GB2635925A

GB2635925A - An apparatus providing motion to an object

Info

Publication number: GB2635925A
Application number: GB2411881.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Smith Steven; Lewis Fearn Samuel
Original assignee: With Creative Ltd
Current assignee: With Creative Ltd
Priority date: 2023-09-28
Filing date: 2024-08-12
Publication date: 2025-06-04
Also published as: GB202411881D0; GB202314942D0

Abstract

Apparatus for providing motion to a toy having a plurality of individual pieces (412, figure 11) comprises a first and second supporting member 108 each having a first coupler 112 and a second coupler 114. The first coupler of the first and second supporting members are connected to a piece of the toy. A shaft 132 has a first configuration for coupling to the second coupler of the first supporting member and has a second configuration for coupling to the second coupler of the second supporting member. The first configuration causes a first translational movement of the first supporting member when the shaft is rotated, and the second configuration of the shaft causes a second translational movement of the second supporting member when the shaft is rotated; the second configuration being of a different shape from the first configuration and the second translational movement being different from the first translational movement. A motor 130 for rotating the shaft is provided. The apparatus includes a housing (14, figure 2) comprising holes (104) through which the first and second supporting members are arranged to project through. The second coupler may comprise a slot or loop 120. The toy may be a figurine.

Description

AN APPARATUS PROVIDING MOTION TO AN OBJECT

TECHNICAL FIELD

Examples of the disclosure relate to an apparatus for providing motion to a toy object comprising a plurality of individual, modular, pieces.

BACKGROUND

Visualising the movement of an item in three-dimensional (3D) space without the aid of a representation can be difficult. Items can be placed atop a platform that contains a mechanism for manually rotating the items around a vertical axis to give them the appearance of movement.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided an apparatus for providing motion to a toy object comprising a plurality of individual, modular, pieces, the apparatus comprising: a first supporting member having a first coupler and a second coupler, wherein the first coupler of the first supporting member is connected to a first contacting element of the toy object; a second supporting member having a first coupler and a second coupler, wherein the first coupler of the second supporting member is connected to a second contacting element of the toy object; a shaft having a first configuration for coupling to the second coupler of the first supporting member and having a second configuration for coupling to the second coupler of the second supporting member, wherein the first configuration of the shaft is configured to engage the second coupler of the first supporting member to cause a first translational movement of the first supporting member when the shaft is rotated, and wherein the second configuration of the shaft is configured to engage the second coupler of the second supporting member to cause a second translational movement of the second supporting member when the shaft is rotated, the second configuration being of a different shape from the first configuration and the second translational movement being different from the first translational movement; a motor for rotating the shaft; and a housing having a surface comprising a first hole through which the first supporting member is arranged to project through and a second hole through which the second supporting member is arranged to project through.

The second coupler of the first supporting member may be of a first type, and 10 the second coupler of the second supporting member may be of a second type, different from the first type.

The second coupler of the first supporting member may comprise a slot, and the second coupler of the second supporting member may comprise a slot that is oriented differently from the slot of the second coupler of the first supporting member.

The slot of the second supporting member may be orientated at 90 degrees relative to the slot of the second coupler of the first supporting member.

In use, the slot of the second coupler of the first supporting member may be a vertical slot and the slot of the second coupler of the second supporting member may be a horizontal slot.

At least one of the first and second translation movements may be a reciprocating movement. The first translational movement may be a side-to-side movement. The second translational movement may be an up-and-down movement. The first supporting member may comprise a rod arranged to project through the first hole of the housing, and the second supporting member may comprise a rod arranged to project through the second hole of the housing.

The first supporting member may comprise a first mount located on the rod of the first supporting member and the second supporting member may comprise a first mount located on the rod of the second supporting member, and the housing may further comprise a plurality of mounting locations within an interior of the housing, wherein the plurality of mounting locations are configured to receive the first mounts of the first and second supporting members to enable the rods of the first and second supporting members to move relative to the housing.

The second coupler of the first supporting member may comprise an elongate member.

The elongate member of the second coupler of the first supporting member may be an oblong loop.

The second coupler of the second supporting member may comprise an elongate member.

The elongate member of the second coupler of the second supporting member is may comprise an oblong loop.

The oblong loop of the second coupler of the second supporting member may be orientated differently from the oblong loop of the second coupler of the first supporting member.

The oblong loop of the second coupler of the second supporting member may be orientated at 90 degrees relative to the oblong loop of the second coupler of the first supporting member.

The oblong loop of the second coupler of the first supporting member may be a vertical oblong loop, and the oblong loop of the second coupler of the second supporting member may be a horizontal oblong loop.

The toy object may be a figurine.

A distal end and a proximal end of the shaft may be connected to a stabilizing element and the motor respectively.

The surface of the housing may comprise one or more illuminating devices. The housing may comprise a plurality of grooves along an interior of the 5 housing, wherein the grooves are arranged to guide movement of the second coupler of the first supporting member and to guide movement of the second coupler of the second supporting member.

