Abstract:
An educational toy comprising a body and a plurality of belts affixed thereto. Each of the plurality of belts is comprised of a pair of ribbons, each pair of ribbons having a first ribbon coupled to a first cooperating buckle member, and a second ribbon coupled to a second cooperating buckle member. The first cooperating buckle member and the second ribbon coupled are releasably attachable one to the other. Each pair of ribbons has unique matching indicia that differ from every other pair of ribbons. The present invention allows the first cooperating buckle member to be associated with the second cooperating buckle member by correlating the unique matching indicia thus providing visual cues that enhance and stimulate buckling and unbuckling skills. A combination of buckle type, buckle shape and buckle color provide additional visual cues.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provision Patent Application Ser. No. 60/940,226, filed May 25, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an educational toy, and more particularly to a toy that facilitates developmental skills associated with buckling and unbuckling. 
         [0004]    2. Relevant Background 
         [0005]    From the time children are born, they are buckled in and out of car seats, bouncy seats, rockers, swings, baby back carriers, high chairs and various other objects that utilize securing devices, many of which are safety harnesses that utilize buckles. Children&#39;s natural curiosity and need for tactile, visual and oral stimulation encourages them to explore buckles long before they have any understanding of their function and working mechanism. The ability to buckle and unbuckle requires specific motor skills, an understanding of cause and effect, and the ability to match like shapes and colored units. It is important that a child be allowed to learn buckling and unbuckling skills by imitating, exploring and eventually mastering a constant in their environment, 
         [0006]    It is, therefore, desirable to provide an improved toy which facilitates development skills for buckling and unbuckling in order to overcome most, if not all, of the preceding problems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The present invention is directed to an educational toy that is geared substantially toward children who have begun to gain some small motor control and can manipulate two pieces of a buckle. The present invention allows children to associate buckle pieces by pairs of ribbons attached thereto, each pair of ribbons having unique matching indicia that provide a visual cue for matching the pieces of the buckle often before children are able to match buckle pieces by size and shape. The visual process of matching, the manipulative aspect of the toy, the attention to the motor requirement aspect of the toy, and the problem-solving aspect of the task will engage the child for stretches of time, enhancing their attention and concentration. The toy will ‘grow’ with the child as unbuckling depends on more advanced development and motor skills, thus adding to the longevity and usefulness of the toy. 
         [0008]    The present invention comprises a body and a plurality of belts, each of the plurality of belts being capable of extending around a periphery of the body. In the preferred embodiment, the body is an elongated member that has a shape of a torso of an animal such as without limitation the shape of a torso of a bear, a torso of a dog, a torso of a cat, and a torso of a bunny. In other embodiments, the body has a shape of an inanimate object such as without limitation a shape of a cube, a shape of a round ball, and a shape of a football. It is to be understood that the body may have any shape that is capable of serving its intended purpose of allowing the plurality of belts extend around a periphery of the body and be secured thereto. 
         [0009]    In the preferred embodiment, the body comprises a body stuffing such as cotton encased within a body skin. The body skin may be made from fabric such as without limitation velboa fabric and non-pilling fleece. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are various materials that may be used for the body stuffing and various materials from which the body skin may be made. In the preferred embodiment, the body has a width of approximately 25 cm (approximately 10 inches). 
         [0010]    In the preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of belts comprises a pair of ribbons and a buckle. Each pair of ribbons may comprise a first ribbon having a first ribbon connecting end at one end and a first ribbon buckle end at an opposite end, and a second ribbon having a second ribbon connecting end at one end and a second ribbon buckle end at an opposite end. 
         [0011]    In the preferred embodiment, the first ribbon connecting ends are permanently attached to the body, and may be vertically aligned one to the other, and horizontally spaced substantially the same distance one from the other. The second ribbon connecting ends are permanently attached to the body, and may be vertically aligned one to the other, and horizontally spaced one from the other. In alternate embodiments, the first ribbon connecting ends and the second ribbon connecting ends are releasably attached to the body. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are many suitable methods known in the art for attaching the first ribbon connecting ends and second ribbon connecting ends to the body. 
         [0012]    In the preferred embodiment, the first ribbon connecting end and the second ribbon connecting end are non-specifically positioned in relation to each other such that the first ribbon connecting end and the second ribbon connecting end may be horizontally oriented one to the other and, alternatively, cross-configured one to the other. It is to be understood that there are numerous positional combinations available. 
         [0013]    In an alternative embodiment, the body has one or more seams with a plurality of body sections extending between each of said one or more seams. Each first ribbon connecting end is attached to one of the one or more seams, and each second ribbon connecting end is attached to one of the one or more seams. 
