Spring arming/disarming mechanism and jumping toy including the latter

Abstract

The mechanism comprises a part ( 116 ) sliding with respect to a base ( 102 ), locking means ( 144, 154 ) and control means adapted i) to store energy in elastic means ( 122 ) by contraction of the sliding part and ii) to release the energy by extending the sliding part by releasing of the locking means. The control means comprise an arm ( 130 ) articulated on the sliding part ( 116 ), a part ( 140 ) driven by a motor, with a cam surface ( 144 ) stressing a finger ( 134 ) integral with the arm, and a lock ( 150 ). In a first mode, the sliding part ( 116 ) is contracted via the arm ( 130 ) through the finger ( 134 ), then released after the reaching of a release area (C) of the cam surface, in the same rotation of the rotary part, whereas in a second mode, the sliding part ( 116 ) is contracted, then locked by the lock ( 150 ), then released after the reaching of a release are (D) formed by the cam surface, causing the unlocking by a reverse rotation of the rotary part.

1 . A mechanism for arming/disarming a sliding part, in particular for a jumping and/or shooting toy, comprising:
 a sliding part ( 116 ) mobile in translation with respect to a base ( 102 ) between extended and contracted positions;   releasable means ( 144 ,  154 ) for locking the sliding part with respect to the base;   elastic means ( 122 ) stressed between the base and the sliding part; and   control means adapted i) to progressively store potential energy in the elastic means ( 122 ) by displacement of the sliding part towards a contracted position under the action of motor means, and ii) to release the thus-stored energy, hence driving the sliding part towards the extended position under the effect of a releasing of the locking means said control means comprising:   an arm ( 130 ) articulated on the sliding part ( 116 ); and   a rotary part ( 140 ) rotationally mounted on the base ( 102 ), controlled by said motor means and having an inner cam surface ( 144 ) adapted to stress a finger ( 134 ) integral with the arm during the rotation of said part,   the control means being adapted to control the motor means:   i) in a first mode where the sliding part ( 116 ) is contracted via the cam surface ( 144 ) acting on the arm ( 130 ) through the finger ( 134 ), then abruptly released after the finger has reached a release area (C) formed by the cam surface, during the same rotational movement of the rotary part   this mechanism being characterized in that it further comprises:   a lock ( 150 ) adapted to cooperate with a locking arrangement ( 136 ) formed on the arm, and in that the control means are adapted to selectively control the motor means:   i) in said first mode, or   ii) to a second mode where the sliding part ( 116 ) is contracted via the cam surface ( 114 ) acting on the arm ( 130 ) through the finger ( 134 ), then locked by the lock ( 150 ) acting on the arm locking arrangement ( 136 ), then abruptly released after the finger has reached a release area (D) formed by the cam surface, causing the disengagement of the locking arrangement with respect to the lock during a reverse rotation of the rotary part.   
     
     
         2 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the cam surface ( 144 ) comprises a traction area ( 144   a ) adapted to progressively stress the finger ( 134 ) of the arm ( 130 ) towards the centre of rotation (O) of the rotary part, a first protruding release area (C) adjacent to said traction area, and a low profile area ( 144   c - 144   f ) adjacent to the first release area. 
     
     
         3 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the lock ( 150 ) comprises a catch ( 154 ) and the lock arrangement comprises a snug ( 136 ) integral with the arm between its point of articulation ( 132 ) on the sliding part and the finger ( 134 ), the cooperation between the snug and the catch depending on the angular position of the arm, and wherein the second release area (D) formed by the cam surface ( 144 ) is adapted to make the arm pivot to disengage the snug ( 136 ) from the catch ( 154 ). 
     
     
         4 . The mechanism of  claim 3 , wherein the first release area (C) of the cam surface ( 144 ) is adapted to make the arm ( 130 ) pivot so as, during the extension, to allow the snug ( 136 ) to go round the catch ( 154 ). 
     
     
         5 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , which further comprises a switch ( 160 ) operated by a movement of the lock ( 150 ) caused by the locking arrangement ( 136 ) in a contraction phase, and wherein the inversion of the direction of rotation of the rotary part ( 140 ) in the second mode is performed in response to the operation of the switch. 
     
