Patent Description:
Children enjoy playing games where they have the sensation that they are acting as an adult. Toys such as simulated cash registers, retail stores, food kiosks, and other structures can provide children with the experience of performing a task normally reserved for adults. Such toys provide entertainment and can help children develop skills, such as arithmetic when making change. Playing games with such toys may help children develop social skills such as speaking politely, responding to questions, and interacting with others as an adult would do in a retail establishment.

The experience of a toy that simulates adult activities may be enhanced where the simulated activity is something children are normally not allowed to do. Toys that allow children to imaging they are driving a car or truck, sailing a boat, or flying a plane may provide a child with a more engaging experience because the activity is something they typically would not be allowed to do because it may be dangerous. Document <CIT> describes a toy beverage mixer and dispenser which allows a user to mix and dispense real food, and <CIT> describes a toy beverage dispenser for simulating dispensing of beverage into a toy cup, a liquid being contained in the container.

There is a need for a toy that allows children to experience the sensation of acting as a "barista," that is, a person skilled in preparing different kind of hot beverages. Dispensing hot beverages is normally something children would not be allowed to do. Equipment, such as coffee grinders, burners, and steam generators are commonly used in settings children are likely to be familiar with, for example, restaurants and coffee shops. Servers at these establishments handle hot beverages and boiling water. Creating beverages such as an espresso or a latte requires grinding coffee beans and opening and closing valves to apply steam and hot water to create the drink. Such an experience may be particularly exciting for children.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a toy that includes a mechanism to simulate the preparation of hot beverages, such as coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and beverages that require using steam and/or hot water to create foam, such as for latte, cappuccino, and the like.

According to one embodiment, a toy includes one or more discs decorated on a first side to represent a material used to create a hot beverage, such as ground coffee, dried tea leaves, powdered hot chocolate, or the like and a second side that is decorated to represent the top surface of a prepared beverage, such as the black or brown top surface of a cup of coffee, or the white or off-white surface of a foamed beverage such as latte or cappuccino. The toy further includes a filter basket shaped to resemble a portafilter typically used with an espresso machine. The filter basket includes a ring, a handle, and a disc receiver. The handle and disc receiver are fixed together and rotatably connected with the ring so that the disc receiver can be rotated by turning the handle relative to the ring. The disc receiver has a ridge or cavity on at least one side shaped to hold one of the discs. According to one embodiment, the toy includes a frame that has a slot sized to receive and support the ring and, once the ring is inserted into the slot, to allow the disc receiver to rotate. The toy also includes a cup shaped to fit within the frame below the slot. According to one embodiment, the cup has an inner diameter shaped so that, when the disc is placed in the cup, the disc is held in a horizontal orientation so that one or the other face of the disc faces upward.

According to another embodiment, the disclosure provides a method for using a simulated beverage dispenser. A user selects a two-sided disc that corresponds to the kind of beverage they want to pretend to create. A first side represents a starting material, for example, ground coffee, and a second side represents the top surface of a finished beverage made using the starting material, for example, the foamed top of a latte or a cappuccino. The user places the selected disc in a simulated filter basket with the first side facing upward and the second side facing downward. The user inserts the filter basket into a slot provided on a frame. The user places a cup below the filter basket, where the cup is shaped to support the disc once the disc falls into the cup. The user turns a rotatable handle of the filter basket, causing the disc to be rotated so that the second face is directed upward. In this orientation, the disc drops from the filter basket and falls into the cup with the second face directed upward. As a result, the cup appears to be filled with the dispensed beverage.

According to some embodiments, the frame is connected with a bench or service counter. The service counter may include other components to enhance the experience of preparing beverages. According to one embodiment, the counter includes a simulated steam dispenser and a knob decorated to appear to operate a steam valve. According to other embodiments, the counter includes components associated with a retail store, such as a cash register, a tip jar, a blender, and the like.