         [0014]    In the preferred embodiment each pair of ribbons may be made of grosgrain. In alternative embodiments, each pair of ribbons may be made of any other material capable of performing its intended purposes of attaching to the body and wrapping around the body. 
         [0015]    In the preferred embodiment, the buckle may comprise a first cooperating buckle member and a second cooperating buckle member. The first cooperating buckle member may have a first cooperating buckle end that is attached to the first ribbon buckle end, and a first cooperating matching end at an opposite end. The second cooperating buckle member may have a second cooperating buckle end that is attached to the second ribbon buckle end, and a second cooperating matching end at an opposite end. The first cooperating buckle member and the second cooperating buckle member are releasably attachable one to the other, with the first ribbon and the second ribbon forming a periphery about the body when the first cooperating buckle member and said second cooperating buckle member are attached. 
         [0016]    In the preferred embodiment, each of the pair of ribbons has unique matching indicia such that the first ribbon may be visually associated with the second ribbon. The unique matching indicia may be different for each pair of ribbons such that each of the pair of ribbons is distinguishable one from the other thus correlating the first ribbon and the second ribbon one to the other, thereby providing visual cues that assist children in matching the first cooperating buckle member with the second cooperating buckle member, thus enhancing and stimulating buckling and unbuckling skills. 
         [0017]    In the preferred embodiment, the unique matching indicia consist of a common ribbon pattern such as straight vertical line patterns, wavy vertical lines, straight horizontal line patterns, wavy horizontal lines and polka dot patterns. In alternate embodiments, the unique matching indicia may consist of a common ribbon color, common ribbon widths, and common themes such as matching words of the same language, matching words from one or more languages that have substantially similar meanings, and matching words from one or more languages that are part of a phrase. It is to be understood that the unique matching indicia may be any indicia capable of distinguishing each of the pair of ribbons one from the other. One skilled in that will recognize that there are various indicia configurations available. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, each of the buckles may have a buckle color that is visually distinguishable one from the other. In alternative embodiments, two or more of the buckles have substantially similar buckle colors such that two or more of the buckles are visually indistinguishable from each other by buckle color. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are various colors for buckles. 
         [0019]    In one embodiment, each of the buckles may have a buckle shape that is visually distinguishable one from the other. In alternative embodiments, two or more of the buckles have substantially similar buckle shapes such that two or more of the buckles are visually indistinguishable from each other by buckle shape. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are various shapes for buckles. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, each of the buckles may be of a different buckle type such as an insert buckle type, a side release buckle type, a parachute buckle, a lift latch buckle and a push button buckle type, thus making each of buckles visually distinguishable one from the other. In alternative embodiments, two or more of the buckles are of substantially similar buckle types thus making two or more of the buckles visually indistinguishable one from the other by buckle type. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are various types of buckles available. 
         [0021]    In an alternative embodiment, each of the belts is distinguishable one from the other by a combination of buckle color, buckle type and buckle shape thereby providing additional visual cues that assist children in matching the first cooperating buckle member with the second cooperating buckle member. 
         [0022]    In the preferred embodiment, each of the buckles is made of plastic. One skilled in the art will recognize that various materials can be used to make buckles. 
         [0023]    In alternative embodiments, one or more of said plurality of belts is of sufficient length such that at least one of said pair of ribbons is capable of extending on at least two distinct peripheries of the body when the first cooperating buckle member is attached to the second cooperating buckle member. 
         [0024]    In the preferred embodiment, the body has a head member attached thereto. The head member may comprise a head stuffing encased in a head skin. The head member may be substantially circular in shape. In an alternative embodiment, the head member may be triangular in shape. In the preferred embodiment, the head member has a face portion that resembles the face of an animal. The face portion may be embroidered and may comprise one or more eye members, a nose member, a mouth member, and one or more ear members. The nose member may be a plastic member covered by fabric. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are various shapes for heads and various methods for constructing a face portion. In the preferred embodiment, the widest portion of the head member is about 25 cm (approximately 10 inches), and the height of the head member may be about 18 cm (approximately 7 inches). 
         [0025]    In the preferred embodiment, the head member contains a motion activated audio feedback device such that movement of the head member causes a sound to be emitted. In the preferred embodiment, the motion activated audio feedback device is a moveable clapper surrounded by metal rods encased in a plastic shell that emits a chime sound. In alternative embodiments, the motion activated audio feedback device emits a bell sound. One skilled in the art will recognize there are various ways to construct a motion activated feedback device suitable of performing its intended purpose of emitting a sound when movement is detected, and various ways to construct a motion activated feedback device that emits a variety of sounds. 
