Abstract:
Modular constructional toy kit and instructional story book, for use in forming a customized and personalized privacy guard in the form of a door knocker and learning the importance of protecting and respecting a persons right to privacy. The constructional toy kit allows children to build and decorate their own door knockers. Each door knocker has a base unit and a pivotal member hinged at one end to the base unit allowing the pivotal member to swing in a short arc away from the base unit. When released, the pivotal member swings back to make contact with the base unit emitting a loud sound. The constructional toy kit can also have an integrated holder to store written messages, integrated electronic recording and playback device for personalized audio messages, a smooth flat surface at the lower portion of the base unit suitable for imprinting a child&#39;s name, assorted decorations and attachable components to allow for the creation of animals or creatures, paints and commercially available hardware and adhesives.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/954,097, which was filed on Aug. 6, 2007 incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a door knocker, particularly a toy door knocker, and a construction and educational kit including a door knocker. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Conventional door knockers where an arm is supported by a base or ornamental door plaques are made of heavy metal to produce the required tapping noise and are used for entrance doors of a house only. Children of all ages are taught to knock on the door of a parents&#39; and/or siblings&#39; room before entering. Children are also encouraged to seek permission before entering another persons home but conventional door knockers made of metal or plastic are heavy and unattractive for use within a house, school or any building. Further these door knockers only serve the purpose of producing noise and are not interactive for children to learn issues such as privacy. 
         [0004]    Thus, there is a need to create a door knocker, particularly a toy door knocker that can not only serve as a traditional door knocker but is also a construction and educational kit. All of the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art are addressed and overcome in the present invention which is described below. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A door knocker such as a toy door knocker for children, is provided. The door knocker can be made generally in the shape of a motif (e.g., a dog, monster, owl, butterfly, robot, dinosaur, pirate, princess, skateboarder, etc.) and comprise a base unit and a knocking unit. The knocking unit is movable in relation to the base unit and makes a sound when being brought in contact with the base unit. The door knocker can also include one or more interactive structures, such as a name plate to show the child&#39;s name, a message center for the child and the visitor to leave messages for each other. The door knocker can be made of wood. 
         [0006]    A door knocker construction kit is also provided, in which the various components are made to be readily assembled. For example, each component of the door knocker can be formed with one or more connectors to be joined with other components either by hand or by an assembly tool, which can be included in the construction kit. Additionally or alternatively, the construction kit can include a plurality of interchangeable parts for one or more components of the door knocker. For example, a plurality of motif parts can be included in the construction kit, each being designed as a different character (e.g., a dog, monster, owl, butterfly, dinosaur, pirate, princess, skateboarder, etc.) or a different decor for different seasons or holidays, such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Each motif part is made to be readily assembled to the remaining parts of the door knocker. 
         [0007]    A door knocker educational kit is additionally provided which includes a door knocker and literature components about privacy. The door knocker can be in the form of a construction kit. The modular constructional kit and instructional story book form a customized and personalized privacy guard in the form of a door knocker and teach children the importance of protecting and respecting a person&#39;s right to privacy. The educational kit will allow children to build and decorate their own door knockers, read and learn about invaluable lessons about privacy, interact and play with family and friends during the learning process, and experience privacy. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  show a plane view of a door knocker formed according to a first embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows a construction kit including a door knocker of  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  each show a plane view of a door knocker formed according to a second embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  shows a construction kit including a door knocker of  FIGS. 3A and 3B . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  shows a plane view of a door knocker formed according to a third embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  shows an educational kit including a construction kit shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0014]    This invention allows a parent and a child to interact and work together to construct a door knocker that will provide a vehicle to teach the theory of privacy and the importance of respecting personal privacy. The construction and educational kits may contain a plurality of components necessary to construct a personalized and uniquely custom door knocker. In addition, a story book linked to the particular theme of the doorknocker relating a creative story about privacy, which will give parents and or caretakers a vehicle to discuss the topic, may be included in the educational kit. 
