Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6319087
-
Patent Number
6,319,087
-
Date Filed
Thursday, January 21, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 20, 200122 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 446 73
- 446 81
- 446 297
- 446 397
- 446 404
- 206 736
- 206 758
- 206 765
- 206 775
- 206 776
- 206 777
- 206 457
- 206 815
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A combination including a toy and a removable element inserted therein includes the toy having a generator and an actuator therewith. The actuator enables the generator to generate a sound or movement. An improvement of this combination includes the removable element being operably connected to the generator such that the removable element enables the generator to generate a first volume of the sound and removal of the removable element enables the sound generator to generate a second volume of the sound which is different from the first volume of the sound. Instead of or in addition to the removal of the removable element enabling the toy to generate a different volume of the sound, the removal of the removable element can enable the toy to emit a second duration of sound different from a first duration of sound and/or produce a second duration of a movement different from a first duration of a movement.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Toys which employ features such as emission of a sound or production of a movement upon activation of the toy are very popular with children, particularly young children and infants. One marketing approach that toy manufacturers have successfully used, generally referred to as a “try-me” feature, is to enable a potential purchaser to activate the feature while the toy is still packaged and on a store shelf, thus providing a sample of the feature that the toy will display during use.
In toys that emit a sound, the ambient noise level in a store where the toy is being sold may prevent the prospective purchaser from adequately hearing the sound which is being emitted, and/or the speaker which emits the sound may be covered or muffled by packaging which at least partially surrounds the toy, further preventing the prospective purchaser from adequately hearing the sound which is being emitted. If a toy is provided which produces a sound loud enough to be heard over ambient store noise and through the packaging, the sound would most likely be too loud for a small child, particularly an infant, to enjoy properly. Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide a toy which emits a sound which is loud enough to be heard through the packaging and the ambient noise in a store, yet which provides a lower volume of sound when being played with at home after being removed from the packaging so as not to be too loud for a small child to enjoy.
Still other toys employ try-me devices which operate a particular feature such as sound or movement for an abbreviated amount of time compared to the time that the feature operates in normal use. The consumer is required to activate a switch on the toy after the toy is removed from its packaging to activate the normal use feature. It would be beneficial to provide a toy which can operate for an abbreviated amount of time while in the packaging, and then, without any action on the part of the consumer apart from removing the toy from its packaging, operate the toy for a longer period of time after the toy is removed from the packaging.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention provides a combination including a toy and a removable element inserted therein. The toy has a sound generator and an actuator therewith. The actuator enables the sound generator to generate a sound. An improvement in this combination comprises the removable element being operably connected to the sound generator such that the removable element enables the sound generator to generate a first volume of the sound and removal of the removable element enables the sound generator to generate a second volume of the sound which is different from the first volume of the sound.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a combination including a toy and a removable element inserted therein. The toy has a sound generator and an actuator therewith. The actuator enables the sound generator to generate a sound. An improvement in this combination comprises the removable element being operably connected to the sound generator such that the removable element enables the sound generator to generate a volume of the sound for a first duration of time and removal of the removable element enables the sound generator to generate the volume of the sound for a second duration of time which is different from the first duration of time.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a combination including a toy and a removable element inserted therein. The toy has a motion generator and an actuator therewith. The actuator enables the motion generator to generate a visible movement of the toy. An improvement in this combination comprises the removable element being operably connected to the motion generator such that the removable element enables the motion generator to generate a visible movement of the toy for a first duration of time and removal of the removable element enables the motion generator to generate a visible movement of the toy for a second duration of time which is different from the first duration of time.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
FIG. 1
is an exploded perspective view of a sound-producing toy of the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a profile view, in section, of the sound-producing toy of the present invention.
FIG. 3
is a partial schematic view of a circuit board of the sound-producing toy of the present invention.
FIG. 4
is a profile view, partially in section, of a movement-producing toy of the present invention.
FIG. 5
is an exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the sound-producing toy of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right,” “left,” “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions towards and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.
In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like elements throughout. Referring to
FIG. 1
, there is shown an exploded perspective view of a combination
10
of the present invention, including a toy
12
. Although
FIG. 1
depicts a portable telephone as the toy
12
, those skilled in the art will realize that other types of toys, such as musical boxes and any other toy that generates or emits a sound, can be used.
