The present invention generally relates to a hobby horse. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved hobby horse or a stick horse used by children to simulate a real horse.
Ride-on toys, such as stick horses or hobby horses, are well known in the art and allow the child to pretend that he or she is riding an actual horse. The stick horse or hobby horse has been popular with children since the time people have been riding real horses. The child emulates the adults with a homemade hobby horse or a purchased version that has a simulated horse head. Children spend endless hours of playtime by imagining that their hobby horse is real, and they are out riding the range or trails. The hobby horse is typically inexpensive and is a favourite toy of many young children. The hobby horse was particularly popular in the days before the introduction of automobiles. The horse was the principal means of transportation, and before the coming of the railroads. It was practically the only means of transport for individuals, or means for providing the power to pull wagons, carts, and buggies.
The hobby horse is not only a toy for children's imagination, but it has become a favourite hobby for teenagers and adults also. The hobby horses could be created by hand and are often very realistic. The hobbyists give their hobby horses names, genders, breeds, and personalities. There is also a spirit of competition that includes dressage, show jumping and many other types of competition among the aficionados. Hobby horse polo is a game that is often played on the hobby horse in parts of Germany and has become increasingly accepted as a fun sport for enthusiasts in various countries. The children could overwhelmingly employ the hobby horse for various forms of play. The market for the hobby horse is also quite large.
In addition, the child of the twenty-first century has many toys and gadgets to entertain, but the hobby horse still has an essential role in the entertainment of imaginative children all over the world. Currently, there are literally hundreds of different patterns for hobby horses. Some are made using carved blocks of wood for horse's head with sticks for bodies and tails. Others are made using sewn, sock like horse's heads with sticks for bodies and tails. In every case, the child must visualize the hobby horse and make up the riding by putting the hobby horse between the legs so they could walk, trot, or gallop along. The prior hobby horses have some drawbacks, such as appearance and look. The appearance of the hobby horse could not satisfy the children and they feel difficult to ride or lift the hobby horse due to heavy weight. Some hobby horses could not provide proper grip for holding by hands. The prior hobby horse could not provide roping practice for children while playing with the hobby horse.
Henceforth, it is desirable to provide a new hobby horse for children to provide a good imagination to visualize the product as the horse. Further, there is a need to provide a hobby horse with a rope for performing roping practice. Further, there is also a need to provide a hobby horse including features that would appeal both adults and children. Further, there is need for a hobby horse enhanced with electronic elements to entertain and add a sense of both realism and fantasy. Further, there is a need to provide a hobby horse for improving the children's imagination.
The present invention generally discloses a hobby horse or hobby horse toy. Further, the present invention relates to an improved hobby horse or a stick horse used by children to simulate a real horse and that could be used with a rope for roping practice.
According to the present invention, the hobby horse is designed to enhance the playability of the hobbyhorse games. In one embodiment, the hobby horse has been designed to make noise, generate smoke, and to backlight the horse's eyes. The user could switch on and off of the noise and smoke of the hobby horse via a switch. In one embodiment, the hobby horse could be used by the user with a rope for roping practice. The user could practice the roping while riding or playing with the hobby horse. In another embodiment, the hobby horse could be used as a convenient walking cane for the elderly or disabled user. The hobby horse is configured to provide extra support to elderly or disabled persons. In one embodiment, the hobby horse could provide a tight grip to the user's hand.
In one embodiment, the hobby horse comprises a life like horse's head or head with a neck, a rugged saddle horn, and a hardwood stick body or tail. In one embodiment, the horse's head with the neck could be connected or joined to the stick body or tail of the hobby horse via an adhesive. In one embodiment, the horse's head could be a molded part. In one embodiment, the horse's head is fabricated in a permanent mold using a material, but not limited to, a rigid urethane foam. The horse's head is reinforced with stainless steel wire. In one embodiment, the horse's head could be coated with an epoxy and then painted to look like a real horse. In one embodiment, the horse's head is painted to match one of four basic horse colors, but not limited to, a bay (brown), a black, a paint, and a palomino. In one embodiment, a sisal rope is wounded around the horse's neck. The sisal rope could be adhesively bonded to the horse's neck. The sisal rope of the horse's neck could provide tight grip to the user's hand.
In one embodiment, the saddle horn is made of a material but not limited to a linear fiberglass. In one embodiment, the saddle horn having 2.25 inches tall and inclined at a 15-degree angle to the body or tail of the hobby horse. In one embodiment, the saddle horn has a diameter but not limited to the range of about 0.625 inches. In one embodiment, the saddle horn is disposed at the horse's neck via an adhesive or a fastener. The saddle horn further comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) to illuminate the saddle horn. In one embodiment, the saddle horn could be lightened via the plurality of LEDs. In one embodiment, the saddle horn is drilled to accept the plurality of LEDs. The plurality of LEDs could be adhesively bonded into the drilled holes of the saddle horn.
