Patent Publication Number: US-6705918-B1

Title: Eye assembly for toy, stationery or ornament

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (a) Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to an eye structure for toys, stationery or ornaments, and more particularly, to a moving eye structure capable of opening and closing the eyelid thereof when being erected or lain down, thereby bringing vividness as the main characteristic of the invention. 
     (b) Description of the Prior Art 
     In prior toys (dolls, for instance), stationery or ornaments, animal eyes are frequently used as a part of the designs thereof, and such eye structure is generally a spherical structure made of color glass or plastic. 
     The eye structure serves as a motionless decoration that is in fact a schematic design lacking not only appeal but also innovation, and hardly gains consumers&#39; favors in purchasing as a result. There is another type of eye structure commonly used in dolls; a piece of weight is provided at the bottom of the eyelid thereof, so that the eyelid drops due to the weight provided when the doll is lain down. Although the structure above capable of closing appears to be more lively than the former, the facade of the eye structure is yet flawed for that it perpetually remains still. In addition, the human eye structure is unsuitable for animals, thus adding another shortcoming to the overall. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, the object of the invention is to provide a moving eye structure to overcome the above shortcomings namely being dull and unattractive in appearance as well as being indelicate. The moving eye structure in accordance with the invention has a mobile cover as a mobile eyelid and an eyeball body for rotating around such that the eye structure strikes as artistic as a whole. 
     The invention comprises: a semi-spherical outer shell provided with an axis opening at the two terminals of the diameter at the opening thereof, respectively, a screw pillar at the center of the reverse side thereof for screwing or fixing onto a toy, and an insertion hole at the center of the interior thereof; a mobile cover in the shape of an appropriate arcuated body provided with a protruding tail axis at the two terminals thereof, respectively, an arcuated weight connected between the two tail axes that are fitted into the axis openings of the outer shell such that the mobile cover is situated at the inner side of the outer shell, and the weight is also hung and disposed at the interior of the outer shell due to center of gravity; an eyeball body provided with an insertion pole at the reverse side thereof for inserting and fitting the insertion pole into the insertion hole of the outer shell for further fastening; an eyelid cover in shape of an arcuated piece for covering the bottom front of the outer shell and disposed with a tail opening at the two terminals thereof, respectively, for interlocking with the tail axes at the mobile cover to achieve a complete eye structure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows an exploded schematic view in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 2 shows a schematic view in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 3 shows a schematic view illustrating status  1  in accordance with the invention in use. 
     FIG. 4 shows a schematic view illustrating status  2  in accordance with the invention in use. 
     FIG. 5 shows a sectional schematic view in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 6 shows a schematic view illustrating the rear of the eyeball in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 7 shows a schematic view in accordance with the invention in application. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     To better understand the technical contents of the invention, scriptions shall be given with the accompanying drawings hereunder. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5 , the invention comprises: 
     a semi-spherical outer shell  10  provided with an axle opening  12  at the two terminals of the diameter at the opening thereof, respectively; a screw pillar  13  at the center of the reverse side thereof for screwing or fixing onto a toy; and an insertion hole  11  at the center of the interior thereof; 
     a mobile cover  20  in shape of an appropriate arcuated body provided with a protruding tail axis  22  at the two terminals thereof, respectively; and an arcuated weight  21  connected between the two tail axes  22  that are fitted into the axle openings  12  of the outer shell  10  such that the mobile cover  20  is situated at the inner side of the outer shell  10 , and the weight  21  is also hung and disposed at the interior of the outer shell  10  due to center of gravity; 
     an eyeball body  30  consisted of a transparent ball casing  31  provided with an insertion pole  311  at the reverse side thereof so that the insertion pole  311  is inserted and fitted into the insertion hole  11  of the outer shell  10  for fastening; an inner mobile cover  32  comparatively smaller in volume provided at the interior of the eyeball casing  31 ; a liquid  50  provided between the eyeball casing  31  and the inner mobile cover  32 , so as to have the inner mobile cover  32  rotate amidst the liquid  50 ; a design such as a pupil  33  drawn in the front and a recess  320  disposed at the rear of the inner mobile cover  32 ; a protruding positioning pole  310  provided at the inner side of the eyeball casing  31  at a position corresponding to the recess  320  to have the positioning pole  310  extended into the recess  320 , so that the angle of internal activity of the eyeball casing  31  is restrained (the shape of the recess  320  is preferably boat-shaped to have the rotation of the inner mobile cover  32  resemble that of a human eye); and 
     an eyelid cover  40  in the shape of an arcuated piece disposed for covering the bottom front of the outer shell  10 , and disposed with a tail opening  41  at the two terminals thereof, respectively, for interlocking with the tail axes  22  at the mobile cover  20  for a more secure structure. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrating the invention in an erect status, the mobile cover  20  is steadied at the top of the outer shell  10  due to the effects given by the weight  21 . Referring to FIG. 4 illustrating the invention in a lain status, that is, when the outer shell  10  is toppled, the mobile cover  20  covers the vacant space between the outer shell  10  and the eyelid cover  40  to exactly block the front of the eyeball body  30 , signifying an eye being closed by an eyelid in the front thereof. Again, by erecting the invention, the eye assembly restores to the status illustrated as in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     Referring to FIG. 7 showing the invention being applied in a pen container, the design appears like a big-eyed frog that gives vividness and appeal as the main characteristic of the invention. 
     In an eye assembly designed according to the invention, the structure is capable of closing and opening with liveliness and is particularly suitable for toy applications while also overcoming the problems of being inflexible or lack of mobility as described above. 
     It is of course to be understood that the embodiment described herein is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.