Patent · US Expired

Equine-shaped toy figure

US5672090A · kind A · utility

82Cited by
12References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 22, 1995
Grant dateSep 30, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 22, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA63H3/006
  • WIPO fieldFurniture, games
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A toy includes an equine-shaped hollow figure with hooves that are transparent or translucent. A light-emitting source is mounted inside each of the figure's legs so as to internally illuminate the hoof when the light-emitting source is illuminated. A battery power source is located within the hollow figure with a wiring circuit within the figure that electrically connects the battery power source and the light-emitting source. A motion switch is interposed in the wiring circuit between the battery power source and the light-emitting source and oriented to effect opening and closing of the switch as the figure is rocked in forward and rearward directions. One motion switch embodiment includes a rolling ball and is oriented in the hollow figure such that the rolling ball has a travel direction within the switch generally parallel to a front-to-rear longitudinal axis of the hollow figure. The rolling ball switch is equipped with multiple circuit-closing contacts and is configured to simultaneously illuminate all hooves or one pair of hooves separately from the other pair. Another motion switch includes a conductive post and surrounding coil spring.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.