The apparatus may further comprise one or more further stabilizing elements to secure the shaft.

io According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided an apparatus for providing motion to a toy object comprising a plurality of individual, modular, pieces, the apparatus comprising: a first supporting member having a first coupler and a second coupler, wherein the first coupler of the first supporting member is connected to a first contacting element of the toy object, and wherein the second is coupler of first supporting member is of a first type; a second supporting member having a first coupler and a second coupler, wherein the first coupler of the second supporting member is connected to a second contacting element of the toy object, and wherein the second coupler of the second supporting member is of a second type, different from the first type; a shaft for coupling to the second couplers of the first and second supporting members, wherein the shaft is configured to engage the second coupler of the first supporting member, of the first type, to cause a first translational movement of the first supporting member when the shaft is rotated, and wherein the second configuration of the shaft is configured to engage the second coupler of the second supporting member, of the second type, to cause a second translational movement of the second supporting member when the shaft is rotated, the second translational movement being different from the first translational movement; a motor for rotating the shaft; and a housing having a surface comprising a first hole through which the first supporting member is arranged to project through and a second hole through which the second supporting member is arranged to project through.

The second coupler of the first supporting member may comprise a slot, and the second coupler of the second supporting member may comprise a slot that is oriented differently from the slot of the second coupler of the first supporting member, and wherein, in use, the slot of the second coupler of the first supporting member may be a vertical slot and the slot of the second coupler of the second supporting member io may be a horizontal slot.

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided a kit comprising the apparatus and the toy object.

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided examples as claimed in the appended claims.

While the above examples of the disclosure and optional features are described separately, it is to be understood that their provision in all possible combinations and permutations is contained within the disclosure. It is to be understood that various examples of the disclosure can comprise any or all the features described in respect of other examples of the disclosure, and vice versa. Also, it is to be appreciated that any one or more or all the features, in any combination, may be implemented by/comprised in/performable by an apparatus, a method, and/or computer program instructions as desired, and as appropriate. The description of a function should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

A more complete appreciation of this disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with 5 the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 illustrates an external side view of an apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 along lines V and VI, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 illustrates the assembly of a supporting member, a shaft and a motor without the housing as shown in FIGS. 2-3, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 5 illustrates the supporting member having a second coupler that enables side-to-side movement, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 6 illustrates the supporting member having the second coupler that enables up-and-down movement, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 7 illustrates the shaft that may be deployed in the apparatus, according to an

embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 shows the enlarged view of a portion shown in FIG. 2 illustrating the second coupler, the shaft and a plurality of grooves, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 9 shows the shaft coupled to the supporting member with a twisting movement second coupler, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of the apparatus having the supporting member with the twisting movement second coupler as shown in FIG. 9, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 11 shows the apparatus in FIGS. 1-3 wherein the apparatus is connected to a dinosaur object, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and FIG. 12 shows the apparatus in FIG. 10 wherein the apparatus is connected to a jellyfish object, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 1.0 FIG. 13 illustrates an external side view of an apparatus, according to a further

embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 illustrates a sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 13 along lines V and VI, according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 15 illustrates a side perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 14, according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 16 illustrates the assembly of a supporting member, a shaft and a motor without the housing as shown in FIGS. 14-15, according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 17 illustrates the supporting member having a second coupler that enables side-to-side movement, according to a further embodiment of the present

disclosure;

FIG. 18 illustrates a supporting member without enabling movement, according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 19 illustrates the supporting member having the second coupler that enables up-and-down movement, according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 20 illustrates the shaft that may be deployed in the apparatus, according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 21 shows the enlarged view of an apparatus, according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure; and FIG. 22 shows the apparatus in FIGS. 13-15 wherein the apparatus is connected to a second dinosaur object, according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the drawings, reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Further, as used herein, the words "a," "an" and the like generally carry a meaning of "one or more," unless stated otherwise.

Furthermore, the terms "approximately," "approximate," "about," and similar terms generally refer to ranges that include the identified value within a margin of 20%, 10%, or preferably 5%, and any values therebetween.

The following embodiments will describe the present invention in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings or descriptions, similar or identical parts use the same reference numerals, and in practical applications, the shape, thickness or height of each component can be expanded or reduced. The embodiments listed in the present invention are only used to illustrate the present invention and are not used to limit the scope of the present invention. Any obvious modification or alteration made to the present invention does not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

As used herein, the term "shaft" refers to a rod that rotates to transfer movement in the machine.

As used herein, the term "motor" refers to an electrical machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.

As used herein, the term "controller' refers to a system which receives input and produces outputs for some other device, most commonly an electric motor.

As used herein, the term "housing" refers to an exterior case used to protect an io interior mechanism.

As used herein, the term "groove" refers to a long and narrow indentation built into a material, generally for the purpose of allowing another material or part to move within the indentation and be guided by it.

