Reconfigurable walking toy with gear mechanism

Abstract

A reconfigurable walking toy which may be operated by turning a control knob which activates a gear mechanism within the toy used to move the leg members of the toy in order to simulate a walking action. The toy has two leg members, each having upper and lower leg members. The two upper leg members are rotatably engaged to a hollow body. Each of the two lower leg members is rotatably engaged to one of the upper leg members. The toy is supported by foot members which rotatably engage the bottom ends of the lower leg members. The gear mechanism features two sector gears which are rotatably mounted to the hollow body of the toy. The sector gears are driven by a pinion gear attached to a gear shaft. A control knob is used to rotate the shaft. Rotation of the knob back and forth causes one leg member to stride forward followed by the other leg member, simulating a walking movement of the toy. Tabs attached to the upper leg members operably engage elongated slots in the hollow body when the toy is in a walking configuration supported by the foot members. The toy can be reconfigured to simulate a flying vehicle or craft by rotating the upper ends of the leg members until the tabs engage smaller slots in the hollow body, locking the legs in a substantially horizontal position.