CHILDREN'S TOY

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a children's toy configured for moving one or more loose objects in a manner that is entertaining to a child. In various embodiments, the children's toy includes a housing having an inlet that permits a child to place one or more loose objects (e.g., toy balls) in the housing. The toy further includes a drive system configured to drive such loose objects through the housing along a helical path and out of the housing through an outlet.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Various embodiments of the present invention described herein generally relate to children's toys configured for moving loose objects in a manner that is entertaining to a child.

2. Description of Related Art

Children's toys often include devices for moving loose objects in order to entertain a child. For example, many toys include popping mechanisms configured to disperse a number of balls or other objects contained within a housing by popping the balls upwardly in response to some input motion (e.g., movement of the toy's wheels). Various other toys include a housing into which a child can place a loose ball and allow the object to move along a curved passageway or channel throughout the housing.

These existing toys enable the motion of loose objects to entertain children using the toys. However, there is a continuing need for an improved children's toy that moves loose objects in new and different ways, and that enables a child to interact with the toy in a dynamic and stimulating manner.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a children's toy configured for visibly moving one or more loose objects in order to entertain a child. In various embodiments, the children's toy comprises a housing and a drive system. The housing has at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the inlet being dimensioned to permit a loose object to enter the housing and the outlet being dimensioned to permit the loose object to exit the housing. The drive system comprises at least one rotating member configured for driving the loose object through the housing along an at least partially helical path between the inlet and the outlet. The housing is configured such that the loose object is visible from outside the housing as it moves along the helical path through the housing.

Various other embodiments of the present invention are directed to a children's toy comprising a housing and a drive system configured for engaging a loose object in order to guide the loose object along a helical path. In various embodiments, the housing has at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the inlet being dimensioned to permit a loose object to enter the housing and the outlet being dimensioned to permit the loose object to exit the housing. The drive system comprises at least one rotating member configured for driving the loose object through the housing along an at least partially helical path between the inlet and the outlet.

Various other embodiments of the present invention are directed to a children's toy comprising a housing and a drive system, where the children's toy is configured to resemble a small-scale version of a full-scale object generally familiar to and recognizable by a child. In various embodiments, the housing has at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the inlet being dimensioned to permit a loose object to enter the housing and the outlet being dimensioned to permit the loose object to exit the housing. The drive system comprises at least one rotating member configured for driving the loose object through the housing along an at least partially helical path between the inlet and the outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a children's toy according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a rear perspective view of the children's toy of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a partially cutaway perspective view of a housing and object drive system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a gear assembly for a drive system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a side elevation view of the children's toy of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view indicating the path of a toy ball through the children's toy of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a partially cutaway view of a children's toy according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows a partially cutaway view of a children's toy according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 shows a partially cutaway view of a children's toy according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a children's toy configured for moving one or more loose objects in a manner that is entertaining to a child. According to various embodiments, the children's toy includes a housing having an inlet that permits a child to place (e.g., by dropping or otherwise) one or more loose objects (e.g., toy balls) in the housing. The toy further includes a drive system configured to drive such loose objects through the housing along a helical path and out of the housing through an outlet in o thereby entertaining a child. In certain embodiments, the housing is configured such that loose objects are visible to a child as they move along the helical path, thereby enabling the motion of the loose objects through the housing to further entertain the child.

As described in greater detail herein, certain embodiments of the toy are configured to resemble a motor vehicle (e.g., a cement truck) and include wheels configured to power the drive system. As a result, loose objects can be placed in the housing and moved through the housing as the toy is pushed on its wheels along a support surface. However, as will be appreciated from the description herein, various embodiments of the children's toy may include a variety of drive systems and may be adapted to for use with a variety of children's toys.

