Patent Application
20160310856
For small children who are developing motor control or have limited manual dexterity, it may be frustrating to play with many traditional toys that are not easy to grasp and handle. Such toys may have a surface configuration and/or be formed of materials that make them difficult or even painful to pick up, manipulate, hold, or catch. For example, some toys include sharp, uncomfortable corners or edges. Many traditional toys do not include gripping openings, handles, or other components that are appropriately sized to receive the fingers of a child using such a toy.
In addition, toys for small children often do not have accessories, such as arms and legs that are easily articulated. In an attempt to move the position of a toy accessory, such as an arm, a small child may break the accessory. This not only results in damage to the toy and frustration for the child but may also present a hazard to the child. Additionally, moving accessories on some toys requires a large amount of force that may be difficult for a small child to produce.
Accordingly, it can be seen that needs exist for a toy apparatus that is easy for a child to grasp and having accessories that are easily to articulate. It is to the provision of a toy apparatus meeting these and other needs that the present invention is primarily directed.
In example embodiments, the present invention provides a toy apparatus that includes at least one mesh component formed of a plurality of loop structures. The toy apparatus further includes at least one non-mesh component or accessory adapted to be connected to the mesh component in such a manner as to allow articulation and/or removability of the non-mesh component with respect to the mesh component.
In example embodiments, the toy is configured as an animal or creature, with the mesh component forming a body portion and the non-mesh component forming a limb or appendage (arm, leg, head, tail, etc.) of the animal or creature. In example modes of play, mobility or locomotion of the animal or creature can be simulated by articulation of the appendage(s), and/or the appearance of the animal or creature can be modified by removal and/or repositioning of the appendage(s).
In one aspect, the invention relates to a toy apparatus including a toy body at least partially formed of a mesh component having a plurality of loop structures, and at least one accessory adapted to be connected to the mesh component of the toy body and allow articulation of the accessory relative to the toy body.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a toy apparatus including a combined structure formed of at least one mesh portion and at least one non-mesh portion. The mesh portion preferably includes a plurality of interconnected loops, and a child's finger can be inserted into a void at least partially bounded by the mesh portion through the interconnected loops of the mesh portion. The non-mesh portion is preferably adapted to be articulable with respect to the mesh portion.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a toy apparatus including a body portion at least partially formed of a flexible mesh material defining a plurality of apertures therein, and an articulable appendage at least partially formed of a non-mesh material, the articulable appendage being movably mounted to the flexible mesh material of the body portion.
In example embodiments, the non-mesh accessory or appendage component of the toy includes a flange or knob adapted to be received and retained in an opening of the mesh body component of the toy to allow articulation of the accessory or appendage component with respect to the mesh body component. The non-mesh accessory or appendage component is optionally adapted to be retained within the opening of the mesh body component until sufficient force is applied to deform the opening, allowing detachment of the non-mesh component. Alternatively, the non-mesh accessory or appendage component is permanently or semi-permanently attached to the mesh body component. In alternative embodiments, the accessory can clip and unclip, or otherwise engage and disengage the mesh portion directly, without deforming the opening, for example by attachment with one or more of the strands forming the loop structures of the mesh.
In further example embodiments, the mesh body component includes a sleeve integrally molded thereto. The non-mesh accessory or appendage component includes a hub that is adapted to be received and retained within the sleeve such that the non-mesh component is articulable with respect to the mesh body component. A screw or other fastener is adapted to retain the hub of the non-mesh accessory or appendage component within the sleeve to prevent detachment. In further example embodiments, the toy apparatus includes additional non-mesh components that are articulable with respect to other non-mesh components that are connected to the mesh component. In alternative embodiments, the accessory can directly engage the mesh portion without deforming the openings of the mesh.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be understood with reference to the drawing figures and detailed description herein, and will be realized by means of the various elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following brief description of the drawings and detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of example embodiments of the invention, and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Any and all patents and other publications identified in this specification are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.
