Amusement devices: toys – Simulated clothes or fabric working or cleaning
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-12
2001-08-21
Rimell, Sam (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Simulated clothes or fabric working or cleaning
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276986
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a toy knitting machine, and in particular to a toy knitting machine of the type that is operable by manually rotating a portion of the toy knitting machine to actuate a knitting mechanism within the machine for creating a knitted strand.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Toy knitting machines have been previously designed. One known machine is produced by Tomy Company Ltd. of Japan. This machine utilizes a hand operated crank to rotate a knitting mechanism that is mounted within a housing to create a knitted product. The entire knitting mechanism is separate from the housing thereby requiring that the knitting mechanism be assembled into the housing in a relatively complicated assembly process requiring a relatively large number of assembly steps. Another known knitting machine is produced by the Bandai Company of Japan. The Bandai machine includes a knitting mechanism that is assembled into a housing, with a portion of the housing being rotatable to actuate the knitting mechanism. Like the Tomy machine, the entire knitting mechanism of the Bandai machine must be assembled into the housing in a complicated assembly process.
The knitting mechanisms in the Tomy and Bandai machines are each separate from the machine housings and the components of the knitting mechanisms must be assembled into the housings. In the case of the Tomy machine, the majority of the knitting mechanism is first assembled into a subassembly which must then be positioned into the housing. However, upon positioning within the housing, the subassembly can potentially be located incorrectly, resulting in an incorrect assembly of the machine. The construction of the Bandai machine requires that each individual component of the knitting mechanism must be assembled into the housing, which can result in an incorrect assembly if the components are not positioned correctly within the housing.
Furthermore, the housings of the Tomy and Bandai machines each include a lower housing portion that encloses substantially the entire knitting mechanism and a transparent upper housing portion that is detachably fitted onto the lower housing portion to enable viewing of the knitting mechanism during operation. The upper housing portion, when fitted to the lower housing portion, serves to trap and guide the yarn during knitting. Since the upper housing portion is detachable, it can easily become lost or misplaced, meaning that it can no longer trap and guide the yarn, thereby rendering the machine useless.
What is needed is an improved toy knitting machine that resolves these and other deficiencies of conventional toy knitting machines, as well as providing many added benefits and features not found in conventional toy knitting machines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides an improved toy knitting machine, particularly a toy knitting machine of the type that is operable by manually rotating a portion of the toy knitting machine to actuate a knitting mechanism within the machine. The toy knitting machine is designed to make assembly easier and more efficient by reducing the number of assembly steps and preventing incorrect assembly of the machine. In addition, the components of the knitting machine are optimally positioned upon assembly to produce an improved knitted product. Furthermore, the toy knitting machine is designed to prevent inadvertent loss of the upper housing portion.
In one embodiment in accordance with the principles of the invention, a toy knitting machine is provided which includes a lower housing and an upper housing pivotally connected to the lower housing which contains a knitting mechanism positioned therein. The upper housing is pivotable relative to the lower housing between a first position at which the upper housing substantially covers the knitting mechanism preventing access thereto, and a second position at which the upper housing does not cover the knitting mechanism thereby permitting access to the knitting mechanism. By pivotally connecting the upper housing to the lower housing, misplacement and loss of the upper housing is prevented.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a toy knitting machine is provided which includes a lower housing having a knitting mechanism positioned therein. The knitting mechanism including a plurality of knitting stitches and a knitting stitch guide track is engaged with the knitting stitches for actuating the knitting stitches. The knitting stitch guide track includes a lower guide track portion and an upper guide track portion, with the lower guide track portion being a one piece construction with the lower housing. In addition, an upper housing is engageable with the lower housing, where the knitting stitches are covered by the upper housing when the upper housing is engaged with the lower housing.
Since the lower guide track portion is a one-piece construction with the lower housing, assembly of the machine is facilitated since the position of the lower guide track relative to the lower housing is prefixed and the positioning of other elements, such as the upper guide track portion, can then be reliably and easily performed based upon the pre-positioning of the lower guide track. Furthermore, accurate positioning of the guide track within the lower housing is reliably obtained as the integral lower guide track portion determines the position of the entire guide track.
A variety of additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.
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1998 Tomy toy; pictures and brochure.
1996 Bandai toy photographs.
Acekey Limited
Merchant & Gould P.C.
Rimell Sam
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