U.S. patent application number 12/534876 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-18 for electromechanical eye for toy.
This patent application is currently assigned to HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY(ShenZhen)CO.,LTD. Invention is credited to SONG-LING YANG.
Application Number | 20100041306 12/534876 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41670474 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100041306 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YANG; SONG-LING |
February 18, 2010 |
ELECTROMECHANICAL EYE FOR TOY
Abstract
An electromechanical eye for toys includes an outer shell, an
eyeball, and a spring. The outer shell is engageable with the
eyeball by the spring. The outer shell is arranged with a first
electromagnetic member and a second electromagnetic member. The
eyeball is arranged with a magnetic member. The first
electromagnetic member and the second electromagnetic member are
deactivated for simulating a normal state of the electromechanical
eye. Either the first electromagnetic member or the second
electromagnetic member is activated to generate a magnetic force
for moving the eyeball, so as to simulate a vivid state of the
electromechanical eye.
Inventors: |
YANG; SONG-LING; (Shenzhen
City, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PCE INDUSTRY, INC.;ATT. Steven Reiss
288 SOUTH MAYO AVENUE
CITY OF INDUSTRY
CA
91789
US
|
Assignee: |
HONG FU JIN PRECISION
INDUSTRY(ShenZhen)CO.,LTD
ShenZhen City
CN
HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO.,LTD.
Tu-Cheng
TW
|
Family ID: |
41670474 |
Appl. No.: |
12/534876 |
Filed: |
August 4, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/343 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 33/26 20130101;
A63H 3/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/343 |
International
Class: |
A63H 3/40 20060101
A63H003/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 15, 2008 |
CN |
200810303869.8 |
Claims
1 An electromechanical eye for toys, the electromechanical eye
comprising: an outer shell defining a first opening, the outer
shell arranged with a first electromagnetic member and a second
electromagnetic member, the first electromagnetic member and the
second electromagnetic member being spaced apart from each other in
a predetermined manner; an eyeball defining an iris, the eyeball
with the iris capable of being moveably received in the outer
shell, the eyeball further arranged with a first magnetic member,
the eye ball capable of being positioned at a first position with
respect to the outer shell when the first electromagnetic member
and the second electromagnetic member are deactivated, the eyeball
also capable of being moved from the first position to a second
position with respect to the outer shell when either the first
electromagnetic member or the second electromagnetic member is
activated to generate a magnetic force therebetween; and a spring
engaged with the outer shell and the eyeball, the spring capable of
being resiliently deformed when either the first electromagnetic
member or the second electromagnetic member is activated for moving
the eyeball from the first position to the second position, the
spring also capable of releasing a spring energy when the first
electromagnetic member and the second electromagnetic member are
deactivated for returning the eyeball from the second position to
the first position.
2. The electromechanical eye according to claim 1, wherein at the
first position the iris of the eyeball is viewable from the first
opening for simulating a normal state of the electromechanical eye,
and wherein at the second position the iris of the eyeball is
rotated away for simulating a vivid state of the electromechanical
eye.
3. The electromechanical eye according to claim 1, wherein the
first magnetic member is arranged corresponding to the first
electromagnetic member, the eyeball is further arranged with a
second magnetic member corresponding to the second electromagnetic
member, when the first magnetic member is activated, a first
magnetic force is generated between the first electromagnetic
member and the first magnetic member, such that the eyeball is
moved from the first position to the second position in a first
direction, when the second magnetic member is activated, a second
magnetic force is generated between the second electromagnetic
member and the second magnetic member, such that the eyeball is
moved from the first position to the second position in a second
direction.
4. The electromechanical eye according to claim 3, wherein the
outer shell further defines a second opening, and the first
electromagnetic member and the second electromagnetic member are
arranged around the second opening and are symmetrically
distributed with respect to the second opening.
5. The electromechanical eye according to claim 3, wherein the
outer shell further defines a second opening, the first magnetic
member and the second magnetic member are exposed out of the second
opening when the first electromagnetic member and the second
electromagnetic member are deactivated, the first magnetic member
is capable of being not exposed out of the second opening when the
first magnetic member is activated, and the second magnetic member
is capable of being not exposed out of the second opening when the
second magnetic member is activated.
6. The electromechanical eye according to claim 1, wherein an inner
side of the outer shell defines a first slot for engageably
receiving a first part of the spring, an outer side of the eyeball
defines a second slot for engageably receiving a second part of the
spring.
7. The electromechanical eye according to claim 1, wherein the
first magnetic member is made of magnetizable metal, and the
magnetizable metal is selected from a group consisting of iron,
cobalt, and nickel.
8. An electromechanical eye for toys, the electromechanical eye
comprising: an outer shell defining a first opening, the outer
shell arranged with a plurality of electromagnetic members, the
plurality of electromagnetic members being spaced apart from each
other in a predetermined manner; and an eyeball defining an iris,
the eyeball with the iris capable of being rotatably received in
the outer shell, the eyeball further arranged with at least one
magnetic member, the iris of the eyeball capable of being viewed
from the first opening when the plurality of electromagnetic
members are deactivated, the iris of the eyeball further capable of
being rotated with respect to the outer shell by a magnetic force
generated by selectively activating one of the plurality of
electromagnetic members.
