Patent Application
20060137514
This application claims the benefit of PRC Application No. 200510109307.6 filed Oct. 14, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure generally relates to musical toys and methods for operating musical toys.
Toys are designed to provide stimulation, entertainment, and amusement. The most popular and successful toys are those that continue to stimulate, entertain, and amuse long after the player is first introduced to the toy. A toy that operates in a predictable way or that provides for little interaction with the player will quickly be abandoned.
Musical toys are typically designed with sound chips programmed to play the musical notes of prerecorded songs when activated. The player activates such a musical toy by simply engaging a switch which causes the toy to automatically play the musical notes of a prerecorded song. Because the toy requires no further action on the part of the player, the player can easily become bored with the musical toy.
An objective of the disclosed invention is to provide a musical toy which will continue to stimulate, entertain, and amuse the player long after initial exposure to the toy. In the disclosed invention, the toy outputs sound effects, such as the musical notes of a familiar prerecorded song, only through sustained manual operation by the player or players. In one exemplary embodiment, a vibration-activated musical toy comprises two preferably bell-shaped separate modules. Contained within each separate module of the vibration-activated musical toy is a vibration sensor and a sound generating system electrically connected to the vibration sensor. The sound generating system includes a sound chip programmed to play every other note, beginning with either the first note or the second note, of a series of musical notes from a familiar prerecorded song. In the preferred method of operation, a player holds one module in each hand. The player shakes the first module, activating the vibration sensor in that module and causing the sound generating system in that module to play the first musical note in its programmed series. This note corresponds to the first musical note in the prerecorded song. The player then shakes the second module, activating the vibration sensor in that module and causing the sound generating system in that module to play the first musical note in its programmed series. This note corresponds to the second musical note in the prerecorded song. The player then again shakes the first module, again activating the vibration sensor in that module and causing the sound generating system in that module to play the second musical note in its programmed series. This note corresponds to the third musical note in the prerecorded song. The player continues to alternate between shaking the first module and the second module until all musical notes in the prerecorded song have been played. When the modules of the vibration-activated musical toy are alternatively moved or shaken in the familiar rhythm of the prerecorded song, the vibration-activated musical toy will play the entire song.
The disclosed vibration-activated musical toy is superior to prior-art musical toys in that the player must practice to acquire the necessary skill to correctly play the prerecorded song or other sound effects. Rather than simply engaging a switch to hear a song, the player must move, shake, strike, or otherwise manipulate the separate modules of the vibration-activated musical toy in the correct order and with the correct rhythm to hear the entire song. Consequently the disclosed vibration-activated musical toy will continue to stimulate, entertain, and amuse long after the player is first introduced to the toy.
Reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Various aspects of a vibration-activated musical toy according to the present disclosure are described. It is to be understood, however, that the following explanation is merely exemplary in describing the vibration-activated musical toy of the present disclosure. Accordingly, several modifications, changes, and substitutions are contemplated.
Although in the preferred embodiment, the modules are completely separate from one another, it is contemplated that the modules could be flexibly connected to one another. In such an embodiment, the modules could be connected with string, cord, wire, chain, cable, or in any manner that allows for substantial freedom of movement of each module in relation to the other.
Vibration sensor 2 is activated whenever external housing 1 is moved, shaken, struck, or otherwise manipulated. Vibration sensor 2 then sends a signal to sound generating system 6 via the electrical circuit. Upon receiving the signal, sound generating system 6 outputs a sound effect and causes light emitting device 3, installed in some embodiments, to emit light substantially simultaneously with the output of the sound effect.
In the preferred embodiment, the sound effects output by sound generating system 6 are musical notes, though other sound effects are contemplated. These sound effects can be output in a variety of sound formats, resulting in the sound effects output by the toy simulating sounds including, but not limited to, bells, whistles, human sounds, animal sounds, and musical instruments, such as piano, flute, large handbell, or small handbell. In some embodiments, sound generating system 6 outputs sound effects in a user-selectable variety of sound formats. In these embodiments, a selection device is included to enable the user to configure the musical toy to simulate the desired sound. In the preferred embodiment, the sound generating system 6 of both modules outputs sound effects in a handbell sound format.
In one embodiment, sound generating system 6 comprises a sound chip programmed with one or more series of musical notes from one or more prerecorded songs. If the sound chip is programmed with more than one series of musical notes, a selection device may be used to configure the toy to play a particular series.
