Patent Application
20120237904
This invention pertains generally to a learning tool for children, and more particularly to an interactive electronic mat for teaching children a variety of educational subjects.
Many parents want their children to start learning at an early age. However, it can be difficult to teach a young child colors, shapes, numbers, letters, and the like. Many of the educational tools that are available, such as books and videos, do not hold or keep the child's attention. Children remain better engaged when the information is presented in an interactive and entertaining manner.
Consequently, there exists a need for an interactive and entertaining device for keeping the attention children for educational purposes. The present invention discloses an interactive floor mat for use as a learning tool for infants and small children. The device is useful in teaching shapes, colors, sounds, numbers, letters, animals, and the like. Children, particularly toddlers, will enjoy stepping on the interactive floor mat to experience the variety of different sounds and words that are emitted. The device is available as a series of interactive mats designed to teach a variety of educational and/or entertaining subjects. Children and parents will appreciate the entertaining style of education provided by the invention.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed invention. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises an interactive device for use in early childhood education and development. The interactive device comprises mat element, a plurality of pressure sensing elements, a control element, and an indicating device. The mat element may comprise a variety of different themes, such as vehicles, letters, numbers, animals, shapes, and the like. Additionally, the indicating device, such as a spin dial, may be spun to indicate one of a plurality of objects that are displayed on the spin dial. The indicated object will designate a corresponding substantially identical object for the child to locate on the mat element. For example, if the indicating element designates a picture of a star, the child will be directed to a picture of a star located on the mat element.
Furthermore, once the child locates and steps on the corresponding object on the mat element, the corresponding element will provide feedback in the manner of a visual and/or audible indication such as a light and a noise. In addition, the interactive device is usable with or without the indicating device. The child would simply receive feedback from any of a plurality of design elements integrated into the mat element.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be practiced and all aspects and equivalents thereof are intended to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the novel embodiments can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. The intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter.
Referring initially to the drawings,
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The interactive device 100 further comprises a plurality of pressure sensing elements 110 attached to or embedded in the mat element 102. The plurality of pressure sensing elements 110 comprises at least one sensing component that is preferably activated by pressure, such as from a child's foot. Additionally, the plurality of pressure sensing elements 110 are integrated with the plurality of design elements 108. In other words, every one of the plurality of design elements 108 will typically be connected to one of the plurality of pressure sensing elements 110. The plurality of pressure sensing elements 110 are typically located within the mat element 102 between the first layer 104 and the second layer 106 generally approximately underneath the plurality of design elements 108, however any method of locating and integrating the plurality of pressure sensing elements 110 known to one of skill in the art is acceptable.
The interactive device 100 further comprises a control element 114. The control element 114 is integrally connected to the plurality of pressure sensing elements 110. Typically, a plurality of wiring elements 112 are located within the mat element 102 between the first layer 104 and the second layer 106 connecting the plurality of pressure sensing elements 110 to the control element 114. Similarly, the control element 114 is typically located within mat element 102 between the first layer 104 and the second layer 106. Additionally, while the preferred embodiment shows that the control element 114 is in communication electrically with the plurality of pressure sensing elements 110 through the plurality of wiring elements 112, the communication may also be wireless as well, such as but not limited to radio frequency signals for example.
As one of the plurality of pressure sensing elements 110 is activated, a signal is sent to the control element 114 which in turn provides a response to the activation. The response is typically an audio and/or visual feedback. However, the response may be feedback comprising but not limited to a sound, a light, music, audible words, a vibration, and the like, or any combination thereof, without affecting the overall scope of the invention. The interactive device 100 further comprises a speaker element 122 connected to the control element 114 to provide audible feedback stored in the control element 114. For example, as the child activates one of the plurality of pressure sensing elements 110, the speaker element 122 may emit a stored recorded sound or noise that relates to the corresponding one of the plurality of design elements 108 selected by the child. Additionally, the control element 114 comprises a power source 116, preferably a battery 118 or an external electrical plug in cord (not shown).
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Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/453,994 filed Mar. 18, 2011.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61453994 | Mar 2011 | US |
