Patent Publication Number: US-2010124867-A1

Title: Novelty light-up toy

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     The present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/440,451, which claims priority to provisional application No. 60/684,208, the entirety of both applications being incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD  
     The present invention relates to a novelty light-up toy which includes an assembly including a plurality of rotating illumination sources, which form a variety of light patterns during operation, a fan extending from the assembly, and a plurality of particles that move about the toy during operation. 
     BACKGROUND  
     There are known types of novelty items or toys that have lights that spin and are selectively turned on and off in patterns, some of which are mentioned in the copending application Ser. No. 11/440,451. Other prior art patents and publications set forth the concept of particles simulating snow flakes that are circulated within a globe by a fluid impeller or fan that drives to fluid. The fluid may be liquid or air in various of the documents. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,908 to Powell et al. relates to an animated displaying having a display chamber 14 within which are particles 16 that are propelled throughout the chamber to stimulate snow. A fan 26 draws air into the chamber and the fan 24 provides additional lifting force to the particles creating an animated blizzard. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,078 to Cassidy is a toy vacuum cleaner having polystyrene beads 60 that circulate due to a fan 40 between a cone 28 and an outer transparent container 20 to stimulate dust and/or dirt. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,282,820 to White et al. is a snow globe that includes particles 2 that are dispensed throughout the globe by a circulating fluid 3 that apparently is water (since a “watertight” seal is provided between the base and the globe enclosure). 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,151 to Yuen discloses a snow circulating ornamental display in which the snow particles are circulated by a fluid (liquid) W that is agitated by a rotating plate UDW carrying ornament F. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,065,908 to Pineda-Sanchez et al. et al. is a snow globe. The globe contains a liquid and particles to simulate snow. A motor driven rotating member 28 or fan impeller provides turbulence to the water to create movement of the particles. 
     U.S. Patent Publication 2006/0111011 to Wang relates to an inflatable decorative device in which Styrofoam particles are air-blown by a blowing device 20 having a fan 21 and a spraying pipe 31 that sprays the particles from the top of the chamber 3. 
     U.S. Patent Publication 2006/0128258 Zebert et al. is a snow globe decoration similar to U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,065,908, 6,357,151 and 6,282,820. 
     U.S. Patent Publication 2006/0283062 to Moomaw has inner and outer inflatable members between which particles 16 simulating snow are circulates by an air fan 38. 
     U.S. Patent Publication 2007/0207700 to Ellis relates to a snow globe toy, FIG. 3 in which a motor opened fan 33 blows particles simulating snow throughout the globe 330. 
     SUMMARY  
     Briefly, the invention is characterized in particular by a light-up toy including a see-through housing, a base connected to the see-through housing, and a light source assembly rotatably mounted within the see-through housing, the light source assembly comprising a housing and a printed circuit board mounted within the housing. The toy further includes a plurality of light sources mounted on the printed circuit board, a motor disposed within the handle and connected to the power source, having a motor shaft extending therefrom, a power source disposed within the base for supplying power to the motor, a rotation means disposed within the handle and connected to the motor shaft, and to the printed circuit board assembly for rotating the printed circuit board assembly when the motor is turned on, and an on/off switch on the base for selectively activating the power source and the motor. The toy also includes a fan extending outwardly from the light source assembly, and a plurality of particles contained in the housing formed of a light-weight material, wherein when the light source assembly rotates, the plurality of particles are blown about the housing by the fan, to simulate snow fall. According to one embodiment, the fan is formed of a clear, light-weight plastic sheet, and the light source assembly is in the shape of a Christmas tree. 
     According to one embodiment, a music box including the above-described light-up toy and a music assembly that plays music when turned on is provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       For better understanding of the invention and additional objects and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing of a preferred embodiment, wherein 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the light-up toy, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is another side view of the light-up toy of  FIG. 1  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the light-up toy of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  provides an interior view of the handle of the light-up toy in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed view of the see-through housing and the light source assembly contained therein, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  provides a side view of a light-up toy having a light source assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  provides a detailed view of the interior of the handle in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective exploded view of a handle in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a rear perspective exploded view of the handle in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIGS. 10A-B  are perspective views of the handle in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIGS. 10C-F  are plan views of the handle in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of a hand-held toy according to one embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of a music-box toy according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     The invention will be described in general with reference to  FIGS. 1-7 , which illustrate various embodiments of the novelty light-up toy  1  according to the present invention. Referring now in detail to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of the light-up toy  1 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, which includes a see-through housing  4  that permits a three-dimensional view of the rotating light source assembly when the toy is in use. The housing  4  can be in any desired shape, for example, dome-shaped. Other shapes are possible, within the scope of the invention, including a snowman shape, Santa Claus shape, and the like. 