The toy
12
has a sound generator
14
and an actuator
16
, seen in FIG.
2
. In the portable telephone depicted in
FIG. 1
, the actuator
16
includes a plurality of buttons
18
on a telephone keypad, although those skilled in the art will realize that any of a multitude of other forms of actuators may be used for toy telephones and other toys. Although twelve buttons
18
are shown in
FIG. 1
, those skilled in the art will realize more or less than twelve buttons
18
can be used and that not all buttons
18
need be part of actuator
16
. Buttons
18
can operate a single switch in common (not depicted) to generate only one sound by the telephone or each button or subset of buttons may operate separate switches (not depicted) in the actuator
16
or may be directly wired into inputs of the sound generator
14
. Additionally, those skilled in the art will realize that other features on the toy
12
instead of and/or including buttons
18
can be used as an actuator
16
. The actuator
16
is operably connected to the sound generator
14
in a manner well known to those skilled in the art to activate the sound generator
14
. The sound generator
14
is operably connected to a speaker
20
located within the toy to generate or emit a sound from a signal generated by the sound generator
14
. Actuation of the actuator
16
enables the sound generator
14
to emit audible sound from the speaker
20
.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, the sound generator
14
includes a circuit board
26
. The circuit board
26
includes two contact elements
28
,
30
. Preferably, at least one battery (not shown) is located within the toy
12
and provides power to operate the sound generator
14
, the actuator
16
and the speaker
20
. Preferably, AA, AAA C, D, 9V or “button” batteries are used to power the toy.
Still referring to
FIG. 2
, the toy
12
has a hole
22
located therein for reasons that will become apparent. Preferably, the hole
22
is located in the rear
24
of the toy
12
, although those skilled in the art will realize that the hole
22
can be located at other places on the toy
12
.
Referring back to
FIG. 1
, packaging
32
, which includes a box insert
34
and an outer cover
36
, is sized to at least partially surround the toy
12
. The outer cover
34
is preferably a retail carton with indicia on at least one, preferably more than one, and most preferably, all sides, which advertises and describes the product which is encompassed therein. Preferably, the box insert
34
has a rear wall
38
and a plurality of sides
40
,
42
,
44
,
46
that at least partially surround the toy
12
. The box insert
34
has at least one accessible, preferably open side
48
, preferably a front side, that permits manual access to the actuator
16
when the toy
12
is placed within the box insert
34
. Those skilled in the art will realize that the box insert
34
can be provided in other configurations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the open side
48
need not be entirely open. The open side
48
needs only be open enough to allow a user (not shown) to manually activate the actuator
16
when the toy
12
is in the box insert
34
. Alternatively, side
48
could be covered, for example, with a flexible, transparent plastic film (not indicated) which deflects sufficiently to permit buttons
18
to be depressed through the film, or which has a hole cut therethrough sized sufficiently to permit buttons
18
to be depressed.
The toy
12
is inserted into the box insert
34
, preferably through the open side
48
, such that the toy
12
is removably retained by the box insert
34
. Those skilled in the art will realize that the toy
12
can be secured to the box insert
34
by conventional means, such as by string, rubber bands, wire or plastic ties, staples and the like (not shown), although the toy
12
need not be secured to the box insert
34
. Those skilled in the art will also realize that the box insert
34
need not be used, and the toy
12
can be affixed directly to the outer cover
36
.
The box insert
34
also preferably includes an element opening
50
through which a removable element
52
is inserted. Preferably, the removable element
52
is in the form of a flexible tape. The removable element
52
includes an elongated portion
54
and a head
56
. Preferably, the element opening
50
is located on a side of the packaging
32
opposite from the open side
48
, although those skilled in the art will realize that the element opening
50
may be located on other sides of the box insert
34
but preferably so as to adjoin the hole
22
of the toy.
