Light Projecting Toy Musical Box

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to infant toys, and more specifically, to a light projecting toy musical box in which light is projected through a rotating body whose movement is synchronized with the musical sound created by an acoustic mechanism.

2. Description of the Related Art

Musical boxes having acoustic mechanisms therein are generally well known. For infants, toy musical boxes provide a soothing sound, but have heretofore provided no visual sensation.

While it is likewise generally known to construct a toy musical box with a movable member, such as a doll, capable of synchronized movement with the sound of a musical box, no one has heretofore provided a musical box in which sound is synchronized with a lighting device.

An object of the present invention is to provide a light projecting toy musical box which is relatively simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a light projecting toy musical box which simultaneously provides visual and audio stimulation for infants.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a light projecting toy musical box in which movement of a light pattern is synchronized with sound generated by an acoustic mechanism.

In one embodiment of the invention, a light projecting toy musical box includes a base, a dome movably mounted on the base and being substantially translucent with a pattern formed thereon which is at least partially opaque, a lamp, disposed within the base, which cooperates with the dome to create a light pattern, an acoustic mechanism, disposed within the base, for generating musical sound, and drive means, disposed within the base, for simultaneously moving the dome and actuating the acoustic mechanism so that movement of the dome is synchronized with the musical sound.

Preferably, the lamp is switched on automatically by the drive means. The dome is preferably semi-spherically shaped with an annular flange at a base thereof which is rotatably mounted in an annular groove provided on a top portion of the base.

These objects, together with other objects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation of the light emitting toy musical box as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the light projecting toy musical box according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the light projecting toy musical box of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view showing the drive mechanism used in the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the dome and a portion of the base removed;

FIG. 4 is a top view showing a power spring stop mechanism used in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial, sectional view showing an enlarged portion of the dome; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the drive mechanism used in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a base 1 is generally circular in shape and is made of an upper shell member 2 and a lower shell member 3 which are joined together by any suitable means, such as threaded fasteners. A dome 5 is generally semispherically shaped and is rotatably mounted on top of the base 1 by means of an annular flange 5a formed at the base of the dome 5. The annular flange 5a extends radially outwardly and is received in an annular groove or space provided in an upper portion of the base 1. The annular groove or space may be formed by an inner peripheral surface of the upper shell 2 member and the distal end surfaces of ribs 29 upstanding from an inner surface of the lower shell member 3, or some other structure associated with the lower shell. The flange 5a fits loosely in the groove and rests on top of the supporting structure associated with the lower shell member 3, such as the ribs 29.

The dome 5 has a pattern formed thereon which is at least partially opaque. For example, the translucent dome 5 may be coated on an inner surface thereof with a slightly opaque or semi-transparent milky paint 5b. At suitable locations of the coating 5b, transparent areas or patterns 6 are formed. Various colored paints which are translucent may be applied to the transparent patterns 6. In addition, patterns 5c may be painted on the coating 5b. These painted patterns 5c will appear on the surface of the dome 5 only when the lamp under the dome is lighted. In another example of forming a pattern on the dome 5, the translucent dome is painted with semi-transparent paint in a geometric pattern, such as alternating squares, wherein every other square is painted.

Regardless of the desired pattern formed on the dome, the effect is to create a light pattern on the dome which may be projected onto adjacent walls or the ceiling of a room. The toy may also serve as a room lamp since the lamp within the base causes the dome to brightly shine. A light pattern may be formed on the dome 5 and simultaneously projected onto adjacent walls.

Referring to FIG. 3, the lower shell member 3 of the base 1 supports an acoustic mechanism 7, i.e., a musical box, which is driven by a power spring driving mechanism. A power spring 16 is wound on the lower portion of a power spring winding shaft 15, which serves as a power output shaft for delivering torque to the acoustic mechanism 7. A rotation plate 13 is provided on the power spring winding shaft 15 and forms part of a Geneva stop mechanism (to be described later). A crown gear 12 is provided on an upper portion of the shaft 15 above the rotation plate 13.

A knob 4 is provided on a circumferential surface of the base 1 and is used for winding the power spring 16. The knob 4 is connected to and rotatable with a rotatable shaft 8a which has opposite ends. One opposite end extends through a sidewall of the base 1 and receives the knob 4. A cylindrical member 8 is integrally formed with a gear 9 and is connected to the rotatable shaft 8a so as to rotate therewith. A pinion gear 11 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 8a and is spring biased into contact with the cylindrical member 8 by means of a push spring wound around the shaft 8a. The contact surface between the cylindrical member 8 and the pinion 11 includes engaging teeth which act as a uni-directional clutch so that the power spring 16 can be wound by turning the knob 4 in one direction, but cannot be unwound by turning the knob 4 in the opposite direction. The pinion gear 11 meshes with the crown gear 12 so that rotation of the pinion gear 11, imparted by rotation of the knob 4, is delivered to the power spring 16 through the crown gear 12.