In a preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention, the sound chip of one separate module of the vibration-activated musical toy is programmed to play the odd series of musical notes for a prerecorded song, while the sound chip of the other separate module of the vibration-activated musical toy is programmed to play the even series of musical notes for the same prerecorded song. When the two separate modules are moved, shaken, or otherwise manipulated in a particular order corresponding to the rhythm of the prerecorded song, the vibration-activated musical toy will play the entire song. For example, suppose an entire song consists of the musical note series “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.” In this embodiment, the sound chip of the first separate module is programmed to play prerecorded musical note series “1, 3, 5, 7, 9” while the sound chip of the second separate module is programmed to play prerecorded musical note series “2, 4, 6, 8, 10.” To hear the entire song, a player manipulates the first module, causing the sound generating system of the first module to output musical note “1.” The player then manipulates the second module, causing the sound generating system of the second module to output musical note “2.” The player then manipulates the first module again, cause the sound generating system of the first module to output musical note “3.” Play continues, alternating between manipulation of the first module and the second module, until all ten musical notes have been output, and the entire song has been played.
In another embodiment of the disclosed invention, the sound chips of both modules of the vibration-activated musical toy are programmed to play both the odd series of musical notes and the even series of musical notes for an entire prerecorded song. In this embodiment, a mode selection device installed on external housing 1 controls whether the module plays the odd series of musical notes or the even series of musical notes when activated by a player. For example, suppose an entire song consists of the musical notes “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.” Through the mode selection device, both modules of the vibration-activated musical toy can be configured to play either prerecorded musical note series “1, 3, 5, 7, 9” or prerecorded musical note series “2, 4, 6, 8, 10.” This embodiment is advantageous from a manufacturing standpoint in that only one product line is required. This embodiment is advantageous from a consumer standpoint in that a lost or damaged module may be replaced without regard to whether the module plays the odd series of musical notes or the even series of musical notes.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sound chip is programmed with series of musical notes from more than one prerecorded song. In such an embodiment, the musical toy will play a series of musical notes from each prerecorded song in succession, looping back to replay the series of musical notes from the first prerecorded song after all series have been played. In an alternative embodiment, a selection device mounted on external housing 1 can be used to configure the toy to play musical notes from a particular prerecorded song.
Generally, two or more modules are required to operate the vibration-activated musical toy. In a preferred method of operation, two modules are required. After the power sources for both modules are engaged, the player moves or shakes the first module, thus activating vibration sensor 2 located within the first module and causing the first module to output a first sound effect. The player then moves or shakes the second module, thus activating vibration sensor 2 located within the second module and causing the second module to output a second sound effect. The player continues to alternate moving or shaking the modules, causing the modules to output sound effects. In a preferred embodiment, the sound effects comprise the musical notes of a song, and the preferred method of operation results in the output of a song. Should the player desire to restore one or both modules to a preset configuration, the player can either disengage the power source, and then re-engage it, or, in some embodiments, activate the reset button.
While various embodiments of vibration-activated musical toys and related methods of operating vibration-activated musical toys have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. Moreover, the above advantages and features are provided in described embodiments, but shall not limit the application of the claims to processes and structures accomplishing any or all of the above advantages.
Additionally, the section headings herein are provided for consistency with the suggestions under 37 CFR 1.77 or otherwise to provide organizational cues. These headings shall not limit or characterize the invention(s) set out in any claims that may issue from this disclosure. Specifically and by way of example, although the headings refer to a “Technical Field,” the claims should not be limited by the language chosen under this heading to describe the so-called technical field. Further, a description of a technology in the “Background” is not to be construed as an admission that technology is prior art to any invention(s) in this disclosure. Neither is the “Brief Summary” to be considered as a characterization of the invention(s) set forth in the claims found herein. Furthermore, any reference in this disclosure to “invention” in the singular should not be used to argue that there is only a single point of novelty claimed in this disclosure. Multiple inventions may be set forth according to the limitations of the multiple claims associated with this disclosure, and the claims accordingly define the invention(s), and their equivalents, that are protected thereby. In all instances, the scope of the claims shall be considered on their own merits in light of the specification, but should not be constrained by the headings set forth herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200510109307.6 | Oct 2005 | CN | national |
