US2134079A - Animated toy - Google Patents

Description

I Oct. 25, 1938. w. D. FENTRESS 2,134,079

ANIMATED TOY Fil ed Sept. 22, 1957 rwanm A, WILLIAM 1). FE'NTRESS,

WOW/8% Patented Oct. 25, 1938 UNITED sTATE PATE T OFFICE" 1 ANIMATED Tor William D. r nt uassmnvuie, Ohio Application Sepiember can, Serial No. 165,168

body formed to simulate the appearance of animate object, together with an animating element attached thereto and having inherent powers of locomotion adapted to give the body automatic, spasmodic movement.

' Another object is to provide a toy having an animating element with inherent powers of locomotion, and capable of automatic, spasmodic movement, this animating element having supporting members, such as legs, attached thereto soas to give the appearance or an animate object, such, as an insect or animal having legs.

"Another object is to provide an animated toy having a body formed to:represent the external appearance of an animate object, a cavity being provided in this body toreceive an animating elementfihaving. inherent powers .of locomotion for automatically and spasmodically moving the body, such an animating element being represented by the article known as aMexican jumping bean. I i

Another object isto provide ananimated toy consisting of a body adapted to rest upon a table, or othersupporting surface, this body having a cavity for the reception of a Mexican dumping bean, the body being formed to simulate the appearance of an animate object, such'as ananimal, in bird, insect, fish or reptile, the portion of-the body resting upon the supporting surfaoebeing formed to minimize the friction existing there between and to facilitate the motion of the body over the supporting surface. I

In the drawing: I, Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of my invention,showing a spider formed by attaching supports, suchas legs, to ananimating element; such as a Mexican jumping bean. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the toy shown in Figurei. a g

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the toy shown in Figure 1. v

V Figure 4 is a top plan view of a modification,

to provide the necessary support and lightness of weight. a In the operation of the toy shown in Figures -1-to 3, the toy is placedupon a smooth surface, preferably one of glass or polished stone, and 55 .wherein the animating element is mountodwithin a body formed to simulate a beetle. i

Figure 5 is a side elevation of another jm'odiii cation 01 the invention, showing a body in the form of a prehistoric reptile, such as a dinosaur. 5'

Fi8ure6 is a, sideeie'vationofanother modiflv cation, the body being formed to represent a set} .ting hen,.or other bird.

Figure 7 is aside elevation of anotherfm'odiflc'ation, the body beingformed to represent a frog. in

Figure 8, is a side elevation of a furtherni'odi-' flcation, the body bein -fgqrmed; to' represent a In general, the animated toy oithis invention consists of ananimating element, ,suchas a Mex- '6 loan Jumping bean, having inherent powers ,of.

locomotion for automatic, spasmodic movement, to-whichis attached a support adapted to rest upon the surface upon which thetoyis tomove. This support mayconsist either of legs attached directly to the animating element, o'rto a member secured thereto, or itmay consist of a body formed to simulate the body of reptile, bird or flsh, with the animating element inside this body. The. body may rest directly 5 upon the table top, or other surface 'upon which it is to move, or it may be provided with legs.

. Preferably, the body or legs' are given. a form adapted to minimize the friction so as toi.fa-' cilitate the movement of the toyfover the tablev top or other surface. I

Referring to the drawing in ,detaiL'Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the animated toy of this invention. This embodiment consists of an animating element it, such as aIMexicanjumping bean, formed with holes H. Mounted in these holes H are supporting elements l2, made to'represent the legs of an insect, such asa spider. The tips of these supporting elements I! are'preferably rounded, .as at i3, or otherwise 40 treated tov minimize friction andjacilitate, the

movement of the; toy across the table-top, or

other surface upon which it is intended to move.

The notch Ii, shown in the l'owerside of the animating element i0, is a natural depression 5 found in Mexican jumping beans, the lowersides I4 and 15 being beveled relatively to each other and meeting along a ridge l6. The legs I! may be formed ,of wire, synthetic plastics, glass or other suitable material adapted preferably in the sunshine, or near some other source of warmth. As the animating element;

' The body 20 is formed to represent an insect, and

is preferably of papier-mach, Cellophane or other light material. A cavity I4 is provided therein for receiving an animating element 25, which in this case likewise consists of a Mexican jumping bean. The operation of the modified toy of Figure 4 is similar to that of Figures 1 to 3. As the jumping bean executes its spasmodic movement it imparts this movement to the toy,

and the latter pursues an erratic path across the table-top or other supporting surface. I

