US3793766A

US3793766A - Telephone-talking figure toy simulator

Info

Publication number: US3793766A
Application number: US00282886A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Moquin; J Sapkus
Original assignee: Mattel Inc
Current assignee: Mattel Inc
Priority date: 1972-08-21
Filing date: 1972-08-21
Publication date: 1974-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-26

Abstract

Figure toy holds a first simulated telephone handset camouflaging a switch or other electrical connection to an electric phonograph in the figure toy or in a toy telephone having a second simulated handset through which sounds may be transmitted from the phonograph to a child-user. When the phonograph is in the figure toy, these sounds are picked up by the first simulated handset which is connected to the second simulated handset. When the phonograph is in the telephone, sounds are picked up directly by the second simulated handset through a hollow tube having one end provided with a sound-pickup horn mounted in the telephone over the phonograph speaker and another end connected to the receiver portion of the second simulated handset.

Description

United States Patent 1191' Moquin et a1.

1451 *Feb. 26, 1974 1 TELEPHONE-TALKING FIGURE TOY SIMULATOR [75] Inventors: Leonard R. Moquin, Los Angeles',

Jurgis Sapkus, Manhattan Beach, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif.

[ Notice: The'portion of the term of this patent subsequent to Nov. 14, 1989,

has been disclaimed.

[22] Filed: Aug. 21, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 282,886

[52] us. or. 46/232, 46/117, 46/175 AR 51 1m. 01 A63h 5/00 58 Field of Search..- 46/33, 117, 175 AR, 232

' [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,651,508 12/1927 Bocchino 46/33 3,239,229 3/1966 Freeman 3,422,566 H1969 Wolf 3,475,856 I ll/l969 Cowell et a1..

3,702,515 11/1972 Beasley 46/175 AR Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Max E. Shirk; Franklin D.

.lankosky I [5 7 ABSTRACT Figure toy holds a first simulated telephone handset camouflaging a switch or other electrical connection to an electric phonograph in the figure toy or in a toy telephone having a second simulated handset through which sounds may be transmitted from the phonograph to a child-user. When the phonograph is in the figure toy, these sounds are picked up by the first simulated handset which is connected to the second simulated handset. When the phonograph is in the telephone, sounds are picked up directly by the second simulated handset through a hollow tube having one end provided with a sound-pick-up horn mounted in the telephone over the phonograph speaker and another end connected to the receiver portion of the second simulated handset.

12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Pmmm 3793.766

SHEET 1 OF 3 I Pmmenfmz 1 '3.793.766

sum'surs l TELEPHONE-TALKING FIGURE TOY SIMULATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention pertains generally to the field of animated figure toys and more particularly to a telephonetalking figure toy simulator.

2. Description of the Prior Art Figure toys and simulated telephones having phonograph devices incorporated therein are known to applicants.

However, applicants are not aware of any prior art telephone-talking figure toy simulators, except the one disclosed in copending application No. 214,802, filed January 3, 1972 by Noel F. Beasley and Ray Wever and held by the assignee of the instant application.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION- THe primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful telephone-talking figure toy simulator.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a sound producing device or phonograph is mounted in a toy telephone base. A first simulated telephone handset is adapted to be used by a child-user of the device and is connected to the telephone base by a hollow tube having a sound-pickup horn mounted inside the base adjacent the phonograph speaker for receiving sound therefrom. A second simulated handset carries a first electric switch for energizing the phonograph and includes means for connecting it to the hand of a figure toy in such a manner that the switch is closed as long as the second handset is in the figure toys hand. A second switch is carried by the toy telephone and is in series with the'first switch so that both switches must be actuated before the phonograph is energized. The second switch may be actuated by a child-user after dialing the toy telephone to simulate the completion of a call to the figure toy.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the figure toy is provided with the sound producing device which maybe connected to a switch in the telephone base .by electrical plug-in means including a first simulated telephone handset placed on the figure toy. The second simulated telephone handset includes sound transmitting means connecting it to the first handset which has a sound-pickup horn positioned adjacent the sound producing device in the figure toy. Thus, the sound producing device in the figure toy may be actuated from a location spaced from the figure toy by a user of the second handset in simulation of a telephone call from the user of the second handset to the figure toy. v

In both embodiments the sound producing device is shown herein for purposes of illustration; but not of limitation, as comprising a battery operated phonograph having an electrical switch either concealed in the hand of the figure toy, or inside the telephone base, or at both locations.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularly in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a telephone-talking figure toy constituting a first embodiment of the present invention and depicts a child-user carrying on a simulated conversation with a doll through a simulated childs telephone;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, with parts shown in cross-section, of the telephone used in the simulator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, transverse, cross-sectional view DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring again to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a telephone-talking figure toy simulator constituting a first embodiment of the present invention, generally designated 10, includes a sound producing device 12 which is mounted in the base 13 of a toy telephone device 14 (FIG. 2) in sound communication with a sound-pickup horn 16 having a sound outlet 18 connected to a first end 20 of a hollow tube 22 whose second end 24 is connected to a first simulated telephone handset 26 adapted to be used by a child-user 28 to receive sounds from sound producing device 12.

