Abstract:
A wrist unit includes a transmitting circuit capable of producing coded radio frequency signals. The wrist unit when worn by the user applies the encoded radio frequency signals to the users body and causes the encoded signal to propagate through the users body as a transferring medium. A cooperating device includes a receiving contact which the user touches to impart the body signal. A receiver and decoder within the cooperating device identify the user and enable a gate circuit which in turn opens access to the user of the microprocessor and cooperating circuitry within the unit. In the absence of a code match, the access to the cooperating device is refused.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to toys and particularly to toys operative in a communications mode. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Toys which are capable of communication are well known in the art and have been provided in a variety of formats and designs. Many toys include a plurality of user operated keys or buttons which facilitate inputting and identifying code opening the operation of the device to the user. Still other toys employ locks or closures which restrict access of operation of the toy to a key holder or the like. 
     In a related art, input devices in the form of gloves or other apparatus are provided with a number of signaling devices which are capable of use in remotely controlling a game or toy apparatus. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,362 issued to Ullman et al. sets forth an APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A VIDEO GAME having a glove-like attachment worn by an operator. The glove includes a wrist portion having parallel conductive contacts. Once set of contacts is connected to a signal generator which produces control signals for characters in a video game. The second set of contacts is connected to the video game. Placing the hand at an angle selectively connects the contacts sending the desired direction control signal to the game. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,372 issued to Quick et al. sets forth a PORTABLE TRANSACTION TERMINAL FOR OPTICAL AND KEY ENTRY OF DATA WITHOUT KEYBOARDS AND MANUALLY ACTUATED SCANNERS in which a glove is worn an operator having a plurality of sensors positioned upon the finger and thumb portions of the glove. The sensors are operative in response to movement and flexing of the wearer&#39;s fingers and thumb and produce signals which are coupled to a communication device. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,537 issued to Grimes sets forth a DIGITAL DATA ENTRY GLOVE INTERFACE DEVICE for translating discreet hand positions into electrical signals representing Alpha-numeric characters. The interface includes a glove having sensors positioned with respect to the hand for detecting the flex of finger joints and sensors for detecting the contact between various portions of the hand. Additional sensors detect the movement of the hand with respect to the gravitational vector. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,102 issued to Pinnow sets forth an APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR A SYSTEM CAPABLE OF REMOTELY VALIDATING THE IDENTITY OF AN INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR LOCATION having a wrist worn device which electronically generates a sequence of Pseudorandom numbers that seizes functioning if the band is cut or otherwise opened to detach the device from the individual. A monitoring system remotely validates the continued wearing of the apparatus by the user and allows the wearer to be located remotely. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,410 issued to Welling sets forth a DIGITAL WATCH INCLUDING A SIGNAL TRANSMITTER for selective activation of a remote electronic circuit. The wristwatch includes a time of day readout encased in a housing supported by the wrist band. Within the watch housing, time of day display and a signal transmitter are operatively coupled. A receiving station is provided with apparatus for remotely responding to the transmitted signal from the watch to activate an electronic circuit such as a burglar alarm or the like. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,004 issued to Natori et al. sets forth a PORTABLE MINIATURE TYPE INFORMATION TREATING DEVICE including an electronic time piece used as a pager watch and having a speaker for emitting an alarm signal at a preset time. The circuit also includes an external call signal responsive to incoming electromagnetic waves. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,040 issued to Weaver et al. sets forth a PERSONAL LOCATOR TRANSMITTER adapted to be worn on the wrist and having the size and appearance of a conventional wrist watch. The transmitter is provided with a programmable memory, a transmitter controlled by the memory and an antenna for reliably radiating signals from the transmitter and an automatic alarm actuated by an attempt to remove the unit from the wrist of the wearer. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,952 issued to Kramer et al. sets forth a COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR DEAF, DEAF-BLIND OR NONVOCAL INDIVIDUALS USING INSTRUMENTED GLOVE the glove supports a plurality of strain gage sensors which respond to flexing movements of the hands. Signals from the circuitry within the glove responsive to the strain gage outputs are amplified and digitized and applied to a computer which includes software for recognition of the hand positions and hand states. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,753 issued to Martin sets forth an INTERCHANGEABLE SOUND EFFECT DEVICE which includes means for playing digitally recorded sounds in the form of interchangeable cartridges. The device is designed for use with entertainment and educational-type products such as toys, dolls, figurines, books and instructional guides. The device utilizes an infrared receiver. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,359 issued to Beach sets forth a PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR COMPUTERIZING TRANSLATION OF MOTION OF SUBCUTANEOUS BODY PARTS useful in tracking movement of body parts such as tendons within the carpal tunnel of the wrist. 
