U.S. patent number 3,793,766 [Application Number 05/282,886] was granted by the patent office on 1974-02-26 for telephone-talking figure toy simulator.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Mattel, Inc.. Invention is credited to Leonard R. Moquin, Jurgis Sapkus.
United States Patent |
3,793,766 |
Moquin , et al. |
* February 26, 1974 |
TELEPHONE-TALKING FIGURE TOY SIMULATOR
Abstract
Figure toy holds a first simulated telephone handset
camouflaging a switch or other electrical connection to an electric
phonograph in the figure toy or in a toy telephone having a second
simulated handset through which sounds may be transmitted from the
phonograph to a child-user. When the phonograph is in the figure
toy, these sounds are picked up by the first simulated handset
which is connected to the second simulated handset. When the
phonograph is in the telephone, sounds are picked up directly by
the second simulated handset through a hollow tube having one end
provided with a sound-pick-up horn mounted in the telephone over
the phonograph speaker and another end connected to the receiver
portion of the second simulated handset.
Inventors: |
Moquin; Leonard R. (Los
Angeles, CA), Sapkus; Jurgis (Manhattan Beach, CA) |
Assignee: |
Mattel, Inc. (Hawthorne,
CA)
|
[*] Notice: |
The portion of the term of this patent
subsequent to November 14, 1989 has been disclaimed. |
Family
ID: |
23083548 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/282,886 |
Filed: |
August 21, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/142 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H
33/3016 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63H
33/30 (20060101); A63h 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;46/33,117,175AR,232 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mancene; Louis G.
Assistant Examiner: Cutting; Robert F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Shirk; Max E. Jankosky; Franklin
D.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In combination with a figure toy, a simulated telephone system,
comprising:
a sound producing device;
a toy telephone device;
the means associated with said toy telephone device for controlling
th operation of said sound producing device; and
simulated telephone handset means connecting said figure toy to
said controlling means in such a manner that said sound producing
device operates only when said handset means is connected to said
figure toy.
2. The combination stated in claim 1, wherein:
a second simulated telephone handset connected to said toy
telephone device for a user of said toy telephone device.
3. The combination stated in claim 2, including:
means connecting said second simulated telephone handset to said
sound producing device for transmitting sounds therefrom to said
user through said second simulated telephone handset.
4. In combination with a figure toy, a simulated telephone system,
comprising:
a sound producing device;
means for controlling the operation of said sound producing
device;
toy telephone means including at least one base and first and
second simulated handsets, said toy telephone means housing at
least one of said sound producing device and said controlling
means; and
means connecting said controlling means to said figure toy through
one of said simulated handsets, said other simulated handset being
connected to said base for use by a user of said telephone system,
whereby a simulated conversation may be carried on with said figure
toy.
5. The combination stated in claim 4 wherein said sound producing
device is mounted in said figure toy.
6. The combination stated in claim 4 wherein said sound producing
device is mounted in said at least one base.
7. The combination stated in claim 6 wherein said controlling means
includes a first switch means mounted in said base and a second
switch mounted in said one simulated handset and wherein said
connecting means includes a hand on said figure toy to which said
one simulated handset is connected in such a manner that said
second switch in actuated.
8. The combination stated in claim 5 wherein said sound producing
device is an electrically-operated phonograph, wherein said
connecting means includes an electric receptacle mounted on said
figure toy in electrical communication with said phonograph and
wherein said controlling means includes an electric switch mounted
on said base in electrical communication with said electric
plug.
9. A telephone-talking figure toy simulator comprising:
a figure toy having a sound producing device incorporated
therein;
switch means for energizing said sound producing device, said
switch means including a first simulated telephone handset and a
simulated telephone base;
a second simulated telephone handset;
sound conducting means connecting said simulated handsets together
for conducting sound from said first simulated handset to said
second simulated handset; and
means placing said first simulated handset in sound-transmitting
communication with said sound producing device.
10. A telephone-talking figure toy simulator, comprising:
a figure toy having a hand, said hand having means provided thereon
for connecting a simulated telephone handset thereto;
a simulated telephone including a base, a phonograph device mounted
in said base and first and second simulated telephone handsets, one
of said handsets being provided with switch means for controlling
the operation of said phonograph device and with connecting means
coacting with said hand-connecting-means for connecting said one
handset to said hand in such a manner that said switch is moved to
a phonograph-energizing position;
means connecting said switch to said phonograph device; and
means placing the other handset in sound communication with said
phonograph device.
11. In combination with a figure toy, a simulated telephone system,
comprising:
a sound producing device mounted in said figure toy;
a toy telephone device;
controlling means associated with said toy telephone device for
controlling the operation of said sound producing device;
means coupling said controlling means to said sound producing
device; and
means for actuating said controlling means to operate said sound
producing device.
12. In combination with a figure toy, a simulated telephone system,
comprising:
a sound producing device;
a toy telephone device;
controlling means associated with said toy telephone device for
controlling the operation of said sound producing device;
simulated telephone handset means coupled to said controlling means
and adapted for connecting said figure toy to said controlling
means;
means coupling said handset means to said figure toy; and
means for actuating said controlling means to operate said sound
producing device, said actuating means being rendered operable by
said coupling means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains generally to the field of animated figure
toys and more particularly to a telephone-talking figure toy
simulator.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Figure toys and simulated telephones having phonograph devices
incorporated therein are known to applicants.
