Abstract:
A spin toy or draydel comprises at least a first audio response that is played when the spin toy comes to rest. In one embodiment the first audio response comprises recorded music and/or speech. The recorded audio response may additionally comprise at least four distinct messages corresponding to a different side of the draydel. The message may identify the Hebrew letter shown on the side of the draydel that is facing up after it comes to rest. Alternatively, the message may reflect the player&#39;s game position corresponding to the traditional draydel game, reflected by the Hebrew letter shown on the side of the draydel that is facing up after it comes to rest. The message may also be triggered by a second audio response, which is initiated when the draydel is spun. Upon coming to rest after spinning the second audio response stops and the first audio response, is played. This second audio response may also comprise recorded music.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to the field of toys and in particular spinning toys such as spin toys and draydels. More specifically, the invention relates to a toy with a recorded audio response and/or visual display in reaction to the movement and rest of the toy.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    It is well known to combine toys with an audio or visual component and a wide range of such toys, from the most primitive rattle to sophisticated computer games are familiar to consumers. All such devices include a means for triggering an audio or visual response. With a rattle, it is the child&#39;s movement of the toy. Arcade games, however, are examples of toys that employ a variety of more sophisticated audio mechanisms including for example, electronic tones that are triggered as a pinball passes over a switch. In some toys the movement of the toy triggers an audio response as the toy is moved. In other toys an audio response reacts to the cessation of movement by the toy.  
           [0003]    One example of a toy that emits sound is illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 4 . This example is not presented as prior art. Indeed, Applicant observed this toy only in a foreign country after having conceived the present invention. Furthermore, Applicant is not aware of any printed publication or patent corresponding to this toy.  
           [0004]    The toy is a cube  10  with a different animal design on each of its six sides  12 . FIG. 2 shows a front view of one of the sides  12  of cube  10 . Referring to FIG. 2, an opening  15  to a cavity within the cube acts as a housing for an audio response device  20 , powered by two 1.5V batteries. An external switch on the device allows a user to selectively turn the audio response device on and off. The hole may be closed with a plug made of the same material as the cube. The side may then be covered with a flap, the external side of which is decorated to match the other sides  12  of the cube  10  and secured with Velcro. The animal design for the side of the cube with the hole is printed on the exterior side of the flap so that it is visible when the flap covers the plug.  
           [0005]    In play, a different animal sound emanates from the audio response device as the cube is tossed. The particular sound corresponds to the animal design on the side of the cube that faces upward when the cube comes to rest. The discriminating audio response is made possible by the device, which is manufactured in China by a company named Ontex/Charlie and identified as MS-801A Magic Sound Block. A diagram of device  20  is shown in FIG. 3.  
           [0006]    Referring to FIG. 3, shown is a top view of the inside of device  20 . In its commercial embodiment the components of device  20  are completely enclosed within a removable plastic housing (not shown). As shown, a circuit board  22  is electrically connected to a battery  26  through lead lines  28 , to a speaker  27  and to a trigger device  23 . Circuit board  22  also includes an on/off switch which is accessible from without the housing and memory means, in which six different sounds are stored for playback in response to trigger device  23 , as described below.  
           [0007]    Four leads  21  are shown electrically connecting circuit board  22  to the four sides of trigger device  23 . In fact two other leads are present, but not shown. These leads connect the circuit board  22  to the top and bottom of trigger device  23 .  
           [0008]    Trigger device  23  comprises two identical conical shaped receptacles, with four side surfaces  24 , a bottom minor opening  25  and a top major opening through which the view of FIG. 4 is shown. Referring to FIG. 4, conductive contacts  32  are shown at each of the four corners of the conical shaped receptacles of trigger device  23 , with leads  21  extending therefrom A fifth and sixth conductive contact (not shown) may also be found on two opposite sides of minor opening  25 . The same arrangement appears on the other conical shaped receptacle, not shown.  
           [0009]    When the major openings of the two conical shaped receptacles are secured together a symmetrical housing with six comers, each with an identical minor opening is formed, where each of the minor openings have conductive contacts at two opposite sides of the minor opening.  