     While the foregoing described prior art devices have to some extent improved the art and have in some instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for evermore improved, interesting and amusing toy products which utilize various communication mechanisms. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved toy device. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved toy device which utilizes through-the-body communication. 
     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a toy device comprising: a wrist unit having a housing, a first body contact and a wrist band; a transmitting circuit supported within the housing and having means for generating and coupling an encoded signal to the first body contact; a toy having a second body contact and an operable toy system; and a receiving circuit supported by the toy and having means for receiving and decoding an signal coupled to the second body contact and having decode means for enabling the operable toy system in response to receiving the encoded signal when a user wearing the wrist unit touches the second body contact, the encoded signal being propagated through a users body when wearing the wrist unit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which: 
     FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of a toy device constructed in accordance with the present invention operated by a child user; 
     FIG. 2 sets forth a section view of the wrist-worn portion of the present invention toy device; 
     FIG. 3 sets forth a block diagram of the operative circuitry within the present invention toy device; 
     FIG. 4 sets forth a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention toy device. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of a toy device constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral  10 . Toy device  10  includes a wrist unit  11 , a controlled device  12  and a controlled toy  13 . A user  20  is shown wearing wrist unit  11  upon arm  21  while activating device  12  using finger  23  of arm  22 . Controlled device  12  includes a housing supporting a contact  30  and a plurality of user operator keys  31 . Device  12  further includes an infrared transmitter  32 . Controlled toy  13  may be fabricated in accordance with the desired theme or application of the present invention system. In the example shown in FIG. 1, control toy  13  is a small animal figure having an infrared sensor  33 . Controlled toy  13  includes internal apparatus (not shown) responsive to sensor  33  in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques. 
     In operation, and by means described below in greater detail, wrist unit  11  produces a coded signal which is coupled to arm  21  of user  20 . Body  24  of user  20  provides a medium through which the signal outputted by wrist unit  11  propagate. The ability of human body to carry electrical signals such as radio frequency signals throughout the body is well known and well established in the art. Suffice it to note here that electrical signals applied by wrist unit  11  to arm  21  appear generally throughout body  24 . Of interest with respect to the present invention, is the portion of coupled energy from wrist unit  11  which propagates through arm  21  across body  24  and downwardly through arm  22  to eventually reach finger  13 . As the user touches contact  30  with finger  23 , a small portion of the signal produced by wrist unit  11  and propagating through body  24  and arm  22  is coupled to contact  30 . By means set forth below in greater detail, device  12  responds to the signal coupled to contact  30  to verify that finger  23  is indeed a body portion belonging to the wearer of wrist unit  11 . In other words, the encoded signal produced by wrist unit  11  uniquely identifies user  20  to device  12 . In the preferred fabrication of the present invention, wrist unit  11  produces a radio frequency signal having an encoded identifier thereon. Further in the preferred fabrication of the present invention, device  12  includes a decoding unit which reads the coded indicator upon the signal received at contact  30  and compares it to a stored reference code to determine whether or not keys  31  of device  12  are to operable in response to user  20 . 
     Control toy  13  is a conventional infrared remote control toy which is provided as an illustration of the use of the present invention toy device. In the example shown in FIG.  1  and provided by device  12 , a simple remote control apparatus operable between a remote controlling device  12  and a controlled toy  13  is operable solely by user  20  while wearing wrist unit  11 . 
     By way of further illustration, FIG. 1 also shows an alternative toy  34  having a contract  35  and a speaker grille  36  formed thereon. A conventional sound circuit  38  fabricated in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques responds to the touch of user  20  upon contact  35  to produce an audible sound output which is directed outwardly through speaker grille  36 . Thus, the illustration provided by toy device  34  is that of a directly controlled toy in which the encoded signal applied to wrist unit  11  to user  20  is sensed within the toy itself and upon verification that the touch upon contact  35  is that of the wearer of wrist unit  11 , toy device  34  is accessed and performs its audible sound production function. 
