Abstract:
The present invention is directed towards a portable, activity center for providing educational and entertaining toys to children; particularly towards an activity center that is secured against an adult&#39;s appendage such that the free arm of the adult can securely hold a child while the child is able to safely interact with the activity center; most particularly an activity center including a flexible support member mounted to an adult&#39;s appendage.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. application Ser. No. ______, filed ______, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention is directed towards a portable, activity center for providing educational and entertaining toys to children; particularly towards an activity center held adjacent an adult&#39;s appendage such that the free appendage of the adult can securely hold onto a child while the child is able to safely interact with the activity center; most particularly an activity center comprising a flexible support sized to cover at least a portion of the appendage with at least one toy component attached thereto.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     It is generally accepted that exposure to a multitude of visual, audio and physical stimuli during the early stages of development can enhance the learning capability of a child throughout life. Thus, numerous activity centers have been developed in order to stimulate and sharpen a developing child&#39;s physical and cognitive capacities. Typically these activity centers provide a variety of toys for visual and physical interaction specifically designed to hone the child&#39;s hand-eye coordination, range of motion, familiarity with animals, shapes, alphabet characters, numbers, and the like.  
         [0004]     When not sleeping, small children often become easily bored or restless during lengthy plane or vehicle rides. Thus, many activity centers have been made portable and readily attach to various objects such as strollers, child carriers, car-seats, cribs, and the like to entertain and/or educate the child during such instances. However, none of the prior art teaches or suggests attachment of activity centers to the appendage of the caregiver such that the child is entertained and learning while being safely held by, or in close proximity to, an adult. This arrangement can be especially advantageous in situations where an adult must hold the child on their lap or in close quarters for extended periods of time, such as on a plane, automobile car seat, train, boat, in a restaurant, and the like.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
       [0005]     Many patents have been directed toward portable activity centers having a variety of educational/amusement devices or toys for removable attachment to various objects.  
         [0006]     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,450 B1 to Norton discloses an activity belt worn by a cyclist and having amusement devices attached thereto to entertain a child sitting behind the cyclist. The belt has clips that allow the toys to be clipped thereto.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,515 to Van Der Sluys teaches an infant toy assistance device. The device comprises two loops for engaging a toy, a hand strap connected to both loops and a wrist strap. The wrist straps keeps the toy positioned near the infant lest it is dropped so that the infant can readily grip it again.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,031 to Creighton-Young is directed toward a forearm-supporting device to prop up a baby at the appropriate angle when nursing. The supporting device has a cavity formed centrally therein to accommodate a bottle or the like. It has one or two straps for detachably connecting the device to one&#39;s forearm. Unlike the present invention, this patent does not teach attaching at least one toy component thereto.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,323 to Wright, Jr. teaches an activity bib worn on the torso of an adult. The bib includes one or more activity means for interaction with a child facing the adult. This patent differs from the present invention in that it is mounted onto the torso of the caregiver and thus requires the child be carried by, or otherwise positioned immediately in front of the adult in order for the child to effectively interact with the various activity means. Moreover, the arm mounted activity center of the present invention differs in that can be selectively presented to the child at the adult&#39;s discretion by simply moving, the adult&#39;s arm adjacent to or away from the infant.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,888,263 to Ruhmann et al teaches the use of a saddle seat, horse&#39;s head and skirt made of a flat flexible material and elastic strap for securing the toy to an adult&#39;s leg.  
         [0011]     While the foregoing described prior art devices have advanced the art in variety of ways, there nevertheless remains a need for a portable and stimulating activity center that provides amusement to a child while being held in close proximity to a caregiver.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     The instant invention provides a portable activity center comprising a substantially flexible support sized to cover at least a portion of an individual&#39;s appendage. The flexible support includes at least one toy component removably and/or permanently attached thereto such that the child can be held by the free appendage of the individual while interacting with at least one toy component.  
         [0013]     Accordingly, the principal objective of the present invention is to provide an activity center comprising a flexible support member for supporting and/or supplying toys designed to entertain and educate a child while being securely held by an adult.  
         [0014]     It is another objective of the instant invention to teach a portable activity center that readily attaches to an adult and allows the adult to grasp and interact with the child.  
         [0015]     An additional objective of the present invention is to teach an activity center attached to at least one of an adult&#39;s appendages yet allows the adult the use of both hands.  
