U.S. patent application number 14/669959 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-29 for wobble toy.
The applicant listed for this patent is Worldwise, Inc.. Invention is credited to Regina Chern, Charles Floyd, Marissa Gurevitz.
Application Number | 20160279531 14/669959 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56973884 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160279531 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Floyd; Charles ; et
al. |
September 29, 2016 |
WOBBLE TOY
Abstract
A motorized toy capable of linear movement along a horizontal
support surface. The toy includes a body, power supply, first and
second wheels/gears coupled to the motor each of which is provided
with a shaft. Each shaft has an extension angled away from its ends
such that when activated, the wheels, being in contact with the
horizontal support surface act to move the toy linearly while
selective extensions contact the horizontal support surface causing
the toy to wobble from side to side thus emulating the action of a
lizard running.
Inventors: |
Floyd; Charles; (Oakland,
CA) ; Gurevitz; Marissa; (San Francisco, CA) ;
Chern; Regina; (Danville, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Worldwise, Inc. |
Novato |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56973884 |
Appl. No.: |
14/669959 |
Filed: |
March 26, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 11/20 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63H 17/00 20060101
A63H017/00 |
Claims
1. A motorized toy capable of linear movement along a horizontal
support surface, said motorized toy comprising a body, said body
housing a motor, a power supply for said motor, a first wheel
including a gear coupled to said matte, a first shaft fixed to said
first wheel said first shaft having first and second ends extending
substantially equal distances from said body, said first end of
said first shaft having a first extension and said second end of
said first shaft having a second extension each angled to said
first shaft such that when a first of said extensions extends
toward the horizontal support, the second of said extensions is
angled away there from, a second wheel including a second gear
coupled to said first gear, a second shaft fixed to said second
wheel, said second shaft having first and second ends extending
substantially equal distances from said body, said first end of
said second shaft having a third extension and said second end of
said second shaft having a fourth extension each angled to said
second shaft such that when said third extension extends toward the
horizontal support, the fourth extension is angled away there from,
said first and third extensions emanating from a first side of said
body and said second and fourth extensions emanating from a second
side of said body such that when in operation, said motorized toy
travels over said horizontal support resulting from rotation of
said first and second wheels in contact there with, said first and
fourth extensions extending toward and contacting the horizontal
support simultaneously and said second and third extensions
extending toward and contacting the horizontal support
simultaneously.
2. The motorized toy of claim 1 further comprising an idler gear
positioned between said first gear and said second gear such that
when activated, said motor causes said first gear to rotate which
further causes said idler gear to rotate and said second gear to
rotate.
3. The motorized toy of claim 1 wherein said motor is energized by
a battery pack housed within said body.
4. The motorized toy of claim 1 wherein said body is in the shape
of an animal having head and tail sections, said first and second
shafts emulating legs of said animal and said first, second, third
and fourth extensions emulating feet of said animal.
5. The motorized toy of claim 1 wherein said first, second, third
and fourth extensions are selectively in contact with said
horizontal support when said toy is activated by said motor driving
said first and second wheels.
6. The motorized toy of claim 5 whereas when said first, second,
third and fourth extensions selectively contact said horizontal
support, said first, second, third and fourth extensions extend
below said wheels causing said motorized toy to selectively tilt
from one side to another.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention is directed to a motorized toy which,
because of its unique structural features, emulates the
side-to-side wobble action imitating a running lizard. The toy is
captivating not only for children but pets which find the action of
the present toy intriguing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are almost a limitless number of motorized toys
designed to captivate both children and animals. Like the present
invention, such toys are often times configured to replicate the
look of a familiar bug or animal and move either linearly or
haphazardly to meet the design goals of the toy's fabricators.
[0003] One such animal that most observers find intriguing is a
lizard. Reptiles, such as lizards, can scurry across a support
surface with a front leg on one side of its body being coordinated
with a rear leg on the other side of its body causing the reptile
to move in a waddle-like fashion. Such motion is challenging to
replicate although if it can be replicated, the toy would be
captivating.
[0004] It is thus an object to the present invention to provide a
motorized toy which is self-propelled, structurally uncomplicated,
and yet capable of replicating the waddle-like action of a lizard
or similar reptile.
