US3665642A

US3665642A - Mechanical simulated action toy figure

Info

Publication number: US3665642A
Application number: US51896A
Authority: US
Inventors: John I Horner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-07-02
Filing date: 1970-07-02
Publication date: 1972-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 1989-05-30

Abstract

A base has an upper platform presenting a normally upwardly facing platform surface and a central rod-like handle projecting downwardly therefrom. A toy figure is horizontally pivotly mounted on said platform surface projecting upwardly therefrom and contacting said platform surface through upwardly and generally horizontally extending arcuate lower surfaces of shoes of said figure. A resilient fastener is secured between said platform and said figure generally centrally of said figure arcuate lower surface so that said figure will rock over said arcuate surface along said platform surface upon generally horizontal reversing movement of said platform through said handle. The resilient fastener between said platform and said figure may permit pivoting of said figure in multiple horizontal directions during said rocking and a ball secured to a hand of said figure may overly said platform surface and periodically contact said platform surface during said rocking.

Description

United States Patent Homer [72] Inventor: John I. Homer, 914 Electric Ave., Venice,

Calif. 90291 [22] Filed: July 2, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.2 51,896

[52] US. Cl ..46/l47 [51] ..A63h 13/18 [58] Field ofSearch ..46/l47, 143, 138,136; 273/l .5, 85; 272/8 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,614,362 10/1952 Zavala ..46/138 1,800,874 5/1931 Savage ..46/l36 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 226,401 l2/1924 Great Britain ..46/l42 May 30, 1972 [5 7] ABSTRACT A base has an upper platform presenting a normally upwardly facing platform surface and a central rod-like handle projecting downwardly therefrom. A toy figure is horizontally pivotly mounted on said platform surface projecting upwardly therefrom and contacting said platform surface through upwardly and generally horizontally extending arcuate lower surfaces of shoes of said figure. A resilient fastener is secured between said platform and said figure generally centrally of said figure arcuate lower surface so that said figure will rock over said arcuate surface along said platform surface upon generally horizontal reversing movement of said platform through said handle. The resilient fastener between said platform and said figure may permit pivoting of said figure in multiple horizontal directions during said rocking and a ball secured to a hand of said figure may overly said platform surface and periodically contact said platform surface during said rocking.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented May 30, 1972 IN VEN TOR JOHN I HORNER B YMA HONEY, HORNBA KER AND SCHICK ATTORNEYS MECHANICAL SIMULATED ACTION TOY FIGURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a mechanical simulated action toy figure and more particularly, to a toy, preferably sports, figure mounted rockable over a platform surface through arcuate shoe surfaces of said figure and upon horizontal reversing movement of said platform. Even more particularly, this invention relates to such a simulated action toy figure which may be formed as a sports figure with a hand of the figure retaining a simulated ball spaced upwardly from said platform. In one embodiment of the invention, the resilient fastening between the figure and the platform may be of a predetermined resiliency permitting rocking of the figure over the platform causing the ball retained by the figure to periodically contact the platform surface, and the figure may be formed pivotal in multiple horizontal directions about the platform during the rocking thereof over the platform.

Various prior forms of mechanical simulated action toy figures have heretofore been provided, but in most instances, the simulated action of the toy figure has been unrelated to the type of figure that is depicted. For instance, various forms of figures have been mounted on platform surfaces wherein the figure is formed of multiple pieces retained together by central flexible lines or strings. The strings extend downwardly through the platform and may be released to cause collapsing of the toy figure or may be made taut to cause reassembly and rigidity of the toy figure.

