Animated novelty device

• US 8,091,915 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2007
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Evoke Ventures, LLC
• Original Assignee: Evoke Ventures, LLC
• Inventors: Campbell, Brian J., Chesnicka, Daniel J., McIntyre, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boehler, Anne Marie M
• Assistant Examiner(s): YEAGLEY, DANIEL S
• Application Number:
  US11/733,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20070242471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,735 Days
• Field of Search: 280/507, 446/288, 446/175, 446/199, 446/232, 446/330, 446/331, 446/333, 446/335, 446/338, 362/485, 405/91, D12/162
• US Class Current: 280/507
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/60 Covers, caps or guards , e.g. comprising anti-theft devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal

Abstract

An animated novelty device for mounting on a ball of a trailer hitch on a vehicle, the device including an electric motor for imparting motion to selected elements of the device. The motor is electrically connected to the vehicle braking system whereby the device is set in motion by energizing the vehicle brakes.

Claims

1. An animated novelty device for mounting on a ball of a trailer hitch on a vehicle, the device comprising an electric motor for imparting motion to selected elements of the device, the motor being electrically connected to a brake light energizing line of the vehicle, whereby the selected elements of the device are set in motion by energizing the brake light energizing line, and a gear box attached to the electric motor, the gear box comprising a plurality of gears that provide movement to an output shaft, whereby the plurality of gears convert a rotation of a rotor of the electric motor to an appropriate speed and torque at the output shaft of the gear box to cause rotation of a drive wheel that has at least connection attached to the output shaft of the gear box, and whereby the drive wheel comprises an offset point through which a distal end of a lever arm is attached to the drive wheel and wherein a proximal end of the lever arm is connected to an offset point on a push and pull wheel, so as to create an oscillating motion of the push and pull wheel about a center point of the push and pull wheel.

2. The animated novelty device of claim 1 wherein the device is configured to resemble a fish with the trailer hitch ball in a mouth of the fish and the push and pull wheel is within a tail of the fish, wherein the tail of the fish waggles so that the fish has a swimming motion when the push and pull wheel oscillates.

3. The animated novelty device of claim 2, further comprising a self-latching hitch ball receiver attached within the mouth of the fish.

4. The animated novelty device of claim 1 wherein the device is configured to resemble a deer seated on the trailer ball hitch.

5. The animated novelty device of claim 4 wherein the motion imparted to the device comprises repetitive raising and lowering of the fore limbs of the deer.

6. The animated novelty device of claim 5, wherein the drive wheel has a pin extended from a radially outer edge of the drive wheel, having a first end of a connector arm rotatably coupled to the pin and a second end of the connector arm rotatably connected to a second pin that protrudes from a radially outer edge of the push and pull wheel being a second wheel, an axle is connected to the second wheel at a center of the second wheel, at one end of the axle and extends through the gear box, each end of the axle terminates at a pair of end caps, wherein the pair of end caps provide connection to the fore limbs of the deer, so that as the push and pull wheel is driven in oscillating motion, the fore limbs move up and down.

7. The animated novelty device of claim 2, wherein the drive wheel has an off-set point through which a lever arm having a first end is attached to the drive wheel and the lever arm has a second end attached, offset, to the push and pull wheel being a second wheel, the second wheel is connected to a plate that is a part of the push and pull wheel.

8. An animated decorative cover for a vehicle trailer hitch comprising:

a cover shaped and colored to resemble an animatable object;

a mounting device incorporated into the cover for enabling attachment of the cover to a vehicle trailer hitch;

a gear box incorporated into the cover and an electric motor attached to the gear box for driving an output shaft of the gear box;

an animated mechanism comprising a drive wheel coupled to the output shaft 48, a lever arm connected to the drive wheel at one location and the lever arm connected to a push and pull wheel at a second location for imparting an oscillation motion to the push and pull wheel to impart motion to at least a portion of the cover when the motor is energized; and

a connector means connecting the electric motor to a brake light system of the vehicle for energizing the electric motor upon actuation of a brake system of the vehicle.

9. The decorative cover of claim 8 wherein the mounting device comprises a sleeve seated within the cover and adapted to fit over a ball of a trailer hitch.

10. The decorative cover of claim 9 wherein the sleeve includes an elastic fit for frictionally retaining the cover on the ball.

11. The decorative cover of claim 8 wherein the animatable object is an animal representation.

12. The decorative cover of claim 8 wherein the animatable object is a fish representation.

13. The decorative cover of claim 8 wherein the animatable object is a mechanical device representation.