US3353296A

US3353296A - Eye-moving apparatus combining plural output means to produce one motion

Info

Publication number: US3353296A
Application number: US599569A
Authority: US
Inventors: John W Ryan; Kossoff Joseph; Richard L May; Robert L Cowell
Original assignee: Mattel Inc
Current assignee: Mattel Inc
Priority date: 1966-12-06
Filing date: 1966-12-06
Publication date: 1967-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 1984-11-21

Description

J. w. RYAN ETAL 3,353,296 EYE-MOVING APPARATUS COMBINING PLURAL OUTPUT Nov. 21, 1967 MEANS TO PRODUCE ONE MOTION 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 6, 1966 H W Ww/Y Nov. 21, 1967 J. w. RYAN ETAL 3,353,296

EYE-MOVING APPARATUS COMBINING PLURAL OUTPUT MEANS TO PRODUCE ONE MOTION Filed Dec. 6, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet l A z-702M);

3,353,296 Patented Nov. 21, 1967 3,353,296 EYE-MOVING APPARATUS COMBINING PLURAL OUTPUT MEANS TO PRODUCE ONE MOTION John W. Ryan, Bel Air, Joseph Kossolf, Hawthorne, and Richard L. May and Robert L. Cowell, Manhattan Beach, Calif., assignors to Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif a corporation of California Filed Dec. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 599,569 8 Claims. (Cl. 46247) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dolls eyeballs are floatingly mounted in clear plastic bubbles and are driven through eye-sweeping movements, which simulate random movements, by an eyeball connector having a link connected to each eyeball and a single connection to a member which combines the output motions of two different crank pins into a composite output motion.

The present invention relates to a new and useful eyemoving apparatus for figure toys and more particularly to such an apparatus for simulating random eye-sweeping movements in figure toys.

Several different types of eye-moving means are known for figure toys. Most of the means impart a rather unrealistic movement to the eyes because they either rotate them about a horizontal axis or about a vertical axis. Other figure toys or manikins, such as those disclosed in U.S. Patents Nos. 1,328,100; 1,760,318 and 2,114,851 obtain an eye movement which is more realistic than that obtained by merely rotating an eye about a horizontal or vertical axis by mounting the eyes for universal movement and then manually manipulating the eyes. While generally satisfactory, the manually manipulatable eyes have the disadvantage that more skill is required to manipulate the eyes than that possessed by the average child of an age to enjoy figure toys in the form of dolls and the like.

In view of the foregoing factors and conditions characteristic of eye-moving mechanisms, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and useful eyemoving means not subject to the disadvantages enumerated above and having drive means for driving a dolls eyes through simulated, random eye-sweeping movements.

According to the present invention, an apparatus for simulating random eye-sweeping movements in a figure toy is provided. The apparatus includes eyeball means mounted in a figure toy and drive means for driving the eyeball means through simulated, random eye-sweeping movements. The drive means includes a first output means having a first predetermined motion and a second output means having a second predetermined output motion differing from the first output motion. The apparatus also includes means connecting the drive means to the eyeball means with no intervening supports or connections. The connecting means includes means for combining the first and second output motions into a single, composite output motion.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like elements in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in cross-section to show internal construction, of a figure toy and eye-moving means constituting a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of the eyemoving means shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse, cross-sectional view of the toy shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of a figure toy incorporating an eye-moving means constituting a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of the eye-moving means shown in FIGURE 4.

Referring again to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURES 1-3, an eye-moving means constituting a first embodiment of the present invention, generally designated 10, is shown in combination with a figure toy 12 having a head 14 which includes a pair of eye sockets 16, a nose 18 and a mouth 20.

The eye-moving means 10 may be substantially the same as the one disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 599,568, filed Dec. 6, 1966 and includes a pair of eyeball means 22, and a drive means 24 for driving the eyeball means 22 through simulated, random eye-sweeping movements. The drive means 24 includes a first output means 26 having a first predetermined output motion and a second output means 28 having a second predetermined output motion differing from the first output motion.