A controlling means 30 is associated with telephone device 14 for controlling the operation of sound producing device 12 and includes a first electric switch 32, which is mounted in base 13, and a second electric switch 34, which is mounted in a second simulated telephone handset 36. Each switch 32, 34 includes a fixed contact 38 and a movable contact 40 which may be closed by a plunger 42, 43, respectively. Plunger 42 is biased to a nonoperative position by a spring 44 and plunger 43 is biased to an operative position by a spring 45. Switches 32, 34 are placed in series with each other by

leads

46, 48 and 50. Lead 46 has a first end 52 corin'ected to the firs t'contact '38 which is located in the second handset 36 and a second end 54 connected to the movable contact 40 which is located in base 13. Lead 48 has a first end 56 connected to the movable contact 40 which is located in handset 36 .and a second end 58 connected to one side of the battery means 60 (FIG. 3) which powers sound producing device 12. Lead 50 has one end 62 connected to the fixed contact 38 which is mounted in base 13 and a second end 64 connected to the other side of battery means 60, through suitable leads and a motor to be hereinafter described.

the figure The second simulated handset 36 connects a figure sound producing device 12 operates only when handset 36 is connected to figure toy 62. This is accomplished by mounting plunger 42 on handset 36 in such a position that plunger 42 is depressed to close switch 34 when handset 36 is secured in hand 64 by engaging a protuberance 66 on hand set 36 in a cavity 68 in hand 64 (FIG. 2).

Plunger 43 for switch 32 is mounted on base 13 between a pair of

handset cradles

70, 72 in a position such that handset 26 will depress plunger 43 and open switch 32 when handset 26 is in position on

cradles

70, 72. Then, assuming that handset 36 is in position in hand 64 with switch 30 closed, sound producing device 12 will be energized as soon as handset 26 is removed from

cradles

70, 72. The toy telephone device 14 is equipped with a rotatable'dial 74 simulating a regular telephone dial. A child-user 28 may dial a number on dial 74 and then lift handset 26 whereupon sound producing device 12 will be energized.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, sound producing device 12 is shown herein for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, as comprising an electrically operated toy phonograph. The phonograph 12 includes a housing 76 including a front housing half 78 and a rear housing half 80. Front housing half 78 is provided with an annular shoulder 82 in which a speaker grille 84 and a speaker cone 86 are mounted. A vibrationtransmitting member 88 is operatively connected to speaker cone 86 and is biased into engagement with a crossbar 90 on a tone arm 92 by a compression spring 94.

The tone arm 92 includes a first end 96 which is pivotally connected to a fixed pin 98 affixed to rear housing half 80 and a free end 100 which carries a phonograph needle 102 and the crossbar 90. Free end 100 is provided with an extension 104 which carries a depending pin 106 extending into operative engagement wit a snail-type, tone arm reset or return mechanism 108 loosely resting on a rubber pad 110 carried by a central hub 112 forming an integral part of a turntable 1 l4.

Turntable 114 includes an integral spindle 116 having a first end 118 journaled in the front housing half 80 and second end 120 journaled in the front housing half 78. A belt 122 connects turntable 114 to an electric motor 124 through a suitable governor means 126 which controls the angular velocity of turntable 114 in such a manner that a phonograph record 128 carried thereby will uniformly transmit suitable vibrations to needle 102. Needle 102 tracks record 128 with depending pin 106 following a radial rib 130 on return mechanism 108 until needle 102 drops off the inner edge 132 of record 128. Extension 104 will then engage mechanism 108 to support tone arm 92 and a switchengaging finger 134, carried by tone arm 92, will engage an electrical contact 136 moving it away from a fixed contact. 138 for opening an electrical circuit to motor 124 so that turntable 114 stops. When motor 124 is agsin energized, by closing switches 32, 34, reset meachanism 108 will rotate with record 128 because of the weight of tone arm 92. Rotation of mechanism 108 returns tone arm 92 to its FIG. 3 position at the beginning-of-play of the information recorded on record 128. A tone arm stop 140 may be provided in rear housing half 80 for engagement by tone arm 92 to prevent it from being carried beyond the outer periphery 142 of record 128.

