Patent Publication Number: US-9403101-B2

Title: Multiple activity toy

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a non-provisional application of application Ser. No. 61/925,742, filed Jan. 10, 2014 and claims priority from that application, which is also deemed incorporated by reference in its entirety in this application. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     I. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to generally to an interactive multiple activity toy for young children and more particularly to a switchbox incorporating an array of LED lights, a battery power supply, a plurality of control switches and a record/playback circuit arranged such that the child may operate the switches to create variable light patterns and may record and playback speech, music and other sounds. 
     II. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     It is well established that children, between the ages of one and five years, enjoy toys that they can manipulate to provide light patterns and sounds as one or more electrical switches are turned on and off. There are available on the market toy musical instruments having keyboards for playing musical tones and melodies. A toy guitar available from the Fisher Price Company has a plurality of switches, which when activated, select a style of music, e.g. jazz, rock &amp; roll, heavy metal, etc., previously recorded and digitally stored for playback. The guitar also includes a series of LEDs that flash in different patterns as the music is being played. 
     While many toys currently on the market now incorporate record/playback modules, they do not afford the degree of interaction to maintain a child&#39;s interest for more than a short period of time. It is accordingly a principle object of present invention to provide a light box toy with record/playback capabilities along with an array of LEDs, each associated with a decorative image which becomes illuminated depending upon the particular switches that are actuated by the child. In addition, the light box of our invention also incorporates record/playback module so that music, vocal messages and other sounds can be recorded and subsequently played back as the child selects certain of a plurality of switches to actuate. 
     While the present invention is being described as a toy for young children, it may also be used as a therapy device with persons having motor skill problems, such as, for example, limitations on hand/eye coordination often found in patients having Parkinson&#39;s disease. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a multiple activity toy comprises a housing defining a chamber where the housing has a front face surface, a rear surface and a peripheral wall joined to and surrounding the front face surface and rear surface. Mounted on the front face surface are first and second three-way switches connected to a battery pack and to a string of series connected lights contained within the chamber where the light sources are fitted into apertures formed through the front face surface at plural discreet locations. Further included in the housing is a printed circuit board with components forming a record/playback circuit and having a plurality of push-button control switches mounted to the wall of the housing so as to be accessible to a user. A USB port is provided on the printed circuit board and is accessible through an opening in the rear surface allowing the record/playback circuit to be programmed via a PC or laptop. Overlaying each of the apertures in which the light sources are mounted is a graphic image that becomes illuminated when the light sources are turned on via one or the other of the first and second three-way switches. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description when considered along with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a frontal view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view thereof; and 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the light box of  FIG. 1  with a cover removed. 
     
    
    
     Thus, the device of the present invention may find use in rehabilitation centers. 
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the multiple activity toy with record/playback capabilities is seen to include a box of rectangular cross-section indicated generally by numeral  10  that includes a front face  12 , a rear face  14 , a left end face  16  and right end face  18  and a top face  19 . 
     The box  10  may be fabricated from a variety of materials including wood, plastic or metal. 
     Referring still to  FIG. 1 , there is shown attached to the front face  12  at least one, but preferably a pair of three-way toggle switches  20  and  22 . As seen in the view of  FIG. 3 , the front face  12  also includes a plurality of apertures, as at  24 . Fitted into each of the apertures is an LED that is connected in circuit with the switches  20  and  22  and a battery pack  26  designed to hold four AAA batteries for powering the LEDs  24  and other electronic devices yet to be described. The battery pack is accessible by unscrewing the box&#39;s rear panel  14  or, alternatively, there may be a small removable panel (not shown) that only overlays the battery pack 
     In  FIG. 1  there is shown as covering each of the apertures  24  containing LEDs a broken graphic image, as at  28 . These images  28  are translucent or a transparent translucent sticker or decal, preferably of an object attractive to a child. Thus, when the LEDs are illuminated, the particular sticker or decal covering it is highlighted. The graphic images can be customized by the user to adapt to the age and likings of the user. 
     Centrally located on the front face  12  of the box  10  are a plurality of through holes  30 . The through holes  30  do not contain LEDs, but instead are aligned with a speaker cone  34  ( FIG. 3 ) whereby the pattern of holes  30  facilitate sound transmission from inside the box to the ambient. While the described speaker is shown mounted to the obverse side of the front panel  12 , it can also be mounted to the top panel  19  where a suitable hole pattern would also be provided. The speaker cone  34  preferably comprises part of a Model USB 5M recordable circuit available from Electronics123.com, Inc. The speaker  34  connects to a printed circuit card  36  located within the box  10 . The printed circuit card  36  of the Model USB 5M record/playback device includes a microphone along with sound recording integrated digital circuitry including a memory for storing audio bitstreams. Shown on the top panel  19  of  FIG. 2 , are a plurality of pushbutton switches  40 - 44 , which, when activated, cause a different pre-recorded sound to be played. The switches  38 ,  40 ,  42  and  44  come as a part of the Model USB 5M five-section recordable circuit and which itself includes a LED used to confirm that it is in the “record” mode. The USB 5M module also includes a USB port that is made accessible through an opening in the rear panel. This allows the circuit module  36  to be programmed from a PC or a laptop computer. 
     Rather than individually coupling the plurality of LEDs to the battery supply  26  and the switches  20  and  22 , it has been found convenient to adapt a string of commercially available LED Christmas tree lights for use in the box  10 . They may be a multi-color string or all of the same color. 
     The combination of the plurality of child-operable control switches, the decorative decals and the LED light sources associated therewith as well as the record/playback capability built into the box of the present invention comprise a toy that will occupy a child&#39;s interest over extended periods. With the recording capability, different sounds of music, voice messages of a parent, as well as the child&#39;s own voice, can be stored and subsequently played back for the child&#39;s amusement. 
     Because the LEDs sources can be turned steadily on, the light box of the present invention can also serve as a room nightlight having appealing decorative graphics illuminated thereon. In this regard, the box can be mounted on a room wall or may simply be placed on a dresser or nightstand. 
     While a preferred embodiment is disclosed herein, those skilled in the art can make modifications to the shape and size of the box  10  without departing from the inventive concept. 
     This invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different equipment and devices. Also, various modifications, both as to the equipment and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.