Abstract:
The subject application is directed to various sonic motion devices including a number of play sets in which a number of components located on a vibrating surface are moved in multiple directions as determined by the orientation of vibration fibers secured thereto and responsive to the vibrating surface. Also included an action figure having various features moved by sonic motion which may be correlated with sound such a movable jaw and a synchronized sound.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This present application is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 12/497,794 entitled Sonic Motion Apparatus filed Jul. 6, 2009 and application Ser. No. 12/985,846 entitled Sonic Motion Operated. Devices filed Jan. 6, 2011. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to various toy devices that are operated by sonic motion such as toy figures, ornaments, battling figures, dispensers and a wide variety of games etc. The operation of the various devices will be controlled by a signal generator such as a microprocessor that will vary the speed and movement of the various objects that are in positions to respond to the sonic vibration. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The use of sonic vibration to activate motions of various toys is set forth in the earlier filed applications set forth above. However its use has been expanded to a wider variety of devices that have not hereto for taken advantage of the sonic vibration phenomena. It has long been desired to use sonic motion for a wide variety of mechanism such as toy battleships, prize fighters, flying aircraft, and game sets and other toys that have heretofore required motors to operate. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to devices that utilizes sonic motion directly or indirectly. They are controlled by a microprocessor that can be programmed to generate sounds through a speaker or other vibrating source having a varying or steady frequency or amplitude to vary the speed and/or movement of an object placed in direct or indirect contact with a speaker, diaphragm or the like that is energized by sound waves. This can be accomplished by placing an object on a vibration generating member such as a speaker diaphragm surface that directly moves the object placed thereon or by transferring the sound waves through intermediate members to obtain a desired motion. Through the use of directional members located on the bottom of the object being moved or on a member or members interconnected to the object being moved by direct or indirect contact with the vibration generating member such as a speaker diaphragm the object will respond to the sound waves to move in a rotary and/or linear direction. 
     A programmed microprocessor is but one way that the sonic motion can be accommodated. The particular movement of the object in question can, in one instance be controlled by directional members located on the bottom of the object being moved and subjected to the vibrations imparted against the directional members or conversely the directional members can be located on the vibration imparting element to act upon the object in question. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1( a )  is a side view of an action figure having a movable jaw operated by a sonically operated mechanism; 
         FIG. 1( b )  is a front view of the action figure of  FIG. 1( a )  showing the movement of the mechanism to accomplish the jaw movement; 
         FIG. 1( c )  is a cross sectional view of a vehicle having a front member movable in response to a sonically operated member; 
         FIG. 1( d )  is a cross sectional view of a plush member similar to the action figure of  FIG. 1( a )  having a movable jaw; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a toy helicopter in which the rotor blades are operated by a sonic motion assemblage; 
         FIG. 3( a )  is a cross sectional view of a building block including a vibration source for operating a toy gatling gun disposed thereon; 
         FIG. 3( b )  illustrates a construction figure mounted on a rotating base operated by a vibration source that is controlled by a signal generator; 
         FIG. 3( c )  discloses a toy gun turret that is controlled by vibrator reaction members reacting to a sonic motion device; 
         FIG. 3( d )  shows a swinging gun turret that is swung from side to side by a cranking mechanism operated by sonically activated members; 
         FIG. 3( e )  discloses an elevated observation platform having a signal disk and play flag activated by a vibration source through an upright vibration transfer column; 
         FIG. 3( f )  is a three quarter perspective view of a building block play set including a vibration activated galling gun, oriented sled base, gun turret, swinging gun turret, drive disk, signal disk and play flag; 
         FIG. 4( a )  is a perspective cutaway view of a sonically operated plumbing game. 
