Patent Application
20240058720
The present disclosure relates to a refreshment dispenser toy that provides the experience of operating a beverage dispenser. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus that safely provides the user with the experience of selecting and dispensing a beverage, such as a slushie, or the like.
Some toys that simulate food kiosks and other retail equipment provide children with the experience of performing a task normally reserved for adults are known. Such toys may provide entertainment and can help children develop skills, such as arithmetic when making change as part of a “sale” of a “product.” Playing games with such toys may help children develop social skills such as politely responding to questions and interacting with others, as an adult would do in a retail establishment.
A need exists for a toy that affords children the experience of being a cold beverage dispenser worker, providing the child the opportunity of operating a beverage dispenser that delivers syrup to a beverage or snack such as a shaved ice beverage. Operating such equipment is normally out of reach for children. Actual equipment may be dangerous for children to operate. Toys that allow children to engage in an activity they typically would not be allowed to do because it may be dangerous or the equipment may be too large, expensive, or impractical to have in a home, provide an additional source of excitement. Equipment that actually dispenses flavored liquids may not be suitable for children because it could lead to spills, stains, and food waste. At the same time, children are exposed to such equipment when visiting a retail establishment that sells such treats or refreshments and thus children associate pleasant flavors, colors and other memories with such equipment. For this reason, playing with such toys may engender additional excitement.
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a toy that includes a mechanism to simulate the selection and dispensing of beverages and other refreshments.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, toys embodying the disclosed structure can be created with a variety of shapes and configurations to simulate various types of beverage dispensers.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, the structure is formed from components that are simple to manufacture and assemble.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, toys embodying the disclosed structure are lightweight and easy to store and transport.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, toys embodying the disclosed structure are durable.
According to one embodiment of the disclosure there is provided a toy simulating a selectable beverage dispenser comprising a spigot having an opening and housing a first band of a first color and a second band of a color different from the first color, and a handle connected to an actuator and configured to move the actuator to a first position and to a second position, wherein, when the actuator is moved to the first position, the actuator moves the first band to protrude out through the opening of the spigot and to withdraw the second band through the opening of the spigot so that the second band is entirely within the spigot, and wherein when the actuator is moved to the second position, the actuator moves the second band to protrude out through the opening of the spigot and to withdraw the first band through the opening of the spigot so that the first band is entirely within the spigot. The actuator may comprise an actuator disk connected to the handle, wherein the handle rotates the disk clockwise to attain the first position, and the handle rotates the disk counterclockwise to attain the second position. The handle may rotate the actuator disk about a horizontal axis and the opening of the spigot may face downward. The actuator may comprise a block positioned inside the spigot, the block comprising an outer surface, wherein to attain the first position the actuator winds at least a portion of the first band around a first portion of the outer surface of the block and unwinds at least a portion of the second band from a second portion of the outer surface, and wherein to attain the second position the actuator winds at least a portion of the second band around a second portion of the outer surface of the block and unwinds at least a portion of the first band from the first portion of the outer surface. The actuator may comprise an actuator disk and moving the handle may rotate the actuator disk and the block.
The toy may further comprise a spout disk connected with the spigot, and a base. The actuator may comprise an actuator disk held rotatably captive between the spout disk and the base. Each of the first and second bands may comprise one or more of a string, a strip of fabric, a soft plastic material, or a synthetic rubber.
The handle may be configured to rotate the actuator to a third position, wherein to attain the third position the actuator withdraws the first and second bands through the opening of the spigot so that the first and second bands are entirely within the spigot. To attain the first position of the actuator, the handle may be moved to a first handle position toward the righthand side of a user, and to attain the second position of the actuator the handle may be moved to a second handle position toward the lefthand side of the user.
The handle may be configured to be moved to a third handle position between the first and second handle positions wherein the actuator is configured to attain a third position. When the handle is moved to the third handle position the actuator may attain the third position of the actuator wherein the actuator withdraws the first and second bands through the opening of the spigot so that the first and second bands are entirely within the spigot. A transparent or translucent spout disk may be connected with the spigot, and a colored disk may be positioned behind the transparent or translucent spout disk, wherein moving the handle rotates the colored disk about a horizontal axis, with the rotation of the colored disk being visible to a user through the transparent or translucent spout disk.
