U.S. patent application number 09/841921 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-23 for interactive hatching egg.
Invention is credited to Sagi-Dolev, Alysia M..
Application Number | 20010016311 09/841921 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23808414 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010016311 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sagi-Dolev, Alysia M. |
August 23, 2001 |
Interactive hatching egg
Abstract
An interactive hatching egg provides a learning experience for
children. The egg is formed of upper and lower sections joined
along a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the egg. The
lower section carries a power supply, a controller having an input
coupled to a touch sensor and outputs coupled to a motive drive, an
illumination source and a sound generator. The controller is
programmed to initiate a cycle upon detecting when the egg is
touched, with the cycle including sound and light patterns. The
cycle concludes with the motive drive actuating a latch which
releases a hatch lid contoured in the upper shell to expose a baby
animal. Upon detecting the egg being touched during a cycle, the
controller alters the sound and/or light patterns.
Inventors: |
Sagi-Dolev, Alysia M.;
(Matan, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NATTER & NATTER
25 West 43 Street
New York
NY
10036-7469
US
|
Family ID: |
23808414 |
Appl. No.: |
09/841921 |
Filed: |
April 26, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09841921 |
Apr 26, 2001 |
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09455342 |
Dec 6, 1999 |
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6231346 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
434/365 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09B 19/00 20130101;
G09B 23/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
434/365 |
International
Class: |
G09B 025/00 |
Claims
Having thus described the invention, there is claimed as new and
desired to be secured by Letters Patent:
1. An interactive hatching egg, the egg comprising a shell, the
shell carrying user accessible contents, a portion of the shell
comprising a hatch lid, the hatch lid being operable to reveal the
user accessible contents, a controller positioned within the shell,
the controller being operatively connected to the hatch lid, the
controller being programmed to open the hatch lid upon conclusion
of a hatching cycle, the controller being programmed to respond to
the egg being touched during the hatching cycle.
2. An interactive hatching egg constructed in accordance with claim
1 wherein the controller is programmed to initiate the hatching
cycle in response to the egg being touched.
3. An interactive hatching egg constructed in accordance with claim
1 wherein the user accessible contents comprises a baby animal.
4. An interactive hatching egg constructed in accordance with claim
1 further including a sound generator positioned within the shell,
the sound generator being operatively connected to the controller,
the controller being programmed to actuate the sound generator
during the hatching cycle.
5. An interactive hatching egg constructed in accordance with claim
4, the controller being programmed to vary the actuation of the
sound generator in response to the egg being touched during the
hatching cycle.
6. An interactive hatching egg constructed in accordance with claim
1 further including an illumination device positioned within the
shell, the illumination device being operatively connected to the
controller, the controller being programmed to actuate the
illumination device during the hatching cycle.
7. An interactive hatching egg constructed in accordance with claim
6, the controller being programmed to vary the actuation of the
illumination device in response to the egg being touched during the
hatching cycle.
8. An interactive hatching egg constructed in accordance with claim
6, wherein the hatch lid is translucent, whereby illumination from
within the shell can be observed.
9. An interactive hatching egg constructed in accordance with claim
1 further including a motive drive positioned within the shell, the
motive drive being mechanically coupled to the hatch lid, the motor
drive being operatively connected to the controller, the controller
actuating the motive drive to open the hatch lid.
10. An interactive hatching egg constructed in accordance with
claim 9 further including a chassis positioned within the shell,
the chassis being user inaccessible, the controller and the motive
drive being secured to the chassis.
11. An interactive hatching egg constructed in accordance with
claim 10, wherein the shell comprises an upper shell section and a
lower shell section, the hatch lid being formed in the upper shell
section, the chassis being positioned within the lower shell
section.
12. A method of providing an interactive experience in simulation
of the hatching of an egg employing a shell having a hatch lid and
a controller within the shell, the method comprising the steps of:
a) programming the controller with a hatching cycle, b) positioning
a simulated animal within the shell and behind the hatch lid, c)
actuating the hatching cycle, d) employing the controller to
generate sound patterns from within the shell during the hatching
cycle, and e) employing the controller to open the hatch lid to
expose the simulated animal upon conclusion of the hatching
cycle.
