The present invention relates to toys generally and more particularly to activity centers for young children.
Various types of activity centers for young children are known.
The present invention seeks to provide an improved activity center for young children.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a developmental toy for infants including an infant support surface having an open operative orientation and a folded operative orientation, a first pair of circumferential elements associated with the infant support surface and having an open operative orientation and a folded operative orientation and a second pair of elements, generally similar in configuration to the first pair of circumferential elements, arranged to support toy objects above the infant support surface and having an open operative orientation and a folded operative orientation and a locking assembly for selectably locking the first and second pairs of circumferential elements in their respective open operative orientations, the open operative orientation of the infant support surface being an angular separation of 180 degrees, the open operative orientation of the first pair of circumferential elements being an angular separation of 180 degrees and the open operative orientation of the first pair of circumferential elements being an angular separation of substantially less than 180 degrees.
Preferably, the developmental toy for infants also includes a track assembly including an upper track portion and a lower track portion which are fixed together to define a top track lying above the upper track portion, an intermediate track lying between the top track portion and the lower track portion and a bottom track lying below the lower track portion and a locomotive assembly including a top portion which moves along the top track.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the developmental toy for infants also includes at least one removably mounting element operative for removably mounting the track assembly on the second pair of elements. Additionally or alternatively, the developmental toy for infants also includes at least one removably mounting element operative for removably mounting the track assembly on the infant support surface.
Preferably, the locomotive assembly also includes an intermediate portion which is decouplably connected to the top portion for travel along the intermediate track along with the top portion and a bottom portion which is fixed to the intermediate portion for travel along with the intermediate portion. Additionally, the intermediate portion of the locomotive assembly is at least lockable in an at least partially confined space between the upper track portion and a lower track portion and is thus retained against disengagement from the track assembly even when the intermediate portion is decoupled from the top portion of the locomotive assembly.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the top portion of the locomotive assembly is operative to move along the top track and to provide a rotational driving output about an axis which is generally perpendicular to the track, the intermediate portion of the locomotive assembly is operative to be decouplably driven by the top portion both in motion along the intermediate track and in rotational motion about the axis which is generally perpendicular to the track and the bottom portion of the locomotive assembly is operative to be driven by the intermediate portion both in motion along the bottom track and in rotational motion about the axis which is generally perpendicular to the track.
Preferably, the developmental toy for infants also includes a base assembly including an upper base portion and a lower base portion which are fixed together to define a top base surface lying above the upper base portion, an at least partially confined base surface lying between the top base portion and the lower base portion and a bottom base surface lying below the lower base portion and a motion assembly including a top portion which moves in a first manner on the top base surface.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the motion assembly also includes an intermediate portion which is decoublably connected to the top portion for movement on the at last partially confined base surface driven by the top portion and a bottom portion which is fixed to the intermediate portion for movement along with the intermediate portion.
Preferably, the developmental toy for infants also includes at least one removably mounting element operative for removably mounting the base assembly on the infant support surface. Additionally or alternatively, the developmental toy for infants also includes at least one removably mounting element operative for removably mounting the track assembly on the second pair of elements.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the motion assembly also includes an intermediate portion which is decoublably connected to the top portion for movement on the at last partially confined base surface driven by the top portion and a bottom portion which is fixed to the intermediate portion for movement along with the intermediate portion.
Preferably, the developmental toy for infants also includes an elongate track and a vehicle configured for locomotive motion along the track within a field of view of an infant located on the infant support surface, the locomotive motion along the track being generally side to side motion in the infant's field of view.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the vehicle includes a support for a depending visual attractant. Additionally, the vehicle includes a rotating support for the depending visual attractant, causing rotation of the visual attractant about an axis transverse to that of the elongate track.
There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a developmental toy for infants including a base assembly including an upper base portion and a lower base portion which are fixed together to define a top base surface lying above the upper base portion, an at least partially confined base surface lying between the top base portion and the lower base portion and a bottom base surface lying below the lower base portion and a motion assembly including a top portion which moves in a first manner on the top base surface, an intermediate portion which is decoublably connected to the top portion for movement on the at last partially confined base surface driven by the top portion and a bottom portion which is fixed to the intermediate portion for movement along with the intermediate portion.
