U.S. patent application number 11/647655 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-12 for vacuum assisted wall climbing toy.
This patent application is currently assigned to Marvel Characters, Inc.. Invention is credited to Troy Fischer.
Application Number | 20070161323 11/647655 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38228850 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070161323 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fischer; Troy |
July 12, 2007 |
Vacuum assisted wall climbing toy
Abstract
The toy of the subject invention is an action figure or plush
character toy that climbs or moves on walls and other vertical
surfaces by means of suction adhesion. The toy could also crawl
across the floor. The toy has suction cups on its arms and legs
that allow it to adhere to the wall by selective sequential
application and release of a vacuum. A swiveling motion at the
waist of the toy provides the means for locomotion. Arms and legs
lift off the wall and make contact in a way that advances across
the wall.
Inventors: |
Fischer; Troy; (Brooklyn,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KEITH D. NOWAK
CARTER LEDYARD & MILBURN LLP
2 WALL STREET
NEW YORK
NY
10005
US
|
Assignee: |
Marvel Characters, Inc.
Beverly Hills
CA
|
Family ID: |
38228850 |
Appl. No.: |
11/647655 |
Filed: |
December 28, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60754872 |
Dec 29, 2005 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/330 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 11/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/330 |
International
Class: |
A63H 3/20 20060101
A63H003/20 |
Claims
1. A toy movable on, and vacuum attachable to, horizontal and
vertical surfaces comprising: a body having an upper portion and a
lower portion, the upper portion and the lower portion being
pivotally connected for swinging movement therebetween; at least
four limbs connected to the body including a left upper, right
upper, left lower and right lower, the left upper and right lower
defining a first opposite limb group and the right upper and left
lower defining a second opposite limb group; suction cups on each
of the at least four limbs of the first opposite limb group and the
second opposite limb group, the suction cups each having an
interior with a vacuum passageway therethrough; first vacuum
passages in vacuum communication with the first opposite limb group
and with the vacuum passageways of the suction cups thereon; second
vacuum passages in vacuum communication with the second opposite
limb group and with the vacuum passageways of the suction cups
thereon; a first vacuum release valve in vacuum communication with
the vacuum passageway of at least one of the suction cups on the
first opposite limb group; a second vacuum release valve in vacuum
communication with the vacuum passageway of at least one of the
suction cups on the second opposite limb group; a motor causing the
swinging movement between the upper portion of the body and the
lower portion of the body; a motor creating a vacuum in the first
vacuum passages and in the second vacuum passages, the vacuum being
released alternately in the first opposite limb group and in the
second opposite limb group by one of the first vacuum release valve
and the second vacuum release valve during alternate disengagement
from the horizontal or vertical surfaces of the first opposite limb
group and the second opposite limb group based upon the swinging
movement between the upper portion of the body and the lower
portion of the body.
2. The toy of claim 1 further comprising a remote control to
control the motor causing the swinging movement and the motor
creating a vacuum.
3. The toy of claim 1 wherein the suction cups have on the interior
thereof ridges forming concentric rings that provide traction and
that form independent vacuum seal chambers.
4. The toy of claim 1 wherein the motor creating a vacuum includes
flexible bellows for vacuum formation.
5. The toy of claim 1 wherein the first vacuum release valve and
the second vacuum release valve each include a membrane with slits
therethrough, the membrane being resiliently deformable from an
initial vacuum tight configuration with the slits closed to a
subsequent deformed configuration in which the slits open to
release the vacuum.
6. The toy of claim 1 wherein the first vacuum release valve and
the second vacuum release valve each include a compression spring
that initially biases a vacuum passageway block that has a seal
thereon toward a plunger on the vacuum release valve for the seal
and the plunger to initially form a vacuum seal.
7. The toy of claim 1 wherein the first vacuum release valve is on
the at least one of the suction cups of the first opposite limb
group and the second vacuum release valve is on the at least one of
the suction cups of the second opposite limb group.
8. The toy of claim 1 wherein the first vacuum release valve and
the second vacuum release valve are in the lower portion of the
body.
9. The toy of claim 1 wherein the motor creating a vacuum is
activated continuously during the movement of the toy.
