Abstract:
A self-propelled toy. Capable of climbing at least some kinds of walls. Suction cups are provided on leg-like appendages which are movable relative to a frame or body member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to an entertainment device. More particularly, this invention relates to a toy.  
           [0002]    An essential element of products in the entertainment industry, whether those products are toys, games, films, art, music, television shows, or radio programs, is the ability to elicit the emotion or sensation of surprise. Naturally, there is a continuing need for novelty. In the toy field, those toys which can be used in new and exciting ways become successful and even lasting.  
         OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    An object of the present invention is to provide a new toy.  
           [0004]    Another object of the present invention is to provide such a toy which can serve as a continuing source of entertainment and enjoyment.  
           [0005]    A further object of the present invention is to provide such a toy which naturally engages the attention of even an adult.  
           [0006]    These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the drawings and descriptions hereof. It is to be noted that each object of the invention is realizable in at least one embodiment of the invention. However, no one embodiment of the invention need meet every objective of the invention.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention is directed to a toy, preferably a self-propelled toy, which climbs at least some kinds of walls. In some versions, the toy can also move along and cling to ceilings.  
           [0008]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the toy includes a body and a plurality of releasable attachment elements mounted to the body for forming severable connections to a surface. In addition, a power source mounted to the body, while a mechanical power transmission train mounted at least indirectly to the body is operatively connected to the power source on one side and the attachment elements on another side so as to selectively move the attachment elements relative to the surface. Thus, while one or more attachment elements are attached to the surface, one or more of the other attachment elements are moved relative to the surface. Then those moving attachment elements are secured to the surface. The first attached elements may then be released and shifted relative to the surface.  
           [0009]    The releasable coupling of the attachment elements to a wall or ceiling surface may be effectuated by means of suction or sticky or tacky surfaces. Another medium for forming releasable connections to a wall surface may be electromagnets. Of course, this solution is effective only where the wall is made of metal, such as in a refrigerator door. A combination of attachment mechanisms may be utilized to maximize the wall-climbing effectiveness of the toy over different wall surfaces. Thus, an attachment element may include a suction cup provided with an adhesive surface along a rim of the cup or on a portion of a concave surface of the suction cup.  
           [0010]    It is possible to provide a specialized climbing surface for the toy. Such a specialized surface may take the form of a metal sheet, in which case the attachment elements are electromagnetic. Alternative, the special surface may be made of a puncturable material such as corkboard. In that case, the releasable attachment elements of the toy may take the form of pins. The special surface may be tacky surface. The attachment elements are then selected to form releasable adhesive couplings to the special surface.  
           [0011]    The toy may include mechanical actuators for operating the attachment elements, i.e., for making and breaking, or assisting in the making and breaking, of connections between the attachment elements and the surface along which the toy crawls. Accordingly, where the attachment elements are suction cups, the toy may include a pneumatic system for increasing or enhancing a vacuum inside the suction cups, that is, between inner concave surfaces of the suction cups and the travel surface. The mechanical attachment actuators of the pneumatic system may also serve to release the vacuum holds of attached suction cups, for instance, by injecting air into the suction cups. The pneumatic system includes well-known components such as a pump, valves, and fluid transfer lines.  
           [0012]    In at least one embodiment of the invention, the releasable attachment elements are mounted to movable appendages of the toy. The mechanical power transmission train includes a motive member operative connected to the appendages for moving them to propel the toy over the travel surface. The motive member may include gearing, hydraulics, pneumatics, and/or electromagnetics.  
           [0013]    A remote controller may be provided for enabling a user to remotely operate the toy. The remote controller is operatively connected, for instance, by a cable or a wireless link (radio waves, infrared energy, or ultrasonic signals) to at least one of the power transmission train and the power source. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a schematic side perspective view of a toy in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a room, showing the toy of FIG. 1 at three different positions along a floor, a wall and a ceiling of the room.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is partially a partial schematic side elevational view and partially a block diagram of the toy of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, a wall-climbing toy  8  includes a frame or body member  10  to which are mounted a plurality of movable leg-like appendages  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 . Frame or body member  10  may be provided with a decorative shell  20  of any entertaining or fanciful construction. Shell  20  is shown herein to take an insect form.  