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to an apparatus providing motion is to an object. The object may comprise a plurality of individual, modular, pieces. The object may be a toy object. The object can be a figurine, a block, a structure or a different object. The present invention seeks to improve on the object by providing for a different form of motion which may be applied to a plurality of individual pieces of the object and may be combined with other pieces to create relatively complex moving objects driven by a supporting member and a shaft coupled operatively to a motor. Each individual piece of the object is equipped with a specialized mechanism, allowing for a variety of motions. The improved design fosters versatility, enabling the assembly of dynamic structures with ease. In an alternative embodiment, the object formed by the 3D puzzle system allows users to unleash their creativity by assembling modular puzzle pieces into a variety of shapes and structures. The pieces are designed to work in harmony, enabling coordinated movement among multiple pieces. The design allows for seamless integration with other objects or systems. This interoperability opens up possibilities for combining multiple enhanced objects to create larger, interconnected systems with complex motions. The system is designed to encourage spatial reasoning, problem-solving, and engineering skills. Hence, the present invention not only provides a novel and diverse range of motions for individual pieces but also enables the creation of sophisticated and interactive moving structures. Whether for artistic installations, educational purposes, or entertainment, the enhanced object promises a new dimension of dynamic and customizable motion experiences.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the apparatus providing motion to the object is described. The apparatus may include the supporting members. The supporting members are designed to connect the object to the apparatus and translate the rotation of a shaft in the apparatus to the movement of the object. The design and selection of supporting members are considerations in producing different movements of the object. In some embodiments, a supporting member may be a rod/pole. The supporting member may also include guy wires, anchors, at least one further rod, grounds and other accessories related to the rod/pole. In some embodiments, the supporting member may project outwardly from a hole of a housing towards the object. The supporting member may project downwardly through the hole below the surface of the housing. The supporting member may comprise a first and a second coupler. The first coupler may engage with a contacting element to connect to the object. The second coupler may couple to the shaft configured to rotate and cause the movement of the object.

The coupler may perform multiple functions in the apparatus. The design may incorporate more than one of these coupling features into the product's function in advanced applications. The applications of the coupler may be misalignment accommodation, translating one movement to another type of movement and connecting two components. The types of the coupler are rigid coupling, flexible coupling, sleeve or muff coupling, split muff coupling, flange coupling, gear coupling, universal joint (Hooke's joint), oldham coupling, diaphragm coupling, jaw coupling, beam coupling and fluid coupling. The incorporation of the type of coupler in the apparatus will be dependent on the required movement. In some embodiments, customized designs of the coupler may be used to support the movement. The coupler may be made of metal, plastic, rubber, silicon or a combination thereof.

The contacting element is a unique structure on the object enabling the connection of the supporting member with the object. The contacting element can be of different shapes like hook-shaped, circle-shaped, square-shaped and many more but not limited to the disclosed shapes.

The apparatus also includes the shaft coupled to the second coupler of the supporting member. In some embodiments, shafts can be straight, cranked, flexible and articulated. The shaft can be a rod or spindle that is capable of rotating. In a preferred embodiment, the cross-section of the shaft can be circular solid or hollow arrangement. The shaft engages with one or more of the supporting members causing movement in the object. The shaft transmits the rotational motion from the motor to manipulate the object. The shape of the supporting member is dependent on the shape and size of the shaft. In some embodiment, the shaft is made up of aluminium, carbon steel and alloy steel. Mild steel is the material which is used for ordinary shafts.

When the shaft with high strength is required, alloy steels such as nickel, nickel-chromium, or chromium-vanadium steel are used.

The apparatus may include the motor connected to the shaft to rotate the shaft. Further, the shaft may engage with the second coupler of the supporting member causing translation of the supporting member when the shaft is rotated. The motor may be configured to rotate the shaft in different (rotational) directions. The motor may include a gearbox responsible for controlling the rotation of the shaft. The shaft arrangement on a gearbox is the location of the high-speed and low-speed shaft extensions relative to each other. In some embodiment, the four types of gearboxes to are concentric, parallel, right angle and shaft mount. Any of the above-mentioned gearbox assemblies can be used along with the motor to control the speed of the shaft.

The apparatus may include the power supply unit. The power supply units are devices that provide electrical energy to another device. The power supply unit is a component that supplies power to other components of the apparatus. Typically, it converts one type of electrical power to another, but it may also convert a different form of energy -such as solar, mechanical, or chemical -into electrical energy. The power supply unit usually pertains to devices integrated within the component being powered. In some embodiments, the power supply unit is a charging port formed by a standard connector. The charging ports often have standard connectors to facilitate compatibility with various devices. The common standard connectors include universal serial bus (USB) Type-A, USB Type-C, Micro USB, and others, depending on the device and requirement. In a preferred embodiment, a micro-USB connector is the standard connector for the power supply. In an alternative embodiment, a battery storage serves as a power supply unit in various apparatuses and systems, providing a reliable and portable source of energy.

