Patent Publication Number: US-2019176046-A1

Title: Toy with user-operable light

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to toys, and more particularly to toys having a light operable by a user. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, the invention provides a toy including a body and a head coupled to the body, the head including a face region. An appendage is coupled to at least one of the body or the head and is made at least partly from a material transmissive to light. A light emitting element communicates with the appendage. A first sensor is electrically coupled to the light emitting element and operable to activate the light emitting element upon detecting the touch of a user. A second sensor is electrically coupled to the light emitting element and operable to deactivate the light emitting element upon detecting air movement. 
     In another embodiment, the invention provides a toy including a body and a head coupled to the body. A light emitting element is positioned inside at least one of the body or the head and behind a material that is transmissive to light emitted from the light emitting element so that the light emitting element is not exposed outside the toy but the light emitted from the light emitting element is viewable from outside the toy. A first sensor is electrically coupled to the light emitting element and operable to activate the light emitting element upon detecting the touch of a user. A second sensor is electrically coupled to the light emitting element and operable to deactivate the light emitting element upon detecting air movement. A sound emitting element is positioned within at least one of the body or the head and the first sensor or the second sensor is further operable to activate the sound emitting element. 
     In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a toy including a body and a head coupled to the body, the head including a face region. An appendage is coupled to at least one of the body or the head and is made at least partly from a material transmissive to light. A light emitting element communicates with the appendage. A blow sensor is electrically coupled to the light emitting element and is operable to (a) activate the light emitting element upon detecting air movement, and (b) subsequent to the activation in step (a), deactivate the light emitting element upon detecting subsequent air movement. 
     The invention further provides a method of playing with a toy having a body and a head coupled to the body. The head includes a face region. The method includes touching the face region to trigger a touch sensor, the touch sensor activating a light emitting element within the toy such that a portion of the toy illuminates, and blowing on the toy in a region adjacent to the illuminated portion of the toy to trigger a blow sensor, the blow sensor deactivating the light emitting element upon detecting air movement. In one aspect, the method further includes the blow sensor activating a sound emitting element within the toy 
     Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a toy embodying the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the toy of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a view of the internal hardware removed from the toy of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is bottom view of the toy of  FIG. 1 , showing the control unit removed from a cavity in the toy. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the toy like  FIG. 4 , showing an opposite side of the control unit. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the toy, schematically illustrating the location of the hardware in the head. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the toy, showing the appendage illuminated by a light emitting device. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another toy embodying the invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a partial view of the toy of  FIG. 8  with the bow illuminated. 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of another toy embodying the invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a partial view of the toy of  FIG. 10  with the bow illuminated. 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of yet another toy embodying the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
       FIGS. 1-7  illustrate a first embodiment of a toy  10  according to the present invention. The illustrated toy  10  is a plush toy taking the form of a unicorn. However, in other embodiments, the toy  10  can be a toy taking other forms, such as the cat illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the dog illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the butterfly doll illustrated in  FIG. 12 , or any other characters. The characters that may be displayed include, for example, commonly known movie or television characters, animated characters, animals, humans, inanimate objects, fantasy creatures or characters, historical characters, characters from books or other sources, or other articles, whether real or imagined. The materials used to form the characters may be any suitable materials, including plush fabric, knit fabric, woven fabric, stuffing materials, textiles, plastic, rubber, or any other suitable material for use as a toy. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , the unicorn toy  10  includes a body  14  and a head  18  coupled to the body  14 . The body  14  can include appendages  22  representing features of the creature or character, such as legs  22   a  and a tail  22   b , as well as other accessories associated with the toy  10 . For example, the unicorn toy  10  could include a saddle, wings, or other body appendages  22 . One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that different creatures or characters will include different body appendages  22  depending on the type of creature or character depicted. 
     The head  18  includes a face region  26  having features typical of a face of a creature or character. The illustrated face region  26  includes indicia representing eyes  30 , indicia representing a mouth  34 , and indicia representing nostrils of a nose  38 . The face region  26  further includes a protrusion representing a snout  42 . As used herein and in the appended claims, the face region  26  includes at least the area containing and generally surrounding the facial indicia  30 ,  34 , and  38 , as well as the area containing and generally surrounding the snout protrusion  42 . One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that different creatures or characters will include different facial indicia depending on the type of creature or character depicted. 
