Electronic activity center

An electronic activity center for infants includes a spring biased kick bar, a cross bar supported above the infant, a plurality of hanging toys suspended from the cross bar, and a rotating "motion" bar with rotating flippers and disks mounted on the cross bar. The kick bar and the hanging toys are connected to an electronic control unit mounted inside the frame of the activity center. The electronic control unit controls output of music and sounds responsive to movement of the kick bar and/or hanging toy. The electronic unit also controls motion the rotating bar responsive to movements of the kick bar and hanging toys. Activation of the music, sounds and rotating bar responsive to movement of the kick bar and/or hanging toys are believed to encourage kicking of the infant's feet and swinging of the infant's arms and thus aid in the development of motor skills.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The instant invention relates to electronic toys for infants and more
 particularly to an electronic activity center comprising a spring biased
 kick bar at ground level, and an overhead cross bar having a plurality of
 hanging toys suspended above the infant. An electronic unit mounted inside
 the activity center controls output of music and sounds responsive to
 movement of the kick bar and/or the hanging toys. The electronic unit also
 controls motion of a rotating bar on the cross bar responsive to movements
 of the kick bar and hanging toys. Activation of the music, sounds and
 rotating bar responsive to movement of the kick bar and/or hanging toys
 are believed to encourage kicking of the infant's feet and swinging of the
 infant's arms and to thus aid in the development of motor skills.
 At just a few months of age, infants begin actively kicking their feet and
 swinging their arms as a means of showing excitement and emotion, and also
 as a means of exploring their immediate surroundings. In this regard, a
 variety of different types of toys have been developed to encourage
 infants to use these natural kicking and swinging movements. Prior art
 toys of this type include play gyms having overhead suspended toys and
 further include spring mounted kick plates. For example, the Thomson et al
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,253, Bro U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,520 and Block U.S. Pat.
 No. 4,627,588 each discloses a baby gym having toys suspended from an
 overhead bar. An infant positioned on its back beneath the bar is able to
 both kick and swing at the suspended toys thereby aiding in the
 development of manual dexterity and hand eye coordination.
 The Ferrari U.S. Pat. No. 2,461,682 discloses a crib exercise device
 comprising a flat board which is mounted to the legs of a crib by elastic
 members. The board is suspended in a vertical orientation in the crib by
 the elastic members and is presented for kicking by an infant in the crib.
 When the infant kicks or hits the board, the board springs up and down and
 back and forth in an amusing manner.
 An electronic piano device is also known in the prior art. The device can
 be mounted in a vertical orientation and used as a kick board for infants.
 When the infants feet engage buttons on the piano, sounds or tones
 associated with the respective buttons are output.
 The Davison U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,286 discloses another type of crib toy
 which includes noise devices that can be kicked or hit by an infant in the
 crib. The noise devices include a rattle, a bell, and a squeaker. When
 these devices are hit or kicked by the infant's hands or feet, they make
 an audible noise which in turn activates a sound responsive musical
 circuit. The musical control circuit also activates a motor which spins
 and moves cartoon figures mounted in the housing.
 The Au U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,268 discloses an electronic activity gym having
 a frame, an overhead cross bar, and a plurality of hang toys suspended
 from the cross bar. The hanging toys are suspended from the cross bar by a
 pivot assembly mounted within the cross bar. When an infant positioned
 below the cross bar hits, kicks or otherwise touches the hanging toys, the
 pivot assembly pivots and closed a switch that activates an electronic
 music and sound system.
 The instant invention provides an improved electronic activity center for
 an infant comprising a frame, a spring biased kick bar pivotably mounted
 to the frame, a cross bar supported above the infant, a plurality of
 hanging toys suspended from the cross bar, and a rotating "motion" bar
 with rotating flippers and disks mounted on the cross bar. The kick bar
 and the hanging toys are connected to an electronic control unit mounted
 inside the frame of the activity center. The electronic control unit
 controls output of music and sounds responsive to movement of the kick bar
 and/or hanging toy. The electronic unit also controls motion the rotating
 bar responsive to movements of the kick bar and hanging toys. Activation
 of the music, sounds and rotating bar responsive to movement of the kick
 bar and/or hanging toys are believed to encourage kicking of the infant's
 feet and swinging of the infant's arms and thus aid in the development of
 motor skills.
