US3763734A

US3763734A - Musical toy

Info

Publication number: US3763734A
Application number: US00256906A
Authority: US
Inventors: B Meyer; M Glass
Original assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
Current assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
Priority date: 1972-05-25
Filing date: 1972-05-25
Publication date: 1973-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-09
Also published as: CA972565A

Abstract

A toy vehicle including a whistle therein, and a drive means connected to a means for propelling the vehicle and further being connected to structure associated with the whistle for supplying air to the whistle and varying the pitch thereof so as to play a defined tune while the vehicle is propelled along a surface.

Description

0 l *1 l1 1 1111110 tates atent 1191 1111 3,763,733 Meyer et a1. @et. Q, 1973 MUSICAL TOY 1,599,736 9/1926 Wright 46/113 75 I B t C M D G 2,143,513 1/1939 1 nventorsf eye, ,owners 2,525,288 10 1950 Dasenbrock 46/113 fl Glass, Chlcago both of 3,200,538 8/1965 Glass et al. 46/232 [73] Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates, Chicago, Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Ill. Assistant Examiner-John F. Gonzales [22] Filed: May 25, 1972 Attorney-James F. Coffee at a].

[211 App]. No.: 256,906 [57] ABSTRACT A toy vehicle including a whistle therein, and a drive P552] $8.51. 84/83, 46/113 means connected to a means for propelling the vehicle .f and further being connected to structure associated [5 l e d 0 Search 84/83 46/111 with the whistle for supplying air to the whistle and 232 varying the pitch thereof so as to play a defined tune References Cited while the vehicle 1s propelled along a surface.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 18 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 3,602,189 8/1971 Suzuki 84/83 UX 3,473,260 10/1969 Kripak et al. 46/232 PATENTED 9' 3,763J34 sum 2 or 3 Musician. TOY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to toy vehicles and more particularly, to a toy vehicle which is self-propelled and plays a defined tune.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Self-propelled vehicles powered by an internal or remote source of power are generally fascinating to the user. Also fascinating are vehicles which play some sort of musical tune as they traverse a supporting surface. Commonly, it is known to provide pull toys wherein the interior of the toy is provided with suitable cam or lever or gear arrangements that move responsive to rotation of an axle to strike different sound producing surfaces to play a simulated tune.

Prior art known to the applicant which discloses simulated toy locomotives which produce sounds are as follows: to Boisselier U.S. Pat. No. 1,887,988 to Smith U.S. Pat. No. 2,461,664 to Dassenbrock U.S. Pat. No. 2,520,916.

Prior art known to the applicant which discloses a whistle or piston and cylinder type toy noise making device include the following: to Kripak U.S. Pat. No. 3,473,260 to Glass U.S. Pat. No. 3,200,538.

It is the object of this invention to meet the need and continuing desire in the art for an improved toy vehicle by providing a simulated toy vehicle which includes a pump fed whistle in the interior thereof with a single drive means and cam mechanism for driving the pump and changing the pitch of the whistle so that the toy vehicle may play a defined whistling tune as it propells itself along a supporting surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of an improved toy vehicle which plays a defined whistling tune as it propells itself along a supporting surface.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention includes the provision of a frame supporting a simulated vehicle housing and sets of wheels. A spring wound power source is provided in the frame and drives a shaft which has a main drive gear mounted thereon, which is in meshing engagement with at least one set of wheels for propelling the vehicle. In addition, the main drive shaft further supports and drives a multistaged cam wheel.