The apparatus may include a controller configured to control the motor. The controller may be configured to control the motor to rotate the shaft. In some embodiments, the motor may be configured to rotate the shaft in different (rotational) directions. Rotation of the shaft manipulates the object.

The apparatus may include the housing with holes on the top wall 14, through which the supporting member projects through. The housing may contain a covering or a case. The housing may provide a barrier that helps prevent accidents or injuries to individuals who may come into contact with the machine. By enclosing moving parts and potentially hazardous components, it reduces the risk of accidents. The internal to components of the apparatus, such as gears, motors, shafts, and other moving parts, are often delicate and can be damaged by external elements like dust, debris, or moisture. The housing acts as a protective barrier, safeguarding these components from environmental factors. The housing also plays a role in the overall design and aesthetics of the machine. The housing contributes to the structural integrity of the system, ensuring that all components are properly aligned and supported. In some embodiments, the housing when in closed configuration has a generally rectangular transverse arrangement. In another embodiment, the housing has at least a top wall portion, a bottom wall portion and four side walls. The housing can be configured to be assembled by connecting two containers.

The common materials used for housing are plastics, aluminium, steel, magnesium, composite materials, stainless steel and die-cast zinc. Among the above-mentioned materials, each material has several types. For example, types of plastic are as follows: Acrylic or Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA), Polycarbonate (PC), Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS). In a preferred embodiment, the housing is made up of ABS.

The housing may include a plurality of grooves dispersed adjacent to one another along one or more walls of the housing interior. In an embodiment, the plurality of grooves may be arranged adjacent to one another along the base and a side wall of the housing interior. The incorporation of the grooves along the base and a side wall in a design often indicates a thoughtful consideration of functionality and practicality. The specific purpose of these grooves can vary based on the context and intended use of the object. The grooves may enhance the structural integrity of a material by providing additional support or reinforcement. In some embodiments, the grooves may be strategically placed to distribute loads or add stability. In a preferred embodiment, the grooves may be used as alignment guides during the assembly process, ensuring that components fit together precisely for consistency and accuracy. At least some of the grooves may accommodate a second coupler of a supporting member. A groove may form an outlet directed at the supporting member to control/guide the movement of the supporting member. The position of the grooves can be anywhere inside the surface of the housing. The placement will be dependent on the requirement of the groove and its connection with the other components.

The apparatus optionally may include the illuminating device which is powered by the power supply unit through electrical connections. The illuminating device may be an artificial lighting device. In a preferred embodiment, the artificial lighting device may be a light-emitting diode (LED). In the present invention, one or more illuminating devices may be mounted on the surface of the housing. When LEDs are caused to emit light, an appropriate amount of power is supplied to a wiring that is connected to each of the LEDs to cause each LED to emit light with the desired brightness.

Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments or features, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, corresponding, or similar reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or corresponding parts. Moreover, references to various elements described herein, are made collectively or individually when there may be more than one element of the same type. However, such references are merely exemplary. It may be noted that any reference to elements in the singular may also be construed to relate to the plural and vice-versa without limiting the scope of the disclosure to the exact number or type of such elements unless set forth explicitly in the appended claims.

Cartesian co-ordinate axes 70 are provided in each of the drawings to enable the reader to orientate the figures relative to each other. The Cartesian coordinate axes include X, Y and Z axes, each of which is orthogonal to the others. In the illustrated example, the X axis is a length dimension, the Y axis is a height dimension and the Z axis is a width dimension.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary apparatus 100 is illustrated which comprises a housing 102. The housing 102 has a length aligned with the length (x) dimension, a width aligned with the width (z) dimension and a height aligned with the height (y) dimension. In the illustrated example, the length of the housing 102 is greater than the width and possibly greater than the height, although this need not be the case in every example. The housing 102 may be substantially cuboidal in shape, as shown in FIG. The housing 102 may include an underside wall 9, a front wall 10, a rear wall 11, first and second side walls 12, 13 and a top wall 14. Each of the walls 9-14 may be substantially planar. The underside wall 9 and the top walls 14 are spaced from one another in the height (y) dimension. The front wall 10 and the rear wall 11 are spaced from each other in the length (x) dimension. The first and second side walls 12, 13 are spaced from one another in the width (z) dimension.

The housing 102 may have a plurality of holes 104 located in the top wall 14. The holes 104 may be through holes. The apparatus 100 may comprise a plurality of supporting members 108. A supporting member 108 may loosely fit in a hole 104. For example, each supporting member 108 may comprise a rod 20 that is locatable in a hole 104. The rod 20 may be elongate in shape, such as elongate in the height (y) dimension. The rod 20 may be elongate in shape in the height dimension such that the extent of the rod 20 in the height dimension is greater than the extent of the rod 20 in the length (x) or width (z) dimensions.

The apparatus 100 may further comprise one or more illuminating devices 110, which may be at least partially located in the housing 102, and means for securing the one or more illuminating devices 110 to the housing 102. The apparatus 100 may also include a power supply unit 150, which may be at least partially located in the housing 102. The power supply unit 150 may provide electrical connections throughout the components present in the apparatus 100.

