Animated figure walking mechanism

Abstract

An ambulatory animated figure system includes an animated figure having a body with a first limb and a second limb extending therefrom. The system also includes a carrier configured to be disposed on a support, and the animated figure extends away from a side of the carrier in a direction. The carrier is coupled to a first limb through a first actuator system, which is configured to move the first limb away from the side of the carrier in the direction and configured to slide an end of the first limb transversely relative to the direction. The carrier is translated relative to the support through a second actuator system. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the first actuator system and the second actuator system and configured to coordinate actuation of the first actuator system and the second actuator system to provide an ambulatory effect.

1 . An ambulatory animated figure system, comprising: 
 an animated figure having a body with a limb extending therefrom;    an actuator system coupled to the limb and configured to move the limb along a direction;   a linkage comprising: 
 a first linkage end coupled to the limb proximate a first end of the limb; and 
 a second linkage end coupled to the body or to the limb proximate a second end of the limb;  
 a sliding actuator system configured to slide the linkage back and forth along the direction such that the linkage hinges away from and back towards the limb; and 
 a controller communicatively coupled to the actuator system and configured to coordinate actuation of the actuator system. 
   
     
     
         2 . The ambulatory animated figure system of  claim 1 , wherein the first linkage end is coupled proximate the first end of the limb via the sliding actuator system and the sliding actuator system is configured to slide the first linkage end along the limb. 
     
     
         3 . The ambulatory animated figure system of  claim 1 , wherein:  
       the controller is communicatively coupled to the sliding actuator system; and  
       the controller is configured to coordinate actuation of the actuator system and the sliding actuator system to move the linkage and the limb together to provide an ambulatory effect. 
     
     
         4 . The ambulatory animated figure system of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage comprises a living hinge, a spring-loaded hinge, a ball bearing hinge, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The ambulatory animated figure system of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding actuator system is configured to slide the linkage back and forth along the direction by sliding the first linkage end relative to the second linkage end, wherein the second linkage end is fixed relative to the body or the limb. 
     
     
         6 . The ambulatory animated figure system of  claim 1 , comprising a carrier supporting the body via coupling with the limb, wherein the controller is configured to move the limb away from a side of the carrier in the direction. 
     
     
         7 . The ambulatory animated figure system of  claim 6 , wherein the sliding actuator system is configured to bend the linkage away from the limb in response to the actuator system moving the limb away from the side of the carrier in the direction. 
     
     
         8 . The ambulatory animated figure system of  claim 1 , wherein the animated figure comprises an additional limb extending from the body and an additional linkage coupled to the additional limb. 
     
     
         9 . The ambulatory animated figure system of  claim 8 , wherein the additional linkage is configured to bend away from the additional limb upon actuation of the sliding actuator system or an additional sliding actuator system configured to slide the additional linkage relative to the additional limb. 
     
     
         10 . A system, comprising: 
 an actuator system coupled to a limb of an animated figure, wherein the limb extends from a body portion of the animated figure;    a linkage extending adjacent the limb and coupled to the limb or the body portion via a first linkage end;   a sliding actuator system coupled to the linkage; and    a controller configured to coordinate actuation of the actuator system and the sliding actuator system to provide an ambulatory effect by: 
 activating the actuator system to move the limb along a direction; and 
 activating the sliding actuator system to slide a second linkage end relative to the first linkage end back and forth along the direction. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the sliding actuator system to slide second linkage end along the limb. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the linkage is configured to bend away from the limb and bend back toward the limb in an actuation cycle of the actuator system. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the linkage comprises a living hinge, a spring-loaded hinge, a ball bearing hinge, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the animated figure based on a predetermined pattern. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator system is configured to move the limb away from a side of a carrier in the direction. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the sliding actuator system is configured to bend the linkage away from the limb in response to the actuator system moving the limb away from the side of the carrier in the direction. 
     
     
         17 . A method for providing an ambulatory effect, the method comprising: 
 activating an actuator system to move a limb of an animated figure along a direction, wherein the actuator system is coupled to an end of the limb of the animated figure; and   activating a sliding actuator system to slide a linkage back and forth along the direction, wherein a first linkage end of the linkage is fixedly coupled to the animated figure and a second linkage end is slidably coupled to the animated figure.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising resisting bending of the limb via structural supports. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising bending the linkage away from the limb and back toward the limb in an actuation cycle of the actuator system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein bending the linkage comprises flexing a living hinge, a spring-loaded hinge, a ball bearing hinge, or any combination thereof.