Patent Application
20230233953
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document may contain material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights and trade dress rights whatsoever.
The disclosed subject matter relates generally to coupling toys, systems, and kits and, more particularly, to a coupling toy, system and kit comprising a toy figure configured to frictionally engage a toy platform so as to be freely combinable and suitable for a wide range of motor skills.
Toys, such as dolls and construction sets, promote creativity in children and adults alike. In particular, construction toys allow individuals to build their own universe while teaching the fundamentals of physics, mathematics, mechanics, and architecture. However, creativity is often limited by the toy's designs.
Traditional construction sets, such as U.S. Application No. 2014/0,315,465 to Fusick, U.S. Pat. No. 3,594,940 to Yonezawa, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,463 to Olsen, teach press fit components. However, these proposals are deficient. Primarily, many individuals lack sufficient motor skills or suffer from disabilities that prevent or render difficult the ability to combine and separate the press fit components. Thus, the current proposals limit accessibility to healthy individuals. In addition, these proposals are deficient because they limit the interchangeability of individual components. Pieces from one kit cannot be combined with those from another because press fit pieces require tight contact with multiple surfaces. Therefore, an individual with a plurality of kits cannot simply combine their pieces for extended play. Instead, the individual can only select a single set of pieces to play with at any given time. In this way, play is limited to the kit, not the individual's creativity.
Another proposal, U.S. Pat. No. 8,894,463 to Chan et al., teaches a toy figure on a surfboard where the figure's feet are slid under strips of fabric. While this teaches a non-press fit coupling, it remains deficient because it limits the toy figure to a single location. Thus, the proposal does not allow free, creative play.
Yet another proposal, U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,315 to Ben-Gal et al., teaches coupling through locking agents. This proposal is deficient, however, because the locking mechanism requires substantial motor skills to combine, again limiting access to fully capable individuals. Further, this proposal is also deficient because the kit cannot be played in combination with another.
Currently, no proposal teaches a freely combinable, interactive, coupling toy that is suitable for a wide range of motor skills. As a result, there remains a need for an improved coupling toy to promote creativity.
The present disclosure is directed to a coupling toy, which may comprise a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface may further have one or more recesses sized to frictionally engage one or more studs along a toy platform. The one or more recesses may therefore be spaced so as to correspond to spacing of the one or more studs. It is to be understood that the one or more recesses may be formed in any shape, size, or configuration so as to engage the one or more studs. In addition, while this disclosure describes the one or more recesses as frictionally engaging the one or more studs, the one or more recesses may engage the one or more studs in a non-frictional manner and may further removably or permanently engage the one or more studs.
For purposes of summarizing, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features have been described. It is to be understood that not all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment. Thus, the disclosed subject matter may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages without achieving all advantages as may be taught or suggested.
In accordance with one embodiment, the one or more recesses may comprise four recesses. In some of such embodiments, the four recesses may be quadrilaterally spaced. In other embodiments, the four recesses may be spaced in another polygonal manner. Moreover, the four recesses may be spaced in a uniform or non-uniform manner.
In certain embodiments wherein the one or more recesses may comprise four recesses, the four recesses may be cylindrical or partially cylindrical. In these embodiments, the one or more studs may also be cylindrical and a portion of the four recesses may frictionally engage a portion of each of the one or more studs. In alternate embodiments, the four recesses may fully frictionally engage each of the one or more studs. In still further embodiments, the four recesses may frictionally engage some of the one or more studs.
The top surface of the coupling toy may be connected to a toy character. Alternatively, the top surface may be connected to a toy building structure. A person of ordinary skill will understand that the top surface may be connected to other toys as well and the foregoing are provided by way of example and not limitation. The toy character, the toy building structure, or other toy may be removably or permanently connected to the top surface of the coupling toy.
The coupling toy system and the coupling toy kit may comprise a toy platform and at least one toy figure. Similar to the above-described coupling toy, the at least one toy figure may comprise a bottom surface, which may have one or more recesses. Additionally, the toy platform may comprise one or more studs. In some embodiments, the one or more recesses may be sized to engage the one or more studs. In further embodiments, the one or more recesses may be sized to frictionally engage the one or more studs.