According to one embodiment the toy simulates a slushy beverage dispenser. The toy may further comprise a toy snow cone dispenser.
According to another embodiment, there is provided a toy simulating a selectable beverage dispenser comprising a spigot having an opening and housing a first band of a first color and a second band of a color different from the first color and a handle connected to an actuator and configured to move the actuator to a first position and to a second position, wherein when the actuator is moved to the first position, the actuator moves the first band to protrude out through the opening of the spigot and to withdraw the second band through the opening of the spigot so that the second band is entirely within the spigot, wherein when the actuator is moved to the second position, the actuator moves the second band to protrude out through the opening of the spigot and to withdraw the first band through the opening of the spigot so that the first band is entirely within the spigot, wherein the actuator comprises an actuator disk connected to the handle, wherein the handle rotates the disk clockwise to attain the first position, and the handle rotates the disk counterclockwise to attain the second position. The toy may include a block positioned inside the spigot with the block connected to the actuator disk and configured to rotate with the actuator disk. The block may comprise an outer surface. To attain the first position the actuator may wind at least a portion of the first band around a first portion of the outer surface of the block and unwind at least a portion of the second band from a second portion of the outer surface. To attain the second position the actuator may wind at least a portion of the second band around a second portion of the outer surface of the block and unwind at least a portion of the first band from the first portion of the outer surface.
According to another embodiment of the disclosure there is provide a toy simulating a selectable beverage container comprising a rotatable spindle having an axis of rotation arranged horizontally, a band connected with the spindle and arranged to wind onto and off the spindle, and a spigot arranged around at least a portion of the spindle, wherein the spigot comprises one or more openings arranged to allow the band to extend downward from the spindle, wherein rotation of the spindle in a first direction causes the band to unwind from the spindle and extend from the spigot and rotation in a second direction causes the band to wind onto the spindle and withdraw into the spigot.
The above-described and/or other aspects of the disclosure will be more apparent in view of details and exemplary embodiments of the disclosure with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which:
Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will now be described below by reference to the attached Figures. The described exemplary embodiments are intended to assist the understanding of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
As used in this description, the term “proximal” refers to the direction toward the user operating the apparatus and the term “distal” refers to the direction away from the user operating the apparatus.
According to one embodiment, as illustrated in
As shown in
As shown in
In the assembled state, actuator mechanism 40 is positioned so that disk 45 fits within base groove 65 and is rotatable about the center of disk 45. Tabs 39 project distally from spout apparatus base 38 of spout apparatus 30 and are received inside dispenser base tab apertures 63 so as to secure the spout apparatus 30 to base 60. This arrangement allows actuator mechanism 40 to rotate within spout apparatus base 38.
According to a further embodiment, instead of, or in addition to capturing actuator mechanism 40 between apparatus base 38 and dispenser base 60, a dowel may be mounted to dispenser base 60 or else mounted to another stationary portion of toy 21. According to this embodiment, spout disk 35, cover disk 50, and actuator disk 45 are mounted on the dowel such that cover disk 50 and actuator disk 45 are rotatable about the dowel, while spout apparatus base 38, including spout disk 35 and spigot 31 remain fixed on the dowel. For example, a center of spout disk 35 is fixedly connected with the dowel, and cover disk 50, actuating disk 45 and block 41 are rotatably mounted on the dowel projecting through a central aperture of actuator disk 45 and of block 41. According to an aspect of this embodiment, the dispenser base 60 may not be necessary.
Illustrated in
According to an embodiment, spout base 38 is formed from a transparent material, for example, polycarbonate, so that cover 50 is visible. Cover 50 and/or actuator disk 45 may be decorated with colors, as shown in
According to a further embodiment, movement of the handle 47 is geared so that a smaller movement of handle 47 produces a relatively greater movement of the actuator disk 45. According to this further embodiment, the spinning of the colored patterns on the front surface of actuator disk 45 is amplified in response to the movement of handle 47.
According to an exemplary embodiment, spigot 31 dispenses one of the bands in accordance with a selection of the user made by operating the handle to simulate dispensing of liquid, such as a viscous liquid.