Referring to FIGS. 2-3, an exemplary cross-sectional half of the housing 102 as shown in FIG. 1 is illustrated through line V-VI. It can be seen in FIG. 2 that the apparatus 100 further comprises a shaft 132. The shaft 132 is elongate in the length (x) dimension, such that the extent of the shaft 132 in the length dimension is somewhat greater than in the width (z) and height (y) dimensions. The length of the shaft may extend from a location adjacent the rear wall 11 to a location adjacent the front wall 10.

Each supporting member 108 may comprise a first coupler 112 and a second coupler 114. The first coupler 112 may be for connection to a first contacting element of a toy object. This is described in further detail below. The second coupler 114 of each of the supporting members 108 may be for coupling to the shaft 132.

It can be seen in FIG. 2 that the rod 20 of each supporting member 108 is located in a hole 104 in the top wall 14, such that the first coupler 112 is located outside the housing 102 and spaced from the top wall 14 (e.g., above the top wall 14), and such that the second coupler 114 is located within the housing 102. The second coupler 114 may project downwardly from the rod 20 of a supporting member 108 that extends through the hole 104, such that the second coupler 114 is positioned below the top wall 14. The first coupler 112 of the supporting member 108 has the means to connect to the toy object. The second coupler 114 of the supporting member has the means to couple to the shaft 132.

The first coupler 112 may be located at a first end of the rod 20 of the supporting member 108 and the second coupler 114 may be located at a second end (opposite the first end) of the rod 20 of the supporting member 108.

The second coupler 114 is configured to engage with the shaft 132. The second 20 coupler 114 may be shaped and sized to receive the shaft 132. The second coupler 114 of a supporting member 108 may be of a particular type. Different supporting members 108 may have second couplers 114 of the same type, or different types.

The second coupler 114 may comprise a slot 120. A slot 120 of the second coupler 114 of one supporting member 114 may be orientated differently from the slot of the second coupler 114 of a different supporting member 114. Second couplers 114 of different types may have differently orientated slots. For instance, the slots may be orientated at 90 degrees relative to each other, such that, in use, one slot is a vertical slot and another slot is a horizontal slot. A vertical slot may be considered to be a slot that has an extent in the height dimension (y) than in the other dimensions (e.g. than in the width (z) dimension). A horizontal slot may be considered to be a slot that has an extent in the width (z) dimension than in the height (y) dimension.

The shaft 132 may be arranged to pass through the slots 120. The shaft 132 is configured to engage with the second couplers 114 at the location of the slots 120. The shaft 132 extends generally in the length (x) dimension. The shaft 132 may be elongate in shape such that its greatest extent is aligned with the length (x) dimension. The illustrated shaft 132 is not, however, entirely rectilinear. As the shaft 132 extends in the length (x) dimension, it bends in the height (y) and/or width (z) dimensions at the location of the slots 120.

The shape of the shaft 132 at the location of the slots 120 and the shape of the slots 120 themselves determines the direction in which a supporting member 108 moves upon rotation of the shaft 132. For example, a first type of the second coupler 114 of a first supporting member 114 may be configured to engage with a first configuration of the shaft 132 to cause first translational movement of the first supporting member 108. A second type of second coupler 114 of a second supporting member 114 may be configured to engage with a second configuration of the shaft 132 to cause second translational movement of the second supporting member 108. The second translational movement may be orientated in different directions than the first translational movement. One or both of the first and second translational movements might be reciprocating movement(s). For example, the first translational movement could be a (reciprocating) side-to-side movement and the second translational movement could be a (reciprocating) up-and-down movement. A side-toside movement may be caused, at least in part, by a vertical slot 120. The side-to-side movement may include the pivoting of the supporting member 108. An up-and-down movement may be caused, at least in part, by a horizontal slot 120.

The first and second configurations of the shaft 132 may be separated by a rectilinear portion of the shaft 132. The first configuration of the shaft 132 may be a bent portion of the shaft 132. The second configuration may be or comprise a bent portion of the shaft 132. The bent portion may extend away from the axis of rotation of the shaft 132 in the height (y) and/or width (z) dimensions. In respect of each of the first and second configurations, the extent to which the bent portion extends away from the axis of rotation of the shaft may determine the extent to which the second coupler 114 moves in response to the rotation of the shaft 132 about the axis of rotation.

The second coupler 114 of a supporting member 108 may comprise an elongate member 140. The elongate member 140 may be an oblong loop. The oblong loops of different second couplers 114 may be orientated differently, as shown in the FIGS. For example, different oblong loops may be orientated at 90 degrees relative to one another. Some oblong loops may be vertical oblong loops, whereas others may be horizontal oblong loops.