I The modified'toy shown' in Figure 5 consists of a body I. formed'to represent a' prehistoric reptile, such as a dinosaur, and having ahead 3! .and tail I2. The bottom surface 83 of the bodyj lis adaptedto rest upon the table-top, and a cavity 34 is provided for-the reception of the animating element". As before, this animating element is shown in the form of a Mexican jumping bean. The surface a is configured to cause the=toy to move freely 'over the tabletop inresponse 'to'the spasmodic Jerking imparted to it by the animating element 38. It is not nec to provide the toy with legs. and these mayor may notbe provided, at'the optionofthemaker. p "Q The'modified toy shown in'I'igure B has a body 40 formed to represent a setting hen, or other bird.. For this purpose it is provided with s head ,ll,'a tall 42 andwings ll. The botto surface 44 of the toy is formed to rest direct upon the table top; although short legs may be provided if desired. .As beiore, a cavity II is provided within the body ll for the rece'ptionof a Mexican Jumping been, or an equivalent animating element. v

The modifiedtoyofl'i m'e'lhasabody -ll formed to represent a frog with a head II and legs 52. The body,f.as before, is formed with a cavity "for the reception ofa Mexican-jumpingbean or'other animating elementil'.

The modified toy shown'in Figure 8 consists of a body 00, formedtorepresent a turtle having to that described in connection with Figures 4 u and 5.

" It is advisable to employ a body material for the toy which is extremely light, and which can be folded, bent, molded or cut into the desired form. Among materials while i havefound suitable for this purpose are papier-mach, Cellophane, balsa wood or metal foil, particularly aluminum foil. Feathers may also be used for decorative purposes.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention. v

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: v

1. An animated toy comprising .an animating element consisting of an insect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting to said shell inherent powers of locomotion capable of automatic, spasmodic movement,'and a plurality of supporting members connected to said animating element.

2. An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of an insect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting to said shellinherent powers of locomotion capable of automatic, spasmodic movement, and a plurality of supporting members connected to said animating element, said members being formed to simulate legs. 1

'3. An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of an insect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting to said shell inherent powers of locomotion capable of'automatic, spasmodic movement, and a plurality of supporting members connected to said animating element, said, members being formed to simulate legs and disposed inoutwardly radiatingposition relatively to said animating element.

directly to the shell of said animating element.

. '5. An animated'toy comprisingv an animating element consisting of an insect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting to said shell inherent powers of locomotion capable of automatic, spasmodic movement, a plurality of supporting membersconnected to said animating element, said members being formed to simulate legs, and anti-friction means on the outer ends of said legs for minimizing the friction during engagement of said legs withthe supporting surface.

6'.-An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of an insect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting to said shell inherent powers of locomotion capable of automatic, spasmodic movement, and a pluralityof supportingzmembers connected to said 1 animating element, said members being formed to simulate legs, the outer ends of said legs being formed to minimize friction relatively to the supporting surface.

7. An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of an insect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting to said shell inherent powers of locomotion 'capable of automatic, spasmodic movement, and aplurality of supporting members connected to said animating element, said members being formed to simulate legs, the outer ends of said legs being rounded to minimise friction relatively to the supporting surface.

8. An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of an insect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting to said shell inherent powers of locomotion capable of automatic, spasmodic movement, and a body having a cavity therein for receiving said animating element, the contacting portion of the bottom surface of said body engageable with the supporting surface being formed with an area which is small in comparison with the total area of said bottom surface whereby to facilitate motion of said toy relatively to the supporting sur-' face.

9. An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of an insect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting to said shell inherent powers of locomotion capable of automatic, spasmodic movement,. and a body having a "cavity therein for receiving said animating element, the contacting portion of the bottom surface of said body engageable with the supporting surface being rounded with an area which is small in comparison with the total area of said bottom surfacewhereby to facilitate motion of said toy relatively to the supporting surface.

shell, said insect by its movements imparting to said shell inherent powers of locomotion capable of automatic, spasmodic movement, a body having a cavity therein for receiving said animating element, and supporting members connected to said body and resting upon the supporting surface.

l1. An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of an insect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting to said shell inherent powers of locomotion capable of automatic, spaamodicmovement, a body having a cavitytherein for receiving said animating element, and supporting members connected to said body and resting upon the supporting surface, the outer ends of said supporting members being formed to minimize the friction of engagement with said supporting surface.

12. An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of an insect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting to said shell inherent powers of locomotion capable 13. An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of an insect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting to said shell inherent powers of locomotion capable of automatic, spasmodic movement, said animat- 10. An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of an insect within a naturalv ing element having a recess therein, and a supporting member secured in said recess.

14. An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of an insect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting to said shell inherent powers of locomotion capable of automatic, spasmodic movement, and a body having a cavity therein for receiving said animating element, said cavity being arranged adjacent the lower surface of said body whereby to position said animating element immediately in the vicinity of the supporting surface.

WILLIAM'D. FENTRESS.

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