           [0010]    Also shown in FIG. 4 is a metal ball  30  seated in one of the conical shaped receptacles of trigger device  23 . With trigger device  23  in device  20  is placed in the cavity of the cube  10 , the ball  30  will rest against the minor opening at the comer of trigger device  23  that is opposite the top side  12  of cube  10 . The metal ball creates a circuit by connecting the two conductive contacts opposite the minor opening on which it sits. This connection activates the sound recorded for playback corresponding to the graphic shown on the top side  12  of cube  10 . In the particular embodiment shown, the sound is the sound of the animal shown on the top side  12  of the cube.  
           [0011]    In other toys the audio response can be characterized as discriminating in that a different response is heard depending on the start position of the toy. For example, in the well known See &#39;N Say toy a dial points to any one of the letters of the alphabet. Each letter has a corresponding word that begins with that letter and a picture of what the word represents. A pull cord spins the dial, which after several rotations comes to rest, pointing to any one of the letters. As the dial spins an electronic message is played sounding out the word associated with the letter which the dial was pointing to before the cord was pulled.  
           [0012]    This particular invention relates to the spin top toy and other toys similar to the spin tops, such as a draydel. Traditionally, a spin top has no audio or visual response. The toy is merely spun on one tip until it comes to rest. Spin toys have been commercially introduced which release an audio response when spun. Specifically, some spin toys emit a series of electronic tones corresponding to a song.  
           [0013]    The draydel is a well-known variation of the spin top. FIG. 5 shows a traditional simple draydel. The toy substantially resembles a spin top, except that the middle part of the body is four sided, resembling a cube. Printed on each side of the draydel is a different one of four Hebrew letters: a “Nun”          , a “Gimel ”          , a “Heh”          and either a “Shin”          or a “Pei”          . Rather than merely spinning the draydel, the game attributes a different win or lose position to each letter. The highest score is achieved when the draydel lands with the “Gimel” facing up. A “Heh” represents a half score, a “Nun” a null score and a “Shin” or “Pei” a negative score.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    The present invention is a spin toy with at least one audio response that is played when the spin toy comes to rest. In one embodiment of the present invention the audio response comprises recorded music and/or speech as opposed to electronic tones.  
           [0015]    In a further embodiment of the present invention the spin toy is a four-sided draydel and the recorded audio response comprises at least four distinct messages corresponding to each of the four sides of the draydel. The message may identify the Hebrew letter shown on the side of the draydel that is facing up after it comes to rest. Alternatively, the message may reflect the player&#39;s game position corresponding to the traditional draydel game, reflected by the Hebrew letter shown on the side of the draydel that is facing up after it comes to rest.  
           [0016]    In yet a further embodiment of the present invention the message response may be triggered first by a second audio response which is initiated when the draydel is spun. Upon coming to rest the second audio response stops and the message as described above, is played. This second audio response may be recorded music. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is an illustration of a toy cube which emits a different sound as the cube is flipped corresponding to the top showing side of the cube.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 illustrates one side of the cube of FIG. 1 with an opening for a cavity housing a audio response device.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a top view of the inside of the audio response device of the cube of FIGS. 1 and 2.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a top view inside one half of the trigger device of the cube of FIGS.  1 - 3 .  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 illustrates a prior art draydel.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is an assembly diagram of one embodiment of the draydel of the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 illustrates the draydel of FIG. 6 in assembled form.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 illustrates the holder component of the draydel of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]    In accordance with the present invention a novel spin toy is taught which has at least one audio response from a first set of a plurality of available responses, when the toy stops spinning. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, where the spin toy toy is a draydel, the audio response corresponds to the letter that appears on the side of the draydel which faces up when the draydel stop spinning. Since the draydel has four sides, each side having a different letter, the audio response will be one of a set of four unique audio responses, each of which uniquely relates to one of the four sides of the draydel. Thus in a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the first set of four audio responses is only audible after the draydel is spun and it comes to rest with one side facing up.  
