Portable Device

• US 20090311941A1
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jakks Pacific, Inc.
• Original Assignee: JKID Limited (Jakks Pacific, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bickerton, Matthew James, Simpson, Michael Lee
• Granted Patent: US 7,927,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/3
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 11/02 moved by vibrations produced by rotating eccentric weights

Abstract

A portable device comprises a motor for providing vibration, a power source for powering the motor, a switching device for controlling the direction of the motor, propelling means for engaging a surface and for propelling the device when the motor is vibrating, the propelling means extending downwardly at an angle to the vertical, and an input device connected to the switching device, the switching device arranged to switch the direction of the motor when the input device receives a predetermined signal. Advantageously, the propelling means comprise a set of bristles. By using angled bristles, this increases friction in the backwards direction and so causes the device to move forwards when vibrating. The bristles dig into surface when vibration tries to move the object backwards, and the bristles slide over surface when vibration tries to move object forwards.

Claims

1. A portable device comprising a motor for providing vibration, a power source for powering the motor, a switching device for controlling the direction of the motor, propelling means for engaging a surface and for propelling the device when the motor is vibrating, the propelling means extending downwardly at an angle to the vertical, and an input device connected to the switching device, the switching device arranged to switch the direction of the motor when the input device receives a predetermined signal.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the motor is rotating a weight, the centre of gravity of the weight offset from the axis of the motor.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the centre of gravity of the weight is spaced apart from the centre of gravity of the portable device.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the axis of the motor is at an angle to the vertical and to the horizontal.

5. A device according to claim 1, and further comprising a base, the base mounting the motor, the power source, and the switching device, wherein the propelling means extends downwardly from the base.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the motor is mounted rigidly on the base and the power source and the switching device are mounted flexibly on the base.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the propelling means comprises a set of bristles.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the change in direction of the motor results in a change in direction of the motion of the portable device.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a detector for detecting electromagnetic radiation, and the predetermined signal comprises a detected level of electromagnetic radiation.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a detector for detecting audio, and the predetermined signal comprises a specific sound.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a detector for detecting visible light, and the predetermined signal comprises a specific light level.

12. A portable device comprising a plurality of motors for providing vibration, a power source for powering the motors, a switching device for starting and stopping the motors, propelling means for engaging a surface and for propelling the device when at least one motor is vibrating, the propelling means extending downwardly at an angle to vertical, and an input device connected to the switching device, the switching device arranged to start and stop the motors when the input device receives a predetermined signal.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein each motor is rotating a corresponding weight, the centre of gravity of the weight offset from the axis of the motor.

14. A device according to claim 12, wherein the switching device is arranged to start and stop the motors in different combinations.

15. A device according to claim 12 further comprising:

a base, the base mounting the motors, the power source, and the switching device, wherein the propelling means extends downwardly from the base.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein each motor is mounted rigidly on the base and the power source and the switching device are mounted flexibly on the base.

17. A method for controlling a portable device comprising:

a) providing a portable device comprising;

i) a motor for providing vibration,

ii) a power source for powering the motor,

iii) a switching device coupled to the motor,

iv) propelling means, extending downwardly at an angle to vertical for engaging a surface; and

v) an input device connected to the switching device;

b) detecting a signal with the input device;

c) controlling the directional motion of the device with one of the detected signal and a derivative thereof being applied to the switching device.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein c) comprises:

c1) controlling a direction of rotatable motion of the motor with one of the detected signal and a derivative thereof.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the portable device further comprises a second motor and wherein c) comprises:

c1) starting and stopping the motors in different combinations with one of the detected signal and a derivative thereof to allow a variety of directional motion.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein b) comprises detecting any of an electromagnetic, light or audio signal.