     Disposed within the housing  4  is a rotatably mounted light source assembly  20  comprised of a wing portion  3  and an arch portion  2  extending from one end of the wing portion  3 . The light source assembly  20  comprises a printed circuit board  13  disposed therein. The printed circuit board  13  has a shape that fits within the light source assembly  20 . Affixed to the printed circuit board  13  is a series of light sources  7  designed to illuminate when the light source assembly  20  rotates. The light sources  7  may be comprised of light emitting diodes, or other suitable light sources. The light sources  7  may be provided in a plurality of colors to create a colorful visual effect. The printed circuit board  13  includes an integrated circuit (IC, not shown), which includes a program to cause the light sources  7  to light up at different intensities and different intervals, causing patterns to appear in the light as the light source assembly  20  rotates. The IC is an off the shelf component, which can be purchased, for example, from MUPAC Development Ltd., in Hong Kong, China, model # MD—264. 
     An additional pair of light sources  6  is found at the ends of two flexible, rotatable arms  5 . These arms  5 , preferably constructed of PVC or similar flexible, or semi-flexible material, are located directly beneath the housing  4  of the toy. Disposed within the handle  8  according to the embodiments in  FIGS. 4 and 7  is a printed circuit board  34 , which controls operation of the motor  12 . In one embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the light source assembly  20  is connected to the motor shaft  22 , so that the light source assembly  20  rotates when the motor is turn on by the on/off switch  9 . In another embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 , both the flexible arms  5  and the light source assembly  20  are connected to a series of gears  14  and a motor  12 , which cause the arms  5  and light source assembly  20  to rotate upon activation of an on/oft switch  9  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The arms  5  may be different lengths so that as the arms rotate, an oval appearance of the lights sources  6  is created. 
     As seen for example in  FIG. 1 , the on/off switch  9  is located on the handle  8  of the toy  1 . The handle  8  may be further enhanced with a series of corrugated ridges  10  or other similar grip-facilitating features. The handle may be made of a rigid plastic material, or another similar suitable material. 
     Disposed within the handle  8  is a power source  25  for the toy  1 , as well as the motor  12  that rotates the light source assembly  20  and the flexible arms  5 . Preferably, the power source  25  comprises several batteries  15  ( FIG. 7 ), although alternate sources are also possible. As shown in the embodiments of  FIGS. 4 and 7 , the batteries  15  are located alongside and below the motor  12 . As seen most clearly in  FIG. 4 , wire  30  connects the motor  12  to the battery contact  32 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the motor shaft  24  is connected to an armature  26 , which in turn is connected to the light source assembly  20  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). The armature is connected to the motor shaft contact  27 , which is in turn connected to the motor  12  via wire  28 , which is in turn connected to the motor  12  via wire  28 , so that the light source assembly  20  rotates when the motor is turned on by the on/off switch  9 . 
     Alternatively, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , directly above and in contact with the power source  20  and motor  12  is a series of gears  14  that permit rotation of the light source assembly  20  and the flexible arms  5 . The gears  14  rotate upon the user&#39;s activation of the on/off switch  9  on the exterior portion of the handle  8 . Placing the switch  9  in the on position closes the circuitry connecting the batteries  15  to the motor  12 . The motor  12  then causes the gears  14  to rotate, which in turn rotates the light source assembly  20  and the flexible, rotatable arms  5 . Simultaneously, the light sources  7  disposed along the arch  2  and wing  3  portions of the light source assembly  20 , as well as those light sources  6  at the ends of the flexible arms  5  illuminate, creating a Saturn-like light display. According to the present invention, the arms  5 , the housing  4 , and the light source assembly  20  all spin together at the same time. This allows for cost efficiency and also provides a unique visual effect. 