The eye-moving means 10 also includes a connecting means 30 for connecting the drive means to the eyeball means 22. The connecting means 30 is unsupported and free-floating being connected only to the eyeball means 22 and the drive means 24 and includes a compositeoutput-motion transmitting means 32 for combining the first and second output motions into a single composite output motion.

The eyeball means 22 each includes a hollow, substantially hemispherically-shaped, eyeball member 34 in which a pair of

plates

36, 38 are mounted at right angles to each other. The plate 36 is provided with a substantially rectangular slot 40 having a mouth 42 which flares outwardly to the periphery 44 of the plate 36 and a pair of notches 46 intermediate the mouth 42 and a The drive means also includes output-motion interclosed end wall 48 defining the inner end of the slot 40. The plate 38 is provided with a slot 50 having a closed end 52 lying at right angles to the end wall 48 and an outwardly-flaring open end 54 at the peripheral edge 56 of the plate 38.

The eyeball means 22 are each floatingly mounted in a transparent, substantially hemispherically-shaped, plastic bubble 58 which is clamped into position with an associated eye socket 16 by a bridge member 60 having a clamping ring 62 clamping the eye socket 16 and associated bubbles 58 together at the hollow, cylindrical open ends 64 thereof. Each ring 62 includes an annular surface 63 of less diameter than the major diameter of an associated eyeball member 34 for preventing removal thereof from an associated bubble 58 while permitting universal movement therein. The bridge includes upper and lower rails, as shown at 66 in FIGURE 3 for the lower rail, connecting the clamping rings 62 together, and is connected to a housing 68, which houses the eyemoving means 10, by a pair of clips carried by the ends of the bridge 60, as shown at 70 in FIGURE 3 for one clip. Each clip 70 may be snapped into engagement with an associated lug 72 afiixed to an associated sidewall 74 on the housing 68.

The connector means 30 includes an eyeball connector 76 which may be made from a suitable plastic material, such as polypropylene, and includes a U-shaped member 78 having a bight portion 80 to which a pair of downwardly and forwardly extending

arms

82, 84 are connected by associated hinges 86 formed in the eyeball connector 76 by reducing the cross-section thereof at the junction of the

arms

82, 84 with the bight portion 80. The eyeball connector 76 also includes a cross arm or bar 88 which is connected to the free ends 90 of asso ciated arms by associated hinge members 92 formed in the connector 76 by reducing the cross-section thereof at the junction of the

arms

82, 84 with the cross bar 88, as is well known in the art for forming live hinges in polypropylene members. The cross bar 88 includes a first end 94 and a second end 96 to which first and

second links

98, 100,- respectively, are connected by live hinges 102 formed in the connector means 30 by reducing the cross-section thereof at the junction of the links 98, with the cross bar 88. The

links

98, 100 each carry a pair of protuberances 104 which may be seated in associated notches 46 provided in associated slots 40 so that the

links

98, 100 may be connected to their associated eyeballs 22 for transmitting realistic, non-uniform eyesweeping' movements thereto from the drive means 24.

The second output means 28 includes a small-diameter gear 106 having a front face 108, a rear face 110 and a plurality of teeth 112. The rear face 110 carries an integrally formed hub 114 and a spindle 116 and the front face 108 is provided with a cylindrical land 1-18 and an integral crank pin 120 which are offset from the center or rotation of the gear 106. The gear 106 is journaled in a bearing block 122 having a first cylindrical end 124 connected to a hollow boss 126 on the sidewall 74 of housing 68 and a second cylindrical end 128 connected to a hollow boss 130 provided on a sidewall 132 of the housing 68. The bearing block 122' is provided with a first aperture 134 rotatably receiving the spindle 116, which may be maintained in operative association with block 122 by forming an enlarged head 136 on the free end 138 of spindle 116 and'by the hub 114.