9. The electromechanical eye according to claim 8, further
comprising: a spring engaged with the outer shell and the eyeball,
the spring being configured to return the eyeball to a position
where the iris is viewable from the first opening when the
plurality of electromagnetic members is deactivated.
10. The electromechanical eye according to claim 9, wherein the
spring is integrally formed with an outer coil and an inner coil,
an inner side of the outer shell defines a first slot for
engageably receiving the outer coil of the spring, an outer side of
the eyeball defines a second slot for engageably receiving the
inner coil of the spring.
11. The electromechanical eye according to claim 8, wherein the
outer shell further defines a second opening, the plurality of
electromagnetic members is arranged around the second opening and
is symmetrically distributed with respect to the second
opening.
12. The electromechanical eye according to claim 8, wherein the
outer shell further defines a second opening, the at least one
magnetic member is exposed out of the second opening when the
plurality of electromagnetic members is deactivated, at least one
of the plurality of magnetic members is capable of being not
exposed out of the second opening when at least one of the
plurality of electromagnetic members is activated.
13. The electromechanical eye according to claim 8, wherein the
plurality of magnetic members is made of magnetizable metal, and
the magnetizable metal is selected from a group consisting of iron,
cobalt, and nickel.
14. An electromechanical eye for toys, the electromechanical eye
comprising: an outer shell defining a first opening, the outer
shell arranged with a plurality of magnetic members; and an eyeball
defining an iris, the eyeball with the iris capable of being
rotatably received in the outer shell, the eyeball further arranged
with a plurality of electromagnetic members, each of the plurality
of electromagnetic members being disposed corresponding to each of
the plurality of magnetic members, the iris of the eyeball capable
of being viewed from the first opening when the plurality of
electromagnetic members being deactivated, the iris of the eyeball
further capable of being acted by a magnetic force generated by
selectively activating one of the plurality of electromagnetic
members, so as to rotate with respect to the outer shell, thereby
the iris of the eyeball is capable of partially viewable from the
first opening.
15. The electromechanical eye according to claim 14, further
comprising: a spring engaged with the outer shell and the eyeball,
the spring being configured to return the eyeball to a position
where the iris is viewable from the first opening when the
plurality of electromagnetic members is deactivated.
16. The electromechanical eye according to claim 15, wherein an
inner side of the outer shell defines a first slot for engageably
receiving a first coil of the spring, an outer side of the eyeball
defines a second slot for engageably receiving a second coil of the
spring.
17. The electromechanical eye according to claim 14, wherein the
outer shell further defines a second opening, the plurality of
magnetic members is arranged around the second opening and is
symmetrically distributed with respect to the second opening.
18. The electromechanical eye according to claim 14, wherein the
outer shell further defines a second opening, the plurality of
electromagnetic members is exposed out from the second opening when
the plurality of electromagnetic members is deactivated, and at
least one of the plurality of electromagnetic members is capable of
not viewable from the second opening when at least one of the
plurality of electromagnetic members is activated.
19. The electromechanical eye according to claim 14, wherein the
plurality of magnetic members is made of magnetizable metal, and
the magnetizable metal is selected from a group consisting of iron,
cobalt, and nickel.
20. The electromechanical eye according to claim 14, wherein the
outer shell comprises a first shell and a second shell, and the
first shell and the second shell are capable of detachably
assembled to place the eyeball in the outer shell.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to toys, and more
particularly to an electromechanical eye for a toy.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Most toys include mechanical eyes. However, the range of
movement and control of the mechanical eyes are limited, thus a
child playing with the toy may quickly lose interest in the toy.
Therefore, it is desired to overcome the described shortcomings and
deficiencies.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood
with reference to the following drawings. The components in the
drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead
being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the
present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference
numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several
views.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an electromechanical
eye in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the electromechanical
eye of FIG. 1 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the electromechanical eye of
FIG. 1 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] Referring to FIG. 1, an electromechanical eye 10 is
illustrated in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The
electromechanical eye 10 may be used in toys, such as a teddy bear
or a doll. As illustrated, the electromechanical eye 10 generally
includes an outer shell 100 and an eyeball 200. The outer shell 100
can be considered as an eyelid. The eyelid 100 defines a first or
front opening 102. The eyeball 200 is movably or rotatably received
in the eyelid 100. The eyeball 200 defines an iris 202. The color
of the iris 202 may be black. As illustrated, the iris 202 of the
eyeball 200 is located in the first opening 102, for simulating a
normal state of the electromechanical eye 10. As used herein,
"normal state" may refer to the iris 202 exposed, seen, and/or
viewable. The electromechanical eye 10 may also be operated at a
vivid state, which will be described hereinafter. As used herein,
"vivid state" may refer to the state when the eyeball 200 is
rotated with respect to the eyelid 100, such that the iris 202
moves to simulate a real eye. For example, the iris 202 may be
partially hidden in the eyelid 100 and partially viewable from the
first opening 102.
