Abstract:
A stackable articles toy including a number of articles that can be coupled together or coupled to a support and which also generates sensory output upon interaction by the infant with the toy to prolong the infant&#39;s enjoyment of the toy.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to infant toys, and more particularly, to a toy that includes stackable articles. 
     2. Discussion of Related Art 
     Conventional toys that have stackable rings, blocks, and the like, generally include a support structure with a post upon which an infant can place a number of rings or other similar objects. The objects are separate from the support structure and therefore are frequently misplaced thereby reducing the toy&#39;s usefulness and the entertainment benefit for the child. 
     In some conventional applications, pockets or other types of recesses are provided for the objects, but these too are not sufficient to prevent separation of the play objects from the base structure of the toy. 
     Another problem with conventional toys is that children quickly become bored with the toy and eventually lose interest altogether. A need exists for a toy that couples the play objects together or to a base support structure to prevent separation of the individual pieces of the toy. A need also exists for a toy that incorporates sensory outputs to keep the infant&#39;s attention thereby providing prolonged entertainment for the infant. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention solves the problems with, and overcomes the disadvantages of, conventional toys. In particular, the present invention provides a toy with multiple play pieces that can be coupled together. The invention also includes sensory output generators that are actuated when the pieces are coupled together or coupled to a support. In an alternative embodiment, the invention includes a stackable play ring toy that includes a number of articles that can be coupled together or coupled to a support and which also generates sensory output upon interaction by the infant with the toy to prolong the infant&#39;s enjoyment of the toy. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a toy according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 1 a  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a tether according to the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an engagement portion according to the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a toy according to the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a plurality of tethers according to the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a toy according to the invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative arrangement of the articles of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a toy according to the invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of an embodiment of a toy article according to the invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the plurality of tethers of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the plurality of tethers of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the plurality of tethers of FIG.  7 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A toy includes a first article and a second article. In one embodiment, the first article and the second article include engagement portions adapted to releasably couple the first and second articles together. The first and second articles are also permanently coupled together using a coupler coupled between the first and the second articles. 
     In one embodiment, a toy article is engageable with a support. The support includes a base and a support member extending upwardly from the base. The toy article includes a body portion that is releasably engageable with the support and a coupler coupled to and between the body portion and the support. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of toy articles are removably engageable with the support. In one embodiment, the plurality of toy articles include a coupler disposed between each of the articles and the support. In an alternative embodiment, the plurality of toy articles include a coupler that is coupled to another one of the toy articles. 
     A toy  100  according to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG.  1 . In the illustrated embodiment, toy  100  includes a first toy article  200  and a second toy article  300 . First toy article  200  and second toy article  300  can be formed in any suitable shape or combination of shapes, such as a box, cylinder, toroid, or the like. 
     Article  200  includes a body portion  202 . Body portion  202  includes a side or engagement portion  204  that includes a coupler  206 . As best seen in FIG. 1, coupler  206  includes four protrusions or posts. Any number of couplers  206  could be employed in the present invention. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, article  300  includes a body portion  302 . Body portion  302  includes a side or engagement portion  304  that includes a coupling member  306  in the form of four recesses  306 . Recesses  306  are configured or adapted to releasably engage the posts of coupler  206  when first article  200  is brought into contact with second article  300 , as will be described in more detail below. 
     An actuator  400  is disposed within recess  306 . In alternative embodiments, an actuator  400  can be disposed within each of recesses  306 . In yet a further alternative embodiment, actuator  400  can be disposed at any suitable location on side or engagement portion  304  or at any suitable location on article  300 . In a further alternative embodiment, actuator  400  can be disposed on a surface of article  200 . Actuator  400  is operatively coupled to a sensory output generator  500  disposed on article  300 . Sensory output generator  500  includes a microcontroller and an output transducer such as a speaker. Alternatively, sensory output generator  500  includes a light, providing visible rather than audible output, and the electronics could be simpler or even include only switch  400 , a light, and a power supply. Actuator  400  can include any conventional switch or micro-switch which are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a tether  600  is coupled to first article  200  and second article  300 . Tether  600  is adapted to retain first article  200  and second article  300  in a coupled arrangement. Tether  600  should be of sufficient length to allow engagement portion  204  of first article  200  to be engaged with engagement portion  304  of second article  300 . Tether  600  can be coupled to any side or portion of articles  200  and  300  using any conventional mechanism or could be formed integrally with article  200  and article  300 . 
     Tether  600  is made from a flexible or pliable fabric material in the form of a ribbon. Alternatively, tether  600  could be made from plastic or other suitable material and can be in the shape of a string, chain, and the like. A further alternative embodiment for tether  600  is shown in FIG. 1 a . In this embodiment, tether  600  includes a plurality of jointed rigid members  610  joined together using any conventional mechanism such as rivets, screws, and the like. Each of the rigid members  610  rotate about each end joint  620  such that article  200  and article  300  can be moved relative to each other. 
     First article  200  can be releasably engaged with the second article  300  by engaging engagement portion  204 , and more specifically, post  206 , with engagement portion  304 , and more specifically, within recess  306 . As post  206  is brought into engagement with recess  306 , post  206  actuates actuator  400  disposed in recess  306 . Actuation of actuator  400  causes sensory output generator  500  to produce a sensory output such as music. 
     An alternative implementation of the releasable coupling between articles  200  and  300  is illustrated in FIG.  2 . In this implementation, engagement portion  204  includes a coupler  214 . In one embodiment, coupler  214  extends along the entire length of side or engagement portion  204 . Alternatively, coupler  214  extends for only a portion of the length of side or engagement portion  204 . 
     Engagement portion  304  includes a cavity or recess  314  formed therein extending along the entire length of side or engagement portion  304 . Alternatively, recess  314  extends for only a portion of the length of side or engagement portion  304 . An actuator  400  is disposed in recess  314  and operates in the manner described above with reference to FIG.  1 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 2, recess  314  and coupler  214  have a substantially dovetail-shaped configuration. Recess  314  and coupler  214  can, however, have any configuration that facilitates releasably coupling article  200  to article  300 . 
     An alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Toy  105  includes a stacking arrangement of multiple articles, such as first article  220  and second article  320 , which are selectively coupled to each other and to a support or support structure  700 . 
     Support  700  includes an upper surface  702 , a lower surface  704 , and a number of side surfaces  706 . Support  700  is shown in a substantially rectangular configuration but it should be apparent that support  700  can be in any number of suitable configurations, such as circular or triangular. Moreover, support  700  may be any type of support structure, including seats, chairs, wheelchairs, swings, beds, and the like. 
     Support  700  further includes a recess or cavity  708  formed in the upper surface  702 . An actuator  400 , as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, is disposed in cavity  708 . In one embodiment, support  700  also includes a sensory output generator  500 , which as noted above can include lights or a speaker, operatively coupled to actuator  400 . 
     First article  220  includes a body portion  222  having an upper surface  224 , a lower surface  226 , and a plurality of side surfaces  228 . A coupler or coupling member  230  in the form of a tab or a protrusion is disposed on lower surface  226 . Body portion  222  further includes a recess or cavity  240  formed in upper surface  224 . 
     Second article  320  also includes a body portion  322  having an upper surface  324 , a lower surface  326 , and a plurality of side surfaces  328 . A coupler or coupling member  330  in the form of a tab or a protrusion is disposed on lower surface  326 . Body portion  322  further includes a recess or cavity  340  formed in upper surface  324 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 3, a tether  600  is coupled to and between each of articles  220  and  320  and support  700 . In one embodiment, tethers  600  are coupled to support  700  at different points on support  700 . Alternatively, tethers  600  could be coupled to support  700  at a common point on support  700 . In a further alternative embodiment, a plurality of tethers  600  could be coupled to articles  220  and  320  and in turn coupled to an additional tether or tethers  600  which are coupled to the support  700 . The tethers  600  could be formed from any suitable materials as described above and can include a plurality of different configurations as set forth above. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a further alternative embodiment wherein a first tether  630  is coupled between article  220  and article  320  and a second tether  640  is coupled between article  320  and support  700 . 
