Patent Publication Number: US-2007099536-A1

Title: Oscillating apparatus for ornament

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to an oscillating apparatus, and more particularly to an oscillating apparatus for an ornament, such as a doll, a clock, a pendent or the like.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      An ornament, such as a doll, a clock, a pendent or the like, is suspended on a wall of the house to enhance the aesthetic quality of the house. However, the conventional ornament is disposed at a stationary state in a hanging manner, so that it is easily causes a boring sensation to a user, thereby decreasing the versatility and amusement effect of the conventional ornament.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an oscillating apparatus, comprising a box, two opposite oscillating members each having a mediate portion provided with a rotation portion rotatably mounted on the box and a drive shaft transversely extended from and perpendicular to the rotation portion and each having an upper end provided with a magnet, an actuating mechanism mounted on the box for actuating the magnet of each of the two oscillating members to move relative to the box, and a pivoting unit mounted on the box and including a pivot arm pivotally mounted on the box and having two end portions each pivotally mounted on the drive shaft of a respective one of the two oscillating members.  
      The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an oscillating apparatus having a mobile amusement effect.  
      Another objective of the present invention is to provide an oscillating apparatus, wherein the oscillating members are oscillated in two opposite directions so that the oscillating apparatus presents a lively outer appearance in a swinging manner, thereby enhancing the aesthetic quality of the oscillating apparatus.  
      A further objective of the present invention is to provide an oscillating apparatus, wherein each of the oscillating arms is moved in a direction opposite to that of the respective oscillating member, so that the oscillating arms co-operate with the oscillating members increase the mobility of the oscillating apparatus, thereby greatly enhancing the amusement effect of the oscillating apparatus.  
      Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an oscillating apparatus in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the oscillating apparatus as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is a locally enlarged perspective view of the oscillating apparatus as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of the oscillating apparatus as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic operational view of the oscillating apparatus as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
       FIG. 6  is a partially plan cross-sectional view of the oscillating apparatus as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 7  is a locally enlarged view of the oscillating apparatus as shown in  FIG. 6 .  
       FIG. 8  is a schematic operational view of the oscillating apparatus as shown in  FIG. 7 .  
       FIG. 9  is a side plan view of an oscillating apparatus in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an oscillating apparatus in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 1-7 , an oscillating apparatus in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a box  1 , two opposite oscillating members  3  (or  3 A) each having a mediate portion provided with a rotation portion  33  rotatably mounted on the box  1  and a drive shaft  31  transversely extended from and perpendicular to the rotation portion  33  and each having an upper end provided with a magnet  32 , an actuating mechanism mounted on the box  1  for actuating the magnet  32  of each of the two oscillating members  3  to move relative to the box  1 , and a pivoting unit  2  mounted on the box  1  and including a pivot arm  22  pivotally mounted on the box  1  and having two end portions  220  each pivotally mounted on the drive shaft  31  of a respective one of the two oscillating members  3 .  
      The actuating mechanism includes two circuit boards  12  mounted on the box  1  by two fixing seats  13 , two electromagnetic coils  14  each mounted on and driven by a respective one of the two circuit boards  12  and each aligned with the magnet  32  of a respective one of the two oscillating members  3 , and a battery  18  mounted on the box  1  by a battery box  11  and electrically connected to the two circuit boards  12  to supply an electric power to the two circuit boards  12 .  
      The box  1  has an inside formed with a mounting hole  15  for mounting the pivoting unit  2 . The box  1  has two sides each provided with two spaced protruding posts  17 . The box  1  has a through hole  16 .  
      The pivoting unit  2  further includes a fixing post  21  secured in the mounting hole  15  of the box  1 , and the pivot arm  22  has a mediate portion pivotally mounted on the fixing post  21 . Each of the two end portions  220  of the pivot arm  22  is formed with a groove  221  mounted on the drive shaft  31  of a respective one of the two oscillating members  3 .  
      The mediate portion of each of the two oscillating members  3  is formed with a pivot hole  34  located opposite to the rotation portion  33 . The rotation portion  33  of each of the two oscillating members  3  has a through hole  331 .  
      The oscillating apparatus further comprises two limit covers  35  each mounted on the box  1  and each rested on a respective one of the two oscillating members  3  to limit the two oscillating members  3  on the box  1 . Each of the two limit covers  35  is substantially triangular and has a mediate portion provided with a protruding portion  351  pivotally mounted in the pivot hole  34  of the respective oscillating member  3  and two ends each formed with a fixing hole  352  secured to a respective one of the protruding posts  17  of the box  1 .  
      A support shaft  36  is extended through the through hole  16  of the box  1  and the through hole  331  of the rotation portion  33  of each of the two oscillating members  3  and has two ends each inserted into the protruding portion  351  of a respective one of the limit covers  35 .  
      In operation, referring to  FIGS. 5-8  with reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , when a first electromagnetic coil  14  is driven by the respective circuit board  12  to produce a magnetic field opposite to that of the magnet  32  of a first oscillating member  3 , a repulsive force is produced to push the magnet  32  of the first oscillating member  3 , so that the first oscillating member  3  is pivoted on the box  1 . At this time, the drive shaft  31  of the first oscillating member  3  is moved with the rotation portion  33  to drive the pivot arm  22  to pivot on the fixing post  21  to drive the drive shaft  31  of a second oscillating member  3 A to move in the opposite direction, so that the second oscillating member  3 A is pivoted on the box  1  in the opposite direction of the first oscillating member  3 . Thus, the first oscillating member  3  and the second oscillating member  3 A are oscillated in two opposite directions to simulate a running or walking person, thereby enhancing the amusement effect of the oscillating apparatus.  
      Referring to  FIG. 9 , the oscillating apparatus further comprises two opposite oscillating arms  5  (or  5 A) each having an upper end pivotally mounted on the box  1  by a pivot hole  51  and a mediate portion pivotally mounted on the upper end of a respective one of the two oscillating members  3 , so that each of the oscillating arms  5  is moved with the respective oscillating member  3 . The upper end of each of the two oscillating members  3  is formed with an elongated guide slot  37 , and the mediate portion of each of the oscillating arms  5  is provided with a protruding slide  37  slidably mounted in the guide slot  37  of the respective oscillating member  3 , so that each of the oscillating arms  5  is moved with the respective oscillating member  3 . In addition, each of the oscillating arms  5  is pivoted about the pivot hole  51 , so that each of the oscillating arms  5  is moved in a direction opposite to that of the respective oscillating member  3 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 10 , the oscillating apparatus further comprises a faceplate  7  mounted on a periphery of the box  1 .  
      Accordingly, the oscillating members are oscillated in two opposite directions so that the oscillating apparatus presents a lively outer appearance in a swinging manner, thereby enhancing the aesthetic quality of the oscillating apparatus. In addition, each of the oscillating arms is moved in a direction opposite to that of the respective oscillating member, so that the oscillating arms co-operate with the oscillating members increase the mobility of the oscillating apparatus, thereby greatly enhancing the amusement effect of the oscillating apparatus.  
      Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.