There is further provided in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention a developmental toy for infants including a track assembly including an upper track portion and a lower track portion which are fixed together to define a top track lying above the upper track portion, an intermediate track lying between the top track portion and the lower track portion and a bottom track lying below the lower track portion and a locomotive assembly including a top portion which moves along the top track, an intermediate portion which is decouplably connected to the top portion for travel along the intermediate track along with the top portion and a bottom portion which is fixed to the intermediate portion for travel along with the intermediate portion.
Preferably, the intermediate portion of the locomotive assembly is at least lockable in an at least partially confined space between the upper track portion and a lower track portion and is thus retained against disengagement from the track assembly even when the intermediate portion is decoupled from the top portion of the locomotive assembly. Additionally, the top portion of the locomotive assembly is operative to move along the top track and to provide a rotational driving output about an axis which is generally perpendicular to the track, the intermediate portion of the locomotive assembly is operative to be decouplably driven by the top portion both in motion along the intermediate track and in rotational motion about the axis which is generally perpendicular to the track and the bottom portion of the locomotive assembly is operative to be driven by the intermediate portion both in motion along the bottom track and in rotational motion about the axis which is generally perpendicular to the track.
There is even further provided in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention a developmental toy for infants including an infant support surface, an elongate track configured to be mountable at a location raised with respect to the infant support surface and a movable element configured for locomotive motion along the track within a field of view of an infant located on the infant support surface, the locomotive motion along the track being generally side to side motion in the infant's field of view, the movable element being selectably non-detachable from the track by the infant.
Preferably, the developmental toy for infants also includes at least one visual attractant arranged for removable association with the movable element at least for motion therewith along the track.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the infant support surface has an open operative orientation and a folded operative orientation and the developmental toy also includes a first pair of circumferential elements associated with the infant support surface and having an open operative orientation and a folded operative orientation, a second pair of elements, generally similar in configuration to the first pair of circumferential elements, arranged to support toy objects above the infant support surface and having an open operative orientation and a folded operative orientation and a locking assembly for selectably locking the first and second pairs of circumferential elements in their respective open operative orientations, the open operative orientation of the infant support surface being an angular separation of 180 degrees, the open operative orientation of the first pair of circumferential elements being an angular separation of 180 degrees and the open operative orientation of the first pair of circumferential elements being an angular separation of substantially less than 180 degrees.
The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings in which:
Reference is now made to
As seen in
Preferably mounted onto pad 102 are a pair of mutually spaced removable decouplable reciprocating and rotating movement subassembly mounting tabs 123 and 124, which preferably have VELCRO® type fasteners formed thereon. Similar removable decouplable reciprocating and rotating movement subassembly mounting tabs 125 and 126 are preferably provided on sleeves 120 and 122 of respective toy object mounting arc shaped elongate elements 116 and 118. Sleeves 120 and 122 of toy object mounting arc shaped elongate elements 116 and 118 are preferably also provided with a plurality of toy object mounting loops 128.
A decouplable reciprocating and rotating movement subassembly 130 may be removably mounted either on tabs 123 & 124 or on tabs 125 & 126. Alternatively, two subassemblies 130 may be provided, as seen also in
Reference is now made to
As seen in
It is seen that pad engaging arc shaped elongate elements 108 and 110 are fixedly mounted at their respective ends onto respective pairs of pivotably mounted pad engaging arc shaped elongate element mounting arm elements 208 and 210, which pairs are pivotably mounted by screws (not shown) at respective pivot axes defined by socket locations 212 and 214 and typically held together by additional screws (not shown).
Similarly, toy object mounting elongate elements 116 and 118 are fixedly mounted at their respective ends onto respective pairs of pivotably mounted toy object mounting arc shaped elongate element mounting arm elements 216 and 218, which pairs are pivotably mounted by screws (not shown) at respective pivot axes defined by socket locations 222 and 224 and typically held together by additional screws (not shown).
A rotatable double locking arbor 250 is rotatably mounted about an axis 252 defined by cover plates 202 and 204. Arbor 250 includes a base portion 254 having a generally rectangular center portion 256, at opposite ends of which are formed concave end portions 258 defining locking surfaces 260. Extending axially upward from base portion 254 along axis 252 is a generally cylindrical shaft portion 262 above which is a generally planar generally fan shaped upper portion 264 having inclined locking edge surfaces 266 and opposite finger engagement surfaces 268.