     According to one embodiment, the handle portion  8  holds 3 AAA batteries. However, other battery configurations are possible. 
     It is also a preferred embodiment of the present invention that the flexible arms  5  have a single light source  6  disposed only at their ends. The light sources  6  may be light emitting diodes or other similar devices. However, the invention also contemplates the use and placement of additional light sources  6  along the length of the flexible arms  5 , or more than two arms, if a more complex lighting display pattern is desired. 
     The printed circuit board  13  is shown in  FIG. 5  as having a half-arch shape (arch  2 ), extending from a wing  3  at one end thereof. However, the “arch  2  and wing  3 ” configuration of the light source assembly  20  within the dome  4  may be modified.  FIG. 6  is an alternative embodiment of the toy  1  in which the light source assembly  20 ′ has a wing  3 ′, a connecting section  30  having one end connected to one of the wing  3 ′, and an arch  2 ′ extending from the second end of the connecting section  30 . As in the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the printed circuit board (not shown) is shaped to fit within the light source assembly  20 ′. 
     Another embodiment of the handle is shown in  FIGS. 8-10 . In this embodiment, the front handle body  101  includes a recess  112  in which the on/off button  103  sits. Inside the recess  112  is a through-hole  114 , through which the slide switch  104  passes when the handle is assembled. The two halves of the handle body, front handle body  101  and back handle body  102  are assembled with all of the parts placed in the respective cavities (as will be described), and the handle bodies are fixed together using screws (not shown) that are inserted into the protrusions  150  and  152  and tightened until the handle is securely closed. 
     The slide switch  104  includes a peg  118  protruding from one side ( FIG. 8 ) and a contact pad  120  protruding from the other side ( FIG. 9 ). On an inner side of the button  103  is a seat  116  ( FIG. 9 ), into which the peg  118  formed on one side of the switch  104  ( FIG. 8 ) is inserted. The contact pad  120  comes into contact with the printed circuit board  105 . The printed circuit board  105  is connected, via wire  122 , to the motor  106 . The motor  106  sits on motor seat  134  when the handle is assembled. The printed circuit board  105  fits in the handle between the motor  106  and a top contact plate  128 . 
     Similarly to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the motor shaft  124  is connected to an armature (not shown), which in turn is connected to the light source assembly  20  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). The armature is connected to the motor shaft contact  107 , which is in turn connected to the motor  106  via wire  126 . 
     The top contact plate  128  forms the top of the battery compartment  136 . A battery chamber divider  109  is provided to separate the battery compartment  136  into separate chambers, one for each battery  108 . A battery door  110  is removably connected via a screw (not shown) that can be inserted and tightened in corresponding openings  138  and  140  in the battery door  110  and back handle body  102 , respectively. 
     As seen in  FIG. 8 , the contact plate  128  is connected via wire  130  to the motor  106 . A bottom contact plate  144  is positioned at the bottom of the battery compartment  136  and is connected via wire  132  to the printed circuit board  105 . A wire  142  connects the bottom of the top contact plate  128  where one of the batteries contacts the contact plate  128 , to the top of the contact plate  128 . The wires  130 ,  132 , and  142  serve to electrically connect the power source (in this case, three batteries) to the motor  106  and printed circuit board  105 , so as to provide them with power when the on/off switch  103  is turned on. 
       FIGS. 10A-B  are perspective views of the handle in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 .  FIGS. 10C-G  are plan views of the handle in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate improvements over the embodiments of  FIGS. 11-10 , in which the toy includes not only the rotating light sources, but a fan that blows particles contained in the housing around to simulate snow fall. In particular,  FIG. 11  illustrates a hand-held toy according to another embodiment of the invention. A base or handle  201  is included, which can be the same as handle  101  or handle  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-11 . The construction of the handle  201  and the components within the handle to rotate the light source assembly  220  will not be repeated here, since the components and operation thereof are the same for this embodiment as for the embodiments discussed above. 
     According to one embodiment, the light source assembly  220  is in the shape of a Christmas tree, and may be covered by a green decorative sheet oil both sides. Alternative configurations, such as a Santa Clause, or snowman, are also within the scope of the invention. The light source assembly  220  may be constructed of two halves made of a rigid material, such as plastic, which hold a printed circuit board (not shown) between them. Light sources  222  are connected to the printed circuit board and extend from the printed circuit board toward the outside of the light assembly, similarly to the light sources described above with respect to  FIGS. 1-10 . 
