Abstract:
A submersible toy figurine and playset therefore with play attractions operable by the underwater figurine within the environs of the playset.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and is a continuation-in-part of Chinese Patent Application No. 201420230734.4 filed on May 7, 2014 in the State Intellectual Property Office, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/842,604 filed on Jul. 3, 2013, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/938,962 filed on Feb. 12, 2014, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties and are all commonly owned. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       RESERVATION OF RIGHTS 
       [0004]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to intellectual property rights such as but not limited to copyright, trademark, and/or trade dress protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever. 
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0005]    The present invention relates to the field of toys. In particular, the present invention relates specifically to an aquatic toy and environment therefore. 
         [0006]    Embodiments of liquid-filled game devices are disclosed, which may include a tank charged with a liquid, a base for supporting the tank, and a user-actuated pump system for generating liquid currents within the tank. A plurality of semi-buoyant play pieces may be dispersed within the tank, each having protuberances extending outwardly from a body portion, wherein the protuberances may be adapted to impart motion to a play piece upon engaging a liquid current. The tank may further contain ornamental structures with moveable portions, which may be responsive to liquid currents, and may be configured to physically engage the play pieces. Optionally, ornamental structures may be coupled to a user-actuated mechanical system. 
         [0007]    Examples of liquid-filled toys operable to move semi-buoyant objects inside a liquid filled volume are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 806,255; 2,100,898; 4,032,141; 4,136,872; 4,142,715; 4,223,471; 4,362,299; 4,363,483; 4,382,597; 4,508,336; 4,923,429; 4,990,118; 5,017,171; 5,098,111; 5,426,878; 5,924,691; 5,951,009; 6,068,262; Des. 250,357; Des. 259,268; Des. 263,606; Des. 300,753; Des. 329,064; Des. 329,471; Des. 329,667; the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. 
         [0008]    Examples of swimming toys operable to move inside a liquid filled volume are disclosed in Chinese Patent 2011 20467425.5, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
         [0009]    The present invention includes a playset containing a tank for a swimming toy. The playset is highly interactive with the child and responds to the child&#39;s play with action, sound and/or light features, enhancing the entertainment value to the child. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment of the present invention, a toy playset includes a water play area enclosing or circumscribing a liquid-filled tank with a first play piece within the liquid-filled tank, a sensor within the water play area providing a first feedback to the user when the first play piece is adjacent the sensor. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment of the present invention, a toy playset includes a second play piece and a sensor providing a second feedback to the user when the second play piece is adjacent to the sensor. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment of the present invention, a toy playset includes a first play piece within liquid-filled first section, a liquid-filled second section, and a liquid-filled corrider connecting the first and second section thereby providing a means for allowing the movement of the play piece from the first liquid-filled section to the second section. 
         [0013]    Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification and which are to be construed in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals have been employed throughout wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various views: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is an environmental view of an aquatic playset of the current invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a right side view of the same; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the aquatic playset showing the cannon and crow&#39;s nest attractions in their unreleased positions; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the same showing the cannon and crow&#39;s nest attractions in their released positions; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the cannon attraction of the same; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the crow&#39;s nest attraction of the same; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7A  is a front perspective view of the chest attraction in its closed position; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7B  is a front perspective view of the chest attraction in its partially-open position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7C  is a front perspective view of the chest attraction in its semi-open position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7D  is a front perspective view of the chest attraction in its open position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a back elevational view of the figurine of the current invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a right side elevational view of the same; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10A  is a back cross-sectional view of the caudal region of the figurine; and, 
           [0028]      FIG. 10B  is a left side cross-sectional view of the same. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “one example” or “an example” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, “one example” or “an example” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable combinations and/or sub-combinations in one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, it is appreciated that the figures provided herewith are for explanation purposes to persons ordinarily skilled in the art and that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
         [0030]    Certain terms are defined below to facilitate understanding of exemplary embodiments for convenience only and is not limiting. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in printed publications and issued patents. 