According to other embodiments there is disclosed a toy beverage dispenser comprising a frame including a slot and a filter basket. The filter basket comprises a handle, a disc receiver fixed with the handle, and a ring surrounding the disc receiver, wherein the handle and the disc receiver are rotatably connected with the ring to rotate about a horizontal axis, and wherein the ring is shaped to removably fit into the slot. The to also comprises a disc including a first face and a second face and a cup. The cup is shaped to fit within the frame below the slot. The disc receiver is shaped to support the disc when the disc receiver is oriented substantially horizontally. The disc falls from the disc receiver into the cup when the disc receiver is rotated about the horizontal axis. The first face of the disc may comprise a decoration representing a material used to create a simulated beverage and the second face may comprise a decoration representing a top surface of the simulated beverage. The cup may be shaped to receive the disc and to hold the disc in a horizontal orientation. The disc receiver may comprise a first cavity shaped to releasably hold the disc. The disc receiver may further comprise a second cavity on a side opposite from the first cavity, wherein the second cavity is shaped to releasably hold the disc. The slot may include one or more supports, wherein the supports releasably hold the ring within the slot. The cup may comprise a stepped region proximate an upper rim of the cup, and wherein a diameter of the cup above the stepped region is larger than a diameter of the disc and wherein the diameter of the cup below the stepped region is less than the diameter of the disc, wherein, when the disc falls into the cup, the disc is supported by the stepped region. The height of the stepped region may be less than, equal to, or greater than a thickness of the disc.

According to still other embodiments there is disclosed a method of simulating dispensing a beverage comprising providing one or more discs, the discs each including a first face and a second face, providing a simulated filter basket, the basket shaped to receive a selected disc of the one or more discs in a disc receiver, wherein the disc receiver is rotatable about a horizontal axis, positioning a cup below the simulated filter basket, orienting the disc receiver horizontally, inserting the selected disc in the disc receiver with a first face of the disc facing upward, and rotating the disc receiver about the horizontal axis, wherein the disc falls from the disc receiver and into the cup with the second face of the disc facing upward.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, toys embodying the disclosed structure can be created with a variety of shapes and configurations to simulate other types of beverage dispensers.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the structure is formed from components that are simple to manufacture and assemble.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, toys embodying the disclosed structure are lightweight and easy to store and transport.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, toys embodying the disclosed structure are durable.

The above and/or other aspects of the disclosure will be more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments of the disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will now be described below by reference to the attached Figures. The described exemplary embodiments are intended to assist the understanding of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

<FIG> shows a toy <NUM> according to one embodiment of the disclosure. In this exemplary embodiment, the toy simulates the counter of a retail establishment where beverages are sold, such as a restaurant, a coffee shop, or the like. The toy includes a bench or counter <NUM>. The bench may include decorations suggestive of the retail establishment. In the example, shown in <FIG>, the bench <NUM> includes accessories, such as a cash register or point of sale computer screen <NUM>, a blender <NUM>, and a soda dispenser <NUM>. Printing or decals may be provided on bench <NUM>, for example, showing a price list and the like to evoke the sensation of a retail establishment. The disclosure is not limited to a bench or counter including these accessories and encompasses other sorts of accessories and decorations, as well as embodiments without such accessories or decorations.

Connected with bench <NUM> is a beverage dispenser <NUM> according to embodiments of the disclosure. One or more discs <NUM> are provided on dispenser <NUM> or elsewhere on bench <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show detailed views of beverage dispenser <NUM>. One or more discs <NUM> are shown stacked on top of the dispenser. The dispenser comprises a frame <NUM>. According to one embodiment frame <NUM> is connected with bench <NUM> by tabs <NUM> at the bottom of frame <NUM>. Tabs <NUM> engage with slots (not shown) on bench <NUM>. According to one embodiment, engagement of tabs <NUM> with slots in the bench permanently affix frame <NUM> to bench <NUM>, for example, by including snap-fit engagements on the bench, on the frame, or on both. Providing a frame <NUM> that can be joined with bench <NUM> facilitates packaging and shipping toy <NUM> by allowing the components to be packaged and shipped more compactly. According to another embodiment, tabs <NUM> on frame <NUM> removably connected the frame with bench <NUM> to allow the toy <NUM> to be disassembled, for example, when the toy is stored. According to a further embodiment, engagement of tabs <NUM> with bench <NUM> allows dispenser <NUM> to release from the bench in the event that the toy <NUM> is dropped, allowing the frame and bench to separate without damage. Such an embodiment may improve the durability of toy <NUM>.

Frame <NUM> includes slot <NUM>. Slot <NUM> is shaped to receive and support filter basket <NUM>. As will be explained more fully below, filter basket <NUM> is slidably and removably received in slot <NUM>. <FIG> shows filter basket <NUM> separated from frame <NUM>. <FIG> shows filter basket <NUM> inserted into slot <NUM> on frame <NUM>. Frame <NUM> provides an open area <NUM> below slot <NUM> to fit a cup, as will be explained below.