         FIG. 4( b )  is a cross sectional view of the plumbing game of  FIG. 4( a ) ; 
         FIG. 5  is a molded play surface game having swing weights operated by a sonic motion mechanism that engages play pieces located on the game surface; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of an upright game apparatus including vertically mounted game play structure excited by a sonic motion apparatus, which game play rods include game play figures mounted thereon that move outwardly in response to the vibrations of the game play rods; 
         FIG. 7( a )  is a cross sectional view of a winged toy character in which the wings are flapped by a sonically controlled mechanism; 
         FIG. 7( b )  is a perspective view of the winged toy character of  FIG. 7( a ) ; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of a free character moved by a sonic controlled device. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of a character battle arena in which the characters are mounted on sonically activated disks and moved toward each other into engagement; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a snack food or cereal dispenser; 
         FIG. 11  is a paint activity set; 
         FIG. 12 a    displays a three quarter perspective view of a car wash play set; 
         FIG. 12 b    is a side view of the car wash play set of  FIG. 12   a;    
         FIG. 12 c    is a partial plan view of the car wash assembly illustrating a locking mechanism for a rotating brush when out of engagement with a vehicle sled; and 
         FIG. 12 d    is a view similar to  FIG. 12 c    with the rotating brush shown in the unlocked position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In  FIG. 1( a )  we see a side view of an action  figure 30  with a movable lower jaw  32 . Movable lower jaw  32  is moved from an open to a closed position by cam follower  34 . Cam follower  34  is moved by eccentric rotary cam  36  which has vibration reaction members  40 . Eccentric rotary cam  36  rotates around cam center pivot  38 . Vibration reaction members are excited by vibration source  42 . It should be further noted that vibration source  42  is controlled by a signal generator (not illustrated) that supplies inputs that impart differing frequencies and amplitude to be expressed by the vibration source  42 . These inputs can be timed to synchronize the movable lower jaw  32  actions to simulate speech. 
       FIG. 1( b )  is front view of action  figure 30  showing the relationship between cam follower  34 , eccentric rotary cam  36  and cam center pivot  38 . 
     In  FIG. 1( c )  we see a cross sectional view of a vehicle  44  that has a vibration sound source  42  controlled by a signal generator interacting with vibration reaction members  40  which in turn are driving rotary face cam  52 . Rotary face cam  52  lifts pin  54  which is connected to bar  48  which in turn moves lip teeth plate  50 . Bar  48  has pivot  46  to guide and limit any lateral movement. In this embodiment rotary cam plate  52  controls the lip teeth plate  50 . A secondary mechanism could also be provided to move reflectors or the like from the rotary face cam  52 . Vibration reaction members  40  are excited by vibration source  42 . It should be further noted that vibration source  42  is controlled by a signal generator (not shown), that supplies inputs that impart differing frequencies and amplitude to be expressed by the vibration source  42 . These inputs can be timed to synchronize the lip teeth plate  50  action to simulate speech. 
     In  FIG. 1( d )  we see a cross sectional view of a plush character  56  with a movable lower jaw  32 . Movable lower jaw  32  is moved from an open to a closed position by cam follower  34 . Cam follower  34  is moved by eccentric rotary cam  36  which has vibration reaction members  40 . Eccentric rotary cam  36  rotates around cam center pivot  38 . Vibration reaction members  40  are excited by vibration source  42 . Plush character  56  has a plush covering  58  that encloses the mechanism and covers any objectionable hard plastic structure. Here again the vibration source  42  is controlled by a signal generator (not shown) that supplies inputs of different frequencies and amplitude that may be timed to synchronize the movable lower jaw  32  to simulate speech. 
     In  FIG. 2  we see a cross-sectional view of a toy helicopter  60 . Rotary disk  62  has vibration reaction members  40  attached and in contact with vibration source  42 . Vibration reaction members  40  are excited by vibration source  42 . Attached to rotary disk  62  is transfer shaft  64 . Attached to transfer shaft  64  is propeller  66 . Propeller  66  rotates to simulate operation of a helicopter. Also in  FIG. 2  we see internal reinforcement rib  68 . The vibration source  42  imposes harmonic vibration in toy helicopter  60 . These harmonic vibrations are transferred to the anterior portion of the toy helicopter  60  through reinforcement rib  68 . Attached to the anterior portion of the toy helicopter  60  is a tail propeller  70 . Tail propeller  70  is biased to one position with one blade of the tail propeller  70  slightly heavier than the other blades. The harmonic vibrations imposed by the vibration source  42  are such that the tail propeller  70  rotates reacting to the harmonically imposed vertical alternating driving force. Although not illustrated the vibration source is controlled by a signal generator that imposes differing frequencies and amplitude that can be altered to impose different harmonics to increase or decrease or reverse the direction of the tail propeller  70 . 
     In  FIG. 3( a )  we see a cross sectional view of a building block that has a vibration source  42  firmly attached to the building block  72 . Attached to building block  72  can be a multiplicity of differing sonically operated devices.  FIG. 3( a )  depicts a toy gatling gun  74  attachment that simulates for the child the action of a gatling gun. The gatling gun rotates about the shaft  76  that extends through support  78 . The vibrations from vibration source  42  are transferred through building block  72  and into vibration reaction members  40 . Vibration reaction members  40  are biased to impose horizontal rotation of the toy gatling gun  74  to rotate about shaft  76  to simulate repeated firing of the gatling gun  74 . 