Referring now additionally to
When in a first operative orientation, as shown in
In this first operative orientation, locking surfaces 260 of base portion 254 retain pivotably mounted pad engaging arc shaped elongate element mounting arm elements 208 and 210 in mutually 180 degree orientation, so as to define a stable flat base surface with respect to which toy object mounting arc shaped elongate elements 216 and 218 are retained in a desired fixed mutual orientation.
In a second operative orientation, as seen in
When in a third operative orientation, as shown in
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As seen in
Decouplable connector assembly 314 preferably includes a magnet 316 enclosed within a top housing portion 318, which also supports a suspension loop 320. The top housing portion 318 is located between top and bottom track portions 304 and 306 and is free to slide along the track 302 and rotate but is not free to disengage from the track 302. A bottom housing portion 322 is located below bottom track portion 306 and is fixed to top housing portion 318 for sliding motion along track 302 and rotation therewith but cannot be disengaged from track 302.
A slidable finger-engageable track end locking element 324 is preferably provided for selectable positioning with respect to bottom track portion 306 for selectable locking of an end of track 302 and thus selectable locking of locomotive 310 against disengagement from track 302. Locking element 324 also functions as a locomotive displacement direction switching engagement element, as will be described hereinbelow.
Slidable finger-engageable track end locking element 324 is a generally elongate element having at a first end thereof, a finger engagement location 326. Extending from finger engagement location is a generally planar connection portion 328 to a base portion 330 which supports a locomotive direction changing switch engagement protrusion 332 having an undercut 334 for accommodating a transverse part 335 of top track portion 304. A spring seat 336 is provided for engaging a first end of a tension spring 337, whose opposite end is seated on a spring seat 338 of top track portion 304 and urges locking element 324 into a normal track locking orientation relative to track 302 in the absence of finger actuation.
Top and bottom track portions 304 and 306 are each formed with a longitudinal slot, here respectively designated by reference numerals 339 and 340. It is noted that bottom track portion 306 is preferably formed with a pair of end slots 341 which accommodate tabs 123 & 124 or tabs 125 & 126. Top track portion 304 is preferably formed with a raised circumferential rim 342 (
Reference is now made to
As seen in
Mounted within and adjacent to first side panel 402 is a speaker 420, which is preferably aligned with an array 422 of apertures formed in first side panel 402.
First side panel 402 is also preferably formed with a hook 424 and second side panel 404 is formed with a hook 426 for removably retaining loops 349 of fanciful object 346 onto locomotive 310 as seen in
Mounted within and adjacent to second side panel 404 is a multi-function switch assembly 428 which preferably provides an on-off switching function as well as a music selection function, and which normally is operated by an adult. Mounted within and underneath top element 406 is a push switch 430, which may be operated by a child and which actuates motion of the locomotive 310 and music generation if switch 428 is in an ON operative position.
Disposed interiorly of first and second side panels 402 and 404 is a battery case 440 which typically engages three batteries 442 and has a cover 446 which is selectably openable from the outside of the locomotive 310.
Bottom element 407 includes a generally planar portion 452 and includes first and second pairs 454 and 456 of wheel supports. Driven wheels 408, which are each fixed to an opposite end of an axle 458, are rotatably supported on axle connector portions 450 thereof onto pair 454 of wheel supports. A second pair of wheels 468, which are each fixed to an opposite end of an axle 470, are rotatably supported on axle connector portions 472 thereof onto pair 456 of wheel supports.
Generally planar portion 452 of bottom element 407 also defines a seat for multi-axial gear assembly 410, which seat is bounded by parallel upstanding side wall portions 480 and 482 and by an upstanding transverse wall portion 484.
Extending downwardly from planar portion 452 is a socket 490 which rotatably accommodates power take off 312, which is, in turn, driven by multi-axial gear assembly 410. It is noted that a pair of outwardly extending transversely directed wing portions 492 extend from socket 490 at a location spaced from planar portion 452. These wing portions 492 are typically engaged between top and bottom track portions 304 and 306 and retain the locomotive against inadvertent disengagement from the track 302. A screw socket 494 is provided for receiving a screw (not shown) which retains multi-axial gear assembly 410 tightly against bottom element 407 and in the seat described above.
