US 4,903,424 AGranted

Movable decoration

AssigneeTakara Co., Ltd.

InventorsYasuta Satoh, Shigeru Nakane, Shinya Saitoh, Isamu Kataoka

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Abstract

A movable decoration capable of being moved to exhibit unexpected motion or variation in configuration while maintaining a conventional ornamental effect in a stationary state, resulting in a viewer taking much interest and exhibiting lots of imaginative power. The movable decoration includes a power supply, to which a sensor switch is connected. Also, the decoration includes a motor connected through the sensor switch to the power supply, a drive mechanism connected to the motor so as to be actuated thereby, and a core in the form of a wire operatively connected to the drive mechanism so as to be rotated depending on actuation of the drive mechanism. On the core is loosely fitted a hollow element such as a artificial plant, a doll or the like so that it may be meanderingly moved depending on and separate from rotation of the core.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A mobile novelty plant assembly comprising:

a casing member;
motor means provided in the casing member;
a transmission assembly connected to the motor means for providing movement including an output member responsive to the activation of the motor means;
an elongated core member connected to the output member and cantilevered vertically above the casing member, the core member has a nonlinear configuration and, when moved by the motor means, portions of the core member travel on paths about a longitudinal axis extending from the output member to create a wobbling visual effect;
a flexible elongated decorative hollow member simulating the appearance of a living plant stem which extends over the core member and is dimensioned to permit relative rotational interior movement of the core member while transmitting the wobbling visual effect to an observer, the flexible elongated hollow member being fixed to the casing member at one end so that it does not rotate with the core member;
means, within the casing member, responsive to predetermined sound characteristics, for activating the motor means;
an outer housing having an inner diameter larger than the casing member and surrounding the casing member;
and
an upper simulated plant head assembly attached to the elongated hollow member whereby the novelty decorative plant assembly can appear stationary for a visual effect on an observer and can further exhibit an apparent lifelike wobbling movement of the elongated hollow member and plant head assembly in response to the stimulus of the predetermined sound characteristic for a further pleasing effect on the observer.

6 more elements

A mobile novelty decorative plant comprising:

a housing assembly having an upper lid member;
an electric motor means provided in the housing member assembly;
a transmission asssembly connected to the electric motor means for providing movement including an output member responsive to the activation of the electric motor means;
an elongated wire core member connected to the output member and cantilevered vertically above the lid of the housing assembly, the wire core member has a nonlinear configuration and, when moved by the electric motor means, portions of the wire core member travel on paths about a longitudinal axis extending from the output member to create a wobbling visual effect;
a flexible plastic elongated decorative hollow member simulating the appearance of a living plant stem extends over the wire core member and is dimensioned slightly larger than the wire core member to permit relative rotational interior movement of the wire core member while transmitting the wobbling visual effect to an observer through flexing of the hollow member, the flexible plastic elongated hollow member being fixed to the housing assembly adjacent the upper lid member at one end so that it does not rotate with the wire core member;
means, responsive to a predetermined sound characteristic, for activating the electric motor means, including a circuit means for activating the electric motor means for a time period coextensive with the presence of the predetermined sound characteristic and a sensor member mounted adjacent and beneath the upper lid member and connected to the circuit means to receive the sound characteristic, the upper lid member being apertured to permit the sound characteristic to pass through to the sensor member, and
an upper plant assembly to an upper and of the flexible elongated hollow member whereby the novelty decorative plant can appear stationary for a visual effect on an observer and can further exhibit an apparent lifelike wobbling movement of the elongated hollow member and upper plant assembly during the time period of the stimulus of the predetermined sound characteristic for a further pleasing effect on the observer.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.