Projectile launching action toy having members capable of coordinated movement
OwnerJeffrey C. Morehouseinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A first member is pivotally connected to a base for rotation about a first axis, and a second member is pivotally connected to the first member for rotation about a second axis. One end of a cable is attached to the base at a point spaced from the first axis, and the other end of the cable is attached to the second member at a point spaced from the second axis. The cable is slidingly engaged by a portion of the first member. As the first member is driven to rotate with respect to the base, the second member is forced to rotate with respect to the first member due to the inextensibility of the cable.
Claims15
An action toy having articulated members capable of coordinated movement, comprising:
- a base;
- a first member connected to said base for motion about a first axis with respect to said base;
- a second member connected to said first member for motion about a second axis with respect to said first member;
- and,
- a cable having a first end attached to said base at a first attachment point spaced from said first axis and having a second end attached to said second member at a second attachment point spaced from said second axis, said first member having a portion slidably engaging said cable so that relative motion of said first member with respect to said base in a direction away from the first attachment point increases the distance between the first attachment point and the portion of said first member that engages said cable, causing said cable to draw on said second member and causing said second member to rotate about the second axis with respect to said first member.
A humanoid action toy that can be operated to throw a projectile as it executes a throwing action in which the toy progresses from a starting configuration to a final configuration, said humanoid action toy comprising:
- a stationary upper arm that extends approximately horizontally and includes a proximal end and a distal end;
- a forearm having a proximal end and a distal end;
- first hinge means pivotally connecting the distal end of the upper arm to the proximal end of the forearm for pivotal motion of the forearm with respect to the upper arm;
- said forearm being flexed in the starting configuration to lie above the upper arm, and rotating during the throwing action to a final extended position;
- a hand having a proximal end and having a concave surface;
- second hinge means pivotally connecting the distal end of the forearm to the proximal end of the hand for pivotal motion of the hand with respect to the forearm;
- said hand located approximately above the proximal end of the upper arm with the concave surface of the hand facing upward in the starting configuration to support and stabilize the projectile, whereby the momentum acquired by the hand in the throwing action causes the hand to rotate, after the forearm has reached its final extended position, to a final position of the hand in which the concave surface of the hand faces downward;
- and,
- driving means connected to the forearm for driving the forearm in rotation with respect to the upper arm so as to extend the forearm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.