Vibratory toy and game apparatus
OwnerRobert W. Engelinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vibratory toy and game apparatus is disclosed including structures for dynamically isolating the frame from the vibrating play surface. The apparatus comprises a vibration base having a vibratory motor attached thereto, a play base rigidly secured to the vibration base, a frame for supporting the apparatus on a surface, and elastic isolator members for mounting the vibration base to the frame, the isolator members preventing the transmission of vibrations from the vibration base to the frame. The apparatus further includes a plurality of play pieces which move on the upper surface of the play base in response to vibration thereof.
Claims26
A vibratory amusement device comprising:
- (a) a play base maintained in a substantially horizontal orientation, said play base having an upper surface for supporting thereon at least one play piece;
- (b) a vibration base underlying said play base and being rigidly secured thereto, said vibration base being bound by an outer periphery;
- (c) a frame including means for holding said play base and said vibration base above a supporting surface;
- (d) isolator means flexibly mounting said vibration base to said frame and holding said vibration base and said frame in spaced apart relation defining a gap therebetween, said isolator means permitting said vibration base to move in two mutually perpendicular horizontal axes relative to said frame;
- (e) vibratory means attached to said vibration base, said vibratory means when actuated imparting to said vibration base oscillatory motion in two mutually perpendicular horizontal axes;
- and
- (f) at least one play piece disposed on said upper surface of said play base, said play piece including driver means causing said play piece to move on said upper surface of said play base in response to the oscillatory motion of said play base;
- whereby said isolator means dynamically isolate the oscillatory motion of said vibration base and said play base from said frame while permitting said vibration base and said play base to move in two mutually perpendicular horizontal axes relative to said frame.
A vibratory amusement device comprising:
- (a) a play base maintained in a substantially horizontal orientation and being bounded by an outer periphery, said play base having an upper surface for supporting thereon at least one play piece;
- (b) a frame including means for holding said play base above a supporting surface;
- (c) isolator means flexibly mounting said play base to said frame and holding said play base and said frame in spaced apart relation defining a gap therebetween, said isolator means permitting said play base to move in two mutually perpendicular horizontal axes relative to said frame;
- (d) vibratory means attached to said play base, said vibratory means when actuated imparting to said play base oscillatory motion in two mutually perpendicular horizontal axes, and;
- (e) said play piece including driver means causing said play piece to move on said upper surface of said play base in response to the oscillatory motion thereof;
- whereby said isolator means allow said play base to oscillate in two mutually perpendicular horizontal axes while preventing said oscillatory motion from being transmitted to said frame.
A play piece adapted for use with a vibratory amusement device, said vibratory amusement device having a surface for supporting thereon said play piece, said play piece comprising:
- (a) a horizontally oriented base member and a body member extending upwardly therefrom;
- (b) said base member comprising a first and a second platform member, said first and second platform members being generally elliptical in shape and being in spaced apart relation wherein said first and second platform members define therebetween a channel, said channel having a narrow medial portion for engaging a cooperatively shaped guide rail formed on said surface of said vibratory amusement device, said channel widening forwardly and rearwardly of said medial portion, said first and second platform members each having a lower surface;
- (c) a plurality of flexible driver members depending rearwardly and downwardly from said first and second platform member lower surfaces, said driver members each having a lower end for engaging said upper surface of said vibratory amusement device;
- whereby said play piece is caused to move forwardly along said guide rail in response to the oscillatory motion of said upper surface of said vibratory amusement device, and said channel is shaped to permit said play piece to negotiate curved portions of said guide rail without binding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.