Mechanical apparatus for controlling a puppet and method of use

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling a puppet to obtain a desired position or expression, with a mounting plate having a plurality of rod apertures. A plurality of ball braces are secured to the mounting plate, each having a pair of ball apertures. A plurality of balls and rods are provided. Each ball is positioned between one of the ball apertures and rod apertures. Each rod extending through one of the balls and through one of the ball apertures and one of the rod apertures. Each rod contacting an action point on a puppet for manipulating the puppet through rotating and twisting of the ball, and longitudinal movement of the rod. The ball braces may be locked and unlocked, such that when locked, the associated ball and rod are held in position to maintain a facial expression at the action point.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A facial movement apparatus for controlling a puppet having a puppet face, comprising:
 a mounting plate adapted for mounting behind the puppet face, the mounting plate having a plurality of rod apertures;   a plurality of rods, each rod having a rod end and a rod head opposite from the rod end;   a plurality of balls, each ball having a through hole and associated with one of the rods, said rod extending through said through hole;   a plurality of ball braces, each ball brace having a ball aperture and attached to the mounting plate with one of the balls extending between said ball brace and said mounting plate, the rod associated with said ball extending through said ball aperture and one of the rod apertures; and   a tension screw associated with each ball brace, for securing the ball brace to the mounting plate and for adjusting tension on the ball brace to selectively lock the ball associated with said ball brace in a stationary position, and to selectively unlock the ball and rod associated with said ball brace so that said ball is maintained in its location but can rotate and twist and the rod can move longitudinally within the through hole; and   wherein each rod is adapted to engage with an action point within a puppet such that movement of the rod manipulates the puppet at said action point.   
     
     
         2 . The facial movement apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each ball brace has a fastening aperture; wherein the mounting plate has a plurality of rod apertures; and wherein the tension screw associated with each ball brace extends into the fastening aperture of said ball brace and continues into one of the receiving apertures of the mounting plate. 
     
     
         3 . The facial movement apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein each rod is capable of longitudinal movement within the through hole of its associated ball when its associated ball brace is unlocked by loosening the tensioning screw associated with said ball brace, and wherein longitudinal movement of said rod within said through hole is prevented by tightening the tensioning screw. 
     
     
         4 . The facial movement apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the rod apertures are countersunk facing its associated ball and the rod apertures are counter sunk facing its associated ball to closely contact said ball with enhanced surface area. 
     
     
         5 . The facial movement apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein each ball brace has two fastening apertures, wherein two of the rods are associated with each ball brace, and wherein the fastening aperture of each ball brace is centered between the fastening apertures, and wherein the tightening screw associated with said fastening aperture selectively locks both rods and balls associated with said ball brace. 
     
     
         6 . A facial movement apparatus for controlling a puppet having a puppet face, comprising:
 a mounting plate adapted for mounting behind the puppet face, the mounting plate having a plurality of rod apertures;   a plurality of rods, each rod having a rod end and a rod head opposite from the rod end, the rod head is adapted for engaging with an action point of the puppet such that movement of the rod manipulates the puppet;   a ball associated with each rod, each ball having a through hole, said rod extending through said through hole and capable of longitudinal movement within the through hole;   a plurality of locking assemblies, each locking assembly including at least one of the rods and balls and having a ball brace, said ball brace having a ball aperture and attached to the mounting plate with said balls extending between said ball brace and the mounting plate, the rod associated with said ball extending through said ball aperture and one of the rod apertures in the mounting plate; and   wherein each locking assembly has a locked and an unlocked state, when unlocked the ball associated with the ball brace is maintained in location but can rotate and twist and the rod associated with said ball can move longitudinally within the through hole, when locked the ball associated with the ball brace is prevented from rotating and twisting.   
     
     
         7 . The facial movement apparatus as recited in  claim 6 , wherein each locking assembly has a tension screw for securing the ball brace of said locking assembly to the mounting plate and for adjusting tension on said ball brace to selectively lock the ball associated with said ball brace in position, and to selectively unlock the ball and rod associated with said ball brace so that said ball is maintained in location but can rotate and twist and the rod can move longitudinally within the through hole. 
     
     
         8 . The facial movement apparatus as recited in  claim 7 , wherein each rod is capable of longitudinal movement within the through hole of its associated ball when its associated ball brace is unlocked by loosening the tensioning screw associated with said ball brace, and wherein longitudinal movement of said rod within said through hole is prevented by tightening the tensioning screw. 
     
     
         9 . The facial movement apparatus as recited in  claim 8 , wherein each locking assembly has two of the rods and balls associated therein, wherein the ball brace associated with said locking assembly has two ball apertures, wherein the fastening aperture of the ball brace associated with said locking assembly is centered between the ball apertures of said ball brace, and wherein the tightening screw associated with said fastening aperture selectively locks both rods and balls associated with said ball brace. 
     
     
         10 . A puppet control method using a facial movement apparatus having a mounting plate with rod apertures, a plurality of rods each having a rod end and a rod head, a ball associated with each rod and having a through hole with the rod extending through the through hole, a plurality of brace plates that each have at least one ball aperture, each of the balls extending between one of the brace plates and the mounting plate, the rod associated with each ball extending through one of the ball apertures and through one of the rod apertures, for use with a puppet face having an interior surface with a plurality of action points, comprising the steps of:
 positioning the mounting plate behind the puppet face;   attaching each rod head to one of the action points;   altering the appearance of the puppet face by manipulating the action point by moving one of the rods; and   maintaining the position of said rod by holding the ball associated with said rod stationary by tightening the brace plate associated with said rod against the mounting plate.   
     
     
         11 . The puppet control method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein a tension screw is associated with each ball brace, wherein the step of maintaining the position of said rod by tightening the brace plate associate with said rod against the mounting plate further comprises tightening the tension screw. 
     
     
         12 . The puppet control method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the step of altering the appearance of the puppet face by manipulating the action point by moving one of the rods further comprises performing one of rotating the ball associated with said one of the rods, twisting the ball associated with said one of the rods, and moving said rod longitudinally within the through hole of said ball. 
     
     
         13 . The puppet control method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the step of altering the appearance of the puppet face by manipulating the action point by moving one of the rods is preceded by the step of loosening the tension screw associated with said rod and said brace plate associated with said rod. 
     
     
         14 . The puppet control method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein each brace plate has two ball apertures, one of the rods and balls associated with each of said two ball apertures.