 More specifically, the activity center comprises a cross bar, and a frame
 having a base portion and spaced upright support members extending
 upwardly from the base portion. The cross bar is mounted between the
 spaced upright support members for supporting the cross bar above a
 supporting surface. A plurality of toy articles are suspended from the
 cross bar so as to be generally positioned above an infant lying on its
 back between the upright support members. The hanging toy articles are
 pivotably movable from an a normal rest position to an active position
 responsive to engagement by an operator, i.e. swinging of the infants arms
 or kicking of the infants feet. A first switch is mounted in operable
 association with the hanging toy articles wherein the first switch is
 actuable responsive to pivoting movement of the toy articles. The switch
 is generally movable between a first position corresponding to the at rest
 position of the toy article and a second position corresponding to the
 active position of the toy articles.
 The electronic activity center further comprises a spring biased kick bar
 pivotably mounted to the base portion of the frame between the spaced
 upright support members. The kick bar is pivotably movable between an at
 rest position and an active position responsive to engagement of the user,
 i.e. kicking of the infant feet. A second switch is mounted in operable
 association with the kick bar wherein the second switch is actuable
 responsive to pivoting movement of the kick bar between a first position
 corresponding to the at rest position of the kick bar and a second
 position corresponding to the active position of the kick bar.
 The electronic activity center still further comprises a rotating "motion"
 bar rotatably mounted within the cross bar. The motion bar includes a
 plurality of disks, flippers etc which rotate with the bar during
 operation. The rotating bar is driven by a motor and a transmission
 assembly coupled between the bar and the motor for translating rotation of
 the motor into a corresponding rotation of the bar.
 Finally, the activity center includes a processor device including a sound
 generating device connected to the first and second switches. In use, the
 sound generating device initiates output of a sound, such as music, or
 other sounds, responsive to a respective movement of the hanging toy
 elements or the kick bar, i.e. closure of the switches associated
 therewith. The motor is also controlled by the processor wherein the motor
 is selectively energized responsive to movements of the hanging toy
 elements and the kick bar. The processor is operative in several different
 modes which allow the processor to output sounds and music, or sounds and
 music and movement of the motion bar.
 Accordingly, among the objects of the instant invention are: the provision
 of an electronic activity center for an infant which encourages natural
 kicking and arm swinging movement; the provision of an electronic activity
 center for an infant including a sound generation device which outputs
 sounds and music responsive to kicking of a spring biased kick bar; the
 provision of an electronic activity center for an infant including a sound
 generation device which outputs sounds and/or music responsive to hitting
 of hanging toys suspended from an overhead cross bar; and the provision of
 such an activity center further including a movable element which moves
 responsive to kicking of the kick bar and/or hitting of the hanging toys.
 Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become
 apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection
 with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 Referring now to the drawings, the electronic activity center of the
 instant invention is illustrated and generally indicated at 10 in FIGS.
 1-13. As will hereinafter be more fully described, the instant electronic
 activity center 10 provides an improved toy having enhanced play and
 developmental value.
 Unless otherwise indicated herein, it is to be understood that the
 component parts of the present device are preferably molded from a polymer
 material which is sufficiently durable and safe for use with infants and
 children of toddler age.
 The electronic activity center 10 comprises a frame generally indicated at
 12, a spring biased kick bar assembly generally indicated at 14, a cross
 bar assembly generally indicated at 16, a pair of hanging toys 18, 20
 suspended from the cross bar 16, and a rotating motion bar generally
 indicated at 22 disks mounted on the cross bar 16. The kick bar 14 and the
 hanging toys 18, 20 are associated with an electronic control unit
 generally indicated at 24 in FIG. 13. The electronic control unit 24 is
 mounted inside the frame 12 of the activity center 10 wherein the
 electronic control unit 24 controls output of music and sounds responsive
 to movement of the kick bar 14 and/or hanging toys 18, 20. The electronic
 unit 24 also controls motion the rotating bar 22 responsive to movements
 of the kick bar 14 and hanging toys 18, 20. Activation of the music,
 sounds and rotating bar 22 responsive to movement of the kick bar 14
 and/or hanging toys 18, 20 are believed to encourage kicking of the
 infant's feet and swinging of the infant's arms and thus aid in the
 development of motor skills.
 The frame 12 comprises first and second spaced leg members 26, 28
 respectively, which form a base, and first and second spaced upright
 support members 30, 32 respectively extending upwardly from the leg
 members 26, 28. In this regard, the bottom ends of the upright support
 members 30, 32 include narrower post portions 34 (only one shown) which
 are inserted into corresponding recesses 38 (only one shown) in the leg
 members 26, 28. The legs 26, 28 and the upright support members 30, 32
 have a hollow interior and can be formed in either a one piece or two
 piece construction depending on molding techniques and the need to provide
 space for interior wiring of the electronic control unit 24.
 The cross bar 16 is mounted between the upper ends of the spaced upright
 support members 30, 32 for supporting the cross bar 16 above a supporting
 surface. The cross bar 16 comprises front and rear sectional halves 42, 44
 which are received and secured together in interfitting relation by a
 plurality of fasteners (not shown). The front and rear sectional halves
 cooperate to form two sockets 46, 48 for receiving narrow post portions 50
 (only one shown) at upper ends of the upright support members 30, 32.
 The pair of hanging toys 18, 20 are suspended from the cross bar 16 so as
 to be generally positioned above an infant lying on its back between the
 upright support members 30, 32. The hanging toys 18, 20 can comprise any
 design or object which is suitable for the application. More specifically,
 the hanging toys 18, 20 are releasably mounted to a clip bar generally
 indicated at 54 (See FIG. 9 for best illustration). The clip bar 54 is
 pivotably captured within the cross bar 16 and includes a central rod
 portion 56 which is seated in two spaced seats 58, 60 formed in the front
 sectional half 42 of the cross bar 16. The clip bar 54 further includes
 two spaced arm portions 62, 64 which extend outwardly from the central rod
 56, through two spaced openings 66, 68 formed in the lower mating edge of
 the front and rear sectional halves 42, 44. At the terminal ends of the
 spaced arm portions 66, 68 are clips 70, 72 into which the hanging toys
 18, 20 are releasably clipped. Extending in an opposite direction from the
 arm portions 62, 64 is an actuator leg 74. The terminal end 76 of the
 actuator leg 74 is positioned for engagement with a first switch assembly
 78 comprising two spaced contact arms 80, 82. The hanging toys 18, 20,
 i.e. the clip bar 54 are pivotably movable from a normal rest position
 (FIG. 11) to an active position (FIG. 12) responsive to engagement by an
 operator, i.e. swinging of the infants arms or kicking of the infants
 feet. In this regard, the first switch assembly 78 is actuable responsive
 to pivoting movement of the toy articles 18, 20. The switch 78 is
 generally movable between a first, open circuit, position (FIG. 11)
 corresponding to the at rest position of the toy articles 18, 20 and a
 second, closed circuit, position (FIG. 12) corresponding to the active
 position of the hanging toys 18, 20. The contact arms 80, 82 are connected
 to the electronic unit 24 by wires 84, 86 wherein the input is used to
 control output of the electronic unit 24. Although a conventional biased
 contact switch assembly 78 is illustrated and described herein, it is to
 be understood that other types of switches, such as motion switches, tilt
 switches, membrane switches, impact switches etc. are also suitable for
 use in the context of the present invention.
 The rotating "motion" bar 22 comprises a shaft 88 which is rotatably
 captured in a housing 90 attached to the front sectional half 42 of the
 cross bar 16, and further includes a plurality of disks 92, flippers 94,
 and wheels 96, etc which are keyed to the shaft 88 so as to rotate with
 the shaft 88 during operation. The shaft 88 is driven by a electronic
 motor 98 and a transmission assembly generally indicated at 100 coupled
 between the shaft 88 and the drive shaft 102 of the motor 98 for
 translating rotation of the drive shaft 102 of the motor 98 into a
 corresponding rotation of the shaft 88. The transmission assembly 100
 comprises a first pulley 104 on the drive shaft 102 of the motor 98 and a
 second pulley 106 mounted on a secondary gear shaft 108. A belt 110
 connects the pulleys 104, 106 together. The pulley 106 includes a drive
 gear 112 that intermeshes with a reduction gear 114 keyed to the shaft 88
 of the motion bar 22. In this regard, rotation of the drive shaft 102 of
 the motor 98 causes a corresponding rotation of the shaft 88 of the motion
 bar 22. The motor 98 is energized through wires 116 that are connected to
 the electronic control circuit 24. The cross bar 16, hanging toys 18 and
 20, motion bar 22, disks 92, flippers, 94, wheels 96 all cooperate to
 provide an "activity bar or panel" for the amusement of the infant.
