Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
  • G10F—AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
  • G10F1/00—Automatic musical instruments
  • G10F1/06—Musical boxes with plucked teeth, blades, or the like
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
  • A63H13/00—Toy figures with self-moving parts, with or without movement of the toy as a whole
  • A63H13/20—Toy roundabouts with moving figures; Toy models of fairs or the like, with moving figures
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
  • A63H33/00—Other toys
  • A63H33/22—Optical, colour, or shadow toys
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
  • A63H33/00—Other toys
  • A63H33/26—Magnetic or electric toys
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
  • A63H5/00—Musical or noise- producing devices for additional toy effects other than acoustical
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F19/00—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for
  • G09F19/02—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for incorporating moving display members
  • G09F19/08—Dolls, faces, or other representations of living forms with moving parts

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a music box with visual animation.
• the music box can be an object in itself, for example integrated in a cabinet box, or be integrated with another object, for example a clock, a snuffbox, etc..
• another object for example a clock, a snuffbox, etc.
• music box will be used even when this mechanism is integrated in an object.
• An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a music box provided with a visual animation different from known animations.
• Another object is to provide a music box provided with a visual animation depending on the musical air that is played.
• a music box comprising:
• a comb with a plurality of vibrating blades of different lengths so as to produce audible sounds of different frequencies when the vibrating blades are vibrated;
• a tray or cylinder provided with tips so as to alternately vibrate the different blades when the disk or cylinder is rotated;
• a visual animation device actuated by said blades.
• the advantage is to produce an animation depending on the position of the points on the disc or cylinder, and therefore dependent on the air played.
• the rhythm of the melody can for example determine the movement time of different parts of the animation device.
• the succession of notes played can for example determine which components of the animation device move according to which succession, which allows to view the notes played.
• the visual animation device may comprise several components independently actuated by different blades or tips.
• the visual animation device may comprise a plurality of projectiles arranged to be actuated by the blades so as to be projected upwards when these blades are vibrated.
• a projectile may be associated with each blade.
• the projectiles may be constituted by balls, for example balls.
• a retention element may be associated with each projectile so as to ensure that the projectile falls on a blade.
• the retention element may be constituted by a tube associated with each projectile to ensure that a projectile in the tube falls on the blade that projected it.
• the number of tubes may be equal to the number of blades.
• the tubes may be at least partially transparent to see the projectiles, at least during part of their trajectory when they are projected.
• the tubes can be flared upward, so as to minimize the risk of contact between the tube and the projectile up the trajectory, while ensuring that the projectile falls to the expected location.
• the tubes can be arranged in line.
• the tubes may be staggered in order to increase the diameter of each tube and each projectile in the tubes.
• Each tube can be arranged in a direction facing upwards.
• Each tube may comprise an opening for bringing the projectile into contact with a corresponding vibrating blade.
• Each tube may include a restraint to prevent the projectile from leaving the bottom of the tube when it falls.
• a rod can be used as a retention element associated with each projectile. This rod can be rotated and / or deformed during the displacement of the projectile.
• a flexible wire or a rigid rod can be used as a retention element associated with each projectile.
• the projectiles can be made for example of synthetic material, wise, metal, glass, etc.
• An intermediate blade can be associated with each vibrating blade to dampen the emitted sounds.
• the projectiles can fall on this damping blade to reduce the noise of the falling projectile.
• the projectiles can be made for example of precious stone, for example diamond, semiprecious stone, ceramic such as zirconium, cut glass, etc..
• the projectiles may be made of a softer material and / or lower density than the material of the blades of the comb.
• the projectiles can serve as a damper to dampen the vibrations of the blades after the projectile has fallen.
• Figure 1 illustrates an overview of a music box according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 2 illustrates an overview of a music box according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 3 illustrates an overview of a music box according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 4 illustrates an overview of a music box according to a third embodiment of the invention.
• FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a perspective view
• FIG. 6 illustrates an overview of a music box according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 7 illustrates an overview of a music box according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 8 illustrates an overview of a music box according to a seventh embodiment of the invention.
• FIGS. 9a to 9d illustrate how the blades of a comb are vibrated by the cylinder tips.
• FIG. 10 illustrates in side view a first example of tubes that can be used in the invention.
• FIG. 11 illustrates in top view a first example of tubes that can be used in the invention.
• Figure 12 illustrates in side view a second example of tubes that can be used in the invention.
• FIG. 13 illustrates a music box comprising a window for viewing the tubes.
• a music box is illustrated in side view in FIG. 1. It comprises a frame 1 on which a cylinder 2 is mounted.
