Patent Document

CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority to provisional patent application No. 61/300,640, filed Feb. 2, 2010, currently pending. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to riding toys for children and, more particularly, to a riding toy that provides multiple interactive play features and corresponding sound effects. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Riding toys, including, but not limited to, spring horses, have long been popular with children. Such toys provide a child with enjoyment and exercise. Parents also appreciate such toys as they motivate a child to engage in physical activity or play. 
     Interactive electronic features that provide sounds have been added to riding toys to make them more entertaining for children. Such toys, for example, may produce sounds when the child presses a button or the like. In addition, toys that produce sounds automatically when ridden are known. An example of such a toy is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,381 to Walter et al. 
     A need exists, however, for a riding toy that provides multiple interactive play features, each with its own corresponding sound. Such a riding toy would hold a child&#39;s interest more and receive more play time by providing multiple sounds in response to the child&#39;s operation of the interactive play features so as to activate the multiple sound effects. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the children&#39;s riding toy of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  cross sectional view of the head portion and the electronic components of the children&#39;s riding toy of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the electronic components of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are partial perspective views of the underside of the head portion of the children&#39;s riding toy of  FIG. 1  illustrating the bottom panel of the electronics module of  FIGS. 2 and 3  and access to the battery compartment and power switch; 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating the logic performed by the microcontroller of the electronics module of  FIGS. 2-4B  during operation of the electronics of the children&#39;s riding toy of  FIGS. 1-4B . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment of the children&#39;s riding toy of the present invention is indicated in general at  10  in  FIG. 1 . While the children&#39;s riding toy is illustrated as a spring horse, it is to be understood that the children&#39;s riding toy of the present invention could take the form of alternative types of riding toys. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the riding toy features a body, indicated in general at  12 , which is mounted to a base  14  via spring assemblies  16   a - 16   d  (with spring assembly  16   c  located behind the horse body  12  in  FIG. 1  and therefore not visible). 
     As illustrated for spring assembly  16   b , each spring assembly preferably includes a resilient member in the form of a tension coil spring, illustrated in phantom at  18 , having one end attached to the horse body via front support rod  20 , which passes through the body  12  of the horse. The opposite end of the coil spring  18  is attached to the top end of corner post  22  of the base  14 . A rear support rod  24  also passes through the horse body  12  and is connected to the spring assemblies  16   c  and  16   d . A protective sleeve  24  covers the coil spring  18  of spring assembly  16   b . The remaining spring assemblies  16   a ,  16   c  and  16   d  feature a similar construction. The connections of the spring assemblies, and the spring assemblies themselves, preferably take the form of those illustrated in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,402,111 to Michelau et al., the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The spring assemblies are each also preferably provided with a safety strap (not shown) made from woven fabric or the like. The safety straps are connected between each frame corner post and the front and rear support rods of the horse body. 
     The body  12  is preferably constructed from molded plastic, while the base  14  is preferably constructed from steel. The body preferably features a seat  28  upon which a child may sit, as well as a head  30  featuring handles  32   a  and  32   b , which a child may grip with his or her hands while riding the spring horse. The horse also features foot rests for the child rider in the form of stirrups  34   a  and  34   b.    
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the head portion  30  of the horse body of  FIG. 1  is hollow so as to define a chamber  36 . Positioned within the chamber is an electronics module, indicated in general at  40 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the electronics module  40  features an integrated circuit (IC) chip  42 , as well as a battery compartment  43  for holding batteries to power the electronics module. Any programmable electronic device may be substituted for the IC chip  42 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the electronics module further includes a first or main motion sensor  44 , a second or auxiliary motion sensor  46  and a sensor connector  48 . The IC chip  42  includes a microcontroller  52  and a sound synthesizing circuit  54 . In the illustrated embodiment, the second or auxiliary motion sensor  46  takes the form of a ball sensor, such as is available from Shenzhen Linyuan Hardware Spring Factory of Guangdong, China, that is oriented to produce signals corresponding to up and down or bouncing movement, illustrated by arrows  56  of  FIG. 1 , of the horse body. The first or main motion sensor  44  may be any type of commercially known motion switch or sensor, such as is available from Mobicon Holdings Ltd. of Hong Kong, that detects fore and aft or rocking movement, illustrated by arrows  58  of  FIG. 1 , of the horse body. The main motion sensor  44 , ball sensor  46  and connector  48  all electronically communicate with the microcontroller  52  of the IC chip  42 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the electronics module also includes a power switch  62 , batteries  63  and a speaker  64 . The power switch  62  turns the electronics module on and off and the speaker communicates electronically with the sound synthesizing circuit  54 . With reference to  FIG. 2 , the electronics module includes a speaker compartment  66  that houses the speaker  64  of  FIG. 3  and includes a grating  68  that permits sound from the speaker to exit the speaker compartment. The batteries  63  of  FIG. 3  are housed in the electronics module battery compartment  43  of  FIG. 2 . 