 The spring biased kick bar assembly 14 is mounted between the spaced leg
 members 26, 28 and the spaced upright support members 30, 32. The kick bar
 assembly 14 comprises a housing portion 118 and a kick plate portion 120
 that is pivotably mounted to the housing portion 118. The housing portion
 118 comprises a rear wall 121, side walls 122, 124 respectively extending
 forwardly from the rear wall 120, and a bottom wall 126. The housing
 portion 118 further includes a pair of opposing vertically oriented
 dovetail wedges 128, 130 which are received in complementary dovetail
 slots 132, 134 formed in the inner side surfaces of the spaced leg members
 26, 28. In this regard, the housing 118 is captured and maintained in
 assembled relation with the leg members 26, 28 by the upright support
 members which are inserted into the recesses 38, 40 in the leg members
 after assembly of the dovetail wedges 128, 130 of the kick bar assembly
 14. The kick plate 120 comprises an arcuate front wall 136, and opposing
 side walls 138, 140 extending rearwardly from the front wall 136. The kick
 plate 120 is pivotably mounted to the housing 118 by opposing pivot pins
 142 (only one shown) which extend outwardly from the side walls 138, 140
 of the kick plate 120 and engage with corresponding openings 146, 148
 formed in the side walls 122, 124 of the housing 118. Pivot of the kick
 plate 120 about the pivot pins 142, 144 is guided by a pair of posts 150
 (only one shown) that extend outwardly from the side walls 138, 140 of the
 kick plate 120 and ride within curved slots 154, 156 formed in the side
 walls 122, 124 of the housing 118. The kick plate 120 is pivotably movable
 between a normal at rest position (FIG. 6) and an active, or depressed,
 position (FIG. 7) responsive to engagement of the user, i.e. kicking of
 the infant feet. The kick plate 120 is normally biased outwardly to the at
 rest position (FIG. 6) by a biasing element, i.e. coil spring 158, that is
 captured between a post 160 on the rear wall 121 of the housing 118 and a
 post 162 on the front wall 136 of the kick plate 120.
 A second switch assembly 164 is mounted in operable association with the
 kick bar assembly 14 wherein the second switch assembly 164 is actuable
 responsive to movement of the kick plate 120. Once again, although a
 conventional biased contact switch assembly 164 is illustrated and
 described herein, it is to be understood that other types of switches,
 such as motion switches, tilt switches, membrane switches, impact switches
 etc. are also suitable for use in the context of the present invention.
 The switch assembly 164 is mounted within the upright support member 30
 and comprises first and second contact arms 166, 168 mounted in spaced
 relation. Mounted in operable association with the contact arms 166, 168
 is a pivoting cam generally indicated at 170 operable for closure of the
 switch assembly 164 during use. The cam 170 comprises a cam body 172
 pivotably mounted to the upright support member 30 on a post 174. The cam
 body 172 includes a flat cam surface 176 which engages the second contact
 arm 168 for closure of the switch 164. The cam 170 further includes an
 actuator post 178 which extends perpendicularly outwardly from the cam
 body 170. The actuator post 178 is received within channel walls 180 which
 extends perpendicularly outwardly from the side wall 138 of the kick plate
 120. The channel walls 180 extend through a slot 182 in the side wall 122
 of the housing 118. When the upright support member 30 is assembled with
 the leg member 26 the actuator post 178 is seated within the channel walls
 180. In use, when the kick plate 120 is moved from the at rest position
 (FIGS. 5 and 6) to the depressed position (FIGS. 7 and 8), the channel
 walls 180 engage the actuator post 178 and rotate the cam body 170. The
 cam surface 176 in turn moves upwardly into engagement with the
 cantilevered contact arm 168 and temporarily closes the switch 164. In
 this regard, the switch 164 is generally movable between a first, open
 circuit, position (FIG. 5) corresponding to the at rest position of the
 kick plate (FIG. 6) and a second, closed circuit, position (FIG. 8)
 corresponding to the depressed position of the kick plate (FIG. 7). The
 contact arms 166, 168 are connected to the electronic unit 24 in the cross
 bar 16 by wires 184, 186. The wires 184, 186 extend upwardly through the
 upright support member 30 where they are terminated at contact plates 188,
 190. Final connection to the electronic control unit 24 within the cross
 bar assembly 16 is accomplished by a second set of wires 192, 194 and
 contacts 196, 198 mounted within the cross bar assembly 16. More
 specifically, wires 192, 194 extend from the electronic control unit 24 to
 the socket 46 that receives the upper post 50 of the upright support
 member 30. When the cross bar 16 is assembled with the support members 30,
 32 the contacts 196, 198 engage contact terminals 188, 190 to complete the
 circuit.