<FIG> shows a stack of discs <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a first face 16a of each of the discs <NUM> has a decoration representing a material typically used to prepare a beverage. Face 16a may be decorated to represent ground coffee, coffee beans, tea leaves, hot chocolate powder, and the like. As shown in <FIG>, a second face 16b of disc <NUM> includes a different decoration than what is provided on first face 16a. Second face 16b is decorated to represent the top surface of a finished beverage that corresponds with the material shown in first face 16a. For example, if face 16a of a selected disc <NUM> is decorated to represent ground coffee, second face 16b may be decorated to represent a finished coffee-based beverage, such as a latte or a cappuccino.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of filter basket <NUM>. <FIG> shows a cross section of filter basket <NUM>. Handle <NUM> extends from basket <NUM>. Handle <NUM> is sized and shaped to allow it to be easily grasped and rotated. Shaft <NUM> extends from handle <NUM>. Disc receiver <NUM> is fixed to shaft <NUM>. According to one embodiment, disc receiver <NUM> includes a ridge 20a along its inside perimeter. Ridge 20a is sized and shaped so that, when a disc <NUM> is placed in disc receiver <NUM>, the disc will be supported by ridge 20a. According to one embodiment, ridge 20a is positioned along the mid-plane of receiver <NUM> so that a disc <NUM> can be supported on either side of the receiver. According to other embodiments, ridge 20a is provided proximate to one side of receiver <NUM> so that a disc <NUM> can be supported on only one side of receiver <NUM>. According to another embodiment, instead of a ridge 20a along the inside perimeter of receiver <NUM>, receiver <NUM> has a continuous inner surface that forms a cavity 20b shaped to hold disc <NUM>, as shown in the embodiments of <FIG>.

As best seen in <FIG>, shaft <NUM> extends through, and is rotatably supported by, ring <NUM>. According to one embodiment, at the side of disc receiver <NUM> opposite from shaft <NUM>, bearing <NUM> connects receiver <NUM> with ring <NUM> and allows disc receiver <NUM> to rotate relative to ring <NUM>. According to other embodiments, no bearing <NUM> is provided and instead, receiver <NUM> is supported within ring <NUM> only by shaft <NUM>. According to the embodiment shown in <FIG>, ridge 20a is provided along the mid-plane of disc receiver <NUM> so that a disc <NUM> can be received on either side of receiver <NUM>. According to this embodiment, operation of the toy is simplified because the filter basket <NUM> can be readied to receive disc <NUM>, regardless of which side of receiver <NUM> is facing upward, as will be explained below.

<FIG> and <FIG> show frame <NUM> without filter basket <NUM>. As best seen in <FIG>, slot assembly <NUM> is positioned within the frame <NUM>. Slot assembly <NUM> provides supports 23a on either side of slot <NUM>. According to one embodiment, supports 23a extend from a backplate <NUM> affixed to the inside of frame <NUM>. According to one embodiment, supports 23a can be flexed outward when filter basket <NUM> is inserted into slot <NUM>, as will be described below. According to one embodiment, cup engagement ridge <NUM> extends from backplate <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a cup <NUM> placed in open area <NUM>. Cup <NUM> is pressed against engagement ridge <NUM>. According to one embodiment, engagement ridge <NUM> is shaped to conform with the outside curvature of cup <NUM> so that when the cup and the ridge are in contact, the cup is centered below slot <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show filter basket <NUM> inserted into slot <NUM> of frame <NUM>. <FIG> shows the interior of frame <NUM> looking upward. Supports 23a are provided on the left and right sides of slot <NUM>. Supports 23a are adapted to allow ring <NUM> of filter basket <NUM> to be inserted into slot <NUM>. Supports 23a hold ring <NUM>, while allowing disc receiver <NUM> to rotate relative to ring <NUM>. Sufficient clearance with frame <NUM> above slot <NUM> is provided to allow receiver <NUM> to rotate completely about the horizontal axis defined by handle <NUM>, shaft <NUM>, and bearing <NUM>.

Supports 23a may include flexible portions or may be connected with backplate <NUM> by spring-driven hinges that provide an interference fit between ring <NUM> and slot <NUM>. According to one embodiment, engagement of ring <NUM> and supports 23a causes filter basket <NUM> to removably snap into slot <NUM>. Pulling basket <NUM> away from frame <NUM>, for example, by pulling handle <NUM> away from frame <NUM> causes supports 23a to flex outward allowing basket <NUM> to disengage from slot <NUM>. According to other embodiments, supports 23a each include a ramped portion 25a that facilitates aligning ring <NUM> with supports 23a and inserting filter basket <NUM> into slot <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, cup <NUM> is positioned in space <NUM> within frame <NUM>. Cup <NUM> may be shaped like a coffee mug, as shown in <FIG>. Alternatively, cup <NUM> may be shaped like a disposable hot beverage cup, as shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross section view of cup <NUM>, such as the cup in <FIG>. The height of cup <NUM> is selected so that it fits in space <NUM> below slot <NUM> within frame <NUM>. When cup <NUM> is positioned below slot <NUM>, sufficient clearance is provided above the rim of cup <NUM> so that disc receiver <NUM> turns freely while ring <NUM> is supported within slot <NUM>.