The first output means 26 includes a large-diameter gear 140 having a rear face 142, a front face 144 and a plurality of teeth 146, which mesh with the teeth 112. The rear face 142 carries a motion-interrupting means or star wheel 148 which, in turn,-carries a hub 150 and a spindle 152 for rotatably connecting the gear 140 and the star wheel 148 to the bearing block 122 by engaging the spindle 152 in an aperture 154 provided in the bearing block 122. The free end 156 of the spindle 152 may be provided with an enlarged head 158 which cooperates with the hub 150 for maintaining the spindle 152- in operative association with the bearing block 122. A cylindrical land 160 and an integral crank pin 162 are carried by the front face 144 of the gear 140 and are offset from the center of rotation thereof.

The star wheel 148 includes a plurality of teeth 164 engageable by three closely spaced pins 166 provided on a gear 168 which forms a part of the drive means 24 and which is driven by an electric motor 170 having an output shaft 172 carrying a worm gear 174 meshing with teeth 176 on the gear 168. The pins 166 rotate the wheel 148 through three predetermined increments of rotation dur ing each complete revolution of the gear 168. The pins 166 are adapted to engage three teeth 164 in succession and then remain disengaged from the teeth 164 until the gear 168 starts its next revolution. As will become appar ent hereinafter, this mode of operation drives the eyeballs 22 in such a manner that they appear to become fixed on an object for a short time and then move to another object upon which they become fixed for a short time before moving on again. The increments of rotation imparted to the star wheel 148 are transmitted thereby to the large-diameter gear 140 which, in turn, drives the small-diameter gear 106.

The combined output of the

gears

106 and 140 is transmitted to the connector 76 by the composite, output-m0- tion generating means 32 having a pair of

arms

178, 180 each of which includes a first end 182 connected to a hub member 184 by an associated live hinge 186. The

arms

178, 180 each includes a second end 188 which carries a hub 190 provided with an aperture 192. The aperture 192 on the arm 178 rotatably receives the crank pin 162 on gear 140 and the hub 190 is retained in position on the crank pin 162 by an enlarged head 194 provided thereon. The aperture 192 in the arm 180 rotatably receives the crank pin 128 and the associated hub 190 is retained in position on the crank pin 120 by an enlarged head 196 provided thereon. The hub member 184 carries a pin 198' received in an aperture 200 provided in the bight portion 80 of the eyeball connector 76 for connecting the hub member 184 thereto. The pin 198 may be provided with an enlarged head 202 for retaining it in position on bight portion 80. The pin 198 constitutes an eccentric drive for the connector means 30 and is driven through a path defined by the combined output of the

crank pins

120 and 162. This combined output appears to be random in nature because the drive gear 168 may make a great many revolutions before the path followed by the pin 198 repeats itself. This is accomplished, in part, by giving the large-diameter gear 140 an oddnumber of teeth, such as 31, and the small-diameter gear 106 an even, lesser number of teeth, such as 28. The connector 76 transmits the path of travel of the pin 198 to the eyeball means 22 moving them through simulated random eye-sweeping movements within their associated bubbles 58.

The gear 168 is rotatably mounted in the housing 68 by a shaft 204 having a first end 206 joumalled in an end wall 208 of housing 68 and a second end 210 journalled in a partition 212 provided in the housing 68. Electric current for the motor 170 is supplied by a dry cell means 214 mounted in a cylindrical portion 216 of the housing 68 and connected to the motor 170 by

electric leads

218, 220 through a switch 222 having a fixed contact 224 affixed to the head 14 by rivet means 226 and a movable contact 228 swingably connected to the head 14 by a pivot pin 230. The movable contact 228 carries a push button 232 which is reciprocally mounted in the head 14 for actuation by a child-user of the doll 12.

In use, the switch 222 may be closed completing a circuit to the electric motor 170 for continuously operating the gear 168. Each complete revolution of the gear 168 imparts three increments of rotation to the motion interrupting means or star wheel 148 which, in turn, imparts an increment of rotation to the output means 26- and 28. The increments of rotation imparted to the

gears

26 and 28 moves the associated crank pins 162, 120 imparting a predetermined output motion thereto which is combined into a single output motion by the pin 198 on bight portion 80 by the transmitting means 32. This composite output motion is transmitted from the pin 198 to the eyeball means 22 by the connector '76 moving the eyeball means 22 through simulated, random eye-sweeping patterns making it appear that the dolls eyes become fixed on an object for a short period of time and then randomly move to another object upon which they become fixed for a short period of time before moving on to the next object.

