Abstract:
Described is a tactile structure having a plurality of tactile elements, the tactile elements providing tactile sensations for at least a portion of a user&#39;s body that is actively engaging the tactile protrusions. Furthermore, a plurality of tactile structures can be assembled to create a tactile system having multiple passageways.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The embodiments of the present invention relate to tactile structures, more specifically, a tactile structure comprising tactile elements operable to provide an interactive tactile experience for a user.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Play structures and playground equipment such as swing sets, monkey bars, seesaws, slides and the like are well known in the art. However, many of these play structures are directed to physical activities and are less concerned with providing an interactive tactile experience for a user. Tactile experiences have long been known to benefit children and young adults. Moreover, adults enjoy tactile experiences when given the opportunity to participate.  
         [0003]     The patent literature includes references directed to children&#39;s playground equipment. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,139 to Lamberti et al. discloses a game utilizing enclosed walls to provide an internal chamber whereby points are given to players for striking a series of targets mounted on the walls using a ball. The game functions to improve a child&#39;s hand-eye coordination. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,304 to Petersheim et al. discloses a multiple pathway, play apparatus having suspended nets for climbing and crawling. The apparatus functions to improve a child&#39;s climbing and balancing skills. Neither example discloses an apparatus for providing a tactile experience for the user.  
         [0004]     Thus, there exists a need for a tactile structure that provides a user with an interactive tactile experience.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention is a tactile structure that may be maintained on a surface, the tactile structure comprising a plurality of textured protrusions, the textured protrusions operable to provide an interactive tactile experience for at least a portion of a user&#39;s body that is actively engaging the textured protrusions. In another embodiment, the tactile structure comprises a substantially enclosed passageway having a plurality of textured protrusions extending into the substantially enclosed passageway, the textured protrusions operable to provide an interactive tactile experience for at least a portion of a user&#39;s body that is actively engaging the textured protrusions.  
         [0006]     Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a tactile structure;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of another tactile structure; and  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a tactile system. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]     It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential character thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive.  
         [0011]     Initial reference is made to  FIG. 1 , which illustrates a perspective view of a tactile structure  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The tactile structure  100  includes a grid or framework  102  thereby allowing the tactile structure  100  to be positioned, situated or mounted on a surface such as a wall. The framework  102  design also allows the tactile structure  100  to be mounted to a ceiling or placed on a floor. The tactile structure  100  can also be freestanding if the framework  102  is maintained with support structures  104  or other means. Although the tactile structure  100  is shown rectangular in shape, it can be fabricated in a variety of polygonal shapes and sizes including but not limited to squares and circles.  
         [0012]     The tactile structure  100  comprises a plurality of textured protrusions  106 . The features and functions of textured protrusions  106  are further described in a commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,619 entitled “Tactile Play Structure,” Ser. No. 09/540,725, filed Mar. 31, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. One type of textured protrusion  106  is a streamer  108  having feathers  110  or beads/marbles  112 . The streamer  108  can be constructed of any flexible material including but not limited to bead chains, plastic strips, or the like. The feathers  110  can be from birds or made of plastic or the like having soft/flexible properties, while the beads/marbles  112  contain openings to facilitate mounting on the streamer  108 . Another type of textured protrusion  106  includes ball chains  114  and attachments thereof. Ball chains  114  and attachments are preferred because they are relatively strong and substantially lightweight. Furthermore, because of their swiveling ability, ball chains  114  and attachments are less likely to tangle or kink. Other types of textured protrusions  106  include feather dusters  116 , brushes/bristles or sponges  122 , and balls  120  may be mounted on support posts  124  or similar devices. The support posts  124  can be constructed of any material including but not limited to wood, plastic, or the like. The types of textured protrusions  106  on a support post  124  can be uniform or comprise a mixed variety, while the exact number of textured protrusions  106  can also be fixed or vary and should not limit the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that the textured protrusions  106  could include any texture known in the art and should not be limited to the examples presented herein. In addition, the textured protrusions  106  can be mounted on any material known in the art and should not be limited to the examples presented herein.  
         [0013]     The textured protrusions  106  can also be clustered with the intent of providing tactile or touch-based sensations for a portion of a user&#39;s body that is actively engaging the tactile structure  100 . In other words, the user is then able to experience a variety of tactile or touch-based sensations as he or she touches each textured protrusion  106 . For example, when the tactile structure  100  is mounted on a wall, the user leaning up or moving against the wall actively engages the tactile protrusions  106  because the user is actively touching or consciously applying pressure against the tactile protrusions  106 . In contrast, passive engagement is a prone or sedentary activity such as when a chair or bed is provided and a user passively sits on such chair or passively lies on such bed. With active engagement, the portion of the user&#39;s body (e.g. hand or foot) that is physically contacting the textured protrusions  106  experiences different physical sensations depending on whether the portion of the body is touching feather dusters  116 , brushes/bristles or sponges  122 , or feathers  110 . As a user moves along the tactile structure  100  (moves along the wall), the user experiences different tactile sensations as the portion of the body moves among the variety of textured protrusions  106 . Likewise, the same tactile sensation can be experienced by a user when he or she walks, kneels or crawls through the tactile structure  100  placed on the floor or mounted to a ceiling.  
         [0014]     Although the textured protrusions  106  have been illustrated as inanimate objects statically situated on the tactile structure  100 , the textured protrusions  106  can also be animated by electronic motors (not shown). In other words, the textured protrusions  106  can be powered by electricity or other electronics to actively provide tactile stimulations to a portion of a user&#39;s body that is actively engaging the tactile structure  100 .  
         [0015]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 2 , which illustrates a perspective view of a tactile structure  200  according to another embodiment of the present invention. The tactile structure  200  includes a substantially enclosed passageway  202  containing a plurality of textured protrusions  204 , similar to those described above, throughout its length. The textured protrusions  204  as illustrated in the figure are feathered dusters  206 . Although the substantially enclosed passageway  202  is shaped like a cylinder having two openings  208 ,  210 , the tactile structure  200  can take on any shape including but not limited to cubes, rectangular prisms and spheres. The substantially enclosed passageway  202  can also be any tunnels, single-sided units, or corridors.  
         [0016]     In use, when a user traverses the substantially enclosed passageway  202 , whether by walking, crawling, kneeling or the like, the user will experience a variety of tactile sensations as he or she passes each textured protrusion  204 . Additionally, depending on the size of the passageway  202 , the tactile structure  200  can provide tactile sensations to the user&#39;s entire body. In other words, if the passageway  202  is narrow enough, a user crawling through it will engage the textured protrusions  204  with all parts of his or her body and experience active tactile sensation from head to toe.  
         [0017]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 3 , which illustrates a perspective view of a tactile system  300  constructed of a plurality of tactile structures  302  interconnected or placed adjacent to one another. The tactile structures  302  and the textured protrusions  304  contained therein are similar to those as previously described. Although only two openings  306 ,  308  are illustrated in the tactile system  300 , there can be as many or as few openings as desired.  
         [0018]     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.