     In  FIG. 3( b )  we see construction  figure 80  that is attached to oriented sled base  82  that rests on the building block  72 . The vibrations from vibration source  42  are transferred through building block  72 . The oriented sled base  82  moves construction  figure 80  in a direction dictated by the bias of reaction members  40 . 
     In  FIG. 3( c )  we see a toy gun turret  86  that has connected to its base vibration reaction members  40 . The toy gun turret  86  includes a barrel  88 . Actuation of the vibration source  42  acting through the vibration reaction members act to rotate the gun turret about the excited vertical pivot rod  90 . 
     In  FIG. 3( d )  we see a swinging gun turret  92  that is swung from side to side by crank plate  94  that moves crank link  96  through pin  98 . 
       FIG. 3( e )  shows an elevated observation platform  102  mounted to upright vibration transfer column  100  that is attached by friction to building block  72 . It should be noted that the vibration source that provides differing frequencies and amplitude is controlled by a signal generator and that the vibrations are transferred to observation platform  102  through transfer column  100 . The vibration reaction members  40  rests on observation platform  102 . Vibration reaction members  40  are attached to drive disk  104  with drive disk  104  rotating in a horizontal plane in reaction to the vibrations of observation platform  102 . Signal disk  106  rests on the upper surface of drive disk  104 . As drive disk  104  rotates signal disk  106  is driven by friction in the opposite rotational direction. 
     It should be noted that transfer column  100  has a hollow upper portion to allow a play flag  108  to be inserted. Play flag  108  loosely maintains position, however some movement is present from the vibrations transferred through vibration transfer column  100 . 
       FIG. 3( f )  displays a three quarter perspective view of a building block play set P. Assembled to building block play set P is vibration building block  72 . Vibration building block  72  imposes vibration in the building block play set. Here we see a gaffing gun  74 , oriented sled base  82 , gun turret  86 , swinging gun turret  92 , drive disk  104 , signal disk  106  and play flag  108 . It should be further noted that drive disk  104  can be made of variable thicknesses and materials to react to a limited range of frequency and other drive disks can have a construction to operate on alternate frequencies and amplitude to delight the child by the start and stop nature of such play. Although building block play set is configured in the shape of a ship the construction of a block play set P can be any number of different configurations limited only by the child&#39;s imagination. 
     In  FIG. 4( a )  we see a perspective cutaway view of a sonically operated plumbing game  110 . Plumbing game  110  has a rotating play surface  112  and stationary guide spiral  114 . Centrally located in the upper bowl area of plumbing game  110  is a drain  116 . Located in drain  116  is a diverter ramp  118 . Game play pieces  120  are placed on rotating play surface  112  by each player. When child operates momentary switch  126  play surface  112  rotates from vibrations from vibration source  42  the game play pieces  120  are moved until they contact stationary guide spiral  114 . Guide spiral  114  moves the game play pieces inwardly towards drain  116 . When a game play piece falls into drain  116  ramp  118  guides game play piece  120  to a position where game play piece  120  can slide down discharge chute  124  when discharge aperture  128  ( FIG. 4 b   ) is in alignment with discharge chute  124 . It should be noted that game play pieces are inhibited by wall  122  until aperture  128  is in alignment with discharge chute  124 . It should be further noted that vibration source  42  is controlled by a signal generator shown in previous drawings that supplies inputs that impart differing frequencies and amplitude to be expressed by the vibration source  42 . 
     In  FIG. 4( b )  we see a cross sectional view of plumbing game  110 . Here we see rotating play surface  112  and a stationary guide spiral  114 . Centrally located in the upper bowl area of plumbing game  110  is drain  116 . Located in drain  116  is diverter ramp  118 . Rotating play surface  112  is attached to drive plate  138  which has vibration reaction members  40  affixed thereto. Attached to vibration source  42  is transfer pin  130  that transfers the vibration to plate  128 . Transfer pin  130  passes through bearing support  134  that is attached to base plate  132 . Bearing support  134  allows for contact with play surface  112  without impeding the vibration of plate  138 . Rim  136  provides place for graphics as well as protection for rotating play surface  112 . It should be noted that vibration source  42  can produce sound as well as pure vibration to enhance game play. 
