Amusement devices: toys – Foldable – collapsible – or having pivoted portion
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-24
2002-06-11
Ricci, John A. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Foldable, collapsible, or having pivoted portion
C446S486000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06402584
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is a powered amusement device, which, in the preferred mode, consists of a plastic, heart-shaped apparatus. Arms extend from a gearbox within the power means affixed to the back of the device. The arms are rigidly attached to the left side and the right side of the heart, and the sides are hingedly linked at the center of the heart. Engagement of the power means causes the two sides to swing backward and forward along the vertical plane, resulting in a “flapping” effect. In the preferred mode, the device operates with the aid of a miniature wind-up motor. In an alternate mode, a pull-cord may be utilized to power the device. Accordingly, the present invention can be used as an amusement device in the form of a pin, a magnet, or a table top novelty item.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many relevant innovations amusement devices are provided in the prior art, described as follows. Although these inventions are suitable for the purposes they address, they differ from the present invention as contrasted herein. Following is a summary of patents most relevant to the invention at hand, including description of differences between features of the invention and those of the prior art.
1. U.S. Pat. No. 4,737,131, invented by Sirota entitled “Toy”
The patent to Sirota describes a toy, in which an image of an expanding and contracting heart is produced by a separate generator, or in response to sensing a pulse beat of a child by a sensor or in response to sensing at least one parameter of environment by environment sensors
2. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 374,194, invented by Brocchi, entitled “Heart Shaped Pendant”
The design patent to Brocchi is an ornamental design for a heart-shaped pendant, as shown herein.
3. U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,748; invented by Van Ruymbeke, entitled “Flying Toy”
The patent to Van Ruymbeke describes a flying toy which can move through the air by flapping its wings and consists of a body having at least one opening, at least one flexible wing connected to the body which can flap to move the flying toy through the air, and an elastic band for storing power for flapping the at least one flexible wing. The toy also includes an activation assembly connected to the elastic band for activating the flapping of the at least one flexible wing by the elastic band. The at least one oscillating wing base is secured to the at least one flexible wing through the at least one opening. The toy also includes a wind-up assembly for winding the elastic band and a latching assembly for neutralizing the activation assembly before the flying toy is released to fly. The latching assembly is constructed and arranged such that activation of the flying toy to cause flight can be accomplished using only one hand.
4. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 268,400, invented by Wagman, entitled “Rotating Heart Shaped Plaque”
The design patent to Wagman is an ornamental design for a rotating heart-shaped plaque, shown herein.
5. U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,833, invented by Harra et al., entitled “Sputtering Apparatus Having A Rotating Magnet Array And Fixed Electromagnets”
In the patent to Harra et al., a magnetron sputter apparatus is disclosed which includes a rotatable generally heart-shaped, closed-loop magnet array behind the target and in front of a pair of separately driven stationary electromagnets. The apparatus is optimized to produce a sputtered film on a planar substrate having desired film characteristics such as uniformity of thickness, good step coverage, and good via filling and efficient utilization of the target. The shape of the generally heart-shaped array includes a flattened tip forming an arc of a circle centered on the axis of rotation and concave cusps in the lobes of the heart-shape. The electromagnets are used to increase target utilization at its center and to compensate for the change in shape of the target and distance from the target to the substrate with depletion.
6. U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,101, invented Hartman, entitled “Spinning Toy”
The patent to Hartman describes an improved spinning toy comprised of a primary flywheel affixed near one end of a shaft penetrating the central axis, a symmetrical handle having a specific size, shape, and relational location rotatably connected about the shaft penetrating it; a smaller secondary flywheel near the lower end of the handle through which the shaft penetrates, two end caps having conical terminations, flat surfaces on the sides of the handle, a tangential line of the handle having the lower end tip in the line, and a hole in the handle through which a string passes.
7. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 5,310,375, invented by Kanauchi, entitled “Small Decoration Equipped With Spring-Operated Movable Decorative Element”
The patent to Kanauchi describes a small decoration capable of exhibiting play characteristics sufficient to provide a key ring with unexpectedness. The small decoration includes a container provided with a key ring mounting section. In the container is arranged a spring drive unit including a drive mechanism which includes a plurality of gears driven by a spiral spring. The drive mechanism also includes two gear shafts arranged so as to vertically project from the spring drive unit. One of the gear shafts is mounted with a decorative element such as a doll and the other gear shaft is mounted with a spring winding-up clement. The spring winding-up element is adapted to wind up the spiral spring in association with closing of a lid member pivotally connected to the container and be returned to the original state while unwinding the spiral spring to actuate the decorative element when the lid member is open.
8. U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,090, invented by Halford et al. entitled “Toy Vehicle Having Pivoting Pincers”
The patent to Halford describes a toy vehicle which includes a body supporting a pair of rear wheels and a pivotally secured lower jaw portion supporting a pair of front wheels. The vehicle further includes a pair of pivotally secured pincers movable between a rearward or closed position and a forwardly extending or open position. Each pincer is coupled to a gear portion which in turn is coupled to one side of a two-sided gear rack movable within the vehicle body in response to a pivoting actuator. As the actuator is pivoted, the gear rack is driven forwardly or rearwardly to cause pivotal motion of the pincers. A resilient body is secured to the vehicle body and includes a plurality of flexible tubular tentacles which extend from the resilient body and are coupled to each of the pincers. As a result, the toy is configured in a standard appearance closed position or a monster-like configuration as the actuator is moved between alternative positions.
9. U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,936, invented by Ferguson, entitled “Ornamental Article With Internal Display Bracket”
The Ferguson invention relates to a decorative ornamental object suitable for use as a Christmas ornament. Valentine heart, Easter egg or other holiday or occasion-related article. The ornamental object comprises a hollow housing having an aperture for viewing the inside of the housing. The present invention provides for mounting a picture, personalized message, and other two- and three-dimensional elements inside the housing which may be viewed through the viewing aperture. These display elements may be easily placed in or removed from the ornamental object. In addition, the ornamental object may be used as a gift container.
10. U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,510, invented by Tirio-Cloonan, entitled “Pendent Having Compact And Decorative Scent Receptacle”
The patent to Tirio-Cloonan describes a pendent, having a generally heart-shaped housing with an interior cavity formed therein and an internal heart-shaped aperture at its center. A planar support base is formed at the lower portion of the heart-shaped housing while an upwardly extending cylindrical neck portion is formed in the upper portion of the heart-shaped housing. A cap includes a cylindrical stopper receivable within the housing neck to provide closure of the interior cavity the
Rada, II Alex F. R. P.
Ricci John A.
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