• the cylinder 1 can be rotated by means of an unillustrated mechanism, for example with a crank, a barrel associated with a speed regulator, etc.
• the periphery of the cylinder 2 is provided with spikes 20 whose arrangement determines the piece played by the music box.
• These tips 20 can vibrate the blades 3 of a comb so as to produce musical notes.
• the illustrated view shows only one blade, it will be understood that the comb has a plurality of blades in a plane perpendicular to the page, the length of the blades being tuned to correspond to musical notes.
• the comb is fixed at the right height facing the cylinder 2 by means of a base 32 and screws 32. Until then, the music box is conventional.
• the cylinder could also be replaced by a tray equipped with points.
• the cylinder could be provided with several sets of tips and a
• the music box according to this embodiment of the invention further comprises a set of projectiles 5 intended to be projected upwards by the vibrations of the blades 3.
• the projectiles may be for example balls, including balls, light enough to be projected at a good height. Bales made of synthetic material, metal, glass, or any other material, may be used for this purpose. It is also possible to use non-spherical projectiles, for example cylindrical.
• the projectiles are constituted by stones, for example precious stones such as diamond, semi-precious stones, or synthetic or ceramic stones, for example zirconium.
• the stones can be cut and / or faceted to produce iridescent effects.
• This variant is particularly suitable for music boxes of relatively large size, capable of projecting stones to heights of a few centimeters or tens of centimeters. It can also be applied to embedded music boxes for example in a wristwatch, to move stones for a shorter distance, for example directly under the glass, parallel to the glass and the dial.
• a projectile may be associated with each vibrating blade. Each projectile may have a different color or appearance.
• the mass of the different projectiles may be different, for example so as to compensate for the differences in kinetic energy transmitted by the different blades of different lengths.
• the music box further comprises retention means for preventing the projectiles are lost by being projected in undesirable directions.
• the retention means consist of tubes 4, for example tubes
• a tube may be associated with each blade 3 and each projectile 5.
• the tubes may be fixed in a box not shown in this figure and which contains the mechanism. A portion of the tubes may protrude above the box.
• the tubes have an opening at their lower end, so as to allow the vibrating blades to hit the projectiles in the tubes when the blades vibrate under the action of the spikes 20.
• a restraint 50 for example an annular or annular ring retainer, prevents projectiles from leaving their tubes from below. Part of the projectile, however, comes out under the tube to be hit by the blade
• the upper end of the tubes can be closed to prevent the loss of projectiles when the box is returned or shaken, or open to avoid air compression in the upper part of the tube when the projectile rises.
• a retainer may also be provided in the upper part of the tube to prevent the projectiles from leaving the tubes, without completely obstructing the tubes.
• Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the music box according to the first embodiment. This perspective view shows in particular the different blades 3 of the comb 30, and the different tubes 1 1 aligned above the comb 30, with a tube above each blade.
• Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment similar to that of Figure 1, but wherein the projectiles 5 are suspended by flexible son 6 held for example on the cover of the music box.
• the flexible son 6 replace the tubes 1 1 as retention means to prevent the loss of projectiles, and deform when the projectile hanging is struck by the corresponding blade vibration.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a third embodiment in which each projectile 5 is pierced with a hole traversed by a rigid wire 7, for example a transparent wire, in the manner of a bead on the wire of a collar. .
• a launcher 8 at the lower end of the wire 7 can transmit the kinetic energy received during the impact of the blade to the projectile 5 which then goes up along the rigid wire. This solution avoids the use of the tube and makes it easier to see the projectiles 5.
• FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a fourth embodiment in which, similarly to the embodiment of FIG. 4, each projectile 5 is pierced with a hole traversed by a stretched wire 6, for example a transparent wire.
• An intermediate damping blade 33 is mounted above each vibrating blade 3; it comprises a perpendicular portion 330 projecting from the end crossed by this wire 6. The intermediate blade 33 is vibrated when the vibrating blade 3
• this solution avoids the use of a launcher 8 and a rigid wire, since the vibrations are directly transmitted to the projectile 5 by the intermediate blade 33.
• the blade 33 is advantageously made of a less hard material that the vibrating blade 3 steel, which avoids the noise or even the risk of breakage of the projectile 5 when it falls, particularly in the case of a precious projectile or glass for example. This blade 33 furthermore makes it possible to damp the vibrations of the main blade 3, and thus to reduce the duration of the sound emitted.
• the thickness of the different intermediate blades 33 placed above the different vibrating blades 3 may be variable to compensate at least partially the energy difference transmitted to the projectile according to the length of the vibrating blade, and therefore to obtain substantially constant projection heights regardless of the note played.