         [0031]    As used herein, the term “amusement device” is intended to mean any toy, object or structure which entertains people, or which has the attribute or objective of appealing to, diverting or occupying at least some of the attention or interest of a person, whether adult or child. The term “amusement device” is particularly intended to encompass mechanical or electromechanical toys, objects or structures controlled or actuated by input from a person or another toy object or structure, including but not limited to those wherein the input is carried on or provided by a separate object or item and communicated to the toy, object or structure by inserting the separate object or item into the toy, object or structure, swiping the object or item through the toy, object or structure, or bringing the object or item into proximity to the toy, object or structure. The term “amusement device” is thus intended to encompass toys of any various form wherein the user provides input, which may be control or command input, that is “read,” i.e., received or perceived and processed or translated into an output such as an action, sound or display. 
         [0032]    As used herein, the term “attractions” refers to a thing or place that draws the users attention by providing something of interest or pleasure. 
         [0033]    “Design element” as used herein means a three-dimensional object having a surface decoration. Non-limiting examples of design elements include representations of flowers, butterflies, animals, and geometric shapes. In one example, the design element is a skull. 
         [0034]    As used herein, the term “humanoid” refers to a humanoid body, which should be understood to include any bipedal animal, whether real or fictional, such as, for example, one having arms and hands with opposable thumbs. 
         [0035]    As used herein, the term “power source” includes any type of energy source, including, but not limited to, conventional single-use cell and rechargeable cells as well as cells capable of being recharged via wireless energy transfer. 
         [0036]    As used herein, the term “sensor” is broadly used to describe any device that receives a stimulus and converts it into a data stream. The term “sensor” is thus intended to encompass devices with a stimulus receiving element (i.e., sensing element), a communication element, and any associate circuitry. 
         [0037]    Although directional references, such as upper, lower, downward, upward, rearward, bottom, front, rear, etc., may be made herein in describing the drawings, these references are made relative to the drawings (as normally viewed) for convenience. These directions are not intended to be taken literally or limit the present invention in any form. In addition, terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” are used herein for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance. The words “interior” and “exterior” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the toy vehicle and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. 
         [0038]    The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. 
         [0039]    An aquatic toy and environment therefore is described herein and below. As illustrated in  FIG. 1  of the drawings, an amusement device  10  is presented according to one embodiment of the present invention. The amusement device  10  is shown with a base  12  serving to support a transparent, generally cylindrical container  14  having a bottom and defining a reservoir for retaining a liquid. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the container  14  may include a transparent portion  112  to allow visibility into the container reservoir from the side of the container  14 . The top  18  of this container  14  may be enclosed by means of a lid or cover  20 . This lid or cover  20  is provided with a centrally located opening  22  for the purpose of filling nearly all of the entire interior of the container  14  or reservoir with a body (not separately numbered) of a transparent liquid  24  such as water. 
         [0040]    The amusement device  10  may feature multiple interconnected areas or rooms below the surface of the transparent liquid  24 . These rooms are accessible to one another through passages having openings at each room. These passages are configured to a sufficient extent such that an aquatic toy  60  such as those depicted in  FIGS. 2-4  and  FIGS. 8-9  may move through the openings and into an alternative room. It is envisioned the interconnected areas may be customized by connecting different areas to a base portion. 
         [0041]    The amusement device  10  may additionally include painted or etched designs on the interior of the container  14  that may become illuminated through the use of black light or LED lights within the container  14 . These lights may respond to the presence of the  FIG. 60  as discussed below. 
         [0042]    The amusement device  10  may be constructed of any water-tight material. It can also be constructed of a collapsible material configured to be inflated with air to construct a structure. 
         [0043]    The amusement device  10  may be utilized by allowing a toy  FIG. 60  configured to be submerged and move under its own power through the liquid filled environment. During use, the  FIG. 60  are configured to simulate a fish as it swims in water, conduct flips, or move from room to room. For simplicity, the cumulative actions of the  FIG. 60  will be referred to as swimming. The  FIG. 60  are suspended freely in the liquid in the amusement device  10 . The  FIG. 60  are made of a density somewhat greater than the density of the liquid. 
         [0044]    The amusement device features multiple underwater attractions or play pieces which can be activated by the  FIG. 60 . As shown in  FIGS. 3-7D , these play pieces may include pressure-sensitive attractions that may be activated to perform an action upon a touch by the toy  FIG. 60 . Other play pieces may sense the  FIG. 60  actions throughout the device  10  with sensors (discussed below). 
