U.S. patent application number 10/224225 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-26 for animated musical alligator.
Invention is credited to Kau, Ben.
Application Number | 20040038619 10/224225 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31715225 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040038619 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kau, Ben |
February 26, 2004 |
ANIMATED MUSICAL ALLIGATOR
Abstract
This invention relates to an animated musical alligator which
features movement while playing music. The object of the animated
musical alligator is to provide an original, amusing toy and
novelty item for adults and children, alike. When it plays songs,
mouth movements occur in synchronization with the singing, as a
result of its circuitry and mechanical operation system. In
addition, the alligator produces realistic walking movements and
up-and-down, as well as side-to-side head movements. The
invention's integrated circuit, which creates sound signal and
movement signal outputs, produces music through its amplifier and
speaker. Additionally, the IC activates various motors, which
trigger gears to create leg movements and side-to-side and
up-and-down head movements. This operation system also creates
mouth movements in synchronization with the playing of songs.
Inventors: |
Kau, Ben; (Arcadia,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ben Kau
127 South Second Ave., # C
Arcadia
CA
91006
US
|
Family ID: |
31715225 |
Appl. No.: |
10/224225 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/330 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 11/205 20130101;
A63H 5/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/330 |
International
Class: |
A63H 003/20 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An animated musical alligator. Said alligator consisting of a
three-dimensional figure featuring a moving mouth, head, and legs.
Said alligator also being capable of playing music. Said features
of said alligator is linked to specific mechanisms--namely:
2. A circuitry system that includes an integrated circuit which
creates sound signal output and movement signal output. Said
integrated circuit is driven by a trigger circuit. Said integrated
circuit is connected to an amplifier, producing sound through a
speaker. Furthermore, said integrated circuit connects to different
driving circuits to drive various motors to operate gears so that:
1) mouth movements are produced in synchronization with the sound
that is created, 2) said alligator's leg movements are created, and
3) said alligator's head moves up and down and side-to-side, as
well.
3. A mechanical system consisting of said motors that, when
electrified, operate said gears to create movement of the following
parts of said alligator: 1) Mouth movements: When electrified, a
specific motor rotates and decelerates through two gears to drive
another gear, along with an eccentric gear, to cause the
alligator's upper jaw to raise upward. At the same time, said
eccentric gear drives a lever to turn around so that the
alligator's lower jaw moves downward. When power is cut off, a
twisting spring pulls said upper jaw and said lower jaw back to
their original positions. 2) Leg and side-to-side head movements:
When electrified, a second motor decelerates through a different
set of three gears to drive a different eccentric gear to rotate,
so that a lever moves back and forth. This action, in turn, drives
the fore-leg and hind-legs of said alligator to move forward. Since
said eccentric gear is not symmetrical, the head of said alligator
sways from right to left as a result of the motion of said
eccentric gear. 3) Up-and-down head movements: When electrified, a
third motor rotates, decelerating through yet another set of three
gears. Since there is another, particular fan-shaped gear that is
fixed, one gear in the said set of three gears turns around said
fan-shaped gear, causing said alligator's head to raise up. When
the music that the said alligator plays has ended, said third motor
reverses to return said alligator's head to its original position.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] This invention relates to an animated musical alligator
which features movement while playing music. When it plays songs,
mouth movements occur in synchronization with the singing, as a
result of its circuitry and mechanical operation system. In
addition, the alligator produces realistic walking movements and
up-and-down, as well as side-to-side head movements.
[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0004] Often, novelty items manufactured for the purpose of play or
entertainment may produce music or include some movement by
characters that the items may showcase. However, such products lack
true entertainment value because their features are too
predictable. In contrast, the animated musical alligator combines a
variety of different functions to create an attractive and
captivating novelty item that will appeal to individuals of all
ages.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
[0005] The object of the animated musical alligator is to provide
an original, amusing toy and novelty item for adults and children,
alike. The advantages of the invention are its combination of
entertaining functions. These functions operate by means of the
alligator's circuitry and mechanical operation system:
[0006] 1) The alligator can play music and initiate mouth movements
in synchronization with songs that it plays.
[0007] 2) The alligator produces realistic walking movements.