[0005] This and further objects will be more readily apparent when
considering the following disclosure and appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A motorized toy capable of linear movement along a
horizontal support surface, the motorized toy comprising a body,
the body housing a motor, a power supply for the motor, a first
wheel including a gear coupled to the motor, a first shaft fixed to
the first wheel, the first shaft having first and second ends
extending substantially equal distances from the body, the first
end of the first shaft having a first extension and the second end
of the first shaft having a second extension each angled to the
first shaft such that when a first of the extensions extends toward
the horizontal support, the second of the extensions is angled away
there from, a second wheel including a second gear coupled to the
first gear, a second shaft fixed to the second wheel, the second
shaft having first and second ends extending substantially equal
distances from the body, the first end of the second shaft having a
third extension and the second end of the second shaft having a
fourth extension each angled to the second shaft such that when the
third extension extends toward the horizontal support, the fourth
extension is angled away there from, the first and third extensions
emanating from a first side of the body and the second and fourth
extensions emanating from a second side of the body such that when
in operation, the motorized toy travels over the horizontal support
resulting from rotation of the first and second wheels in contact
there with, the first and fourth extensions extending toward and
contacting the horizontal support simultaneously and the second and
third extensions extending toward and contacting the horizontal
support simultaneously.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the motorized toy of the
present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side view showing, in phantom, certain internal
components of the motorized toy of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the motorized toy of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Novel features which are characteristic of the invention, as
to organization and method of operation, together with further
objects and advantages thereof will be better understood from the
following description considered in connection with the
accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the
invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly
understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration
description only and are not intended as definitions of the limits
of the invention. The various features of novelty which
characterize the invention are recited with particularity in the
claims.
[0011] There has been broadly outlined more important features of
the invention in the summary above and in order that the detailed
description which follows may be better understood, and in order
that the present contribution to the art may be appreciated. There
are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be
described hereinafter and which will form additional subject matter
of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will
appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based
readily may be utilized as a basis for the designing of other
structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several
purposes of the present invention. It is important therefore, that
claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
[0012] Certain terminology and the derivations thereof may be used
in the following description for convenience and reference only,
and will not be limiting. For example, words such as "upward,"
"downward," "left," and "right" refer to directions in the drawings
to which reference is made unless otherwise stated. Similar words
such as "inward" and "outward" refer to directions toward and away
from, respectively, the geometric center of a device or area and
designated parts thereof. Reference in the singular tense include
the plural and vice versa, unless otherwise noted.
[0013] Turning first to FIG. 1, motorized toy 10 is shown having
body 13. Body 13 can take many different shapes and configurations
to emulate a bug or animal although, as a preferred embodiment, the
shape is generally that of a reptile, such as a lizard, having head
11 and tail 12 and having a plush outer cover 14 over rigid halves
27 and 28 (FIG. 3).
[0014] Body 13 includes a power supply such as batteries 62 for
powering motor 61 and, a first wheel 52 including gear 54 coupled
to motor 61.
[0015] First shaft 22 is fixed to wheel 52 which, in a first
embodiment, can be substantially linear as depicted in FIG. 3. When
motorized toy 10 is configured, first shaft 22 is characterized as
having first and second ends 22a and 22b extending equal distances
from body 13, first end 22a of first shaft 22 having first
extension 36 and second end 22b of first shaft 22 having second
extension 38 each angled to first shaft 22 such that when first
extension 36 extends toward horizontal support surface 7, second
extension 38 is angled away there from.
[0016] Second wheel 51 including second gear 53 is coupled to first
gear 54. A second shaft 21 is fixed to second wheel 51, the second
shaft 21 having first and second ends 21a and 21b extending
substantially equal distances from body 13. First end 21a of second
shaft 21 is provided with a third extension 35 and second end 21b
of second shaft 21 is provided with fourth extension 37, each
angled to second shaft 21 such that when third extension 35 extends
towards horizontal support 7, fourth extension 37 is angled away
there from.
[0017] It is noted that first extension 36 and third extension 35
emanate from first side 71 of motorized toy 10 while second
extension 38 and fourth extension 37 emanate from second side 72 of
body 13 such that when in operation, motorized toy 10 is caused to
travel over horizontal support 7 as a result of the rotation of
first and second wheels 52 and 51 coupled together by idler gear
55, first and second wheels 52 and 51 remaining in contact with
horizontal support 7 throughout the operation of motorized toy 10.
Furthermore, it is noted that, in operation, first extension 36 and
fourth extension 37 extend toward and contact horizontal support 7
simultaneously while second extension 38 third extension 35 extend
toward and contact said horizontal support 7 simultaneously.
[0018] It is further noted that because of the relative narrow
"footprint" created by wheels 52 and 51, when energized, motorized
toy 10 tends to wobble, said wobbling action being encouraged
further by the spinning action of first and second shafts 22 and 21
and the extensions appended thereto. As the motorized toy moves
linearly, its wobble action is maintained while first, second,
third and fourth extensions selectively contact horizontal support
7 as they selectively extend below wheels 51 and 52 causing
motorized toy 10 to selectively tilt from one side to another,
these extensions also preventing motorized toy 10 from tipping
over. The action created by the synergistic interaction of the
parts of motorized toy 10 is captivating as the toy's linear and
wobble movement replicates that of a reptile, such as a lizard,
which both children and animals find captivating.
[0019] The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary
skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best
mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the
inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete
disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is not
desired to limit the invention to the exact construction,
dimensions, relationships, or operations as described. Various
modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents
will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed
as suitable without departing from the true spirit and scope of the
invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials,
components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms,
functions, operational features or the like. Therefore, the above
description and illustration should not be considered as limiting
the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *