The Little Tikes Company

Douglas Zlatic

Robert L Quinlan

David D Hayes

John J Andrisin

G Stewart Lenox

Peter C McEachen

Richard C Kephart

A crayon sharpening assembly is disclosed comprising an axially rotating cartridge block (106) having an axial bore (178) for axial receipt of a crayon with a forward end of the crayon positioned within a cutting station (152). A pair of convergent sharpening blades (158, 160) carve a conical nose into the forward crayon end; a secondary horizontal blade (180) engages the forward crayon end and cuts an annular stepped shoulder surrounding the conical nose; and a preparatory vertical blade (188) makes a vertical circumscribing cut through the jacket of the crayon proximate the forward end, whereby restoring the forward crayon end into its manufactured form. A carrying case (12, 14) is provided having a pivotal lid (16), with the sharpener drive assembly (20, 22) built into one end wall. A drawer assembly (100) is removable from the end wall and contains the cartridge block (106) and a housing (102) for collecting shavings generated in the sharpening procedure. A bottom housing door (104) opens to allow expulsion of the shavings. Rotation of the cartridge block (106) is facilitated by an electrically driven drive assembly that is automatically engaged and disengaged by the respective insertion and removal of the crayon and disengaged by the removal of the drawer housing assembly. Rotation of the cartridge block (106) is defeated by a clutch member (230) whenever an article that has a hardness greater than that of a crayon is inserted into the cartridge block cutting station (152).

Crayon sharpener assembly

A crayon sharpening assembly is disclosed comprising an axially rotating cartridge block (106) having an axial bore (178) for axial receipt of a crayon with a forward end of the crayon positioned within a cutting station (152). A pair of convergent sharpening blades (158, 160) carve a conical nose into the forward crayon end; a secondary horizontal blade (180) engages the forward crayon end and cuts an annular stepped shoulder surrounding the conical nose; and a preparatory vertical blade (188) makes a vertical circumscribing cut through the jacket of the crayon proximate the forward end, whereby restoring the forward crayon end into its manufactured form. A carrying case (12, 14) is provided having a pivotal lid (16), with the sharpener drive assembly (20, 22) built into one end wall. A drawer assembly (100) is removable from the end wall and contains the cartridge block (106) and a housing (102) for collecting shavings generated in the sharpening procedure. A bottom housing door (104) opens to allow expulsion of the shavings. Rotation of the cartridge block (106) is facilitated by an electrically driven drive assembly that is automatically engaged and disengaged by the respective insertion and removal of the crayon and disengaged by the removal of the drawer housing assembly. Rotation of the cartridge block (106) is defeated by clutch member (230) whenever an article that has a hardness greater than that of a crayon is inserted into the cartridge block cutting station (152).

Method for sharpening crayons

An oscillating sprinkler comprises a fixed base assembly (12) and an upper housing (14) from which water distributing arms (16, 18, 20, 22) extend. A bearing member (66) depends from the upper housing (14) and is seated within the base assembly (12). An upper surface (26) of the base housing (12) comprises an undulating cam surface and bend portions (110) of the arm members act as cam followers. Bend portions (110) engage cam surface (26) and cause a reciprocal tilting of the upper housing (14) about the bearing member (66) as the upper housing (14) rotates about the base assembly (12). Water ejected from orifices (114) in the arm members (16, 18, 20, 22) act to propel the upper housing along its rotational path. A cap member (144) is rotationally mounted to the top of the upper housing (14) and pressurized water ejected through orifices (148) in the cap member (144) act to rotate the cap member in a direction opposite to the direction in which the upper housing rotates.

Growing community of inventors

North Royalton, OH, United States of America

Douglas Zlatic