The frame further supports a tubular whistle structure in the interior thereof, having a movable diaphragm at one end and a slidable piston at the other end, with an aperture in a portion of the tubular wall intermediate the ends thereof. The movable diaphragm is driven off of a connection with the main drive shaft to serve as a pump or bellows for providing air to the whistle. The movable piston is driven off of an arm associated with a follower which tracks on one stage of the cam wheel to change the effective pitch of the whistle. Another follower which tracks on the cam wheel, drives a member which selectively opens and closes the opening in the whistle to block or permit the passage of air therethrough. Thus, as the vehicle propells itself along a supporting surface it also drives a means for pumping air to the whistle, a means for selectively exhausting air from the whistle, and another means for varying the pitch of the whistle so that it may play a defined tune.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of the toy vehicle of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a verticle section view through the toy vehicle shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken generally along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the drive and frame components of the toy vehicle of this invention.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The toy vehicle of this invention includes a body or means defining a housing I2 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is generally configured to appear as a steam locomotive. The body I2 includes a cab portion 14 and an engine housing 16 which supports simulated headlight structure 16a and simulated cow catcher 16b. A smokestack 18 extends upwardly from the engine housing. In addition, three pairs of

wheels

20, 22, 24 are supported on

axles

20a, 22a, and 24a, respectively, to support the toy vehicle It) relative to a supporting surface. A generally circular enlargement 26 is provided on one side of the body I2 having an opening 26a therein, in which is received a tune selection knob 28.

The toy vehicle 10 includes a frame means, provided here by the

frame plates

30 and 32 which support both the housing or body 12, and the several functional propulsion and sound producing components. A main winding shaft 34 is supported in the frame plates and is shown here as being generally square in cross sec tional configuration, as is conventional for such shafts. The shaft 34 is connected with the selection knob 28 by suitable screw and washer arrangement 35, so that shaft 34 may rotate independently of knob 28.

Knob 23 has an inwardly facing shoulder 36 which is stepped in three pairs of segments 36a, 36b and 360 of different axial extension. These shoulder segments bear against

like segments

37a, 37b and 37c of annular flange 37 of cam 33 to change the axial location of the cam 38 relative to shaft 33 as knob 28 is rotated.

Shaft 34 also supports a drive gear 40. Drive gear 40 has an enlarged hollow interior 40a and is in meshing engagement with a driven gear 42 on the axle 220 so that, as the shaft 34 is rotated, the sets of wheels 22 are directly driven to propel the toy vehicle 10 along a supporting surface.

An insert sleeve 34 having a flange portion 46 and a sleeve portion 43, is fixed in the bore 45 of the cam wheel 38. Sleeve portion 443 of bushing 44 is slotted as at 50, and receives the key portion 52 on the sleeve 54 which projects outwardly from gear 56. By this arrangement, cam wheel 38 is fixed for rotation with shaft 34 but is axially slidable relative thereto. A spring 58 is biased between the face of gear 56 and the cam wheel 38 within the enlarged opening 40a of gear 40 to normally bias cam wheel 38 outwardly of the housing 16.

Gear 56 is provided with a plurality of openings 60 therein which serve as one part of a pawl and ratchet arrangement. Another component of the pawl and ratchet arrangement is provided by the cruciform member 62 having the outwardly extending arms 64, 66, 68 and 70, each of which terminates in an angular offset tab portion 64a, 66a, 68a and 70a, respectively, of a size and shape to be received in the openings 60 of the gear 56. This arrangement permits gear 56 to slip as the shaft 34 is rotated in one (winding) direction, but causes gear 56 to be driven as the shaft 34 rotates in another (unwinding) direction.

Gear 56 is in engagement with gear 72 on a crank shaft 74. It is by means of a drive arrangement from the crank shaft 74 that the pump or bellows system or the means for producing or supplying air to the sound producing device is driven, as will be explained.

Frame member 32 is provided with an enlarged opening 76 through which the shaft 34 passes. On the side of frame member 32 which faces frame member 30, the shaft 34 supports the winding spring 78 which is fixed to the shaft at one end, and fixed, at its other end 78a, to the frame. A spacer 80 is interposed between spring 78 and frame member 30 and the shaft 34 passes through the enlarged opening 82 in the frame member 30. The housing 16 is provided with an opening 84, opposite the frame member 30, for receiving a suitable winding key for winding the shaft 34 and placing stress in the spring 78 to provide a source of power for driving the several components for the toy vehicle 10.