The toy
12
is inserted into the box insert
34
in such a manner that the hole
22
is aligned with the element opening
50
. The elongated portion
54
is inserted through the element opening
50
and the toy hole
22
as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
. The elongated portion
54
separates contacts
28
and
30
in the toy from each other, opening a first electrical circuit and enabling the sound generator
14
to generate a first volume of sound through a second electrical circuit upon actuation of the actuator
16
. The element opening
50
is sized so that the head
56
cannot fit through the element opening
50
. Preferably, the removable element
52
is flexible enough to allow the elongated portion
54
to bend, allowing the head
56
to be positioned flush against the rear wall
38
after the elongated portion
54
is inserted into the toy
12
. Preferably, an adhesive strip
58
is affixed over the head
56
to adhere the removable element
52
to the rear wall
38
. However, those skilled in the art will realize that the adhesive strip
58
is not required, although with the adhesive strip
58
, the removable element
52
is retained by the box insert
34
. Additionally, those skilled in the art will realize that the removable element
52
can be adhered to the rear wall
38
on a side proximate to the toy
12
, eliminating the need for the element opening
50
. In the alternative where the box insert
34
is not used, the removable element can be adhered directly to the outer cover
36
in any manner known to those skilled in the art.
Preferably, after the removable element
52
is inserted into the toy
12
, the box insert
34
containing the toy
12
and the removable element
52
is inserted through an opening
37
in the outer cover
36
which is sized to permit the box insert
34
to be inserted into the outer cover
36
. Preferably, the outer cover
36
has three closable flaps
36
a
,
36
b
, and
36
c
which can be closed after the box insert
34
is inserted into the outer covering
36
to retain the box insert
34
in the outer covering
36
. However, those skilled in the art will realize that the outer cover
36
is not absolutely required, and that an outer covering, if used, may be designed to be closed and/or opened differently from cover
36
. The outer cover
36
has an opening
60
which corresponds to the open side
48
of the box insert
34
and enables the user to manipulate the actuator
16
through the opening
60
of the outer cover
36
and the open side
48
of the box insert
34
. The cover opening
60
communicates with the open side
48
of the box insert
34
, thus permitting manual access to the actuator
16
when the toy
12
is in the box insert
34
and outer cover
36
.
When the toy
12
is displayed for sale, a prospective purchaser (not shown) can generate a sound from the toy
12
by reaching through the cut out
60
in the outer cover
36
, through the open side
48
of the box insert
34
, and by operating the actuator
16
. The actuator
16
actuates the sound generator
14
, enabling the toy
12
to generate a first volume of sound through the speaker
20
. As shown in
FIG. 3
, contacts
28
and
30
are separated, opening electrical path C-D. A signal generated by the sound generator
14
travels along electrical path A-B and through only resistor
29
before going to the speaker
20
. The sound produced by the sound generator
14
permits the prospective purchaser to determine what sound the toy
12
will emit during normal use.
To activate the improvement feature of the present inventive concept, the box insert
34
is removed from the outer cover
36
. The retaining elements, such as string, rubber bands, plastic ties, wire, staples and the like (if any), are removed from the toy
12
, and the toy
12
is then removed from the box insert
34
. Upon removal of the toy
12
from the box insert
34
, the removable element
52
is automatically removed from the toy
12
and the removable element
52
is retained by the box insert
34
.
Removal of the removable element
52
from the toy
12
allows the contact elements
28
,
30
to contact each other, completing electrical path C-D through resistor
31
. Preferably, resistor
31
has less resistance than resistor
29
. For example, resistor
31
has a resistance of 2.5K ohms and resistor
29
has a resistance of 3.9K ohms. The signal splits through electrical path C-D and electrical path A-B, enabling the sound generator
14
to generate a second volume of sound which has a different volume from the first volume of sound. Preferably, the first volume of sound is louder than the second volume of sound. More preferably, the first volume of sound is approximately
85
decibels and is at least approximately
10
decibels louder than the second volume of sound. The word “approximately” as used herein is defined to mean plus or minus twenty percent. However, those skilled in the art will realize that other decibel values and ranges can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Preferably, the sound generator
14
is enabled to generate only the second volume of sound after the removable element
52
is removed from the toy
12
. The preferred removable element
52
of a tape is pliable enough to prevent the user from reinserting the removable element
52
into the toy hole
22
and separating the contacts
28
,
30
.