     In operation, each of articles  220  and  320  can be positioned relative to support  700  such that coupling members  230  and  330  are aligned with cavity  708  of support  700  to facilitate releasable engagement of one of articles  220  and  320  onto support  700 . For example, if an infant chooses to place article  320  onto support  700 , the infant aligns coupler  330  with cavity  708 . As the infant places article  320  onto support  700 , coupling member  330  passes through cavity  708  until the lower surface  326  of article  320  contacts the upper surface  702  of support  700 . As coupling member  330  passes through cavity  708 , coupling member  330  actuates switch or actuator  400 , which in turn actuates sensory output generator  500  causing lights or sounds. 
     Following placement of article  320  onto support  700 , article  220  can then be placed or stacked on top of article  320 . To accomplish this, coupling member  230  is aligned with recess  340  formed in the upper surface  324  of article  320 . Coupling member  230  is then lowered into recess  340  until the lower surface  226  of article  220  contacts the upper surface  324  of article  320 . In an alternative embodiment, placement of article  220  onto article  320  could also activate actuator  400  to cause lights or sounds to be generated by sensory output generator  500 . In a further alternative embodiment, article  220  could be placed onto support  700  before article  320 . In this manner, article  320  would be stacked on top of article  220 . 
     It should be apparent that the order in which the articles  220 ,  320  are stacked onto support  700  can vary as the number of articles available for play vary. In other words, the articles do not have to be stacked in a particular order. Alternatively, however, the couplers could be configured on articles  220  and  320  such that they only fit together in a particular order. In addition, tethers  600  could also be configured to set the particular order in which the articles are disposed on support  700  or on each other. For example, tethers  600  of varying length could be employed to limit the number of available stackable configurations. 
     A further alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. As illustrated, toy  110  includes a support  710 , which includes a base  712  and a support member or post  714 , and a plurality of articles,  250  and  350 . As described above, each of articles  250  and  350  have an associated coupler or tether  600  coupled to each of articles  250  and  350  and support  710 . 
     Support member or post  714  extends upwardly from base  712 . However, post  714  could be coupled to base  712  in any suitable configuration as long as articles  250  and  350  can removably engage post  714 . Post  714  includes a longitudinal groove, recess, or cavity  716 . In one embodiment, groove  716  is disposed along the entire length of post  714  to provide a sliding fit arrangement. Alternatively, post  714  can include a number of recesses or cavities to provide a lateral or snap fit arrangement with couplers or protrusions formed on articles  250  and  350 , such as the posts  206  shown in FIG.  1 . In a further alternative embodiment, groove  716  could be disposed along a portion of the length of post  714 . In the illustrated embodiment, two grooves  716  are shown. However, any number of grooves  716  could be employed in the present invention. 
     As best seen in FIG. 6, article  250  and article  350  include a side or engagement portion  252  and  352 , respectively. In one embodiment, engagement portion  252  and  352  include a coupling member  254  and  354 , respectively. Coupling members  254  and  354  and groove  716  are illustrated in a dovetail-type configuration. (However, any suitable configuration, such as triangular or circular, may be used to provide a releasable engagement between articles  250 ,  350  and post  714 , and more particularly, groove  716 . In an alternative embodiment, the coupling members could be formed on the post  714  and recesses could be formed in the articles  250 ,  350 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 5, an actuator  400  of the type described above is disposed in groove  716 . It should be apparent that any number of actuators  400  may be disposed in groove  716 . A sensory output generator  500  is also disposed on support  710 , and more particularly, on base  712 . Sensory output generator  500  is operatively coupled to actuator  400  as described above to generate lights and sounds when articles  250 ,  350  are releasably engaged to post  714 , and more particularly when coupling members  254  and  354  contact actuator  400  when articles  250  and  350  are placed onto post  714 . 
     As best seen in FIG. 5, articles  250  and  350  may be stacked on top of each other if the infant chooses to place articles  250  and  350  onto the same side of post  714 . Otherwise, articles  250  and  350  can be placed on separate sides of post  714 , as best illustrated in FIG.  6 . 
     A further alternative embodiment of the toy of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7-11. FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of toy  115 . Toy  115  includes a plurality of articles  260  and a support  720 . Support  720  includes a base  722  and a support member or post  724  extending upwardly from base  722 . In one embodiment, toy  115  also includes a plurality of couplers or tethers  650  coupled to and between each of the plurality of articles  260  and the support  720 . 
