U.S. patent number 3,702,038 [Application Number 05/193,756] was granted by the patent office on 1972-11-07 for toys with sound producing means.
Invention is credited to Louise Z. Hakim.
United States Patent |
3,702,038 |
Hakim |
November 7, 1972 |
TOYS WITH SOUND PRODUCING MEANS
Abstract
Toys incorporate sound producing components in such manner that
the components cannot become dislodged from the toy structure. In a
first embodiment, the sound producing component is a separate
element but is embedded in a boss formed on the toy wall, the boss
and wall including interfitting means which engage the component to
securely anchor it in place. The material of fabrication of the toy
fully envelopes the sound producing component. In the second
embodiment, the sound producing component is formed integrally with
the toy and has a conical sound chamber with an associated bellows
operated responsive to squeezing of the toy walls.
Inventors: |
Hakim; Louise Z. (Monroe,
LA) |
Family
ID: |
22714882 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/193,756 |
Filed: |
October 29, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/184 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H
3/28 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63H
3/00 (20060101); A63H 3/28 (20060101); A63h
005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;46/175,178,179,180,117,118 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mancene; Louis G.
Assistant Examiner: Weinhold; D. L.
Claims
I claim:
1. A squeeze toy comprising:
a body portion with a deformable area for expulsion of air
therefrom upon deformation;
the toy including a wall;
the wall having an enlarged inwardly extending boss thereon;
the wall and the boss having a compound opening formed therein and
extending fully therethrough;
a noise emitting device mounted in said boss and adapted to sound
upon the passage of expelled air therethrough responsive to
deformation of the body portion;
said wall having an outer surface;
the opening being enlarged at said outer surface;
said noise emitting device having a bottom radially enlarged
annular portion;
and said wall including a flange engaged over the bottom annular
portion of said noise emitting device to prevent the withdrawal of
the noise emitting device through said opening.
2. The invention of claim 1, wherein;
the wall has an outer surface;
the opening being enlarged at said outer surface;
the noise emitting device having a bottom annular portion; and
the wall including a flange engaged over the bottom annular portion
and preventing the withdrawal of the noise emitting device through
the opening.
3. The invention of claim 2, wherein;
the noise emitting device includes an intermediate skirt member;
and
the boss has a central flange engaged between the bottom annular
portion and the intermediate skirt.
4. The invention of claim 3, wherein:
the boss is of an inward extent at least greater than the inward
extent of the noise emitting device.
5. The invention of claim 3, wherein: the skirt has a slant wall in
the direction of insertion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to safety toys for infants and young
children, the toys being constructed in such manner as to diminish
the likelihood of injury to the user by virtue of dislodgement of
components.
2. Statement of the Prior Art
Toys of the squeeze variety have long been provided with sound
producing components or "squeakers." Such devices have recently
fallen under adverse scrutiny due to the possibility of these
squeakers being dislodged during play. In such instance there is a
possibility of the component being swallowed or otherwise causing
harm to a young child.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention contemplates production of squeeze toys
having noise producing devices operative upon deformation of the
body of the toy wherein the possibility of accidental disengagement
of the devices from the toy is effectively eliminated. In achieving
this objective it is the principal purpose of the invention to
supply a toy as aforesaid wherein a noise emitting device is
embedded in a particularly formed section of the toy, or
alternatively is formed as an integral component of the toy per se.
By these expedients the invention insures the safety of the
children using the toys while retaining the interest level of
children through the incorporation of sound producing means.
Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of
the following specification when read in conjunction with the
annexed drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a frontal view of a toy with a portion broken away for
disclosure of a sound emitting device incorporated therein in
accordance with this invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken on line 2--2 of
FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 3 is a further cross section on line 3--3 of FIG. 1, looking
in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 4 is a vertical cross section of a modified form of the
invention;
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the modification, taken
on line 5--5 of FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing another
modification.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring initially to FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawing, a toy of a
representative type embodying the invention is therein identified
by reference numeral 10. The toy is formed of rubber, synthetic
materials, plastic or similar substances having the characteristics
of deformability and a plastic memory for return to original
configuration after deformation. The toy 10 is substantially hollow
or includes at least a deformable area or portion which is hollow.
The toy includes a wall 12 (in this instance the base of the
device) in proximity to the deformable area (here the central body
14 of the toy) and the wall includes an outer surface 13.
The wall 12 is formed with an enlarged inwardly extending boss 16
which is preferably integral with the body of the toy. The wall and
boss have a compound opening 18 formed therein described in more
detail below.
A noise emitting device 20 is mounted in the boss 16 and includes a
straight section 22, having a whistle 23, an intermediate skirt 24
having a slant wall 26 and a perpendicular shoulder 28, and a
bottom annular ring portion 30. The noise emitting device 20 is
fully embedded in the boss 16. It will be observed in FIG. 2 that
the opening 18 is substantially enlarged at the outer surface 13 of
the toy wall providing a shallow, cupped inward opening 32. The
wall, at the termination of the opening 32, has a flange section 34
defining an opening 36 and overlying fully the ring 30. Similarly,
the boss 16 includes a central inward flange 38 which occupies the
space between the shoulder 28 of the skirt member and the ring thus
effectively preventing movement of the noise emitting device
relative to the boss.
From the foregoing it is to be noted that the noise emitting device
is fully encased and cannot be removed from the toy without
destruction of the boss and wall. Operation is the same as that
involved in conventional squeeze toys, that is, deformation of the
toy in the area 14 or other deformable portion causes the emission
of air through the noise emitting device with a consequent sound.
When the body of the device is released, and returns to its
original configuration, air is drawn therein through the noise
emitting device.
In FIGS. 4 and 5 a noise producing means 100 is formed integral
with a toy wall 102 having an outer surface 104. In this form of
the invention, the toy per se is not shown in the drawing, but it
will be understood that the device projects inwardly into the body
portion of a toy of the type described above.
The means 100 comprises an annular, inwardly extending cone element
106 defining a sound chamber 108 of similar configuration. The wall
104 has an annular extension 110 with a central opening 112, the
extension 110 partially closing the chamber 108. The means 100
further includes a bellows or expansion section 114 having a top
wall 116 and a side wall 118 of reduced thickness. The bellows top
wall has a compound opening therein to the toy interior including
an enlarged first section 120 and an air entry portion 122 leading
to the expansion chamber 124 provided by the bellows. Air from the
bellows is expelled into the sound chamber 108 through an opening
126. From the foregoing it is seen that the squeezing of the toy
wall results in forcing air through the openings 120, 122 into the
expansible bellows from which it is subsequently propelled into the
sound chamber 108 at a slower rate. This differentiation of rate
results in a squeaking sound of interest to infants and children.
In this form of the invention there is no possibility of
disengagement of the noise producing means without destruction of
the toy inasmuch as the entire sound producing means is formed as
an integral part of the toy.
In FIG. 6 of the drawings, it will be observed that the material of
fabrication of the toy wall 12 extends at least over the skirt 24,
but does not extend the full height of the noise emitting device
20.
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