The apparatus shown in FIGS. 2-3 further comprises a motor 130 that may be mounted to the proximal wall (e.g., first side wall 12) of the housing and may be connected to a proximal end of the shaft 132. The shaft 132 may be secured by a stabilizing element 134 which is configured to allow rotation of the shaft 132 in a first axis (e.g., an axis along the length (x) dimension) but restrict lateral and vertical movement along the first axis of the shaft 132. The distal end and proximal end of the shaft 132 may be connected to the stabilizing element 134 and the motor 130 respectively. The stabilizing element 134 ensures the proximal and distal ends of the shaft are substantially aligned. When actuated by the power supply unit 150, the motor 130 rotates the shaft 132 about the first axis. There can be one or more stabilizing elements 134. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 10, the sectional view shows half of the stabilizing element 134. The stabilizing element 134 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 10 has a cuboid configuration where there is a hole that allows the distal end of the shaft 132 to be inserted such that the shaft 132 is substantially stabilized along the first axis and able to rotate freely along said first axis. The apparatus 100 can have one or more further stabilizing elements 134 to secure the shaft 132.

The apparatus 100 may include the controller 160 aligned with the power supply unit 150 to configure the power supply within the housing 102. The controller 160 can be configured to control rotation of the shaft 132.

A plurality of grooves 802 extend across the inner surfaces of the housing as can be seen in FIGS. 2-3 and FIG. 8. The grooves 802 can be a vertical or a horizontal groove 802. The width of each groove on the inner surface of the housing can be the same or different. In a preferred embodiment, the housing has a plurality of vertical and horizontal grooves 802. Each of the vertical grooves 802 may extend across the inner surface of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion opposite the first side wall. In another embodiment, each vertical groove 802 extends across the inner surface of the first side wall portion or the second side wall portion opposite the first side wall. Each of the horizontal grooves 802 may extend across the inner surface of the bottom wall portion of the housing. The vertical and horizontal grooves 802 can be separate or form a continuous groove as can be clearly seen in FIG. 8. The groove 802 functions to guide or limit the movement of the second coupler 114 only along the groove 802.

FIG. 4 illustrates the assembly of the supporting members 108, the shaft 132 and the motor 130 without the housing (102) as shown in FIGS. 2-3. FIG. 4 provides a clear perspective of the embodiment wherein the arrangement of five supporting members coupled to the shaft is shown. In some embodiment, the supporting members include one supporting member having a side-to-side movement second coupler, three supporting members having an up-and-down movement second coupler and one supporting member having an enclosure that wraps around the shaft.

Different types of second couplers can be envisaged when coupled to respective portions of the shaft to create the desired movement. By way of example, FIG. 5 shows a second coupler 114 for causing side-to-side movement. The illustrated second coupler 114 comprises an elongate member 140 extending in and having its greatest extent in the height (y) dimension, parallel to rod 20 of the supporting member 114. The second coupler 114 comprises a slot 120, which, in the illustrated example is a vertical slot. The elongate member 140 can be in a shape of an oblong loop as shown in FIG. 5. A portion of the second coupler may be loosely fitted into a horizontal groove in the housing as shown in FIG. 8. The horizontal groove may be arranged to guide the side-to-side movement of the second coupler 114 along the horizontal groove when the shaft 132 coupled to the second coupler 114 is rotated.

FIG. 6 shows a second coupler 114 for causing up-and-down movement. The second coupler 114 comprises an elongate member 140 extending in and having its greatest extent in the width (z) dimension, perpendicular to the rod 20 of the supporting member 114. The elongate member 140 can be in the shape of the oblong loop as shown in FIG. 6. A portion of the second coupler 114 may be loosely fitted into a vertical groove in the housing as shown in FIG 8. The vertical groove may be arranged to guide the up-and-down movement of the second coupler 114 along the vertical groove when the shaft 132 coupled to the second coupler 114 is rotated.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the shaft 132. The shaft 132 can have different configurations 132a, 132b, 132c, 132e depending on the desired movement to be achieved on the object. Each configuration 132a-132d of the shaft 132 comprises a bent portion in the manner explained above. Each configuration 132a-132d may be separated by one or two other configurations 132a-132d by a rectilinear portion of the shaft 132. In another embodiment, the shaft may have one or more 90-degree bends as shown in FIG. 7. In some examples, the shaft may be a straight rod as shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 8 shows how a portion of the side-to-side movement second coupler and the up-and-down movement second coupler fit into the horizontal and vertical grooves respectively.

FIGS. 9-10 show another type of second coupler that enables twisting or rotational movement of the supporting member about a second axis, aligned with the height (y) dimension. In this example, the second coupler and the configuration of the shaft is such that rotary motion of the shaft about the first axis is converted into rotary zo motion about the second axis. By way of example, as shown in FIG. 9, the twisting movement second coupler 114 comprises an enclosure that secures the supporting member 108 onto the shaft 132. The enclosure loosely wraps around the shaft 132 such that it still enables the shaft 132 to rotate along the first axis freely. The twisting second coupler 114 further comprises first and second cogs. The twisting movement can be achieved by placing the first and second cogs perpendicular to one another wherein the first cog is secured along the shaft 132 and the other cog is secured along the supporting member 108 wherein a portion of the teeth along the second cog fit into the groove. The first and second cogs are interlocked such that when the shaft 132 is rotated, the first cog rotates in the same direction as the shaft 132 which causes the second cog to rotate.