Referring to FIG. 4, a projection 14 is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the rotatable plate 13. A wheel 19 having alternating cut-away portions 21 and projections 20 is rotatably supported on a bearing member 25 upstanding from the bottom of the lower shell 3. Basically, the rotatable plate 13 and the wheel 19 constitute the Geneva stop mechanism, in which the projection 14 formed on the rotatable plate 13 is receivable between two adjacent projections 20 of the wheel 19. Each time the rotatable plate 13 is rotated once, the projection 14 is fitted into a cut-away portion 21 so that the wheel 19 is intermittently rotated. The wheel 19 further includes a projection 22 which is longer than the remaining projections 20. When the rotatable plate 13 rotates a given number of times, the projection 22 will engage the outer peripheral surface of the rotatable plate 13 so as to act as a stopper for stopping rotation of the rotatable plate 13.

Referring to FIG. 3, a cam plate 23 is fitted on the shaft which supports the wheel 19. A cut-away portion 24 of the cam plate 23 provides a cam surface which moves a conductive contact member 26 into electrical contact when the cam plate 23 is rotated. The contact member 26 is connected to the bottom of the outer shell 3. A bent portion formed in the middle of the contact member 26 is movable into and out of the cut-away portion 24 of the cam plate 23. The distal end portion of the contact member 26 is movable into electrical contact with an electrical contact member 27 which is in contact with one of the terminals of lamp 28. The longer projection 22 of the wheel 19 engages the outer peripheral surface of the rotatable plate 13, thereby stopping the rotation of the rotatable plate 13. When the acoustic mechanism 7 is stopped, the cut-away portion 24 of the cam plate 23 receives the bent portion of the conductive contact member 26, at which point the distal end portion of the conductive contact member 26 is spaced from the conductive contact piece 27. Thus, the lamp 28 is turned off at or about the same time the music stops. When the power spring 16 is wound by turning the knob 4, the wheel 19 and the cam plate 23 are rotated and the bent portion of the conductive contact member 26 is disengaged from the cut-away portion 24 of the cam plate 23 and engages the outer peripheral surface of the cam plate 23. Thus, the conductive contact member 26 flexes outwardly until the tip comes into contact with the conductive contact member 27 and the lamp 28 is thereby turned on.

The gear 9 formed on the cylindrical member 8 meshes with a gear 17 which is fitted on and rotatable with a support shaft 17a. A friction wheel 18 has an outer peripheral surface which is made of an elastomeric or rubber material and is fitted on the same shaft 17a as the gear 17. The rubber material is preferable because of its high frictional coefficient. Similar materials may be used.

Referring to FIG. 6, the friction wheel 18 is positioned to have the outer friction surface be in contact with a lower surface of he flange 5a of the dome 5. A plate spring 2a may be mounted on the upper shell member 2 so as to urge the upper surface of the flange 5a downwardly to press the flange against the friction wheel 18 to ensure traction. Accordingly, the dome 5 is rotated while the acoustic mechanism is operating under the driving force imparted by the spring 16. Thus, the means for actuating the acoustic mechanism, which includes elements 4, 8, 8a, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16, also drives the dome for rotational movement. The movement of the dome is coordinated or synchronized with musical sound generated by the acoustic mechanism.

The painted patterns 5c appear on the surface of the dome, while the transparent pattern 6 are projected onto a ceiling or wall by means of light which passes through the patterns 6.

The lamp 28 is preferably powered by a battery cell 30 or a plurality of such battery cells.

The electrical contact members 26 and 27 provide a switch for the lamp 28 which is actuated automatically by winding the spring 16 with the knob 4, since the rotatable plate 13 rotates the wheel 23 when the spring 16 is wound.

Modifications of the switch include one in which the rotation plate and the crown gear are integrally formed as one member with a projection similar to projection formed thereon. In this embodiment, the wheel and the cam plate are integrally formed such that a cam surface is formed on a lower portion of the wheel. With the projection extending into the cut-away portions as in the previously described embodiment, a flat contact member is disposed between and beneath the crown gear and wheel such that rotation of the wheel cams the flat contact downwardly into electrical contact with a corresponding contact associated with the lamp. The principle of this alternative switch is the same as the one previously described, in that rotation of the wheel 19 (or cam plate 23) imparts movement of an electrical contact into a switched-on position so that the lamp 28 is illuminated during rotation of the dome 5 and during actuation of the acoustic mechanism. Thus, the acoustic mechanism produces musical sound simultaneously with illumination of the lamp and rotation of the dome.

The many features and advantages of the present invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the light projecting toy musical box which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art based upon the disclosure herein, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope and the spirit of the invention.