4 Fixed contact 138 is connected to motor 124 by

electrical leads

144 and 146, respectively. Moveable contact 136 is connected to motor 124 by

electrical leads

148 and 150.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, a telephone-talking figure toy simulatorconstituting a second embodiment of the present invention, generally designated 10A, includes a figure toy 62A having the sound producing device 12 of FIGS. 3 and 4 incorporated therein. A simulated telephone device 14A is shown in combination with figure toy 62A and includes a first simulated handset 26A which is connected to a second simulated handset 36A by a sound-transmitting tube 22A, through base 13A of telephone device 14A.

Controlling means 30A are associated with toy telephone device 14A for controlling the operation of sound producing device 12. These controlling means include a switch 32A, which is mounted in base 13A and an electrical plug 160, which is mounted on handset 36A. Switch 32A includes a fixed contact 38A and a moveable contact 40A which may be closed by a plunger 43A through section of the action spring 45A when handset 26A is removed from its cradles A, 72A. Fixed contact 38A is connected to one prong of plug by a lead 162 and moveable contact is connected to the other prong of plug 160 by a lead 164. Plug 160 is adapted to engage a socket 166 in the hand 64A of figure toy 62A and complete a circuit to sound producing device 12 through

leads

168, 170 which pass through an arm 172 on figure toy 62A into a parallel circuit (not shown) leading to motor 124 (FIG. 3) in sound producing device 12 from its

switch

136, 138.

Handset 36A is in sound communication with sound producing device 12 through a sound tube 174 having a first sound-collecting funnel 176 positioned adjacent the mouth 178 of figure toy 62A and a second soundcollecting funnel 16A connected to speaker grille 84 on sound producing device 12.

In use, child-user 28 may dial a number on a dial 74A of simulated toy telephone device 14A and then lift handset 26A. This permits spring 45A to move plunger 43A to a switch-closing position overriding

open switch

136, 138 in sound producing device 12. This energizes sound producing device 12 which plays one of the messages recorded on record 128 causing sound to be transmitted through speaker cone 84, funnel 16A, tube 174, funnel 176, handset 36A, tube 22A and handset 26A to the child-user 28. When the recorded message finishes playing, tone arm 92 (FIG. 3) will open

switch

136, 138. The child-user may then replace handset 26A on

cradles

70A, 72A to overcome spring 45A and move plunger 43A to a switch-opening position.

While the particular telephone-talking figure toy simulators herein shown and described in detail are fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that they are merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims, which form a part of this disclosure.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a figure toy, a simulated telephone system, comprising:

a sound producing device;

a toy telephone device;

the means associated with said toy telephone device for controlling th operation of said sound producing device; and I simulated telephone handset means connecting said figure toy'to said controlling means in such a manner that said sound producing device operates only when said handset means is connected to said figure toy.

2. The combination stated in claim 1, wherein:

a second simulated telephone handset connected to said toy telephone device for a user of said toy telephone device.

3. The combination stated in claim 2, including:

means connecting said second simulated telephone handset to said sound producing device for transmitting sounds therefrom to said user through said second simulated telephone handset.

4. In combination with a figure toy, a simulated telephone system, comprising:

a sound producing device;

- means for controlling the operation of said sound producing device;

toy telephone means including at least one base and first and second simulated handsets, said toy telephone means housing at least one of said sound producing device and said controlling means; and

I sound producing device is mounted in said figure toy.

6. The combination stated in claim 4 wherein said sound producing device is mounted in said at least one base.

7. The combination stated in claim 6 wherein said controlling means includes a first switch means mounted in said base and a second switch mounted in said one simulated handset and wherein said connect-, ing means includes a hand on said figure toy to which said one simulated handset is connected in such a manner that said second switch in actuated.

8. The combination stated in claim 5 wherein said sound producing device is an electrically-operated phonograph, wherein said connecting means includes an electric receptacle mounted on said figure toy in electrical communication with said phonograph and wherein said controlling means includes an electric switch mounted on said base in electrical communication with said electric plug.

9. A telephone-talking figure toy simulator comprismg:

a figure toy having a sound producing device incorporated therein;

switch means for energizing said sound producing de- 6 vice, said switch means including a first simulated telephone handset and a simulated telephone base;

a second simulated telephone handset;

sound conducting means connecting said simulated handsets together for conducting sound from said first simulated handset to said second simulated handset; and

means placing said first simulated handset in soundtransmitting communication with said sound producing device.