Children's Cement Truck Toy

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a toy cement truck 5 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the toy cement truck 5 generally comprises four wheels 34, a frame 32 shaped to resemble a cement truck's body, and a housing 10 shaped to resemble a cement truck's mixer. As described in greater detail herein, the toy cement truck 5 further includes a drive system configured for driving a toy ball 40 along a helical path through the housing 10. Together, the frame 32 and wheels 34 comprise a chassis configured for supporting the housing 10 and the drive system.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 10 is generally egg shaped and defines an interior compartment configured for receiving the toy ball 40. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 10 includes an inlet opening 14 positioned near the front of the housing 10, and an outlet opening 16 positioned at the rear of the housing 10. The inlet opening 14 and outlet opening 16 are dimensioned to permit the toy ball 40 to pass into and out of the housing 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet opening 14 is aligned with an intake pipe 20 secured to the side of the housing 10. The intake pipe 20 is generally configured to act as an intake member to enable a child to easily place the toy ball 40 into the housing 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the intake pipe 20 is shaped to resemble the exhaust pipe of a cement truck, and includes an upper opening 22 and a lower opening 24. The upper opening 22 is dimensioned such than a child can easily place the toy ball 40 into the intake pipe 20. The lower opening 24 is in communication with the housing's inlet opening 14 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3). As such, the intake pipe 20 will direct a toy ball 40 dropped into its upper opening 22 downwardly to its lower opening 24, through the housing's intake opening 14, and into a frontal area of the housing 10. In various other embodiments, however, the housing 10 may include additional inlet openings and/or outlet openings, and may include one or more intake members or outlet members in communication with one or more of the inlet openings and/or outlet openings.

In various embodiments, the toy cement truck's drive system generally comprises a rotating member configured for driving the toy ball 40 along an at least partially helical path between the housing's inlet opening 14 and outlet opening 16. For example, in the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the toy cement truck's drive system comprises a propeller 100 disposed within the housing 10 and configured for being rotated by a gear assembly operatively connected to the wheels 34. As used herein, the term “propeller” shall refer generally to a rotatable member configured propel an object through the housing. In addition, the housing 10 includes a plurality of inner guide members 12 protruding inwardly from the inner surface of the housing 10. As described in greater detail herein, the guide members 12 are configured to guide the movement of the toy ball 40 as the propeller 100 pushes the toy ball 40 through the housing 10 along the helical path. As used herein, the term “helical” shall refer a generally helical shape or path and is not intended to refer a strictly helical or mathematically helical shape or path.

FIG. 3 shows a partially cut-away view of the toy cement truck 5 with the frame 32 removed from view. As shown in FIG. 3, the propeller 100 comprises a generally longitudinal body having four outwardly extending blades 102 and a plurality of outwardly protruding ribs 106, which are positioned proximate the intersection of the blades 102. In addition, the front end 114 and rear end 116 of the propeller 100 are rotatably connected to the housing 10 such that the propeller 100 can rotate about its longitudinal axis. In the illustrated embodiment, the blades 102 and ribs 106 are configured to drive the toy ball 40 through the housing 10 as the propeller 100 is rotated by a drive shaft 110.

As shown in FIG. 3, the drive shaft 110 is connected at one end to the propeller's front end 114, and at an opposite end to a gear assembly 60. The gear assembly 60 is operatively connected to a front axle 120 driven by two of the wheels 34 and is configured for imparting the rotational motion of the wheels 34 to the propeller 100. FIG. 4 shows a closer view of the gear assembly 60. As shown in FIG. 4, the gear assembly 60 includes a drive shaft gear 112, a fixed gear 122, a sliding gear 124, and a spring 160. In the illustrated embodiment, the fixed gear 122 is affixed to the front axle 120 such that it rotates with the front axle 120. In addition, the fixed gear 122 includes a set of mating teeth configured for engaging a first set of teeth provided on the sliding gear 124.

The sliding gear 124 is slidably connected to the front axle 120 such that it can slide longitudinally along the front axle 120 and is free to rotate with respect to the front axle 120. However, the sliding gear 124 is biased against the fixed gear 122 by a spring 126 such that sliding gear's first set of teeth engage the mating teeth on the fixed gear 122. Thus, there exists a friction between the sliding gear 124 and fixed gear 122 sufficient to cause both gears 124, 122 to rotate together under normal operating conditions. The sliding gear 124 also includes a second set of teeth engaged with the drive shaft gear 112. The drive shaft gear 112 is affixed to the drive shaft 110 such that the drive shaft 110 and drive shaft gear 112 rotate synchronously.

Under normal operating conditions, the engagement of the various gears 122, 124, 112 enables the wheels 34 to drive the propeller 100. For example, as the front wheels 34 turn, the fixed gear 122 rotates with the front axle 120. The rotation of the fixed gear 122 causes the sliding gear 124 to rotate and thereby drive the drive shaft gear 112. As the drive shaft gear 112 rotates, so too does the drive shaft 110 and thereby the propeller 100. Thus, as indicated by the rotational arrows in FIG. 4, the rotation of the toy cement truck's front wheels 34 drives the propeller 100 to rotate about its longitudinal axis. As will be appreciated from FIGS. 3 and 4, the propeller 100 can be driven clockwise or counterclockwise by moving the toy cement truck 5 backwards and forwards.

However, where the rotation of the propeller 100 is substantially impeded (e.g., by an object lodged within the housing 10), the sliding gear 124 and fixed gear 122 will act together as a clutch to prevent the drive shaft 110 from exerting harmful rotational force on the propeller 100. For example, if the toy cement truck 5 is pushed forward while the propeller 100 is prevented from rotating, the drive shaft gear 112 will exert a force on the sliding gear 124 that overcomes the friction between sliding gear 124 and fixed gear 122. As a result, the sliding gear 124 will rotate with respect to the fixed gear 120 and generate a clicking noise as the mating teeth of the sliding gear 124 and fixed gear 122 slide past one another. This clutch function prevents significant damage to the components of the toy cement truck's drive system.

As noted above, the propeller 100 is generally configured for pushing the toy ball 40 through the housing 10 as it is driven by the wheels 34 and rotates about its longitudinal axis. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing's guide members 12 guide the toy ball 40 along a helical path as the propeller 100 pushes the toy ball 40 through the housing 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the guide members 12 comprise protrusions extending inwardly from the inner surface of the housing 10. FIG. 5 provides a side view of the toy cement truck 5 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As can be seen from FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the housing's various guide members 12 are oriented along the housing 10 such that they define a helical path between one another around the interior of the housing 10 from the housing's inlet opening 14 to its outlet opening 16.

In the illustrated embodiment, propeller 100 and housing 10 are dimensioned such that a toy ball 40 can fit loosely between the propeller's ribs 106 and the walls of the housing 10, but cannot move between any of the propeller's blades 102 or across the guide members 12. In other words, the housing 10 and propeller 100 provide a clearance fit for the toy ball 40. As a result, when the toy ball 40 is pushed by the propeller's blades 102, the toy ball 40 moves between the housing's guide members 12 though the housing 10.

For example, FIG. 6 illustrates the helical path of the toy ball 40 as it is driven through the housing 10 by the propeller 100 according to one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the toy ball 40 enters the housing 10 via the intake pipe 20. When the toy ball 40 enters the housing 10 (e.g., via the housing's inlet opening 14), one of the propeller's blades 102 will engage the toy ball 40 and push it upwardly and then around the interior of the housing 10. As shown in FIG. 6, the housing's guide members 12 guide the ball 40 along a helical path through the housing 10 until the ball 40 exits the housing 10 through the housing's outlet opening 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the rotational speed of the propeller 100 is proportional to the speed of the wheels 34. As such, if the toy cement truck 5 is moved across a support surface swiftly, the speed of the wheels 34 and propeller 100 will cause a toy ball 40 exiting the housing 10 to shoot out of the outlet opening 16 (e.g., with a force between 1 and 7 joules). In addition, the propeller 100 and housing 10 are also configured such that multiple toy balls 40 may be driven through the housing 10 simultaneously.

According to certain embodiments, the housing 10 is generally configured such that the motion of the toy ball 40 through the housing 10 is visible to a child. For example, in one embodiment, the housing 10 is constructed from a transparent plastic material such that the toy ball 40 is clearly visible within the housing 10. In another embodiment, the housing 10 is constructed from a translucent plastic material such that, while the ball is not clearly visible, its position is still evident from outside the housing 10. In another embodiment, the housing 10 is constructed from a wire mesh material through the toy ball 40 can be seen. Indeed, in such embodiments, the housing 10 may be constructed from any material of suitable strength that provides visibility to the motion of the toy ball 40 through the housing 10. However, in certain other embodiments, the housing 10 may be constructed from an opaque material (e.g., opaque plastic) such that the toy ball 40 is not visible when positioned in the housing 10.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the toy cement truck 5 may further include a plurality of user controls 50. In various embodiments, the user controls 50 may be configured to trigger various lights and sounds configured for entertaining a child (e.g., truck or vehicle related sounds). In further embodiments, these lights and sounds may also be triggered by the motion of various components of the toy cement truck 5 (e.g., the movement of the wheels 34). In certain embodiments, motion sensing devices may be provided at the inlet opening 14 and outlet opening 16 of the housing 10 and may be configured to trigger sounds as the toy ball 40 moves into and out of the housing 10.