In an alternate embodiment, the removable element
52
is operably connected to the sound generator
14
such that the insertion of the removable element
52
separates contacts
28
,
30
. In this condition, an electrical path is formed which enables the sound generator
14
to generate a first volume of the sound for a first duration of time. Removal of the removable element
52
allows contacts
28
,
30
to contact each other. The circuit board is configured such that, when the contacts
28
,
30
contact each other, a different electrical circuit is formed, enabling the sound generator
14
to generate a second volume of sound for a second duration of time. “Different” with respect to electrical circuits means at least different operationally. Preferably, the second duration of time is longer than the first duration of time. Those skilled in the art will realize that circuit boards which enable sound generators to generate sound for different durations of time are known. Those skilled in the art will also realize that the first volume of sound can be the same as or a different volume than the second volume of sound.
In yet a third embodiment, shown in
FIG. 4
, the toy
112
is one which exhibits some type visible movement instead of emitting a sound. The toy
112
is depicted as a doll, but those skilled in the art will realize that other types of toys which exhibit movement can be used. The presently depicted toy
112
includes a motion generator
114
and an actuator
116
which enables the motion generator
114
to generate movement. The actuator
116
is operably connected to a circuit board
126
. The circuit board
126
is operably connected to the motion generator
114
in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. Two contacts
128
,
130
are mounted to the circuit board
126
.
The toy
112
is shown with a movable arm
118
, although those skilled in the art will realize that other types of toys and other movable parts can be used. The arm
118
is movable from a first position (shown in solid lines) to a second position (shown in phantom lines) and back to the first position, repeating the motion over a period of time.
The toy
112
is inserted into packaging
132
which is similar to packaging
32
in the first embodiment. The packaging
132
has a box insert
134
and an outer cover
136
. While the toy
112
is in the packaging
132
, the actuator
116
, in this instance, the toy's stomach
117
, can be actuated. A removable element
152
is inserted into the toy
112
through a toy hole
122
in the toy
112
and an element opening
150
in the box insert
132
. The removable element
152
separates the contacts
128
,
130
. Batteries (not shown) power motion generator
114
, the actuator
116
, and the circuit board
126
.
Upon actuation, the actuator
116
sends a signal to the circuit board
126
. The circuit board
126
then sends a signal to the motion generator
114
, moving the arm
118
. The arm motion is repeated for a first duration of time, for example, between four and seven seconds, although those skilled in the art will realize that other time durations can be used. When the toy
112
is removed from its packaging
132
, the removable element
152
is removed from the toy
112
in the same manner as the removable element
52
is removed from the toy
12
as disclosed above. Removal of the element
152
allows the two contacts
128
,
130
to contact each other and complete an electrical, path enabling the motion generator
114
to generate the motion for a second duration of time longer than the first duration of time. Preferably, the second duration of time is between fifteen and twenty seconds, although those skilled in the art will realize that other time durations can be used.
Similar to the first embodiment, after the removable element
152
is removed from the toy
112
, the removable element
152
preferably cannot be reinserted into the toy
112
, and the toy
112
will operate for only the second duration of time.
Although the preferred removable element
52
,
152
is a flexible tape, those skilled in the art will understand that other types of removable elements, such as a pin
252
with an elongated portion
254
and a flat head
256
(shown in FIG.
5
), can be used instead of the flexible tape, without departing from the scope of the invention.
The above-disclosed combinations might be used with any type of powered sound generating or moving toy. For example, in dolls, stuffed animals and/or action figures, a part of the body of such a toy, such as a hand, a foot, and/or a stomach can be pressed or squeezed and the toy can emit sound such as a giggle, a cry, a yell or word(s), and/or the toy can generate a visible movement, such as limb or body movement. Additionally, a toy vehicle, such as a police car, a fire engine, a race car, and/or other types of vehicles can use the combination as well to move or generate a sound. In these types of toys, a part of the vehicle can be pressed, such as a light bar on the roof, and a sound such as a siren or an engine revving can be produced or a propulsion part of the toy moved. Other toys, such as crib toys, musical boxes and/or learning games can have buttons that are pushed to emit sounds such as a voice, animal sounds or music. These types of toys and features are merely examples of the types of toys that can employ the removable element and are not meant to be limiting.
