Claims:
What I claim is
1. A self-propelling aquatic toy, for example in the form of a fish adapted to "swim" in water, comprising, in combination, a body portion, an articulated tail portion pivotally attached to said body portion, and drive means in said body portion for moving said tail portion and thereby propelling the toy in the water, wherein said tail portion includes a driven intermediate member pivotable with respect to said body portion about an axis parallel with one of the longitudinal center planes of said body portion, and a non-driven terminal member freely pivotable with respect to said intermediate tail member about another axis, substantially parallel to said first-named axis, and also comprising linkage means between said drive means and said intermediate tail member for directly imparting a swivelling movement to the latter, resulting in an indirectly imparted opposite movement of said terminal tail member.
2. The aquatic toy as defined in claim 1, wherein said drive means performs between about two to four revolutions per second, resulting in a corresponding number of swivelling movements of said tail portion.
3. The aquatic toy as defined in claim 1, further comprising an articulation between said body portion and said intermediate tail member, as well as between the latter and said terminal tail member.
4. The aquatic toy as defined in claim 1, further comprising a flexible zone connecting said body portion to said intermediate tail member, as well as the latter to said terminal tail member.
5. The aquatic toy as defined in claim 1, wherein said body portion consists of a substantially rigid, water-impermeable material, while said intermediate tail member is made of a soft material having a water-impermeable skin thereon.
6. The aquatic toy as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one fin extending from said body portion, adapted to stabilize the toy during its movement in the water.
7. The aquatic toy as defined in claim 6, wherein the plane of said at least one fin substantially coincides with that of said axes, parallel with the vertical longitudinal center plane of said body portion.
8. The aquatic toy as defined in claim 1, further comprising a frame member associated with said intermediate tail member, journaled to said body portion, and including an extension forming part of said linkage means and oscillated by said drive means.
9. The aquatic toy as defined in claim 8, wherein said linkage means includes a crank which engages a longitudinal slot provided in said extension, for reciprocating movement therealong, while said intermediate tail member is swivelled by way of said frame member.
10. The aquatic toy as defined in claim 8, wherein said frame member extends the full length of said intermediate tail member between said pivoting axes.
Description:
The invention relates to a self-propelling aquatic toy, for example in the form of a swimming fish, and mainly concerns its propulsion system.
It is one of the major objects of the invention to provide a self-propelling toy adapted to "swim" in water, characterized by life-like movements and fast propelling action.
According to the major features of the invention, the self-propelling aquatic toy comprises a body portion and a tail portion, the latter including a driven intermediate and a non-driven terminal member, respectively linked to one another about pivotal axes parallel with one of the horizontal and vertical, longitudinal center planes of the body portion. The intermediate portion is driven by means of an electric motor, by the intermediary of a linkage, the latter including, as a matter of example, a lever of extension having a slot therein, a crank rotated by the motor being slidable in the slot while the linkage is oscillated. The intermediate tail portion is directly swivelled by the drive means, preferably by the aid of a frame member extending throughout said portion, while the terminal portion is freely pivotable with respect to the intermediate portion, and will move in opposite directions, as a result of water resistance and the laws of hydrodynamics.
Either an articulation or a flexible zone may be provided between the body and the intermediate portion, on the one hand, and between the latter and the terminal portion, on the other. The body of the toy is preferably made from a substantially rigid, water-impermeable material, while the intermediate portion is of a soft, such as foamed material, with a similarly water-impermeable skin thereon.
At least one fin may be provided, such as on the belly of the toy, for stabilizing the same in the water. The plane of the fin, or fins, if there are more, is preferably parallel with the pivoting axes of the tail portions.
Other objects, features and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when considered with the accompanying drawings, wherein
FIGS. 1 and 2 are somewhat schematic perspective side views of an exemplary embodiment of the self-propelling aquatic toy according to the invention, in the form of a fish, with the tail thereof shown in respective extreme swivelled positions;
FIGS. 3 and 4 are top elevations of the toy, corresponding to the respective positions thereof as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and
FIG. 5 is a partly sectional side view showing the inner propelling mechanism of the aquatic toy according to FIGS. 1 to 4.
