US2519884A - Magnetic figure toy - Google Patents

Description

'1 A. O. BUSTANOBY MAGNETIC FIGURE TOY Aug. 22, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 30, 1949 INVENTOR ANDRE O. BUSTANOBY ATTORNEY Aug. 22, 1950 A. o. BUSTANOBY 2,519,834

MAGNETIC FIGURE TOY Filed Nov. 30, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ANDRE O. BUSTANOBY BYWW ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAGNETIC FIGURE TOY Andre 0. Bustanoby, Grover, Mo.

Application November 30, 1949, Serial No. 130,205

4 Claims. (01. 46-45) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 99,679, filed June 17, 1949.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a novelty toy in the form of a head having eye openings, which head is adapted for movement with relation to gig-simulative members to create anillusionof animation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novelty toy in the form of a head adapted for rocking movement and having a tonguesimulative element which is disposed for outward and returnable movement.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an animated toy which is simple and economical in construction and lends itself readily to manufacture in molded, synthetic plastic materials.

It is another object of the present invention to rovide a novelty toy in the form of a head having articulating jaws which open and close to simulate the movement of talking and eating.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an articulating novelty toy of the type stated which is actuated by concealed magnets so as to lend an atmosphere of mystery as Well as novelty to the operation thereof.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novelty toy simulative of a head, such as an animals head, puppet head, or the like, swivelly mounted in the region of the neck so that the head may be turned freely from side to side.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (two sheets)-- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a puppet head constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the puppet head with the mouth open to simulate eating movement;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of novelty toy constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention, showing the mouth thereof in open position;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along line 6--6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along line l-l of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a further modified form of novelty toy constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary front view of the further modified form of novelty toy;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of an additionally modified form of novelty toy constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention, with the mouth thereof in closed position;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the additionally modified novelty toy with the mouth open to simulate eating movement;

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view taken along line |2l2 of Figure 10; and

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional view taken along line I3I3 of Figure 12.

In broadest outline the present invention comprises molding a small comic or caricature-like head of an animal, boy, puppet, or cartoon figure in such a manner that the upper portion of the head and upper jaw is hingedly connected as a unit to the lower jaw and neck portion of the figure. Concealed within the upper portion of the figure is a tiny, highly magnetized insert and provided for cooperation therewith is another object such as a miniature ice-cream cone, hot dog, carrot, milk bottle, or the like, so arranged that only one end thereof will normally be presented toward the mouth of the toy. In this end is concealed a second highly magnetized insert, the polarity of which is so arranged that when the latter object is presented toward the mouth of the figure the magnets will be of like polarity and hence repel each other forcibly, as a result of which repulsion the upper or head portion of the figure will rock backwardly on its hinged connection simulative of a mouth opening movement thereby creating the illusion that the figure is opening its mouth to bite or otherwise ingest the proffered article. The illusion of reality caused by this rocking action is enhanced by the relative movement between eye-openings provided in the head portion and eye-simulative members rigidly mounted in the lower jaw for normal closure-wise disposition across, and inwardly of, the eye-openings. Preferably, though not necessarily, the lower or neck portion of the figure may be swivelly mounted upon a base so that the entire head will move from side to side thus, by a proper arrangement of magnets, the head can be made to turn from side to side when a pro!- fered object is brought into close range, depending upon the relative polarity of the magnets in the proffered object and the figure itself.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates a puppet head which comprises an upper or skull portion I molded of suitable synthetic plastic material. For ease in assembly, the skull portion I preferably consists of a front or face portion 2 and a rear portion 3 which are separately molded and are adhesively secured together along a juncture line 4. Provided on the face portion 2 in suitable position is a pair of eye-openings 5, 5'. Interiorly, the head portion I is provided with socket bosses 6, 6', which lie along the juncture line 4 and are actually divided into two halves, all as best seen in Figure 3 for purposes more presently fully appearing.

Provided for co-operation with the head portion I is a lower portion I, integrally including a jaw simulative section 8 and a neck simulative section 9, the latter being provided with a depending swivel pin Ill for rotative disposition in the upper end of a base member II. Integrally molded with, and projecting upwardly from, the rearward side of the jaw simulative portion 8 is an upstanding support member [2 terminating at its upper end in an integrally, transversely extending hinge pin I3 the ends of which project rockingly into the bosses 6, 6, when the two parts of the upper portion I are brought together along the juncture line 4 and cemented to each other.