         [0026]    The body may have one or more arm members affixed thereto. Each of the arm members may comprise an arm stuffing encased in an arm skin. In the preferred embodiment, there are two arm members. In the preferred embodiment, each of the one or more arm members is about 10 cm (approximately 4 inches) in length. 
         [0027]    The body may have one or more leg members affixed thereto. Each of the leg members may comprise a leg stuffing encased in a leg skin. In the preferred embodiment, there are two leg members. In the preferred embodiment, each of the one or more leg members is about 5 cm (approximately 2 inches) in length. 
         [0028]    In the preferred embodiment, the body has a tail member attached thereto. In alternative embodiments, the head member has whisker members attached thereto. The whisker members may be embroidered, or made from fishing line, yarn, horsehair, thread, or any material capable of serving its intended purpose of attaching to the head member and resembling whiskers of an animal such as without limitation a cat. 
         [0029]    The applicant intends to encompass within the language any structure presently existing or developed in the future that performs the same function. In the claims, any means-plus-function clause is intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and, not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and/or omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
         [0030]    It is to be understood that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
       REFERENCE NUMBERS IN THE DRAWINGS 
       [0000]    
       
         # Description 
           20  Body 
           27  One or more seams 
           28  Plurality of body sections 
           40  Head member 
           48  Face portion 
           50  Eye members 
           52  Nose member 
           54  Mouth member 
           56  Ear members 
           60  Arm members 
           66  Motion activated audio feedback device 
           70  Leg members 
           76  Tail member 
           78  Whisker members 
           80  Belts 
           82  Pair of ribbons 
           84  First ribbon 
           86  First ribbon connecting end 
           88  First ribbon buckle end 
           94  Second ribbon 
           96  Second ribbon connecting end 
           98  Second ribbon buckle end 
           100  Buckles 
           102  First cooperating buckle member 
           104  First cooperating buckle end 
           106  First cooperating matching end 
           112  Second cooperating buckle member 
           114  Second cooperating buckle end 
           116  Second cooperating matching end 
       
     
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0061]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the educational toy showing a body with a shape of a torso of a bear and five buckles with unique indicia of common ribbon patterns in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0062]      FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of the educational toy of  FIG. 1  showing a motion activated audio feedback device. 
           [0063]      FIG. 3  is a back perspective view of the educational toy of  FIG. 1  showing a motion activated audio feedback device. 
           [0064]      FIG. 4  is a first side perspective view of the educational toy of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0065]      FIG. 5  is a second side perspective view of the educational toy showing a plurality of belts wrapped around at least two distinct peripheries of the body. 
           [0066]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the body of the educational toy showing each pair of ribbons cross-configured one to the other, and each pair of ribbons distinguishable one from the other by a combination of buckle types, buckle shapes and buckle colors. 
           [0067]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the educational toy of  FIG. 1  wherein each pair of ribbons has unique matching indicia of a common theme such that some pairs of ribbons have matching words that are the same language and some pairs of ribbons have matching words from one or more languages that have substantially similar meanings. 
           [0068]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the educational toy showing a dog with a tail and the body having three belts. 
           [0069]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of the educational toy showing a cat with a tail member and whisker members. 
           [0070]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of the educational toy showing a bunny with unique matching indicia of common ribbon widths. 
           [0071]      FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of the educational toy having a body with a shape of a cube and four belts attached thereto. 
           [0072]      FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of the educational toy having a shape of a round ball. 
           [0073]      FIG. 13  is a front perspective view of the educational toy having a body with a shape of a football and six belts attached thereto. 
           [0074]      FIG. 14  is an exploded view of the belt of the educational toy. 
       
    
    
       [0075]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways within the scope of the present invention. For example, a plurality of materials of construction may be employed, both currently known or that later become known. It is to be understood that the present invention includes construction utilizing metric measurements. Also, it is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description, and not of limitation. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0076]    The present invention comprises a body  20  and a plurality of belts  80 , each of the plurality of belts  80  being capable of extending around a periphery of the body  20 . 
         [0077]    In the preferred embodiment, the body  20  is an elongated member that has a shape of a torso of an animal. For example,  FIGS. 1 through 7  show the body  20  resembling a torso of a bear.  FIG. 8  shows the body  20  resembling a torso of a dog.  FIG. 9  shows the body  20  resembling a torso of a cat.  FIG. 10  shows the body  20  resembling a torso of a bunny. In other embodiments, the body  20  has a shape of an inanimate object. For example,  FIG. 11  shows the body  20  having a shape of a cube.  FIG. 12  shows the body  20  having a shape of a round ball.  FIG. 13  shows the body  20  having a shape of a football. It is to be understood that the body  20  may have any shape that is capable of serving its intended purpose of allowing the plurality of belts  80  to extend around the periphery of the body  20  and be secured thereto. 