Crank shaft 74 is further provided with a gear 90, and operates a governor 92 by driving the pinion 94 thereof. The governor 92 further includes a pair of radially outwardly extending

arms

96a and 96b which are received within a cylindrical recess 98. Recess 98 has a top opening 100 through which the foot portion 102a of bar 102 extends. Bar 102 is mounted for vertical reciprocation in

guides

104 and 106 of

frame members

30 and 32. At its upper end, bar 102 supports a rod 108, which in turn, supports a cap 110 on the exterior of the smokestack 18. As gear 90 drives governor 92 to rotate the

arms

96a and 96b, and the arms expand outwardly, they will engage the walls of recess 98 and exert a retarding force on the drive system.

The toy vehicle of this invention is further provided with means for producing an audible signal or sound or whistling noise 120. Included in this means is a whistle structure 122 including a first round tubular section 124 having an open end 124a; a second generally rectangular tube portion 126; and a third enlarged chamber 128 having an open end 128a. All three

portions

124, 126 and 128 are integral and define a communicating passageway. A slot 130 is provided in whistle 122 inthe second section 126 thereof. A slidable piston 132 is received in tube section 124 and a yieldable diaphragm 134 encloses the open end 128a of the enlarged chamber 128.

The diaphragm 134 of whistle 122 includes a backing plate 136 and a mounting plate 138 on opposite faces thereof which are held together by suitable fasteners 140. The entire structure is fastened about the enlarged chamber 128 by means of a collar 141. The mounting plate 138 includes an outwardly extending fork 142 and a pin 144 extends through the fork 142 and through a crank arm 146 to pivotally mount the crank arm 146 with respect to the diaphragm 134. A pivot pin 148 is provided on the crank arm 146 intermediate the ends thereof for pivotally mounting the crank arm with respect to the

frame members

30 and 32. At its opposite end, the crank arm 146 is connected by means of pin 150 with a driving arm 152. Driving arm 152 is connected at 154 to the crank shaft 74. Through this arrangement, as the shaft 34 unwinds and the

gears

56 and 72 drive the crank arm 74, the diaphragm 134 will be pushed inwardly and returned outwardly in a bellows-like fashion with respect to the enlarged chamber 128 to provide a means for pumping or providing air under pressure through the whistle mechanism 122.

The cam wheel 38 includes a first set of cam surfaces a, 160b and 1600 constituting a whistle tube program means for defining a tune to be played; and a second set of cam surfaces 1620, 162b, 1620 constituting a closure member program means for defining interruptions in the tune to be played. The cam surfaces 160a, 160b and 160C serve to control the pitch of the whistle 122, and the

cam surfaces

162a, 162b, 162a serve to control the egress of air from the whistle 122.

A follower 164 is provided for tracking on one of the cam surfaces of the 160 set and is connected to an arm 166 which is provided with a hub 168 to pivotally mount arm 166 with respect to the frame member 32. A torsion spring 170 is wrapped about the hub 168 and provided with one end 172, which is connected to the frame 30 and another end 174, which is connected to a pin 174a on the arm 166, thereby normally biasing the follower 164 for tracking engagement with the cam surface 160. Arm 166 is pivoted at 176 to a rod 178 which is connected to piston 132. The follower 164 and arm system 166 comprise a translating means interconnecting the

cam surfaces

160a, 160b, 160c with the piston 132.

Another follower 180 is provided for tracking on one of the cam surfaces of the 162 set. Follower 180 is an offset extension of arm 182. A pin 184 on frame member 32 extends through opening 186 in arm 182 to pivotally mount the arm 182 with respect to the frame. A torsion spring 188 having one end bearing against the outstanding stub 190 of frame 32, and a hooked end 192 hooked about the arm 182, is provided for normally biasing the follower 180 for tracking engagement on the cam surface 162.

