Rotatable entertainment device
AssigneeMattel, Inc.
InventorsDavid M. Bapst, Maarten Van Huystee, John F. Rhein, Robert J. Sonner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rotatable entertainment device includes a mobile arm rotatably coupled to the entertainment device, and a motion translation device coupled to the entertainment device and the mobile arm to convert an oscillatory motion of the entertainment device into a rotational motion of the mobile arm. The entertainment device is mountable to an oscillating device (e.g., a swing) that conveys the oscillatory motion from the oscillating device to the entertainment device.
Claims18
An oscillating product that includes a portion for receiving a person and further includes an entertainment device, the entertainment device comprising:
- a mobile arm rotatably coupled to the entertainment device;
- a motion conversion device including a weighted housing coupled to the entertainment device and the mobile arm to convert an oscillatory motion of the entertainment device into a rotational motion of the mobile arm, wherein the weighted housing rotates in response to oscillatory motion of the entertainment device such that rotational motion of the housing effects rotational motion of the mobile arm;
- and
- a mounting member to secure the entertainment device to the oscillating product and the motion conversion device further including a gear assembly coupled to the mobile arm and the mounting member, wherein rotational motion of the weighted housing in response to oscillatory motion of the entertainment device controls operation of the gear assembly to effect rotational motion of the mobile arm in a single direction with respect to the mounting member;
- wherein, upon securing the mounting member to the oscillating product, the oscillating product conveys oscillatory motion to the entertainment device.
A method of rotating a mobile arm rotatably coupled to an entertainment device, comprising the steps of:
- imparting oscillatory movement to the entertainment device;
- providing a motion conversion device including a weighted housing that is coupled to the entertainment device and the mobile arm, wherein the weighted housing rotates in response to the oscillatory motion of the entertainment device and the rotational motion of the weighted housing effects rotational motion of the mobile arm;
- and
- providing a mounting member to facilitate mounting of the entertainment device to an oscillating product, wherein the oscillating product includes a portion for receiving a person and wherein the motion conversion device further includes a gear assembly that is coupled to the mobile arm and the weighted housing such that rotational motion of the weighted housing in response to oscillatory motion of the entertainment device controls operation of the gear assembly to effect rotational motion of the mobile arm in a single direction with respect to the entertainment device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.