In one embodiment, the LEDs could be turned on or off via a switch logoed with a logo. In one embodiment, the switch could be positioned, but not limited to, on side of the horse's neck and below the saddle horn. In one embodiment, the switch is configured to turn on or turn off the plurality of LEDs of the saddle horn of the hobby horse. In one embodiment, the plurality of LEDs could be powered via a power source, but not limited to, a battery of the hobby horse. The plurality of LEDs is connected to the power source via cables or wires through an electronic circuit or drivers. The wires or cables are directed down through the center of the horse's neck. The top of the saddle horn could be coated with clear resin to protect the logo from normal wear.
In one embodiment, the horse's head further includes multiple electronic components such as a pair of eyes, a pair of nostrils, a controlling computer with 1 GB of memory, an amplifier with a horse sound synthesizer, a smoke generator with a driver, and a power source box having batteries. Each eye comprises a light source to illuminate the eye. In one embodiment, the pair of backlighted eyes includes at least one, but not limited to, white LED. The white LED could be powered via the power source of the hobby horse. The white LED could be turned on by pressing the switch one time. In one embodiment, the user could turn ON the backlighted eyes and the saddle horn by pressing the switch at one white LED.
In one embodiment, the amplifier or speaker with the horse sound synthesizer is disposed within the horse's head via, but not limited to, an adhesive or a fastener. In one embodiment, the amplifier or speaker is configured to emit a whinny sound of a horse. The sound could be pre-programmed into the horse sound synthesizer and driven via the amplifier or the speaker. The user could trigger the amplifier or sound by pressing the switch at two times continuously.
In one embodiment, the hobby horse could emit the smoke from the nostrils by the smoke generator and the driver. The user could operate the smoke generator by pressing the switch for three times continuously. In one embodiment, the user could turn OFF the multiple electronic components of the hobby horse by pressing the switch for four times continuously.
In one embodiment, the switch could be used to trigger or operate different functions. In one embodiment, the backlighted eyes and the saddle horn of the hobby horse could be illuminated on pressing the switch. The hobby horse could make a whinny sound of a horse on pressing two times continuously and the switch could activate the smoke generator and driver to generate a plume of smoke from the nostrils on pressing the switch three times continuously. In one embodiment, the controlling computer of the hobby horse is configured to automatically shut off the electronic components of the hobby horse by pressing the switch four times continuously. In other embodiment, a bank of tactile membrane switches could be installed on the hobby horse with one function per switch.
In one embodiment, the saddle horn of the hobby horse having a disk. The upper end of the saddle horn is covered with the disk. The disk having a diameter in the range of about 0.25 inches. In one embodiment, the disk is made of a material, but not limited to, a fiberglass. In one embodiment, the disk could be connected or joined to the top of the saddle horn via an adhesive or a glue. In other embodiment, the disk could be connected or screwed to the top of the saddle horn via a fastener, but not limited to, a screw and a bolt. In one embodiment, the upper surface of the disk of the saddle horn could be decorated or logoed using team, school, manufacturer, or various other logos.
In one embodiment, the body or tail is made of a material, but not limited to, a hardwood and a metal. In one embodiment, the body of the hobby horse is tuned to 0.875 inches diameter from a hickory hardwood blank. In one embodiment, the body or tail section could be coated with a thick layer of clear resin, that provides a durable scratch resistant surface. In one embodiment, the body or tail of the hobby horse comprises two ends. One end of the body or tail is connected or joined to the horse's head via a fastener or a threading means, and the other end is connected to a standard crutch tip. In one embodiment, the crutch tip is made of a material, but not limited to, a nylon. The crutch tip is configured to prevent wear of the hardwood and scratching the floor surface.
In one embodiment, the electronic components of the hobby horse could be powered by the power source. In one embodiment, the power source could be, but not limited to, four replaceable AA batteries. The power source of the hobby horse is disposed within a molded battery hatch provided in the hobby horse. In one embodiment, the molded battery hatch is covered and protected via a cover.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating specific embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and structures disclosed herein. The description of a method step or a structure referenced by a numeral in a drawing is applicable to the description of that method step or structure shown by that same numeral in any subsequent drawing herein.
A description of embodiments of the present invention will now be given with reference to the Figures. It is expected that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.