         [0026]    The aforementioned first set of audio responses may be music, speech, or a combination of the two. Where the audio responses are music one of four songs will play upon the draydel coming to rest. The song will play for a specified duration. This duration may be pre-programmed, or correspond to the length of recorded music stored in the draydel, as described more fully below. A speech response may be an announcement of the letter that is facing up when the draydel comes to rest, or a comment reflecting the win or lose consequence of the letter facing up in the game of draydel, described above.  
         [0027]    In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, a second audio response may be triggered upon spinning the draydel. This audio response may similarly be music, speech, or a combination thereof. This second audio response stops upon the draydel coming to rest, at which point the first audio response described above is played.  
         [0028]    In a further embodiment of the present invention visual responses may also be associated with the spinning and rest of the draydel. Thus one visual display may be activated by spinning the draydel either in combination with or as an alternative to the second audio response. It is also possible to have a visual display activated when the draydel comes to rest. This may either be a single display regardless of the side of the draydel that is facing upward, or a different visual display corresponding with each of the four sides of the draydel.  
         [0029]    Referring to FIG. 6, an assembly of a draydel in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. Housing  61  is shown separated from cover  71  so that a cavity within is visible within which components  62 - 70  are contained. Housing  61  has four lateral sides, each of which contains a different Hebrew letter, as found in conventional draydels. The bottom surface is arcuate such that the draydel may be made to spin about the lowest point.  
         [0030]    The ability to play one of four audio responses unique to each of the four lateral sides of the draydel depends upon circuit board  65 , steel ball  64 , holder  63  and speaker  62 . The circuit board contains a computer chip and memory, not shown. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the computer chip and memory used is manufactured by Smart Fair Electronics Co., Ltd and designated YEKF-0013.  
         [0031]    When triggered as described below, the computer chip retrieves the appropriate audio response and plays it over speaker  62 , which is electrically connected to circuit board  65 . Circuit board  65  receives power from batteries  67 , which in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 are held in place with battery holder  66 . In one preferred embodiment of the present invention four (4) button cell batteries providing 1.5 volts per battery, are used. These batteries can be found with the designation Ag10 or LR1130.  
         [0032]    Referring to FIG. 8, holder  63  is shown in which four channels  83  are clearly visible. Ball  64  resides within holder  63  and circuit board  65  is placed in close proximity or in contact with holder  63  at opening  85 , so that ball  64  is contained within holder  63 . Furthermore, holder  63  is aligned with circuit board  65  such that when inserted into housing  61 , each of the four channels  83  is substantially centered with one of the four sides of housing  61  and a separate one of four contact switches on circuit board  65 .  
         [0033]    As the draydel spins, ball  64 , which is within holder  63 , spins as well. However when the draydel stops, or otherwise rests on one side, one of the channels  83  will be in a lower position relative to the other channels  83 . Thus, ball  64  will by gravitational force rest within the relatively lower channel. Furthermore, since holder  63  has a generally pyramidal shape with each of channels  83  sloping inward, away from the circuit board  65 , the gravitational force on ball  64  will also cause the ball to rest against circuit board  65  and contact the switch on circuit board  65  which is adjacent the channel  83  holding ball  64 .  
         [0034]    Circuit board  65  is designed such that each of the four switches adjacent a different channel  83 , triggers a different one of the first set of four audio responses. Specifically, each of these four switches triggers the audio response corresponding to the Hebrew letter found on the lateral side of housing  61  which is directly opposite the channel adjacent to that switch. Since the ball  64  will fall to the lowest channel and the announcement should correspond to the Hebrew letter on the lateral side of housing  61  which faces up, the design described herein assures that the proper audio response will be triggered.  
         [0035]    Various embodiments for the switches that trigger one of the four audio responses, are possible, all of which are within the scope of the present invention. In one preferred embodiment the ball  64  is comprised of a conductive material and when it rests in one of the channels  83 , it bridges a gap between two contacts, thus completing a circuit. Alternatively, the two contacts can be designed such that when the ball  64  comes to rest in one of the channels  83 , two contacts are pushed together under the weight of ball  64 , thus completing a circuit. In either of these two embodiments depending on the circuit that is completed, a different one of the four audio responses is emitted.  
