Mechanical eye for a toy

Abstract

A mechanical eye ( 100 ) for a toy, which comprises an artificial eye ( 1 ) with a piece in the form of a first spherical cap ( 2 ) and an artificial eyelid ( 3 ). It is characterized in that it comprises a motorized lever ( 5 ), which may be actuated in first and second opposed directions a and b and the resistance arm thereof is provided with a cam surface ( 6 ); and return means ( 7 ), independent of the lever, which act on the eyelid and which tend to arrange said eyelid in a position A which uncovers the eye, the cited cam surface being adapted for contacting and exerting a pressure on a part ( 8 ) of the eyelid when the lever is actuated in the second direction b, the pressure being sufficient so as to shift the eyelid, overcoming the force which the return means exert on the same, between at least the cited position A and a position B, in which the eyelid covers the eye at least partially.

1 . A mechanical eye ( 100 ) for a toy, which comprises an artificial eye ( 1 ) with a piece in the form of a first spherical cap ( 2 ); and an artificial eyelid ( 3 ), with a piece in the form of a second spherical cap ( 4 ) mounted outside of the eye and in a rotatable manner around an axis (x) transversal to the eye, comprising:
 a motorized lever ( 5 ), which may be actuated around a rotation axis (y) in first and second opposed directions a and b and the resistance arm thereof is provided with a cam surface ( 6 ); and   return means ( 7 ), independent of the lever, which act on the eyelid and which tend to arrange the eyelid in a position A which uncovers the eye;   the cited cam surface of the motorized lever being adapted for contacting and exerting a pressure on a portion ( 8 ) of the eyelid when the lever is actuated in the second direction b, the pressure being sufficient so as to shift the eyelid, rotating it around the axis (x), overcoming the force which the return means exert on the same, between at least the cited position A and a position B, in which the eyelid covers the eye at least partially.   
     
     
         2 . The mechanical eye ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the portion ( 8 ) of the eyelid ( 3 ) which contacts the cam surface ( 6 ) of the lever ( 5 ) has a curved surface ( 8   a ) suitable for allowing the cam surface ( 6 ) to slide thereon while the pressure of the lever ( 5 ) is transmitted to the eyelid ( 3 ). 
     
     
         3 . The mechanical eye ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the axis (x), around which the eyelid ( 3 ) may rotate, is not parallel to the rotation axis (y) of the lever ( 5 ). 
     
     
         4 . The mechanical eye ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the return means ( 7 ) arrange the eyelid ( 3 ) permanently applied against the lever ( 5 ). 
     
     
         5 . The mechanical eye ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the first spherical cap ( 2 ) is joined to or comprises two essentially cylindrical, diametrically opposed protuberances ( 9 ) which extend outwards, capable of serving to fix the eye ( 1 ) to the outer support casing via which the second spherical cap ( 4 ) is supported in a rotatable manner. 
     
     
         6 . The mechanical eye ( 100 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the second spherical cap ( 4 ) has two diametrically opposed eyelets ( 10 ) and in that said second spherical cap ( 4 ) is sufficiently elastically deformable so as to be opened and a corresponding protuberance ( 9 ) of the first spherical cap ( 2 ) to be inserted in one of the eyelets ( 10 ). 
     
     
         7 . The mechanical eye ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , comprising an angular position sensor ( 11 ) of the lever ( 5 ); with a switch module ( 12 ); and with a processor ( 13 ) which stores different actuation programs of a motor associated with the lever ( 5 ) and which is capable, when the switch module is actuated, of selecting and executing one of the actuation programs of the motor stored as a function of the immediate angular position of the motorized lever ( 5 ). 
     
     
         8 . The mechanical eye ( 100 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein the switch module ( 12 ) comprises a transducer with at least any one of a pressure sensor, noise sensor or light sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The mechanical eye ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the motorized lever ( 5 ) is equipped with a groove ( 14 ) in which an eccentric projection ( 15 ) connected to an actuation shaft ( 16 ), which is coupled to a motor ( 19 ), is inserted. 
     
     
         10 . The mechanical eye ( 100 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein the actuation shaft ( 16 ) rotates around an axis (z) parallel to the rotation axis (y) of the lever ( 5 ). 
     
     
         11 . The mechanical eye ( 100 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein the projection ( 15 ) is formed in a disc ( 17 ) connected to the actuation shaft ( 16 ). 
     
     
         12 . The mechanical eye ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the motorized lever ( 5 ) is joined by means of at least one transmission piece ( 18 ) which extends normal to the rotation plane of the lever to another lever ( 5 ′) associated with another mechanical eye such that the actuation of this other lever ( 5 ′) is produced. 
     
     
         13 . A module ( 200 ) which simulates the blinking of artificial eyes for a toy, which comprises first and second mechanical eyes ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , arranged symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry, in which the lever ( 5 ) associated with the eyelid ( 3 ) of the first eye ( 1 ) and the lever ( 5 ′) associated with the eyelid ( 3 ′) of the second eye ( 1 ′) are mounted so they may rotate around a common rotation axis (y) and in which the lever ( 5 ) associated with the first eye is coupled to an actuation shaft ( 16 ) of a motor while the lever ( 5 ′) associated with the second eye is a lever driven by the lever ( 5 ) associated with the first eye by means of at least one transmission piece ( 18 ) which joins both levers.