10. The toy of claim 1 wherein the motor creating a vacuum is
deactivated upon movement of the toy.
11. A toy movable on, and vacuum attachable to, horizontal and
vertical surfaces comprising: a body having an upper portion and a
lower portion, the upper portion and the lower portion being
pivotally connected for swinging movement therebetween; at least
four limbs connected to the body including a left upper, right
upper, left lower and right lower, the left upper and right lower
defining a first opposite limb group and the right upper and left
lower defining a second opposite limb group; suction cups on each
of the at least four limbs of the first opposite limb group and the
second opposite limb group, the suction cups each having an
interior with a vacuum passageway therethrough; first vacuum
passages in vacuum communication with the first opposite limb group
and with the vacuum passageways of the suction cups thereon; second
vacuum passages in vacuum communication with the second opposite
limb group and with the vacuum passageways of the suction cups
thereon; a first vacuum release valve in vacuum communication with
the vacuum passageway of at least one of the suction cups on the
first opposite limb group, the first vacuum release valve on the at
least one of the suction cups of the first opposite limb group; a
second vacuum release valve in vacuum communication with the vacuum
passageway of at least one of the suction cups on the second
opposite limb group, the second vacuum release valve on the at
least one of the suction cups of the second opposite limb group; a
motor causing the swinging movement between the upper portion of
the body and the lower portion of the body; a motor creating a
vacuum in the first vacuum passages and in the second vacuum
passages, the motor creating a vacuum being activated continuously
during the movement of the toy, the vacuum being released
alternately in the first opposite limb group and in the second
opposite limb group by one of the first vacuum release valve and
the second vacuum release valve during alternate disengagement from
the horizontal or vertical surfaces of the first opposite limb
group and the second opposite limb group based upon the swinging
movement between the upper portion of the body and the lower
portion of the body.
12. The toy of claim 11 further comprising a remote control to
control the motor causing the swinging movement and the motor
creating a vacuum.
13. The toy of claim 11 wherein the suction cups have on the
interior thereof ridges forming concentric rings that provide
traction and that form independent vacuum seal chambers.
14. The toy of claim 11 wherein the motor creating a vacuum
includes flexible bellows for vacuum formation.
15. The toy of claim 11 wherein the first vacuum release valve and
the second vacuum release valve each include a membrane with slits
therethrough, the membrane being resiliently deformable from an
initial vacuum tight configuration with the slits closed to a
subsequent deformed configuration in which the slits open to
release the vacuum.
16. The toy of claim 11 wherein the first vacuum release valve and
the second vacuum release valve each include a compression spring
that initially biases a vacuum passageway block that has a seal
thereon toward a plunger on the vacuum release valve for the seal
and the plunger to initially form a vacuum seal.
17. A toy movable on, and vacuum attachable to, horizontal and
vertical surfaces comprising: a body having an upper portion and a
lower portion, the upper portion and the lower portion being
pivotally connected for swinging movement therebetween; at least
four limbs connected to the body including a left upper, right
upper, left lower and right lower, the left upper and right lower
defining a first opposite limb group and the right upper and left
lower defining a second opposite limb group; suction cups on each
of the at least four limbs of the first opposite limb group and the
second opposite limb group, the suction cups each having an
interior with a vacuum passageway therethrough; first vacuum
passages in vacuum communication with the first opposite limb group
and with the vacuum passageways of the suction cups thereon; second
vacuum passages in vacuum communication with the second opposite
limb group and with the vacuum passageways of the suction cups
thereon; a first vacuum release valve in vacuum communication with
the vacuum passageway of at least one of the suction cups on the
first opposite limb group, the first vacuum release valve in the
lower portion of the body; a second vacuum release valve in vacuum
communication with the vacuum passageway of at least one of the
suction cups on the second opposite limb group, the second vacuum
release valve in the lower portion of the body; a motor causing the
swinging movement between the upper portion of the body and the
lower portion of the body; a motor creating a vacuum in the first
vacuum passages and in the second vacuum passages, the motor
creating a vacuum being deactivated upon the movement of the toy,
the vacuum being released alternately in the first opposite limb
group and in the second opposite limb group by one of the first
vacuum release valve and the second vacuum release valve during
alternate disengagement from the horizontal or vertical surfaces of
the first opposite limb group and the second opposite limb group
based upon the swinging movement between the upper portion of the
body and the lower portion of the body.
