U.S. patent application number 12/545089 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-22 for simulated eye for toy.
This patent application is currently assigned to HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to BIN JIANG, MAN-ZHONG WANG, SHI-PEI ZHANG.
Application Number | 20100099328 12/545089 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42109049 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100099328 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WANG; MAN-ZHONG ; et
al. |
April 22, 2010 |
SIMULATED EYE FOR TOY
Abstract
A simulated eye is capable of being changeable in an opened
state and a closed state. The simulated eye includes an eyeball, an
upper eyelid covering the eyeball, a pivot rod, and a driving
device having a shaft. The pivot rod is pivotally coupled to the
eyeball, the eyelid is fixed to the pivot rod, and the pivot rod is
engaged with the shaft and is driven to rotate by the driving
device. Accordingly, the upper eyelid is driven to rotate relative
to the eyeball by the driving device, so as to simulate an opened
state and a closed state of human eyes.
Inventors: |
WANG; MAN-ZHONG; (Shenzhen
City, CN) ; JIANG; BIN; (Shenzhen City, CN) ;
ZHANG; SHI-PEI; (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: |
42109049 |
Appl. No.: |
12/545089 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/342 ;
446/343 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 3/445 20130101;
A63H 3/38 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/342 ;
446/343 |
International
Class: |
A63H 3/40 20060101
A63H003/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 21, 2008 |
CN |
200810305074.0 |
Claims
1. A simulated eye, comprising: an eyeball; an upper eyelid
covering the eyeball; a pivot rod; and a driving device having a
shaft; wherein the pivot rod is pivotally coupled to the eyeball,
the upper eyelid is fixed to the pivot rod, the pivot rod is
engaged with the shaft and is driven to rotate by the driving
device.
2. The simulated eye as described in claim 1, wherein two fixing
members protrude form the upper eyelid, a round hole is defined in
each fixing member, and the pivot rod is fixed to the upper eyelid
via the two round holes.
3. The simulated eye as described in claim 2, wherein two bearings
opposite to each other are symmetrically mounted on the eyeball,
the two bearings are disposed corresponding to the two fixing
members and are aligned in a straight line extending through a
center of the eyeball, the pivot rod is pivotally coupled to the
eyeball via the two bearings.
4. The simulated eye as described in claim 1, wherein a gear is
fixed to the pivot rod, the shaft comprises a plurality of teeth,
and the shaft is meshed with the gear via the plurality of
teeth.
5. The simulated eye as described in claim 4, wherein a supporting
member protrudes inwardly from an inner surface of the eyeball to
support the shaft, the supporting member is opposite to the gear,
the shaft is sandwiched between the supporting member and the
gear.
6. The simulated eye as described in claim 1, wherein the shaft is
made from magnetic material and is movable relative to the driving
device, the driving device comprises a coil, the shaft is driven to
move inwardly when the coil being powered on.
7. The simulated eye as described in claim 6, wherein at least one
elastic element is fixed in the coil, the at least one elastic
element is further coupled to the shaft, the at least one elastic
element is pressed by the shaft while the coil being powered on and
elastically deformed, and the at least one elastic element restores
to drive the shaft return to an original position while the coil
being powered off.
8. The simulated eye as described in claim 1, further comprising a
lower eyelid, the lower eyelid is attached to the eyeball.
9. The simulated eye as described in claim 1, wherein the driving
device is a step motor or a servo motor, the driving device drives
the upper eyelid to shield and expose the eyeball.
10. A simulated eye capable of being operated to change between an
opened state and a closed state, the simulated eye comprising: an
eyeball disposed with an iris; an eyelid coverable on the eyeball;
and a driving device coupled to the eyelid for driving the eyelid
to rotate relative to the eyeball; wherein when the eyelid is
driven by the driving device to rotate relative to the eyeball to
the closed state, the iris of the eyeball is substantially hidden
by the eyelid, and when the eyelid is driven by the driving device
to rotate relative to the eyeball to the opened state, the iris of
the eyeball is exposed and viewable.
11. The simulated eye as described in claim 10, further comprising
a rack and a gear engaged with the rack, the rack being coupled to
the driving device, the gear being fixed to the eyelid, the driving
device is capable of driving the rack to move linearly, the gear is
caused to rotate by engaging with the rack, thereby the eyelid is
caused to rotate accordingly.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The disclosure relates to toys and, more particularly, to a
simulated eye for a toy.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] As the development of the electronic technology, more and
more robot toys simulate people's actions, such as, walking,
jumping, and so on. As known, eyes are one of the most important
organs of human body, and people can express various feelings via
the action of the eyes. However, the eyes of robot toys simulate by
imitating various shapes of the human eyes, other simulation
effects of the eyes of the robot toys are needed to make the robot
looks more lifelike. Therefore, what is needed is a simulated eye
capable of simulating more human eyes' actions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The components of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to
scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating
the principles of the embodiments of the simulated eye. Moreover,
in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding
parts throughout several views.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a simulated eye having an
eyeball and an eyelid while in an opened state in accordance with
one embodiment.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but viewed
from another aspect.
