Convertible rocking toys

A convertible toy includes a body portion and a base selectively coupled to the body portion. The body portion includes a seat portion, a first pair of leg portions extending from the seat portion, and a first axle extending between the first pair of leg portions. The body portion also includes a second pair of leg portions extending from the seat portion and a second axle extending between the second pair of leg portions. The base includes a curved support portion, a first coupling member coupled to the curved support portion, and a second coupling member coupled to the curved support portion. The first axle of the body portion is selectively coupled to the first coupling member in at least one degree of freedom and the second axle of the body portion is selectively coupled to the second coupling member in at least two degrees of freedom.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present specification generally relates to convertible rocking toys and, in particular, to convertible toys that have both rocking and rolling movements.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure is related to convertible toys, and in particular to rocking animal in which the toy resembles an animal, for example, a horse, a dog, or the like. Conventionally known rocking animals include representation of the features of the animal, and allow a child to sit astride the rocking animal to simulate riding. Such rocking horse toys provide amusement to the child users.

Children playing with rocking animals may wish to play with the rocking animal in alternative methods rather than solely rocking the rocking animal. Accordingly, convertible rocking toys that provide alternative movements to rocking alone may be desired.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a convertible toy includes a body portion and a base selectively coupled to the body portion. The body portion includes a seat portion, a first pair of leg portions extending from the seat portion, and a first axle extending between the first pair of leg portions. The body portion also includes a second pair of leg portions extending from the seat portion and a second axle extending between the second pair of leg portions. The base includes a curved support portion, a first coupling member coupled to the curved support portion, and a second coupling member coupled to the curved support portion. The first axle of the body portion is selectively coupled to the first coupling member in at least one degree of freedom and the second axle of the body portion is selectively coupled to the second coupling member in at least two degrees of freedom.

In another embodiment, a convertible toy includes a body portion and a base selectively coupled to the body portion. The body portion includes a seat portion, a first pair of leg portions extending from the seat portion, and a first axle extending between the first pair of leg portions. The body portion also includes a second pair of leg portions extending from the seat portion and a second axle extending between the second pair of leg portions. The base includes a curved support portion, a first coupling member coupled to the curved support portion, and a second coupling member coupled to the curved support portion. The first axle of the body portion is selectively coupled to the first coupling member in at least a longitudinal direction and the second axle of the body portion is selectively coupled to the second coupling member in at least the longitudinal direction and a vertical direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Convertible toys according to the present disclosure generally include a body portion and a base that is selectively coupled to the body portion. The body portion includes a seat portion upon which a user may sit astride. The body portion also includes a first pair of legs extending from the seat portion, a first axle extending between the first pair of legs, a second pair of legs extending from the seat portion, and a second axle extending between the second pair of legs. The first and second axles of the body portion are selectively coupled to first and second coupling members of the base. When engaged with the first and second axles, the first and second coupling members secure the body portion to the base such that the convertible toy can be rocked about a curved support portion of the base. At least one of the first or second coupling members may be selected to decouple the first or second axle, such that the body portion is easily removable from the base. As such, a child playing with the convertible toy may easily select between using the convertible toy in a rocking motion or in an alternative mode, including rolling.

Referring now toFIG. 1, one embodiment of the convertible toy100is depicted. In the depicted embodiment, the convertible toy100is manufactured to generally resemble a horse. Other embodiments of the convertible toy may be manufactured to resemble a variety of animals including, for example and without limitation, dogs, cats, cows, donkeys, goats, and the like. The convertible toy100includes a body portion110and a base200. The body portion110includes a seat portion112(here, corresponding to the thorax of the representative animal), a head portion114extending from the seat portion112, and at least one grip handle116extending from the head portion114. Embodiments of the body portion may be manufactured from a polymer frame90that is covered with a textile92. The body portion110also includes a first front leg portion122and a second front leg portion124defining a first pair of leg portions120, and a first rear leg portion132and a second rear leg portion134defining a second pair of leg portions130.

Referring toFIG. 2, the body portion110also includes a first axle126that extends between the first pair of leg portions120and a second axle136that extends between the second pair of leg portions130. In the depicted embodiment, the body portion110includes a plurality of wheels140aligned with the first axle126and the second axle136and free to rotate. In the depicted embodiment, the first axle126and the second axle136are fixed to the first pair of leg portions120and the second pair of leg portions130, respectively, and the wheels140rotate relative to the first and second axles126,136. In other embodiments, the first and second axles126,136may rotate relative to the first and second pair of leg portions120,130, respectively.

Referring toFIG. 3, the wheels140may have a diameter and be positioned relative to the first front leg portion122, the second front leg portion, the first rear leg portion132, the second rear leg portion such that at least a portion of the wheels140extend to a position in a vertical direction84below the first and second pair of leg portions120,130. When the body portion110of the convertible toy100is detached from the base and the body portion110is positioned on a ground surface, the wheels140contact the ground surface. As such, the body portion110of the convertible toy100is free to roll along the ground surface when the body portion110is detached from the base.

Referring again toFIG. 1, in the depicted embodiment, the base200includes a first rail210and a second rail212that extend in a generally longitudinal direction80corresponding to the body portion110. The rails212are spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction82and are coupled to one another by a first support member214and a second support member216, each of which extend in the generally lateral direction82transverse to the longitudinal direction80. The rails212include a curved support portion218that is positioned generally positioned to contact a ground surface. The base200also includes a first coupling member220coupled to the first support member214and a second coupling member230coupled to the second support member216. As will be described in greater detail below, the first coupling member220and the second coupling member230selectively couple the first and second axles126,136of the body portion110to the base200. When the body portion110is selectively coupled to the base200, a user may sit astride the seat portion112of the convertible toy100and rock the convertible toy100along the curved support portion218of the base200.