         [0015]      FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  2  show a first embodiment of a door knocker  10 . The door knocker  10  can comprise a base unit  12  (see  FIG. 2 ) for mounting the door knocker  10  onto a door, such as a child&#39;s bedroom door. The main body portion  14  of the door knocker  10  can be configured as a motif, such as a dog, monster, owl, butterfly, dinosaur, pirate, princess, skateboarder, etc. The door knocker  10  can be made of primarily wood and finished with non-toxic paints or other finishes. 
         [0016]    The main body portion  14  can comprise a knocking member  16  movably joined to the remaining main body portion  14 . As  FIG. 1B  shows, the knocking member  16  (e.g., the front leg of the character) can be lifted or otherwise moved away from its resting position (shown by dotted lines) prior to knocking. For example, the knocking member  16  can be hinged at one end  16   e  to the main body portion  14  to allow the knocking member  16  to swing away from the main body portion  14  and/or the base unit  12 . In an example shown in  FIG. 2 , one of the front legs  56  of the character (e.g., a dog) can be formed as a knocking member  16  and hinged to the main body portion  14  at the upper portion of the front leg  56 . When the knocking member  16  is made to contact with the main body portion  14  and/or the base unit  12 , a loud sound is emitted to notify the child of a visitor. 
         [0017]    The door knocker  10  can include various interactive elements. For example, when the door knocker  10  is in the shape of an owl, the owl&#39;s eyes can light up when a visitor uses the door knocker  10 . In another example, the door knocker  10  can include a message center  18 , such as a message holder  18   a  where visitors can leave notes. In one example, a character&#39;s hand can be formed as a message holder  18   a.  In a further example, the door knocker  10  can comprise a recording and playing back device  20  so that the child can leave a message for visitors and vice versa, etc. Such recording and playback device  20  can be a commercially available integrated circuit and include a speaker  22 , microphone  24 , battery compartment  26 , recording switch  28 , playback trigger  30 , and on-off switch  32  (see  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  6 ). 
         [0018]    Additionally or alternatively, the door knocker  10  can include one or more additional accessory components. For example, a label plate  34  can be provided, such as at the lower portion of the base unit  12  to show the child&#39;s name or other logo or statement. In another example, a shield member  36  can be provided to cover the hinged portions of the knocking member  16 . In a further example, an eye piece  38  can be provided for the child to view from inside of the door who is knocking at the door. For example, the viewing port  38  can be mounted on the door knocker  10  at the same position where the eye of the animal motif is. One or more assorted decorations and attachable components can be provided to allow for the creation of animals or creatures, paints and commercially available hardware and adhesives. 
         [0019]    A label plate  34  can be provided, such as to be personalized with a child&#39;s name (e.g., “Josh&#39;s Room”). The label plate  34  can have a smooth flat surface  34   s,  such as formed at the lower portion of the door knocker  10 . The name can be fixed on the label plate  34  in various ways. For example, the name can be painted, carved onto the label plate  34 . In one example, the label plate  34  is in the form of a name plate containing a slot for holding a name label. In one example, the label plate  34  can have a height of about one inch and runs horizontally the full width of base unit  12 . In another example, the electronic button switch  28  for start/stop the recording and the trigger switch  30  to initiate the playback can be provided on the label plate  34 , as is shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a modular construction toy kit  40 , which may comprise of one or more of the construction components for forming a door knocker  10  as a customized and personalized privacy guard for a user, such as a child. 
         [0021]    The construction kit may include a base unit  12  to be mounted on a door. The base unit  12  can have various shapes, such as having an appearance of an inverted capital letter “T.” The base unit  12  can be made in various sizes, such as about 9½″ in height, about 8″ in width, and about 2½″ in depth. The base unit  12  can be formed of various materials, preferably an FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood. 
