Animated prop amusement apparatus with compact drive assembly

An amusement apparatus comprising:

• a support base;
• a drive assembly having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the proximal end being connected to the support base;
• a prop mount connected to the distal end of the drive assembly;
• the drive assembly being extendable and retractable in longitudinal extension and retraction directions to and from an extended position and a retracted position, the drive assembly having an extended length in the extended position and a retracted length in the retracted position, the extended length being more than twice the retracted length;
• the drive assembly comprising a plurality of elongate links movably connected in series for movement relative to each neighboring link in the extension and retraction directions, the plurality of elongate links including a base link, a first extension link, and a second extension link, the base link being connected to the support base, the first extension link being movably connected to the base link, the second extension link being movably connected to the first extension link;
• the drive assembly further comprising at least a first pulley and at least a first tension member, the first pulley being affixed to the first extension link, the first tension member having a distal end attached to the second extension link and a proximal end attached to the base link, the first tension member being wrapped over the first pulley and having a distal segment extending in the retraction direction from the first pulley to the distal end and a proximal segment extending in the retraction direction from the first pulley to the proximal end, so that moving the first extension link relative to the base link in the extension direction by an input extension distance from a retracted position of the first extension link to an extended position of the first extension link moves the first pulley by the input extension distance and shortens the distal segment by the input extension distance to pull the second extension link the input extension distance toward the first pulley, so that the second extension link is moved twice the input extension distance relative to the base link;
• the drive assembly further comprising an input drive system operatively connected between the base link and the first extension link, the input drive system being operable to move the first extension link said input extension distance from its retracted position to its extended position and to move the first extension link an input retraction distance, opposite said input extension distance from its extended position to its retracted position;
• the input drive system comprising a drive module including a biasing element, a motive device, and a transmission;
• the biasing element being operatively connected between the base link and the first extension link so as to bias the first extension link to move in the extension direction;
• the motive device and the transmission being operatively connected between the base link and the first extension link, the transmission being engageable when the drive assembly is in the extended position and disengageable when the drive assembly is in the retracted position;
• the transmission being operative, when engaged, to transmit a movement of the motive device to the first extension link, so as to move the first extension link in the retraction direction relative to the base link, so as to retract the drive assembly, and when disengaged, to free the drive assembly to extend independently of the movement of the motive device.