Patent Publication Number: US-10780364-B2

Title: Children&#39;s toy for promoting movement

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a children&#39;s toy for promoting movement and in particular a toy which has a base that moves along a path and includes a removable member. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Typically, most babies learn to crawl between the ages of 7 months and 10 months. One known way to encourage crawling is to place toys just beyond the child&#39;s reach. Upon reaching the toy, however, the child will no longer be incentivized to continue moving, requiring a parent to take the toy away from the child and place it at another location. As children become more proficient in moving, and even begin walking, it becomes increasingly difficult to continually move these toys away from the child. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a children&#39;s toy for promoting movement. The toy of the present invention includes a base configured to move along a path and a removable member configured for placement on the base. 
     The base includes a housing which is formed by an upper portion and a lower portion that mate together to define an internal cavity, as further discussed below. More specifically, in one exemplary embodiment, the upper portion and the lower portion of the base are joined with a bumper located between the upper portion and the lower portion, and a set of ribbons connected to the housing adjacent to the bumper and extending away from the rear of the housing. 
     The upper portion of the housing defines a cradle located substantially in the center of the upper portion of the housing with the cradle configured to house the removable member. Within the cradle are two actuating pins which, when the removable member is positioned within the cradle, move up and down to alternately engage the removable member, causing the removable member to bob up and down within the cradle. Furthermore, a button switch is positioned within the cradle such that when the removable member is positioned within the cradle, the removable member depresses the button switch. As such, the button switch provides feedback as to whether the removable member is positioned within the cradle, as further discussed below. 
     The lower portion of the housing includes a driving mechanism configured to move the base along a path. In one particular embodiment, the driving mechanism includes a first driving wheel and a second driving wheel positioned on either side of the lower portion of the housing and which are each individually controllable. At the front of the lower portion is a pivot wheel in the form of swivel caster which freely rotates in all directions and which helps support the base while moving along the path. 
     The housing defines an internal cavity which contains various elements for controlling operation of the base. In particular, the housing contains a first motor operably connected to the first driving wheel, a second motor operably connected to the second driving wheel, a CPU for controlling each of the motors, and a power source, such as batteries, for providing power to each of the motors. The housing further contains one or more lights visible through the upper portion of the housing and a speaker for playing sounds and/or music. A slide switch located on exterior of the housing provides a means to not only to activate/deactivate the toy, but also to switch between multiple modes of use thereof, as further described below. 
     In some exemplary embodiments, the removable member includes a substantially spherical body which is weighted to maintain an upright position when placed on a substantially flat surface. On the exterior of the spherical body and opposite the offset weight, i.e., on an upper side of the spherical body, are a plurality of engagement features. In any event, the removable member is configured for placement on the base, and in particular, within the cradle defined in the upper portion of the housing. 
     In a first mode of operation, when the removable member is positioned within the cradle, the base moves along a first path, which, in some embodiments, is substantially circular. In a second mode of operation, when the removable member is positioned within the cradle, the base moves along a second path, which, in some embodiments, is substantially random. If the removable member is subsequently removed from the cradle while the base is moving along the first path or the second path, the base will begin rotating in place. Likewise, if the removable member is not positioned within the cradle when the slide switch is first moved from an “off” position to an “on” position (i.e., either the first mode of operation or a the second mode of operation), the base will rotate in place. Upon placing the removable member within the cradle, the base will begin to move along the first path or the second path, depending on which of the two modes of operation the toy is set. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will now be described with regard to the drawings as follows. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an children&#39;s toy in accordance with the present invention moving along a first path. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the children&#39;s toy of  FIG. 1  moving along a second path. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the children&#39;s toy of  FIG. 1  with the removable member positioned away from the base. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the children&#39;s toy of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the base of the children&#39;s toy of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the base of the children&#39;s toy of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of the electronic components of the children&#39;s toy of FIG. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention will now be described with reference to the figures. The children&#39;s toy  10  made in accordance with the present invention includes a base  14  and a removable member  12  configured for placement on the base  14 . 