• the intermediate blade 33 also functions as a shock absorber to dampen the vibration of the vibrating blade, control the duration during which this note is played, and reduce the risk of collision with the next tip 20. It is also possible to coat at least a portion of the upper face of each damping blade 33 of a carpet or damping coating to reduce the impact with the projectile falling.
• FIG. 6 illustrates a fifth embodiment in which the projectiles 5 are mounted at the first end of a rod 9 whose other end can pivot about a horizontal axis 90, in the manner of a hammer. of piano.
• the vibrations of the blade are transmitted to the projectile 5 which then pivots with the rod about the axis 90.
• the diameter of the rods is preferably reduced in order to lighten them and increase the maximum height reached by the projectile.
• As thin rods may be flexible, it is possible to provide a support not shown between the horizontal axis 90 and the projectile on which the rods come to rest in a horizontal position when they are not projected.
• the support may also serve as a guide for the rods, and be provided for this purpose with vertical guide slots to guide the rods 9 during their rotation; at rest, each rod is inserted into a slot which ensures a precise positioning above the corresponding blade.
• FIG. 7 illustrates a sixth embodiment in which the projectiles 5 are retained in tubes 1 1 flared upwards in FIG.
• This solution allows to send the projectiles in a direction not strictly vertical, without risking a shock between the projectile and the walls of the corresponding tube before the projectile falls.
• the top of the open can be opened, or closed by a transparent cover to see the projectiles from the top.
• each projectile may land in a plurality of possible receptacles, for example, multiple dwellings in a horizontal or inclined platen; the music box can then be a lottery or skill game, and generate numbers corresponding to the numbers of the receptacles where the projectiles land.
• FIG. 8 illustrates a seventh embodiment in which, as in the variant of FIGS. 5A and 5B, an intermediate blade 33 is provided between the bottom of each tube 4 and the corresponding vibrating blade 3.
• the intermediate blade 33 is vibrating when the corresponding vibrating blade 3 is actuated, through a hammer 34 provided under the intermediate blade 33 or on the vibrating blade 3.
• the projectile 5 at rest is advantageously placed on the intermediate blade 33, and projected into the air by the vibrations communicated to this intermediate blade by the main blade.
• the intermediate blade 33 is damping and advantageously made of a less hard material than the vibrating blade 3 of steel, and optionally coated with a damping material.
• Figures 9A to 9D illustrate how a blade 3 is vibrated by a tip 20 of the cylinder 2.
• the projectile 5 is propelled upwards when the blade vibrates for the first time upwards, in the position of Figure 9D.
• the various tubes 1 1 for holding the projectiles above each respective blade of the comb can be collected in one piece, for example by welding or gluing different tubes, or by injecting several plastic tubes side-to-side rib as illustrated in Figures 10 and 1 1.
• the tubes can be arranged in several rows, for example in two rows, for example staggered. This arrangement makes it possible to increase the diameter of the tubes and thus that of the projectiles, to make them more visible.
• the diameter of the tubes and projectiles depends on the size of the music box; the projectiles must be small enough to reduce their mass, but large enough to be visible. Conclusive tests were performed with beads having a diameter of between 1.5 and 4 millimeters, which can collaborate with the blades of a comb spaced by a step between 1 and 5 millimeters.
• the music box mechanism described above can be placed in a box or in another object, for example a clock, a snuffbox, etc.
• this box 10 includes a window 14 which hides the comb and the cylinder, but makes it possible to see the tubes and thus to visualize from the outside of the box the displacement of the projectiles.
• the device then appears as an equalizer, in which the projectiles corresponding to the frequently played notes are often in the air.
• the music box mechanism described above can be placed in a watch case, in order to move stones or other projectiles under the glass, for example in a direction parallel to the glass.
• the displacement direction is in this case not necessarily vertical, which allows the displacement of relatively heavy stones with necessarily reduced blades, at least over the short distances
• the stones can be returned to the blades either by gravity, positioning the watch in the vertical position, or by suitable return means, for example elastic means.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
• Marketing (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Toys (AREA)
• Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=53189783

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Family Cites Families (32)

• 2014
  • 2014-05-06 CH CH00677/14A patent/CH709596A2/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2015
  • 2015-05-05 WO PCT/EP2015/059827 patent/WO2015169792A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2015-05-05 CN CN201580033404.3A patent/CN106663416B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2015-05-05 JP JP2017510752A patent/JP6621467B2/ja active Active
  • 2015-05-05 EP EP15723450.1A patent/EP3140830B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2015-05-05 US US15/308,980 patent/US9640155B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

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