Referring now to FIGURES 4-7, an eye-moving means constituting a second embodiment of the present invention, generally designated at 10a, it is shown in combiria tion with a figure toy 12a. This figure toy is shown herein for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, in the form of a doll having a head 14a, a pair of eye sockets, like the one shown at 16a in FIGURE 7, a nose 18a, a mouth 20a and a cylindrical neck 21a.

The eye-moving means a may be substantially the same as the one disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 599,546, filed Dec. 6, 1966 and includes a pair of eyeballs, like the one shown at 22a in FIGURES 4 and 7, which are driven through simulated, random eye-sweeping movements by a drive means 24a including a first output means 26a having a first predetermined output motion and a second output means 2811 having a second predetermined output motion differing from the first output motion.

The eyeball means 22a are connected to the drive means 24a by a connecting means 30a which includes a composite-output-motion transmitting means 32a forcombining the first and second output motions into a composite output motion.

The eyeball means 22a are each substantially the same as the eyeball means 22 described in connection with the first embodiment of the present invention including a hollow, substantially hemispherically-shaped member 34a in which a pair of plates, like the one shown at 36a, are mounted at right angles to each other.

The eyeball means 22a are each fioatingly mounted in a transparent plastic bubble 58a which is clamped into position within an associated eye socket 16a by a bridge member 60a having a pair of clamping rings, like the one shown at 62a, clamping the eye sockets 16a and associated bubbles 58a together at the open ends 64a thereof. The bridge member 60a is substantially the same as the bridge 60 shown in connection with the first embodiment of the present invention and includes a pair of clips, like the one shown at 70 in FIGURES l and 3 of the first embodiment (not shown in connection with the second embodiment) which may be engaged in a pair of lugs 72a provided on a housing 68a in which the drive means 24a is mounted.

The housing 68a includes a rear wall 234, a top wall 236, a bottom wall 238 and a pair of matching,

spacedapart side walls

240, 242 forming an open front 244 in the housing 68a. The back wall 234 includes an upper, substantially vertical portion 246 having an upper end 248 connected to the top wall 236 and a lower end 250 connected to a substantially horizontal portion 252 of back wall 234. The horizontal portion 252 includes an end 254 from which a back Wall portion 256 depends into engagement with a second horizontal portion 258 having an end 260 from which a substantially vertical portion 262 depends. The depending portion 262 includes a lower end 264 which is provided with a lug 266. The lug 266 is given lateral flexibility by providing a pair of vertical slots, as indicated at 268 in FIGURE 7 for one slot, extending vertically in the back wall 234 on each side of the lug 266 and a horizontal slot 270 provided in the back wall 234 below the lug 266.

The back wall 234 also includes a substantially horizontal portion 272 extending inwardly from the lower end 264 of the portion 262 and having an end 274 from which a back wall portion 276 depends into engagement with the bottom Wall 238. The depending portions 256 and 276 are aligned for forming a shelf for a plate member 278 which is provided with a peripheral flange 280 and which is maintained in position in the housing 68a by upper and

lower clips

282, 284 engageable in associated slots 286, 288 provided in the depending portions 256 and 276, respectively.