The other end of the arm 182 is provided with a transverse end portion 192 terminating in a laterally beveled end 196 with a downwardly extending closure member or tongue 198. The tongue 198 is of a size and shape to occupy a portion of the opening 130 in whistle 122 and the end portion 194 abuts the underside of an outwardly extending lip 200 of the bar 102. Thus, as the cam wheel 38 rotates, and the follower 180 tracks on the 162 set of cam surfaces, the am 182 will be pivoted about its mounting with respect to pin 184, intermittently raising and lowering the tongue 198 relative to the opening 130 and at the same time, raising the bar 102. This movement will permit the ingress and egress of air with respect to the whistle 122 and also raise and lower the cap 110. The follower 180 and arm 182 and associated system comprise a translating means interconnecting the

cam surfaces

162a, 162b, and 1620 with the closure member or tongue 198.

As selector knob 28 is rotated, it will cause lateral displacement of cam wheel 38, responsive to biasing of spring 58, thereby changing the location of the sets of cam surfaces 16911-1600 and 1620-1620 relative to followers 164i and 1139. it is intended that the a, b and c tracks of each set would be related to each other and that the followers M45 and 180 would be spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between a related pair of tracks. By this arrangement, different tunes may be selected for play as the toy vehicle traverses a supporting surface.

When the tongue 19% occupies opening 130, it provides the effect of a rest in the play of a tune by the whistle means 122. The diaphragm 134 is continually pumped to provide air under pressure and the piston 1132 is always at some position in portion 124, closing end lZda, to provide a given pitch to the air pushed out through opening 130. Thus, clarity and definition of a tune can best be achieved by periodically blocking opening 130 at those intervals during the play of a tune where a rest would be appropriate.

lt is desirable that the gear ratio of the gear train driving diaphragm 1134 be related, if not exactly corresponding, to the number of notes to be produced by each tune. This will maintain synchronism in the system so that, each cycle or revolution, will produce all notes necessary for each tune.

Governor 92 also serves as a lock means for stopping or temporarily halting the movement of the functional propulsion and sound producing components. When follower 189 reaches the end of one revolution of cam 33, as defined by raised stop 210 on the bands 1162a, 1162b and 1620 thereof, end 194 will drop to its lowest elevation, causing foot 192a to drop in opening 100 into the space within recess 98, preventing further rotation of governor 94. This will serve to lock the entire gear and cam system against rotation. At this point, the band selection ofthe a, b, or c sets of cam surfaces may be changed, if desired. To unlock the system, one may pull upwardly on cap llllt) which will elevate bar 102 relative to end 194 of arm 182, and elevate foot 102a, permitting the system to revolve through another cycle.

it is to be understood that the propulsion and sound producing structure supported on frame members 39 and 32 could be made as a basic unit for insertion in different types of simulated vehicles in addition to the toy locomotive shown herein. To accommodate different simulated body shells, some changes in the configuration of specific internal components could be made without departing from the scope of this invention. For example," a pump or specific bellows could be provided in lieu of the diaphragm arrangement for supplying air under pressure to the whistle. I

The foregoing detaileddescription has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

ll. A musical toy comprising:

a supporting frame;

means defining a whistle including a tube-like member with a wall opening therein;

means movably associated with said tube-like member for changing the effective length thereof to thereby change the pitch of a note to be produced by said whistle;

pump means communicating with said whistle for supplying air thereto;

power driven means on said frame, said power driven means being connected to said pump means for driving the same;

a pitch program member connected to, and driven by, said power driven means, said pitch program member having portions for programming the change in the effective length of said tube;

translating means functionally interconnecting said pitch program means with said means for changing the effective length of said tube, whereby when said power driven means is activated, air will be supplied to said whistle and the effective length thereof will be intermittently changed to produce different notes;

a closure member adjacent to the wall opening in said tube with said closure member being mounted for movement between an open position, permitting the flow of air through said wall opening, and a closed position, blocking the flow of air through said wall opening; and

closure program means for controlling the movement of said closure member between said open and closed positions, with translating means functionally interconnecting said closure program means and said closure member.