A stepped region <NUM> is provided near the top of cup <NUM>. Stepped region <NUM> is shaped so that a disc <NUM> placed into cup <NUM> will rest on the step 30a created by stepped region <NUM>. The diameter of the cup <NUM> in the stepped region <NUM> is larger than the diameter of the disc <NUM> and the diameter of the cup below the stepped region is smaller than the diameter of the disc. When a disc <NUM> is dropped into cup <NUM>, step 30a holds the disc <NUM> near the top of the cup. According to one embodiment, the depth of stepped region <NUM> is selected to match the thickness of disc <NUM> so an upward facing surface of disc <NUM> supported by step 30a is coplanar with the rim of cup <NUM>. According to other embodiments, the depth of stepped region <NUM> is selected so that the upward facing surface of disc <NUM> is above or below the rim of cup <NUM>. Other configurations of cup <NUM>, such as the one shown in <FIG> also include a stepped region for supporting disc <NUM> near the top rim of the cup.

<FIG> show operation of toy <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown in in <FIG>, cup <NUM> is placed in space <NUM> within frame <NUM> below slot <NUM>. Filter basket <NUM> is removed from slot <NUM> and arranged so receiver <NUM> is aligned with ring <NUM> and the receiver is held horizontally. A disc <NUM> is selected. According to one embodiment, first face 16a of disc <NUM> is decorated to represent ground coffee. Disc <NUM> is placed in receiver <NUM> with face 16a oriented upward. According to this embodiment, receiver <NUM> has a continuous inner surface forming cavity 20b that is shaped to hold disc <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, filter basket <NUM> is inserted into slot <NUM> of frame <NUM> with ring <NUM> engaged with supports 23a. Supports 23a flex outward as filter basket <NUM> is inserted into slot <NUM> to provide a tactile snap-fit when ring <NUM> is fully engaged with supports 23a. Ring <NUM>, disc receiver <NUM>, and disc <NUM> are positioned within slot <NUM> and above the top of cup <NUM>. Cup <NUM> is placed against engagement ridge <NUM> to assure that the cup is centered below slot <NUM>.

<FIG> is a partial cut away view of toy <NUM> showing the operation of filter basket <NUM> within frame <NUM>. In this view, only one support 23a is visible, the other support being removed for clarity. Handle <NUM> is rotated about the horizontal axis, causing disc receiver <NUM> to rotate. When disc receiver <NUM> is rotated so that cavity 20b holding disc <NUM> is directed downward, disc <NUM> falls from disc receiver <NUM> and into cup <NUM>. Disc <NUM> falls onto step 30a of stepped region <NUM> with the disc being supported near the top of cup <NUM>. Because disc <NUM> was inverted when disc receiver <NUM> was rotated about the horizontal axis, as shown in <FIG>, the second face 16b of disc <NUM> is now facing upward. Face 16b is decorated to represent the surface of the dispensed beverage, here a creamy surface of a latte or cappuccino. As shown in <FIG>, the cup is removed from frame <NUM> with face 16b positioned upward in the cup, representing the finished beverage.

Claim 1:
A device forming a part of a toy beverage dispenser comprising:
a frame (<NUM>) including a slot (<NUM>), the frame (<NUM>) being configured to house a cup (<NUM>) below the slot (<NUM>),
a filter basket (<NUM>), the filter basket (<NUM>) comprising:
a handle (<NUM>);
a disc receiver (<NUM>) fixed with the handle (<NUM>); and
a ring (<NUM>) surrounding the disc receiver (<NUM>), wherein the handle (<NUM>) and the disc receiver (<NUM>) are rotatably connected with the ring (<NUM>) to rotate about a horizontal axis, and wherein the ring (<NUM>) is shaped to removably fit into the slot (<NUM>);
a disc (<NUM>) including a first face and a second face;
wherein the disc receiver (<NUM>) is shaped to support the disc (<NUM>) when the disc receiver (<NUM>) is oriented substantially horizontally and wherein the disc (<NUM>) falls from the disc receiver (<NUM>) into the cup (<NUM>) housed in the frame (<NUM>) below the slot (<NUM>) when the disc receiver (<NUM>) is rotated about the horizontal axis.