     Housing the electronics module within the chamber  36  defined within the horse body protects the electronic components of the electronics module from damage. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the head portion  30  of the horse features a simulated mouth  72 . A light sensor tube  74  is positioned within the chamber  36  of the horse head  30  so as to be positioned adjacent to the simulated mouth  72 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4A , the light sensor tube  74  features a bottom  76  having an opening  78  positioned within the simulated mouth. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a light sensor  82  is positioned within the interior  84 . While any commercially known light sensor may be used as light sensor  82 , suitable light sensors are available from, for example, Coleman Electronics Co., Ltd. of Guangdong, China. Light sensor tube  74  preferably is constructed of plastic and may feature either a closed or open top (since it is exposed to the dark interior chamber  36  of the horse body head portion). As will be explained in greater detail below, the light sensor interacts with the microcontroller and other components of the electronics module to provide chewing and eating sound effects when a simulated food item, such as toy carrot  85  of  FIG. 4A , is placed in the simulated mouth  72  of the horse. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , light sensor  82  communicates electronically with the IC chip  42  of the electronics module  40  via wire  86 . The wire  86  preferably connects to the IP chip  42  via a connector  48  so that the light sensor  82  and electronics module  40  may be disconnected from one another for removal and repair or replacement of the electronics module. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the bottom panel  92  of the electronics module  40  features the speaker compartment grating  68 , power switch  62  and a battery compartment cover  94  (which provides access to electronics module battery compartment  43  of  FIG. 2 ). The battery compartment cover  94  is preferably secured to the electronics module bottom panel  92  in a removable fashion via a fastener such as screw  96 . As a result, as illustrated in  FIG. 4B , the battery compartment cover  94  may be removed so that the batteries  63  of the electronics module may be replaced. Furthermore, the bottom panel  92  of the electronics module preferably attaches to the horse head portion  30  via fasteners such as screws  98  so that the electronics module may be easily removed as a unit for repair or replacement. 
     Operation of the electronics of the children&#39;s riding toy of  FIGS. 1-4B  will now be explained with reference to  FIG. 5 , which shows the logic performed by the microcontroller  52  of  FIG. 3 . As indicated by block  102  of  FIG. 5 , a user must first turn the electronics module on via power switch  62  of  FIG. 3  for the riding toy to provide sound effects in response to the user&#39;s interaction with the toy. 
     As indicated at  104  in  FIG. 5 , the microcontroller first checks for rocking motion via the main motion sensor  44  of  FIGS. 2 and 3 . If the riding toy is being ridden so as to provide a rocking motion of the horse body with respect to the base (and a surface upon which the base is supported), the microcontroller will receive greater than zero signals per second from the main motion sensor. As indicated at  106  in  FIG. 5 , the microcontroller then checks if the speed of the rocking motion is such that the main motion sensor is providing less than 15 signals/second to the microcontroller. If so, as indicated by block  108 , the microcontroller triggers the sound synthesizing circuit ( 54  in  FIG. 3 ) to play a horse walking sound effect through the electronics module speaker ( 64  in  FIG. 3 ), that is, the sound made by hooves when a horse is walking on a surface. 
     If the speed of rocking motion is not less than 15 signals per second (signals/second), the microprocessor checks if the speed is greater than or equal to (&gt;=) 15 signals/second or less than 93 signals/second, as indicated at  110  in  FIG. 5 . If the speed of rocking motion causes the main motion sensor to provide signals to the microcontroller at a rate in this range (&gt;=15 signals/second and &lt;93 signals/second), then, as illustrated by block  112 , the microcontroller triggers the sound synthesizer circuit to play a horse trotting sound effect through the speaker. 
     If the speed of rocking motion is not in the range of &gt;=15 signals/second and &lt;93 signals/second, the microprocessor checks if the speed is &gt;=93 signals/second and &lt;234 signals/second, as indicated at  114  in  FIG. 5 . If the speed of rocking motion causes the main motion sensor to provide signals to the microcontroller at a rate in this range (&gt;=93 signals/second and &lt;234 signals/second), then, as illustrated by block  116 , the microcontroller triggers the sound synthesizer circuit to play a horse galloping sound effect through the speaker. 