2. The musical toy of claim It wherein the closure program means includes a cam surface and the translating means includes a follower on the cam surface and link means interconnecting said follower with said closure member.

3. The musical toy of claim 2 wherein the power driven means includes a driven output shaft and the pitch program can surface and closure program cam surface are both mounted on said driven output shaft.

4. The musical toy of claim 3 wherein said pump means is driven through a take-off drive from said driven output shaft.

5. The musical toy of claim 9 further including governor means associated with said power driven means and including radiating arm members received in a governor housing on said frame.

6. The musical toy of claim 5 including a brake member mounted on said frame for movement between a release position spaced away from said governor, and a lock position wherein said brake member intersects the arms of said governor.

7. The musical toy of claim 6 wherein the brake member comprises an extension of said closure member.

8. A musical toy comprising:

a support frame;

pump means communicating with said whistle for supplying air thereto;

translating means functionally interconnecting said pitch program means with said means for changing the effective length of said tube, whereby when said power driven means is activated, air will be supplied to said whistle and the effective length thereof will be intermittently changed to produce different notes; and

wheel means supported by said frame means and operatively associated-with said power driven means for propelling said frame and the components operated by said power driven means when said power driven means is activated.

9. A musical toy comprising:

a supporting frame;

a piston slidably mounted in; said tube-like member for changing the efiective length thereof to thereby change the pitch of a note to be produced by said whistle;

pump means communicating with said whistle for supplying air thereto;

power driven means on said frame including a driven output shaft, said power driven means being connected to said pump means for driving the same;

a pitch program member including a cam surface connected to, and driven by, said power driven means, said pitch program cam surface having portions for programming the change in the effective length of said tube;

translating means including a follower which tracks on said pitch program cam surface and a link member which interconnects the follower with said piston for changing the effective length of said tube, whereby when said power driven means is activated, air will be supplied to said whistle and the effective length thereof will be intermittently changed to produce different notes;

a closure member mounted on said frame for movement between an open position, permitting air flow through said tube wall opening, and a closed position, blocking the flow of air through said opening; and

a closure member cam surface operatively connected to, and driven by, said power driven means, with a closure follower for tracking on said closure cam surface and being operatively connected to said closure member for moving the same between said positions.

10. The musical toy of claim 9 wherein said pump means is driven through a take-off drive from said driven output shaft.

11. The musical toy of claim 10 wherein said frame supports wheel means and wherein said power driven means is operatively associated with said wheel means for propelling said frame and components when said power driven means is activated.

12. The musical toy of claim 11 wherein the power driven means includes a governor rotatable in a frame recess having an opening therein and wherein said closure member has an extension mounted through said recess opening to block the movement of said governor and interrupt the function of the power driven means and related functional components.

13. A musical toy comprising: a supporting frame; means defining a whistle including a tube-like member with a wall opening therein; means movably associated with said tube-like member for changing the effective length thereof to thereby change the pitch of a note to be produced by said whistle; pump means communicating with said whistle for supplying air thereto; power driven means on said frame, said power driven means being connected to said pump means for driving the same; a pitch program member connected to, and driven by, said power driven means, said pitch program member having portions for programming the change in the effective length of said tube; translating means functionally interconnecting said pitch program means with said means for changing the effective length of said tube, whereby when said power driven means is activated, air will be supplied to said whistle and the effective length thereof will be intermittently changed to produce different notes; said program member being part of a multiple surfaced cam wheel mounted on a drive shaft driven by said power driven means, said cam wheel being mounted for rotation with said drive shaft and for axial movement relative to said drive shaft and translating means; and said translating means includes a follower for tracking on said cam wheel, whereby different programs may be provided by changing the axial orientation of said cam wheel relative to said drive shaft.

14. The musical toy of claim 13 wherein said cam wheel has an outwardly facing selector surface and a selector knob is rotatably mounted on said drive shaft and includes a selector surface in opposition to said cam wheel selector surface, whereby the axial location of the cam wheel may be changed by rotating said selector knob.

