Patent Publication Number: US-6699098-B1

Title: Animated musical alligator

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates to an animated musical alligator which features movement while playing music. When it plays songs, mouth movements occur in synchronization with the singing, as a result of its circuitry and mechanical operation system. In addition, the alligator produces realistic walking movements and up-and-down, as well as side-to-side head movements. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Often, novelty items manufactured for the purpose of play or entertainment may produce music or include some movement by characters that the items may showcase. However, such products lack true entertainment value because their features are too predictable. In contrast, the animated musical alligator combines a variety of different functions to create an attractive and captivating novelty item that will appeal to individuals of all ages. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     The object of the animated musical alligator is to provide an original, amusing toy and novelty item for adults and children, alike. The advantages of the invention are its combination of entertaining functions. These functions operate by means of the alligator&#39;s circuitry and mechanical operation system: 
     1) The alligator can play music and initiate mouth movements in synchronization with songs that it plays. 
     2) The alligator produces realistic walking movements. 
     3) The alligator can create head movements consisting of a swaying action from side to side, as well as an up-and-down action. 
     SUMMARY 
     This invention consists of an animated musical alligator designed to provide an interesting and unusual toy and novelty item for adults and children to enjoy. By means of its intriguing combination of functions, the alligator offers an especially attractive and unique type of entertainment. The invention can produce mouth movements in synchronization with the singing, as a result of its circuitry and mechanical operation system. In addition, the alligator produces realistic walking movements and up-and-down, as well as side-to-side head movements. 
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     Drawing Figures 
     The following numbers correspond to specific drawings of the invention: 
     FIG. 1 provides an overall view of the invention&#39;s mechanism 
     FIG. 2 shows a view of the invention from above, featuring its head and leg movements 
     FIG. 3 offers a view of the invention&#39;s driving mechanism 
     FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the invention 
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
       1  alligator&#39;s upper jaw 
       2  alligator&#39;s lower jaw 
       3  lever 
       4  eccentric gear 
       5  twisting spring 
       6  gear 
       7  gear 
       8  gear 
       9  motor 
       10  motor 
       11  gear 
       12  gear 
       13  gear 
       14  fan-shaped gear 
       15  foreleg 
       16  eccentric gear 
       17  gear 
       18  gear 
       19  gear 
       20  gear 
       21  motor 
       22  circuit board 
       23  lever 
       24  hind leg 
       25  batteries 
       26  speaker 
       30  alligator 
       40  IC 
       42  trigger circuit 
       44  amplifier 
       48  driving circuit 
       50  driving circuit 
       52  driving circuit 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Description of Preferred Embodiments and Operation of Invention 
     IC  40  is an integrated circuit that creates sound signal output and movement signal output. It is driven by trigger circuit  42 . I- 1  is connected to an amplifier  44 , producing sound through a speaker  26 . I- 2  is connected to driving circuit  48  to drive motor  9  so that mouth movements are produced in synchronization with the sound that is created. I- 3  is connected to driving circuit  50  to drive motor  21 , causing the alligator&#39;s leg movements. I- 4  and I- 5  are connected to driving circuit  52 , activating motor  10  to cause the alligator&#39;s head to move up and down. 
     (A) Mouth movements: When electrified, motor  9  rotates and decelerates through gears  8  and  7  to drive gear  6  and eccentric gear  4  to cause the alligator&#39;s upper jaw  1  to raise upward. At the same time, eccentric gear  4  drives lever  3  to turn around so that the alligator&#39;s lower jaw  2  moves downward. When power is cut off, twisting spring  5  pulls the upper jaw  1  and lower jaw  2  back to their original positions. 
     (B) Leg and side-to-side head movements: When electrified, motor  21  decelerates through gears  19 ,  18 , and  17  to drive eccentric gear  16  to rotate, so that lever  23  will move back and forth. This action, in turn, drives foreleg  15  and hind leg  24  to move forward. Since eccentric gear  16  is not symmetrical, the head sways from right to left as a result of the motion of eccentric gear  16 . 
     (C) Up-and-down head movements: When electrified, motor  10  rotates, decelerating through gears  11 ,  12 , and  13 . Since fan-shaped gear  14  is fixed, gear  13  turns around it, causing the alligator&#39;s head to raise up. When the music that the alligator plays has ended, motor  10  reverses to return the alligator&#39;s head to its original position. 
     CONCLUSION 
     In conclusion, this invention is designed to create an unusual and amusing novelty item that is highly entertaining for adults and children, alike. The invention accomplishes this goal by means of its circuitry and mechanical system. The invention&#39;s integrated circuit, which creates sound signal and movement signal outputs, produces music through its amplifier and speaker. Additionally, the IC activates various motors, which trigger gears to create leg movements and side-to-side and up-and-down head movements. Finally, mouth movements are created in synchronization with the playing of songs.