Patent Publication Number: US-2017348602-A1

Title: Multiple component transition toy assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to amusement devices and, more particularly, to a toy assembly for emotional support having two discrete components which are removably attachable and which each have different textures. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     It is well known that some young children often experience difficulties in transitioning from one place to another. For such children, the stress brought on from such transitions can lead to other negative behaviors, such as tantrum throwing and defiance of authority figures. Thus, there remains a need for a transition toy assembly which operates to absorb the attention of a child during a transition so as to reduce or eliminate the negative behaviors which may result therefrom. It would be helpful if such a transition toy assembly included a plush portable component and a rigid destination component which were constructed to be selectively attachable. It would be additionally desirable for the components of such a transition toy assembly to include an electronic coupling recognition system which generate a sensory response through the connection of the portable component and destination component. 
     The Applicant&#39;s invention described herein provides for a transition toy assembly adapted to absorb the attention of a child during a transition between places. The primary components in Applicant&#39;s transition toy assembly are a portable component and a destination component. When in operation, the transition toy assembly operates to reduce the negative behaviors which often accompany transitions between places for some youth As a result, problems not solved by prior art structures are able to be addressed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A multiple component transition toy assembly for easing a child user&#39;s transition between various locations. The transition toy assembly comprises a portable component defining a plush, stuffed body having an attachment member and a destination component defining a rigid body having a retaining member which is operative to form a releasable attachment with the attachment member, thereby enabling the portable component to be selectively coupled with the destination component. In one embodiment, the portable component is weighted to provide a grounding feeling to a child user. In one embodiment, the transition toy assembly may include a wirelessly actuated sensory output device which causes the destination component to acknowledge the presence of the portable component through a sensory output. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a need for a transition toy assembly which operates to absorb the attention of a child during a transition so as to reduce or eliminate the negative behaviors which may result therefrom. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a transition toy assembly which includes a plush portable component and a rigid destination component which were constructed to be selectively attachable. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide a transition toy assembly which includes an electronic coupling system which generates a sensory response through the connection of the portable component and destination component. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a portable component of a transition toy assembly built in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of a destination component of a transition toy assembly built in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and in particular  FIG. 1 , a portable component  10  of a transition toy assembly defines a stuffed body having plush, soft exterior and an attachment member  11  integral therewith. In the illustrated embodiment, the portable component  10  is shown having the appearance of a toy bird. It is contemplated, however, that in alternate embodiments, the portable component  10  may define an alternate toy character, such as a pirate, fireman, princess, puppy and so forth. 
     In one embodiment, the portable component  10  is weighted to provide a grounding feeling to a child user. In such an embodiment, the portable component  10  includes a weighted stuffing material (not shown), such as dry beans or other solid particulate, to increase its weight and provide a more. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a destination component  20  of a transition toy assembly defines a rigid body having a retaining member  21  integral therewith. In one embodiment, the form of the destination component  20  is complementary to the toy character which defines the portable component which accompanies the destination component. In this regard, in the illustrated embodiment the destination component  20  is shown having the appearance of a bird nest, which complements the illustrated toy bird portable component. Along the same lines, if the portable component had the appearance of a pirate, it is contemplated that the destination component  20  may have the appearance of a ship. And if the portable component had the appearance of a princess, it is contemplated that the destination component  20  may have the appearance of a castle. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it is contemplated that the portable component  10  and destination component  20  are removably attachable to one another through the attachment member  11  and retaining member  21 , respectively. In one embodiment, the attachment member  11  defines a ferromagnetic material and the retaining member  21  defines a permanent magnet. In another embodiment, the attachment member  11  may define a loop aspect of a fabric hook and loop fastener and the retaining member  21  may define a hook aspect of a fabric hook and loop fastener. 
     In addition, in one embodiment, the portable component  10  and destination component  20  include internal electrical components which enable the destination component  20  to recognize and acknowledge the presence of an associated portable component  10 . For example, the portable component  10  may include a passive RFID tag and the destination component  20  includes an RFID reader, a battery, a controller and a sensory output device. In such an embodiment, the sensory output device may define a plurality of LED lighting elements  22  and when the portable component  10  is within a predefined proximity ( 3  feet in one embodiment) of the destination component  20 , the RFID reader will receive a backscatter signal from the portable component  10  which signals to the controller to cause the LED lighting elements  22  to illuminate. It is contemplated that such illumination may desirably be a single flash (for each backscatter signal received) in order to reduce power consumption. 
     In one embodiment, a single portable component  10  may be associated (by way of having a complementary attachment member  11  and retaining member  21  and a compatible RFID tag for the RFID readers) with a plurality of identical but discrete destination components  20  so that a destination component  20  can be left in various locations a child user may frequent. 
     The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.