     The base  14  includes a housing  30  which is formed by an upper portion  32  and a lower portion  34  that mate together to define an internal cavity, as further discussed below. More specifically, in the exemplary base  14  shown in the Figures, the upper portion  32  and the lower portion  34  are joined with a bumper  36  located between the upper portion  32  and the lower portion  34 , and a set of ribbons  38  connected to the housing  30  adjacent to the bumper  36  and extending away from the rear of the housing  30 . Proximity sensors  50  are located at the front of the housing  30 , as further discussed below. 
     As perhaps best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the upper portion  32  of the housing  30  defines a cradle  40  located substantially in the center of the upper portion  32  of the housing  30  with the cradle  40  configured to house the removable member  12 . Within the cradle  40  are two actuating pins  44   a ,  44   b  which, when the removable member  12  is positioned within the cradle  40 , move up and down to alternately engage the removable member  12 , causing the removable member  12  to bob up and down within the cradle  40 . Furthermore, a button switch  46  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) is positioned within the cradle  40  such that when the removable member  12  is positioned within the cradle  40 , the removable member  12  depresses the button switch  46 . As such, the button switch  46  provides feedback as to whether the removable member  12  is positioned within the cradle  40 , as further discussed below. Although not expressly shown, each of the two actuating pins  44   a ,  44   b  and button switch  46  extend through a respective hole defined in the upper portion  32  of the housing  30  and are operably controlled by components located within the internal cavity of the housing  30 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , in this exemplary embodiment, there is a protrusion  42  at the rear of the cradle  40  which assists in properly seating the removable member  12 ; however, in other embodiments no such protrusion is present. 
     Referring now specifically to  FIG. 6 , the lower portion  34  of the housing  30  includes a driving mechanism, herein the form of wheels  62 ,  64 ,  66  which are configured to move the base  14  along a path, as further discussed below. In particular, the driving mechanism includes a first driving wheel  62  and a second driving wheel  64  positioned on either side of the lower portion  34  of the housing  30  and which are each individually controllable. At the front of the lower portion  34  is a pivot wheel  66 , which, in this exemplary embodiment, is in the form of swivel caster which freely rotates in all directions and which helps support the base  14  while moving along the path. 
     In the exemplary base  14  shown in the Figures, the upper portion  32 , the lower portion  34  or both are comprised of a rigid material, such as a plastic, whereas the bumper  36  is comprised of a semi-rigid material such as a rubber. Of course, other material choices are possible without departing form the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Regardless of the particular compositions of the housing  30 , as mentioned above, the housing  30  defines an internal cavity which contains various elements for controlling operation of the base  14 . In particular, and referring now specifically to  FIG. 7 , the housing  30  contains a first motor  72  operably connected to the first driving wheel  62 , a second motor  74  operably connected to the second driving wheel  64 , a CPU  82  for controlling each of the motors  72 ,  74 , and thus the driving wheels  62 ,  64 , and a power source  84 , such as batteries, for providing power to each of the motors  72 ,  74 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , in this exemplary embodiment, the lower portion  34  of the housing  30  includes a door which is removable for accessing a battery compartment that contains one or more batteries. Referring still to  FIG. 7 , the housing  30  further contains one or more lights  86  visible through the upper portion  32  of the housing  30 . To this end, in some embodiments of the present invention, the upper portion  32  of the housing  30  includes one or more translucent areas (not shown) which diffuse light emitted from an underlying light, illuminating an area of the upper portion  32  of the housing  30 . The housing  30  further contains a speaker  88  for playing sounds and/or music, and, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the lower portion  34  of the housing  30  defines a plurality of holes that allow sound to readily transmit from the speaker  88  and through the housing  30 . The power source  84  also supplies power to the one or more lights  86  and the speaker  88 . The button switch  46  and proximity sensors  50  previously mentioned provide feedback to the CPU  82 , and a slide switch  80  (also shown in  FIGS. 1-5 ) located on the upper portion  32  of the housing  30  adjacent to the bumper  36  provides a means to not only to activate/deactivate the toy  10 , but also to switch between multiple modes of use thereof, as further described below. 