A pair of direction changing switch assemblies 496 and 498 are pivotably mounted onto mutually opposite ends of side panel 404 and each include a tongue portion 500 which extends through a corresponding aperture 502 formed in generally planar portion 452 of bottom element 407. Tongues 500 engage either one of locomotive direction changing switch engagement protrusion 332 and end 343 as the locomotive reaches either end of the track, thereby operating switch assemblies 496 and 498 to change the displacement direction of the locomotive 310 accordingly. It is appreciated that switch assemblies 496 and 498 are electrically connected to an electrical control circuit 510, to which switch assembly 428, switch 430 and gear assembly 410 are also connected.
Power take off 312 includes a generally cylindrical housing portion 520 having a driving slot 522 having a generally rectangular cross section for receiving a correspondingly configured drive shaft. Power take off 312 preferably includes a magnet 524 and a bottom housing portion 526, which is fixedly sealed to generally cylindrical housing portion 520, thereby enclosing magnet 524.
Reference is now made to
As seen in
A relatively smaller gear portion 622 of second double gear 616 drives a gear 624 typically in a direction indicated by an arrow 628. Gear 624 is coupled via a spring biased clutch to a gear 630. The spring biased friction clutch is defined by mutually facing clutch surfaces (not shown) on gears 624 and 630 which are forced together by a spring 632. Gears 624 and 630 and spring 632 are all rotatably mounted onto an axle 634. Gear 630 rotates typically in the direction indicated by arrow 628 and simultaneously drives a gear 638, typically in a direction indicated by an arrow 640, and a gear 642, typically in a direction indicated by an arrow 644.
Gear 638 is fixed to axle 458 and thus its rotation drives wheels 408 in the direction of rotation of gear 638, as indicated by arrows 646 and 648.
Gear 642 drives a relatively larger gear portion 654 of a third double gear 656 typically in a direction indicated by an arrow 658. A relatively smaller gear portion 662 of double gear 656 drives a gear 664 typically in a direction indicated by an arrow 666. Gear 664 is fixed to a drive shaft 668 which has a generally rectangular cross-section configuration suitable for driving seated engagement in driving slot 522 of power take off 312.
Reference is now made to
As seen in
A relatively smaller gear portion 713 of double gear 711 drives a relatively larger gear portion 714 of a third double gear 716 typically in a direction indicated by an arrow 718. A relatively smaller gear portion 722 of double gear 716 drives a gear 724 typically in a direction indicated by an arrow 728. Gear 724 is coupled via a spring biased clutch to a gear 730. The spring biased friction clutch is defined by mutually facing clutch surfaces (not shown) on gears 724 and 730 which are forced together by a spring 732. Gears 724 and 730 and spring 732 are all rotatably mounted onto an axle 734. Gear 730 rotates typically in the direction indicated by arrow 728 and simultaneously drives a gear 738, typically in a direction indicated by an arrow 740, and a gear 742, typically in a direction indicated by an arrow 744.
Gear 738 is fixed to axle 458 and thus its rotation drives wheels 408 in the direction of rotation of gear 738, as indicated by arrows 746 and 748.
Gear 742 drives a relatively larger gear portion 754 of a fourth double gear 756 typically in a direction indicated by an arrow 758. A relatively smaller gear portion 762 of double gear 756 drives a gear 764 typically in a direction indicated by an arrow 766. Gear 764 is fixed to a drive shaft 768 which has a generally rectangular cross-section configuration suitable for driving seated engagement in driving slot 522 of power take off 312.
Reference is now made to
It is a particular feature of the present invention that in the intermediate and fully folded orientations shown in
Reference is now made to
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It is appreciated that repeated back and forth motion of locomotive 310 is provided by repeated engagement of either of direction changing switches 496 and 498 of locomotive 310 with protrusion 332 followed by engagement with the raised circumferential rim 342 at end 343 of slot 339 or vice versa.
Reference is now made to
It is appreciated that in the operative orientation of
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It is a particular feature of the embodiment of
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.