In other cases, certain constructions of mechanical simulated action toy figures have been provided with complicated internal mechanisms which are spring actuated by the winding of a tension spring and the arms of the figure will perform certain functions caused by said spring action in order to simulate known actions of people depicted by the figure. Here, however, the figures can only be positioned on a horizontal surface and caused to commence the action through release of the tensioned spring. The person observing the figure movement cannot, therefore, participate in the action other than the starting of the spring urged mechanical movement.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a mechanical simulated action toy figure wherein a person may grasp the handle of a base for the figure and by reversing generally horizontal movement of such base cause action of the figure along the base, thereby participating in the movement of the toy figure. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the base is provided with an upwardly facing platform surface and the toy figure is positioned on such platform surface with horizontally and upwardly curved arcuate surfaces of the figure contacting the platform surface. A resilient connection between the platform surface and the figure lower arcuate surface horizontally intermediate such figure lower arcuate surface permits the platform to be moved in generally horizontal reversing movements so as to cause the figure to rock over the platform.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a mechanical simulated action toy figure to the foregoing general type wherein the toy figure may be formed as a simulated sports figure and the simulated action of the figure in its rocking movement over the platform surface will simulate an actual movement common to that particular form of sports figure. For instance, where the sports figure is formed as a simulated basketball player and the person to cause movement of the figure is actually observing a basketball game, during the excitement of the basketball game, the person may shake the platform upon which the simulated basketball player is positioned causing the rocking movement of the figure somewhat copying actual movements of the basketball players. In this manner, the person observing the basketball game may vent excitement energy through the expenditure of energy to move the simulated basketball player.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a mechanical simulated action toy figure of the foregoing general character and having the above described advantageous features, and even further refinements to be hereinafter discussed, which is relatively simple in construction and may be provided for a minimum of cost. The platform and simulated toy figure may be formed of relatively simple moldings such as plastic and the like and the required resilient connection therebetween may be of any of the common resilient materials, all well-known and economically produced. Thus, the mechanical simulated action toy figures of the present invention may be manufactured on a mass production basis requiring only limited assembly and may be marketed at reasonable cost within the purview of the average consumer.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawing which are for the purpose of illustration only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the mechanical simulated action toy figure of the present invention with a stand for the platform and toy figure telescoped therewith, movement of the toy figure being illustrated in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the platform and toy figure of FIG. 1 with certain movements of the toy figure being illustrated in phantom lines; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. I, but with the stand reversed and the platform and toy figure positioned thereon in storage position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST EMBODIMENT CONTEMPLATED Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawing, an embodiment of the mechanical simulated action toy figure of the present invention is illustrated and includes a base generally indicated at 10 having a downwardly projecting, tubular handle 12 upwardly secured to and supporting a cylindrical, platelike platform 14. An upper end of the handle 12 is secured to a lower surface of the platform 14 by an annular plate 16 telescoping said handle upper end and secured to a lower surface 18 of the platform. The platform 14, in turn, is formed with a preferably flat, upwardly facing platform surface 20, all of which, including the remainder of the construction to be hereinafter described, may be formed of usual materials such as plastics, metal and the like, and fabricated in the usual wellknown manners.

A toy figure generally indicated at 22 is positioned preferably horizontally centrally of the upper platform surface 20 and in this case, the toy figure is a simulated basketball player. More important, simulated shoes 24 of the toy figure 22 are formed with lower surfaces 26 thereof as a preferably continuous, generally upwardly and generally horizontally extending arcuate surface overlying the upper platform surface 20 and having a portion thereof at all times downwardly abutting said upper platform surface. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the toy figure lower surfaces 26 are preferably continuously arcuate in one horizontal direction and are broadened, only very slightly arcuately relieved in a horizontal direction normal to said one horizontal direction to provide a broadened arcuate base which may rock over the upper platform surface 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lower portion of the toy figure 22 formed by the simulated shoes 24 is connected at a midportion of the toy figure lower surfaces 26 downwardly through a connection opening 28 preferably centrally of the upper platform surface 20 and through the platform 14 by an upper part 30 of a swivel connector 32, a lower part 34 of said swivel connector being downwardly connected to a tension spring 36. The main part of the swivel connector 32 and the tension spring 36 are contained within the tubular handle 12 with a lower end of the tension spring being secured at a lower end of the handle. The swivel connector 32 is of well-known form permitting free 360 swivelling between the upper and lower parts 30 and 34 thereof to thereby permit 360 swivelling of the toy figure 22 on the upper platform surface 20 to permit movement of the toy figure facing a multiplicity of horizontal directions while the platform 14 remains stationary.

As shown in the drawing, the toy figure 22 projects or extends upwardly from the platform 14 and an arm 38 extends generally horizontally outwardly therefrom spaced upwardly from the upper platform surface 20, a hand 40 being secured to a simulated ball 42, a simulated basketball in keeping with the motif of the toy figure 22 in the particular embodiment shown. With the toy figure 22 in normal upright position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the ball 42 is spaced upwardly from, but overlies a portion of the upper platform surface 20. Furthermore, the ball 42 is preferably formed of a resilient material, such as plastic, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

In addition to the base and the toy figure 22 formed and connected as hereinbefore described, the construction of the present invention may include a separable stand generally indicated at 44 normally positioned as shown in FIG. 4 and including a rod-like, tubular stanchion 46 with this hollow stanchion forming a vertical opening which opens upwardly and also opens downwardly through a generally horizontally extending, lower support 48 adapted for positioning on a generally flat horizontal surface (not shown) for supporting the stand 44 on such surface. The overall vertical height of the stand 44 is spaced larger than the downward projection of the handle 12 on the base 10 and the vertical opening of the stanchion is spaced larger than the outer dimensions of the handle, thereby permitting the handle to be vertically telescoped by the stanchion in either the position of the stand 44 with the support 48 thereof downwardly as shown in FIG. 4 or the position of the stand as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the support thereof upwardly against the plate 16 of the base 10 as shown in FIG. 1. As a result, therefore, the stand 44 may be positioned with the support 48 downwardly as shown in FIG. 4 and the upper end of the stanchion 46 abutting the plate 16 of the base 10 for supporting the base 10 and the toy figure 22 on a horizontal surface in a stored condition, or the stand 44 may be vertically reversed with the base handle 12 projecting downwardly through the stanchion 46 within the support 48 and the support upwardly flatwise against the plate 16 of base 10 so that the stanchion forms an outer handle outwardly of the handle 12 and can be grasped and held by a person.

In mechanical simulated action of the construction of the present invention, either with the stand 44 assembled therewith as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or with the stand 44 completely removed, the handle 12 of the base 10 may be grasped by a person and by limited horizontal reversing movements, the toy figure 22 caused to rock over the upper platform surface 20. In such movement, the toy figure lower arcuate surface or surfaces 26 roll or rock over the base upper platform surface 20 as permitted by the resiliency of the tension spring 36 and as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1. Also, where the ball 42 is provided in the position shown, and the resiliency of the tension spring 36 is predetermined for permitting sufficient movement, the toy figure 22 may be rocked sufficiently to cause the ball 42, preferably formed of the resilient material, to contact and slightly bounce off the outer extremities of the upper platform surface 20, as also shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1. Still further, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3, where the swivel connector 32 is provided between the toy figure 22 and the tension spring 36, during such movement of the toy figure relative to the upper platform surface 20, the toy figure may pivot at various horizontally extending positions around the platform 14 to increase the simulated motion of the moving basketball player.

Thus, the mechanical simulated action toy figure of the present invention provides actual simulated motion of a toy figure 22 to simulate the actual playing motion of a sport player and the motion of the toy figure 22 is produced directly by the person holding the handle 12 of the base 10. In this manner, the person viewing the sports contest can vent anxiety and excitement into causing motion of the toy figure 22, while at the same time, somewhat participating in the motions of the sport. Obviously, although the particular sports figure depicted herein is that of a basketball player, such figure could be a simulated player of virtually any sport or any game of virtually any type. Furthermore, where the particular action of the simulated figure for that particular game or sport does not truly include the bouncing of a ball on a horizontal surface as shown herein, that feature of the device can be eliminated, for instance, a football player being simulated as passing a football would include a ball on a raised hand but not capable of contact with any surface and merely following the overall rocking motion of the toy figure 22.