     Support  720  includes a base portion  722  having a generally rectangular configuration with an upper surface  723  and a lower surface  725 . In alternative embodiments, base portion  722  may have any configuration or have any shape that enables the base  722  to support the plurality of articles  260 . 
     As best seen in FIG. 7, an upwardly extending support member or post  724  extends outwardly from the upper surface  723  of base  722 . Support member or post  724  may be coupled to base  722  using any suitable mechanism. In an alternative embodiment, support member or post  724  could be formed integrally with base  722 . 
     Post  724  is shown as having a generally cylindrical shape or circular cross-section. Alternatively, support member or post  724  may have any shape that enables the plurality of articles  260  to be disposed along a length of the post  724 . For example, post  724  can have a square, triangular, rectangular, hexagonal, or any number of other appropriate geometric shapes. 
     Support member or post  724  includes an actuator or switch  410  of the type described above disposed on an upper portion of post  724 . Alternatively, actuator  410  can be disposed at any number of locations along post  724 . In further alternative embodiments, more than one switch  410  can be disposed on post  724 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 7, a sensory output generator  500  of the type discussed above is disposed on the base  722 . Sensory output generator  500  is operatively coupled to actuator  410  to generate sensory outputs, such as lights or sounds. 
     A detailed top view of one of the plurality of articles  260  is shown in FIG.  8 . In one embodiment, article  260  is formed in a toroidal, annular, or ring-like configuration. In alternative embodiments, article  260  may be any structure or have any shape that enables the article  260  to be disposed on support  720 , and more particularly, onto post  724 , and that enables the articles  260  to be stacked on top of each other. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 8, article  260  includes a body portion  262  having an engagement portion  264 , which includes an opening  266  formed through body portion  262 . As best seen in FIG. 7, opening  266  is configured such that opening  266  allows article  260  to be placed onto post  724  and moved along post  724  until the article  260  reaches the base  722  or another article  260 . 
     In operation, as the articles  260  are placed onto support member or post  724  and moved towards the base  722 , the engagement portion  264  contacts actuator  410 . When actuator  410  is contacted it sends a signal to the sensory output generator  500  to generate an output. As noted above, the output can include lights, sounds, or any other suitable output that is entertaining for an infant. 
     As best seen in FIG. 7, a plurality of couplers or tethers  650  are coupled to and between the plurality of articles  260  and the support  720 . More particularly, tethers  650  are coupled to and between the body portion  262  of articles  260  and the base  722 . The tethers  650  may be coupled to base  722  at varying points on base  722 . In alternative embodiments, tethers  650  may be coupled to base  722  at a common point or area or common, branched tether. 
     An alternative arrangement for coupling the plurality of articles using tethers  650  is shown in FIGS. 9-11. In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the plurality of articles  260  are tethered to each other by a plurality of tethers  652 . An additional coupler or tether  654  is coupled between one of the plurality of articles  260  and the support  720  and more particularly the base  722 . In this fashion, the plurality of articles  260  are retentively coupled together and retentively coupled to the support  720 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 10, a plurality of tethers  656  are coupled to and between each of the plurality of articles  260  thereby forming a set of articles  260  which can be removed as a unit from the support  720 . Such an embodiment allows the support  720  to be used with additional sets of articles  260  thereby increasing the entertainment value for the infant and prolonging the useful life of the toy. 
     Referring to FIG. 11, a plurality of tethers  658  are coupled to each of the plurality of articles  260  and to the support  720 . In one embodiment, the tethers  658  are made from a flexible fabric material. In alternative embodiments, the tethers  658  may be made from any suitable material, such as plastic and the like. As illustrated in FIG. 11, tethers  658  include a loop  659  at one end that is coupled around the body portion  262  of articles  260 , while the other end is coupled to the support  720 . In alternative embodiments, tethers  658  may be coupled to articles  260  in any suitable arrangement so long as articles  260  may be retentively coupled together or to the support  720 . For example, tethers  658  could be integrally molded with the plurality of articles  260  or could be attached using glue, rivets, or other suitable fastening techniques or mechanisms. 
     Unless otherwise indicated herein, it is to be understood that the component parts of the invention are preferably made from a plastic material which can be molded and which is sufficiently durable and safe for use with infants and children of toddler age. Other materials, however, such as rubber, fabrics, foam rubber, and the like, could also be employed in the present invention. 
     While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.