Strip-projecting Squeeze Toy

Abstract

A squeeze toy wherein an elongated flexible element is disposed within a body having squeezable walls, the substantial length of the flexible element being projected from the body through an opening wherein upon the application of inward pressure to the walls causing a compression of air within the body which impinges the flexible element and carries the substantial length of it outwardly through the opening.

Description

The present invention generally appertains to improvements in novelty devices, which serve as a source of amusement or entertainment, and more particularly, relates to new and novel improvements in action-type novelty devices, that is, novelty devices which are constructed to produce some sort of fascinating, amusing and entertaining action as opposed to novelty devices which are devoid of movable parts and which amuse or entertain solely because of their appearance.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novelty device which includes a body that is adapted to be manually manipulated in such a way as to produce a dartlike movement of an elongated flexible element outwardly from the body.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an action novelty device comprising an elastic or flexible hollow body having an elongated flexible element freely lying within the confines of the body and being projected swiftly outwardly through an opening in the body, in a movement visually equatable to the squirt of a fluid from a container, under air pressure created by squeezing the body.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide an action novelty device, which can be inexpensively and speedily mass produced, which consists of simple and few relatively moving components, which will be inexpensive to purchase and which will have universal appeal to all age groups.

An important feature of the present invention is to provide means for braking the swift outwardly projecting movement of the flexible element and for preventing passage through the opening in the body of the entire extent of the flexible element. Such means is provided on the inner end of the flexible element and may consist of an enlarged inner end, which is larger than the diameter of the opening in the body or which may comprise enlargement means formed or fixed to the inner end of the flexible element.

Preferably, it is intended that the enlargement means on the inner end of the flexible element be structurally associated with the body in such a way that it can be used also to draw the projected flexible element back into the body and relocate the flexible element in a free state within the confines of the body for subsequent projection thereof through the opening.

A further important feature of the present invention is to provide means on the outer end of the flexible element for preventing movement of the outer end into the interior of the body. Preferably, such means is provided and formed on the outer end in a manner to close off the opening in the body and to provide a surface against which the air pressure streams, created by squeezing the hollow elastic or flexible body, impinge to produce the projectilelike movement of the flexible element from the body. Such means on the outer end may be formed also to function as a striker for hitting a target, an object or the like. In this respect, such means may possess magnetic qualities so that it can strike and attract an object in a manner, so to speak, as to "catch" the object.

In line with the foregoing objects and structural features, it is a further object of the present invention to provide an action-type toy which is shaped and formed in a manner simulative of an animal or human form, having a head portion, and wherein the flexible element would constitute a "darting tongue" in association with the head portion. However, such is not intended to be restrictive, since the body can be made in any shape, size or form, simulating or not simulating any real or fictionary animate or inanimate object.

The foregoing and ancillary objects are attained, the structural features provided and the advantages obtained by the present invention, the preferred embodiments of which are described in the following description, succinctly pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of one embodiment of the present invention, wherein the body of the action novelty device is formed and shaped to simulate a frog;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical cross-sectional view of the body, shown in FIG. 1, and illustrating one type of anchoring means on the inner end of the elongated flexible element;

FIG. 3 is a detailed, vertical cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the body, showing the relationship of the opening in the body with the elongated flexible element and the means on the outer end of the flexible element; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of another form of the body with the elongated flexible element in an outwardly projected position.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, and initially to FIGS. 1--3, the present invention relates to an action-type novelty device which may be made in any form, shape or size and which may or may not be shaped to simulate an animal or human form. For exemplary purposes only, the body 10 of FIGS. 1--3 is shown in the shape of a frog. The body 10 is formed from suitable flexible or elastic material and is a hollow body having an opening 12. The body 10, in its frog shape and appearance, has a head portion 14 with a mouth portion 16 having an inner end 18 in which the opening 12 is formed.

An elongated flexible element 20, which may be in the form of a nylon string or cord of lightweight material, is provided and is normally freely housed in its entirety, except for its outer end, and, in some constructions its inner end, within the confines of the body 10 and is adapted to be projected outwardly through the opening 12 in a swift, dartlike manner. The flexible element 20 has an outer end 22 which is enlarged so as to prevent the passage of the outer end 22 through the body opening 12 into the interior of the body.

Preferably, as illustrated, an enlargement member 24 is fixed on the outer end 22 of the flexible element. The enlargement member 24 has a tapering inner portion 26, which cooperates with the tapered shape of the opening 12 so as to seat removably therein and close off the opening 12. The enlargement member 24 is seated in the opening 12 and is subject to the air pressure built up in the body by manually squeezing the flexible body, as shown in FIG. 1, so that, in a venturi effect of the air passing through the restricted opening 12, after dislodging and acting on the enlargement member 24, the elongated flexible element is swiftly projected outwardly through the opening 12 in a dartlike action. The outer end of the enlargement member 24 may be suitably shaped for decorative purposes in complementary association with the type and form of the body 10 and its head portion 14. For example, it may represent the tongue of the frog.

Means is provided on the inner end 28 of the elongated flexible element 20 to brake the outwardly projecting movement of the flexible element through the opening 12 and to prevent the inner end 28 from being completely ejected through the opening 12 and out from the body. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a plug 30 is provided and has an eyelet 32 formed on its inner end to which the inner end of the flexible element 20 is knotted. The rear portion of the body 10 is provided with an opening 34 within which the plug 30 is seated. The plug 30 seals off the opening 34 and renders the body 10 airtight. A handle 36 is provided on the outer end of the plug so that the plug may be manually grasped and removed from the opening 34. In this respect, by removing the plug and pulling the plug away from the body, the projected flexible element 20 can be withdrawn into the confines of the body 10, and the part of the flexible element pulled out through the opening 34 can be allowed to drop back into the interior of the body 10 through the opening 34 and the plug reseated in the opening 34.

