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US 11,198,072 B2Granted
Toy device for dispensing stackable or rollable materials and related methods
AssigneeGw Development UK Limited
InventorGavin Waxkirsh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A toy device for dispensing stackable or rollable materials and related methods are described. The device has a housing arranged to contain a stack or roll of material and having a dispensing aperture. A manually actuated drive mechanism is provided by which a user can rotate a drive wheel of the drive mechanism. The drive wheel contacts and when rotated engages a portion of the material and to drive it through the dispensing aperture. A release mechanism is provided that can be moved to allow the material to be driven through the aperture. The drive mechanism can be actuated independently from the release mechanism.
Claims18
A toy device for dispensing stackable or rollable materials, comprising:
- a housing arranged to contain a stack or roll of material and having a dispensing aperture;
- a manually actuated drive mechanism by which a user can rotate a drive wheel of the drive mechanism, the drive wheel being arranged to contact and, when rotated, to engage a portion of the material when contained in the housing so as to drive the material through the dispensing aperture to dispense it;
- and
- a release mechanism comprising a movable element having a first position where it prevents the material from being driven through the aperture and movable to a second position to allow the material to be driven through the aperture, and having an actuator linked to the movable element arranged to move the element between the first and second positions upon actuation by a user, wherein the drive mechanism can be actuated independently from the release mechanism;
- wherein the drive wheel is movable between a position where it contacts the material and a position where it does not contact the material, wherein the release mechanism is further arranged to move the drive wheel by way of the actuator such that when actuated by the user the drive wheel is moved into contact with the material and the movable element is moved to the second position allowing the material to be dispensed;
- and
- wherein the drive mechanism comprises a gear casing pivotally mounted in the housing containing gearing that translates rotation of a hand crank to rotation of the drive wheel, wherein the release mechanism when actuated by the user is arranged to pivot the gear casing such that the drive wheel makes contact with the material.
4 more elements
A toy device for dispensing stackable or rollable materials, comprising:
- a housing arranged to contain a stack or roll of separate materials and having a dispensing aperture;
- a manually actuated drive mechanism by which a user can rotate a drive wheel of the drive mechanism, the drive wheel being arranged to contact and, when rotated, to engage a portion of the material when contained in the housing so as to drive the material through the dispensing aperture to dispense it;
- and
- a release mechanism comprising a movable element having a first position where it prevents the material from being driven through the aperture and movable to a second position to allow the material to be driven through the aperture, and having an actuator linked to the movable element arranged to move the element between the first and second positions upon actuation by a user, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a hand crank or lever by which the user actuates the drive mechanism, and wherein the drive mechanism can be actuated by turning the hand crank independently from actuation of the release mechanism, such that the user can turn the hand crank at a desired speed before actuating the release mechanism to release the materials, allowing the materials to be dispensed at a desired rate.
1 more element
A toy device for dispensing stackable or rollable materials, comprising:
- a housing arranged to contain a stack or roll of material and having a dispensing aperture;
- a manually actuated drive mechanism by which a user can rotate a drive wheel of the drive mechanism, the drive wheel being arranged to contact and, when rotated, to engage a portion of the material when contained in the housing so as to drive the material through the dispensing aperture to dispense it;
- and
- a release mechanism comprising a movable element having a first position where it prevents the material from being driven through the aperture and movable to a second position to allow the material to be driven through the aperture, and having an actuator linked to the movable element arranged to move the element between the first and second positions upon actuation by a user, wherein the drive mechanism can be actuated independently from the release mechanism;
- wherein the housing comprises a handle and the actuator is positioned to be actuatable by a digit of the user's hand when holding the handle in that hand.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.