According to example embodiments, one or more non-mesh components or accessories are attached to one or more mesh components of a toy in such a manner that at least some of the non-mesh components are easily articulable with respect to the mesh component(s). The mesh component includes at least one, and preferably a plurality of loop structures coupled together to form a loop structure assembly. The loop structures can have a smoothly curved or polygonal inside perimeter. Some example embodiments of the loop structures and/or loop structure assemblies can include cooperative mating surfaces disposed at least partially around an outer perimeter. The cooperative mating surfaces of adjacent loop structures/loop structure assemblies can be configured to couple together for a distance along their lengths. Example embodiments of the mesh can be formed from a substantially pliable or resilient material. The non-mesh component can be formed from a substantially rigid material or a substantially pliable material, for example a molded plastic. According to example embodiments, the loop structures of the mesh component have openings or apertures, and the mesh component at least partially encloses a void or space into which into which a child can grasp their fingers through the mesh openings. U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. US 2016/0051862 A1 (application Ser. No. 14/933,343 filed Nov. 5, 2015), and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/953,797 filed Nov. 30, 2015, are incorporated herein by reference.
In example embodiments, the mesh component of the toy includes at least one, and preferably a plurality of loop structures having cooperative mating surfaces disposed at least partially around an outer perimeter of each loop structure. The plurality of loop structures may have curved inside perimeter surfaces, and the cooperative mating surfaces of adjacent loop structures may be configured to couple together for a distance along their lengths. The loop structures can form the surface of the mesh component of the toy when the cooperative mating surfaces are coupled with each other. The toy apparatus may optionally further include a rattle positioned in a loop structure in the mesh, the rattle having a body with a mounting structure having an outer perimeter sized to conform to the curved inside perimeter surface of the loop structure in which the rattle is mounted. In some aspects, the mesh of the toy apparatus may be formed in the shape of a ball or other object that encloses a void. In other aspects, the mesh of the toy apparatus may not enclose a void. In example embodiments, the mesh component of the toy includes a plurality of elongated strands having joinder regions uniting adjacent strands at a distance along a length of an outer perimeter of the elongated strands. The elongate strands can be configured to couple together for a distance along their lengths. The elongated strands form a surface of a mesh material when the joinder regions are coupled. The apparatus may further include a manducable protrusion coupled to the mesh and extending a distance away from an exterior surface of the mesh. Alternatively described, the mesh component of the toy can be formed of at least one, and optionally a plurality of loop structure assemblies, each of the plurality of loop structure assemblies including at least one loop structure, each loop structure defining a loop opening or aperture. The loop opening of at least one of the loop structures can have a shape selected from a circular opening, an oval opening and a polygonal opening. In example embodiments, each loop structure assembly includes an outer perimeter having at least one mating surface disposed at least partially around the outer perimeter for coupling to at least one adjacent loop structure assembly. According to another aspect, the mesh component of the toy includes a mesh formed of at least one, and optionally a plurality of loop structure assemblies. Each of the plurality of loop structure assemblies includes at least one loop structure, each loop structure defining a loop opening, at least one of the loop openings having a shape selected from a circular opening, an oval opening and a polygonal opening.
Referring specifically now to
The loop structures 105A and 105B (and/or loop structure assemblies) may include mating surfaces, at least on an outside perimeter. These surfaces may be arranged around the perimeter of at least some of the loop structures/loop structure assemblies to facilitate coupling of the loop structures/loop structure assemblies. The cooperative mating surfaces of adjacent loop structures/loop structure assemblies may be configured to couple together for a distance along their lengths. The loop structures can have curved inside perimeter surfaces. Although not shown, some loop structure assemblies may include interior loop structures that do not have cooperative mating surfaces. Further details of example mesh structures adaptable for use in connection with the toy apparatus disclosed herein may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,984 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,282,518, which are incorporated herein by reference.
In addition to having curved inside perimeters, some of the loop structures (and/or loop structure assemblies) may have an inner perimeter defined by one or more geometrically shaped openings, such as a circle, square, and polygon (e.g., rectangle, pentagon, hexagon, etc.). These geometrically shaped openings preferably include no sharp corners, to avoid injury to a child. The loop structures 105A and 105B form a surface of at least a portion of the toy apparatus 100 when the loop structures/loop structure assemblies are coupled together. In some aspects, the mesh components 110A and 110B, when coupled together, may form the shape of a generally or partially spherical, hemispherical or ovoid configuration or other three-dimensional shape that forms the “body” of the toy apparatus. For example, in embodiments of the toy configured as an animal or creature, the mesh component may represent the torso, abdomen or other body portion of the animal or creature, from which limbs or appendages extend.