18. The toy of claim 17 further comprising a remote control to
control the motor causing the swinging movement and the motor
creating a vacuum.
19. The toy of claim 17 wherein the suction cups have on the
interior thereof ridges forming concentric rings that provide
traction and that form independent vacuum seal chambers.
20. The toy of claim 17 wherein the motor creating a vacuum
includes flexible bellows for vacuum formation.
21. The toy of claim 17 wherein the first vacuum release valve and
the second vacuum release valve each include a membrane with slits
therethrough, the membrane being resiliently deformable from an
initial vacuum tight configuration with the slits closed to a
subsequent deformed configuration in which the slits open to
release the vacuum.
22. The toy of claim 17 wherein the first vacuum release valve and
the second vacuum release valve each include a compression spring
that initially biases a vacuum passageway block that has a seal
thereon toward a plunger on the vacuum release valve for the seal
and the plunger to initially form a vacuum seal.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/754,872, filed Dec. 29, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The subject invention pertains to wall climbing toys, and
more specifically to wall climbing toys employing suction cups
under which a vacuum is sequentially applied and released.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 3,503,152 to Aoki et al. discloses a wall
climbing amusement device having centrally-hinged limbs, each of
said limbs having suction cups thereon which are alternatively
actuated by a vacuum pump and turned by a motor to allow the device
to traverse a vertical surface.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,525 to Pack et al. discloses a centrally
hinged wall climbing robot with suction cups on each of its limbs,
the actuation of which are timed along with the movement of each
limb to affect an "inch-worm" like movement up a vertical
surface.
[0005] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0119726 to Wilk
discloses a toy using a vacuum pump, valves, and motors in
coordination with limbs having suctions cups on the bottoms thereof
to allow the robot to walk on walls and ceilings.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,346 to Yberle discloses a four-sided
wall climbing robot with suction cups at the end of limbs which are
moved in unison with the actuation of gripping suction cups and the
movement of the non-gripping suction cups.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,510 to Collie discloses a four-sided
wall climbing robot which utilizes a vacuum pump to remove air from
a suction cup via actuation of a valve timed for movement of the
robot along a vertical surface.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,009 to Wolfe et al. discloses a robot
which has suction cups on various limbs that are actuated by
valve-controlled ejectors and motors timed to move the limbs of the
robot in sequence to afford movement.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,658 to Danel et al. discloses a vehicle
able to walk on vertical surfaces using vacuum-actuated suction
cups on limbs which are moved in sequence along with the activation
and deactivation of the vacuum.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,500 to Anderson discloses a wall
climbing toy using suction cups on the ends of limbs and a motor to
move the limbs to move the toy up the wall.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,259 to Pin-Huang discloses an amusement
device having suction cups on limbs which are sequentially moved by
a motor to allow the device to climb a wall.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,572 to Sze discloses legs for a toy
having a motor that operates to open a valve in a suction cup on
the bottom of each leg to release a vacuum in the suction cup
before movement of the leg.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,199 to Locricchio discloses a manually
actuated toy having legs with suction cups on the bottoms thereof
which are deactivated upon the opening of a valve in the suction
cup the leg is lifted in a waling movement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The toy of the subject invention is an action figure or
plush character toy that climbs or moves on walls and other
vertical surfaces by means of suction adhesion. The toy could also
crawl across the floor. The toy has suction cups on its arms and
legs that allow it to adhere to the wall by selective sequential
application and release of a vacuum. A swiveling motion at the
waist of the toy provides the means for locomotion. Arms and legs
lift off the wall and make contact in a way that advances across
the wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a top view of the toy of the subject
invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a side view of the toy of the subject
invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the toy of the subject
invention;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the locomotion and wall adhesion
components of the toy of the subject invention;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the vacuum release valve of the
toy of the subject invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a top view of a second embodiment of the subject
invention;
[0021] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the vacuum release valve of
the second embodiment of the subject invention;
[0022] FIG. 8 is an exposed side view of the vacuum release valve
holding a vacuum of the second embodiment of the subject invention;
and
[0023] FIG. 9 is an exposed side view of the vacuum release valve
during vacuum release of the second embodiment of the subject
invention.