     
         6 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding part ( 116 ) is mounted on the carriage through two parallel rods ( 118 ) received in respective cylinders ( 120 ), and wherein the rotation axis of the rotary part ( 140 ) and the pivot axis of the arm ( 130 ) are perpendicular to the plane containing the axes of the two rods. 
     
     
         7 . The mechanism of  claim 1  which further comprises a switch ( 160 ) operated by a movement of the lock ( 150 ) caused by the locking arrangement ( 136 ) in a contraction phase, and wherein the inversion of the direction of rotation of the rotary part ( 140 ) in the second mode is performed in response to the operation of the switch, wherein the sliding part ( 116 ) is mounted on the carriage through two parallel rods ( 118 ) received in respective cylinders ( 120 ), and wherein the rotation axis of the rotary part ( 140 ) and the pivot axis of the arm ( 130 ) are perpendicular to the plane containing the axes of the two rods, wherein the lock ( 150 ) is mobile in rotation about an axis perpendicular to the plane containing the axes of the two rods and is stressed by a spring acting against the force exerted by the locking arrangement ( 136 ) in a contraction phase. 
     
     
         8 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the release areas (C, D) are two distinct areas adjacent to each other on the cam surface ( 144 ). 
     
     
         9 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the motor means comprise a single brush electrical motor operating in direct current. 
     
     
         10 . A rolling and jumping toy ( 10 ) resting on the ground ( 42 ), including:
 a wheeled-carriage, comprising a carriage ( 12 ) and a pair of wheels ( 14 ) arranged on either side of the carriage, the wheels being mounted with respect to the carriage so as to rotate about a common axis (D) perpendicular to the main direction (A) of the carriage   a sliding part ( 16 ), mobile in guided translation along the carriage, between extended and contracted positions;   releasable means for locking the sliding part with respect to the carriage;   first motor means, adapted to exert on the wheels a rotation torque with respect to the carriage;   second motor means, adapted to displace the sliding part with respect to the carriage;   elastic means stressed between the carriage and the sliding part; and   elastic-means control means, adapted i) to progressively store potential energy in the spring member by displacement of the sliding part towards a contracted position under the action of the second motor means, and ii) to release the thus-stored energy, hence driving the sliding part towards the extended position under the effect of a releasing of the locking means,   
       the toy being characterized in that the control means comprise a mechanism comprising an arm ( 130 ) articulated on the sliding part ( 116 ) and a rotary part ( 140 ) rotationally mounted on the base ( 102 ), controlled by said motor means and having an inner cam surface ( 144 ) adapted to stress a finger ( 134 ) integral with the arm during the rotation of said part, the base ( 102 ) of said mechanism being integral with the carriage ( 12 ). 
     
     
         11 . The toy of  claim 10 , wherein the sliding part comprises a pad for the bearing of the toy on the ground in at least one stable position. 
     
     
         12 . The toy of  claim 11 , wherein, in said stable position, the control means are adapted to release the energy stored in the elastic means so as to cause a leap of the toy above the ground under the effect of the sliding part expansion ( 46 ), transmitted by the pad ( 116   a ). 
     
     
         13 . The toy of  claim 10 , which is capable of taking a shooting position ( 52 ,  60 ), where it rests in another stable position, the control means being adapted to release the energy stored in the elastic means ( 122 ) so as to throw away from the toy an object ( 56 ) in contact with a shooting part ( 34 ) integral with the sliding part. 
     
     
         14 . The toy of  claim 11 , wherein the control means are further adapted to selectively control the motor means in a third mode where the sliding part ( 116 ) is progressively contracted via the cam surface ( 144 ), without reaching a position of locking by the lock or a release area (C, D) of the cam surface, then progressively extended by reverse rotation, so as hence to progressively displace the pad ( 116   a ) closer to or further from the points ( 44 ) of contact of the wheels with the ground and hence to vary the angle of inclination (A) of the carriage ( 12 ) with respect to the surface of the ground ( 42 ).