However, applicants are not aware of any prior art
telephone-talking figure toy simulators, except the one disclosed
in copending application No. 214,802, filed January 3, 1972 by Noel
F. Beasley and Ray Wever and held by the assignee of the instant
application.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
THe primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and
useful telephone-talking figure toy simulator.
According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a sound
producing device or phonograph is mounted in a toy telephone base.
A first simulated telephone handset is adapted to be used by a
child-user of the device and is connected to the telephone base by
a hollow tube having a sound-pickup horn mounted inside the base
adjacent the phonograph speaker for receiving sound therefrom. A
second simulated handset carries a first electric switch for
energizing the phonograph and includes means for connecting it to
the hand of a figure toy in such a manner that the switch is closed
as long as the second handset is in the figure toy's hand. A second
switch is carried by the toy telephone and is in series with the
first switch so that both switches must be actuated before the
phonograph is energized. The second switch may be actuated by a
child-user after dialing the toy telephone to simulate the
completion of a call to the figure toy.
According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the
figure toy is provided with the sound producing device which may be
connected to a switch in the telephone base by electrical plug-in
means including a first simulated telephone handset placed on the
figure toy. The second simulated telephone handset includes sound
transmitting means connecting it to the first handset which has a
sound-pickup horn positioned adjacent the sound producing device in
the figure toy. Thus, the sound producing device in the figure toy
may be actuated from a location spaced from the figure toy by a
user of the second handset in simulation of a telephone call from
the user of the second handset to the figure toy.
In both embodiments the sound producing device is shown herein for
purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, as comprising a
battery operated phonograph having an electrical switch either
concealed in the hand of the figure toy, or inside the telephone
base, or at both locations.
The features of the present invention which are believed to be
novel are set forth with particularly in the appended claims. The
present invention, both as to its organization and manner of
operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof,
may best be understood by reference to the following description,
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like
reference characters refer to like elements in the several
views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a telephone-talking figure toy
constituting a first embodiment of the present invention and
depicts a child-user carrying on a simulated conversation with a
doll through a simulated child's telephone;
FIG. 2 is an elevational view, with parts shown in cross-section,
of the telephone used in the simulator of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, transverse, cross-sectional view of the
sound producing device mounted in the telephone of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the sound producing
device of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a telephone-talking figure toy
simulator constituting a second embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 6 is an elevational view, with parts shown in cross-section,
of the telephone used in the simulator of FIG. 5 and
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one hand of the figure toy shown in
FIG. 5.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring again to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1
and 2, a telephone-talking figure toy simulator constituting a
first embodiment of the present invention, generally designated 10,
includes a sound producing device 12 which is mounted in the base
13 of a toy telephone device 14 (FIG. 2) in sound communication
with a sound-pickup horn 16 having a sound outlet 18 connected to a
first end 20 of a hollow tube 22 whose second end 24 is connected
to a first simulated telephone handset 26 adapted to be used by a
child-user 28 to receive sounds from sound producing device 12.
A controlling means 30 is associated with telephone device 14 for
controlling the operation of sound producing device 12 and includes
a first electric switch 32, which is mounted in base 13, and a
second electric switch 34, which is mounted in a second simulated
telephone handset 36. Each switch 32, 34 includes a fixed contact
38 and a movable contact 40 which may be closed by a plunger 42,
43, respectively. Plunger 42 is biased to a non-operative position
by a spring 44 and plunger 43 is biased to an operative position by
a spring 45. Switches 32, 34 are placed in series with each other
by leads 46, 48 and 50. Lead 46 has a first end 52 connected to the
first contact 38 which is located in the second handset 36 and a
second end 54 connected to the movable contact 40 which is located
in base 13. Lead 48 has a first end 56 connected to the movable
contact 40 which is located in handset 36 and a second end 58
connected to one side of the battery means 60 (FIG. 3) which powers
sound producing device 12. Lead 50 has one end 62 connected to the
fixed contact 38 which is mounted in base 13 and a second end 64
connected to the other side of battery means 60, through suitable
leads and a motor to be hereinafter described.
The second simulated handset 36 connects a figure toy 62 to
controlling means 30 in such a manner that sound producing device
12 operates only when handset 36 is connected to figure toy 62.
This is accomplished by mounting plunger 42 on handset 36 in such a
position that plunger 42 is depressed to close switch 34 when
handset 36 is secured in hand 64 by engaging a protuberance 66 on
hand set 36 in a cavity 68 in hand 64 (FIG. 2).