 The electronic control unit 24 includes an integrated microcontroller
 device 200 and a sound generating device 202, such as a speech generator
 or tone generator. Microcontroller devices 200 and sound generator devices
 202 of the type contemplated herein are well known in the electronics
 arts, and the use and operation thereof is believed to be well within one
 skilled in this art. It is noted that such devices are commonly provided
 as a single integrated unit with all components provided on a single
 "system on a chip". As indicated previously, the first and second switch
 assemblies 78, 164 are both connected to the control unit 24, i.e.
 microcontroller 200 to provide input signals. The motor 98 and sound
 generator device 202, i.e output devices, are also connected to the
 microcontroller device 200 and are activated or operated by the
 microcontroller device 200 responsive to input received from the switch
 assemblies 78, 164. Sound output from the sound generation device 202 is
 output to a speaker 204. The entire electronic assembly is powered by
 batteries 206, or other appropriate power source of appropriate amperage
 and voltage.
 To further control the type of output from the apparatus 10, the assembly
 includes a two pole mode switch 208 which allows the microcontroller to
 operate from two different modes of programming instructions. Mode switch
 208 is movable between first and second positions corresponding to first
 and second modes of operation. In a first mode of operation, the
 electronic control unit 24 outputs a sound and music, responsive to a
 respective movement of the hanging toys or the kick bar. For example, in a
 preferred embodiment of the apparatus, the sound generator 202 outputs a
 fanciful sound, and then plays approximately 10 minutes of music. If the
 hanging toys 18, 20 or kick bar 14 are actuated again while the music is
 playing, the sounds and music start again from the beginning. In a second
 preferred mode of operation, each time the infant bats the hanging toys
 18, 20 or kicks the kick bar assembly 14, the electronic control unit 24
 outputs a fanciful sound, and the motor 98 is energized for a short period
 of time to spin the motion bar assembly 22.
 In use of the activity center 10, it is noted that the leg members 26, 28
 and upright support members 30, 32 are specifically configured and
 arranged so that an infant may be placed on its back between the leg
 members 26, 28 with the infant's feet adjacent to the kick bar assembly
 14. The kick bar assembly 14 and the hanging toys 18, 20 are positioned at
 distances which allow an infant to either bat the hanging toys 18, 20 with
 their hands or kick the hanging toys 18, 20 with their feet, and also to
 kick or depress the kick bar assembly 14. During play, swinging and
 kicking of the infants hands and feet will cause engagement and actuation
 of the hanging toys 18, 20 and/or the kick bar 14, movement of which
 selectively closes the switches 78, 164 thereby providing input to the
 microcontroller control device 200. Depending on the mode selected, the
 electronic control unit will output various sounds and music and activate
 the spinning motion bar 22.
 It can therefore be seen that the present invention provides a novel and
 effective electronic activity center 10 for an infant which encourages
 natural kicking and arm swinging movement. The use of multiple input
 devices 14, 18, 20, which are readily actuable by an infant for generating
 a response is believed to provide enhanced developmental value for the
 infant. Furthermore, the use of multiple output schemes is also believed
 to provide an enhanced play value as well. For these reasons, and others,
 the instant invention is believed to represent a significant advancement
 in the art which has substantial commercial merit.
 While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure
 embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art
 that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made
 without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive
 concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein
 shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the
 appended claims.