         [0022]    The construction kit in  FIG. 2  illustrates one or more connectors  42  for attaching the base unit  12  to a door. Various standard nail or screw hardware can be used for this purpose. The construction kit may include a main body portion  14  containing a front portion  14   f  and a back portion  14   b.  In one example, the main body portion  14  can comprise a back motif body portion  14   b  adapted to be mounted onto the base unit  12 . For example, the back body portion  14   b  is formed to resemble a portion of the motif. The front motif body portion  14   f  can be adapted to be mounted onto the back body portion  14   b  and have a designed shape and/or contour, such as matching either an animal or creature. 
         [0023]    A knocking member  16  movably attached to the remaining main body portion  14  may be one of the construction components. For example, the knocking member  16  is hinged at one end  16   e  to allow the knocking member  16  to swing in a short arc away from the remaining body portion  14  and/or the base unit  12 . When the knocking member  16  is released, it will swing back via gravity to make contact with the remaining body portion  14  and/or the base unit  12  and generate a loud sound to notify the child of a visitor. In one example, contact of the knocking member  16  with the base unit  12  can also trigger the playback of the recorded electronic message via the integrated circuitry in the recording and playing back device  20 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  shows a message center  18 , such as a message holder  18   a  for holding rolled paper to be used to store written messages. In one example, each construction kit  40  can also contain a pad of paper  44 , which is decorated to match the theme of the door knocker  10 . 
         [0025]    The construction kit in  FIG. 2  further illustrates an electronic recording and playback device  20  for personalized audio messages. Such recording and playback device  20  can be a commercially available integrated circuit and include a speaker  22 , microphone  24 , battery compartment  26 , recording switch  28 , playback trigger  30 , and on-off switch  32 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  illustrates various shaped motif construction pieces, including one or more of each of the following: ear pieces  46 , nose pieces  48 , eye pieces  50 , arm pieces  52 , hand pieces  54 , leg pieces  56 , paw pieces  58 , tail pieces  60 , collar pieces  62 , tag pieces  64 , neck ruff pieces  66 . In one example, one or more of the above construction pieces can be used as a knocking member  16 . In an example previously described, one of the leg pieces  56  can be made into a knocking member  16 . Additionally or alternatively, one of the ear pieces  46  can be formed to be movably attached to the remaining body portion  14  and function as a knocking member  16 . In another example, the neck ruff  66  each can be formed as a shield member  36  so that, when the door knocker  10  is assembled, the collar piece  62  can cover the hinge connecting the front leg  56  with the remaining main body portion  14 . 
         [0027]    The example construction kit in  FIG. 2  includes a viewing port  38  for the child to view from inside of the door who is knocking at the door. In one example, the viewing port  38  can be mounted on the door knocker  10  at the same position where the eye of the animal motif is. A brass hinge  68  for movably joining one or more selected motif construction pieces (e.g., a front leg  56  of a dog motif) to the remaining main body portion  14  is included. One or more assembling tools  70  including screw drivers, screws, etc maybe included. Crafting items like glue, paint, glitter, fabric, etc are shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0028]      FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  4  show a second embodiment of a door knocker  10  and a construction kit  40  in which the main body portion  14 ′ is configured as a monster. The main body portions  14 ′ shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  can be formed similarly but decorated as different characters, such as a girl monster or a boy monster. 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  illustrates a third embodiment of a door knocker  10 , in which the main body  14 ′ is configured as a monster similar to that shown in  FIG. 3B . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , a speaker  22  is provided, such as positioned in the mouth of the motif. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the main body portion  14 ,  14 ′ can be configured as any of various other motifs, such as those described above. 
         [0030]    In another embodiment, the construction kit  40  can comprise a plurality of main body portions  14 ,  14 ′ representing different motifs, such a dog, a monster, etc. In one example, the construction kit  40  can include main body portions  14 ,  14 ′ configured as girl dog (see  FIG. 1A ) and girl monster (see  FIG. 3A ), respectively. In the alternative, the plurality of main body portions  14 ,  14 ′ can be configured as other seasonal, holiday, or other types of decorations (e.g., pumpkin, heart, Christmas tree, dreidel, basketball, etc.). The multiple main body portions  14 ,  14 ′ can be formed so that they are interchangeable. 