     If the speed of rocking motion is not in the range of &gt;=93 signals/second and &lt;234 signals/second, the microprocessor checks if the speed is &gt;=234 signals/second, as indicated at  118  in  FIG. 5 . If the speed of rocking motion causes the main motion sensor to provide signals to the microcontroller at a rate&gt;=234 signals/second, then, as illustrated by block  120 , the microcontroller signals the sound synthesizer circuit to eliminate all sound effects. Alternatively, the microcontroller can be programmed to signal or activate the sound synthesizer circuit to play a music sound effect through the speaker. 
     Of course alternative sound effects may be substituted for those described above and illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     Returning to  104  in  FIG. 5 , if the child user is not riding the toy so as to produce a rocking motion, the microcontroller checks to see if the light sensor  82  of  FIG. 3  has been activated, as indicated at  122 . More specifically, as described previously and indicated in  FIGS. 3 and 4A , the light sensor  82  is mounted in a light sensor tube  74  having a bottom  76  featuring an opening  78 . With reference to  FIG. 4A , a child user can simulate feeding the horse riding toy by inserting an item, such as artificial carrot  85 , into the simulated mouth  72  of the horse such that the opening  78  of the light sensor tube  74  is covered. With reference to  FIG. 3 , this causes the interior  84  of the light sensor tube  74  to become dark. As a result, light sensor  82  is triggered and it sends a signal to microcontroller  52  which in turn signals or activates the sound synthesizer circuit  54  to play crunching, munching and chomping sounds, “Neigh!” sounds, or other sound effects that relate to a horse being fed, through the speaker  64  ( FIG. 3 ). This is indicated by block  124  of  FIG. 5 . 
     If the main motion sensor and light sensor have not been activated at  104  and  122  in  FIG. 5 , respectively, as indicated at  126  in  FIG. 5 , the microcontroller checks if the horse is being ridden so as to produce a bouncing motion. More specifically, the microcontroller detects that the horse is being ridden in such a manner so as to provide a bouncing motion when it receives signals from the ball sensor ( 46  in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). If the microcontroller detects that bouncing motion is present, it checks if the speed of the bouncing motion, as detected by the ball sensor, is greater than 4 signals/second, as indicated at  128  in  FIG. 5 . If the speed of the bouncing motion exceeds this threshold, the microcontroller triggers the sound synthesizing circuit to play a horse walking sound effect through the electronics module speaker, as indicated by block  130 . 
     The microcontroller is programmed so that activation of any of the sound effects of blocks  108 ,  112 ,  116 ,  120 ,  124  and  130  of  FIG. 5  preempts the previously activated sound effect. As indicated by line  132  in  FIG. 5 , after each sound effect is triggered (blocks  108 ,  112 ,  116 ,  120 ,  124  and  130 ), microcontroller processing loops back to the start of the flow chart of  FIG. 5  to check if any of the three sensors have been activated or deactivated. The hierarchy arrangement of the main motion sensor, light sensor and ball sensor (at  104 ,  122  and  126 , respectively) in the flow chart of  FIG. 5  means that the sensors will preempt one another with the following priority:
         Main Motion Sensor (Walk, Trot Gallop, Music)—highest priority   Light Sensor (Feed)—middle priority   Ball Sensor (Walk)—lowest priority
 
As a result, if, for example, the light sensor has been activated so that feeding sound effects are being produced ( 122  and  124  in  FIG. 5 ), and then a child begins riding the horse so that a rocking motion is produced, the feeding sound effects will stop and either a walking, trotting, galloping or music sound effect will play (blocks  108 ,  112 ,  116  or  120 ) based on the speed of the rocking motion as described above. As another example, if the horse is being ridden in a bouncing motion at a speed sufficient to produce walking sound effects ( 126 ,  128  and  130  in  FIG. 5 ), and then the rider starts rocking the horse so as to produce a rocking motion, then the walking sound effect will stop and either the walking, trotting, galloping or music sound effect will play based on the speed of the rocking motion.
       

     By providing various sound effects based upon the speed of the child user&#39;s rocking motion, the embodiment of the riding toy of the invention described above motivates the child to rock faster. In addition, the riding toy provides various interactive play features for activities related to riding (rocking and bouncing) or activities other than riding (such as simulated feeding). This increases the child&#39;s interest in and enjoyment of the riding toy. In addition, the modular construction of the electronics module permits it to be easily removed from the body of the horse for replacement or repair. 
     It should be noted that while the embodiment of the present invention has been described above with regard to rocking and bouncing motions, other types of motions could be substituted and are within the scope of the present invention. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.

Technology Category: a