ARRAY OF TOYS SIMULATING A VEHICLE CONTROL PANEL

Abstract

This invention relates to children's toys, and particularly to an array of toys that may be attached to a baby boat or stroller, or may be used independently in or out of a bathtub, pool, or other body of water, to stimulate and entertain a child by providing a simulated control panel or dashboard panel of a boat or other vehicle. The toys are affixed to an inflatable body member, at least one of the toys being in fluid communication with the inflatable body member so that as the body member is inflated, that toy is simultaneously inflated

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to children's toys, and particularly to an array of toys that may be attached to a baby boat or stroller, or may be used independently in or out of a bathtub, pool, or other body of water, to stimulate and entertain a child by providing a simulated control panel or dashboard panel of a boat or other vehicle. The toys are affixed to an inflatable body member, one or more of the toys being in fluid communication with the inflatable body member so that as the body member is inflated, the toy is also inflated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Beach and pool toys are immensely popular consumer items. Many such items are designed for children, such as baby boats and floats in which the child may be seated. An example is the recreational flotation device of U.S. Design Patent D679,770, which provides an inflatable U-shaped main body having a seat area, combined with a removable kickboard.

The device of the instant invention may be used with such a baby boat or float. For a boat having a curved front end, such as that of U.S. Design Patent D679,770, the body of the device may be curved to match generally the curvature of the front end, so that the body of the device may rest on that end of the boat, partially surrounding the child. Various objects comprising the toy array, such as a toy steering wheel, a horn, a push-button electronic noise-maker, a bell, a squeaker, and/or a rattle, are intended to catch the attention of the child and to provide amusement, while stimulating the child's mental and physical abilities. In particular, the array of toys simulates a vehicle control panel or dashboard.

The device of the instant invention may be removably attached to the baby boat by known means, such as straps, buckles, or hook-and-loop fasteners. The device may likewise be removably attached to a stroller or car seat, or allowed to float by itself in a bathtub or pool. Or if the body of the device is appropriately shaped, it may be secured around the waist of a child while he or she stands or walks, or it may be placed in the child's lap while he or she sits.

Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of various non-limiting embodiments of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures. In cases where the present specification and a document incorporated by reference include conflicting and/or inconsistent disclosures, the present specification shall control.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, which are schematic and are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the figures, each identical or nearly identical component illustrated is typically represented by a single numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component is labeled in every figure, nor is every component of each embodiment of the invention shown where illustration is not necessary to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention. In the figures:

FIG. 1 depicts an array of toys in accordance with one embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 depicts an array of toys in accordance with another embodiment of the instant invention, as seen from the side facing the child.

FIG. 3 is a depiction of a child seated in a baby boat and facing a device of the instant invention.

FIG. 4 depicts the device of the instant invention attached to a baby stroller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts an array of toys 10, comprising inflatable body 12 having, in this embodiment, an arcuate shape. Attached to body 12 are several toys: item 14 is a toy steering wheel that may include at its center a button 16 that, when pushed, emits the beeping sound of a vehicle horn. Item 18 is intended to replicate a mirror, and may include a ball inside having a light that is motion-activated when the child pushes or hits the mirror. Item 20, projecting from main body 12, may include a squeaking means, and item 22, also projecting from main body 12, may be a rattle. Toys 18, 20, and 22 are preferably constructed of a soft plastic material, which may be the same soft plastic material as body 12, and are in fluid communication with body 12 so that when the body 12 is being inflated these three items are also being inflated. Item 24 may be a simulated starting button which, when pushed, emits a sound like that of an engine starting.

Strap 26 may be employed to removably attach the device 10 to a stroller, car seat, or baby boat by connecting it to a corresponding strap projecting from the baby boat, stroller, etc. (not shown) by attachment means such as hook-and-loop fasteners.

FIG. 2 depicts another embodiment of the instant invention: an array of toys comprising buoyant body 30 having an arcuate shape like that depicted in FIG. 1. Attached to body 30 are several toys in array: item 34 is a toy steering wheel that may include at its center a button 36 that, when pushed, emits the beeping sound of a vehicle horn. Item 38 is intended to replicate a sea shell, and may include a ball inside having a light that is motion-activated when the child pushes or squeezes the shell. Item 40, projecting from main body 30, may include a squeaking means, and item 32, also projecting from main body 30, may be a rattle. Items 32, 38, and 40 are preferably constructed of a soft plastic material, which may be the same soft plastic material as body 30, and are in fluid communication therewith so that when body 30 is being inflated these three items are also being inflated. Item 42 may be a simulated starting button (as in the embodiment of FIG. 1) which, when pushed, emits a sound like that of an engine starting.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the placement of the device of the instant invention at the front edge of a baby boat, with a baby seated in the boat adjacent the device. FIG. 4 depicts the device of the instant invention attached to a baby stroller.

From the description of at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting.

While several embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the functions and/or obtaining the results and/or one of more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are mean to be exemplary and the actual parameters, dimensions, materials and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings of the present invention is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. It is therefore to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, with the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. The present invention is directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A amusement device for children comprising: an inflatable body having an arcuate shape to partly surround the child;a plurality of toys arrayed on an external surface of the inflatable body, at least one of said toys being inflatable and in fluid communication with the inflatable body, said plurality of toys simulating a control panel of a vehicle.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the inflatable body is comprised of a soft plastic material.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the at least one toy in fluid communication with the inflatable body is comprised of a soft plastic material.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the at least one toy in fluid communication with the inflatable body is comprised of the same soft plastic material as the inflatable body.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising attachment means for removably attaching the inflatable body to a baby boat or float.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising attachment means for removably attaching the inflatable body to a child's stroller.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the inflatable body is adapted to be placed partly around the waist of a child and remain secured to the child without additional attachment means.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein one of the toys is a simulated steering wheel.

9. The device of claim 1 where one of the toys emits the sound of an engine starting when activated by the child.

10. The device of claim 1 where one of the toys emits the sound of a vehicle horn when activated by the child.

11. The device of claim 1 where one of the toys simulates a vehicle rear-view mirror.

12. An amusement device for children comprising an inflatable body and a plurality of toys attached to said inflatable body, at least one of said toys being inflatable and in fluid communication with the inflatable body, so that when the inflatable body is being inflated, the at least one toy is simultaneously inflated.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said plurality of toys simulates a control panel of a vehicle.