According to some embodiments, the one or more studs may be cylindrical and the one or more recesses may be partially cylindrical. In some of these embodiments, the one or more studs may be disposed in a parallel matrix. Further, in such embodiments, the one or more recesses may comprise four recesses, which may be quadrilaterally spaced so as to correspond to the parallel matrix.
The at least one toy figure may further comprise a top surface. The top surface may be connected to a toy character or a toy building structure. For instance, the toy character may comprise a human-like character or an animal-like character. By way of further example, the toy building structure may comprise a toy building or a portion of a toy building, such as a column or support. The toy character or the toy building structure may be removably connected to the top surface. In other embodiments, the toy character or the toy building structure may be permanently connected to the top surface.
In certain exemplary embodiments, the at least one toy figure may comprise two toy figures connected to the toy character. For example, the two toy figures may comprise two shoes, which may be connected to legs or other limbs of the toy character. As another example, the two toy figures may comprise two extremities, such as two hands or two feet.
One or more of the above-disclosed embodiments, in addition to certain alternatives, are provided in further detail below with reference to the attached figures. The disclosed subject matter is not, however, limited to any particular embodiment disclosed.
The disclosed embodiments may be better understood by referring to the figures in the attached drawings, as provided below. The attached figures are provided as non-limiting examples for providing an enabling description of the method and system claimed. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered as limiting of its scope. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without some of the details included in order to provide a thorough enabling description of such embodiments. Well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements.
The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus
The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the like should be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or more elements or signals, electrically, mechanically or otherwise. Two or more electrical elements may be electrically coupled, but not mechanically or otherwise coupled; two or more mechanical elements may be mechanically coupled, but not electrically or otherwise coupled; two or more electrical elements may be mechanically coupled, but not electrically or otherwise coupled. Coupling (whether mechanical, electrical, or otherwise) may be for any length of time, e.g., permanent or semi-permanent or only for an instant.
Having summarized various aspects of the present disclosure, reference will now be made in detail to that which is illustrated in the drawings. While the disclosure will be described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit it to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. Rather, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
With reference to
It is contemplated that the toy 100 may be made of any suitable material. For instance, the coupling toy 100 may be formed of plastic, rubber, ceramic, metal, wood, or a combination of the foregoing.
The bottom surface 120 may comprise a plurality of recesses 122. By way of example and not limitation, the bottom surface 120 may comprise four recesses 122. In another example, the bottom surface 120 may comprise six recesses 122. In yet another example, the bottom surface 120 may comprise eight recesses 122. It is to be understood that the bottom surface 120 may comprise any number of recesses 122 and should not be limited to the examples presented herein.
In one embodiment, including as shown in
In accordance with some embodiments, the one or more recesses 122 may be any shape. In one embodiment, the one or more recesses 122 may be cylindrical. In another embodiment, the one or more recesses 122 may be partially cylindrical. In yet another embodiment, the one or more recesses 122 may be domed. In another embodiment, the one or more recesses 122 may be partially domed. In yet another embodiment, the one or more recesses 122 may be cuboidal. In yet another embodiment, the one or more recesses 122 may be partially cuboidal.
In embodiments where the one or more recesses 122 may be cylindrical, domed, or cuboidal, the one or more recesses 122 may fully frictionally engage each or some of the one or more studs. On the other hand, in embodiments where the one or more recesses 122 may be partially cylindrical, partially domed, or partially cuboidal, for example, the one or more recesses 122 may frictionally engage a portion of each of the one or more studs.
In certain embodiments, the one or more recesses 122 may be distributed randomly among the bottom surface 120. Further, as shown in
It is contemplated that the height of the toy 100 may be at least the height of the one or more recesses 122. It is further contemplated that the width of the toy 100 may be at least the width of the one or more recesses 122. As shown in
In embodiments where the toy 100 may comprise one recess 122, the toy 100 may be equivalent to the width and the length of the one recess 122. It is to be further understood that the toy 100 may comprise an unequal number of recesses 122 and the length and the width of each of the unequal number of recesses 122 may be unequal in size. In still further of such embodiments, the toy 100 may comprise an equal number of recesses 122, which may be equal in both length and width.