     FIG. 2 sets forth a section view of wrist unit  11 . Wrist unit  11  includes a housing  40  within which a circuit  41  is supported. An external contact  43  is positioned upon the underside of housing  40  and is coupled to circuit  41  by a connector  42 . A conventional wrist band  44  is secured to housing  40  in a conventional attachment (not shown). Band  44  is used to secure wrist unit  11  to a wearer&#39;s wrist in the manner shown in FIG.  1 . Band  44  thus includes a cooperating pair of hook-and-loop fabric attachment pads  48 . It will be apparent however, that alternative fastening apparatus such as snap fasteners or buckles or the like may be utilized in place of hook-and-loop fabric attachment pads  48  without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     In operation, circuit  41  produces an output signal such as a radio frequency signal which is coupled to contact  43  by connector  42 . This signal is preferably encoded with an identifying code recognizable by the cooperating device such as devices  12  and  34  (seen in FIG.  1 ). Contact  43  is positioned against the wearer&#39;s skin to provide optimal signal coupling to the wearer&#39;s body and to allow the use of the wearer&#39;s body as a propagating medium. Circuit  41  is set forth below in FIG. 3 in greater detail. However, suffice it to note here that circuit  41  is a battery-powered microprocessor based circuit suitable for producing a radio frequency signal of sufficient strength to transmit energy through the wearer&#39;s body. 
     FIG. 3 sets forth a block diagram of the present invention toy device. Toy device  10  includes a circuit  41  supported within wrist unit  11  in the manner set forth above in FIG.  2 . Thus, circuit  41  includes a microprocessor  45  having an associated memory  46 . A code generating circuit  47  is also coupled to microprocessor  45 . Microprocessor  45  is operatively coupled to a transmitting circuit  48  which in turn is coupled to contact  43 . 
     FIG. 3 further shows the operative circuitry within device  12  set forth above in FIG.  1 . Device  12  includes a microprocessor  50  having an associated memory  51  and a keyboard  31  coupled thereto. A contact  30  which, as is better seen in FIG. 1, is supported upon device  12  is coupled to a receiver  53  which in turn is coupled to a decoding circuit  54 . Decoding circuit  54  controls a gate circuit  55  which provides and enabling signal to microprocessor  50 . The output to microprocessor  50  is coupled to an infrared signal encoder  52  which in turn is coupled to an infrared transmitter  32 . 
     In operation, microprocessor  45  operating in accordance with the stored instruction set or program within memory  46 , receives a coded number sequence from code circuit  47  which is applied to the modulating input of transmitter  48 . Transmitter  48  provides an output signal such as a radio frequency signal having the code received from code circuit  47  modulated thereon. Correspondingly, contact  43  is energized by transmitter  48  and, as is described above, is operatively coupled to the user&#39;s body. 
     At device  12 , a receiving function is carried forward as contact  30  is touched by user  20  (seen in FIG. 1) coupling a portion of the energy within the user&#39;s body received from transmitter  48  and contact  43 . The coupled signal and its modulated code are applied to a receiver  53  which recovers the coded information therefrom and applies it to decode circuit  54 . Decode circuit  54  compares the coded signal to a stored reference signal and if a correct match is found energizes gate  55 . Gate  55  when energized produces an enabling signal to microprocessor  50  causing microprocessor  50  to activate encoder  52  which in turn drives infrared output device  32 . 
     If however the coded signal received by decode circuit  54  does not match the stored reference signal, gate  55  is not enabled. Accordingly, microprocessor  50  does not receive an enabling signal and keyboard inputs at keyboard  31  are not operatively coupled to encoder  52  and infrared transmitter  32 . As a result, device  12  does not respond to the user. 
     The circuit shown in FIG. 3 for device  12  is substantially the same as the internal circuit within device  34  with the difference being found in the replacement of encoder  52  and infrared transmitting device  32  with a conventional sound circuit  38  (shown in dashed-line). In all other respects, the circuit within device  34  (seen in FIG. 1) is identical to the circuit shown in FIG. 3 as found within device  12 . 
     FIG. 4 sets forth a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 differs from the previously described embodiment in that it is configured to be handheld as opposed to worn upon the users wrist. In all other respects however, the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 will be understood to be identical to the embodiment described above and will be understood to include circuit  41  operable in the same manner as described above within wrist unit  11 . Thus, a handheld unit  60  includes a housing  61  which supports circuit  41  (seen in FIG. 3) together with a body contact  62 . As seen in FIG. 4, the user hold unit  60  such that contact  62  touches the user&#39;s body such as the palm of a hand or the like allowing the signal to propagate from unit  60  through the user&#39;s body. 
     What has been shown is a toy device using through-the-body communication to activate a cooperating toy or other device through the propagation of an identifying encoded signal through the user&#39;s body. The encoded signal is produced by a wrist unit which is worn in much the same way as a conventional watch. 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.