     The head  18  can further include appendages  46  representing features of the creature or character as well as other accessories associated with the toy  10 . The illustrated head includes appendages representing ears  46   a , an appendage representing a mane  46   b , and an appendage representing a horn  46   c . Each of the body appendages  22  and the head appendages  46  can be coupled to the respective body  14  or head  18  in any suitable manner, such as stitching, gluing, integrally forming, or otherwise securing. 
     The toy  10  further includes a light-up/blow-out feature that enhances the play value and enjoyability of the toy  10 . With reference to  FIGS. 3-6 , the light-up/blow-out feature includes a light emitting element  50 , a first sensor  54  electrically coupled to the light emitting element  50  and operable to activate the light emitting element  50  upon detecting the touch of a user, and a second sensor  58  electrically coupled to the light emitting element  50  and operable to deactivate the light emitting element  50  upon detecting air movement.  FIG. 3  illustrates one example of the hardware components of the light-up/blow-out feature removed from the toy  10 . 
     The light emitting element  50  can be any suitable device that generates light. Examples include LED&#39;s, incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, and the like. Fiber optic cables or light pipes can also be used if desired to transmit the light within the toy  10 . The light emitting element  50  is electrically coupled via wires  62  to a circuit board, processor, or controller  66  (shown schematically in  FIG. 3 ) that is retained within a housing  70 . The housing  70  can also contain one or more batteries (not shown) for providing power to the light emitting element  50 . The batteries can be accessed by a removable panel  74  (see  FIG. 5 ) of the housing. The housing  70  can also include and/or support a switch  78  (see  FIG. 5 ) operable to turn the light-up/blow-out feature on and off. 
     The first sensor  54  is a touch sensor and can include a capacitive sensor, a pressure sensor, or any other suitable type of sensor capable of detecting the touch or presence of a user. The sensor  54  illustrated in  FIG. 3  is a capacitive sensor with a conductive sheet  82  that can be sized and configured for the desired placement within the toy  10 . The first sensor  54  is also electrically coupled via wires  86  to the circuit board  66  within the housing  70 , and is therefore electrically coupled to the light emitting element  50 . The second sensor  58  detects air movement, air flow, or air pressure and is sometimes referred to as a blow sensor or airflow sensor. The second sensor  58  is also electrically coupled via wires  90  to the circuit board  66  within the housing  70 , and is therefore electrically coupled to the light emitting element  50 . 
     The light-up/blow-out feature can also include an optional sound feature, which in the illustrated embodiment, is a sound emitting element in the form of a speaker  94  supported within the housing  70 . The circuit board  66  includes a sound storage device that can store one or more pre-recorded sounds. For example, in the illustrated unicorn toy  10 , a pre-recorded bell or chime sound is stored in the sound storage device of the circuit board  66 . In other toy embodiments, such as the cat of  FIGS. 8 and 9 , or the dog of  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the pre-recorded sound can be a meowing sound, a barking sound, or any other sound appropriately selected for the desired character represented by the toy. Other embodiments may include sounds such a spoken words, music, crying, bodily noises such as flatulence, and other sounds and combinations of sounds. 
     The circuit board  66  electrically couples each of the light emitting element  50 , the first sensor  54 , the second sensor  58 , and the sound emitting element  94  together, and in the illustrated embodiment is configured such that detection of a user&#39;s touch by the first sensor  54  will activate the light emitting element  50  (i.e., turn the light on). To deactivate the light emitting element  50  (i.e., turn the light off), the user can blow toward and in the vicinity of the second sensor  58  to generate air movement/flow/pressure that will be detected by the second sensor  58 . When the second sensor  58  is triggered by the air flow, the circuit board  66  turns off the light emitting element  50 . In the illustrated embodiment that further includes the optional sound feature, triggering of the second sensor  58  further activates the sound emitting element  94  to play the pre-recorded sound. In this case, the bells or chimes play a magical-sounding tune once the light turns off. The circuit board  66  also includes a timer circuit that will turn off the light emitting element  50  (and also optionally trigger the sound emitting element  94 ) if a predetermined period of time passes before the second sensor  58  is triggered. This will help to preserve the battery life of the toy in the event a child fails to trigger the second sensor  58  to deactivate the light emitting element  50 . 