         [0045]    Attractions  100  within the play device  10  are discussed in reference to the other embodiments discussed below. These other attractions  100  may include switches that activate lights or bubble mechanisms within the environment. The attractions  100  may be customized to the preference of the individual using the amusement device  10 . The attractions  100  may be placed in different locations within the environment. 
         [0046]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6  of the drawings, a ship amusement device  10  is presented according to one embodiment of the present invention. The ship amusement device  10  is shown with a base  12  serving to support a transparent, generally arcuate container  14  having a bottom  16 . The top  18  of this container  14  is partially covered by means of a lid  20  that resembles the ship deck. This lid is provided with a centrally located opening  22  for the purpose of filling nearly all of the entire interior of the container  14  with a body (not separately numbered) of a transparent liquid  24  such as water. As discussed above, the lid  20  includes attractions  100  to encourage play patterns will allowing  FIG. 60  to swim within the container. Each of these attractions will be discussed in turn. 
         [0047]    The deck lid  20  includes a cannon attraction  310 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , multiple cannon attractions may be secured to the deck lid  20 . Each cannon attraction  310  generally includes the cannon  315  having a bore  320 , a cannon stand  325  secured to the deck lid  20 , the activating mechanism  335  (shown in more detail in  FIG. 5 ) connected to the bore and deployed below the cannon stand  325  in the liquid within the device  10 , and the projectile  330  configured to be inserted within the bore  320  and extending within the bore  320 . A biasing spring is placed behind the projectile  330  to aid in movement of the projectile  330 . The projectile  330  may include a design element  331  creating the appearance of a figure, such as the visage of the skull or the eel. 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , the cannon is configured to move the projectile  330  when the activating mechanism  336  below the lid  20  is moved. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the activating mechanism lever arm  336  is secured to the cannon and extending downwards from the cannon stand  325  approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ship  10 . The lever arm  336  includes a reinforced portion  337  to provide a larger area for contact by the swimming  FIG. 60 . Once the lever arm  336  is contacted, the activating mechanism  335  releases the spring and motivates the projectile  330  within the bore  320  to move. The cannon  310  is configured to move the projectile  330  from a first position (shown in  FIG. 3 ) with the projectile  330  recessed within the bore  320  to a second position (shown in  FIG. 4 ) with a portion the projectile  330  extending outside of the bore  320 . The lever arm  336  can be reconfigured to move the projectile  330  within the bore  320  by cocking the activating mechanism cocking arm  335  at the rear of the cannon  325  or by manual movement of the projectile into a recessed position. The cocking arm  335  is connected to the upper portion of the lever arm  336  and the movement of the cocking arm  335  distal from the cannon  325  biases the lever arm  336  forward, compresses the spring, and recesses the projectile  330  into the bore  320 . 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , the deck lid  20  includes a central mast attraction  210  with a mast  211  perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device  10 . The mast  211  is generally a cylindrical post secured to the lid  20  at one end and extending upwards to an opposite end. The top of the mast  211  includes a crow&#39;s nest  230  which can hold a  FIG. 235 . A skeleton figure or other contents can be located within the crow&#39;s nest  230 . Within a central aperture within the mast  211 , a sail device  215  is secured. The central aperture  212  of the mast  211  extends parallel to the axis of the mast  211 , having two opposing ends each spaced a distance from the ends mast  211 . The sail device has two opposing rods  220 ,  221  inserted into the central aperture  212 , the opposing rods  220 ,  221  extending perpendicular to the mast and each secured to opposing ends of a sail  225 . The opposing rods  220 ,  221  are configured to be deployed each to the opposing ends of the aperture  212  to extend the sail  225 . 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the base of the central mast attraction  210  extends into the water. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the mast  211  secures within the deck of the ship through a circular aperture. Below the deck, the mast  211  terminates in a hook arm  240  with two opposing ends. Each opposing end provides a point of contact for the swimming  FIG. 60  to contact. As shown in  FIG. 4 , upon contact with an opposing end, the mast  211  is tilted. The tilting action of the mast  211  tilts the crow&#39;s nest  230 , which then may move the contents of the crow&#39;s nest  230  off of the mast  211  and into the water below the lid  20  or onto the lid  20 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the circular structure circumscribing the mast  211  contains the mast  211  to prevent further biasing of the mast. 