Block 41, which may be integrally formed or may be otherwise attached to actuator disk 45, rotates together with actuator disk 45 and is it does, bands 43, 44 are controlled. According to an aspect of the disclosure, positioning handle 47 on the righthand position as shown in
Right band 43 may be made of colored fabric or string of a color different than the color of left band 44. Also, each band may be decorated with a variety of colors different from the colors of the remaining band, or decorated with a different pattern or sequence of colors than the colors of the remaining band. Protruding through opening 33 of band 43 or 44 gives a visual impression of the dispensing of a beverage, such as a fruit flavored viscous beverage. Bands 43, 44 are of colors different from one another so as to simulate different flavored beverages being dispensed. While shown as being located above spigot 31, handle 47 may also be located below spigot 31 or to a side thereof.
While the block 41 is sometimes described as a cylinder it will be understood that block 41 need not be substantially cylindrical. In the alternative, only a portion thereof is cylindrical or substantially cylindrical. In addition, band path 49, while illustrated as being defined, in part, by right and left portions of flange 49b, may be made of many more such portions, each portion protruding laterally at various portions of the perimeter of block 41 to guide the bands.
Also, while referred to herein sometimes as an actuator disk 45, it will be understood that a portion of a disk, for example, half a disk (180 degrees) or a third of a disk (120 degrees) shape, may be provided. For example, handle may rotate such a partial disk shape clockwise or counterclockwise to attain the left and right positions, and optionally the middle position, to control left and right bands 43, 44, in a manner similar to clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of a circular actuator disk 45 described above as controlled by handle 47 to control bands 43, 44. Similarly, cover disk 50 may be a partial disk shape, such as a half disk (180 degrees) or a third of disk (120 degrees) or smaller. Correspondingly, spout disk may also be provided as only a partial disk shape (less than 360 degrees, as described above).
Instead of a single opening 33 of spigot 31, separate left and right nozzles (not illustrated) may be provided for, respectively the left and right bands 43 an 44 to move through and may thus provide further guiding support to the bands. It will be understood that when a respective band 43, 44 is withdrawn into the respective nozzle inside of spigot 31, the respective band 43, 44 would not be visible from the outside, at least from the front of toy 20. In this way, bands 43, 44 may simulate dispensing of a viscous beverage, such as a slushy. Printing or decals may be provided on disk 50 and elsewhere on toy 20 and toy station 21 to make the toy more similar to an actual slushy dispenser and refreshment station.
According to an exemplary embodiment described herein, engagement tabs 39 are provided to attach spout apparatus 30 with dispenser base 60 and the rest of the toy 20. Engagement tabs 39 may release from dispenser base 60 in the event that the toy 20 is dropped, allowing the spout apparatus 30 to separate without damage. Such an embodiment may improve the durability of toy 20.
While sometime referred to herein as handle 47, it will be understood that other ways of controlling actuator mechanism 40 to select and to control the left and right bands 43, 44 for withdrawal or for protrusion through opening 33 of spigot 31 may be provided. For example, a button may be provided instead of, or in addition, to handle 47 to control rotation of actuator disk 45. That is, a button, for example, on the right side of spigot 31, may be used to rotate actuator disk 45 to a first position, and a second button, for example positioned on the left side of the spigot 31, may be used to rotate actuator disc 45 to withdraw the right band 43 and to extend through opening 33 the left band 44. For example, such left and right buttons may be connected to compression springs or may expel air so as to urge movement or rotation of the actuator disc 45 to effectuate control over the bands. Similarly, a center button may be provided in addition to, or instead of, handle 47, to cause actuator mechanism 40 to withdraw both left and right bands 43, 44. Also, types of interaction devices, other than handles and buttons, to set in motion actuation mechanism 40 not specifically described herein are also contemplated and may be provided to control withdrawal or protrusion of left and right bands 43, 44.
Various materials, including injection molded or other plastic, metal, wood, particle board, papier mache, and the like, may be used alone or in combination in the manufacture of each component of the toy selectable beverage dispenser 20 described herein. Components described or illustrated separately may be manufactured as integrally formed together, and components described as integrally formed may be formed separately.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, the invention is not limited to these embodiments. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. Also, features shown or described for one embodiment or example may be used in other embodiments or examples. Accordingly, combinations of features not specifically illustrated or discussed are also contemplated and are within the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the description should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.