     Also extending outwardly from the light assembly  220  is a fan  240 . The fan  240  may be made of a clear plastic, light weight sheet, such as a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheets. The fan  240  is shown in a circular shape, but can be any shape within the scope of the invention. 
     Particles  230  are contained within the see-through housing  4 . Particles  230  may be bead shaped, or flat, and are made of a light weight material, such as vacuum metallized PVC, or Styrofoam®. The housing  4  contains only air; no liquid is provided. Because the particles  230  are light-weight, when the light assembly  220  rotates, when the toy is operated, the particles  230  are blown around the housing  4 , simulating a snowfall effect. 
     Another embodiment is shown in  FIG. 12 , which is a music box  200 . In particular, an electronic or mechanical tabletop musical novelty device with synchronized light source and spinning Christmas holiday scene is provided, with particles, such as beads, blown around to depict the illusion of snow. Inside the housing portion may be a series of pictorial elements (not shown), such as snowmen, Christmas trees or the like. A light source assembly is rotatably provided in the center of the housing, which includes a plurality of spinning LEDs or other light sources that illuminate the pictorial elements inside the housing portion. Located underneath the unit is the electronic or mechanical electronic on/off switch. 
     According to one embodiment as shown in  FIG. 12 , on top of the base  202  is a see-through housing  204 , similar to the housing  4  discussed above. The base  202  includes a music assembly  250 . Music assembly  250  is a conventional music box assembly, which can be turned on by means of a switch (not shown) located on the bottom of the base  202 . Although in one embodiment, the music assembly is operated by a separate switch located on the bottom of the base  202  (not shown) than the switch that operates the light source assembly  220  (also located on the bottom of the base  202  and not shown), the music assembly  250  may be operatively connected to the light source assembly  220  so that one switch turns both devices on synchronously. 
     Although all the figures show a dome-shaped housing portion  4 , it is certainly possible to utilize an alternate shape, such as a pyramid, and perhaps a transparent but colored dome  4  or pyramid, so long as the shape and color allow the user a 3-D view of the printed circuit board  13  and light sources  7 , or the light source assembly  220 . The number and placement of the light sources  6 ,  7 ,  222  along the flexible arms  5  and printed circuit board  13  or connected to the assembly  220 , respectively, may also be modified, according to the lighting display desired. 
     The light source assemblies  20 ,  220  may be made of a rigid material, such as plastic. Decorative sheets may be adhered to the outer surface of the light source assemblies  20 ,  220 . These sheets can be solid opaque film sheets or they could be in the form of images or patterns. In addition, without departing from the inventive design, the decorative sheets can be omitted in their entirety. In this case, during the rotation the light patterns would appear to be free floating within the housing. 
     In the embodiments of  FIGS. 11 and 12 , because the fan is provided as a clear sheet extending outwardly from the light source assembly  220 , there is no need for a separate fan and motor to cause the particles  230  to move about the housing, to simulate snow fall. This reduces the cost and eases the difficulty of manufacture. Additionally, because the particles are blown about the housing in the air, without the need for a liquid such as water, there is no risk that the liquid will leak if the housing develops a crack or breaks. Further, because the particles are blown about the housing by the fan, they will keep blowing as long as the switch is activated. This improves the effect over the prior art snow globes where the globe is shaken to make the snow move about the housing. Further, with the right material, the light reflects off of the flying particles, thus creating a pleasing light display. 
     Although various features of the invention have been described with particular embodiments. It is considered within one of ordinary skill in the art to mix and match the features in other embodiments not depicted in the figures. 
     The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without undue experimentation and without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and arc intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. The means, materials, and steps for carrying out various disclosed functions may take a variety of alternative forms without departing from the invention. 
     Thus the expressions “means to . . . ” and “means for . . . ”, or any method step language, as may be found in the specification above and/or in the claims below, followed by a functional statement, are intended to define and cover whatever structural, physical, chemical or electrical element or structure, or whatever method step, which may now or in the future exist which carries out the recited function, whether or not precisely equivalent to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed in the specification above, i.e., other means or steps for carrying out the same functions can be used; and it is intended that such expressions be given their broadest interpretation.