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In one embodiment, the saddle horn 110 is made of a material but not limited to a linear fiberglass. In one embodiment, the saddle horn 110 has a diameter but not limited to the range of about 0.625 inches. The saddle horn 110 further comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) to illuminate the saddle horn 110. In one embodiment, the LEDs is turned on or off via a switch assembly comprising a switch 112 logoed with a logo 118 (shown in
In one embodiment, the body or tail 114 is made of a material, but not limited to, a hardwood and a metal. In one embodiment, the body 114 of the hobby horse 100 is turned to 0.875 inches diameter from a hickory hardwood blank. This blank is turned to shape on a CNC lathe and is machine sanded before removal. After fabrication, the body or tail 114 section is coated with a thick layer of clear resin, that provides a durable scratch resistant surface. In one embodiment, the body or tail 114 of the hobby horse 100 having two ends. One end of the body or tail 114 is connected or joined to the horse's head 104 via a fastener or a threading means, and the other end is connected to a standard crutch tip 116.
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In one embodiment, the switch 112 could be used to trigger or operate different functions. In one embodiment, a backlighted eyes or eyes having a light source 120, and the saddle horn 110 of the hobby horse 100 could be illuminated by pressing the switch 112 once. The hobby horse 100 could make a whinny sound of a horse by pressing the switch 112 for two times continuously and the switch 112 could activate the smoke generator and driver to generate a plume of smoke from the nostrils 122 by pressing the switch 112 for three times continuously. In one embodiment, the controlling computer of the hobby horse 100 could automatically shut off the electronic components of the hobby horse 100 by pressing the switch 112 four times continuously. In other embodiment, a bank of tactile membrane switches could be installed on the hobby horse 100 with one function per switch.
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In one embodiment, the face of the horse's head 104 about but not limited to 4.75″ long and the neck/head 108 about but not limited to 8.5″ long. After curing and mold separation, the sprues and parting lines are smoothed, then the horse's head 104 and neck 108 could be coated with four coats of two-part epoxy. Due to the durable coating, the hobby horse 100 could be used harshly without damage. After the epoxy cures, the horse's head 104 is painted to match one of four basic horse colors, but not limited to, a bay (brown), a black, a paint, and a palomino. All this fabrication and coating could be done robotically, without human supervision. In one embodiment, a sisal rope could wound around the horse's neck 108. The sisal rope could be adhesively bonded to the horse's neck 108. The sisal rope of the horse's neck 108 could provide tight grip to the user's hand.
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In one embodiment, the horse's head 104 further includes multiple electronic components such as a pair of backlighted eyes 120, a pair of nostrils 122, a controlling computer with 1 GB of memory, an amplifier 124 with a horse sound synthesizer, a smoke generator with a driver, and a power source box contains batteries. In one embodiment, the pair of backlighted eyes 120 includes at least one, but not limited to, white LED. The white LED could be powered via the power source of the hobby horse 100. The white LED could be turned on by pressing the switch 112 once. In one embodiment, the switch 112 could be a multi-functional switch. The switch 112 is configured to turn ON the backlighted eyes 120, generate smoke from the nostrils 122, and lighten the saddle horn 110. In one embodiment, the user 102 could turn ON the backlighted eyes 120 and the saddle horn 110 by pressing the switch 112 once.
In one embodiment, the amplifier or speaker 124 with the horse sound synthesizer is disposed within the horse's head 104 via, but not limited to, an adhesive or a fastener. In one embodiment, the amplifier or speaker 124 is configured to emit the whinny sound of a horse. The sound could be pre-programmed into the horse sound synthesizer and driven via the amplifier or the speaker 124. The user 102 (shown in
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A printed circuit board (PCB) for the devices is fabricated to the final assembler's requirements in a world class contract electronic assembler facility. The standard thickness, double sided FR4 circuit board material is populated with surface mounted components where possible. Any through-hole devices are inserted after the surface mounted assembly, soldering, and cleaning. The circuit board is designed to have all the components oriented so they could be mounted with the LED illuminators projecting out of the lenses mounted in the saddle horn 110 and the horse's backlighted eyes 120. After assembly, the PCBs are protected with a moisture adsorption preventive conformal coating. The PCB contains the multiple electronic components, but is not limited to, a pair of backlighted eyes 120, a pair of nostrils 122, a controlling computer with 1 GB of memory, an amplifier 124 with a horse sound synthesizer, a smoke generator with a driver, a power source box contains batteries and switches 112.
The hobby horse 100 is made from lightweight material. The nylon crutch tip 116 on the end of the body or tail 114 prevents scuffing of floors and increases the durability of the hobby horse 100. The hobby horse 100 is designed to be aesthetic and effective in the application. The relative ease of manufacture and the moderately inexpensive components provide good marketability for the manufacturer. The user 102 benefits from the many functions of play, life like looks, and exceptional durability, which should provide considerable market interest in the product.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.
The foregoing description comprise illustrative embodiments of the present invention. Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. 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 in the foregoing descriptions. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used only in generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62734282 | Sep 2018 | US |