In use, the body 10 is manually squeezed, as shown in FIG. 1, so that the air inside the body acts on the outer end of the flexible elongated element 20 and projects the flexible element 20 outwardly from the confines of the body through the opening 12 in a swift, dartlike action. For example, the action, with relation to the frog of FIGS. 1--3, will be simulative of the darting action of the tongue of a frog. In simple constructions, the enlargement 24 can be merely a knot in the flexible element 20.

In FIG. 4, the body 10' is shown in a shape simulative of an anteater. The elongated flexible element 20' has an outer end 24', which may possess magnetic qualities, either by virtue of being a magnet itself or by having suitable magnetic means associated therewith. This will permit the enlargement 24' to strike and attract an object 38, which may be shaped in a way to simulate an ant, and "catch" the object. The handle 36', attached to the plug 30', may be shaped to simulate a tail.

While the best known forms of the present invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is obvious that other forms may be realized and that structural changes may be made, within the concept of the invention, as falling within the spirit in terms of the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A novelty device comprising a flexible hollow body having an opening, an elongated flexible element slidably extending through the opening and disposed within said body and moveable between a first position in which substantially all of said flexible element is hidden from view relative to the exterior of the body and a second position in which a substantial portion of said flexible element extends from said body, said flexible element having an inner end and an outer end, means provided on the outer end of the flexible element for releasably seating in the opening to prevent the outer end from passing through the opening into the interior of the body with the flexible element lying substantially freely in the body, the edge of said body defining said opening constituting means cooperable with said flexible element so that when squeezed, said body will collapse causing air inside the body to act against the means on the outer end of the flexible element and between said opening edge and said flexible element to project the flexible element outwardly in a swift movement through the body opening, and means provided on the flexible element preventing the passage of the inner end thereof out through the body opening so as to prevent complete separation of the flexible element from the body.

2. An amusement device comprising a flexible hollow body having a wall with opening means therein, a thin elongated means slidably extending through said opening means and movable between a first position in which substantially all of said elongated means is hidden from view relative to the exterior of said hollow body, and a second position in which a substantial portion of said elongated means extends from said hollow body, said body being manually gripped and squeezed for compressing air therewithin, said opening means being cooperable with said elongated means whereby manual squeezing of said body to compress air within the hollow body will force a stream of said compressed air through said opening means to impinge on said elongated means with said stream of impinging air moving said elongated means from said first position to said second position.

3. A squeeze toy device comprising in combination:

resilient means having a contractable chamber formed therein, said resilient means having an aperture means formed therein which communicates said chamber with the atmosphere; and

elongated fibrous material means including an elongated piece of said material of diameter slightly less than said aperture means one end of which extends through said aperture means and the other end of which is knotted and disposed within said chamber, said resilient means squeezable to force air outwardly through said aperture means, said forced air impinging said elongated means at said aperture means, whereby said air only imparts motion to said elongated means at said aperture in a direction outwardly of said chamber.

4. A squeeze toy device comprising in combination:

resilient means having a contractable chamber formed therein, said resilient means having an aperture means formed therein which communicates said chamber with the atmosphere; and

elongated fibrous means of diameter slightly less than said aperture means extending through said aperture means and into said chamber, said resilient means squeezable to force air outwardly through said aperture means, said forced air impinging said elongated means at said aperture means, whereby said air only imparts motion to said elongated means at said aperture means in a direction outwardly of said chamber.

5. An amusement device comprising a hollow body having a wall with opening means therein, a thin elongated means slidably extending through said opening means and movable between a first position in which substantially all of said elongated means is hidden from view relative to the exterior of said hollow body, and a second position in which a substantial portion of said elongated means extends from said hollow body, manually operable means operatively associated with said hollow body for compressing air therewithin, said opening means being cooperable with said elongated means whereby actuation of said manually operable means to compress air within the hollow body will force a stream of said compressed air through said opening means to impinge on said elongated means with said stream of impinging air moving said elongated means from said first position to said second position.

6. An amusement device, as claimed in claim 5, comprising means on the outer end of said elongated means attached to said outer end in a manner so that the outer end is disposed within the body when said means thereon is seated in said opening means and said outer end means being shaped to releasably fit in the opening means.

7. An amusement device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means on the outer end of said elongated means comprises an enlarged member having an inner end and an outer end, said outer end of said elongated means being attached to the inner end of said member so that when the member is seated in the opening means the outer end of the elongated means is hidden from view relative to the exterior of the body, said member being shaped to fit releasably in the opening means.

8. An amusement device, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said enlarged member possesses magnetic qualities.

9. An amusement device, as claimed in claim 5, comprising means on said elongated means preventing passage of the inner end thereof through said opening means to prevent complete separation of said elongated means from said body.

10. An amusement device, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said last named means comprises an enlargement formed on the inner end of the elongated means.

11. An amusement device, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said last-named means is anchored to the body.

12. An amusement device, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said body has another opening, and said last-named means includes an enlargement on the inner end of the elongated means and accessible to the outside of said body and removably seated in said other opening.

13. An amusement device, as claimed in claim 12, wherein said enlargement constitutes a plug that can be grasped exteriorly of the body and pulled out from the other opening to draw the projected portion of the elongated means back into the interior of the body.

14. An amusement device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said body is formed in a shape simulative of an animal or human form and has a head portion provided with a mouth section through which the opening means is formed and the elongated means simulates a darting tongue, said body having a second opening in the rear portion thereof, a plug removably seated in said second opening and attached to the inner end of said elongated means, and a handle on the outer side of said plug and simulating a tail for the body.