Ornament with modular design motion system

Abstract

A motion device capable of incorporation into an ornament has a module drive mechanism and one or more visual elements capable of being set in motion by a user's interaction with the drive mechanism. The module drive mechanism includes a plurality of motion components, such as gears. The motion components are activated via manual rotation of a crank arm.

1 . An amusement device, comprising:
 a housing defining a cavity and having a top surface with at least one opening therethrough;   a module drive mechanism at least partially received in the cavity of the housing, the mechanism including a plurality of motion components operatively supported in the housing, wherein a portion of at least one of the plurality of motion components extends through the at least one opening in the housing; and   at least one visual element supported by the portion of the at least one of the plurality of motion components extending through the at least one opening of the housing, wherein mechanical output of the plurality of motion components induces animation of the at least one visual element positioned outside the housing and adjacent to the top surface.   
   
   
       2 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes a bottom section and a top section, wherein the two sections cooperate in clamshell fashion, and wherein the module drive mechanism is at least substantially located within the cavity of the housing. 
   
   
       3 . The amusement device of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of motion components include a driving component adapted to receive a user input force, and wherein the bottom section is adapted for direct mounting of the driving component at a plurality of positions on the bottom section. 
   
   
       4 . The amusement device of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of motion components include a drive gear and at least one output gear rotatably mounted on the bottom section, the drive gear being adapted to receive a user input force and induce corresponding rotation of the at least one output gear. 
   
   
       5 . The amusement device of  claim 4 , further comprising a crank arm directly coupled to the drive gear for receiving the user input force to induce movement of the motion components. 
   
   
       6 . The amusement device of  claim 4 , wherein the portion of the at least one of the plurality of motion components extending through the at least one opening of the housing is directly coupled with the at least one output gear. 
   
   
       7 . The amusement device of  claim 6 , wherein the portion of the at least one of the plurality of motion components extending through the at least one opening of the housing includes at least one mechanical structure operatively converting a rotational movement into at least one movement selected from the group consisting of a reciprocating pivotable action, a translational action and a noncircular looping action. 
   
   
       8 . The amusement device of  claim 1 , further comprising artwork formed on the housing top surface, the artwork and the at least one visual element presenting a common visual theme. 
   
   
       9 . A module drive mechanism for an amusement device, comprising:
 a first housing member formed with a plurality of openings therethrough;   a second housing member coupled with the first housing member to define a cavity therebetween;   a plurality of motion components operatively coupled with the first housing member, wherein the motion components include a plurality of gears, wherein at least one of motion components has a portion thereof extending through one of the openings in the first housing member; and   at least one visual element interconnected with the portion of the motion component extending through the at least one opening of the first housing member, and wherein mechanical output of the plurality of motion components induces animation of the at least one visual element.   
   
   
       10 . The mechanism of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of motion components include a driving component adapted to receive a user input force, wherein the plurality of gears are supported between the first and second housing members in the cavity, and wherein the gears translate the input force from the driving component to the at least one visual element. 
   
   
       11 . The mechanism of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of motion components include a drive gear and at least one output gear rotatably mounted on at least one of the first housing member and the second housing member, the drive gear being adapted to receive a user input force and induce corresponding rotation of the at least one output gear. 
   
   
       12 . The mechanism of  claim 11 , further comprising a crank arm extending from the drive gear for receiving the user input force to movement of the plurality of motion components. 
   
   
       13 . The mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of motion components include at least one transfer gear rotatably mounted on a bearing post, wherein the bearing post is coupled with one of the first and second housing members, wherein the transfer gear is positioned between the drive gear and the at least one output gear, and wherein the at least one transfer gear receives the user input force from the drive gear and transfers the force to the at least one output gear. 
   
   
       14 . The mechanism of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one mechanical structure operatively converting a rotational movement into at least one movement selected from the group consisting of a reciprocating pivotable action, a translational action and a noncircular looping action. 
   
   
       15 . An animated hanging ornament, comprising:
 a housing defining a cavity, the housing having a front wall and a rear wall, wherein the front wall has at least one opening therethrough;   a drive mechanism having a portion thereof contained within the cavity, the mechanism including:
 a plurality of gears operatively supported within the cavity and adapted to receive a user input force, and 
 at least one mechanical component coupled with at least one of the plurality of gears to produce an output motion responsive to said user input force; and 
   at least one visual element interconnected with the at least one mechanical component through the at least one opening in the housing to position said at least one visual element adjacent an exterior of the housing, wherein the output motion induces animation of the at least one visual element.   
   
   
       16 . The ornament of  claim 15 , wherein the housing includes a plurality of bearing posts extending from at least one of the front and rear walls into the cavity, wherein the plurality of gears include a drive gear and at least one output gear, and wherein the gears are rotatably mounted on the bearing posts. 
   
   
       17 . The ornament of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of bearing posts are adapted for direct mounting of the drive gear at a plurality of positions on the housing. 
   
   
       18 . The ornament of  claim 16 , further comprising a crank arm for receiving the user input force and to transfer the user input force to the drive gear. 
   
   
       19 . The ornament of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one mechanical component is adapted to operatively convert a rotational movement into at least one movement selected from the group of a reciprocating pivotable action, a translational action and a noncircular looping action. 
   
   
       20 . The ornament of  claim 15 , further comprising a hanging mechanism coupled with the housing to permit hanging of ornament. 
   
   
       21 . The ornament of  claim 15 , further comprising a sound component. 
   
   
       22 . The ornament of  claim 21 , wherein the sound component includes a speaker and recorded audio stored on a memory component, and wherein activation of the sound component occurs upon detection of the user input force. 
   
   
       23 . The ornament of  claim 15 , further comprising a light component. 
   
   
       24 . The ornament of  claim 23 , wherein the light component includes one or more lights for illuminating features of the ornament, and wherein activation of the sound component occurs upon detection of the user input force.