US 11,717,764 B2 · Cascading jumping toys and the associated method of operation

Abstract

A jumping toy and the methodology of creating a cascading arrangement of multiple jumping toys. Each jumping toy has a first segment and a second segment that are connected at a joint. The first segment and the second segment can rotate about the joint between a first configuration and a second configuration. Each jumping toy has a biasing element that biases the jumping toy toward its second configuration. Each jumping toy is stable in its first configuration and quickly transforms into its second configuration once it is slightly displaced out of its first configuration. The rapid change in configuration makes the bi-stable toy jump. A plurality of bi-stable toys can be overlapped into a cascading chain. The first toy in the cascading chain is triggered. The movement of the first toy triggers the next toy in the chain in a cascade.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A jumping toy, comprising:

a first segment having opposing first segment ends;
a second segment having opposing second segment ends,
wherein said first segment and said second segment are connected at a scissor joint at a position between said first segment ends and said second segment ends, wherein said first segment and said second segment can rotate about said scissor joint between a first configuration and a second configuration, and
a biasing element that biases said jumping toy toward said second configuration, wherein said jumping toy is stable in said first configuration and is biased toward said second configuration when moved out of said first configuration.

1 more element

A method of activating a plurality of jumping toys in a cascade, said method comprising the steps of;

providing a plurality of jumping toys that can each move between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein each of said plurality of jumping toys has a first end and an opposite second end when in said first configuration, wherein flanges extend from said second end and a gap space is disposed between said flanges, and wherein each said jumping toy is stable in said first configuration and is biased into said second configuration when said flanges are spread to increase said gap space;
configuring each said plurality of jumping toys into said stable first configuration;
interlapping said plurality of jumping toys to form a cascading chain configuration, wherein said cascading chain configuration has a first jumping toy and a last jumping toy;
and
triggering said first jumping toy out of said first stable configuration, wherein said first jumping toy begins a cascade of movement that triggers all of said plurality of jumping toys remaining in said cascading chain configuration.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cascading jumping toys and the associated method of operation

Life of this patent

Cascading jumping toys and the associated method of operation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15