Abstract:
An animated figure is provided with a body and at least one jointed appendage that is pivotably coupled thereto. Motive force is provided to a shaft having a cam which is coupled to a follower formed within the appendage to pivot the appendage with respect to the body. A control rod extends between the cam and the joint of the appendage to enable the joint to bend as the appendage is pivoted. Additional joints and control rods may be provided depending on the appendage movement desired. Likewise, multiple appendages, including a neck and head, may be provided and coupled to one another to impart a natural movement to the figure, such as walking or running.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to animated figures and more particularly to an animated figure that incorporates the use of a plurality of cams and control rods to impart fluid and natural movements to the appendages of the animated figure. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Animated figures are frequently used for indoor and outdoor displays relating to various holidays, products, or simply for decoration. Typically, the animated figure is provided with a body portion and at least one appendage, such as an arm, a head, or a set of legs that moves with respect to the body portion. A motor is disposed within the body portion and coupled to the appendage through a mechanical connection that permits the appendage to move. However, regardless of their level of complexity, prior art animated figures have failed to provide fluid and lifelike appendage movement. Rather, the motion of the appendages on prior art animated figures appears mechanical and fails to follow a natural range of motion. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,177,602 discloses an automated figure that is provided with movable leg members., The leg members are jointed at the knee and coupled to a body portion at the “hip.” A motor within the body portion rotates a cam member that is connected to the leg, beneath the knee joint, by an elongated connecting rod. While the rotating cam does move the leg in a generally forward walking motion, it lacks the fluid, natural range of motion exhibited by the leg of an animal or a person. No joint is provided at the “ankle” of the leg, and the required engagement of the connecting rod between a pair of fulcrum pins creates a mechanical and somewhat clumsy motion. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 61,416 discloses an automatic toy in the shape of a horse. The toy is provided with a simple wind-up motor that is geared to extend and retract a plurality of pivotably coupled bars that extend through the length of each leg member. Each leg is comprised of an upper leg portion, lower leg portion, and a hoof. Both the upper and lower leg portions are provided with a pair of the rods, which are pivotably linked to one another at their end portions. Each of the joints in the leg members are provided with at least three pivot points that enable the joints to bend. Accordingly, as the motor operates in a forward direction, the legs are extended and retracted in a gimping motion. However, the motion attained by the skeleton of pivotably linked bars is machinelike and limited in its range of motion. Moreover, the assembly of such a jointed skeletal system is fairly complex and is susceptible to frequent mechanical failures due to the intricate structure. 
     Accordingly, what is needed is an improved system and method for providing an animated figure with fluid and natural appendage movement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The animated figure of the present invention is generally provided with at least one jointed appendage, which is pivotably coupled to a body portion. A motor is provided within the animated figure and selectively rotates a shaft, which is positioned adjacent the appendage. A first cam is coupled to a follower groove within the appendage so that the appendage will pivot with respect to the body when the shaft is rotated. In a preferred embodiment, a first control rod is pivotably coupled to the first cam at one end and pivotably coupled at its other end to the appendage adjacent the joint. Accordingly, as the first cam rotates and the appendage pivots, the control rod bends the appendage at the joint. In another embodiment, a second joint can be provided within the appendage to serve as an “ankle” or “wrist” of the appendage. A second control rod may be coupled to the appendage adjacent the first and second joints. In this configuration, when the first joint bends, the second joint will bend. 
     The animated figure of the present invention can be provided with pairs of appendages and, where a four-legged animal is to be portrayed, forward and rearward pairs of appendages can be provided. Each of the appendages can be provided with one or more joints and control rods to move in response to the rotation of a cam in the same manner as the previously described appendage. The motion of each of the separate appendages can be mechanically timed with one another to provide the appearance of the independently-moving appendages of any two- or four-legged figure. Moreover, this same structural design could be provided to create moving “arms” for the animated figure. 
     In still another embodiment, neck and head portions are provided to the animated figure and are pivotably coupled to one another and the body. An eccentric cam secured to the shaft imparts forward and rearward motion to the neck. A control rod, which is coupled to the neck and head portions, pivots the head as the neck pivots. This provides the appearance of independent head and neck movement while the animated figure is in motion. 
     Accordingly, one of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide an animated figure having one or more appendages that move in a fluid and natural manner with respect to the body of the figure. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide an animated figure having a plurality of appendages that fluidly and naturally move in concert with one another to emulate the natural motion of a two- or four-legged figure. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an animated figure with neck and head portions that move naturally in concert with one or more appendages of the figure. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an animated figure that displays fluid and natural movement characteristic of the particular animal or person that the figure is emulating. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide an animated figure that utilizes at least one cam and at least one control rod to provide fluid and natural motion to an appendage of the figure. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an animated figure having a simple and durable structural design that exhibits fluid and natural appendage movement. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will be clear to those of skill in the art. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the animated figure of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the animated figure of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the animated figure of FIG. 1 demonstrating some of the fluid and natural appendage movements that can be obtained with the depicted embodiment; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial side view of the head and neck portions of one embodiment of the present invention demonstrating some of the fluid and natural movements that can be obtained with the depicted embodiment; and 
     FIG. 5 is a partial side view of an appendage of one embodiment of the present invention demonstrating some of the fluid and natural movements that can be obtained with the depicted embodiment. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The animated figure 10 of the present invention is generally depicted in FIGS. 1-5. Although the animated figure 10 is depicted as being a four-legged animal, it is contemplated that the inventive concepts of the present invention will be equally applicable to the creation of two-legged figures, figures with arms and legs, figures with moving neck and head portions, and any desired combination of such body parts. For purposes of conciseness, however, the animated figure 10 of the present invention will be generally described as being a four-legged animal. 
     The animated figure 10 is generally provided with a body frame  12 , which may further incorporate one or more body plates  14 . At least one appendage  16 , such as a leg, arm, neck, head or tail, will be pivotably coupled to the body frame  12  and/or body plates  14 . In the present example, the appendage  16  is a leg having an upper segment  18 , which is pivotably coupled to a lower segment  20  at a first joint  22 . The upper segment  18  is pivotably coupled to the body plate  14  so that it may be selectively pivoted in forward and rearward directions with respect to the body plate  14 . 
     An axle  24  is rotatably coupled to the body frame  12  adjacent the upper segment  18  of the appendage  16 . The axle  24  is selectively rotated with respect to the body frame  12  by a motor  26 . The motor  26  may be of any conventional type, including, but not limited to, electrical, internal combustion, or a stored tension motor that uses a spring that is manually wound with a key. It is further contemplated that the motor  26  could simply be manually operated through a crank or similar means when desired. Regardless, the motor  26  is operatively coupled to the shaft  24  through a belt  28  and/or a plurality of matable gear members. Accordingly, as the motor  26  is engaged, rotational movement is imparted upon the axle  24 . 
     A cam  30  is coupled to the axle  24  so that the cam  30  rotates with the axle  24 . Although the cam  30  is generally depicted as being round and disc-shaped, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that the cam  30  may be provided in nearly any shape, according to the given working parameters. A pin  32  is secured to the cam  30  so that the pin  32  extends outwardly therefrom. A generally elongated follower groove  34  is formed in the upper segment  18  of the appendage  16  and is preferably shaped to at least partially receive a portion of the pin  32  therein. The follower channel  34  is provided with opposite ends and a length extending therebetween, along which the pin  32  may freely travel. Accordingly, as the cam  30  is rotated, the pin  32  will travel along the follower groove  34  while the pin  32  and cam  30  travel along their generally orbital path. This action imparts a fluid and natural pivoting motion to the upper segment  18  about the pivot point  36 . The characteristics of the pivoting motion can be easily changed by the modification of the location, length and/or shape of the follower groove  34 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, an upper control rod  38  is pivotably coupled at one end to the pin  32  and is pivotably coupled to the lower segment  20  adjacent the joint  22  at its other end. Accordingly, as the pin  32  and cam  30  rotate, the upper control rod  38  will bend the appendage  16  at the joint  22 . The proximity with which the upper control rod  38  is coupled to the lower segment  20  adjacent the joint  22  will determine the characteristics of the bending motion of the joint  22 . Accordingly, a combination of the pin  32  and follower groove  34  along with the upper control rod  38  impart a fluid and natural movement to the appendage  16  at its pivot point  36  and the joint  22 . 
     It may be desirable to include a third or bottom segment  40  to the appendage  16  to provide a hand, foot or hoof to the appendage  16 . Preferably, the bottom segment  40  is pivotably coupled to the lower segment  20  at a second joint  42 . Controlled bending of the second joint  42  can be obtained by providing the appendage  16  with a lower control rod  44  which is pivotably coupled to the upper segment  18  adjacent the joint  22  at one end and pivotably coupled to the bottom segment  40  adjacent the second joint  42 . Accordingly, lower control rod  44  will work in concert with the upper control rod  38  in response to the rotation of the cam  30  and the pin  32  to bend the second joint  42  as the appendage  16  moves with respect to the body plate  14 . 
     Where desired, an opposing appendage  16 ′ can be provided opposite appendage  16 . The opposing appendage  16 ′ is preferably constructed in much the same manner as that described for appendage  16 . Movement of the opposing appendage  16 ′ is at least partially provided through a second cam  30 &#39;, which is coupled to the shaft  24  opposite the first cam  30 . The position of the cams  30  and  30 &#39; as they are coupled to the shaft  24  can be selectively adjusted to time the movement of the appendages  16  and  16 ′ to provide a fluid and natural walking or running movement to the animated figure  10 . 
     Additional appendages may be also provided, such as the example of the rear legs  46  and  46 ′ depicted in FIGS. 1-3. It is preferred that the structure of the legs  46  and  46 ′ be similar to one another. Accordingly, for purposes of conciseness, only the leg  46  will be described herein. The leg  46  is preferably provided with at least an upper segment  48  and a lower segment  50  and may be optionally provided with a third or bottom segment  52 . The upper segment  48  is pivotably coupled to the body plate  14  at the point  54 . A rear axle  56  is pivotably coupled with the body frame  12  and is operatively coupled to the motor  26  much in the same fashion as that described for axle  24 . A third cam  58  is secured to the rear axle  56  so that it rotates therewith. A pin member  60  extends outwardly from the third cam  58  and is at least partially received by, and slidably movable within, a follower groove  62  formed in the upper section  48  of the leg  46 . The movement imparted to the upper segment  48  by the movement of the pin  60  within the follower groove  62  is similar to that described previously for pin  32  and the follower groove  34 . An upper control rod  64  is coupled to the pin  60  and pivotably coupled to the leg  46  adjacent a joint  66 , which pivotably couples the upper segment  48  with the lower segment  50 . Where a bottom segment  52  is provided, it is preferred that a lower control rod  68  be coupled to the upper segment  48  adjacent the joint  66  at one end and pivotably coupled to the bottom segment  52  adjacent a joint  70 , which pivotably couples the lower segment  50  with the bottom segment  52 . It is preferred that the cams that movably couple the legs  46  and  46 ′ to the rear axle  56  be oriented to time the movement of the legs  46  and  46 ′ to impart a natural walking or running motion to the same. Similarly, it is preferred that the movement of legs  46  and  46 ′ be timed to move in cooperation with the appendages  16  and  16 ′ to further create the appearance of a natural motion among the appendages. It is contemplated that, in the example where a bipedal figure is desired, that the legs  46  and  46 ′ will be timed to move in cooperation with appendages  16  and  16 ′, which might serve as the figure&#39;s arms. 
     The animated figure 10 may optionally be provided with a neck portion  72 , which is preferably pivotably coupled with the body frame  12  and/or the body plates  14  at a pivot point  84 . A head portion  74  may then be secured atop the neck portion  72 . It is preferred that the head portion be pivotably coupled to the neck portion  72  so that the two structures may pivot at least slightly with respect to one another. Motion may be imparted to the neck portion  72  and the head portion  74  through a neck cam  76 , which is preferably secured to the axle  24  such that the neck cam  76  rotates therewith. As the neck cam  76  rotates, it engages the lower end portion  78  of the neck portion  72  so that the neck portion  72  pivots rearwardly and forwardly in response to such engagement. It is contemplated that the shape of the neck cam  76  could be provided to effectuate the desired rate and character of movement imparted upon the neck portion  72 . A neck control rod  80  is preferably provided and pivotably coupled at one end to the body plate  14  and/or the body frame  12  and pivotably coupled at the opposite end to the head  74 . Accordingly, depending on the location that the opposite end portions of the neck control rod  80  are coupled to these structures and their respective pivot points  82  and  84 , the characteristics of the head motion with respect to the neck  72  and the body plate  14  will vary. Preferably, the shape of the neck cam  76  as well as the location of the neck control rod  80  will be provided such that the head and neck cooperate in a fluid and natural forward and rearward motion with respect to the body frame  14  and further cooperate with the appendages  16 ,  16 ′,  46  and  46 ′ to facilitate the fluid and natural movement of the animated figure 10 as a whole. 
     In the drawings and in the specification, there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention; and although specific items are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and proportion of parts, as well as substitution of equivalents, are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as further defined in the following claims. 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.