I claim:

1. In a mechanical simulated action toy figure, the combination of: a base including a lower handle and an upper platform, said platform having a normally upwardly facing platform surface; a toy figure on said platform surface projecting upwardly therefrom, said figure having a generally upwardly and generally horizontally extending arcuate lower surface overlying said platform surface and with a portion thereof at all times abutting said platform surface; resilient fastening means between said platform surface and said figure arcuate lower surface horizontally intermediate said figure arcuate lower surface producing generally horizontal rocking of said figure and said figure arcuate lower surface along and against said platform surface upon generally horizontal reversing movement of said platform through said handle thereof, said figure arcuate lower surface portion at all times abutting said platform surface being a changing figure arcuate lower surface portion during said figure rocking, there always being parts of said figure arcuate lower surface spaced from said platform surface during said rocking with said figure arcuate lower surface guiding said rocking; and said toy figure having an upper portion spaced generally upwardly from said platform surface and normally generally overhanging said platform surface, a simulated ball attached to said toy figure at said upper portion thereof and overhanging said platform surface, said resilient fastening means being formed of a determined resilience permitting said toy figure ball to contact said platform surface upon said generally horizontal rocking of said figure and said figure arcuate lower surface along and against said platform surface.

2. In a mechanical simulated action toy figure, the combination of: a base including a lower handle and an upper platform, said platform having a generally normally upwardly facing platform surface; a toy figure on said platform surface projecting upwardly therefrom, said toy figure including a sports figure, said toy figure having simulated foot portions with generally downwardly facing lower surfaces of said foot portions opposed and overlying said platform surface with a part of said foot portion surfaces at all times abutting said platform surface; at least one of said base platform surface and said toy figure foot portion surface extending arcuately and generally horizontally curving generally vertically away from the other of said surfaces; resilient fastening means between said platform surface and said toy figure foot portion surfaces horizontally intermediate said toy figure foot portion surfaces producing generally horizontal rocking of said figure and said toy figure foot portion surfaces along and against said platform surface upon generally horizontal reversing movement of said platform through said handle thereof, said toy figure foot portion surface part at all times abutting said platform surface being a changing surface part during said figure rocking, there always being parts of said toy figure foot portion and said platform surfaces spaced apart during said rocking with said at least one arcuate surface of said surface guiding said rocking; and said sports figure having at least one arm appended thereto and holding a simulated article of sports equipment thereon.

3. In a mechanical simulated action toy figure, the combination of: a base including a lower handle and an upper platform, said platform having a normally upwardly facing platform surface; a toy figure on said platform surface projecting upwardly therefrom, said figure having a generally upwardly and generally horizontally extending arcuate lower surface overlying said platform surface and with a portion thereof at all times abutting said platform surface; resilient fastening means between said platform surface and said figure arcuate lower surface horizontally intermediate said figure arcuate lower surface producing generally horizontal rocking of said figure and said figure arcuate lower surface along and against said platform surface upon generally horizontal reversing movement of said platform through said handle thereof, said figure arcuate lower surface portion at all times abutting said platform surface being a changing figure arcuate lower surface portion during said figure rocking, there always being parts of said figure arcuate lower surface spaced from said platform surface during said rocking with said figure arcuate lower surface guiding said rocking; and said toy figure being a toy sports figure with bottom surfaces of simulated shoes forming said figure arcuate lower surface guiding said rocking, at least one arm of said sports figure holding a simulated ball.

4. In a mechanical simulated action toy figure, the combination of: a base including a lower handle and an upper platform, said platform having a generally normally upwardly facing platform surface; a toy figure on said platform surface projecting upwardly therefrom, said figure being a sports figure having simulated shoes with generally downwardly facing lower surfaces opposed and overlying said platform surface with portions thereof at all times abutting said platform surface; said sports figure having at least one arm appended thereto and holding a simulated ball thereon; at least one of said base platform surface and said figure shoe lower surfaces extending arcuately and generally horizontally curving generally vertically away from the other of said surfaces; and resilient fastening means between said platform surface and said figure shoe lower surfaces horizontally intermediate said figure shoe lower surfaces producing generally horizontal rocking of said figure and said figure shoe lower surfaces along and against said platform surface upon generally horizontal reversing movement of said platform through said handle thereof.

5. A mechanical simulated action toy figure as defined in claim 4 in which said sports figure has said arm projecting generally horizontally therefrom spaced upwardly from said base platform surface and said simulated ball at an end of said arm generally downwardly facing and normally spaced upwardly from said base platform surface; and in which said resilient fastening means is formed with predetermined resiliency for said rocking of said figure along said platform surface permitting said sports figure ball to periodically contact said base platform surface.