Each

side wall

240, 242 includes a rearwardly extending portion, as shown at 290 in FIGURES 4 and 7 for the side wall 240, for reinforcing the back wall 234. The

side walls

240, 242 each also includes an upper, substantially vertical portion 292 having a lower end 294 from which a substantially horizontal, outwardly-extending portion 296 extends. The portions 296 each includes an outboard end 298 from which a substantially vertical portion 300 depends into engagement with an end 302 of a substantially horizontal, inwardly-extending portion 304 having an end 306 which is connected to a lower, vertical portion 308 by a downwardly and inwardly directed portion 310. Each depending portion 300 is provided with lugs 72a for connecting the bridge member 6011 to the housing 68a. Each lower vertical portion 308 is provided with a lug 312 engageable by an associated clip 314 (as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 7) provided on a cover plate 316 for retaining the cover plate 316 in position within the housing 68a. The plate 316 maintains the transmitting means 32a in sliding engagement with the first and second output means 26a and 28a.

The first output means 26a comprises a large-diameter gear 140a having a front face 144a against which the upper portion 318 of the transmitting means 32a is en- 'gaged for sliding motion with respect thereto. The gear 140a is provided with a plurality of teeth 146a, a hollow, cylindrical spindle 150a and a rear face 142a. The spindle 150a is rotatably mounted in an aperture 154a provided in a thickened portion 122:: of the member 278. The thickened portion 122a forms bearing surfaces for the rear face 142a of the gear 140a and for the front face 320 of a gear 322 which is connected to the spindle 150a by a pin 324 for rotation thereby.

The second output means 28a comprises a small-diameter gear 106a having a plurality of teeth 112a meshing with the teeth 146a on the large-diameter gear 140a. The gear 106a includes a front face 108a slidably receiving the lower portion 326 of the means 32a and a rear face a bearing against a circular land 328 provided on the plate member 278. The gear 106a is provided with an aperture 330 rotatably mounting the gear 106a on a pin 332 extending from the land 328.

The transmitting means 32a appears in front elevation substantially as shown in FIGURE 6 and is provided with a substantially vertical, rectangular opening 334 in its upper portion 318 and a substantially horizontal, rectangular opening 336 in its lower portion 326. These openings function as output motion interrupting means, as will be more fully described hereinafter. The transmitting means 32a includes a tongue 338 which depends from the portion 326 and which is provided with a substantially vertical, rectangular opening 340. The transmitting means 32a is connected to the first output means 26a by a crank pin 162a which is provided on the face 144a of the gear 140a and which is disposed within the opening 334 for working engagement with the upper portion 318 during rotation of the first output means 26a by the gear 322 which, in turn, is driven through means and in a manner to be hereinafter described. The second output means 28a is operatively associated with the transmitting means 32a by a crank pin a which is carried by the face 108a of gear 106a and which is disposed within the opening 336 for working engagement with the lower portion 326 upon rotation of the gear 106a by the gear a. The tongue 338 is limited in movement by a pin 342 which is aifixed to the member 278 and which is disposed within the opening 340.

The transmitting means 32a also includes an upper end 344 which carries a pin 346 for connecting the transmitting means 32a to the connecting means 30a.

The connecting means 30a may be made of a suitable plastic material, such as polypropylene, and is substantially the same as the connecting means 30 described in connection with the first embodiment of the present invention except that the connecting means 30a is substantially T-shaped having a stern portion 78a extending upwardly from a cross bar portion 88a. The stem portion 78a includes an upper end 348 which is provided with an aperture 200a receiving the pin 346 which has a flattened head 350 for maintaining the end 348 in position thereon. The stem portion 78a is provided with a first live hinge 86a, which is formed in the upper end 348 by reducing the cross section thereof, and a second live hinge 92a formed therein by reducing the cross section of the stem portion 78a at its junction with the cross bar portion 88a. The cross bar portion 88a includes a substantially horizontal bar 352 and a pair of forwardly extending arms, such as the one shown at 354 in FIGURES 4 and 7, mounted on the ends of the bar 352 at right angles thereto. Each arm 354 includes a free end 356 to which a link 9811 is connected by a live hinge 358. The links 98a are connected to associated eyeball means 22a by frictional engagement of the links 9811 with associated plates 36a.

