Illusion toy

An illusion toy has a housing in which a blade is rotated in one direction too rapidly to be seen through 270 degrees between rest positions on respective opposite sides of an article receiving through hole, providing the illusion that the blade has rotated in an opposite direction across the through hole, through the article. An actuating lever for a blade rotating overcenter mechanism has a loop aligned with the through hole so that a trigger end of the lever can be visibly moved between opposite sides of the through hole in the same direction as the apparent movement of the blade. A hollow housing handle forms a candy dispensing store and connects to a delivery chute extending across the housing obscuring a radially outer portion of the blade path providing an impression that rotation of the blade in the one direction is blocked by candy.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an illusion toy which creates an optical illusion that a blade passes completely through an article without actually severing the article.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,914,938 and 4,251,947 issued, respectively, in 1932 to Boninger and in 1981 to Klawitter, teach examples of such illusion toys. The disclosures of both documents are incorporated herein by reference,

Each patent teaches a pocket watch-shape housing in which a blade in a front, windowed compartment is rotated rapidly in one direction through an arc of more than 270 degrees between rest positions on opposite sides of a through hole by a spring-biased overcenter mechanism hidden from view in a rear compartment, the blade movement being triggered by a short arcuate movement of a trigger end of an actuating lever protruding visibly from a side wall of the rear compartment, adjacent the through hole. An article modeled as a person's head (or a pin) is removably mounted with a neck thereof extending into the through hole protruding visibly through the upper compartment into the lower compartment transversely through a plane of rotation of the blade.

As start and finish positions of the short arcuate movement of the visible trigger end portion of the actuating lever are on the same opposite sides of the through hole and head/pin as the start and finish positions of the blade and, as the blade moves too quickly to be seen, the illusion is created that the blade also has moved only a short arcuate distance in the same direction as the trigger end portion of the actuating lever and, as a result, across the through hole and through the article but, astonishingly, without severing the article. In fact, the blade has not rotated the short distance across the through hole but, in an opposite direction, through the much longer complementary arc of at least 270 degrees.

Although illusion toys of the type taught by the patents noted above have been widely sold for many years they suffer from several disadvantages.

For example, the references teach location of the through hole radially inwardly of the pivotal mounting of the actuating lever or, coincidently with the pivotal mounting of the actuating lever which cannot clearly create an impression of the actuating lever actually passing across the through hole during pivotal movement to trigger the overcenter mechanism to rotate the blade.

An additional disadvantage arises from the patent teaching that the article ‘to be severed’ should not extend completely through the housing so as to visibly protrude from the rear face and, that the article is small both and inanimate, resulting in some spectators immediately suspecting that the article does not actually cross the plane of movement of the blade. A significant increase in the size of the article is precluded as the patents teach that the article receiving through hole actually passes through the part of the housing containing the mechanism, (the through hole actually passing through the aperture in the yoke or quadrant gear), precluding significant enlargement relative to the existing size of the housing.

Furthermore, the front compartment in which the blade rotates is entirely circular, visibly providing the same clearance for rotation of the blade in all directions, enabling an analytical spectator to recognize the possibility of the blade moving away from the article receiving through hole, through the much longer arc, in an opposite direction to the visible trigger end and, therefore, not crossing the article receiving through hole at all.

A further disadvantage of the entirely circular shape of the housing is that it cannot be freestanding in a stable upright position for displaying the illusion.

In addition, the overcenter mechanisms are relatively complex and/or involve a higher than optimal inertia which limits the power available for blade rotation for a given spring strength, imposing an undesirable limitation on blade size, rotational speed and, as a result, the size of the article receiving through hole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to obviate or ameliorate the above noted disadvantages thereby to provide an illusion toy which is provides an even more convincing illusion and which easier to manufacture in any selected size and with fewer moving parts.

According to the invention, the article receiving through hole is formed in a portion of the housing remote from the overcenter mechanism, and the actuating lever extends across the housing from the location of the overcenter mechanism, past the through hole and through a side wall of the housing remote from the mechanism and is formed with a bight which is aligned with the article receiving through hole in all positions of the actuating lever so that the actuating lever never actually crosses the through hole. Thus, as a result of its nonlinear shape, the actuating lever can extend from the visible trigger portion outside the housing side across a majority of the housing for pivotal mounting at a location on an opposite side of the through hole from the visible trigger portion, that is between the through hole and an opposite side of the housing while also clear of the through hole.

This provides an impression that the actuating lever actually sweeps across the through hole in close proximity to the blade, creating a compelling illusion of the blade moving across the through hole when the overcenter mechanism is triggered. Furthermore, separating the article receiving through hole from the overcenter mechanism enables it to be made sufficiently large to receive a person's finger extending completely through the housing so as to be clearly visible protruding from front and rear faces of the housing which obviates any suspicion as to whether the article actually crosses the plane of blade movement.