[0024] These and other subjects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent in light of the
following detailed description of a best mode embodiment thereof,
as illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the toy of the subject
invention includes: two vacuum bellows pumps 102 and 103 powered by
a bellows gear motor 104; two air tube systems 106 and 108; four
ribbed suction cups 110; two spring-loaded release valves 112 and
114; one articulated chassis/frame 116 and 117; and one drive
crankshaft 118 powered by a drive gear motor 120.
A. Vacuum Bellows
[0026] This toy 100 of the subject invention adheres to walls
through the use of two independent vacuum systems. Two vacuum
bellows pumps 102 being moved in and out with a reciprocating
bellows crankshaft 122 or camshaft create the vacuum. A single
electric bellows gear motor 104 powers both vacuum bellows. There
are vacuum release valves 112 and 114 in each bellows assembly that
causes the airflow to move in one direction through the network of
tubing, pulling air in through the suction cups 114 to create a
vacuum.
B. Air Tube Systems
[0027] The suction cups 110 on right arm and left leg are fed by
one vacuum pump bellows 102. Another vacuum bellows pump 103 feeds
the suction cups on left arm and right leg. There is preferably a
single air line from each vacuum bellows pump 102 or 103 that
splits into two, one tube attaching to each of the two suction cups
114 fed by that vacuum bellows pump 102 or 103.
C. Spring Loaded Vacuum Release Valves
[0028] The spring loaded vacuum release valves 112 and 114 are
located in each of the two arm suction cups 110. When one arm and
its opposite leg pull away from the wall, the air seal is broken as
the force of the arm being pulled opens the associated release
valve 112 or 114, detaching those suction cups 110 from the
wall.
D. Ribbed Suction Cups
[0029] The suction cups 110 associated with each arm and leg
preferably have multiple concentric ribs 124 on the inner surface
in order to create a few separate independent seals. They also
serve as traction treads.
E. Articulated Chassis/Frame
[0030] The chassis of the toy 100 has all components mounted on it,
and the overall shape represents a human, animal, or vehicular
figure with its limbs outstretched. There is articulation at the
waist that allows it to swivel in order to facilitate pivoting
movement of the upper frame 116 of the chassis relative to the
lower frame 117 of the chassis.
F. Drive Crankshaft
[0031] The drive crankshaft 118 of the toy 100 is powered by an
independent drive gear motor 120. Two opposing cranks on each end
of the drive crank shaft 118 are mounted in the lower frame 117.
The two opposing cranks are trapped in two fixed points in the
upper frame 116, which causes the toy 100 to gyrate or pivot at the
center waist portion.
[0032] The sequence of events of the operation of the subject
invention is as follows:
[0033] A switch 126 on the toy 100 activates the two battery 128
operated motors 104 and 120 at once. The toy 100 starts swiveling
at the waist and the vacuum bellow pumps 102 and 103 are activated,
pulling air through the suction cups 110. The toy 100 is then
placed against a smooth wall.
[0034] Assume that the right arm and left leg of the toy are making
contact with the wall at a given point. The left arm and right leg
will swivel as the upper frame 116 and lower frame 117 portions
pivot with respect to each other, and make contact with, and are
held firmly to, the wall due to the vacuum created under the left
arm and right leg suction cups 110. Also at this time, the right
arm and left leg, already attached to the wall, will pull away from
the wall. More specifically, the vacuum release valve 114
associated with the right suction cup 110 will be opened by the
force of the drive gear motor 120 lifting the right arm suction cup
from the wall, which results in release of the vacuum under both
the right arm suction cup 110 and the left leg suction cup 110 as
they share the same air tube vacuum system 108.