The drive means 24a also includes a drive member 360 which is reciprocably mounted in the housing 68a between the back wall 234 and the plate 278 and is maintained in sliding engagement therewith by a flute 362 provided on the back wall 234. The drive member 360 carries a pair of upwardly-extending

fingers

364, 366 extending into operative engagement With the gear 322 for imparting rotation thereto upon reciprocation of the drive member 360. The finger 364 carries a plurality of downwardly-extending teeth 368 which engage a plurality of teeth 370 on gear 322 during the downstroke of the member 360 for rotating it counterclockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 5. The finger 366 carries a plurality of upwardly-extending teeth 372 engageable with the teeth 370 on gear 322 for rotating it in a counterclockwise direction on the upstroke of the member 360. The

fingers

364, 366 have sufficient resiliency to hex the teeth 368 on the finger 364 past the teeth 370 on the gear 322 during the upstroke of the member 360 and to flex the teeth 372 on the finger 366 past the teeth 370 during the downstroke of the member 360.

The drive member 360 includes a lower end 374 which is provided with a pair of hollow bosses 376 pivotally receiving associated trunnions 378 extending laterally from the ends 380 of a pair of arms 382, 384 provided on a U-shaped actuating member 386 having a bight portion 388. The arms 382, 384 are rockably mounted in associated

apertures

390, 392 provided in the plate 278. The drive member 360 may be reciprocated by rocking the actuating member 386 upon the pivot points formed by the plate member 278 by any suitable means. One such means is shown herein for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, as comprising a reciprocating wire filament 394 having an end 396 frictionally engaged in an aperture 398 provided in the bight portion 388 of the member 386. The filament 394 is slidably mounted in a sheath 400 having an upper end 402 restrained against movement by frictional engagement with an aperture 404 provided in a top wall 406 of a transition member 408 having an encompassing side Wall 412. The member 408 is provided with an aperture 414 in the top wall 406 for receiving the lower end 416 of housing 68a which is retained in position therein by the clip 266 provided on the end 264 of the back wall portion 262. g

The encompassing side wall 412 of the member 408 frictionally engages a reduced-diameter portion 418 of a second transition member 420 which connects the housing 68a to a sound producing means 422 which is shown herein for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, as comprising a random-record voice unit of the type disclosed in U.S. patent application No. 505,895, filed Nov. 1, 1965, and now Patent No. 3,315,406. The sound producing means 422 includes a pear-shaped housing 424 having a large end 426 and a small end 428 formed by a front housing half 430 and a rear housing half 432.

The sound producing means 422 also includes a phonograph device 434 which is mounted in the housing 424 and which includes a turntable 436 having

peripheral flanges

437, 438 and a plurality of peripheral teeth 440. The phonograph device 434 also includes a toothed belt 442 which is trained about a toothed pulley 444 and the turntable 436 for driving a governor 446. The turntable 436 includes a spindle 448 which is seated in a bearing 450 carried by a cylindrical member 452 supported from the front housing half 430 by a gusset plate 454. A spool 456 is mounted on the spindle 448 and may be rotated by pulling a drawstring 458 coiled thereon. A motor 460 of the clock-spring type is mounted in the phonograph device 434 between the spool 456 and the turntable 436 and is wound by pulling the drawstring 458, as more fully described in said application No. 505,895.

The turntable 436 carries a phonograph record 462 having interleaved spiral grooves, not shown, each having a distinctive group of words or sounds recorded thereon. These grooves may be engaged by a phonograph needle 464 carried by a tone arm 466 which may be positioned at the beginning of a particular groove by the drawstring 458 when it is drawn to wind the spring motor 460. The tone arm 466 is connected to a speaker cone 468 mounted in an opening 470 provided in the front housing half 430 behind a speaker grille 472.