         [0016]     It is a further objective of the instant invention to teach an activity center that can be re-configured to present different educational themes (e.g. animal safari, barn yard animals, sea animals), images (e.g. shapes, colors, etc), numbers, alphabet and the like to an infant or child.  
         [0017]     It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide an activity center which can attach to any size appendage.  
         [0018]     It is still a further objective of the instant invention to teach an activity center that can be selectively presented to the child by simply moving the appendage of the adult in proximity to or away from the infant.  
         [0019]     It is another objective of the instant invention to teach a portable activity center that is washable, either by hand or machine.  
         [0020]     Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description, wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of one embodiment of the activity center of the instant invention shown attached to an individual&#39;s appendage;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of alternative embodiment of the activity center of the instant invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2  attached to an individual&#39;s appendage;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a upper perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of another embodiment of the activity center of the instant invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of another embodiment of the activity center of the instant invention attached to an individual&#39;s appendage;  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is an upper perspective view of another embodiment of the activity center of the instant invention attached to an individual&#39;s appendage illustrating the individual grasping a child while the child is able to play with the activity center.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]     As used herein, the term “infant” and “child” are synonymous and used interchangeably herein to denote a developmentally immature person.  
         [0029]     The term “adult” and “caregiver” are used interchangeably herein to denote any person providing care and assistance to a child.  
         [0030]     Detailed embodiments of the instant invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, and may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the specific functional and structural details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to Variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.  
         [0031]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-7 , wherein like members are numbered consistently throughout,  FIG. 1  shows an example of one embodiment of an activity center of the instant invention, generally referenced as  10 . The activity center  10  comprises a substantially flexible support member  12  sized to cover at least a portion of an adult&#39;s appendage  16  with at least one toy component, generally referred to as  14 , attached thereto. This configuration is particularly advantageous in that it does not require the hands of the adult to grip the activity center, thus, it permits the adult use of both hands if necessary, see  FIG. 7 .  
         [0032]     In the particularly preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the flexible support  12  is a resilient, or elastic, sleeve that completely surrounds the appendage, with at least one toy component  14  attached thereto. The flexible support  12  can be made of any suitable resilient material known to provide comfortable, yet firm contact around various sized appendages. In a particularly preferred embodiment the flexible support  12  is washable, by hand and/or machine. In addition, the first  20  and/or second  22  ends of the flexible support  12  may include a reinforced non-slip material  24 , for example silicon elastic, to provide enhanced frictional engagement with the surface underneath, in order that the flexible support  12  will remain in place at the desired location on the appendage  16 .  
         [0033]     Moreover, the flexible support  12  can be constructed and arranged with at least one loop member  18  thereon. The loop member  18  being designed for attachment with the toy components  14 . The loop member  18  can be made from the same, or a different, material used for the flexible support. In addition, at least one of the loop members  18  can be filled with a compressible material employed for stuffed animals, cushions, pillows or the like. Alternatively, at least one of the loop members  18  can also contain a rigid material alone or in combination with the compressible material. Examples of a rigid material include wire, cable, or the like to provide a substantially inflexible support for attached toy components, see  FIG. 1 .  
         [0034]     In an alternative embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the flexible support  12  comprises a resilient portion  12 ′ for attaching at least one toy component against said appendage  16 . The resilient portion  12 ′ includes at least two integrally formed coupling means  26  for releasable attachment of the resilient portion  12 ′ against the appendage. Examples of suitable coupling means  26  include, albeit not limited to those illustrated in  FIG. 2 . For instance, the coupling means  26  can comprise at least two pairs of straps  28  arranged anywhere along the length of the resilient portion  12 ′, wherein one of the strap pairs  28  can be secured to the appendage by a length adjusting means, (i.e. buckle)  30  and a corresponding strap of sufficient size for threading therethrough, shown at the second portion  22  of the resilient member.  
         [0035]     Alternatively, at least one of the two straps  28  could comprise hook and pile elements  32  (also known as VELCO®) shown at the first side of the resilient portion, or “parachute” clips (not shown) attached thereto. For parachute clips and buckle attachments  30  the length adjustment is provided by adjusting the length of the straps  28  attached to the clips to fit to any size appendage  16 . Hook and pile fasteners  32  can be attached at any point to provide adjustable, yet firm, contact around various sized appendages. It is contemplated that other coupling means  26  for attachment known in the art could be used, i.e. snaps, hooks and the like.  