EXAMPLE

The following examples describe and demonstrate exemplary embodiments of the apparatus providing motion to the object. The examples are provided solely for the purpose of illustration and are not to be construed as limitations of the present disclosure, as many variations thereof are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Example 1: A Dinosaur kit Referring to FIG. 11, by way of an example, an exemplary dinosaur kit is illustrated. FIG. 11 shows the apparatus in FIG. 1-3 connected to a dinosaur kit wherein the first coupler 112 of the supporting member 108 is coupled to a connecting element 412 of the toy object 400. The different secondary couplers 114 allow different movements of the contacting element 412. The contacting element 412 shown in FIG. 11 is a portion of the dinosaur tail puzzle piece of the kit that has a hook arrangement such that it enables the tail puzzle piece to couple to the first coupler 112 of the supporting element 108. The first coupler in this example may have a loop arrangement. The shape of the connecting element 412 and the first coupler 112 is not restrictive provided that they can be coupled or connected to each other and are capable of supporting the object 400 onto the apparatus. The movement of the supporting member 108 connected to the dinosaur gives the appearance that the dinosaur is moving.

Example 2: A Jellyfish kit Referring to FIG. 12, by way of an example, an exemplary jellyfish kit is illustrated. FIG. 12 shows the apparatus in FIG. 10 connected to a jellyfish object wherein the first coupler 112 of the supporting member 108 is coupled to a connecting element 512 (not shown) of the object 500. The first coupler in this example may have a hook arrangement. In this example, the jellyfish 500 has tentacles 502 which rotate around the supporting member 108 due to the centrifugal force generated when the same supporting member 108 is rotating along the second axis (aligned with the height (y) dimension). The movement of the supporting member 108 connected to the jellyfish gives the appearance that the jellyfish is moving. The jellyfish 500 may further comprise a body 505. The body 505 may remain stationary when the tentacles 502 rotate. The body 505 of the jellyfish 500 may be supported (e.g., fixed) by a fixed support 506. The fixed support 506 comprise a rod/pole, having one end connected to the apparatus 100, and an opposite end connected to the body 505 of the jellyfish 500 (e.g., via a contacting member element 512). The fixed support 506 may be connected to the top wall (not shown) of the housing 102. For example, at least part of the fixed support 506 may inserted through a hole (not shown) in the housing 102 and connected to the housing 102 at a mounting location (not shown). The fixed support 506 may comprise a flange to prevent removal of the fixed support 506 from the hole 104.

FIGS. 13-22 illustrate some further embodiments of the invention. The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 13-22 have the same features as those described in FIGS. 1-12 unless otherwise stated. FIG. 13 illustrates an external side view of the apparatus 100. It can be seen in FIG. 13 that the holes 104 in the upper wall 9 are non-circular. The holes 104 have an extent in the width (z) dimension that is greater than their extent in the length (x) dimension. This is to enable side-to-side (pivoting) movement of the supporting members 108 to a greater extent.

FIG. 14 illustrates a sectional view of the apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 13 along lines V and VI in FIG. 13. It can be seen in FIG. 14 that the housing 100 comprises a plurality of mounting locations 170 at which supporting members 108 may be mounted to the housing 100. The mounting locations 170 are located in the interior of the housing 100. Each supporting member 108 may comprise a mount 180 that is configured to be received by at a mounting location 170. The mount 180 may be located on the rod 20 of a supporting member 108. The connection between the mount 180 and the mounting location 170 may be an interference fit. The mount 180 may be configured to enable the (rod 20 of the) supporting member 108 to move relative to the housing 100.