         [0036]    In a further embodiment of the present invention, a hammer spring may be designed within housing  61  to elicit a second audio response during movement of the draydel  73 . For example the hammer spring may be mounted on the surface of circuit board  65 . Hammer springs are well known in the art, especially in their application with spinning toys. Typically, a hammer spring is mounted such that it will tend to flex under the centrifugal force that acts on it as a result of the toy being spun. A contact is mounted in close proximity to the hammer spring such that only when the spring is caused to flex will it electrically connect with the contact and thus close a circuit. Where the centrifugal force is too weak, either under weak spinning or the toy is stationary the hammer spring will not touch the contact. One skilled in the art of using hammer springs may easily devise a suitable hammer spring for purposes of the present invention such that only spinning the toy would trigger the second audio response. Certainly, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that alternatives to the use of a hammer spring are possible in order to trigger the second audio response while the draydel is spinning.  
         [0037]    In constructing the draydel in accordance with the present invention one advantageous arrangement of the components has holder  63  below circuit board  65  and the hammer switch, if any, mounted on the underside surface of circuit board  65 . The top surface of circuit board  65  will have two sets of battery contacts (not shown). The battery holder  66  will comprise of a board with two slots. The battery holder  66  will be arranged above circuit board  65  with the two slots aligned over the two sets of battery contacts, respectively. In this manner when the battery holder  66  is in place, each of the sets of battery contacts will be in contact with one set of two button cell batteries. Access to the batteries is available from the top surface of the battery holder  66 . Securing means such as a piece of tape may be used to secure the batteries in their respective slots in battery holder  66 . Those skilled in the art will easily identify alternative means for securing the batteries. This arrangement has the advantage of allowing a user to remove cover  71  to replace the batteries without risking damage to the circuit board and hammer spring, if any.  
         [0038]    Consequently, in an embodiment of the present invention in which first and second audio responses are available as described above, upon spinning draydel  73  an audio response such as a song will be audible. When the draydel  73  comes to rest, the song stops and an announcement or different song is played corresponding to the Hebrew letter that appears on the lateral side of draydel  73  facing upward. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention with the second audio response, approximately 20 seconds of music is recorded and stored on the circuit board. Since spinning time is generally not longer than 10-15 seconds, 20 seconds of music is sufficient. In addition, the computer chip on circuit board  65  may preferably be programmed to repeat the second audio response until the draydel  73  comes to rest.  
         [0039]    In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, draydel  73  can be designed with a sixth switch, which activates a “try-me” feature. By activating this switch, any combination of first and second audio response may be played, in accordance with the design of the computer chip on circuit board  65 . The switch for the “try-me” feature may be activated with a push button accessible from any of the external surfaces of draydel  73 .  
         [0040]    In a preferred embodiment, shaft  72  may be designed as a sleeve through which a dowel like rod  70  passes through and extends to circuit board  65  on which resides a push button sixth switch. When dowel like rod  70  is pushed inward toward the inside of housing  61 , it will push against and activate the switch located on circuit board  65 . In the advantageous arrangement of components described above, the switch will reside on the top surface of circuit board  65 . Dowel like rod  70  reaches from the top surface of circuit board  65 , through an opening in the battery housing, through the sleeve of shaft  72 . As an alternative to the push button switch, two contacts  68  and  69  may be electrically connected to circuit board  65  to act as the sixth switch. When the dowel like rod  70  is pushed into the draydel, the two contacts  68  and  69  are closed and the “try-me” feature is activated.  
         [0041]    In one preferred embodiment of the “try-me” feature, the audio response corresponding to the sixth switch includes approximately 7 seconds of a song, followed by a ⅛ second pause and followed by one of the four vocal messages, such as “Gimel”, referring to one of the four Hebrew letters appearing on the lateral sides of draydel  73 .  
         [0042]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stored first and second audio responses are actual recorded music, singing and/or speech, as opposed synthesized electronic tones.  
         [0043]    The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will be able to devise various modifications, which although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are thus within its spirit and scope.