As will be appreciated from the description herein, the various features of the toy cement truck 5 enable a child to interact with the truck 5 by placing toy balls 40 into the housing 10 (e.g., via the intake pipe 20) and causing the balls 40 to move out of the housing 10 by moving the truck 5 along a support surface and rotating its wheels 34. The child's interaction with the toy balls 40, as well as the movement of the balls into and out of the housing 10, can be entertaining to a child. In addition, in embodiments in which the motion of the balls 40 through the toy cement truck's housing 10 is visible, the motion of the balls 40 through the housing 10 can further entertain a child.

Furthermore, as the particular toy cement truck 5 embodiment resembles an object familiar to certain children, these children may be further entertained by associating the action of the toy cement truck 5 with that of an actual cement truck (e.g., where the movement of the toy balls 40 into and out of the housing 10 may resemble the movement of cement into and out of an actual truck's cement mixer). This association can enhance the entertainment value of certain embodiments of the present invention. For example, in various other embodiments, a children's toy having a housing and an object drive system may be adapted to resemble a small-scale version of a familiar, full-scale object. Such familiar, full-scale objects include devices (e.g., tricycle, vacuum cleaner, motor-vehicle, kitchen appliance, etc.) and animals (e.g., alligator, monkey, elephant). In such embodiments, the children's toy comprising a small-scale version of a familiar object may be configured to enable various loose objects (e.g., toy balls) to be moved into and out of the toy (e.g., by the drive system described above).

As will be appreciated from the description herein, various changes and modifications to the above-described components may be incorporated in various other embodiments of the toy cement truck 5. According to various other embodiments, the toy cement truck may not include the intake pipe 20 (e.g., one or more inlets in the housing 10 may be provided for a child to place a toy ball 40 directly into the housing 10, various other tunnels or ramps may be provided to direct toy balls 40 into the housing, or toy balls 40 may be transferred into the housing by a separate mechanical system). In addition, various embodiments of the toy cement truck 5 may include additional wheels and further decorative or entertaining features provided on the frame 32. Furthermore, the toy ball 40 shown and described represents only one embodiment of a loose object capable of being driven through the housing 10 along the helical path. Indeed, the toy cement truck 5 may be configured for driving a variety of loose objects through the housing 10.

In addition, according to various embodiments, the propeller 100 may be driven by variety of gear assemblies, linkages, or other mechanisms. For example, in one embodiment, a push button may be provided and connected to a linear actuator (e.g., a rack and pinion gear assembly) in order to rotate the propeller 100 in response to a user depressing the push button. In another embodiment, the propeller 100 may be operatively connected to a hand crank that can be turned by a user in order to rotate the propeller 100. In other embodiments, the propeller 100 may be driven by a user-controlled motor (e.g., a stepper motor, brushed DC motor, electromagnetic motor).

Furthermore, the propeller 100 and housing 10 may configured in a variety of ways to drive loose objects along a helical path through the housing 10 according to various embodiments. For example, FIG. 7 illustrates a toy cement truck 300 according to one embodiment. The toy cement truck 300 includes a housing 310 and a propeller 320 having a helical blade. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 7, the inner surface of the housing 310 does not include guide members and the propeller 300 acts as an Archimedean screw in order to drive loose objects along a helical path through the housing 310.

As another example, FIG. 8 illustrates a toy cement truck 400 according to one embodiment. The toy cement truck 400 includes a housing 410 having indented, helical guide channels on the inner surface of the housing 410, and a propeller 420 having a pair of flat blades. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 8, propeller 420 pushes loose objects through the housing 410 as the housing's indented guide channels guide the loose objects along a helical path.

As yet another example, FIG. 9 illustrates a toy cement truck 500 according to one embodiment. The toy cement truck 500 includes a housing 510 having guide members protruding from the inner surface of the housing 510, and a propeller 520 having a helical blade. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 8, propeller 520 pushes loose objects through the housing 510 and acts together with the housing's guide members to guide the loose objects along a helical path.