The sound producing means 422 includes a power-takeoff means 474 supplying power to the drive means 24a. The power-take-otf means 474 may be of any suitable type, such as the type shown in said copending application Ser. No. 505,895, and includes a plate 476 which is reciprocably mounted in the rear housing half 432 for reciprocation by the turntable 436. This reciprocation may be imparted to the plate 476 by a rotatable roller 478 which is rotatably mounted on the plate 476 forming a cam follower adapted to follow a cam in the form of a groove 480 provided in the turntable 436, all as more fully disclosed in said application Ser. No. 505,895. The plate 476 is connected to the end 482 of filament 394, which is remote from the end 396, by a connector 484 affixed to the plate 476 for reciprocation thereby. The sheath 400 has a second end 486 provided with a flared portion 488 seated in a notch 490 providedin a rear Wall 492 forming part of the rear housing half 432. An elongated slot 494 is provided in the rear wall 492 and extends from the notch 490 to a stepped portion 496 on the end 428 for receiving the sheath 400. A cover plate 498 is affixed to the rear wall 492 for retaining the sheath 400 in position Within the slot 494.

The second transition member 420 includes a front wall 500, conforming in shape to the front wall 502 of the front housing half 430 in the vicinity of end 428, a rear wall 503 conforming in shape to the rear wall 504 of the rear housing half 432 below the stepped portion 496, side walls, like the one shown at 506, conforming in shape to the side walls of the housing 426 at the end 428, and a curved top wall 508 adapted to engage the end 428. The member 420 is mounted on the end 428 with a friction fit. When so mounted, a U-shaped notch 510 provided in the front Wall 500 engages a protuberance 512 provided on the front housing half 430. The member 420 also includes a large-diameter portion 514 provided with an annular groove 516 in which the neck 21a of the doll 12a and the upper end 518 of a cape 520 are firmly seated by an annular band 522.

Operation of the second embodiment of the present invention will be readily understood. The phonograph device 434 may be energized to rotate the turntable 436 causing the groove 480 to impart a linear motion to the roller 478 which, in turn, reciprocates the plate 476. Reciprocation of the plate 47 6 reciprocates the filament 394 rocking the member 386 on the member 278 to reciprocate the drive member 360 imparting rotation to the gear 322.

Rotation of the gear 322 imparts rotation to the crank pins a and 162a through associated gears 106a and a, respectively, giving each of them a predetermined, different output motion which is combined by the member 32a into a single output motion which is intermittent because the

openings

334 and 336 are of sufficient size to result in lost motion of the output means 26a and 28a with respect to the member 32a. The output of the member 32a is transmitted to the eyeballs 22a by the connecting means 30a for simulating random eye-sweeping mover'nents wherein the dolls eyes appear to become fixed on an object for a short period of time and then sweep on randomly to another object.

The groove 480 in the turntable 436 may be asymmetrical in shape, as shown in said application Ser. No. 505,895, so that the plate 476 and the filament 394 reciprocate on an irregular cycle. This adds to the simulation of random eye-sweeping movements.

While the particular eye-moving devices herein shown and described in detail are fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that they are merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for simulating eye-sweeping movements in figure toys having eye socket means, comprising:

eyeball means universally pivotally mounted in said eye socket means;

drive means for driving said eyeball means through simulated, eye sweeping movements with respect to said eye socket means, said drive means including first and second output means having different predetermined output motions; and

means connecting said drive means to said eyeball means, said connecting means including means for combining said first and second output motion into a single, composite output motion and eyeball connector means connecting said combining means to said eyeball means for transmitting said composite output motion directly to said eyeball means, said eyeball connector means converting said composite output motion into universal pivotal movement of said eyeball means.

2. An apparatus as stated in claim 1 wherein said drive means includes output-motion interrupting means operatively associated with said first and second output means for periodically interrupting said output motions during continuous operation of said drive means.

3. An apparatus as stated in claim 1 wherein said connector means is connected only to said combining means and said eyeball means whereby it is free-floating.

4. An apparatus as stated in claim 1 wherein said eye socket means comprises a pair of eye sockets and wherein said eyeball means comprises:

a transparent, substantially hemispherically-shaped member mounted in each of said sockets, each of said transparent members having a hollow, cylindrical open end;

a substantially hernispherically-shaped eyeball member fioatingly mounted in each of said transparent members; and

clamping ring means clamping each of said open ends of said transparent members to an associated socket, each of said clamping ring means including an annular surface coacting with an associated one of said eyeball members to maintain it in position in an associated one of said transparent members without restricting the universal movement of said associated eyeball member.

