Patent Publication Number: US-4838825-A

Title: Toy kiddieland

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a toy kiddieland, and more particularly to a toy assembly that utilizes the force of magnetism to motivate models. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The use of a magnetism to motivate models on children&#39;s toys, such as a toy kiddieland, is known. However, such devices have certain limitations. First, these devices do not provide a means whereby a model or models may be satisfactorily moved over a curved surface at a constant rate. Second, present devices provide for only a relatively limited number of models and/or activities to be simultaneously performed. Finally, these devices have relatively limited mechanisms for driving the magnets to permit the simultaneous performance of a variety of activities by a variety of models over disparate portions of the display surface. 
     Thus, it can be seen that there remains a need to provide a device which utilizes the force of magnetism and which overcomes any or all of the limitations mentioned above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary feature of the present invention is to provide a toy kiddieland comprising a display disk having a variety of different kinds of merry implements which include human models and implements that are moved by magnetic effect. 
     Another feature of the present invention is to provide a toy kiddieland including a motor to rotate a plate which has several magnets mounted on. As the plate is rotated, the magnetic field in changed, such that the magnets on the models on the display disk move. 
     These and other objective and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the toy of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a exploded perspective view of the toy of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, the toy kiddieland includes a base 1, a rotary plate 2 and a housing or shell 3. 
     The base 1 is substantially rectangular and includes a center through which an upwardly-extending shaft 11 is disposed. A battery assembly 12 and a motor 13 are both mounted on the base 1. A wheel 14 is rotated by the motor 13. This drive wheel 14 is accompanied by a gear assembly. At least three upwardly-curved surfaces (convexes) 15 are formed on the base 1. These surfaces 15 are spaced about the center of the base 1 and are substantially arcuate or curved in shape, so as (as is seen in the Figures) to have the same radius from (to be equidistant or the same distance from) the shaft 11 which is positioned at the centerpoint of the base 1. Several magnets also are positioned on the base 1. 
     A rotary plate 2 has a hole 21 formed therein at the center thereof. The rotary plate 2 is received on the upper end of the shaft 11 and is rotatably received in the hole 21 for supporting the plate 2 for rotational movement about the center thereof. The circumference of the plate 2 has teeth formed thereon which engages the drive wheel 14 and is rotated thereby. At least one and preferably several vertically-movable rotary plate magnet having free sticks (magnetic shaft portions) are slidably disposed through plate 2, so that the shafts 23 can move up and down freely by sliding substantially vertically through the plate 2. The top (upper) end of each stick (magnetic shaft) 23 is located above the plate 2 and is mounted or equipped with a respective magnet (upper magnetic portion) so that the shaft 23 extends downwardly therefrom. Furthermore, each stick (magnetic shaft) 23 is spaced about and substantially equidistance from the hole 21. In this respect, it is noted that the distance from the center hole 21 to each stick (shaft) 23 is the same as the radius of the surfaces (convexes) 15 relative to the shaft 11. In this fashion, when the plate 2 is rotated, the low end (lower free end) of each stick 23 (which is located below the plate) sequentially contacts the respective surfaces 15 and the stick or shaft 23 will be vertically raised up when it contacts the surface (convex) 15 and will be vertically lowered when it is located between surfaces (15). At least one, and preferably two, I-shaped rotary shafts (rotary magnet shafts) 24 are rotatably disposed extending through the plate. These shafts 24 have an upper end and a lower end located, respectively, above and below the plate 2. Disposed thusly, shafts 24 rotate freely. A pair of magnets are located on both the upper and lower ends and rotated therewith. Similarly, there is at least one and preferrably several magnets (field rotary plate magnets) mounted or otherwise disposed on the plate 2 in various concentric and random arrangements about the hole 21. 
     The housing shell 3 is positioned completely over the base, with the plate 2 disposed therebetween and is connected with the base 1 by screws or other suitable means. A display disk (upper display surface) 31 is provided on the upper surface of the shell (housing) 3. A switch 32 to control electric flow to the motor is provided protruding through the surface 31. A sliding track (circular track) 33 is placed substantial concentrically around the center of the housing 3. This track 33 has at least three projections or upwardly-curved surfaces 34 which are positioned substantially vertically above the surface 15. At least one and, preferably several merry and/or athletic implements or models are provided. These models may have either pivotably swinging or movable portions such as a horizontal bar, a swing, or a seesaw, or which are themselves movable, such as a canoe and so on, are disposed on the circular track and on the display disk 31 spaced from the track 33. Also human models are provided. The movable models are equipped with a magnet positioned thereon. Also, the swinging or movable portions have a magnet. 
     Finally, it is noted that the centers of the base, the housing and the rotary plate are substantially aligned with one another. 
     In use with switch 32 turned on, the wheel 41 is rotated by motor 13. This wheel 14 rotatably drives the rotary plate 2 about the shaft 11. Owing to the magnetic field of magnets a, that is created by rotation of the plate 2 about shaft 11, the I-shaped rotary shaft 24 revolve on this respective axes. This rotary movement of the plate 2 brings the free ends of the shafts 23 in and out of contact with surfaces 15 vertically moving shafts 23 as the free ends, thereof come, respectively, in and out of contact with surfaces 15. In this manner, the same distance between the magnets a on the top of the sticks 23 and the sliding track 33 is maintained. As a result, the magnets a on the human models and the canoe as well as on all the implements on the display disk display surface 31 are moved by the magnetic fields, thereby moving either the model itself or the movable portions thereof, such as the horizontal bar, the swing, and the seesaw. 
     Thus, it can be seen that the structure of the toy of the present invention is simple, economic and easily made. 
     Having described specific preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.