A bottom, perspective view of the coupling toy 100 is shown in
With reference now to
The opening 112 may be formed as virtually any shape that may accommodate the toy character. By way of example and not limitation, the opening 112 may be cylindrical in shape. In other embodiments, the opening may be domed. In still other embodiments, the opening may be cuboidal.
More particularly, the toy platform 200 may comprise one or more studs 210, which may be disposed along a top surface 201 thereof. In further embodiments, the one or more studs 210 may be disposed along the top surface 201 and a bottom surface 202. In addition, the toy
According to some embodiments, the one or more recesses 122 may engage the one or more studs 210. As discussed previously, the one or more recesses 122 may be sized to fit the one or more studs 210. In one example, the one or more recesses 122 may have a depth equal to the height of the one or more studs 210. In another example, the one or more recesses 122 may have a depth greater than the height of the one or more studs 210. In other examples, the one or more recesses 122 may have a depth less than the height of the one or more studs 210.
The one or more studs 210 may be formed as virtually any shape. In some embodiments, the one or more studs 210 may be cylindrical or partially cylindrical. In yet other embodiments, the one or more studs 210 may be domed or partially domed. In further embodiments, the one or more studs 210 may be cuboidal or partially cuboidal. In certain exemplary embodiments, the one or more studs 210 may be the same shape as the one or more recesses 122. In alternate embodiments, the one or more studs 210 may be a different shape than the one or more recesses 122.
In accordance with the varying shapes of the one or more studs 210 and the one or more recesses 122, the one or more recesses 122 may partially or fully engage the one or more studs 210. Moreover, the one or more studs 210 may be removably coupled to the one or more recesses 122. In other embodiments, the one or more recesses 122 may be permanently coupled to the one or more studs 210.
The one or more recesses 122 may be spaced along the bottom surface 120 so as to align with and couple to the one or more studs 210. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the one or more studs 210 may be equally distributed across the toy platform 200. Further, the one or more studs 210 may be distributed in a pattern along the toy platform 200. As one example, the one or more studs 210 may be distributed in a grid structure along the toy platform 200. In another example, the one or more studs 210 may be distributed in a parallel matrix.
As shown in
The toy character 300 may comprise a plurality of segments. As noted above, the toy character 300 may be human-like. By way of example and not limitation, in embodiments where the toy character 300 may be human-like, the plurality of segments may include a head, torso, legs, and arms. In such an example, the plurality of segments may be static. In another example, the plurality of segments may be movable in relation to one another.
As shown in
In certain further embodiments, the coupling toy system and kit 400 may comprise additional coupling elements. For example, the coupling toy system and kit 400 may comprise one or more magnets. In yet another example, the coupling toy system and kit 400 may comprise one or more hook and loop fasteners. These coupling elements may further facilitate coupling of the toy
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merely examples of possible implementations. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.
Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.
While certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications are contemplated and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, throughout this disclosure, the coupling toy, system, and kit is described as being connected to the toy character or the toy building structure. However, the coupling toy, system, and kit may be connected to virtually any type of toy. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited, except as by the appended claims.
The teachings disclosed herein may be applied to other systems, and may not necessarily be limited to any described herein. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.
Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being refined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the coupling toy, system, and kit with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be constructed to limit the coupling toy, system, and kit to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification unless the above description section explicitly define such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the disclosed system, method and apparatus. The above description of embodiments of the coupling toy, system, and kit is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the precise form disclosed above or to a particular field of usage.
While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the method, system, and apparatus are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible for which those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.
While certain aspects of the method and system disclosed are presented below in particular claim forms, various aspects of the method, system, and apparatus are contemplated in any number of claim forms. Thus, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the coupling toy, system, and kit.
