Decorative nursery accessory
United States Patent 3927482
A combined decorative nursery accessory incorporating a motor driving a music box and a flexible shaft supporting a mobile illuminated by a soft night light.
US Patent References:
Advertising apparatus
Parris - June 1931 - 1811818
Christmas tree appendage
Nielsen - September 1937 - 2092520
Airplane toy
Moeller - June 1949 - 2474750
Three dimensional marine picture
Zanten - February 1968 - 3370366
ADVERTISING DISPLAY
Paquette - November 1969 - 3477157
Advertising apparatus
Parris - June 1931 - 1811818
Christmas tree appendage
Nielsen - September 1937 - 2092520
Airplane toy
Moeller - June 1949 - 2474750
Three dimensional marine picture
Zanten - February 1968 - 3370366
ADVERTISING DISPLAY
Paquette - November 1969 - 3477157
Application Number:
05/484686
Publication Date:
12/23/1975
Filing Date:
07/01/1974
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
The Dolly Toy Company (Tipp City, OH)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
D11/141, 40/617, 446/227, D11/158, 446/485
International Classes:
A61M21/00; A63H33/00; G09F11/00
Field of Search:
40/28R,28.1,28.2,33,34,40,68,71,77,106,3,126B,128,13R,132R,104.02 46/47,52 240/1R,10.1 273/31
US Patent References:
| 3803735 | ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM | April 1974 | Stubbmann |
Primary Examiner:
Michell, Robert W.
Assistant Examiner:
Hum, Vance Y.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Biebel, French & Bugg
Claims:
What is claimed is
1. A decorative nursery accessory comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on a wall, a motor on said housing, a music box in said housing driven by said motor via a drive shaft, a flexible shaft coupled to said drive shaft and driven by said motor, a guide for said shaft directing the free end thereof in a downward direction, a multiple unit mobile having a plurality of individual figures attached to the free end of said shaft and adapted to rotate adjacent the lower part of said housing in a horizontal plane, a translucent window in the lower part of said housing, and means on said housing for illuminating through said window less than all of said plurality of individual figures to cause said individual figures to be successively illuminated as said mobile is rotated.
2. A device as defined in claim 1 in which control means is provided for actuating said motor and said light source separately or jointly.
1. A decorative nursery accessory comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on a wall, a motor on said housing, a music box in said housing driven by said motor via a drive shaft, a flexible shaft coupled to said drive shaft and driven by said motor, a guide for said shaft directing the free end thereof in a downward direction, a multiple unit mobile having a plurality of individual figures attached to the free end of said shaft and adapted to rotate adjacent the lower part of said housing in a horizontal plane, a translucent window in the lower part of said housing, and means on said housing for illuminating through said window less than all of said plurality of individual figures to cause said individual figures to be successively illuminated as said mobile is rotated.
2. A device as defined in claim 1 in which control means is provided for actuating said motor and said light source separately or jointly.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to have a motor driving a child's music box and a nightlight with a control to dim the light while the music box continues to play for a predetermined time before shutting itself off. A child's mobile carrying a number of fanciful figures is also known.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a common motor for driving a music box and for rotating a suspended mobile by means of a flexible shaft drive, together with a soft night light arranged so that the light is projected into the path of the mobile to illuminate the figures thereof successively .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of the device mounted on a wall above a child's crib with the rear wall of the housing removed;
FIG. 2 is a perspective of the entire device;
FIG. 3 is a detail view showing how the translucent plate at the bottom of the housing is removable;
FIG. 4 is a vertical section through the housing on line 4--4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a section on line 5--5 of FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The invention comprises a housing 10 adapted to be mounted on the wall of a room or on a piece of furniture. Within the housing is an electric drive motor 12 with an output shaft 13 for operating music box 14 through a pair of bevel gears 15 and a driven shaft 16. The drive is such as to rotate the music box and the shaft slowly, such as at a rate of 4 r.p.m.