[0010] Also referring to FIG. 2, a rear view of the
electromechanical eye 10 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment
is illustrated. The eyelid 100 further defines a second or rear
opening 106 opposite to the first opening 102. Adjacent to the
second opening 106, a plurality of electromagnetic members 104 on
an outside of the eyelid 100 is provided. The plurality of
electromagnetic members 104 are arranged around the second opening
106, and are symmetrically distributed with respect to the second
opening 106 in a circular manner.
[0011] The eyeball 200 is provided with a plurality of magnetic
members 204. The plurality of magnetic members 204 is symmetrically
distributed on an out surface of the eyeball 200 and also in a
circular manner. Each of the plurality of magnetic members 204 is
disposed corresponding to each of the plurality of electromagnetic
members 104. In one implementation, the plurality of magnetic
members 204 may be made of magnetizable metal, such as iron,
cobalt, and nickel. In other implementation, the plurality of
magnetic members 204 may be magnets. Each of the plurality of
magnetic members 204 may be acted by an attractive magnetic force
generated by activating a corresponding electromagnetic member
104.
[0012] Further referring to FIG. 3, an exploded view of the
electromechanical eye 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is illustrated in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment. As illustrated, the eyelid
100 of the electromechanical eye 10 includes a first shell 110 and
a second shell 120. The first shell 110 and the second shell 120
may be assembled together by known mechanisms, such as hooks,
latches, and/or screws. Because the first shell 110 and a second
shell 120 can be detached or separated, the eyeball 200 may be
easily placed in the eyelid 100 in assembly. Although the eyelid
100 is shown to be formed with two parts, in other implementations,
the eyelid 100 may be integrally formed by one part.
[0013] As illustrated, the first shell 110 and the second shell 120
cooperatively define a first slot 108 at an inner side 150 of the
first shell 110 and the second shell 120. The first slot 108
generally has a circular shape. The eyeball 200 defines a second
slot 206 around an out surface of the eyeball 200. The second slot
206 also has a circular shape.
[0014] As illustrated, the electromechanical eye 10 further
includes a spring 300. The spring 300 is engageably coupled to the
eyelid 100 and the eyeball 200. The spring 300 includes an outer
coil 302 and an inner coil 304. The outer coil 302 and the inner
coil 304 are circular shaped and are concentric. The outer coil 302
and the inner coil 304 are connected together end by end, thereby a
single piece element is formed. The outer coil 302 is engageably
receivable in the first slot 108. The inner coil 304 is engageably
receivable in the second slot 206.
[0015] When the electromechanical eye 10 is assembled, the simulate
eye 10 may be operated to simulate a normal state and a vivid
state.
[0016] At the normal state, the plurality of electromagnetic
members 104 is deactivated. As used herein, "deactivated" may refer
to the plurality of electromagnetic members 104 not supplied with
electric power, that is, no magnetic force is generated between the
plurality of electromagnetic members 104 and the plurality of
magnetic members 204. Because there is no magnetic force, the
eyeball 200 is at a first position with respect to the eyelid 100
by the spring 300. At the first position, the iris 202 of the
eyeball 200 is exposed out of the first/front opening 102.
[0017] When one of the plurality of electromagnetic members 104 is
selectively activated, an attractive magnetic force is generated
between the activated electromagnetic member 104 and a
corresponding magnetic member 204. As used herein, "activated" may
refer to one of the plurality of electromagnetic members 104 being
supplied with electric power. When the magnetic member 204 is
applied with the attractive magnetic force, the eyeball 200 and the
magnetic member 204 rotate together accordingly. At the same time,
the spring 300 becomes resiliently deformed to generate an elastic
force. The magnetic force is balanced with the elastic force, so as
to position the eyeball 200 at a second position with respect to
the eyelid 100. At the second position, the electromechanical eye
10 is in the vivid state. When the activated electromagnetic member
is no longer activated, the attractive magnetic force is released,
thereby the eyeball 200 returns to the first position by the
elastic force of the spring 300.
[0018] In another operation, another electromagnetic member 104
other than the electromagnetic member 104 describe above may be
selectively activated, and the eyeball 200 may be moved from the
normal state or the first position to the vivid state or the second
position from a different direction.
[0019] As described above, the electromechanical eye 10 may be
operated to simulate an normal state and a vivid state by
selectively activating the plurality of electromagnetic members
104. Therefore, the electromechanical eye 10 may appear vivid to
the users such as kids.
[0020] Certain terminology is used herein for the convenience of
the reader only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the scope
of the disclosure. For example, words such as "above", "below",
"upward", "downward", "horizontal", "vertical", and the like merely
describe the configuration shown in the Figures. The element or
elements of any embodiment of the present disclosure may be
oriented in any direction, and the terminology, therefore, should
be understood as encompassing such variations unless otherwise
specified.
[0021] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of
the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
[0022] For example, in other implementations, the plurality of
electromagnetic members 104 may be provided on the outer surface of
the eyeball 200. Correspondingly, the plurality of magnetic members
204 may be provided on the outside of the eyelid 100, and are
disposed adjacent to the second opening 106.
* * * * *