         [0031]    In a further embodiment, one or more additional main body portions  14 ,  14 ′, with or without the related story book  82  (see  FIG. 6 ) and/or the motif-oriented knock-knock jokes  84  (see,  FIG. 6 ) can be formed as a sub-kit and sold separately. Knock-knock jokes may be provided to allow the same to be printed and inserted in label plate  34  formed on the door knocker  10 . The construction kit may include personalized messages, which can be inserted on the label plate  34  formed on the door knockers  10 . The personalized messages can include messages, such as “Today is Zach&#39;s Birthday,” “Max&#39;s Room Is Off Limits To Girls,” or “The Room of a Really Cool Dude!” 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  shows a door knocker educational kit  80 , which can include one or more of the kit components such as a door knocker  10  or a construction kit  40  as described above. One or more story books  82  about privacy, which can include illustrations may be included in the educational kit  80 . The story books  82  can be a series, which are adapted for different aspects about privacy or for different ages. Each story book  82  can be featured by a motif (e.g., dog, monster, dragon, pirate, etc.) as the lead character in a story centered on privacy. 
         [0033]    As  FIG. 6  illustrates the educational kit  80  may include single sheet literatures  84 , such as stories about privacy and knock-knock jokes. The jokes can be based on one or more of the motifs included in the construction kit. For example, dog-related knock-knock jokes can be provided for a motif that looks like a dog). The single sheet literatures  84  can be in the form of cards, or otherwise be adapted to be inserted the name label slot provided on the door knocker  10  described above. A megaphone to amplify voices may also be part of the educational kit  80 . 
         [0034]    A door knocker can be formed in various ways by combining the kit components illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In a preferred embodiment, the base unit  12  can be painted and decorated and for the attachment of the back body  56  with one or more screws  42  or adhesive. The front body  14  is painted and or decorated and attached to the back body  56  and upper section of the base unit  12  with one or more screws  42  or adhesive. The knocker member  16  can be painted and decorated then attached using a hinge  68  that is then screwed to the front body  14  in the pre-drilled holes. A plurality of plastic eyes  50  is provided so that one preferred by the assembler can be attached to the front body  14  with adhesive. The nose  48  is then attached to the front body  14  with one or more screws  42  or adhesive. A set of fabric ears  46  are also attached to the front body  14 , such as with adhesive. 
         [0035]    The tag  64  is painted and or decorated and attached to the collar  62  with a clip. The collar  62  is painted or decorated and attached to the front body  14  at the neck area just below the head. The paws  54  are painted and or decorated and one is attached to the horizontally outstretched leg  52 , while the other is attached to the leg that is the knocking member  16 . 
         [0036]    An electronic circuit is attached to the backside of the base unit  12  with the wiring fed through a set of troughs pre cut in the base unit  12  and secured with screws  42  into the pre-drilled holes. The speaker  22  and microphone  24  is set into the pre-cut hole in the base unit  12  and affixed with adhesive. The switches are inserted into the pre-drilled holes and secured with the included nuts and washers. The tail piece  60  is then painted and or decorated and attached to the backside of the back body  56  with one or more screws  42  or adhesive. The final step is to paint or affix self adhesive letters to the base unit  12  to spell a child&#39;s name. 
         [0037]    The final assembled unit is then attached to a door at the appropriate operating height using standard commercially available screws or nails. A message can then be recorded. 
         [0038]    As seen in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , to operate one embodiment of the doorknocker  10 , the knocking member  16  is grasped by hand and raised up in an arc. It is then either released or swung down to impact the front body  14 . Upon impact, a loud noise is emitted naturally from the components and the trigger switch is caused to activate the playback of the recorded message. In addition, the horizontally outstretched leg  52  has a slot to hold messages that are written on a small piece of paper and then rolled and inserted into the slot  18   a  for future retrieval. 
         [0039]    Having thus described at least illustrative embodiments of the invention, various modifications and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art and are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended as limiting. The invention is limited only as defined in the following claims and the equivalents thereto.