Plunger 43 for switch 32 is mounted on base 13 between a pair of
handset cradles 70, 72 in a position such that handset 26 will
depress plunger 43 and open switch 32 when handset 26 is in
position on cradles 70, 72. Then, assuming that handset 36 is in
position in hand 64 with switch 30 closed, sound producing device
12 will be energized as soon as handset 26 is removed from cradles
70, 72. The toy telephone device 14 is equipped with a rotatable
dial 74 simulating a regular telephone dial. A child-user 28 may
dial a number on dial 74 and then lift handset 26 whereupon sound
producing device 12 will be energized.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, sound producing device 12 is shown
herein for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, as
comprising an electrically operated toy phonograph. The phonograph
12 includes a housing 76 including a front housing half 78 and a
rear housing half 80. Front housing half 78 is provided with an
annular shoulder 82 in which a speaker grille 84 and a speaker cone
86 are mounted. A vibration-transmitting member 88 is operatively
connected to speaker cone 86 and is biased into engagement with a
crossbar 90 on a tone arm 92 by a compression spring 94.
The tone arm 92 includes a first end 96 which is pivotally
connected to a fixed pin 98 affixed to rear housing half 80 and a
free end 100 which carries a phonograph needle 102 and the crossbar
90. Free end 100 is provided with an extension 104 which carries a
depending pin 106 extending into operative engagement wit a
snail-type, tone arm reset or return mechanism 108 loosely resting
on a rubber pad 110 carried by a central hub 112 forming an
integral part of a turntable 114.
Turntable 114 includes an integral spindle 116 having a first end
118 journaled in the front housing half 80 and second end 120
journaled in the front housing half 78. A belt 122 connects
turntable 114 to an electric motor 124 through a suitable governor
means 126 which controls the angular velocity of turntable 114 in
such a manner that a phonograph record 128 carried thereby will
uniformly transmit suitable vibrations to needle 102. Needle 102
tracks record 128 with depending pin 106 following a radial rib 130
on return mechanism 108 until needle 102 drops off the inner edge
132 of record 128. Extension 104 will then engage mechanism 108 to
support tone arm 92 and a switch-engaging finger 134, carried by
tone arm 92, will engage an electrical contact 136 moving it away
from a fixed contact 138 for opening an electrical circuit to motor
124 so that turntable 114 stops. When motor 124 is agsin energized,
by closing switches 32, 34, reset meachanism 108 will rotate with
record 128 because of the weight of tone arm 92. Rotation of
mechanism 108 returns tone arm 92 to its FIG. 3 position at the
beginning-of-play of the information recorded on record 128. A tone
arm stop 140 may be provided in rear housing half 80 for engagement
by tone arm 92 to prevent it from being carried beyond the outer
periphery 142 of record 128.
Fixed contact 138 is connected to motor 124 by electrical leads 144
and 146, respectively. Moveable contact 136 is connected to motor
124 by electrical leads 148 and 150.
Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, a telephone-talking figure toy
simulator constituting a second embodiment of the present
invention, generally designated 10A, includes a figure toy 62A
having the sound producing device 12 of FIGS. 3 and 4 incorporated
therein. A simulated telephone device 14A is shown in combination
with figure toy 62A and includes a first simulated handset 26A
which is connected to a second simulated handset 36A by a
sound-transmitting tube 22A, through base 13A of telephone device
14A.
Controlling means 30A are associated with toy telephone device 14A
for controlling the operation of sound producing device 12. These
controlling means include a switch 32A, which is mounted in base
13A and an electrical plug 160, which is mounted on handset 36A.
Switch 32A includes a fixed contact 38A and a moveable contact 40A
which may be closed by a plunger 43A through section of the action
spring 45A when handset 26A is removed from its cradles 70A, 72A.
Fixed contact 38A is connected to one prong of plug 160 by a lead
162 and moveable contact is connected to the other prong of plug
160 by a lead 164. Plug 160 is adapted to engage a socket 166 in
the hand 64A of figure toy 62A and complete a circuit to sound
producing device 12 through leads 168, 170 which pass through an
arm 172 on figure toy 62A into a parallel circuit (not shown)
leading to motor 124 (FIG. 3) in sound producing device 12 from its
switch 136, 138.
Handset 36A is in sound communication with sound producing device
12 through a sound tube 174 having a first sound-collecting funnel
176 positioned adjacent the mouth 178 of figure toy 62A and a
second sound-collecting funnel 16A connected to speaker grille 84
on sound producing device 12.
In use, child-user 28 may dial a number on a dial 74A of simulated
toy telephone device 14A and then lift handset 26A. This permits
spring 45A to move plunger 43A to a switch-closing position
overriding open switch 136, 138 in sound producing device 12. This
energizes sound producing device 12 which plays one of the messages
recorded on record 128 causing sound to be transmitted through
speaker cone 84, funnel 16A, tube 174, funnel 176, handset 36A,
tube 22A and handset 26A to the child-user 28. When the recorded
message finishes playing, tone arm 92 (FIG. 3) will open switch
136, 138. The child-user may then replace handset 26A on cradles
70A, 72A to overcome spring 45A and move plunger 43A to a
switch-opening position.
While the particular telephone-talking figure toy simulators herein
shown and described in detail are fully capable of attaining the
objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to
be understood that they are merely illustrative of the presently
preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are
intended to the details of construction or design herein shown
other than as defined in the appended claims, which form a part of
this disclosure.
* * * * *