[0035] Next, the right arm and left leg advance as the upper frame
116 and lower frame 1117 portions pivot in the opposite directions
of their prior motion described above. Contemporaneously with the
above described movement of the right arm and left leg portions and
subsequent reattachment thereof, the left arm and right leg suction
cups 110 are pulled off of the wall (just after the right arm and
left leg suction cups reattach to the wall) as the vacuum release
valve 112 associated with the left arm is opened by the force of
the drive gear motor 120 lifting the left arm suction cup 110 from
the wall which results in release of the vacuum under both the left
arm suction cup and right suction cup 110 as they share the same
vacuum air tube system 106.
[0036] Referring specifically to FIG. 5, spring loaded release
valve 112 located on the left arm portion of toy 100 and spring
loaded release valve 114 located on the right arm portion of toy
100 are next described. Each of the valves 112 and 114 are attached
to frame 130 and are in air communication with a ribbed suction cup
110. Vacuum connection 132 provides vacuum to ribbed suction cup
110 through valves 112 and 114. Compression spring 134 biases
airway block 136 having o-ring seal 138 toward plunger 140 such
that o-ring seal 138 and plunger 140 initially form an air seal.
The movement of toy 100 that lifts the arm portion associated with
valve 112 or 114 will cause airway block 136 to move against the
bias of compression spring 134 and toward ribbed suction cup 110
thus breaking the air seal between o-ring seal 138 on airway block
136 and plunger 140 which results in air/vacuum release by release
valve 112 or release valve 114.
[0037] Next referring to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 in which a second
embodiment of the subject invention is shown, the first embodiment
thereof is incorporated by reference and elements and element
numbers therein referred to in discussion of the second embodiment
of the subject invention are specifically so incorporated in the
second embodiment. FIG. 6 shows a top view of the second
embodiment. Instead of vacuum bellows pumps 102 and 103 of the
first embodiment, traditional vacuum motors 142 and 144 well known
in the art are employed. Additionally, instead of spring loaded
release valve 112 located on the left arm portion of toy 100 and
spring loaded release valve 114 located on the right arm portion of
toy 100, as shown in the first embodiment, the second embodiment
employs first membrane valve 146 in vacuum communication with air
tube system 108 and second membrane valve 148 in vacuum
communication with air tube system 106. Instead of being located on
the left arm portion and right arm portion of toy 100, first
membrane valve 146 and second membrane valve 148 are located within
lower articulated frame 117 of the toy 100.
[0038] The operation of the second embodiment of the subject
invention is next described. An infrared remote control well known
in the art can be employed to facilitate the below operation. Power
to vacuum motors 142 and 144 and to drive gear motor 120 is
separately applied. Toy 100 is then placed on a wall, ceiling or
floor. Vacuum motors 142 and 144 are then deactivated while drive
gear motor 120 remains activated to move toy 100. While toy 100 is
moving, this motion along with intermittent wall contact provides a
pumping action through air tube system 100 and air tube system 108
sufficient to maintain a vacuum that will adhere toy 100 to a wall
or ceiling without use of vacuum motors 142 and 144.
[0039] Next referring to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 first membrane valve 146
and second membrane valve 148 of the second embodiment are
described in detail. Each of first membrane valve 146 and second
membrane valve 148 has a tubular base 150 with air passageways 152
that connect with air tube system 106 or air tube system 108.
Membrane 154 is located in tubular base 150 and is secured therein
by cap 156.
[0040] Next referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the functioning of first
membrane valve 146 and second membrane valve 148 is described.
Membrane 154 of first membrane valve 146 and second membrane valve
148 are comprised of a flexible yet resilient organic polymer and
are dome shaped by deformable with sufficient resilience to return
to their initial dome shape as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Each
membrane 154 has slits 156, preferably x-shaped, in the top
thereof. Slits 156 are air/vacuum tight when membrane 154 is in the
vacuum retaining configuration of FIG. 8 wherein membrane 154 is
dome shaped. Slits 156 are not air/vacuum tight, but instead opens
to release the vacuum, when membrane 154 Is in the deformed
non-dome shape of FIG. 9. The deformation of membrane 154 and
opening of slits 156 to release the vacuum through air passageways
152 or FIG. 9 is initiated by the force of the ribbed suction cup
110 being pulled away as an arm or leg portion of toy 100 lifts
from a wall or ceiling.
* * * * *