         [0051]    In another embodiment, the mast  211  secures within the deck of the ship through a circular aperture. Below the deck, the mast  211  terminates in a hook arm  240  with two opposing ends. Each opposing end provides a point of contact for the swimming  FIG. 60  to contact. As shown in  FIG. 3 , prior to contact by the  FIG. 60 , the sail  255  is presented in a rolled up or furled configuration  228 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , upon contact by the  FIG. 60 , the sail device is configured to unfurl the sail  225 . Upon contact with the hook arm  240 , a spring within the mast  211  is released which releases the lower opposing end within the central aperture  212 . The movement of the sail within the mast from a first furled position to a second unfurled position is configured to shake the crow&#39;s nest  230  to jostle the contents of the crow&#39;s nest to fall into the reservoir or deck of the ship. 
         [0052]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 7A-7D , a toy chest or other pivoting attraction  110  may be activated by a toy  FIG. 60  by activating a sensor on the attraction  110  or near the attraction  110 . As shown, the  FIG. 60  pushes against the toy chest attraction  110  and the lid of chest opens to release a tethered skull. It is envisioned that the visage of the chest attraction  110  can be modified to that of similar hinging items, such as the oyster  6 . The chest attraction  110  includes a base  101  having an interior compartment, a lid  102 , a hinge  103  pivotally connecting the base  101  and the lid  102 , a releasable latch, and an interior buoyant design element  104  (shown here as a skull) tethered by a cable  105  to the base  101  within the interior compartment. In another embodiment, the interior design element  104  may not be tethered. A weighted compartment within the base  101  may be provided to anchor the attraction  110 . The lid  102  may additionally include vents in the top of the lid  102  and/or a weight secured to the inside of the lid  102  near the front of the lid  102  such that the weight assists in biasing the lid open upon activation by the  FIG. 60 . 
         [0053]    As illustrated, movement by the  FIG. 60  along a path similar to arrow  61  in which the  FIG. 60  contacts a pressure sensor or similar type sensor  115  configured to release the latch to allow the opening of the lid  102 , which then allows the attraction  110  to move from a closed position  120  illustrated in  FIG. 7A  to a partially open position  125  in  FIG. 7B  to a semi-open position  130  in  FIG. 7C  to an open position  140  in  FIG. 7D . As the attraction  110  moves to an open position  140 , the interior design element moves from a restricted position  145  within the attraction  110  base to a partially restricted position  150  to a released position  155  outside of the base. As the attraction  110  is underwater, the design element is configured to float within the liquid environment above the base  101  of the attraction. 
         [0054]    It is envisioned that the attractions disclosed above may be actuated through the use of electronic sensors in lieu of the touch activation currently employed. Through the use of proximity sensors (not shown) located within the attractions and the swimming  FIG. 60 , the attractions may be actuated once the swimming  FIG. 60  approaches the attraction. The Electromagnetic sensors or optical sensors may additionally be employed. The sensor can detect the presence of the figure swimming near the attraction. A signal may then be sent by the sensor to an actuator mechanism within the attraction to release a latch within the attraction to then move the attraction. Additional attractions utilizing light elements may be employed within the device  10  relying upon the sensor activation. 
         [0055]    The toy play set  10  further includes at least one humanoid figurine  60  for use therewith during play. As shown in  FIGS. 8-9 , the figurines  60  are formed to resemble people and/or mermen/mermaids, although it is within the spirit and scope of the present invention that the figurines  60  take alternate forms. These figurines  60  are electrically-powered and configured to move through a liquid and can be submerged within the amusement device  10 . Likewise, the figurines  60  are configured to descend and ascend within the liquid to allow for accessing the passage openings in the amusement device  10 . 
         [0056]    The figurine  60  may be customizable to enable it to perform different functions within the water. Portions of the figurine  60  may be moved or repositioned to allow the figurine to interact with the environment differently. For instance, positioning of the tail of the figurine may cause the device to move differently or communicate a signal to the attractions in the environment to perform a different action. 
