US2931657A - Pictorial toys - Google Patents

Description

April 5, 1960 G. P. Ll-:wls 2,931,657

PICTORIAL Toys Filed March 18, 1958 F|G.1. F|G.2.

INVENTOR. ge P. Lew s f .||.||.I|.|| llllllflllllll f Geor BY PIcToRlAL ToYs George P. Lewis, Mineola, N.Y. applicati@ March. 1s, 195s, serial No. 722,251 1 claim. (ci. 27s-15s) This invention relates to toys, and more particularly to those of pictorial nature and by which parts of a human figure, animal, liowers, landscapes or other pictorial representations may be varied to` secure a large number of pictorial effects. For example, inthe case of the representation of a human ligure, the clothing, parts of the body and other elements associated therewith may be varied at will so that the aspect of many different figures will be-had in an interesting and amusing manner.

It is an object -of the invention to provide a simple and inexpensive toy of this nature, which can be wholly or in part constructed of cardboard or some other inexpensive material and which can, if desired be made at such low cost as to enable it to be distributed for advertising purposes. I

It is an object of the invention to provide a toy of this type which will be so simple to operate that it can be interestingly used by a small child; which can be made strong enough to withstand rough handling and which because of the changeable nature of the pictorial elements to make up the various illustrations, will be found of interest to a child for a considerable period.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the provision of a cylindrical body provided with at least one, and preferably two window openings in its side wall, and enclosing a plurality of separately rotatable cylindrical sections arranged co-axially and arranged for the selective exposure of portions of their outer faces within the window. As a result, the rotative movement of these cylindrical sections will position various pictorial elements in the window and in such assembled relationship that a unitary picture or figure will be the result. By selective rotation of the several cylindrical sections a large number of different figures may be produced.

With these and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, I have devised the arrangement of parts to be described and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing-wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed,

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a pictorial toy constructed according to the invention;

Fig, 2 is a vertical sectional view through the same, the view being taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the rotative sleeves or rings carrying picture elements, and

Fig. 5 is a view of one of the rotative sleeves in a attened form to disclose the arrangement of the picture elements borne by it. v

The body of the toy consists of a tube or cylinder 1 preferably but not necessarily composed of cardboard, or of plastic, metal or any other suitable and relatively inexpensive sheet material. The tube or cylinder 1 is provided in its side wall with at least one, and preferably two window openings indicated respectively at 2 and 3.

Patented Apr. 5, 196D lCev These openings may be simple cut-outs in the side wall of the tube or cylinder or they may be covered by transparent material.

Contained within the tube or cylinder 1 is a plurality of sleeve-like rings indicated respectively at 4 to 8 inclusive. These rings are located in end-to-end relationship inside of the tube and they snuglybut rotatively, t within the same. They are confined in co-axial relationship within the tube by means of the closure caps indicated at 9 and 10 respectively, which caps are either removably or permanently secured on the opposite ends of the tube and serve as closure members therefor.

Each of the rings 4 to 8 inclusive has its outer surface divided into a number of panels or segments 11, and each segment carries an imprinted or otherwise reproduced pictorial element. For' example, Vthe ring 4 is divided into ve panels or segments and each panel or segment bears an illustration of a different hatshown at 12. The ring 5 has itspanels or segments bearing the representations of different faces or heads 13. Ring 6 has its surface provided with ve spaces each bearing the representation 14 of a differently shaped or clothed trunk of a human body. The ring 7 has five representations of legs 15 and the ring 8 bears live illustrations of feet, shoes or other extremities 16. It will, of course, be understood that the pictorial elements disclosed are merely illustrative since the figure or other complete illustration sought to be portrayed need not necessarily be a human being, but might be an animal, insect, flower, landscape or other scene.

The window openings 2 and 3 are each of such elongation or length that they expose a panel or segment of each of the five rings and hence show a complete presentation of an entire figure made up of one segment of each of thel live rings, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. It will be apparent that by rotating the rings 4 to 8 or either of them, various effects can be secured and which will be interesting and amusing to both children and adults. Thus, by rotating the upper ring, or that shown at 4, the hats can be changed. By rotation of the ring 5, the faces or heads can be changed and this can be continued by rotative movement of rings 6, 7 and 8 to thereby change the bodies, legs and feet of the illustrated figure.

The manual rotation of the rings 4 to 8 inclusive is facilitated by the provision of the two window openings which, when such openings are simply cut-outs in the wall of the tube 1, permit of the ready entry of the lingers to contact with the surfaces of the rings to turn the same. The window opening 3 is spaced from the similar opening 2 for a distance equal to that of one of the panels or segments 11 on each ring, and since the window opening 3 is of a width equal to that of the window opening 2, it will be obvious that when a segment on each of the rings is registered with the opening 2, another segment on each ring wil be registered with the opening 3. Accordingly, when a child manipulates the several rings to produce a complete picture in one of the window openings he will be simultaneously producing another complete picture in the second window opening. It will amuse a child to form a picture in one of the window openings and then turn the cylinder slightly to see what he has produced in the second window opening.

While I have shown five of the picture-bearing rings, it will be apparent these rings may be increased or decreased in number. Moreover, they may vary considerably in height or may all be of the same height. Also, while these picture-bearing elements are shown and described herein as rings, they might also be in the form of disks.

Since the two window openings 2 and 3 are not located diametrically opposite to one another, they provide a relatively wide, opaque area 17 between them on the tube 1 and this area can be used for decorating the tube or for bearing advertising matter or other printed material.

From the foregoing, the operation of the toy will be` apparent. The ngers inserted through the window openings 2 and 3 enable the rings or either of them to be rotatively moved within the tube, bringing various picture elements into registration in one of the window openings. The arrangements and assemblages of the picture elements are many and a child may be amused for a long period by constantly changing the arrangements possible.

Having described a single embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claim.

What I claim is:

A pictorial toy comprising, a hollow cylindrical tube, a plurality of separate, sleeve-like rings arranged end-toend within the tube and closely but rotatively fitting the interior of the tube, the rings being` thin-walled to thereby izo-operate in forming a hollow, unimpeded passagel through all of them from one end o f the tube to its opposite end, closure caps fitting on and closing the opposite ends of the tube and preventing axial movement of the rings relatively to one another, each ring having its outer face carrying a plurality of illustrations of a feature or element forming part of or associated with a living being, the tube being provided in its side wall with a window opening'of a size sucient to expose one of the illustrations on each ring, with such exposed illustrations arranged in end-to-end relationship and co-operating to produce a complete figure of the living being, the rings being arranged for manual independent rotation by contact of the fingers against the periphery of each ring to thereby change the illustrations which the rings or either of them register with the window opening, the tube having a second window opening substantially similar to the f'irst opening, the second window opening being so located relatively to the first opening that it presents the representation of a figure simultaneously with the presentation of another figure in the first opening, the two window openings being each of a size that they facilitate manual rotation of the rings by insertion of the fingers through both of such openings or through either of them to reach and apply the pressure of the ngers against the peripheral surfaces of the rings to rotate the Same.

References Cited in the file of this patent v UNITED STATES PATENTS 261,775 Smith et a1. July 25, 1882 1,064,576 Washburn June l0, 1913 1,614,583 Zimmerman Jan. 18, 1927 1,703,159 Monheim Feb. 26, 1929 2,421,513 Lofstrom June 3, 1947 2,461,926 Russell Feb. 15, 1949

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