Integrally formed with the support member I2 is a pair of diverging, upwardly and forwardly, extending arm members [4, their upper ends each being enlarged and provided with a forwardly projecting section I5, upon the surface of which there is suitably imprinted, Or otherwise disposed, simulative eyes I6, I6, each normally aligned with eye-openings 5, 5', respectively, for exposure therethrough.

Inserted into the portion of the face 2, which would ordinarily correspond to the position of hanose,isra ghndricalmasnetic slugllformed r iereblrro ma.lush-P nman... magneticalmy; suchas Alnico, ortli'eflike.

Provided for -Eooperation with the toy A is an auxiliary object which, for example, may take the form of an ice cream cone B, also molded of synthetic plastic material. Concealed within the ice cream cone B is a highly magnetized slug I8 also formed of a high permeable alloy such as Alnico or the like. The slug I8 is so located within the so-called ice cream cone B, that the end which will normally be presented toward the mouth of the figure A will be of like polarity to the outwardly projecting or proximate end of the magnetic slu II. Thus, when the socalled ice cream cone B is manually presented toward the mouth of the figure A like poles of the two magnets or magnetic slugs II, I8, will be brought into relatively close proximity and will set up a repelling force which will cause the upper portion I of the figure A to rock backwardly upon the hinge pin I3 simulating a mouth opening or biting movement substantially as shown in Figure 2. The upward rocking movement of the upper portion I will cause the eyeopenings 5, 5' to be moved upwardly out of direct alignment with the eyes I6, I6 respectively, where only a portion of the eyes I6, I6 will be visible therethrough. Thus, this relative movement creates an illusion that the eyes are moving within the head. When the so-called ice cream cone B is removed the magnetic force which holds the head in upwardly rocked position will be thus withdrawn and the head, which is normally over balanced toward closed position by its own weight, will rock downwardly again to resume the position shown in Figure l, the eye-openings 5, 5' returning to alignment with the eyes I 6, I6 respectively.

If desired, the so-called ice-cream cone B may be presented toward the side of the figure in the direction of what might be referred to as the cheek and in that case the portions of ma netic repulsion would be set up in the horizontal plane rather than in the vertical plane so that the figure would swivel about on the pin II] or, in effect, turn away from the proffered morsel. If, under some particular circumstance, it might be desired to have the head turn toward rather than away from the object presented to it, this result could be accomplished by reversing the relative polarity of the magnets. In other words, by turning the so-called ice cream cone B end for end and presenting the point end toward the cheek of the figure A the latter would then turn toward, rather than away from the socalled ice cream cone B.

If desired, a novelt toy C, simulative of the cartoon character Donald Duck, may be also constructed in accordance with the present invention. The toy C consists of a conventional base I9 provided in its upper end with a suitable socket 20 for receiving a swivel pin 2| rigidly mounted in the lower end of a molded head section 22 which integrally includes a lower bill or beak element 23 and an upwardly extending back head section 24. Separately molded for adhesive juncture with the back head 24 along a juncture line 25 is a front or face portion 26, the lower margin 21 of which is spaced upwardly from the lower beak 23 so as to provide an opening 28. Suitably provided on the face position 26 is a pair of spaced eye- openings 29, 29, Molded integrally with portions 22, 26, for matching alignment across the junctiu'e line 25 interiorly of the toy C, are matching semi-circular bosses 30, which are so shaped as to form hinge receiving sockets 3| when the element 26 is adhesively secured to the element 24.

Inserted loosely through the opening 28 is a separately molded upper bill or beak member 32 normally disposed in closed relation with the lower bill 23 and integrally provided at its rearward or inner end with a transversely extending hinge bar 33 the opposite ends of which project loosely and rockingly into the sockets 3|. Integrally formed with the bill member 32, and disposed forwardly of the hinge bar 33, is a pair of arm members 34, 34 which extend upwardly and thence forwardly, having enlarged free ends 35, 35 which are in alignment with the eyeopenings 29, 29' respectively, and are superficially decorated to simulate eyes 36, 36', respectively, normally visible through the lower portion of the eye-openings 29, 29', respectively. Concealed within the forward end of the upper beak member 32 is a cylindrical magnetic slug 31 formed of a suitable high permeable magnetic alloy substantially the same as the previously described magnetic slug I'l.