         [0057]    As shown, each figurine generally includes a head  65  having secured to a torso  70  with upper appendages  72 ,  74 , at least one caudal fin or fluke  76  at the end of the base  78  of the figurine  60 , and means for motorized propulsion contained within the figurine. The motorized propulsion may be supplied through use of a power source located within a waterproof torso  70  and configured to rotate a drive shaft connected to the motorized propulsion. A propeller  88  is shown secured to the distal end of the drive shaft, but other means of propulsion may be utilized, including an impeller, magnet or other physical means. 
         [0058]    The head  65  of the figurine  60  includes a hair cap  93  affixed to and in a spaced apart relation to an interior waterproof head compartment  91  (visible through venting apertures  92 ) that provides and includes a weight balance for the swimming action of the figurine  60 . The hair cap  93  is affixed to the brow portion  94  of the head  65  and is positioned over the crown  99  portion to then cascade downwards to the torso of the figurine  60 . The hair cap  93  is formed of a plastic, rubber or other suitable waterproof material capable of maintaining a shape. The hair cap  93  may be affixed to the sides of the head and the base of the head  65  while allowing a recess between the hair cap  93  and the head compartment  91  and an outlet behind the hair cap  93 . The hair cap  93  below the base of the head is preferably spaced apart from the torso to allow water flow. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the hair cap  93  is in a spaced apart relationship with the torso and not unitary with the torso. The exterior portion of the head  65  includes a series of venting apertures  92  at the crown portion  99  of the head which allow water to flow between the hair portion  93  of the head  65  and the interior compartment  91 . The water is then allowed to flow through the venting apertures  92  and behind the hair cap  93 . The water flow beneath the hair cap  93  is allowed to flow out of the head  65  through an outlet at the base of the head beneath the hair cap  93 . This water flow promotes the flipping action of the figurine  60 . Additionally, the venting apertures  92  prevent water from trapping beneath the hair cap  93  and offsetting the balance of the figurine  60 . 
         [0059]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 8-9 , the base  78  of the figurine  60  is pivotally connected to the torso at the pelvis  80 . The base  78  secures at a pivot point  82  on the torso  70  to allow the movement of the base  78  in a front-to-back direction. In this manner, the figurine is configured to pivot the base tail section  78  of the figurine  60  when the figurine  60  is in motion as discussed below, allowing the figurine to replicate undulatory swimming like that of a dolphin. 
         [0060]    The caudal region section  84  of the figurine  60  is the narrow portion unitary with the base  78  located proximate the two halves of the caudal fin  76  which houses the propeller  88 . As shown in  FIGS. 10A-10B , the propeller is housed within the interior of the caudal region section  84  within a vented casing  90 . A caudal fin  76  portion is secured to a first side of the casing  90  parallel to the longitudinal plane of the figurine  60  and a second fin portion is secured to an opposing side of the casing  90 . 
         [0061]    The caudal fin casing  90  has a series of casing supports  98  separated by a series of vents  96  present along the exterior of the caudal region providing fluid access to the interior of the casing to contact the propeller  88 . The casing  90  circumscribes the propeller and the caudal fins extend the length of each side of the casing  90 . As shown in  FIGS. 10A-10B , a base fin  86  is secured to the base of the casing in an angular arrangement to the longitudinal axis of the figurine and between the caudal fins  76 . The top of the casing abuts the base section of the body and provides drive shaft access to the propeller. 
         [0062]    As the drive shaft is rotated, the propeller moves and the internal fluid of the playset  10  is contacted to motivate the figurine  60  forward. A base fin  86  may additionally be in a pivoting relationship with the caudal fin  76  of the figurine and configured to move in a front-to-back movement from the front of the figurine  60 . 
         [0063]    From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention well adapted to obtain all the ends and objects herein set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the structure. Although the invention has been described in detail, the same is for purposes of illustration only and should not be taken in any way as a limitation on the scope of the invention. As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, various other modifications and components are within the scope of the invention. For example, although certain examples of potential feedback in response potential play activities have been discussed, countless other potential sets of feedbacks can be produced by amusement device  10  in response to countless play activities and sequences. Furthermore, additional play components can be included other than those specifically illustrated and described. Similarly, the amusement device  10  may include other features such as a handle for easy of carry. Furthermore, the sensors are not intended to be limited to any particular kind. Rather, the various sensors could be optical, magnetic or of another form. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the terms of the attached claims.