The toy apparatus 100 also includes one or more non-mesh components or accessories, one or more of which are preferably articulable and/or removable relative to the mesh body portion. For example, in the embodiment shown in
The non-mesh components 115, 120, 125, 130A, 130B, 140A, 140B, 150, and 170 may be formed of one or more substantially pliable or substantially rigid materials. For example, the non-mesh components 115, 120, 125, 130A, 130B, 140A, 140B, 150, and 170 may be formed of one or more hard or soft plastic moldings. As shown in
The toy apparatus 200 also includes non-mesh components or accessories, one or more of which are articulable. In the embodiment shown in
As shown in
The mesh components 310A and 310B are formed of one or more loop structures 305A and 305B and/or one or more loop structure assemblies, respectively configured in a manner described above. The loop structures 305A and 305B and/or loop structure assemblies form a surface of at least a portion of the toy apparatus 300 when the loop structures/loop structure assemblies are coupled together. In some aspects, the mesh components 310A and 310B, when coupled together, may form the shape of a generally or partially spherical, hemispherical or ovoid configuration or other three-dimensional shape that forms the “body” of the toy apparatus.
The toy apparatus 300 also includes non-mesh components or accessories, one or more of which are articulable. In the embodiment shown in
The non-mesh components 320, 330A, 330B, 340A, 340B, 350, and 370 may be formed of one or more substantially pliable or substantially rigid materials. For example, the non-mesh components 320, 330A, 330B, 340A, 340B, 350, and 370 may be formed of one or more hard or soft plastic moldings.
As shown in
The mesh components 410A and 410B are formed of one or more loop structures 405A and 405B, respectively, and/or one or more loop structure assemblies configured in a manner described above. The loop structures 405A and 405B/loop structure assemblies form a surface of at least a portion of the toy apparatus 400 when the loop structures/loop structure assemblies are coupled together. In some aspects, the mesh components 410A and 410B, when coupled together, may form the shape of a generally or partially spherical, hemispherical or ovoid configuration or other three-dimensional shape that forms the “body” of the toy apparatus.
The toy apparatus 400 also includes non-mesh components or accessories, one or more of which are articulable. In the embodiment shown in
As shown in
In example embodiments, the articulable feature(s) are permanently or semi-permanently mounted to the body, for example having an attachment mechanism that resists or prevents detachment of the articulable feature(s) from the body by ordinary forces applied by a child during play, or that will detach before damaging the toy but not detach in ordinary use. Alternatively, the articulable feature(s) may be detachably mounted to the body, for example, to allow interchangeable and repositionable attachment and detachment during ordinary play. In further example embodiments, the articulable feature(s) are movably mounted to the body, and automated movement is provided, for example by provision of one or more electronic, spring-wound, or electromagnetic motors or other drive mechanisms. Additionally, the toy optionally includes audio features to play sounds or music during play, for example having sound features linked to movement of the articulable feature(s) during play.
In addition to the flange/knob of hub/sleeve/screw connections described above, the mesh components may be connected to the non-mesh components, and various non-mesh components may be connected to each other via any suitable connection. Also, although the non-mesh accessories described above include heads/necks, arms, legs, ad tails, it should be appreciated that other non-mesh components may include other types of accessories which may or may not be articulable, e.g., ears, eyes, wings, horns, etc. In example embodiments, at least one articulable feature is pivotally, rotationally or otherwise movably and/or detachably mounted to a toy body at least partially comprising a mesh material as described. In further example embodiments, a plurality of articulable features are mounted to the body, for example two (e.g., two arms or two legs), three (e.g., two arms or two legs and a head or tail), four (e.g., two arms and two legs), five (e.g., two arms and two legs and a head or tail), six (e.g., two arms and two legs, a head and a tail), or more articulable features can be mounted to the body, allowing for twisting, pivoting and/or rotational movement.
In addition, it should be appreciated that the toy apparatuses described above are examples and that the invention is not limited to toys including characters such as dinosaurs and robots. The connection of a mesh component and one or more non-mesh components, as described herein, may form any desired format or configuration of toy apparatus. In further example embodiments, two or more such toys are provided in combination, for additional play variations. In alternate embodiments, the articulable feature(s) may comprise plastic moldings, plush toy features, wheels, actuators, entertainment features, or other structures, and can be formed of partial mesh and/or non-mesh materials, mesh materials, soft-goods, or other materials and combinations thereof.
While the invention has been described with reference to preferred and example embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications, additions and deletions are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.
This application claims priority benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/152,846 filed Apr. 25, 2015, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62152846 | Apr 2015 | US |