FIG. 15 illustrates a side perspective view of the apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 14. FIG. 16 illustrates the assembly of a supporting member 108, the shaft 132 and the motor 130 without the housing 100 as shown in FIGS. 14-15. FIG. 17 illustrates a supporting member 108 having a second coupler 114 that enables side-to-side movement. FIG. 18 illustrates a supporting member 108 that does not enable movement of the toy object. FIG. 19 illustrates a supporting member 108 having a second coupler 114 that enables up-and-down movement. FIG. 20 illustrates a shaft 132 that may be deployed in the apparatus 100. FIG. 21 shows the enlarged view of the interior of the housing 102 of the apparatus 100. FIG. 22 shows the apparatus 100, where the supporting members 108 are connected to a second dinosaur toy object 600. The embodiment in FIGS. 13-22 differs from that illustrated in FIGS. 1-12 in that the second couplers 114 may a different structure. At least some of the second couplers 114 may comprise an elongate member 140 such as an oblong loop but, as shown in the FIGS., the oblong loop may be structured differently The above are only specific implementations of the present disclosure, but the protection scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed io in the present disclosure. It should be covered within the protection scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the present disclosure should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. An apparatus for providing motion to a toy object comprising a plurality of individual, modular, pieces, the apparatus comprising: a first supporting member having a first coupler and a second coupler, wherein the first coupler of the first supporting member is connected to a first contacting element of the toy object; a second supporting member having a first coupler and a second coupler, wherein the first coupler of the second supporting member is connected to a second contacting element of the toy object; a shaft having a first configuration for coupling to the second coupler of the first supporting member and having a second configuration for coupling to the second coupler of the second supporting member, wherein the first configuration of the shaft is configured to engage the second coupler of the first supporting member to cause a first translational movement of the first supporting member when the shaft is rotated, and wherein the second configuration of the shaft is configured to engage the second coupler of the second supporting member to cause a second translational movement of the second supporting member when the shaft is rotated, the second configuration being of a different shape from the first configuration and the second translational movement being different from the first translational movement; a motor for rotating the shaft; and a housing having a surface comprising a first hole through which the first supporting member is arranged to project through and a second hole through which the second supporting member is arranged to project through.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second coupler of the first supporting member is of a first type, and the second coupler of the second supporting member is of a second type, different from the first type.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second coupler of the first supporting member comprises a slot, and the second coupler of the second supporting member comprises a slot that is oriented differently from the slot of the second coupler of the first supporting member.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the slot of the second supporting member is orientated at 90 degrees relative to the slot of the second coupler of the first supporting member.
5. An apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, in use, the slot of the second coupler of the first supporting member is a vertical slot and the slot of the second coupler of the second supporting member is a horizontal slot.
6. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the first and second translation movements is a reciprocating movement.
7. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first translational movement is a side-to-side movement.
An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second translational movement is an up-and-down movement.
9. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first supporting member comprises a rod arranged to project through the first hole of the housing, and the second supporting member comprises a rod to arranged to project through the second hole of the housing.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first supporting member comprises a first mount located on the rod of the first supporting member and the second supporting member comprises a first mount located on the rod of the second supporting member, and the housing further comprises a plurality of mounting locations within an interior of the housing, wherein the plurality of mounting locations are configured to receive the first mounts of the first and second supporting members to enable the rods of the first and second supporting members to move relative to the housing.
11. An apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the second coupler of the first supporting member comprises an elongate member.
12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the elongate member of the second coupler of the first supporting member is an oblong loop.
13. An apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the second coupler of the second supporting member comprises an elongate member.
14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the elongate member of the second coupler of the second supporting member is an oblong loop.
15. An apparatus according to claim 14 when dependent upon claim 12, wherein the oblong loop of the second coupler of the second supporting to member is orientated differently from the oblong loop of the second coupler of the first supporting member.
16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the oblong loop of the second coupler of the second supporting member is orientated at 90 degrees relative to the oblong loop of the second coupler of the first supporting member.
17. An apparatus according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the oblong loop of the second coupler of the first supporting member is a vertical oblong loop, and the oblong loop of the second coupler of the second supporting member is a horizontal oblong loop.
18. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the toy object is a figurine.
19. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a distal end and a proximal end of the shaft are connected to a stabilizing element and the motor respectively.
20. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the surface of the housing comprises one or more illuminating devices.
21. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of grooves along an interior of the housing, wherein the grooves are arranged to guide movement of the second coupler of the first supporting member and to guide movement of the second coupler of the second supporting member.
22. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, the apparatus further comprises one or more further stabilizing elements to secure the shaft.
23. An apparatus for providing motion to a toy object comprising a plurality of individual, modular, pieces, the apparatus comprising: a first supporting member having a first coupler and a second coupler, wherein the first coupler of the first supporting member is connected to a first contacting element of the toy object, and wherein the second coupler of first supporting member is of a first type; a second supporting member having a first coupler and a second coupler, wherein the first coupler of the second supporting member is connected to a second contacting element of the toy object, and wherein the second coupler of the second supporting member is of a second type, different from the first type; a shaft for coupling to the second couplers of the first and second supporting members, wherein the shaft is configured to engage the second coupler of the first supporting member, of the first type, to cause a first translational movement of the first supporting member when the shaft is rotated, and wherein the second configuration of the shaft is configured to engage the second coupler of the second supporting member, of the second type, to cause a second translational movement of the second supporting member when the shaft is rotated, the second translational movement being different from the first translational movement; a motor for rotating the shaft; and a housing having a surface comprising a first hole through which the first supporting member is arranged to project through and a second hole through which the second supporting member is arranged to project through.
24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the second coupler of the first supporting member comprises a slot, and the second coupler of the second supporting member comprises a slot that is oriented differently from the slot of the second coupler of the first supporting member, and wherein, in use, the slot of the second coupler of the first supporting member is a vertical slot and the slot of the second coupler of the second supporting member is a horizontal slot.
25. A kit comprising the apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims and the toy object.