[0008] FIG. 3 is also a perspective view of the simulated eye of
FIG. 1, but showing the simulated eye being in a closed state.
[0009] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the simulated eye of FIG.
1.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a back view of the eyeball shown in FIG. 3.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the simulated eye of
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a simulated eye 10 is changeable
between an opened state and a closed state. The simulated eye 10
includes a semispherical eyeball 100, a semispherical upper eyelid
200 covering the eyeball 100, a semispherical lower eyelid 120, a
driving device 300, and a bracket 150. An iris 102 is disposed on
an external surface of the eyeball 100, and the eyeball 100 is
fixed to the lower eyelid 120. The driving device 300 is configured
for driving the upper eyelid 200 to rotate so as to shield and/or
expose the iris 102. The bracket 150 is attached to the lower
eyelid 120. The simulated eye 10 is fixed to a toy or a robot via
the bracket 150.
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, two opposite bearings 108 are
symmetrically mounted at the rim of the eyeball 100, and the two
bearings 108 are aligned in a straight line extending through a
center of the eyeball 100. A supporting member 110 protrudes
inwardly from an inner surface of the eyeball 100 and is adjacent
to one bearing 108. The supporting member 110 includes a smooth
surface 112 facing the bearing 108. Two arcuate fixing members 202
protrude downwardly from two opposite ends of the upper eyelid 200.
The two fixing members 202 are disposed corresponding to the two
bearings 108, and a round hole 204 is defined in each fixing member
202.
[0014] The simulated eye 10 further includes a pivot rod 104, a
gear 106 fixed on the pivot rod 104. The pivot rod 104 is pivotally
fixed in the two bearings 108. Furthermore, the length of the pivot
rod 104 is longer than the distance of the two bearings 108, so
that the pivot rod 104 is insertable in the round holes 204.
[0015] The driving device 300 having a rack 302 is configured for
engaging with the gear 106 and driving the upper eyelid 200 to
rotate. A plurality of teeth 304 are formed on a surface of the
rack 302, and another surface opposite to the surface having teeth
304 is smooth. The rack 302 is driven by the driving device 300 and
is movable inwardly and outwardly relative to the driving device
300. The driving device 300 can be fixed on a housing (not shown)
of the simulated eye 10, or can be fixed on a toy using the
simulated eye 10.
[0016] Furthermore, the driving device 300 can be a step motor, a
servo motor, or the like. In the embodiment, referring to FIG. 6,
the driving device 300 includes a coil 306, and an elastic element
308 fixed in the coil 306. The coil 306 is electrically connected
to a power source (not shown), and generates magnetism while being
powered on. A part of the rack 302 is received in the coli 306, and
the rack 302 is made from magnetic material, such as iron, cobalt,
magnet, and the like. In one embodiment, the rack 302 may be a
magnet. The elastic element 308 is further coupled to the rack 302.
In one embodiment, the elastic element 308 may be a coil spring.
Accordingly, when the coil 306 is powered on, the rack 302 is
attracted by the magnetism to move inwardly. At the same time, the
elastic element 308 is pressed by the rack 302 and elastically
deformed to store elastic energy. When the coil 306 is powered off,
the elastic element 308 releases the elastic energy and drives the
rack 302 return to an original position.
[0017] In assembly, the pivot rod 104 extends through the two
opposite bearings 108. The gear 106 fixed on the pivot rod 104 is
opposite to the supporting member 110, and the rack 302 is
sandwiched between the supporting member 110 and the gear 106, so
that the rack 302 is engaged with the gear 106. Two ends of the
pivot rod 104 are further locked into the two round holes 204
respectively. Accordingly, the upper eyelid 200 is rotatable with
the pivot rod 104.
[0018] After assembly, the upper eyelid 200 is fixed on the pivot
rod 104, and the pivot rod 104 is pivotally coupled to the eyeball
100. The rack 302 locked between the gear 106 and the supporting
member 110, is engaged with the gear 106 and is driven to slide
relative to the supporting member 110 by the driving device 300.
Accordingly, the pivot rod 104 is arranged for translating a linear
movement of the rack 302 with respect to the gear 106 to a
rotational movement of the upper eyelid 200. Therefore, the upper
eyelid 200 is driven to rotate relative to the eyeball 100, so that
to simulate an opened state and a closed state of human eyes.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 6, when the rack 302 is driven to move
inwardly by the driving device 300, the upper eyelid 200 is rotated
toward the lower eyelid 120, and the simulated eye 10 changes to a
closed state. Referring to FIG. 1, when the rack 302 is driven to
move outwardly by the driving device 300, the upper eyelid 200 is
rotated away from the lower eyelid 120, and the simulated eye 10 is
in an opened state.
[0020] Although the present disclosure has been specifically
described on the basis of the embodiments thereof, the disclosure
is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or
modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from
the scope and spirit of the disclosure.
* * * * *