In addition, the orientation of the housing 10 and drive system may differ among various embodiments. For example, in one embodiment the housing 10 and drive system may be configured to push a toy ball 40 upwardly along a helical path upwardly through the housing 10. Moreover, as will be appreciated from the description herein, various embodiments of the housing and drive system described herein may be adapted for use with variety of other children's toys and are not limited to the particular toy embodiments described herein. For example, the housings and drive systems described herein may be adapted for use with a toddler walker, activity table, or other children's entertainment device.

CONCLUSION

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

1. A children's toy configured for visibly moving one or more loose objects in order to entertain a child, the children's toy comprising: a housing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the inlet being dimensioned to permit a loose object to enter the housing and the outlet being dimensioned to permit the loose object to exit the housing;a drive system comprising at least one rotating member configured for driving the loose object through the housing along an at least partially helical path between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the housing is configured such that the loose object is visible from outside the housing as it moves along the helical path through the housing.

2. The children's toy of claim 1, wherein the drive system further comprises one or more wheels configured for rotating as the children's toy moves along a support surface, the drive system being configured such that the rotation of at least one of the one or more wheels causes the rotating member to rotate and drive a loose object positioned within the housing along the helical path.

3. The children's toy of claim 2, further comprising a frame operatively connected to the one or more wheels, wherein the frame and the one or more wheels are configured to act as a chassis for supporting the housing and drive system.

4. The children's toy of claim 3, wherein the rotating member is operatively connected to a drive shaft that is operatively connected to a gear assembly; and wherein at least one of the one or more wheels is operatively connected to the gear assembly and configured for driving the rotating member via the gear assembly.

5. The children's toy of claim 4, wherein the one or more wheels comprise four wheels operatively connected to the frame, the housing, frame, and four wheels being configured to resemble a cement truck.

6. The children's toy of claim 1, wherein the drive system further comprises a motor configured for rotating the rotating member.

7. The children's toy of claim 1, wherein the drive system further comprises a hand crank configured to enable a user to manually rotating the rotating member.

8. The children's toy of claim 1, wherein the at least one rotating member comprises a propeller having one or more blades configured for engaging the loose object as the propeller rotates in order drive the loose object along the helical path.

9. The children's toy of claim 8, wherein the one or more blades are substantially flat.

10. The children's toy of claim 8, wherein the one or more blades are curved.

11. The children's toy of claim 10, wherein the one or more blades extend helically along the length of the propeller.

12. The children's toy of claim 8, wherein the housing includes one or more guide members protruding inwardly from an inner surface of the housing, the guide members being configured for guiding the movement of the loose object along at least a portion of the helical path.

13. The children's toy of claim 1, further comprising an intake member providing an opening dimensioned for receiving the loose object and directing the loose object into the housing via the housing's inlet.

14. The children's toy of claim 1, wherein the housing is substantially transparent.

15. The children's toy of claim 1, wherein the housing is substantially translucent.

16. A children's toy configured for moving one or more loose objects in order to entertain a child, the children's toy comprising: a housing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the inlet being dimensioned to permit at least one loose object to enter the housing and the outlet being dimensioned to permit the loose object to exit the housing; anda drive system comprising at least one rotating member configured for driving the loose object through the housing along an at least partially helical path between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the rotating member and housing are configured for engaging the loose object in order to guide the loose object along the helical path.

17. A children's toy configured for moving one or more loose objects in order to entertain a child, the children's toy comprising: a housing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the inlet being dimensioned to permit at least one loose object to enter the housing and the outlet being dimensioned to permit the loose object to exit the housing; anda drive system comprising at least one rotating member configured for driving the loose object through the housing along an at least partially helical path between the inlet and the outlet;wherein the children's toy is configured to resemble a small-scale version of a full-scale object generally familiar to and recognizable by a child.

18. The children's toy of claim 17, wherein the children's toy is configured to resemble a small-scale version of a cement truck.

19. The children's toy of claim 17, wherein the children's toy is configured to resemble a small-scale version of a device.

20. The children's toy of claim 17, wherein the children's toy is configured to resemble a small-scale version of an animal.