         [0078]    In the preferred embodiment, the body  20  comprises a body stuffing such as cotton encased within a body skin, and the body skin is made from fabric such as without limitation Velboa fabric and non-pilling fleece. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are various materials that may be used for the body stuffing and various materials from which the body skin may be made. In the preferred embodiment, the body  20  may have a width of approximately 25 cm (approximately 10 inches). 
         [0079]    In the preferred embodiment, as best shown in  FIG. 14 , each of the plurality of belts  80  comprises a pair of ribbons  82  and a buckle  100 . Each pair of ribbons  82  may comprise a first ribbon  84  having a first ribbon connecting end  86  at one end and a first ribbon buckle end  88  at an opposite end, and a second ribbon  94  having a second ribbon connecting end  96  at one end and a second ribbon buckle end  98  at an opposite end. 
         [0080]    In the preferred embodiment, as best shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the first ribbon connecting ends  86  are permanently attached to the body  20 , and may be vertically aligned one to the other, and horizontally spaced substantially the same distance one from the other. The second ribbon connecting ends  96  are permanently attached to the body  20 , and may be vertically aligned one to the other, and horizontally spaced one from the other. In alternate embodiments, the first ribbon connecting ends  86  and the second ribbon connecting ends  96  are releasably attachable to the body. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are many suitable methods known in the art for attaching the first ribbon connecting ends  86  and second ribbon connecting ends  96  to the body  20 . 
         [0081]    In the preferred embodiment, the first ribbon connecting end  86  and the second ribbon connecting end  96  are non-specifically positioned in relation to each other such that the first ribbon connecting end  86  and the second ribbon connecting end  96  may be horizontally oriented one to the other (shown in  FIG. 1 ), and alternatively cross-configured one to the other (shown in  FIG. 6 ). It is to be understood that there are numerous positional combinations available. 
         [0082]    In an alternative embodiment, as best shown in  FIG. 12 , the body  20  has one or more seams  27  with a plurality of body sections  28  extending between each of the one or more seams  27 . Each first ribbon connecting end  86  is attached to one of said one or more seams  27 , and each second ribbon connecting end  96  is attached to one of said one or more seams  27 . 
         [0083]    In the preferred embodiment each pair of ribbons  82  may be made of grosgrain. In alternative embodiments, each pair of ribbons  82  may be made of any other material capable of performing its intended purposes of attaching to the body  20  and wrapping around the body  20 . 
         [0084]    In the preferred embodiment, as best shown in  FIG. 14 , the buckle  100  may comprise a first cooperating buckle member  102  and a second cooperating buckle member  112 . The first cooperating buckle member  102  may have a first cooperating buckle end  104  that is attached to the first ribbon buckle end  88 , and a first cooperating matching end  106  at an opposite end. The second cooperating buckle member  112  may have a second cooperating buckle end  114  that is attached to the second ribbon buckle end  98 , and a second cooperating matching end  116  at an opposite end. The first cooperating buckle member  102  and the second cooperating buckle member  112  are releasably attachable one to the other, with the first ribbon  84  and the second ribbon  94  forming a periphery about the body  20  when the first cooperating buckle member  102  and said second cooperating buckle member  112  are attached one to the other. 
         [0085]    In the preferred embodiment, each of the pair of ribbons  82  has unique matching indicia such that the first ribbon  84  may be visually associated with the second ribbon  86 . The unique matching indicia may be different for each pair of ribbons  82  such that each of the pair of ribbons  82  is distinguishable one from the other thus correlating the first ribbon  84  and the second ribbon  94  one to the other, thereby providing visual cues that assist children in matching the first cooperating buckle member  102  with the second cooperating buckle member  112 , thus enhancing and stimulating buckling and unbuckling skills. 
         [0086]    In the preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the unique matching indicia consist of a common ribbon pattern such as straight vertical line patterns, wavy vertical lines, straight horizontal line patterns, wavy horizontal lines and polka dot patterns. In alternate embodiments, the unique matching indicia may consist of a common ribbon color, common ribbon widths ( FIG. 10 ), and common themes such as matching words of the same language, matching words from one or more languages that have substantially similar meanings, and matching words from one or more languages that are part of a phrase (as shown in some of the belts on  FIG. 7 ). It is to be understood that the unique matching indicia may be any indicia capable of distinguishing each of the pair of ribbons  82  one from the other. One skilled in that will recognize that there are various indicia configurations available. 