     In other embodiments various circuit boards, controllers, or processors can be used, programmed, or configured to carry out these and other operations. For example, in some embodiments, the sound emitting device  94  might be triggered by the first sensor  54  instead of by the second sensor  58 . In such an embodiment, a touch may first trigger the sound emitting device  94  to play the pre-recorded sound. The touch may also trigger the simultaneous or delayed activation of the light emitting element  50 . The triggering of the second sensor  58  by a user may then deactivate the light. In yet another embodiment, the second sensor  58  may be operable to both activate and deactivate the light emitting element  50 , such that a user blows on the blow sensor  58  once to first turn on the light, and then again to turn off the light. The optional sound feature may be incorporated such that the first and/or second blow by the user triggers the sound emitting element  94 . In some embodiments, there may be two or more different pre-recorded sounds such that a first sound plays upon a sensor being triggered, and later, a second sound plays upon a sensor being triggered. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand how many different operational sequences can be achieved using the combination of some or all of the light emitting element  50 , the first sensor  54 , the second sensor  58 , the circuit board  66 , and the sound emitting element  94 . In further embodiments the toy can have multiple first and/or second sensors at different locations about the toy to achieve various desired effects. 
       FIGS. 4-6  illustrate the light-up/blow-out feature provided in the toy  10 .  FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate a cavity  98  formed in the bottom of the toy  10 , and more specifically in the body  14  between the legs  22   a . The cavity  98  is lined with a lining material  102  that prevents the filling material and any other internal features of the toy  10  from being accessible from the cavity  98 . The housing  70  is removably stored within the cavity  98 . The lining material  102  is secured to a boss  106  of the housing  70  (see  FIG. 3 ) that defines the pass-through location for the wires  62 ,  86 ,  90 . In the illustrated embodiment, the lining material is wrapped around and stitched about the boss  106  so that the wires  62 ,  86 , and  90  are not accessible to a user. Only the removable battery panel  74  and the on/off switch  78  of the housing  70  are accessible, as shown in  FIG. 5 . To turn the device on, a user moves the on/off switch  78  to the on position. The user can then place the housing  70  within the cavity  98  and close the cavity  98  using the closure, which in the illustrated embodiment, takes the form of mating hook and loop fasteners  110  positioned on opposite sides of the cavity  98 . In other embodiments, zippers, buttons, snaps, or other closure devices can alternatively be used. 
       FIG. 6  schematically illustrates the routing of the wires  62 ,  86 , and  90  and the locations within the head  18  where the light emitting element  50 , the first sensor  54 , and the second sensor  58  are positioned. The conductive sheet  82  of the first sensor  54  is located in the face region  26  underneath the material that defines the outer covering of the head  18 . The conductive sheet  82  can extend from the snout protrusion  42  to just below the horn appendage  46   c , and substantially between the two eyes  30 . This provides a large area of the face region  26  where the touch of a user can activate the first sensor  58 . For example a user who kisses the snout protrusion  42  will likely contact the conductive sheet  82  (e.g., with his or her lips and/or nose) to trigger the first sensor  54 . Alternatively, a user can simply touch the face region  26  with his or her fingers to trigger the first sensor  54 . The light emitting element  50  and the sensors  54 ,  58  can be held in place within the toy  10  by the filling material of the toy  10 , by stitching, by adhesive and/or by other securing mechanisms. In other embodiments, the first sensor  54  could be in other locations (e.g., the side, the hind end, the legs, etc.), or there could be two or more touch sensors positioned in various regions of the toy  10 . 
     The light emitting element  50  communicates with the horn appendage  46   c , and in the illustrated embodiment, is located at least partially or completely within the horn appendage  46   c . In other embodiments the light emitting element  50  might be adjacent to the appendage, or could even be remote from the appendage but could use one or more light pipes to transmit the light to the appendage. The horn appendage  46   c  is made from a light-transmissive material so that when the first sensor  54  is triggered, the light emitting element  50  illuminates, causing the horn appendage  46   c  to light up, as shown in  FIG. 7 . The light emanates from the horn appendage  46   c . In other embodiments, the light emitting element  50  need not be in an appendage, but could instead be in or behind a light-transmissive icon (e.g., a heart, flowers, etc.), emblem, or other feature formed on or in the body  14  and/or head  18 . 