         [0018]    Each appendage  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  includes three rotary joints  22 ,  24 , and  26 , as well as elongate connector elements  28 ,  29 , and  30 . Releasable attachment elements  32  in the form of flexible suction cups  32  are provided at the free ends of connector elements  30  for forming severable connections to a travel surface such as a floor surface  34 , a wall surface  36 , or possibly even a ceiling surface  38  (FIG. 2).  
         [0019]    As illustrated in FIG. 3, a power source  40  such as a battery is mounted to frame or body member  10 , while a mechanical power transmission train  42  mounted at least indirectly to the body is operatively connected to the power source on one side and suction cups  32  on another side so as to selectively move the suction cups relative to a travel surface  34 ,  36 , or  38 . More particularly, power transmission train  42  includes a first plurality of rotary drives  44  operatively linked to rotary joints  22  for rotating elongate connector elements  28  relative to frame or body  10  and further includes a second plurality of rotary drives  46  operatively linked to rotary joints  24  for rotating elongate connector elements  29  relative to connector elements  28  and therefore relative to frame or body  10 . Rotary joints  26  may be freely swiveling joints or, optionally, may be provided with respective rotary drives (not shown). Rotary drives  44  and  46  may be of any conceivable type including electromagnetic, pneumatic, mechanical (gears, racks and pinions, etc.), or hydraulic. Concomitantly, power transmission train  42  may take any form.  
         [0020]    A motion controller  48  is operatively linked to power transmission train  42 , for instance via a switching circuit  50 , for coordinating the actuation of rotary drives  44 ,  46  to induce step-wise movement of toy  8  along travel surface  34 ,  36 , or  38  (FIG. 2). In this step-wise movement, while one or more suction cups  32  are attached to travel surface  34 ,  36 , or  38 , one or more of the other suction cups  32  are moved relative to the surface. Then those moving suction cups are secured to the travel surface  34 ,  36 , or  38 . The first suction cups  32  may then be released and shifted relative to the travel surface.  
         [0021]    As further illustrated in FIG. 3, frame or body member  10  carries a coupling activation mechanism  52  operatively connected to suction cups  32  for operating those attachment elements to make and break connections to a travel surface  34 ,  36 , or  38 . Coupling activation mechanism  52  includes a pump  54 , a set of valves  56 , and a plurality of pneumatic lines  58  extending through or along appendages  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  to the respective suction cups  32 . Motion controller  48  is operatively tied to valves  56  for synchronizing vacuum generation and release operations with the motions of appendages  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 .  
         [0022]    As additionally depicted in FIG. 3, a remote controller  60  may be provided for enabling a user to remotely operate toy  8 . Remote controller  60  is operatively connected, for instance, by a cable or a wireless link  62  (radio waves, infrared energy, or ultrasonic signals) to power transmission train  42  and power source  40  via a signal receiver  64  and motion controller  48 .  
         [0023]    The releasable coupling of attachment elements  32  to a wall or ceiling surface may be effectuated by means other than suction. For instance, suction cups  32  may be replaced by tacky surfaces. An adhesive reservoir (not shown) may be provided on frame or body member  10 , or even separately, for periodically replenishing a layer of releasable adhesive on engagement surfaces of the attachment elements.  
         [0024]    Alternatively, attachment elements or suction cups  32  may be replaced or augmented by electromagnets (not shown) for forming releasable connections to surface  34 ,  36 , or  38  where that surface is of a magnetic material. In another alternative configuration, movable pins (not shown) possibly with hooks or barbs may be provided for enabling toy movement along a porous deformable surface such as a cork wall board.  
         [0025]    A combination of attachment mechanisms may be utilized to maximize the wall-climbing effectiveness of the toy over different wall surfaces. Thus, an attachment element may include a suction cup provided with an adhesive surface along a rim of the cup or on a portion of a concave surface of the suction cup.  
         [0026]    Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. It is easily appreciated that the plurality of releasable attachment elements may be provided on motive members other than leg-like appendages. For instance, endless tracks may be used where the tracks are provided along outer surfaces with a plurality of releasable gripper members. Each revolving track is provided with control mechanisms which ensures that grippers in contact with a travel surface are actuated while grippers out of contact with that surface are deactuated. Where the gripper members are suction or vacuum cups, the control mechanisms include valving which operates in accordance with the positions of the endless tracks.  
         [0027]    Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings and descriptions herein are proffered by way of example to facilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.