10. A telephone-talking figure toy simulator, comprising:

a figure toy having a hand, said hand-having means provided thereon for-connecting a simulated telephone handset thereto;

a simulated telephone including a base, a phonograph device mounted in said base and first and second simulated telephone handsets, one of said handsets being. provided with switch means for controlling the operation of said phonograph device and with connecting means coacting with said hand-connecting-means for connecting said one handset to said hand in such a manner that said switch is moved to a phonograph-energizing posimeans connecting said switch to said phonograph device; and

means placing the other handset in sound communication with said phonograph device.

II. In combination with a figure toy, a simulated telephone system, comprising:

a sound producing device mounted in said figure toy;

a toy telephone device; controlling means associated with said toy telephone device for controlling the operation of said sound producing device; means coupling said controlling means to said sound producing device; and means for actuating said controlling means to operate said sound producing device. 12. In combination with a figure toy, a simulated telephone system, comprising:

a sound producing device; a toy telephone device; controlling means associated with said toy telephone device for controlling the operation of said sound producing device; simulated telephone handset means coupled to said controlling means and adapted for connecting said figure toy to said controlling means;

means coupling said handset means to said figure toy;

and

means for actuating said controlling means to operate said sound producing device, said actuating means being rendered operable by said coupling means. k I

Claims

1. In combination with a figure toy, a simulated telephone system, comprising: a sound producing device; a toy telephone device; the means associated with said toy telephone device for controlling th operation of said sound producing device; and simulated telephone handset means connecting said figure toy to said controlling means in such a manner that said sound producing device operates only when said handset means is connected to said figure toy.

2. The combination stated in claim 1, wherein: a second simulated telephone handset connected to said toy telephone device for a user of said toy telephone device.

3. The combination stated in claim 2, including: means connecting said second simulated telephone handset to said sound producing device for transmitting sounds therefrom to said user through said second simulated telephone handset.

4. In combination with a figure toy, a simulated telephone system, comprising: a sound producing device; means for controlling the operation of said sound producing device; toy telephone means including at least one base and first and second simulated handsets, said toy telephone means housing at least one of said sound producing device and said controlling means; and means connecting said controlling means to said figure toy through one of said simulated handsets, said other simulated handset being connected to said base for use by a user of said telephone system, whereby a simulated conversation may be carried on with said figure toy.

5. The combination stated in claim 4 wherein said sound producing device is mounted in said figure toy.

7. The combination stated in claim 6 wherein said contrOlling means includes a first switch means mounted in said base and a second switch mounted in said one simulated handset and wherein said connecting means includes a hand on said figure toy to which said one simulated handset is connected in such a manner that said second switch in actuated.

9. A telephone-talking figure toy simulator comprising: a figure toy having a sound producing device incorporated therein; switch means for energizing said sound producing device, said switch means including a first simulated telephone handset and a simulated telephone base; a second simulated telephone handset; sound conducting means connecting said simulated handsets together for conducting sound from said first simulated handset to said second simulated handset; and means placing said first simulated handset in sound-transmitting communication with said sound producing device.

10. A telephone-talking figure toy simulator, comprising: a figure toy having a hand, said hand having means provided thereon for connecting a simulated telephone handset thereto; a simulated telephone including a base, a phonograph device mounted in said base and first and second simulated telephone handsets, one of said handsets being provided with switch means for controlling the operation of said phonograph device and with connecting means coacting with said hand-connecting-means for connecting said one handset to said hand in such a manner that said switch is moved to a phonograph-energizing position; means connecting said switch to said phonograph device; and means placing the other handset in sound communication with said phonograph device.

11. In combination with a figure toy, a simulated telephone system, comprising: a sound producing device mounted in said figure toy; a toy telephone device; controlling means associated with said toy telephone device for controlling the operation of said sound producing device; means coupling said controlling means to said sound producing device; and means for actuating said controlling means to operate said sound producing device.

12. In combination with a figure toy, a simulated telephone system, comprising: a sound producing device; a toy telephone device; controlling means associated with said toy telephone device for controlling the operation of said sound producing device; simulated telephone handset means coupled to said controlling means and adapted for connecting said figure toy to said controlling means; means coupling said handset means to said figure toy; and means for actuating said controlling means to operate said sound producing device, said actuating means being rendered operable by said coupling means.