As depicted inFIG. 1, the positioning of the first pair of leg portions120such that the first pair of leg portions120contact the first coupling member220on opposite sides may limit translation of the body portion110relative to the base200in the lateral direction82when the body portion110is coupled to the base200. Similarly, the positioning of the second pair of leg portions130such that second pair of leg portions130contact the second coupling member220on opposite sides may further limit translation of the body portion110relative to the base200in the lateral direction82when the body portion110is coupled to the base200.

Referring toFIG. 4, the base200is depicted independently of the body portion. The base200includes the first coupling member220positioned on the first support member214, and positioned between the rails212. The first coupling member220is also reproduced inFIG. 5. In the depicted embodiment, the first coupling member220includes a bracket222having an opening224that extends in the longitudinal direction80. When the body portion is assembled with the base200, the first axle126of the body portion is positioned within the opening224of the bracket222. When positioned within the opening224, the first axle126is constrained from translating in at least one degree of freedom. As depicted, the first axle126is constrained from translating in the vertical direction84by the bracket222.

The base200may include a plurality of depressions252that are positioned in an upper surface250of the first and second rails210,212opposite the curved support portion218. The depressions252are inset downwards in the vertical direction84from the upper surface250of the first and second rails210,210, and provide clearance for the wheels140of the body portion110(as depicted inFIG. 1). The depressions252may allow for lower positioning of the height of the seat portion112of the body portion110in the vertical direction84relative to the ground surface.

Referring again toFIG. 4, the base200includes the second coupling member230that is positioned on the second support member216and is positioned between the rails212. The second coupling member230is reproduced inFIGS. 6-8. Referring toFIG. 6, the second coupling member230is depicted independently from other components of the base. The coupling member230includes a base portion232, a cover portion240, and a latch235that selectively couples the cover portion240to the base portion232. The base portion232and the cover portion240incorporate a hinge242that allows the cover portion240to rotate between a locked position and an unlocked position, while maintaining attachment of the cover portion240to the base portion232. The cover portion240may include a latch strike246. When the cover portion240is maintained in the locked position by the latch235, the latch strike246extends through an aperture238in the base portion, and the latch strike246is coupled by the latch235. The latch235may include a spring-loaded latch release236that is biased to maintain the latch strike246in the aperture238and maintain the cover portion240in the locked position.

The base portion232includes a base relief region234and the cover portion240includes a cover relief region244. When the cover portion240is maintained in the locked position relative to the base portion232, the base relief region234and the cover relief region244provide clearance to accept the second axle136of the body portion, as depicted inFIGS. 7 and 8.

Referring toFIG. 7, when the cover portion240is maintained in the locked position relative to the base portion232by the latch235, the second axle136is secured in at least two degrees of freedom. As depicted inFIG. 7, the second axle136is constrained from moving in the longitudinal direction80and the vertical direction84. When used in combination with the first coupling member220(depicted inFIGS. 4 and 5), the first coupling member220and the second coupling member230secure the first axle126and the second axle136of the body portion in the longitudinal direction80and the vertical direction84.

Referring now toFIG. 8, the latch235may be actuated to selectively release the cover portion240from the base portion232, and rotate the cover portion240to an unlocked position. With the cover portion240positioned in the unlocked position, the second axle136of the body portion is no longer coupled to the second coupling member230. As such, the second axle136of the body portion is free to move in at least one degree of freedom. As depicted inFIG. 8, the second axle136is free to move in at least the vertical direction84.

With the second axle136free to move in the vertical direction84, the body portion of the convertible toy may be repositioned such that the second axle136is removed from the second coupling member230. With the second axle136removed from the second coupling member230, the body portion may be translated in the longitudinal direction80corresponding to the direction of the opening224of the first coupling member220(depicted inFIG. 5), such that the first axle126of the body portion is removed from the first coupling member220. With the first axle126being removed from the first coupling member220and the second axle136being removed from the second coupling member230, the body portion110of the convertible toy100is selectively removable from the base200. The base200may be set aside so that a user can play with the body portion110of the convertible toy100. In the embodiments depicted herein, the wheels140of the body portion110may allow the body portion110of the convertible toy100to translate in the generally longitudinal direction80. The user may sit astride the body portion110of the convertible toy100and roll the body portion110in the generally longitudinal direction80.

While discussion hereinabove has been directed to the embodiments depicted inFIGS. 1-8, it should be understood that variations to the device may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, while discussion herein has described the first and second coupling members and their relative positioning, it should be understood that the positioning of the first and second coupling members relative to the body portion and the base may be modified. Further, the degrees of freedom that the first and second coupling members couple the first and second axles of the body portion may differ from those depicted inFIGS. 1-8, for example, by rotating the relative position of the first and second coupling members to the base. In addition, some embodiments of the convertible toy may include duplication of the components of the second coupling member.

Embodiments of the convertible toy may also include an electronics system having a memory, a processor, an actuation sensor, and an output device. When the actuation sensor is actuated, the processor executes a computer readable instruction set stored in the memory and commands the output device to perform an operation. In one embodiment, the convertible toy may include musical information stored in the memory that is played through a speaker incorporated into the convertible toy.

It should now be understood that convertible toys according to the present disclosure include first and second coupling members that selectively couple the body portion of the convertible toy to the base. When the body portion is coupled to the base, the convertible toy may be used by a user in a first mode, here a rocking mode. When the body portion is selectively decoupled from the base, the convertible toy may be used by a user in a second mode, here a rolling mode. The first and second coupling members provide easy and reliable coupling and decoupling of the body portion to the base portion.