According to another aspect of the invention, the illusion that the blade moves completely across the article receiving through hole aperture is reinforced by a portion of the housing side wall extending in the quadrant containing the article receiving through hole and the start and finish positions of the visible trigger portion of the actuating lever and the blade being arcuate but opposed portions of the housing side wall extending away from such quadrant being non arcuate and of reduced separation from each other providing the optical illusion to the casual spectator that there is insufficient clearance with the side wall for the blade to rotate between start and stop (rest) positions in the opposite direction, through 270 degrees, away from the article receiving through hole, where the blade would not sweep across the article receiving through hole.

The window may extend only over a portion of the front compartment subtended by the arcuate edge portion to reveal the through hole and finger extending therethrough and the rest (stop and start) positions of the blade, with a majority of the the actual blade movement being hidden by a remaining opaque portion of the housing cover.

The impression that there is much greater space for movement of the blade across the arcuate region is increased by marking the housing surface in the arcuate area formed with the through hole and behind the rest positions of the blade with radially extending, colored bands which expand in width as they extend radially outward. The bands appear to emanate from an apparent pivot point for the sword as represented by a colored blob marked on a boss shape portion of the housing at a lower peripheral edge of the window so as to conceal the true pivot point which is in fact spaced further from the arcuate edge of the housing than the actual pivot point of the blade which results in an, at least fleeting, impression that the sword is pivoted at the apparent pivot point and is of therefore of greater length than the actual length, enhancing the impression of insufficient clearance for rotation in a direction way from the through hole.

The sword can also have a zig-zag (or other, non linear) shape with an innermost visible portion spaced a small distance from the pivot extending in the direct of the blob which also enhances the impression of the blade extending from a pivot which is spaced apart further from the arcuate edge of the housing and, therefore, of the sword being longer than the true length.

The invention provides a compact and simple operating mechanism. For example, the gear teeth are located on the outside surface of the rack segment results in the mass of the ear material being closer to the pivot point that where the gear teeth are on the inside surface of the rack segment as taught by Klawitter resulting in a lower moment of inertia and commensurately greater speed of blade movement for a given spring strength enabling an increase in blade size commensurate with a larger article such as a finger to be inserted in the through hole.

Advertising messages may be displayed on the front surface of the partition, behind the blade for enhanced impact and retention by association with the spectator's astonishment by the illusion.

According to another aspect of the invention, the housing further comprises means for dispensing candy. Preferably, the means for dispensing candy extends in front of and obscures a radially outer portion of a rotational path of the blade so as to provide an impression that rotational movement of the blade in a direction away from the through hole would be blocked by the presence of the candy, thereby enhancing the illusion that the blade has rotated across the article receiving through hole. The means for dispensing candy may comprise a hollow handle storing candy communicating with a candy delivery chute extending in front of and obscuring a radially outer portion of a rotational path of the blade.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the trigger end portion of the actuating lever comprises a writing implement.

According to another aspect of the invention, the partition has a front surface carrying a graphic behind the blade depicting a figure in a blade holding position, the figure having a center offset further away from the through hole than the shaft of rotation of the blade and the shaft being located intermediate longitudinal ends of the blade so as to provide a fleeting illusion that a pivotal center of the blade is located at the center of the figure further away from the through hole. Preferably, the blade comprises a sword with a handle and profiles of sword holding hands are marked on the handle at a location aligned with to the center of the figure thereby to enhance the illusion that a pivotal center of the blade is located at the center of the figure further away from the through hole.

DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

As shown inFIGS. 1–4, the first embodiment of amusement device includes a housing1comprising a central frame or chassis2molded in one piece of opaque plastic with a tubular side wall3divided internally by a medial partition4into front and rear compartments5and6, respectively, closed by front and rear covers7and8, respectively, the front cover7being transparent so as to provide a window for the front compartment, and the rear cover8being opaque. Through holes13,14and15are formed in alignment in the covers and medial partition wall4aligned in the assembled housing so as to permit a person's finger to be inserted therethrough, passing completely through the housing. Three adjacent side wall portions16a,16band16care essentially flat and the fourth16dis arcuate. Edge portions of the covers are similarly shaped to fit thereon.

A pivot post18and a semi-cylindrical pivot protuberance19(FIG. 2) are molded on a rear side of the partition4and on an inside surface of wall portion16b, respectively. A rear edge portion of the curved sidewall16dhas a rebate20providing an actuating lever access slot and abutments21(FIG. 2) are molded at opposite locations on opposite interior surfaces sides of opposite side wall portions16aand16c. A stub shaft receiving through hole23is provided in the partition wall4.