         [0036]     As shown in embodiments of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , flexible support  12  can include an integrally formed glove portion  34  which fits snugly over the user&#39;s hand for attaching at least one toy component  14  thereto and configured for receipt of said individual&#39;s fingers. This configuration helps preclude upward movement of the flexible support  12  on the appendage. In addition, the glove portion  34  can include open finger apertures  36  through which a portion of the user&#39;s fingers protrudes from the flexible support material  12 . These apertures  36  ensure that one size fits all and provides enhanced gripping as there is no material that can reduce friction or sensation of the fingers. Additionally, like the aforementioned embodiments, the apertures  36  can include a reinforced non-slip elastic material  24 .  
         [0037]     The length of the substantially flexible support member  12 , in any of the aforementioned embodiments, could be formed to cover at least the wrist portion ( FIG. 4 ) up to the entire length of the appendage of an average adult ( FIG. 6 ), which provides more surface area available for attaching the toy components thereto.  
         [0038]     Moreover, it is contemplated that the flexible support member  12  can be manufactured in at least one color or design as desired. In addition, the materials utilized for the flexible support member  12  and/or the toys  14  can employ different textures (rough, smooth, soft, etc) to stimulate the child&#39;s sense of touch.  
         [0039]     As would be appreciated, any of the abovementioned embodiments of the flexible support member  12  can include an inner lining of cushioned support or padding from any material which can be positioned for immediate contact with the individual&#39;s appendage, for enhanced comfort and/or preclude chafing thereto.  
         [0040]     FIGS.  1  to  7  illustrate a multitude of different toy components  14  that can be attached to the flexible support member  12  of the present invention. It is contemplated that some or all of these toy components may be releasably attached thereto by any means known in the art, e.g. clips, parachute clips, straps pins, buttons, snaps, and the like. For instance, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a pacifier  40  is releasably attached thereto by removable clip  42  for easy cleaning. Similarly, at least a portion of the flexible support member  12  can have integrally formed hook and loop fasteners for releasable attachment with the toy components. Having at least of a portion of the toys releasably attached to the flexible support member  12  permits a variety of different toys to selected and interchanged by the caregiver. This can help prevent boredom by keeping the toy components new and fresh to the infant. Moreover, this allows the adult the ability to remove a portion, or all, of the toys  14  attached thereto in order to wash the activity center  10  if desired.  
         [0041]     Alternatively, some or all, of the toy components could be permanently attached the flexible support member  12  by any suitable means, such as stitching, sewing, adhesives or the like.  
         [0042]     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , a rigid support member  44  like that disclosed in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. ______, to the present inventions and previously incorporated by reference, can be attached to the flexible support member  12  of the present invention by any means of attachment known in the art. Toys  14  could be fabricated such that they remain stationary, slide and/or spin along a portion of the longitudinal axis of the rigid support member  44 . Examples of suitable toys include, but are not limited to spinning discs  46  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , which can be free to translate and rotate about the longitudinal axis.  
         [0043]     Moreover, any or all of the toy components  14  can include an electronic component that produces a sensory effect on the infant. For example at least one of the toy components  14  can include audio generation component, visual generation component, and motor-driven component or combinations thereof known in the art. Control over the electronic components can be enabled upon actuation of sensors located on the toys  14 , such that when the infant touches the toy it responses accordingly. The electronic components can include a power supply, such as batteries or other suitable power means known in the art, securely housed within the toy components  14 .  
         [0044]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , which illustrates an exemplary activity center  10  with an educational theme that includes toys with different numbers, shapes, and colors  48 ,  50 ,  52 , spinning discs  46 , and an appealing child-oriented design, shown here as colorful clown face  54 . Other child-oriented designs include, albeit not limited to, a sun, moon, shatterproof mirror, or other visages for simulating hand-eye coordination. For instance, the clown face  54  can contain sensors that are able to light up and play at least one nursery rhyme programmed therein when actuated.  
         [0045]     As would be appreciated by those of ordinary skill, an unlimited number of the themes for use with the activity center  10  are possible. Example of some, albeit not limited to, themes include: alphabets, farm animals, safari animals, sea creatures, cartoon characters, vegetables, outer space, holiday designs, biblical characters, etc.  
         [0046]     It is contemplated herein that any of the aforementioned activity centers  10  could be placed on-both appendages  16  of the adult simultaneously. Moreover, due to the resilient elastic properties of the flexible support member  12 , it could be placed upon one or both of the child&#39;s appendages such that the child is able to interact with the toys  14  attached thereto.  
         [0047]     It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings/figures. One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.