US 5,842,902 A · Magnetically propelled pendulum toy

Abstract

A magnetically propelled pendulum toy which includes a base and a toy member at the end of the pendulum and movable relative to the base. One end of the pendulum is connected to the toy member and the other end is connected to an arm that extends above the base so that the toy member can swing back and forth in pendulum fashion. The toy member and/or pendulum is caused to move back and forth because of the action of magnets in the base and in the toy member and switches in the toy member cause lights in the toy member to blink on and off as a function of the pendulum-like movement of the toy relative to the base.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims6

Dependent claims

A magnetically propelled pendulum toy containing lights and/or sound

including a base, a support arm and a pendulum,
said base being generally annular in configuration,
a plurality of permanent magnets spaced from each other and positioned in an annular configuration in said base,
an electrical coil positioned generally centrally with respect to said plurality of permanent magnets,
a battery electrically connected to said electrical coil to provide electrical power thereto,
said support arm having first and second end portions, said first end portion being connected to said base and said support arm extending vertically therefrom to a position generally vertically above said base,
a pendulum supporting permanent magnet supported by said second end portion of said support arm,
a pendulum shaft having first and second end portions,
said first end portion of said pendulum shaft being constructed of a magnetized material for attachment of the same to said pendulum supporting permanent magnet,
said pendulum having a bottom portion and a top portion,
said second end portion of said pendulum shaft being attached to said top portion of said pendulum,
a plurality of spaced lights carried by said pendulum,
an electrical circuit carried by said pendulum and including an electrical battery to connect same to said plurality of lights,
a magnetically actuated switch movable between closed and open positions to selectively illuminate and turn off said lights,
a permanent magnet located generally centrally in the bottom portion of said pendulum,
swinging of said pendulum over said base causing said magnetically actuated switch to move between closed and open conditions thereby turning said lights on and off and said magnets in said base and said magnet in said bottom portion of said pendulum causing said pendulum to move relative to said base in a back and forth manner.

13 more elements

A magnetically propelled pendulum toy containing lights and/or sound

including a base, a support arm and a pendulum,
said base being generally annular in configuration,
a plurality of permanent magnets spaced from each other and positioned in an annular configuration in said base,
an electrical coil positioned generally centrally with respect to said plurality of permanent magnets,
a battery electrically connected to said electrical coil to provide electrical power thereto,
said support arm having first and second end portions, said first end portion being connected to said base and said support arm extending vertically therefrom to a position generally vertically above said base,
a pendulum supporting permanent magnet supported by said second end portion of said support arm,
a pendulum shaft having first and second end portions,
said first end portion of said pendulum shaft being constructed of a magnetized material for attachment of the same to said pendulum supporting permanent magnet,
said pendulum having a bottom portion and a top portion,
said second end portion of said pendulum shaft being attached to said top portion of said pendulum,
a plurality of spaced lights carried by said pendulum,
an electrical circuit carried by said pendulum and including an electrical battery to connect same to said plurality of lights,
a timer in said electrical circuit,
a manually actuated switch movable between closed and open positions to selectively energize and deenergize said electrical circuit,
said timer alternately turning said lights off and on when said manually actuated switch is in said closed position,
a permanent magnet located generally centrally in the bottom portion of said pendulum,
swinging of said pendulum over said base causing said magnets in said base and said magnet in said bottom portion of said pendulum to cause said pendulum to move relative to said base in a back and forth manner.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description1,676 words

Summary133 words

#The present invention relates to a toy which includes a pendulum that swings back and forth relative to a base unit and as it swings back and forth relative to the base unit, lights in the pendulum blink on and off giving a pleasing visual effect. When the pendulum is designed as a spaceship or saucer, it provides an interesting effect to one using the toy.

#The toy of the present invention is provided in a construction that illustrates two means of activating and carrying out the blinking visual effects of the lights and, of course, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in place of, or in addition to, the blinking lights the same system can be utilized to operate some audible sound such as music or otherwise.

Brief description of the drawings9 figures

#The drawings accompanying this application illustrate the best mode for carrying out the invention and are briefly described as follows:

#FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the magnetically propelled pendulum toy of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken 90.degree. from the position of FIG. 1, or in other words, taken from the left end or left side of FIG. 1;

Detailed description1,333 words

#The magnetically propelled pendulum toy is best illustrated in its overall construction in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The toy has been identified generally by the reference numeral 20. The toy 20 includes a base 25, a support arm 30, and a pendulum 35.

#The base is best illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 and includes a housing 26, somewhat in the form of a shell and mounted in the base illustrated in FIG. 8 are five permanent magnets, each identified by the reference numeral 40. As noted in FIG. 8, these permanent magnets 40 are located in or positioned in an annular configuration in the base. Additionally, there is contained in the base an electrical coil 43 best seen in FIG. 7 which is electrically connected to DC battery 45 which electrically activates the coil.

#The support arm 30 has first and second end portions 48 and 50 respectively with the first end portion 48 secured and supported by the base by means of a fixture 41 seen at the right end of the base as illustrated in FIG. 7. The support arm extends upwardly and at its second or upper end portion 50 is provided with a permanent magnet which is referred to herein as a pendulum supporting permanent magnet identified by the reference numeral 53.

Facts

Application

08/885,781Filed 30 Jun 1997

Granted

1 Dec 1998

Term ended

30 Jun 2017

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination. Patent term adjustment is unavailable; no adjustment was added.

Classification2 codes

A63H 33/26
Other toys: magnetic or electric toys
A63H
Toys

Magnetically propelled pendulum toy

Life of this patent

Magnetically propelled pendulum toy

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims6

Description1,676 words

Drawings

Classification2 codes

Life of this patent

Description1,676 words