Provided for co-operation with the toy C is a simulative, edible morsel such as a fish D formed preferably of a molded synthetic plastic and having concealed in the forward end thereof a cylindrical magnetic slug 38. As above described, the

slug 38 is so placed that the forwardly presented end, as shown in Figure 5, will be of the same polarity as the outwardly presented or proximate end of the slug 31. Thus, when the fish D is presented toward the beak of the toy C the forces of the magnetic repulsion will raise the upper beak member 32 from normal closed position to the position shown in Figure 5, simulating a mouth opening movement. Upward movement of the bill or beak member 32 will cause the eyes 36, 36' to be raised so that they are visible through the upper portion of the eye-openings 29, 29', as may best be seen in Figure 6. Thus, the relative movement between the eyes 36, 36' and the eye-openings 29, 29' adds greatly to the illusion of animation. Similarly, if the fish D is presented to one side or the other of the toy C so that the magnetic repulsion forces act in the horizontal rather than the vertical plane, the

head will swing to one side, either away from or toward the fish D, depending upon which end of the fish D is presented toward the magnetic slug 38. As above pointed out, the magnetic forces between the two magnetic slugs 31, 38, will be either repellent or attractive forces depending upon the relative polarities of the proximate ends of the magnetic slugs 31, 38.

If desired, a further modified form of novelty toy E, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, may also be provided which comprises an upper or skull portion 39 consisting of a front or face portion 40 and a rear portion 4| adhesively secured along a juncture line 42. Interiorly, the face portion 49 and the rear portion 41 are contoured to provide hemispherical recesses 43, 43', respectively, which co-operate, when the said portions 46, 4!, are joined, to provide a spherical cavity 44 opening in its lower portion to the underside of the skull portion 39 through a passage 45. Suitably mounted in, and protruding from the face portion 40, in the position approximately conforming to the position for the nose, is a cylindrical magnetic Slug 46, substantially similar in type and function to the previously described magnetic slugs l1 and 37. The face portion 46 is further provided with a pair of spaced, suitably positioned, eye-openings 41, 41.

Disposed snugly within the cavity 44 is a ball member 48, which in combination with cavity 44, effectively provides a ball and socket-like joint. said ball 48 has suitably impressed or otherwise disposed on its surface a pair of eye- simulative designs 49, 49, so spaced and positioned as to be normally completely visible through the eyeopenings 41, 47' respectively. Integral with the ball member 48 and depending from its under portion is a stem member 56 which extends through the passage 45 and is integral at its lower end with a lower head portion The head portion 5| comprises a jaw simulative section 52 and a neck simulative section 53, the latter being provided with a depending swivel pin 54 for rotative disposition in the upper end of a base member 55. The stem 56 is sufficiently long so that the underface of the skull portion 39 will be spaced from the upper face of the jaw simulative section 52, as at a.

In operation a highly magnetized slug similar in detail to the slugs I8, 38, described above, having like polarity to that of the outwardly projecting or proximate end of the slug 46, is presented toward the side or cheek of the figure E to create a magnetic repulsion in a horizontal plane whereby the skull portion 39 will be caused to swivel upon the ball member 48 in a direction away from the presented slug. By this action, relative movement between the eyes 49, 49', and the eye-openings 41, 41, respectively, would be effected to give the appearance that the eyes 49, 49', were following the presented slug while the skull portion 39 was turning away. The spacing 0, allows free swivelling movement of the skull portion 39 without impeding contact with the jaw simulative portion 52.

If desired, an additional modified form of novelty toy F, as shown in Figures 10 to 13 inclusive, may be provided which comprises a skull portion 56 consisting of a front or face portion 51 and a rear portion 58 adhesively secured along a juncture line 59. Inserted into the portion of the face 51 which corresponds to the nose is a cylindrical highly magnetized slug 66, similar in all respects to the slugs ll, 31, and 46 above described.