As seen most clearly inFIG. 2andFIG. 4, the operating mechanism comprises a ‘blade’ or ‘wand’25having a radially extending stub shaft26, a pinion gear27with a stub shaft receiving bore30, a rack gear segment28, a hairpin spring29and an actuating lever31.

The gear segment28is part of a quadrant yoke33which comprises a pair of arms34extending from a base land35to opposite ends of an arcuate, externally toothed, rack36from opposite ends of which stop members37project. The base land35has a notch bearing39and a through hole41spaced inwardly therefrom along a medial axis for pivotally anchoring an upturned end of one arm of the hairpin spring29.

The actuating lever31comprises a finger piece or trigger portion42joining a looped portion or bight43, a pivot aperture44and an anchoring aperture45for pivotally anchoring the other upturned end of the hairpin spring29.

It will be noted that, the central frame or chassis together with the operating mechanism consist of only 6 separate parts.

As shown inFIG. 2, in the assembled state, the blade is rotatively mounted in the front compartment by insertion of the stub shaft26through the hole23and the lower end fixed in bore30of the pinion gear27. The rack36of gear segment28is meshed with the pinion gear27with the notch bearing39receiving, pivotally, the protuberance19. The actuating arm is pivotally mounted behind the rack and pinion by receipt of the pivot post18in the pivot aperture44and the upturned ends on the arms of the hairpin spring29pivotally anchored in anchoring holes41and45, respectively, of the base land35of the gear segment28and the inner end of the actuating lever31.

In operation of the toy, as most clearly seen inFIG. 1andFIGS. 3a–3c, the magician inserts his own, (or a willing spectator's), finger into through holes13,14and15so that the finge, (not shown), extends completely through the housing and can be seen protruding from front and rear faces. The mechanism will be in the position shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 3a. The magician then pushes the exposed trigger41anticlockwise, (in the direction of the arrow inFIG. 3a), which progressively urges the arm of the hairpin secured to the inner end of the actuating lever toward the other arm, progressively tensioning the spring while pivoting the spring anticlockwise. The gear segment28and pinion gear27remain stationary throughout the initial stages of movement of the actuating lever with the gear segment28remaining biased by the increasing spring tension in the most clockwise (uppermost) position, as the line of thrust F1is above the pivot point of the gear segment3. However, with further progressive clockwise movement of the lever, the line of thrust from the hairpin spring will move clockwise to an overcenter position just below (and anticlockwise) relative to the fulcrum or pivot point of the gear segment, as shown inFIG. 3b, when the increased spring tension will cause the gear segment to suddenly pivot counter-clockwise very rapidly, with a snap action, to the position shown inFIG. 3c, the rack teeth36rapidly rotating the pinion gear27and blade25clockwise through approximately 270 degrees to bring the blade25and the trigger42to the opposite side of the through hole13, (to which position the trigger will have been moved), faster than the eye can see, as shown in broken lines inFIG. 1. Movement of the segment gear in either direction is arrested by impact of a stop member37with the abutment21with the production of a loud rap, as the abutments21are solid with the wall of the housing, which noise adds to the startling effect on the spectator.

Subsequent movement of the trigger42in the opposite direction will effect corresponding counterclockwise rotation of the blade.

The spectators perception is influenced by the arcuate shape of the adjacent housing portion16d, the movement of the visible trigger which is adjacent the blade from one side of the through hole (and finger) to the other and the apparent movement of an inner, hidden, extended portion of the trigger completely across the through hole, to experience the illusion that the blade has passed through the finger without severing the finger. The impression that the blade moves across the through hole and not in the other direction is enhanced by the impression of reduced or insufficient clearance for rotation of the blade away from the through hole arising from the change from a curved to a straight wall and more confining wall portion.

The flat form of the wall portions16a,16band16cenables the housing to be freestanding thereon for presenting a trick. Alternatively, the toy is sufficiently small to be hand held.

The housing49of the second embodiment shown inFIGS. 5 and 6differs from the housing of the first embodiment in that the only the upper portion51of the front compartment adjacent the arcuate wall portion52is windowed, the remainder53is hidden from the spectator's view by an opaque front cover portion54. Furthermore, instead of straight, parallel opposite side wall portions extending away from the arcuate wall portion the housing is waisted with opposite side wall portions55which extend inward from opposite ends of the arcuate portion and then outward to define a part62of minimum width at the bottom of the windowed portion51, which provides minimum sufficient clearance for blade rotation. The housing is also waisted in the transverse direction to reinforce an impression that the central portion is too narrow to admit passage of the blade therethrough. The surface of the portion56of the partition behind the windowed portion51revealing the through hole and blade25′ is marked with upwardly/radially outwardly divergent contrastingly colored bands57of expanding width which appear to emanate from a similarly colored blob58marked centrally on a boss shaped portion59located on the front cover60at the apparent center of the arcuate wall portion.