15. The musical toy of claim 13 wherein the cam wheel has stepped peripheral portions comprising the pitch program member with one revolution of the cam wheel affording a defined tune program.

16. The musical toy of claim 15 wherein the cam wheel has a second set of cam surfaces and a second follower is provided for tracking on said second set of cam surfaces, with said second follower being connected to a second arm, pivoted to said frame with said arm being associated with a movable stop member to displace the same responsive to movement of said follower.

17. The musical toy of claim 16 wherein the power driven means includes a rotatable governor wheel and wherein said movable stop member is mounted for movement between a release position, spaced away from said governor, and a brake position wherein said stop member intersects said governor and prevents further movement of the power driven means and related components.

18. The musical toy of claim 17 wherein said frame supports wheel means and wherein said power driven means is operatively associated with said wheel means for propelling said frame and components when said power driven means is activated.

U i i i

Claims

1. A musical toy comprising: a supporting frame; means defining a whistle including a tube-like member with a wall opening therein; means movably associated with said tube-like member for changing the effective length thereof to thereby change the pitch of a note to be produced by said whistle; pump means communicating with said whistle for supplying air thereto; power driven means on said frame, said power driven means being connected to said pump means for driving the same; a pitch program member connected to, and driven by, said power driven means, said pitch program member having portions for programming the change in the effective length of said tube; translating means functionally interconnecting said pitch program means with said means for changing the effective length of said tube, whereby when said power driven means is activated, air will be supplied to said whistle and the effective length thereof will be intermittently changed to produce different notes; a closure member adjacent to the wall opening in said tube with said closure member being mounted for movement between an open position, permitting the flow of air through said wall opening, and a closed position, blocking the flow of air through said wall opening; and closure program means for controlling the movement of said closure member between said open and closed positions, with translating means functionally interconnecting said closure program means and said closure member.

2. The musical toy of claim 1 wherein the closure program means includes a cam surface and the translating means includes a follower on the cam surface and link means interconnecting said follower with said closure member.

5. The musical toy of claim 4 further including governor means associated with said power driven means and including radiating arm members received in a governor housing on said frame.

8. A musical toy comprising: a supporting frame; means defining a whistle including a tube-like member with a wall opening therein; means movably associated with said tube-like member for changing the effective length thereof to thereby change the pitch of a note to be produced by said whistle; pump means communicating with said whistle for supplying air thereto; power driven means on said frame, said power driven means being connected to said pump means for driving the same; a pitch program member connected to, and driven by, said power driven means, said pitch program member having portions for programming the change in the effective length of said tube; translating means functionally interconnecting said pitch program means with said means for changing the effective length of said tube, whereby when said power driven means is activated, air will be supplied to said whistle and the effective length thereof will be intermittently changed to produce different notes; and wheel means supported by said frame means and operatively associated with said power driven means for propelling said frame and the components operated by said power driven means when said power driven means is activated.

9. A musical toy comprising: a supporting frame; means defining a whistle including a tube-like member with a wall opening therein; a piston slidably mounted in said tube-like member for changing the effective length thereof to thereby change the pitch of a note to be produced by said whistle; pump means communicating with said whistle for supplying air thereto; power driven means on said frame including a driven output shaft, said power driven means being connected to said pump means for driving the same; a pitch program member including a cam surface connected to, and driven by, said power driven means, said pitch program cam surface having portions for programming the change in the effective length of said tube; translating means including a follower which tracks on said pitch program cam surface and a link member which interconnects the follower with said piston for changing the effective length of said tube, whereby when said power driven means is activated, air will be supplied to said whistle and the effective length thereof will be intermittently changed to produce different notes; a closure member mounted on said frame for movement between an open position, permitting air flow through said tube wall opening, and a closed position, blocking the flow of air through said opening; and a closure member cam surface operatively connected to, and driven by, said power driven means, with a closure follower for tracking on said closure cam surface and being operatively connected to said closure member for moving the same between said positions.