Interiorly, the skull portion 56 is provided with aligned socket bosses 6| which lie along the juncture line 59 for receiving, for rocking movement thereon, the ends of a transversely extending hinge pin 62, integrally formed on the upper end of a support member 63, projecting upwardly from a lower head portion 64. The head portion 64 comprises a jaw-simulative section 65 and a neck-simulative section 66, the latter being provided with a depending swivel pin 61 for rotative disposition in the upper end of a base member 68.

Provided in the upper face of the jawsimulative section 65 is a longitudinally extending dove-tail way 69 within which is slidably disposed a dove tail 16 formed on the under side of a tongue-simulative member ll. Imbedded with the tongue ll adjacent its forward end is a magnet 12 formed preferably of a high permeabiiity magnetic, metallic alloy, Alnico, or the like. Suitably secured within the rearward portion of the tongue ll is one end of an elastic member 13 which is in substantial alignment with the center line of the tongue II. The other end of said elastic 13 is appropriately secured within the jaw 65.

The upper portion of the forward end of the tongue II is beveled to provide a camming surface 75 for co-operative surface engagement with a correspondingly contoured camming surface 16 provided on the inner bottom portion of the face 51, for reasons more fully appearing hereinafter.

Provided for co-operation with the toy F is an auxiliary object which may take the form of an ice cream cone B, having a highly magnetized slug I8, which are in all respects similar to the cone B and slug l8, respectively, above described. The end of the cone B which will be normally presented toward the mouth of the figure F will be, preferably, of like polarity to the outwardly projecting or proximate end of the slug 66.

Thus, in operation, when the cone B is presented toward the mouth of the figure F, the skull portion 56 will be rocked upwardly about the hinge pin 62 thereby causing the mouth to open. Since the cone B is in relatively close proximity to the mouth, the magnetic slug I8 will induce magnetism into the metallic strip 12, whereby the forward end thereof will develop polarity opposite to that of the presented end of the slug I8 so that attraction therebetween will be effected. This attraction causes the tongue H to be moved forwardly along the way 69 until the limit of extension of the elastic 13 is reached, at which point the tongue II will project a short distance beyond the jaw 65, as may be seen in Figure 11.

Withdrawal of the cone B, beyond the efiective range of its line of force, will cause the strip 12 to lose its temporarily induced magnetism, and thus be retracted by the elastic I3 into its normal inward disposition (see Figure 13). Simultaneously, with the retraction of the tongue H, the skull portion 56 will rock downwardly, through its own weight into mouth-closing position (see Figure since the repelling force of the slug l8 has been removed. In the event the tongue H is not fully retracted when the skull 56 rocks downwardly, the camming surface 16 will drivingly abut against the beveled surface on the tongue H and move it inwardly to assure mouth-closing co-operation between the skull 56 and the lower head portion 64.

It should, of course, be understood that the present invention may be applied to novelty toys molded in almost any shape or configuration to simulate fairy tale or story book characters such as Peter Rabbit.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the novelty toy may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A figure toy having upper components which conjunctively are representative of a head with articulated jaws; said toy comprising a baseforming element adapted to be supported in upright position, a neck-simulative member rotatably mounted upon and extending upwardly from the upper end of said base-forming element for swivelling movement about an axis which is substantially upright when the base-forming element is in upright position, said neck-simulative member having an integral portion simulative of a lower jaw, a pivot element integral with the neck-simulative member, a hollow head member having a pair of eyeholes and an integral portion shaped to resemble an upper jaw, said last named portion being normally disposed in overlying relation to the lower jaw-simulative portion, said head member being rockably mounted on and carried by the pivot element so as to move bodily with the neck-simulative member as the latter swivels about said upright axis and at the same time to be independently rockable with respect to the lower jaw-simulative portion about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis about which the neck-simulative member swivels, eyeball-simulative members mounted on and carried by the neck-simulative member, each of said eyeball-simulative members being respectively located behind one of the eyeholes to create an illusion of eyeball movement as the head member rocks, and a magnet fixed in said head member in radially spaced relation to the pivot element, so as to be capable, when the toy is subjected to the field of an external magnet Held in proximity thereto, of producing rocking movement between said neck-simulative and head members relative to each other and also swivelling movement of said neck-simulative and head members bodily together in relation to the base-forming element.