     In  FIG. 5  we see a molded play surface game  140  with vibration source  42  located under and attached to surface  148 . Located on the outer surface is gauntlet mechanism  142  that is comprised of vibration reaction members  40 ; rotary disk  62  and upright support members  150 . Attached to the upper portion of upright support members  150  is cross beam  144 . Affixed to each end of cross beam  144  is a swing weight  146 . It should be noted that vibration source  42  is controlled by a signal generator shown in previous drawings that supplies inputs that impart differing frequencies and amplitude to be expressed by the vibration source  42 . Gauntlet mechanism  142  rotates in reaction to vibrations generated by vibration source  42 . If a game play piece  120  is in the path of either swing weight  146  when gauntlet mechanism  142  is rotating, game play piece  120  will be knocked off the game play surface  148  and the player will have to move to the designated space. It should be noted that vibration source  42  can produce sound as well as pure vibration to enhance game play. 
     In  FIG. 6  we see a cross sectional view of an upright game apparatus  154 . Vibration source  42  is energized by signal generator  168  that is provided current from batteries  170  through switch  172 . Attached to vibration source  42  is game upright  158 . Game upright shaft  156  has game play rods  162  protruding axially to support game play  figure 164 . It should be noted that game play rods  162  are angled slightly to allow game play  figures 164  to travel outwardly when excited by vibration source  42  through game upright  156 . Game play  figures 164  will fall off play rods  162  when they move beyond the end of game play rods  162 . It should be noted that game play figures have a label surface  166  which allows upright game apparatus  154  to be themed in various ways. Also attached to game upright  158  is vibration disk  160 . Resting on vibration disk  160  is pointer  174 . On the contact side of pointer  174  is vibration reaction members  40 . Vibration source  42  can produce sound as well as pure vibration to enhance game play. 
     In  FIG. 7( a )  we see a cross sectional view of a winged toy character  176 . Located in winged toy character  176  is vibration source  42 . Connected to vibration source  42  is link  178 . Connected to link  176  are wing levers  180 . Attached to wing levers  180  are thin wings  182 . 
     In  FIG. 7( b )  we see a perspective side view of winged toy character  176 . In winged character  176  we see vibration source  42 , signal generator  168  and batteries  170 . As vibration source  42  receives a signal from signal generator  168 , link  178  moves in and out. Because link  178  is connected to wing levers  180  and to the thin wings  182 , a simulation of wing flapping is obtained It should be noted that vibration source  42  can produce sound as well as pure vibration to enhance play. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a cross sectional view of a free character  184 . Contained in free character  184  are vibration source  42 , signal generator  168  and batteries  170 . Directionally connected to vibration source  42  are vibration reaction members  40 . Free character  184  is placed on a surface S with vibration reaction members  40  in direct contact with surface S. As vibration source  42  receives a signal from microprocessor  168 , vibration reaction members  40  interact with surface S and moves the free character  184 . 
     In  FIG. 9  we see a side view of a character battle arena  186 . Battle arena  186  is elevated by surface clearance legs  188  on each end of battle arena  186 . Attached to surface clearance legs  188  is crank axle  206  Rotating around crank axle  206  is hand crank  190 . Attached to hand crank  190  is exciter gear  192 . Exciter gear  192  contacts reed  204  to impact vibration into battle bar  198 . On battle bar  198  is character sled  196  that has vibration reaction members  40  in contact with battle bar  198  (not shown). Each of the characters is a similar construction. When hand crank  190  is rotated the characters  202  move from the outer limits of the battle bar  198  and meet in close proximity to the middle. Each character is mounted to rotary disk  200  that has vibration reaction members  40  that contact the upper surface of character play sled  196 . The discs are connected to the play sleds but are free to rotate relative thereto. The imparted vibrations transferred through character sled  196  cause the vibration reaction members  40  and rotary disk  200  to spin the character  202 . Essentially, there are vibration members (not shown) that function to move the sled forward linearly relating to the battle bar and transfer the vibration up to the vibration member  40  to rotate the disks to spin its respective character. A toy weapon placed in the character hand  208  will dislodge the opposing character from the battle bar  198  and the remaining character  202  will be declared winner of the battle. Although shown here as a single hand crank  190  a second hand crank  190  could be used on the other end of battle arena  186 . In this configuration the battle bar  198  would be a construction that each hand crank  190  would excite only one portion of the battle bar  198 . Typically these sections would be parallel to each other and extend the entire length of the battle bar  198 . In this arrangement the vibration reaction members  40  for each character sled  196  would only contact one portion of the parallel battle bar  198 . Although not shown character battle arena  186  could have an electronically controlled vibration source  42 . It should be noted that vibration source  42  can produce sound as well as pure vibration to enhance play. 