The driven shaft 16 extends through a guide bearing 17 to a coupler 18 outside the housing. A curved guide 20 formed of two matching sections of molded plastic having end flanges 21 for supporting the same from within the housing extends outwardly and generally downward as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Internally the guide 20 has a series of spaced webs 23 which serve as guides for a flexible shaft 25. One end of the shaft fits into the coupler 18 and hence is driven from the shaft 16. Adjacent its outer end the shaft carries a collar 26 which with the adjacent web 23 prevents the shaft from being pulled into the guide. The outer end of the shaft connects with an eye 27 which is accessible outside the guide for connection of a mobile thereto.
The mobile is shown at 30 comprising a hook receivable in eye 27 and a pair of crossed arms 31 from which there hangs a series of figures 33. These may comprise fanciful three-dimensional elements such as balloons, caricatures of animals, story book characters or the like.
A light source 35 is supported in the housing above a removable translucent plate 36, providing access when it is necessary to change the light bulb. This arrangement provides a soft light source which is directed downwardly and generally into the path traversed by the figures 33 of the mobile; that is, as the mobile rotates successive figures enter and leave the light path and they are successively illuminated as they rotate slowly beneath the light source. A 4-position control switch 40 is mounted on the housing and connected in the circuit as shown in FIG. 6 to provide an off position, a second position in which only the light is illuminated, a third position in which the motor alone is actuated to cause the playing of the music box and the rotation of the mobile, and a fourth position in which both the motor and the light are turned on.
Thus the invention provides a decorative nursery accessory for use as a child's bed lamp, creating an attractive and interesting appearance and at the same time inducing the child to fall asleep.
While the device herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise device, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.
It is known to have a motor driving a child's music box and a nightlight with a control to dim the light while the music box continues to play for a predetermined time before shutting itself off. A child's mobile carrying a number of fanciful figures is also known.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a common motor for driving a music box and for rotating a suspended mobile by means of a flexible shaft drive, together with a soft night light arranged so that the light is projected into the path of the mobile to illuminate the figures thereof successively .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of the device mounted on a wall above a child's crib with the rear wall of the housing removed;
FIG. 2 is a perspective of the entire device;
FIG. 3 is a detail view showing how the translucent plate at the bottom of the housing is removable;
FIG. 4 is a vertical section through the housing on line 4--4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a section on line 5--5 of FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The invention comprises a housing 10 adapted to be mounted on the wall of a room or on a piece of furniture. Within the housing is an electric drive motor 12 with an output shaft 13 for operating music box 14 through a pair of bevel gears 15 and a driven shaft 16. The drive is such as to rotate the music box and the shaft slowly, such as at a rate of 4 r.p.m.
The driven shaft 16 extends through a guide bearing 17 to a coupler 18 outside the housing. A curved guide 20 formed of two matching sections of molded plastic having end flanges 21 for supporting the same from within the housing extends outwardly and generally downward as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Internally the guide 20 has a series of spaced webs 23 which serve as guides for a flexible shaft 25. One end of the shaft fits into the coupler 18 and hence is driven from the shaft 16. Adjacent its outer end the shaft carries a collar 26 which with the adjacent web 23 prevents the shaft from being pulled into the guide. The outer end of the shaft connects with an eye 27 which is accessible outside the guide for connection of a mobile thereto.
The mobile is shown at 30 comprising a hook receivable in eye 27 and a pair of crossed arms 31 from which there hangs a series of figures 33. These may comprise fanciful three-dimensional elements such as balloons, caricatures of animals, story book characters or the like.
A light source 35 is supported in the housing above a removable translucent plate 36, providing access when it is necessary to change the light bulb. This arrangement provides a soft light source which is directed downwardly and generally into the path traversed by the figures 33 of the mobile; that is, as the mobile rotates successive figures enter and leave the light path and they are successively illuminated as they rotate slowly beneath the light source. A 4-position control switch 40 is mounted on the housing and connected in the circuit as shown in FIG. 6 to provide an off position, a second position in which only the light is illuminated, a third position in which the motor alone is actuated to cause the playing of the music box and the rotation of the mobile, and a fourth position in which both the motor and the light are turned on.
Thus the invention provides a decorative nursery accessory for use as a child's bed lamp, creating an attractive and interesting appearance and at the same time inducing the child to fall asleep.
While the device herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise device, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.