2. A figure toy having upper components which conjunctively are representative of a head with articulated jaws; said toy comprising a baseforming element adapted to be supported in upright position, a neck-simulative member rotatably mounted upon and extending upwardly from the upper end of said base-forming element for swivelling movement about an axis which is substantially upright when the base-forming element is in upright position, said neck-simulative member having an integral portion simulative of a lower jaw, a pivot element integral with the neck-simulative member, a hollow head member having a pair of eyeholes and an integral portion shaped to resemble an upper jaw, said last named portion being normally disposed in overlying relation to the lower jaw-simulative portion, said head member being rockably mounted on and carried by the pivot element so as to move bodily with the neck-simulative member as the latter swivels about said upright axis and at the same time to be independently rockable with respect to the lower jaw-simulative portion about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis about which the neck simulative member swivels, eyeball-simulative members mounted on and carried by the pivot element, each of said eyeball-simulative members being respectively located behind one of the eyeholes to create an illusion of eyeball movement as the head member rocks, and a magnet fixed in said head member in radially spaced relation to the pivot element, so as to be capable, when the toy is subjected to the field of an external magnet held in proximity thereto, of producing rocking movement between said neck-simulative and head members relative to each other and also swivelling movement of said neck-simulative and head members bodily together in relation to the base-forming element.

3. A figure toy having upper components which conjunctively are representative of a head with articulated jaws; said toy comprising a baseforming element adapted to be supported in up right position, a neck-simulative member r0tat ably mounted upon and extending upwardly from the upper end of said base-forming element for swivelling movement about an axis which is substantially upright when the base-forming element is in upright position, said neck-simulative member having an integral portion simulative of a lower jaw, a pivot element integral with and projecting upwardly from the neck-simulative member, a hollow head member having two forwardly presented spaced eyeholes and an integral portion shaped to resemble an upper jaw, said last named portion being disposed in overlying relation to the lower jaw-simulative portion, said head member being enclosingly disposed around and rockingly mounted on the pivot element so as to move bodily with the neck-simulative memher as the latter swivels about said upright axis and at the same time to be independently rockable with respect to the lower jaw-simulative portion about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis about which the head member swivels, eyeball simulative means formed integrally with the pivot element and projecting forwardly therefrom, said eyeball simulative means having terminal portions located respectively behind said eyeholes so as to be visible through the eyeholes and present an appearance of eyeball movement when the head member rocks, and a magnet fixed in said second movable member in radially spaced relation to the pivot element, so as to be capable, when the toy is subjected to the field of an external magnet held in proximity thereto, of producing rocking movement between said first and second movable members relative to each other and also swivelling movement of said neck-simulative and head members bodily together in relation to the base-forming element.

4. A figure toy having upper components which are conjunctively simulative of a head with articulated jaws, said toy comprising a base-forming element adapted for disposition in an upright position and being provided with an upwardly presented socket-forming opening, a neck member operatively mounted on top of said baseforming element and having a depending bearing element rotatably mounted in the socket-forming opening, an upstanding post-like member formed integrally with the neck member and being pro vided at its upper end with a pivot-forming ball having eyeball simulative elements upon its surface, a lower jaw formed rigidly with and extending outwardly from the neck member, a hollow head member having eyeholes located in overlying relation to the eyeball simulative elements, an upper jaw formed rigidly with and extending outwardly from the head member in overlying relation to the lower jaw, said head member being interiorly provided with a recess for rockable engagement with said ball so as to move bodily with the neck member as the latter swivels and at the same time to be independently rockable with respect to said neck member whereby said jaws will open and shut in simulation of natural jaws REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,013,539 Faerber Nov. 20, 1911 1,410,408 Mack Mar. 21, 1922 1,447,953 Herschmann Mar. 6, 1923 2,228,312 Herbst Jan. 14, 1941 2,277,672 Stone Mar. 31, 1942 2,389,833 Woditsch Nov. 27, 1945 2,494,681 Wisoif Jan. 17, 1950 2,509,860 Cooke May 30, 1950

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