Although the embodiments disclosed above only either emit a sound or exhibit a motion, those skilled in the art will realize that a toy which both exhibits a motion and emits a sound can be developed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present inventive concept.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof it is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. In a combination including an amusement device having a sound generator therein, a speaker electrically coupled with the sound generator, a power supply of at least one battery providing power to at least the sound generator, and an actuator positioned on the device so as to be manually activated by a user of the device, the actuator further being operatively coupled with the sound generator such that manual activation of the actuator by a user activates the sound generator to generate sound through the speaker, an improvement wherein the device is configured such that a mechanical element is removably extended into the device from outside the device and is operatively coupled in the device with the sound generator such that when the mechanical element is operatively coupled with the sound generator and the sound generator is activated by manual activation of the actuator, the sound generator generates sound through the speaker in a first volume and, when the mechanical element is removed from the device and the sound generator is activated by manual activation of the actuator, the sound generator generates sound through the speaker at a second volume different from the first volume.
- 2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the sound generator generates a first sound in the first volume and a second sound in the second volume and wherein the first sound is different in duration than the first sound.
- 3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the first sound is shorter in duration that the second sound.
- 4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the mechanical element is a substantially rigid pin.
- 5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the mechanical element is a substantially flexible strip.
- 6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the device further comprises a circuit configured to operatively couple the mechanical element with the sound generator.
- 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the circuit includes a resistance added between the speaker and the power supply in the device when the mechanical element is removed from operative coupling with the sound generator through the circuit.
- 8. The combination of claim 6 wherein the circuit couples a resistance with the speaker in the device when the mechanical element is removed from the device to lower the speaker output from the first volume to the second volume.
- 9. The combination according to claim 1 further comprising packaging removably retaining the device, the packaging providing manual access to the actuator, and the mechanical element being coupled with the packaging sufficiently securely such that removal of the device from the packaging removes the mechanical element from the device.
- 10. The combination according to claim 9 wherein the sound generator is enabled to generate sound at only the second volume after the device is removed from the packaging.
- 11. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the sound generator is enabled to generate sound at only the second volume after the mechanical element is removed from the device.
- 12. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the first volume of the sound is at least approximately ten decibels louder than the second volume of the sound.
- 13. In a combination including an amusement device having a sound generator therein, a speaker electrically coupled with the sound generator, a power supply of at least one battery providing power to at least the sound generator, and an actuator positioned on the device so as to be operated by a user of the device, the actuator further being operatively coupled with the sound generator such that operation of the actuator by a user activates the sound generator to generate one or more sounds through the speaker, an improvement wherein the device is configured such that a mechanical element is removably extended into the device from outside the device and is operatively coupled in the device with the sound generator such that when the mechanical element is operatively coupled with the sound generator and the sound generator is activated by manual activation of the actuator, the sound generator generates sound through the speaker for a first period of time and, when the mechanical element is removed from the device and the sound generator is activated by manual activation of the actuator, the sound generator generates sound through the speaker for a second period of time different from the first period of time.
- 14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the first period is shorter than the second period.
- 15. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the device further comprises a circuit configured to operatively couple the mechanical element with the sound generator.
- 16. The combination according to claim 13 further comprising packaging removably retaining the device, the packaging providing manual access to the actuator, and the mechanical element being coupled with the packaging sufficiently securely such that removal of the device from the packaging removes the mechanical element from the device.
- 17. The combination according to claim 16 wherein the first period of sound has a first volume and wherein the second period of sound has a second volume different from the first volume and wherein the sound generator is enabled to generate only the second volume after the device is removed from the packaging.
- 18. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the first period of sound has a first volume and wherein the second period of sound has a second volume different from the first volume.
- 19. The combination according to claim 18, wherein the sound generator is enabled to generate only the second volume after the mechanical element is removed from the device.
- 20. The combination according to claim 18, herein the first volume of the sound is at least approximately ten decibels louder than the second volume of the sound.
US Referenced Citations (14)