     In  FIG. 10  we see a side view of sonically operated snack food or cereal dispenser  210 . Cereal dispenser  210  has a storage receptacle  212  that holds food puffs  214 . Food puffs  214  are excited by contact with the surface of vibration source  42 . Food puffs  214  are moved along food guide  216  to food chute  218 . Vibration source  42  is controlled by a signal generator  168  that supplies inputs that impart differing frequencies to be expressed by the vibration source  42 . Microprocessor  168  is activated by momentary switch  220  that allows currents from batteries  170 . Vibration source  42  can produce sound as well as pure vibration to enhance play as well as impact nutritional information. 
       FIG. 11  discloses a sonically operated paint activity set  222 . Located in the base of paint activity set  222  is a vibration source  42  that is connected to membrane  229 . Paint  224  rests on membrane  229 . Vibration source  42  is controllable by a signal generator  168  that supplies inputs that impart differing frequencies and amplitude to be expressed by the vibration source  42 . Signal generator  168  is activated by switch  172  that allows current from batteries  170 . When vibration source  42  is activated paint  224  is broken down into droplets  226  and expressed into the air above activity set  222 . Some droplets  226  fall outside activity set  222  and create interesting patterns on paper  228  placed under activity set  222 . Differing frequencies and amplitude produce different patterns on paper  228 . 
       FIG. 12 a    displays a three-quarter perspective view of a car wash play set  230 . In the car wash play set  230  is a vibration base  231  which is excited by vibration source  42  ( FIG. 12 b   ). On vibration base  231  rests oriented vehicle sled  232 . On lower portion of oriented vehicle sled  232  are vibration reaction members  40 . Vehicle V ( FIG. 12 b   ) is placed on oriented vehicle sled  232  and moves along vibration base  231  in reaction to inputs from vibration sources  42  ( FIG. 12 b   ). Also in contact with vibration base  231  are rotary drive disks  234   a ,  234   b  and  234   c  which have vibration reaction members  40  on the lower portion oriented to impose a rotating motion. Attached to rotary drive disk  234   a  is vertical shaft  238 . Attached to the upper portion of vertical shaft  238  is a bevel gear  240  which drives horizontal brush  242 . Horizontal brush  242  rotates around horizontal shaft  244  which is supported by upright  246 . Also in contact with vibration base  231  is interrupted rotary drive disk  250 . Interrupted rotary drive disk  250  rotation is controlled by stop  252 . Attached to interrupted rotary disk  250  is vertical brush  254 . Interrupted rotary disk  250  and vertical brush  254  are supported by bearing block  248 . Although shown here with one stop  252  engaged with forward interrupted rotary disk  250  a second or more stops  252  could be utilized. We also see rotary drive disk  234   c  Which has attached shaft  258  and a crank  260 . The crank  260  has a pin  262  that extends through a slot in follower  264 . A crank member  268  is connected to follower  264 . The pin  262  works in conjunction with follower  264  to change the rotary motion of rotary drive disk  234   c  into a reciprocating action to operate brush  274  connected to the end of crank member  268 . Brush  274  is guided by plate  270  which is supported by brush upright  272 . 
     In  FIG. 12 b    we seen a side view of car wash play set  230 . Here we see the vibration source  42  is connected to the lower portion of vibration base  231 . In addition, we see vehicle V loosely positioned on oriented vehicle sled  232 . 
     In  FIG. 12 c    we see lock  252  in a position where the rotation of interrupted rotary disk  250  is inhibited by stop  252 . Stop  252  has attached spring  276  and is under spring tension inhibiting the rotation of interrupted rotary disk  250 . It should be noted that stop  252  has pivot  273 . Oriented vehicle sled  232  is in a position just prior to addressing stop  252 . 
     In  FIG. 12 d    we see that oriented vehicle sled has moved forward to address stop  252  at contact point  256 . Stop  252  has rotated around pivot  273  and interrupted rotary disk  250  can move freely in a rotary motion. It should be noted that once oriented vehicle sled has moved to a position where the side of oriented vehicle sled  232  is no longer in contact with stop  252  at contact point  256 , spring  276  rotates stop  252  around pivot  273  back to a position illustrated in  FIG. 12   c.    
     It is intended to cover by the appended claims all embodiments that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.