Toy figure with gyroscopic element

Abstract

A toy having an internal gyroscopic element is disclosed, including ways of using the toy. A toy having a gyroscopic element is intended to provide an entertaining play experience by providing resistance to movement of the toy when it is used in, for example, a role playing situation. Movement of the gyroscopic element may manually be initiated by a person playing with the toy, and the duration and degree of movement of the gyroscopic element may be limited by natural forces.

1 . A toy figure comprising: 
 a housing, wherein the housing defines an outer surface and an inner space; and    a rotor supported for rotation within the inner space of the housing; and    a manually operable accelerating device drivingly coupled to the rotor.    
   
   
       2 . The toy figure of  claim 1 , wherein the housing embodies a humanoid figure.  
   
   
       3 . The toy figure of  claim 1 , wherein the manually operated accelerating device is capable of movement in a first and a second direction.  
   
   
       4 . The toy figure of  claim 3 , further comprising a spring in operative communication with the accelerating device, the spring applying a countering force on the accelerating device when the accelerating device is moved in a first direction.  
   
   
       5 . The toy figure of  claim 4  wherein the accelerating device comprises a pull cord.  
   
   
       6 . The toy figure of  claim 1 , further comprising a gear assembly comprising a plurality of intermeshed gears, the gear assembly transferring rotational force to the rotor in response to manual manipulation of the gear assembly.  
   
   
       7 . The toy figure of  claim 6 , wherein the gear assembly is configured intermittently to be drivingly coupled to the rotor.  
   
   
       8 . The toy figure of  claim 6  wherein at least one of the plurality of gears includes a site for direct interaction with the accelerating device.  
   
   
       9 . The toy figure of  claim 8  wherein the gear assembly comprises at least three gears drivingly coupling the accelerating device to the rotor.  
   
   
       10 . The toy figure of  claim 9  wherein the gear assembly includes three gears.  
   
   
       11 . The toy figure of  claim 10 , wherein the gear assembly includes a powered gear rotatingly driven by the acceleration device, a drive gear adapted to rotate the rotor when rotated, and a transfer gear drivingly coupling the powered gear and the drive gear.  
   
   
       12 . The toy figure of  claim 11  wherein the rotor includes an integral pinion gear configured to engage the drive gear.  
   
   
       13 . The toy figure of  claim 1 , further comprising a gear assembly coupling the acceleration device to the rotor, where the gear assembly comprises a plurality of gears and a clutch means for reversible engagement of the rotor.  
   
   
       14 . The toy figure of  claim 13 , wherein the pull cord device initiates rotation of the plurality of gears and further wherein the gear assembly mechanically engages the rotor.  
   
   
       15 . The toy figure of  claim 14  wherein the gear assembly includes at least three gears.  
   
   
       16 . The toy figure of  claim 14  wherein the mechanical interaction is a gear-to-gear interaction.  
   
   
       17 . The toy figure of  claim 16 , further comprising an axle supporting the rotor for rotation and a pinion gear mounted on the axle and further wherein the axle is coaxial with an axis of rotation of the rotor.  
   
   
       18 . The toy figure of  claim 13  wherein the rotor comprises a plurality of rotor disks adapted to co-rotate.  
   
   
       19 . A toy figure, comprising: 
 a housing, wherein the housing defines an outer surface and an inner space; and    a rotor supported for rotation within the inner space of the housing; and    a manually operable accelerating device drivingly coupled to the rotor; and    clutch means for drivingly coupling the manually operable accelerating device to the rotor.    
   
   
       20 . A toy figure, comprising: 
 a housing having a substantially humanoid form; and    a gyroscopic element supported within an inner space of the housing, the gyroscopic element comprising: 
 a rotor; and  
 a manually-activated acceleration device; and  
 a gear assembly including a plurality of gears drivingly coupling the acceleration device to the rotor, wherein manual activation of the acceleration device produces rotation of the rotor, and rotation of the rotor produces resistance to manual movement of the toy figure.