Vibration powered toy

• US 9,017,136 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2010
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spin Master Incorporated (Spin Master Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Innovation First Incorporated
• Inventors: Norman, David Anthony, Mimlitch, Robert H. III, Galletti, Douglas Michael, Carter, Joel Reagan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYLINSKI, ALYSSA MARIE
• Application Number:
  US12/860,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20110076914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 446/3, 446/236, 446351-356, 446/377, 446/484, 446/486
• US Class Current: 446/351
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 11/02 moved by vibrations produced by rotating eccentric weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/26 Details; Accessories drive mechanisms A63H29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/22 Electric drives power supply through track A63H18/12

Abstract

An apparatus includes a housing, a rotational motor situated within the housing, an eccentric load adapted to be rotated by the rotational motor, and a plurality of legs each having a leg base and a leg tip at a distal end relative to the leg base. The legs are coupled to the housing at the leg base and include at least one driving leg constructed from a flexible material and configured to cause the apparatus to move in a direction generally defined by an offset between the leg base and the leg tip as the rotational motor rotates the eccentric load.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a vibration drive situated within the housing, wherein the vibration drive includes an eccentric load and a rotational motor adapted to rotate the eccentric load;

a battery situated within the housing;

a switch adapted to selectively connect the battery to the vibration drive;

a plurality of legs each having a leg base and a leg tip at a distal end relative to the leg base, wherein the legs are coupled to the housing at the leg base and include at least one driving leg constructed from a flexible material and having a leg base arranged farther forward relative to the leg tip;

wherein the vibration drive generates a force that is directed downward and is suitable to deflect the at least one driving leg to cause the apparatus to move in a substantially forward direction generally defined by an offset between the leg base and the leg tip as the rotational motor rotates the eccentric load; and

wherein the at least one driving leg has an average axial cross-section of at least five percent of a length of the at least one driving leg between the leg base and the leg tip.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flexible material includes rubber.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flexible material includes an elastomer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one driving leg is configured to cause the apparatus to repeatedly hop as the rotational motor rotates the eccentric load.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the at least one driving leg is curved between the leg base and the leg tip.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the eccentric load is configured to be located toward a front end of the apparatus relative to the at least one driving leg, wherein the front end of the apparatus is defined by an end in the direction of movement.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the repeated hopping causes the apparatus to move in the direction generally defined by an offset between the leg base and the leg tip of the at least one driving leg.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the plurality of legs include at least two legs adapted to cause the apparatus to move.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein at least one of the plurality of legs is adapted to drag and the leg tip of the at least one leg adapted to drag has a lower coefficient of friction than the at least one driving leg.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein at least one of the plurality of legs is adapted to drag and the at least one leg that is adapted to drag is configured to have a lesser stiffness than the at least one driving leg.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one driving leg includes a durometer in the range of approximately 55-75, based on the Shore A scale.

12. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the eccentric load includes an inertial load adapted, when the eccentric load is rotated by the rotational motor, to cause the at least one driving leg to hop off a flat support surface.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the plurality of legs are adapted to allow the apparatus to turn when the at least one driving leg hops off a flat support surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one driving leg is constructed from polystyrene-butadiene-styrene.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one driving leg has a ratio of a leg length to a leg diameter in the range of 2.0 to 10.0.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 where a thickness of the legs is defined by a diameter of approximately 5.25 times less than the length of the leg.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a curvature of at least one of the legs is adapted to enhance a tendency of the apparatus to move in the direction generally defined by the offset between the leg base and the leg tip of the at least one of the legs.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the curvature of the at least one of the legs in combination with a resiliency of the at least one of the legs are adapted to allow the legs to maintain an approximately neutral position when the rotational motor is not rotating the eccentric load and to bend in a direction of the curvature when a rotational movement of the eccentric load introduces a downward force on the apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the neutral position is defined by a shape of the legs when not supporting a load.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one driving leg has a ratio of radius of curvature to leg length in a range of 2.5 to 20.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 where the curvature of the at least one driving leg is approximately consistent from the leg base to the leg tip.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 where the curvature of the at least one driving leg is defined by a radius of curvature of approximately 3 to 6 times the length of the leg.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a relative stiffness of at least two specific legs of the plurality of legs is configured to alter a tendency of the apparatus to turn.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of legs are arranged in two rows, with each row having at least two legs, the leg base of the legs in each row being aligned substantially abutting each lateral side of the housing.

25. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of legs are arranged in two rows, with each row having at least four legs, the leg base of the legs in each row being aligned substantially abutting each lateral side of the housing.

26. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of legs are arranged in two rows, with each row having at least six legs, the leg base of the legs in each row being aligned substantially abutting each lateral side of the housing.

27. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein at least one of the legs in a first one of the rows is longitudinally offset from a corresponding leg in a second one of the rows to alter a tendency of the apparatus to turn as a result of a rotation of the eccentric load.

28. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a lateral distance between the eccentric load and the leg tip of the at least one driving leg is within a range of 50-150% of a length of the at least one driving leg.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of legs is adjustable.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein each of the one or more adjustable legs is mounted within a corresponding hole in the housing.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein each of the one or more adjustable legs is frictionally held in position in the corresponding hole in the housing.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the legs is adjustable, the housing includes a hole corresponding to each of the adjustable legs, and wherein the at least one adjustable leg is frictionally received within the corresponding hole.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes at least one opening corresponding to at least one of the legs, the at least one of the legs being frictionally received within the opening.

34. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a vibration drive situated within the housing, wherein the vibration drive includes an eccentric load and a rotational motor adapted to rotate the eccentric load;

a battery situated within the housing;

a switch adapted to selectively connect the battery to the vibration drive;

a plurality of legs arranged in two rows and adapted to contact a supporting surface, each of the legs having a leg base and a leg tip at a distal end relative to the leg base, including at least one driving leg constructed from a flexible material;

wherein as the vibration drive generates a force that is directed downward and is suitable to deflect the at least one driving leg, the at least one driving leg tends to return to a neutral position to cause the apparatus to move in a substantially forward direction;

wherein the at least one driving leg has an average axial cross-section of at least five percent of a length of the at least one driving leg between the leg base and the leg tip; and

wherein at least a portion of the housing is situated between the two rows of legs and extends below the leg base of the plurality of legs.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the plurality of legs include at least one leg adapted to drag.

36. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the flexible material comprises an elastomer.

37. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the flexible material comprises rubber.

38. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the legs are integrally molded to a portion of the housing at the leg base.

39. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the at least one driving leg is configured to cause the apparatus to repeatedly hop as the rotational motor rotates the eccentric load.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the at least one driving leg is curved between the leg base and the leg tip.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the eccentric load is configured to be located toward a front end of the apparatus relative to the at least one driving leg, wherein the front end of the apparatus is defined by an end in the direction of movement.

42. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the repeated hopping causes the apparatus to move in the direction generally defined by an offset between the leg base and the leg tip of the at least one driving leg.

43. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the at least one driving leg is constructed from polystyrene-butadiene-styrene.

44. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein a resiliency of the at least one driving leg is adapted to allow the at least one driving leg to maintain an approximately neutral position when the rotational motor is not rotating the eccentric load and to bend when a rotational movement of the eccentric load introduces a downward force on the apparatus.

45. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the leg base of the legs in each row is aligned substantially about each lateral side of the housing.

46. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein a lateral distance between the eccentric load and the leg tip of the at least one driving leg is within a range of 50-150% of a length of the at least one driving leg.

47. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein one or more of the plurality of legs is adjustable.

48. The apparatus of claim 47 wherein each of the one or more adjustable legs is mounted within a corresponding hole in the housing.

49. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein each of the one or more adjustable legs is frictionally held in position in the corresponding hole in the housing.

50. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein at least one of the legs is adjustable, the housing includes a hole corresponding to each of the adjustable legs, and wherein the at least one adjustable leg is frictionally received within the corresponding hole.

51. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the housing includes at least one opening corresponding to at least one of the legs, the at least one of the legs being frictionally received within the opening.

52. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a vibration drive situated within the housing, wherein the vibration drive includes an eccentric load and a rotational motor adapted to rotate the eccentric load;

a battery situated within the housing;

a switch adapted to selectively connect the battery to the vibration drive;

a plurality of legs arranged in two rows and adapted to contact a support surface, each of the legs having a leg base and a leg tip at a distal end relative to the leg base, wherein the legs are coupled to the housing at the leg base and include at least one driving leg configured to cause the apparatus to move in a forward direction generally defined by an offset between the leg base and the leg tip as the rotational motor rotates the eccentric load,

wherein the at least one driving leg is constructed from a flexible material with an average axial cross-section of at least five percent of a length of the at least one driving leg between the leg base and the leg tip and is configured to;

tend to bend, in a direction opposite the direction of movement, without substantial slippage on the support surface when a net downward force exists between the at least one driving leg and the support surface; and

tend to return to a neutral position without inducing a sufficient force opposite the direction of movement to overcome a momentum in the forward direction.

53. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the at least one driving leg is configured to cause the apparatus to repeatedly hop as the rotational motor rotates the eccentric load.

54. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the at least one driving leg is constructed from polystyrene-butadiene-styrene.

55. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein a lateral distance between the eccentric load and the leg tip of the at least one driving leg is within a range of 50-150% of a length of the at least one driving leg.

56. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein one or more of the plurality of legs is adjustable.

57. The apparatus of claim 56 wherein each of the one or more adjustable legs is mounted within a corresponding hole in the housing.

58. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein each of the one or more adjustable legs is frictionally held in position in the corresponding hole in the housing.

59. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein at least one of the legs is adjustable, the housing includes a hole corresponding to each of the adjustable legs, and wherein the at least one adjustable leg is frictionally received within the corresponding hole.

60. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the housing includes at least one opening corresponding to at least one of the legs, the at least one of the legs being frictionally received within the opening.

61. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a rotational motor situated within the housing;

an eccentric load, wherein the rotational motor is adapted to rotate the eccentric load;

a plurality of legs each having a leg base and a leg tip at a distal end relative to the leg base, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of legs are;

constructed from a flexible material; and

include at least one driving leg configured to cause the apparatus to move in a direction generally defined by an offset between the leg base and the leg tip as the rotational motor rotates the eccentric load; and

wherein each of the plurality of legs has an average axial cross-section of at least five percent of a length of the leg between the leg base and the leg tip and forces from rotation of the eccentric load interact with a resilient characteristic of the at least one driving leg to cause the at least one driving leg to propel the apparatus in a forward direction and to leave a support surface as the apparatus translates in the forward direction, and

wherein the legs are arranged in two single file rows, with the leg base of the legs in each row coupled to the housing substantially about a lateral edge of the housing and wherein at least a portion of the housing is situated between the two rows of legs and extends below the leg base of the plurality of legs in the direction of the leg tip of the plurality of legs.

62. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the plurality of legs include multiple leg pairs, with each leg pair including a first leg coupled to the housing substantially along a first lateral edge of the housing and a second leg coupled to the housing substantially along a second lateral edge, substantially opposite the first lateral edge, of the housing, and the first leg for at least one leg pair includes different drag characteristics than the second leg for the at least one leg pair, with the different drag characteristics configured to counteract a tendency of the apparatus to turn as a result of a rotation of the eccentric load, and wherein the first leg and the second leg for the at least one leg pair are situated substantially equal distances from a center of gravity of the apparatus.

63. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the legs are arranged in a first row and a second row, with each row arranged substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing and with each leg in the first row having a corresponding leg in the second row, and at least one of the legs in the first row that contacts a supporting surface as rotation of the eccentric load induces movement of the apparatus is longitudinally offset from a corresponding leg in the second row that contacts a supporting surface as rotation of the eccentric load induces movement of the apparatus, wherein the longitudinal offset alters a tendency of the apparatus to turn as rotation of the eccentric load induces movement of the apparatus.

64. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the rotational motor has an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to the support surface on which the leg tips of the plurality of legs are resting in a neutral position and the axis of rotation passes within 20% of a center of gravity of the apparatus as a percentage of the height of the apparatus to induce a substantially constant rolling force.

65. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the housing is configured to facilitate rolling of the apparatus about a longitudinal center of gravity, based on a rotation of the eccentric load, with the apparatus on a substantially flat surface when the legs are not oriented such that a leg tip of at least one leg on each lateral side of the housing contacts the substantially flat surface.

66. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein the plurality of legs are arranged in two rows and the rows are substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotational motor, and wherein at least some of the leg tips that contact the substantially flat surface tend to substantially prevent rolling of the apparatus based on a spacing of the two rows of legs when the legs are oriented such that a leg tip of at least one leg on each lateral side of the housing contacts the substantially flat surface.

67. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein an axis of rotation of the rotational motor passes sufficiently close to a longitudinal center of gravity of the apparatus to induce a substantially constant tendency for the apparatus to roll about the longitudinal center of gravity and the housing is configured to facilitate rolling of the apparatus about the longitudinal center of gravity, with the substantially constant tendency for the apparatus to roll and the configuration of the housing to facilitate rolling about the longitudinal center of gravity enabling the apparatus to roll onto the legs based on forces from rotation of the eccentric load.

68. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the housing includes a front end, rear end, top side, bottom side, and lateral sides, wherein the front end includes a resilient nose adapted to contact obstacles and having a resiliency adapted to facilitate bouncing off of obstacles and causing the apparatus to deflect off of obstacles at an angle as the apparatus moves in the forward direction.

69. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein a coefficient of friction of a portion of at least a subset of the legs that contact a support surface is sufficient to substantially eliminate drifting in a lateral direction.

70. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein fewer than twenty legs contact a support surface as the at least one driving leg causes the apparatus to move.

71. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the legs are sufficiently stiff that four or fewer legs are capable of supporting the apparatus without substantial deformation when the apparatus is in an upright position.

72. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the plurality of legs include a plurality of driving legs arranged in at least one pair and the eccentric load is configured to be located closer to a front end of the apparatus than a forward-most pair of driving legs, wherein the front end of the apparatus is defined by an end in a direction that the apparatus primarily tends to move as the rotational motor rotates the eccentric load.

73. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the plurality of legs are integrally molded with at least a portion of the body.

74. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the plurality of legs are co-molded with at least a portion of the housing constructed from a different material.

75. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein at least a subset of the plurality of legs, including the at least one driving leg, are curved and are arranged in a row, and a ratio of a radius of curvature of the curved legs to leg length of the curved legs is in a range of 2.5 to 20.

76. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the flexible material includes an elastomer.

77. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein one or more of legs is adjustable.

78. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein each of the one or more adjustable legs is mounted within a corresponding hole in the housing.

79. The apparatus of claim 78 wherein each of the one or more adjustable legs is frictionally held in position in the corresponding hole in the housing.

80. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein at least one of the legs is adjustable, the housing includes a hole corresponding to each of the adjustable legs, and wherein the at least one adjustable leg is frictionally received within the corresponding hole.

81. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the housing includes at least one opening corresponding to at least one of the legs, the at least one of the legs being frictionally received within the opening.