     Referring now to the removable member  12  in particular, in this exemplary embodiment, the removable member  12  includes a substantially spherical body  20  which is weighted to maintain an upright position when placed on a substantially flat surface. That is to say, although not expressly shown in the Figures, the spherical body  20  defines an internal cavity which includes an offset weight that acts to bias the spherical body  20  into a predetermined orientation. Furthermore, the spherical body  20  includes elements (not shown) within the internal cavity that rattle when the removable member  12  is moved or shifted. On the exterior of the spherical body  20  and opposite the offset weight, i.e., on an upper side of the spherical body  20 , are a plurality of engagement features. In the exemplary embodiment show in the Figures, the plurality of engagement features include two loops  22  in the shape of wings which each include a plurality of beads  24  which can move along the loops  22 . Furthermore, two textured knobs  26  in the shape of antenna extend from the spherical body  20 . Further still, a face  28 , including two eyes and a mouth, is positioned on the exterior surface of the spherical body  20 . As such, the removable member  12  is suggestive of an insect, such as a bee. Likewise, the shape of the base  14  is suggestive of a cloud. Of course, other configurations of the removable member  12  and/or base  14  are also contemplated, including shapes and engagement features which are suggestive of other insects, animals, or objects. In any event, the removable member  12  is configured for placement on the base  14 , and in particular, within the cradle  40  defined in the upper portion  32  of the housing  30 . 
     Various functions and operations of the toy  10  will now be described in further detail. Referring once again to  FIG. 7  in particular, as previously mentioned, the slide switch  80  is used not only to activate/deactivate the toy  10 , but also to switch between multiple modes of use thereof. In particular, the exemplary toy  10  shown in the Figures has a first mode and a second mode of operation, as described below. Furthermore, the button switch  46  within the cradle  40  provides feedback as to whether the removable member  12  is positioned within the cradle  40 . 
     In the first mode of operation, when the removable member  12  is positioned within the cradle  40 , the base  14  moves along a first path. In one particular embodiment, and as shown in  FIG. 1 , the first path is substantially circular. That is to say, the CPU  82  directs each of the motors  72 ,  74  to spin the respective drive wheels  62 ,  64  in the forward direction at differential rates. In the second mode of operation, when the removable member  12  is positioned within the cradle  40 , the base  14  moves along a second path. In one particular embodiment, and as shown in  FIG. 2 , the second path is substantially random. That is to say, the CPU  82  directs each of the motors  72 ,  74  to spin the respective drive wheels  62 ,  64  in the forward direction but at differential rates which change over time. While the base  14  moves along the first path or the second path the CPU  82  also directs each of the one or more lights  86  to display a patterned light display. Likewise, the CPU  82  also directed the speaker  88  to play sounds and/or music. 
     If the removable member  12  is subsequently removed from the cradle  40  while the base  14  is moving along the first path or the second path, the base  14  will begin rotating in place. That is to say, the CPU  82  directs each of the motors  72 ,  74  to spin the respective drive wheels  62 ,  64  in opposite directions at substantially the same rate. Likewise, if the removable member  12  is not positioned within the cradle  40  when the slide switch  80  is first moved from an “off” position to an “on” position (i.e., either the first mode of operation or a the second mode of operation), the base  14  will rotate in place. Upon placing the removable member  12  within the cradle  40 , the base  14  will begin to move along the first path or the second path, depending on which of the two modes of operation the toy  10  is set. 
     As a further advantage of the present invention, and as previously mentioned, the base  14  further includes proximity sensors  50  at the front of the housing  30  which are configured to detect objects in the path of the base  14 . Through use of the sensors  80 , the CPU  82  determines whether the base  14  is about to run into another object and adjusts the path of the base  14  to avoid the object. 
     One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that additional embodiments are also possible without departing from the teachings of the presently-disclosed subject matter. This detailed description, and particularly the specific details of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, is given primarily for clarity of understanding, and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the presently-disclosed subject matter.