         [0087]    In one embodiment, each of the buckles  100  may have a buckle color that is visually distinguishable one from the other. In alternative embodiments, two or more of the buckles  100  have substantially similar buckle colors such that two or more of the buckles  100  are visually indistinguishable from each other by buckle color. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are various colors for buckles  100 . 
         [0088]    In one embodiment, each of the buckles  100  may have a buckle shape that is visually distinguishable one from the other. In alternative embodiments, two or more of the buckles  100  have substantially similar buckle shapes such that two or more of the buckles  100  are visually indistinguishable from each other by buckle shape. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are various shapes for buckles  100 . 
         [0089]    In one embodiment, each of the buckles  100  may be of a different buckle type such as an insert buckle type, a side release buckle type, a parachute buckle, a lift latch buckle and a push button buckle type, thus making each of buckles  100  visually distinguishable one from the other. In alternative embodiments, two or more of the buckles  100  are of substantially similar buckle types thus making two or more of the buckles  100  visually indistinguishable one from the other by buckle type. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are various types of buckles  100  available. 
         [0090]    In an alternative embodiment, each of the belts  80  is distinguishable one from the other by a combination of buckle color, buckle type and buckle shape thereby providing additional visual cues that assist children in matching the first cooperating buckle member  102  with the second cooperating buckle member  112 . 
         [0091]    In the preferred embodiment, each of the buckles  100  is made of plastic. One skilled in the art will recognize that various materials can be used to make buckles  100 . 
         [0092]    In alternative embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 5 , one or more of said plurality of belts  80  is of sufficient length such that at least one of said pair of ribbons  82  is capable of extending on at least two distinct peripheries of the body  20  when the first cooperating buckle member  102  is attached to said second cooperating buckle member  112 . 
         [0093]    In the preferred embodiment, the body  20  has a head member  40  attached thereto. The head member  40  may comprise a head stuffing encased in a head skin. The head member  40  may be substantially circular in shape. In an alternative embodiment, the head member  40  may be triangular in shape. In the preferred embodiment, the head member  40  has a face portion  48  that resembles a face of an animal. The face portion  48  may be embroidered and may comprise one or more eye members  50 , a nose member  52 , a mouth member  54 , and one or more ear members  56 . The nose member  52  may be a plastic member covered by fabric. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are various shapes for heads and various methods for constructing a face portion  48 . In the preferred embodiment, the widest portion of the head member  40  may be about 25 cm (approximately 10 inches), and the height of the head member  40  may be about 18 cm (approximately 7 inches). 
         [0094]    In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the head member  40  contains a motion activated audio feedback device  66  such that movement of the head member  40  causes a sound to be emitted. In the preferred embodiment, the motion activated audio feedback device  66  is a moveable clapper surrounded by metal rods encased in a plastic shell that emits a chime sound. In alternative embodiments, the motion activated audio feedback device  66  emits a bell sound. One skilled in the art will recognize there are various ways to construct a motion activated feedback device  66  suitable of performing its intended purpose of emitting a sound when movement is detected, and various ways to construct a motion activated feedback device  66  that emits a variety of sounds. 
         [0095]    The body  20  may have one or more arm members  60  affixed thereto. Each of the arm members  60  may comprise an arm stuffing encased in an arm skin. In the preferred embodiment, there are two arm members  60 . In the preferred embodiment, each of the one or more arm members  60  is about 10 cm (approximately 4 inches) in length. 
         [0096]    The body  20  may have one or more leg members  70  affixed thereto. Each of the leg members  70  may comprise a leg stuffing encased in a leg skin. In the preferred embodiment, there are two leg members  70 . In the preferred embodiment, each of the one or more leg members  70  is about 5 cm (approximately 2 inches) in length. 
         [0097]    In the preferred embodiment, the body  20  has a tail member  76  attached thereto. In alternative embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , the head member  40  has whisker members  78  attached thereto. The whisker members  78  may be embroidered, or made from fishing line, yarn, horsehair, thread, or any other material capable of serving its intended purpose of attaching to the head member  40  and resembling whiskers of an animal such as without limitation a cat. 
         [0098]    The applicant intends to encompass within the language any structure presently existing or developed in the future that performs the same function. In the claims, any means-plus-function clause is intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and, not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and/or omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
         [0099]    It is to be understood that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.