Patent ID: 8157612
Filing Date: 2012-04-17
Classification: A63H

Abstract:
1. A system to direct movement of a dancing figure comprising: a body defined by a torso, a head, and a pair of arms, a pair of legs pivotally attached to the torso at a hip region, each of the legs includes at least a thigh housing pivotally attached to a boot housing at a knee region, and a pair of feet pivotally attached to said boot housings at an ankle region; a thigh linkage within the thigh housing, the thigh linkage including an upper portion pivotally attached to a hip mechanism defined in the hip region and a lower portion pivotally attached to the boot housing; said pair of feet removeably attachable to a base, the base including two drive mechanisms, each in operable connection with a lower portion of a calf linkage pivotally attached to the foot at the ankle region, an upper portion of the calf linkage pivotally attached to the thigh housing, each calf linkage positioned within each of the boot housings that when activated independently pivot the boot housings forward and backward at said ankle region; and the base further comprising two linkages, each with a tab and a channel, each of the drive mechanisms including a motor operably connected to a gear train, the gear train further operably connected to an upper gear with a cam positioned in the channel such that when the drive mechanisms are powered, movement is transferred to the cams to move the linkages in a reciprocating lateral movement, said lateral movement driving the tab to contact said lower portion of the calf linkage to rotate the calf linkage about an axis defined by said lower portion, wherein said rotation of the calf linkage transfers movement to the boot housing, thigh housing and hip mechanism simulating animated movement of the figure.