     The second, blow sensor  58  is positioned underneath the material that defines the outer covering of the head  18  and just below the horn appendage  46   c . In other embodiments, it can be positioned in the appendage  46   c . A user can therefore blow generally in the vicinity of the face region  26  and the horn appendage  46   c  to trigger the second sensor  58 . Because the material that defines the outer covering of the head  18  is fabric, the airflow can pass through the material to trigger the second sensor  58 . When the user blows in the general area of the second sensor  58 , the light emitting element  50  is deactivated and the sound emitting element  94  is triggered to play the pre-recorded sound. Should the user fail to trigger the second sensor  58  within the predetermined time, the timer circuit will deactivate the light emitting element  50 , and can also trigger the sound emitting element  94 . 
     The unicorn toy  10  is fun and interactive for a child to play with. The child can give the unicorn toy  10  a kiss in the face region  26  or pet the snout protrusion  42 , thereby triggering the first sensor  54  to activate the light emitting element  50  in the horn appendage  46   c . This may be even more fun and exciting at night or when the child is in a darkened room. The child can then make a wish and blow out the light by blowing on the second sensor  58 . The child will perceive that his or her blowing is actually blowing out the light. The optional, magical-sounding chime noise emitted from the sound emitting element  94  will provide a magical feeling to the child, who might now believe that their wish has been granted. As discussed above, modifications to the operational sequence, and the number and location of sensors, are contemplated and possible using the hardware and circuitry provided. 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate another embodiment of a cat toy  210  that operates in generally the same manner described above for the unicorn toy  10 , except that it is a cat character instead of a unicorn. Like parts have been given like reference numerals. The light-up/blow-out feature operates in nearly the identical manner, except that the pre-recorded sound emitted by the sound emitting element  94  is a meowing sound. Specifically, a child may kiss or pet the cat toy  210  in the face region  26  to trigger the first sensor  54 , thereby activating the light emitting element  50 . In the cat toy  210 , the light-transmissive head appendage  46   d  takes the form of a bow on top of the cat&#39;s head  18  that illuminates (see  FIG. 9 ). In the illustrated embodiment, there are two light emitting elements  50 , one in each side of the bow  46   d . The second sensor  58  is just below the bow  46   d  so that when the child blows in that general area, the light in the bow  46   d  turns off. In another embodiment, the second sensor  58  could be in the bow  46   d . The sound emitting element  94  is triggered to play the meowing sound. Therefore, the child will perceive that his or her blowing blows out the light in the bow  46   d  and makes the cat meow. As discussed above, modifications to the operational sequence, and the number and location of sensors, are contemplated and possible using the hardware and circuitry provided. For example, it is possible to have the cat toy  210  operate such that a user blowing on the blow sensor  58  triggers the sound emitting element  94  to emit the meowing sound, before or without the light illuminating and/or without any triggering of the first sensor  54 . 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate yet another embodiment of a dog toy  310  that operates in generally the same manner described above for the cat toy  210 , except that it is a dog character instead of a cat. Like parts have been given like reference numerals. The light-up/blow-out feature operates in nearly the identical manner, except that the pre-recorded sound emitted by the sound emitting element  94  is a barking sound. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates yet another embodiment of a butterfly toy  410  that operates in the same manner described above for the unicorn toy  10 , except that it is a butterfly character instead of a unicorn. Like parts have been given like reference numerals. The light-up/blow-out feature operates in nearly the identical manner, except that the light emitting elements  50  communicate with, or is at least partially or completely within body appendages in the form of wings  22   c.    
     Those skilled in the art will understand how the inventive light-up/blow-out feature can be applied to virtually any other character to provide a fun and interactive toy that children will enjoy. The placement and number of the light emitting element(s)  50 , light-up appendages, and the sensors  54 ,  58  can be varied, depending upon the character, to other locations within heads, bodies, or other features of different toys. As discussed above, modifications to the operational sequence are contemplated and possible using the hardware and circuitry provided. 
     Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.