[0008] 3) The alligator can create head movements consisting of a
swaying action from side to side, as well as an up-and-down
action.
SUMMARY
[0009] This invention consists of an animated musical alligator
designed to provide an interesting and unusual toy and novelty item
for adults and children to enjoy. By means of its intriguing
combination of functions, the alligator offers an especially
attractive and unique type of entertainment. The invention can
produce mouth movements in synchronization with the singing, as a
result of its circuitry and mechanical operation system. In
addition, the alligator produces realistic walking movements and
up-and-down, as well as side-to-side head movements.
DRAWINGS
[0010] Drawing Figures
[0011] The following numbers correspond to specific drawings of the
invention:
[0012] FIG. 1 provides an overall view of the invention's
mechanism
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a view of the invention from above, featuring
its head and leg movements
[0014] FIG. 3 offers a view of the invention's driving
mechanism
[0015] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the invention
REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS
[0016] 1 alligator's upper jaw
[0017] 2 alligator's lower jaw
[0018] 3 lever
[0019] 4 eccentric gear
[0020] 5 twisting spring
[0021] 6 gear
[0022] 7 gear
[0023] 8 gear
[0024] 9 motor
[0025] 10 motor
[0026] 11 gear
[0027] 12 gear
[0028] 13 gear
[0029] 14 fan-shaped gear
[0030] 15 foreleg
[0031] 16 eccentric gear
[0032] 17 gear
[0033] 18 gear
[0034] 19 gear
[0035] 20 gear
[0036] 21 motor
[0037] 22 circuit board
[0038] 23 lever
[0039] 24 hind leg
[0040] 25 batteries
[0041] 26 speaker
[0042] 30 alligator
[0043] 40 IC
[0044] 42 trigger circuit
[0045] 44 amplifier
[0046] 48 driving circuit
[0047] 50 driving circuit
[0048] 52 driving circuit
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0049] Description of Preferred Embodiments and Operation of
Invention
[0050] IC 40 is an integrated circuit that creates sound signal
output and movement signal output. It is driven by trigger circuit
42. I-1 is connected to an amplifier 44, producing sound through a
speaker 26. I-2 is connected to driving circuit 48 to drive motor 9
so that mouth movements are produced in synchronization with the
sound that is created. I-3 is connected to driving circuit 50 to
drive motor 21, causing the alligator's leg movements. I-4 and I-5
are connected to driving circuit 52, activating motor 10 to cause
the alligator's head to move up and down.
[0051] (A) Mouth movements: When electrified, motor 9 rotates and
decelerates through gears 8 and 7 to drive gear 6 and eccentric
gear 4 to cause the alligator's upper jaw 1 to raise upward. At the
same time, eccentric gear 4 drives lever 3 to turn around so that
the alligator's lower jaw 2 moves downward. When power is cut off,
twisting spring 5 pulls the upper jaw 1 and lower jaw 2 back to
their original positions.
[0052] (B) Leg and side-to-side head movements: When electrified,
motor 21 decelerates through gears 19, 18, and 17 to drive
eccentric gear 16 to rotate, so that lever 23 will move back and
forth. This action, in turn, drives foreleg 15 and hind leg 24 to
move forward. Since eccentric gear 16 is not symmetrical, the head
sways from right to left as a result of the motion of eccentric
gear 16.
[0053] (C) Up-and-down head movements: When electrified, motor 10
rotates, decelerating through gears 11, 12, and 13. Since
fan-shaped gear 14 is fixed, gear 13 turns around it, causing the
alligator's head to raise up. When the music that the alligator
plays has ended, motor 10 reverses to return the alligator's head
to its original position.
[0054] Conclusion
[0055] In conclusion, this invention is designed to create an
unusual and amusing novelty item that is highly entertaining for
adults and children, alike. The invention accomplishes this goal by
means of its circuitry and mechanical system. The invention's
integrated circuit, which creates sound signal and movement signal
outputs, produces music through its amplifier and speaker.
Additionally, the IC activates various motors, which trigger gears
to create leg movements and side-to-side and up-and-down head
movements. Finally, mouth movements are created in synchronization
with the playing of songs.
* * * * *