Patent Publication Number: US-8109804-B2

Title: Crawling device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The disclosure relates to crawling devices, and particularly, to a crawling device used in a toy. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Some animal shaped toys lack any moveable parts, other animal shaped toys provide limited movement such as rotation of a limb about a corresponding joint. However the motion of these toys is not verisimilar to that of the actual animals, so it is easy for children to lose interest in these toys. 
     Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a crawling device used in a toy, which can overcome the above-mentioned problem. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic isometric view of a crawling device having a first end and an elastic member according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic isometric view of the second end of the crawling device of FIG  1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a normal state of the elastic member of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but showing a compressed state of the elastic member of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing an elongated state of the elastic member of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , a crawling device  100  according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The crawling device  100  includes a first end  10 , a second end  20 , an elastic member  40 , a power source module  60  and a controller  80 . The elastic member  40  is disposed between the first end  10  and the second end  20 . In the embodiment, the elastic member  40  is a spring. The controller  80  is configured for electrically connecting the power source module  60  to the first end  10 , the second end  20 , and the elastic member  40  by wires  70 . 
     The first end  10  includes a first main body  12 , a first electromagnet  14 , a first magnet  16 , and a first spring  18 . In the embodiment, the first main body  12  is substantially circular. The first main body  12  includes a first supporting portion  122 , a first surface  124 , and a second surface  126  opposite to the first surface  124 . The first supporting portion  122  is configured for supporting the first main body  12  on a supporting surface  90 , such as a top of a table or on the ground. In the embodiment, the supporting surface  90  is the ground. The first electromagnet  14  is mounted on the first surface  124  and electrically connected to the controller  80 . In this embodiment, the first electromagnet  14  is glued to the first surface  124 . The first spring  18  is mounted on the first surface  124  near the first supporting portion  122 , and the first magnet  16  is mounted on the first spring  18 , thereby following a movement of the first spring  18 . In the embodiment, the first magnet  16  defines a first through hole  162 , and the first spring  18  is inserted through the first through hole  162  and mounted on the first main body  12 . In the embodiment, a first flange  128  extends from the first surface  124  of the first main body  12 , a first cutout  129  is defined in the first flange  128 , and two ends of the first spring  18  are correspondingly mounted between the two ends of the first flange  128  in the first cutout  129 . 
     When the controller  80  connects the power source module  60  to the first electromagnet  14 , the first electromagnet  14  becomes magnetized and repels the first magnet  16  away, supporting on the supporting surface  90 . When the controller  80  disconnects the power source module  60  to the first electromagnet  14 , the first electromagnet  14  is no longer magnetized and the first magnet  16  returns to its original position. 
     The second end  20  includes a second main body  22 , a second electromagnet  24 , a second magnet  26  and a second spring  28 . The second main body  22  is substantially circular. The second main body  22  includes a second supporting portion  222 , a first surface  224  and a second surface  226  opposite to the first surface  224 . The second supporting portion  222  is configured for supporting the second main body  22  on the supporting surface  90 . The second electromagnet  24  is mounted on the first surface  224  and electrically connected to the controller  80 . In this embodiment, the second electromagnet  24  is glued to the second surface  226 . The second spring  28  is mounted on the first surface  224  near the second supporting portion  222 , and the second magnet  26  is mounted on the second spring  28 , thereby following a movement of the second spring  28 . In the embodiment, the second magnet  26  defines a second through hole  262 , and the second spring  28  is inserted through the second through hole  262  and mounted on the second main body  22 . In the embodiment, a second flange  228  extends from the first surface  224  of the second main body  22 , a second cutout  229  is defined in the second flange  228 , and two ends of the second spring  28  are correspondingly mounted between the two ends of the second flange  228  in the second cutout  229 . 
     When the controller  80  connects the power source module  60  to the second electromagnet  24 , the second electromagnet  24  repels the second magnet  26  away, supporting on the supporting surface  90 . When the controller  80  disconnects the power source module  60  to the second electromagnet  24 , the second electromagnet  24  is no longer magnetized and the second magnet  26  returns to its original position. 
     Two ends of the elastic member  40  are mounted between the second surface  126  of the first main body  12  and the second surface  226  of the second main body  22 . When the controller  80  disconnects the power source module  60  to the elastic member  40 , the length of the elastic member  40  substantially equals to the distance between the first end  10  and second end  20 . That is to say, the elastic member  40  is in normal state when the power source is not applied. When the power source is applied on the elastic member  40  by the controller  80 , the elastic member  40  becomes compressed. When the power source is cut off the elastic member  40  by the controller  80 , the elastic member  40  is in a free state. 
     The power source module  60  is mounted on the second surface  226  of the second end  20 . In the embodiment, the power source module  60  is a battery, such as a rechargeable battery or a dry battery. 
     The controller  80  is mounted on the second surface  226  of the second end  20  and configured for controlling a connection between the power source module  60  to the first electromagnet  14 , the second electromagnet  24 , and the elastic member  40  according to a state of the elastic member  40 . In the embodiment, when the elastic member  40  is in the normal state, the controller  80  connects the power source module  60  to the second end  20  and the elastic member  40 . When the elastic member  40  is compressed to a first compressed limit, the controller  80  disconnects the power source module  60  to the second end  20  and the elastic member  40  and connects the power source module  60  to the first end  10 . It is to be understood, the controller  80  can connect and disconnect the power source module  60  with the first electromagnet  14 , the second electromagnet  24  and the elastic member  40  according to predetermined sequences. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the crawling device  100  is on the supporting surface  90 , and the elastic member  40  is in the normal state. The controller  80  connects the power source module  60  to the second electromagnet  24  and the elastic member  40 , as a result, the second electromagnet  24  repels the second magnet  26  to extend out of the second cutout  229 , beyond the second supporting portion  222 , and supports on the supporting surface  90 ; the first electromagnet  14  is no longer magnetized and the first magnet  16  returns to its original position, disengaging with the supporting surface  90 ; and the elastic member  40  compresses. Because the second magnet  26  of the second end  20  and the second supporting portion  222  support on the supporting surface  90 , the first supporting portion  122  of the first end  10  moves toward the second end  20  (see  FIG. 4 ) under the compression force of the elastic member  40 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in the embodiment, when the elastic member  40  is compressed to the first compressed limit, the controller  80  disconnects the power source module  60  to the second electromagnet  24  and the elastic member  40  and the controller  80  connects the power source module  60  to the first electromagnet  14 , the first electromagnet  14  repels the first magnet  16  to extend out of the first cutout  129 , beyond the first supporting portion  122 , and support on the supporting surface  90 ; the second electromagnet  24  is no longer magnetized and the second magnet  26  returns to its original position, disengaging with the supporting surface  90 ; and the elastic member  40  expands or returns to the normal state and the second end  20  moves away from the first end  10 . 
     The crawling device  100  can move when the power source module  60  provides the power source to the first electromagnet  14 , the second electromagnet  24 , and the elastic member  40  by the controller  80 . When the crawling device  100  is used in an animated toy, such as a toy imitating a worm toy, the crawling device  100  will retain the interest of users of the toy. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.