Egg Laying Toy Fowl

Abstract

An egg laying toy fowl is disclosed in which a funnel shaped container is provided in the body of the fowl for containing a supply of candy eggs. A lid is provided at the top of the container for filling it with the candy eggs. At the base of the funnel shaped container a sliding door is provided, held closed by a spring. The door is connected to a tail feather of the toy fowl such that movement of the tail feather will slide the door to open position, releasing one egg. A sound box connected to the sliding door makes a noise, such as a cackle, each time the door is moved to open position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to toy animals, and, more particularly, to a toy fowl which will lay eggs.

Many of the toys now on the market provide some action usually started in some manner by the child playing with the toy. These are generally considered desirable toys since they involve the child in the action, and often aid in teaching the child coordination. Many of the toy animals now on the market are of the passive type, since they usually do not have any action associated therewith. Further, there is not presently available an action toy animal which provides a realistic action which could aid the child's learning process. Thus, there is presently a need in the toy animal market for a toy animal which will provide a realistic action in conjunction with the child's play.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a realistic action toy animal.

A further object of this invention is to provide a toy fowl which will lay eggs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In carrying out this invention in one form, a toy fowl is provided which lays candy eggs. The body of the fowl is provided with a funnel shaped container having a movable closure at its large upper end. The lower, smaller end of the funnel shaped container is provided with a sliding door, held closed by a spring bias. One of the tail feathers of the fowl is connected to the door such that movement of the tail feather will open the door, allowing one of the candy eggs to drop from the container. When desired, a connection may be provided between the sliding door and a sound box, whereby movement of the door to open position will cause a sound such as clucking of a fowl.

The invention which is sought to be protected will be clearly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims appended hereto. However, it is believed that this invention, and the manner in which its various objects and advantages are obtained, together with other objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered together with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fowl constructed according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the fowl of FIG. 1, showing a preferred form of this invention in greater detail;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view of the preferred form of sliding door and opening; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred form of sliding door.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawing, in which like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views, the preferred form of the invention is shown in FIG. 1, which shows a fowl 10, for example a chicken, having a funnel shaped container 12 mounted in the body 14. The funnel shaped container has its large end at the top of body 14 and the small end at the bottom, as shown. Container 14 is provided with a lid 16, hinged at 18, to the top of the body 14. A handle or knob 20 is provided on lid 16 for obtaining access to container 14. The bottom of the funnel shaped container 14 is opened and is provided with a sliding door 22 which is spring biased by a spring 24 to a closed position. Also shown in FIG. 1 is a sound box 26 mounted in the neck 28 of the fowl 10. The sound box 26 is connected by a line 30 to the sliding door 22 such that movement of the door 22 pulls the line 30 to actuate the sound box 26 in a known manner.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the body 14 of fowl 10, showing the preferred form of this invention in greater detail. As there shown, body 14 has an opening 32 below the open bottom of the funnel shaped container 12. The sliding door 22 is spring biased to close this opening, by means of the spring 24. The end of door 22 opposite the spring 24 has attached thereto one end of a line 34, which is trained over rollers or pulleys 36 and 38. The other end of line 34 is attached to a tail feather 40. In the preferred form shown, the tail feather 40 is provided with rollers 42 and 44. As shown, tail feather 40 and rollers 42 and 44 roll in a chamber 46 in the tail of the fowl 10. As can be seen in FIG. 2, when the tail feather 40 is pulled outwardly, it rolls in the chamber 46 on the rollers 42 and 44, pulling on line 34. This pulls the sliding door 22 away from opening 32. The funnel shaped container 12 is filled with eggs 48, which may be chocolate candy eggs, jelly bean eggs, or any other type of eggs desired, for example, hard boiled real eggs. As the sliding door 22 is pulled away from the opening 32 by movement of tail feather 40, one of the eggs 48 will drop out of the opening 32. A plurality of spring fingers 50 are preferably provided, as shown, moving with the door 22 to close the opening 32 and prevent more than one egg 48 from dropping when the sliding door 22 is moved to open position, shown in FIG. 2.

Also shown in FIG. 2 is the line 30 which is attached to the sound box 26 (shown in FIG. 1). As shown, line 30 is trained around a roller or pulley 52 and connected to a bail 54 which is attached to sliding door 22. Thus, when sliding door 22 is moved away from opening 32, bail 54 pulls line 30 operating sound box 26. As will be understood, sound box 26 will provide a sound of a fowl, such as the cackle of a hen, or the quack of a duck.

The preferred construction of the sliding door 22 is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As there shown, door 22 is substantially rectangular, slightly larger than opening 32. Bail 54 is attached to the sides of door 22, around opening 32, so as not to obstruct the opening 32 when door 22 is moved to open position. The fingers 50 are mounted on the bail 54, on the bight portion thereof, and extend upwardly therefrom to provide clearance for one egg, but to prevent other eggs from dropping through the opening 32.

In the preferred form shown, funnel shaped container 12 is provided with a cavity 56, offset at the bottom, in the manner shown in FIG. 2. This cavity 56 receives the bail 54, the spring 24 and the spring fingers 50. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the spring fingers 50 will be in cavity 56, out of the way of the funnel opening when sliding door 22 is moved to closed position by spring 24.

While there has been shown and described the present preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the toy art that various changes may be made. For example, it will be apparent that the tail feather could be pivotally mounted rather than on rollers, as shown. Other changes within the spirit and scope of this invention will also be apparent.

Claims

What is claimed as new and which it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A toy fowl to simulate egg laying comprising:

a body;

a funnel shaped container in said body for receiving and containing eggs, said container having a large opening at the top of said body and a small opening at the bottom of said body;

an opening in the bottom of said body in line with the open bottom of said container;

a spring biased sliding door closing said opening;

a bail means on said sliding door;

spring biasing means connected to said bail; providing clearance for one egg but to prevent other eggs from dropping through the opening

a plurality of spring fingers connected to said bail and extending toward said sliding door, said spring fingers moving across said opening when said door is moved to open position;

a movable tail feather;

means interconnecting said a sliding door and said tail feather, whereby movement of said tail feather moves said sliding door away from said opening.

2. A toy fowl as claimed in claim 1 in which a sound box is mounted in said fowl;

a line operating said sound box;

said line connected to said sliding door such that movement of said door to open position operates said sound box.