5. Apparatus for simulating eye-sweeping movements in figure toys, comprising:

eyeball means mounted in said figure toy;

drive means for driving said eyeball means, said drive means including first and second output means having predetermined output motions, said first output means comprising first gear means having a first predetermined number of teeth and a first crank pin offset from the center of rotation of said first gear means, said second output means comprising a second gear means having a second predetermined number of teeth meshing with said first predetermined number of teeth and a second crank pin oliset from the center of rotation of said second gear means; and

means connecting said drive means to said eyeball 5 means, said connecting means including means for combining said first and second output motions into a single, composite output motion, said combining means including means connecting said first and second crank pins to a single output member, said means connecting said drive means to said eyeball means also including means placing said single output member in operative association with said eyeball means.

6. An apparatus as stated in claim 5 wherein said drive means includes:

star wheel means carried by one of said first and second gear means;

powered gear means mounted in said figure toy;

motor means operatively associated with said powered gear means for imparting continuous rotation thereto; and

crank pin means operatively associating said powered gear means with said star wheel means for imparting predetermined increments of intermittent rotation thereto, whereby said one gear means is rotated intermittently during continuous rotation of said powered gear means.

7. An apparatus as stated in claim 5 wherein said drive means includes:

powered gear means operatively associated with one of said first and second gear means;

a pair of finger means reciprocably mounted in said toy astraddle said powered gear means, one of said finger means including teeth engageable with said powered gear means for imparting an increment of rotation thereto only when said one finger means is moved in one direction, the other of said finger means including teeth engageable with said powered gear means for imparting an increment of rotation thereto only when said other finger mean is moved in a direction opposite to said one direction; and

motor means mounted in said toy in operative association with said finger means for imparting reciprocation thereto.

8. Apparatus for simulating eye-sweeping movements 45 in figure toys, comprising:

(A) eyeball means mounted in said figure toy, said eyeball means comprising:

(a) a transparent, substantially hemisphericallyshaped member mounted in each of said sockets, each of said transparent members having a hollow, cylindrical open end;

(b) a substantially hemispherically-shaped eyeball member fioatingly mounted in each of said transparent members; and

(c) clamping ring means clamping each of said open ends of said transparent members to an associated socket, each of said clamping ring means including an annular surface coacting with an associated one of said eyeball members to maintain it in position in an associated one of said transparent members without restricting, the universal movement of said associated eyeball member;

(B) drive means for driving said eyeball means, said drive means including first and second output means having predetermined output motions, said first output means comprising:

(a) first gear means having a first predetermined number of teeth; and

(b) a first crank pin offset from the center of rotation of said first gear means, said second output means comprising:

(c) a second gear means having a second predetermined number of teeth meshing with said first predetermined number of teeth; and

1 1 (d) a second crank pin offset from the center of rotation of said second gear means; and (C) means connecting said drive means to said eyeball means, said connecting means including means for combining said first and second output motions into a single, composite output motion, said combining means including:

(a) means connecting said first and second crank pins to a single output member, said means connecting said drive means at said eyeball means also including:

(b) means placing said single output member in operative association with said eyeball means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 2/ 1946 Great Britain. 2/1955 Italy.

F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR SIMULATING EYE-SWEEPING MOVEMENTS IN FIGURE TOYS HAVING EYE SOCKET MEANS, COMPRISING: EYEBALL MEANS UNIVERSALLY PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID EYE SOCKET MEANS; DRIVE MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID EYEBALL MEANS THROUGH SIMULATED, EYE SWEEPING MOVEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO SAID EYE SOCKET MEANS, SAID DRIVE MEANS INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND OUTPUT MEANS HAVING DIFFERENT PREDETERMINED OUTPUT MOTIONS; AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID DRIVE MEANS TO SAID EYEBALL MEANS, SAID CONNECTING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR