US20040038619A1

US20040038619A1 - Animated musical alligator

Info

Publication number: US20040038619A1
Application number: US10/224,225
Authority: US
Inventors: Ben Kau
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-20
Filing date: 2002-08-20
Publication date: 2004-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2022-08-20
Also published as: US6699098B1

Abstract

This invention relates to an animated musical alligator which features movement while playing music. The object of the animated musical alligator is to provide an original, amusing toy and novelty item for adults and children, alike. 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. The invention'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. This operation system also creates mouth movements in synchronization with the playing of songs.

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'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'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's driving mechanism

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the invention

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

[0016] 1 alligator's upper jaw
[0017] 2 alligator's lower jaw
[0018] 3 lever
[0019] 4 eccentric gear
[0020] 5 twisting spring
[0021] 6 gear
[0022] 7 gear
[0023] 8 gear
[0024] 9 motor
[0025] 10 motor
[0026] 11 gear
[0027] 12 gear
[0028] 13 gear
[0029] 14 fan-shaped gear
[0030] 15 foreleg
[0031] 16 eccentric gear
[0032] 17 gear
[0033] 18 gear
[0034] 19 gear
[0035] 20 gear
[0036] 21 motor
[0037] 22 circuit board
[0038] 23 lever
[0039] 24 hind leg
[0040] 25 batteries
[0041] 26 speaker
[0042] 30 alligator
[0043] 40 IC
[0044] 42 trigger circuit
[0045] 44 amplifier
[0046] 48 driving circuit
[0047] 50 driving circuit
[0048] 52 driving circuit

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Description of Preferred Embodiments and Operation of Invention [0049]
[0050] 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's leg movements. I-4 and I-5 are connected to driving circuit 52, activating motor 10 to cause the alligator's head to move up and down.
(A) Mouth movements: When electrified, [0051] motor 9 rotates and decelerates through gears 8 and 7 to drive gear 6 and eccentric gear 4 to cause the alligator's upper jaw 1 to raise upward. At the same time, eccentric gear 4 drives lever 3 to turn around so that the alligator'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, [0052] 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, [0053] 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's head to raise up. When the music that the alligator plays has ended, motor 10 reverses to return the alligator's head to its original position.
Conclusion [0054]
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'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. [0055]

Claims

I claim:

1. An animated musical alligator. Said alligator consisting of a three-dimensional figure featuring a moving mouth, head, and legs. Said alligator also being capable of playing music. Said features of said alligator is linked to specific mechanisms—namely:

2. A circuitry system that includes an integrated circuit which creates sound signal output and movement signal output. Said integrated circuit is driven by a trigger circuit. Said integrated circuit is connected to an amplifier, producing sound through a speaker. Furthermore, said integrated circuit connects to different driving circuits to drive various motors to operate gears so that: 1) mouth movements are produced in synchronization with the sound that is created, 2) said alligator's leg movements are created, and 3) said alligator's head moves up and down and side-to-side, as well.

3. A mechanical system consisting of said motors that, when electrified, operate said gears to create movement of the following parts of said alligator:

1) Mouth movements: When electrified, a specific motor rotates and decelerates through two gears to drive another gear, along with an eccentric gear, to cause the alligator's upper jaw to raise upward. At the same time, said eccentric gear drives a lever to turn around so that the alligator's lower jaw moves downward. When power is cut off, a twisting spring pulls said upper jaw and said lower jaw back to their original positions.

2) Leg and side-to-side head movements: When electrified, a second motor decelerates through a different set of three gears to drive a different eccentric gear to rotate, so that a lever moves back and forth. This action, in turn, drives the fore-leg and hind-legs of said alligator to move forward. Since said eccentric gear is not symmetrical, the head of said alligator sways from right to left as a result of the motion of said eccentric gear.

3) Up-and-down head movements: When electrified, a third motor rotates, decelerating through yet another set of three gears. Since there is another, particular fan-shaped gear that is fixed, one gear in the said set of three gears turns around said fan-shaped gear, causing said alligator's head to raise up. When the music that the said alligator plays has ended, said third motor reverses to return said alligator's head to its original position.