The impression that there is much greater space for movement of the blade25′ across the arcuate region is increased by the expanding bands. The bands appear to emanate from an apparent pivot point for the sword as represented by the colored blob marked on a boss shape portion of the housing at a lower peripheral edge of the window so as to conceal the true pivot point60which is in fact spaced further from the arcuate edge of the housing than the actual pivot point of the blade which results in an, at least fleeting, impression that the sword is pivoted at the apparent pivot point and is of therefore of greater length than the actual length, enhancing the impression of insufficient clearance for rotation in a direction away from the through hole.

The sword has a zig-zag (or other, non linear) edge61with an innermost visible portion63spaced a small distance from the pivot extending in the direct of the blob58which also enhances the impression of the blade extending from a pivot which is spaced apart further from the arcuate edge of the housing and, therefore, of the blade being longer than the true length and unable to rotate away from the through hole past the waisted portion.

In the third, candy dispensing, embodiment, shown inFIGS. 7a-10, as the operating mechanism is similar to the prior embodiments, corresponding elements are identified by primed reference numerals.

This embodiment has a depending pistol grip handle70providing a candy store/reservoir communicating with a candy dispensing chute72which extends upwards, in front of, the outer portion of the actual rotational path of the blade25′, to a (capped) dispensing opening78at a top side remote from a finger receiving through hole13′.

The housing frame2′ and front, transparent cover7′ are modified in being integrally molded with hollowed, pistol grip handle halves71,71′, respectively, the half71depending from a front of a lower sidewall16d′ of the housing frame2′ and the half71′ communicating with an upwardly extending channel72formed in the front cover7′ As can be seen inFIG. 10, the medial partition extends from the wall16d′ across a majority of the frame2′ but terminates short of the wall16b′ and short of a majority of the wall16c′. As seen inFIG. 9, another, wall portion73, shorter than the partition4′, extends from the wall16b′ in a plane forward of and parallel to the partition4′ providing a gap80therebetween for admitting the blade during rotation.

The cover7′ has a complementary profile to the frame2′ and is assembled thereto by receipt of pegs74in frame sockets75so that the handle halves cooperate to provide the candy receiving reservoir77and the opaque wall73of the frame2′ engages over the channel72of the front cover to form the candy dispensing chute, as shown inFIG. 8, (which differs from the schematic ofFIG. 7awhere the opaque rear wall of the chute is shown at79).

When so assembled, the candy dispensing chute containing flowable candy80extends across the front compartment5′ in front of part of the actual path of rotation of the sword so that the sword rotates behind the candy chute. This further reinforces the impression that there is insufficient clearance for the sword to rotate in a clockwise direction, away from the finger receiving through hole, enhancing the illusion.

The rear cover8′ is formed with a protuberance58′ which is displaced rearward away from the actual pivot point of the sword which cannot be seen, providing the impression on casual inspection that the protuberance coincides with the actual pivot point and that there is insufficient clearance for the sword to rotate clockwise.

The front surface of the partition4′ is marked with a graphic82depicting a figure positioned to hold the sword form blade, (enhanced by molding hand profiles83on the sword handle), the sword holding position/center of which figure is offset to the rear (right) of the actual pivot hole23′ for the sword. As there is often a tendency for a casual observer to presume that the pivot point for the sword will coincide with the position at which the sword is held, the impression is given that the pivotal position of the sword is too close to the right side of the housing to permit clearance for clockwise sword rotation and that the sword is of greater than actual length, enhancing the impression of insufficient clearance for clockwise rotation.

Although, for some spectator's, a macabre impression is most stimulating, for others, the provision of the candy provides a softer, more toy like impression.

In a modification, shown partly inFIG. 11, the blade, stub shaft and pinion gear are molded in one piece and retained in a through hole23′, enlarged to permit insertion of the pinion by sliding engagement of the blade with the front cover, thereby reducing the number of parts for economical mass production and increasing the durability as obviating any tendency for a separately formed metal pivot to separate from the pinion.

A dispensing mechanism for any suitable item can replace the candy dispensing reservoir and chute such as a bubble maker/blower, a cigarette lighter etc., overlying an extreme portion of the actual rotational path of the blade so as to provide the fleeting impression to a casual observer that the blade would be prevented from clockwise rotation by impacting such items or functional mechanism.

In the fourth embodiment, shown inFIGS. 12aand12b, the finger piece or trigger of the actuating lever is formed by a pen91. Pen movement to actuate the operating mechanism to rotate the blade25″ also causes reciprocation of the pen nib between advanced, writing and withdrawn, storage positions.