In its illustrated, preferred exemplary form the self-propelling aquatic toy has the form of a fish adapted to "swim" in water having a body portion 1 and a tail 2 designed to perform wriggling or tailing movements. The latter includes an intermediate link or member 3 and a terminal or end member 4. Intermediate member 3 is linked, on the one hand, with body 1 and, on the other hand, with end member 4 by respective pivot lines or axes 5 and 6, substantially parallel with the vertical or horizontal longitudinal center planes of body 1.
Either an articulation or a soft zone is provided between the respective members (body and intermediate member, and the latter and terminal member). The body itself preferably consists of a substantially rigid, water-impermeable material, while the intermediate member is of a soft material, preferably with a similarly water-impermeable skin thereon.
The fish body may be provided with a belly fin 7, or with more fins as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as well as 5, preferably made from metal, having a size and weight such that the aquatic toy sinks to about two-thirds of its height below the level of the water body in which it is immersed so that its swimming position is stabilized as necessary.
As can be seen from FIGS. 1 to 4, wriggling tail 2 can be swiveled between the extreme positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 as well as 2 and 4, respectively, corresponding to a considerable degree to the natural movements of living fish, which allows the forward movement of the aquatic toy.
As will be explained in connection with the propelling mechanism illustrated in FIG. 5, intermediate tail member 3 is moved with respect to body 1 from one side to the other, namely about pivot or axis 5, thereby impelling end member 4 to carry out a swinging or pivoting movement in the opposite direction, as a result of the resistance of the surrounding water, whereby the toy is propelled as necessary and performs a "swimming" action.
FIG. 5 illustrates the actual propelling mechanism inside the body of the toy, the body being constructed as was explained before. The mechanism inside body 1 includes an electric motor schematically shown at 8, rotating a crank 9 at an approximate speed of two to four revolutions per second, namely about four revolutions when out of water, depending on the condition of the driving battery or batteries, and normally about 2.5 revolutions when immersed in the water and propelling the toy.
Crank 9 engages a longitudinal slot 10 on the inner or free end of a lever member or extension 11. The latter is provided on a preferably metallic frame member 12 within intermediate tail member 3, rotatably or pivotally journaled in a simple bearing 13 on the adjoining end of fish body 1, in axis 5, but extending over the entire length of member 3, that is all the way to axis 6, as illustrated.
Motor 8 can be designed for 1.5 to 4.5 volts DC, fitted with customary small-size (sometimes called "penlight") batteries for toys and the like (omitted from FIG. 5 for the sake of clarity but self-explanatory for toys of this kind).
Intermediate tail member 3 preferably consists of very soft foam-rubber or foamed plastic material, the earlier-mentioned skin or cover being made of thin rubber and the like.
When motor 8 is energized, crank 9 rotates with the above-mentioned speed, thereby swinging metal frame 12 by the intermediary of lever 11, through engagement with and sliding action along slot 10 of the latter, about bearing 13. A back-and-forth oscillation or swinging movement results so that the driven intermediate member 3 performs a pendulum-like or wriggling movement, with the non-driven terminal member 4 swinging in the opposite direction. The fish-shaped toy will thus perform a life-like and fast forward "swimming" movement in a most convincing fashion. Should the fish "swim" against the wall of a tank, the oscillating movement of the tail members will soon get the toy free so that the self-propelling movement can continue in another direction.
It might be added that in its practical, exemplary form, the self-propelling aquatic toy has a specific weight of about 0.7. Two-thirds of the fish body are normally under water. The positioning and safe propelling are ensured by the arrangement of all inner structural members in a symmetrical manner, including batteries and motor. Walls and other parts of the toy are kept uniform so as not to impair the required balance. The fin or fins are adapted to enhance stability.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates only to a preferred embodiment of the inventive toy and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example described which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.