GB786977A - Improvements in and relating to mechanical toys - Google Patents

Abstract

786,977. Mechanical toys. HEIDECKER, H. H. G., HEIDECKER, H., and HEIDECKER, E. BERNHEIM-, [trading as KEIM & CO.]. May 4, 1955 '[Nov. 22, 1954], No. 12958/55. Class 132(3) A mechanically driven toy, e.g. a toy vehicle, has a microphone for controlling the starting and stopping of the driving motor and for controlling other mechanism such as steering means. A toy vehicle contains a microphone and an amplifier for operating an electromagnet 7 of which the core 8 co-acts with a pivoted armature plate 10 having projecting portions 24, 25. The outer portion 24 is shorter than the inner one and normally engages an upwardly turned member 23 of a plate 20 having an aperture 19 and pivoted at 22 to a frame 21 of a clockwork mechanism 4. The end of a cranked spindle 18 engages the edge of the aperture 19 and an arm 26 carrying a pin 27 is rotatable by a spindle 16, the pin engaging the edge of a rectangular aperture 28 formed in a plate 29 secured by vertical rods 30, 31 to pivoted front axle assemblies. The arm 26 also actuates a contact spring 32 for controlling current supply from a battery to an electric motor 5 for propelling the vehicle. Tension springs 33, 34 normally maintain the front wheels in a straight ahead position. With the spring 11 of the clockwork mechanism wound, when the microphone picks up a suitable sound, the plate 10 is momentarily attracted to the core 8 and the cranked spindle 18 is allowed to revolve once as the member 23 of the plate 20 is freed by plate portion 24, the arm 26 turning through 45 degrees (position (2) Fig. 1) and causing the motor 5 to be switched in circuit by the contact 32. The next sound impulse acting on the microphone causes the arm 26 to turn through a further 45 degrees to position 3, the plate 29 and the front wheels being moved to the right from the position shown. With the arm in position (4), the wheels are allowed to move to "straight ahead," and in position (5), the motor 5 is switched off. A similar sequence of operations results from the arm turning through a further 180 degrees the front wheels in this case turning to the left. The vehicle may be clockwork propelled and may run on rails in which event on-off and forward-reverse control is provided.