shaft coupled to the body, wherein the first end of the arm is fixed to the eccentric rod to rotate in the circular path of the eccentric rod.

3. The toy of claim 2 further comprising an actuator within the body and coupled to rotate the disk.

4. The toy of claim 3 in which the actuator comprises:

an energy source;

a motor connected to the energy source; and

a driving device connected to the motor and coupled with the first end of the arm to rotate the first end of the arm when the motor operates.

5. The toy of claim 1 further comprising a sensor connected to cause the first end of the arm to rotate in response to a sensed condition.

6. The toy of claim 1 further comprising another appendage system shaped like the appendage system and positioned at another side of the body, wherein rotation of a first end of an arm of the other appendage system causes a second end of the arm of the other appendage system to move in a non-circular path that varies depending on the position of a linkage of the other appendage system relative to another linkage shaft coupled to the body.

7. The toy of claim 6 wherein the eccentric rods of each of the appendage systems are positioned such that second end of the appendage system moves in a non-circular path that is offset from the non-circular path in which the second end of the other appendage system moves.

8. The toy of claim 1 further comprising another appendage system shaped like the appendage system and positioned at another side of the body, wherein rotation of a first end of an arm of the other appendage system causes a second end of the arm of the other appendage system to move in a non-circular path that varies depending on the position of a linkage of the other appendage system relative to the linkage shaft coupled to the body.

9. The toy of claim 1 further comprising a flexible skin surrounding the appendage system.

10. The toy of claim 9 wherein the flexible skin includes pile that resembles an animal'"'"'s coat.

11. The toy of claim 9 wherein the flexible skin moves as the arm moves.

12. An appendage system of a toy, the system including:

an arm including a first end configured to rotate in a circular path and a second unfixed end, the arm defining a slot extending between the first and second ends; and

a linkage including a linkage rod that is engaged with the slot, the linkage being positionable about a linkage shaft coupled to the body;

wherein rotation of the first end of the arm causes the second unfixed end of the arm to move in a non-circular path that varies depending on the position of the linkage about the linkage shaft.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a disk including an eccentric rod, the disk being rotatable about a disk shaft coupled to the body, wherein the first end of the arm is fixed to the eccentric rod to rotate in the circular path of the eccentric rod.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the first end of the arm rotates in response to a sensed condition from a sensor within the toy.

15. A toy comprising:

an arm including a first end configured to rotate in a circular path and a second unfixed end, the arm defining a slot extending between the first and second ends and defining an eye at the second end;

a linkage including a linkage rod that is engaged with the slot;

a flexible skin that covers the arm, the flexible skin including a portion that is sewed to the eye;

wherein rotation of the first end of the arm causes the second unfixed end of the arm to move along a non-circular path and causes the sewed portion of the flexible skin to periodically tension and slacken as the arm moves along the non-circular path.

16. The toy of claim 15 further comprising a disk including an eccentric rod, the disk being rotatable about a disk shaft coupled to the body, wherein the first end of the arm is fixed to the eccentric rod to rotate in the circular path of the eccentric rod.

17. The toy of claim 16 further comprising an actuator within the body and coupled to rotate the disk.

18. The toy of claim 17 in which the actuator comprises:

an energy source;

a motor connected to the energy source; and

a driving device connected to the motor and coupled with the first end of the arm to rotate the first end of the arm when the motor operates.

19. A toy comprising:

a body; and

an arm at a side of the body, the arm being coupled to only one drive shaft within the body, the arm including;

a first end that is fixed to rotate along a circular path as the drive shaft rotates, and

a second unfixed end that moves in a non-circular path as the first end rotates;

wherein a shape of the movement of the second unfixed end along the non-circular path is based on an initial orientation of a linkage coupled to the arm.

20. A toy comprising:

a body; and

an arm at a side of the body, the arm having a first end that is fixed to rotate along a circular path and a second unfixed end that moves in a non-circular path as the first end rotates;

wherein a shape of the movement of the second unfixed end along the non-circular path is based on an initial orientation of a linkage coupled to the arm; and

wherein the initial orientation of the linkage is configured to be adjustable by a user.