13. A method of providing an interactive experience in simulation
of the hatching of an egg with a shell having a hatch lid in
accordance with claim 12 further including the steps of: f)
constructing at least a portion of the shell of translucent
material; and g) employing the controller to generate light
patterns from within the shell during the hatching cycle.
14. A method of providing an interactive experience in simulation
of the hatching of an egg with a shell having a hatch lid in
accordance with claim 12 further including the steps of: f)
employing the controller to vary the sound patterns if the shell is
touched prior to completion of the hatching cycle.
15. A method of providing an interactive experience in simulation
of the hatching of an egg with a shell having a hatch lid in
accordance with claim 14 further including the steps of: g)
constructing at least a portion of the shell of translucent
material; h) employing the controller to generate light patterns
from within the shell during the hatching cycle, and i) employing
the controller to vary the light patterns if the shell is touched
prior to completion of the hatching cycle.
16. A hatching egg comprising an egg shell formed of at least two
sections, one of the sections including a hatch lid, user
accessible contents being positioned within the one section, the
other section including a motive drive connected to the hatch lid
for opening the hatch lid to access the user accessible contents,
the motive drive being user unaccessible.
17. A hatching egg constructed in accordance with claim 16 further
including a chassis, the chassis being user inaccessible and
positioned within the other section, a latch mounted to the
chassis, the latch being in engagement with the hatch lid when the
hatch lid is closed, the motive drive being actuated to disengage
the latch from the hatch lid whereby the user accessible contents
will become available.
18. A hatching egg constructed in accordance with claim 16 wherein
the user accessible contents comprises a baby animal.
19. A hatching egg constructed in accordance with claim 17 wherein
the chassis includes a peripheral wall and a lid forming a chassis
enclosure, the motive drive being positioned within the chassis
enclosure.
20. A hatching egg constructed in accordance with claim 19 wherein
the lid is positioned between the one section and the other
section, the one section being positioned above the other section,
the user accessible contents being positioned on top of the lid.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to toys which provide
learning experiences and more particularly to a toy which simulates
the hatching of an egg.
[0003] 2. Antecedents of the Invention
[0004] Hatching egg toys have been proposed heretofore as, for
example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,895 issued to CHO and U.S. Pat. No.
4,881,915 issued to LIAW. U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,895 disclosed an egg
shell with sections joined together by a liquid soluble medium such
that when the egg was immersed in liquid, the shell sections
separated and a toy figure was revealed. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No.
4,881,915 also disclosed a liquid activated hatching egg wherein
water, which entered the egg, caused a compressed foam animal
carried within the egg to expand, breaking through weakened fault
lines of the egg.
[0005] These toys merely provided amusement; significantly lacking
was a meaningful learning experience.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An interactive hatching egg is formed of a shell comprising
a pair of shell sections which are joined along a plane extending
transversely through the egg.
[0007] Depending from the upper shell section into the lower shell
section is a generally planar circular chassis with a peripheral
side wall. A bracket extending downwardly from the bottom of the
chassis carries a power supply and a keyway for receiving an axial
retention post. Mounted to the chassis and within an enclosure
defined by the chassis side wall and a cover plate, is a circuit
board having a controller, e.g. a microprocessor. Illumination
devices, a sound generator and a motive drive, which is coupled to
a drive train for engaging a spring latch, are also carried within
the enclosure. The spring latch releases a hatch lid formed in the
upper shell section for simulating a hatching egg experience and
exposing a baby animal which is positioned in the upper shell
section, seated upon the chassis cover.
[0008] A pair of contact surfaces are provided on the lower shell
section in communication with the controller for sensing when the
egg is touched. The controller is programmed to initiate a hatching
cycle upon sensing that the egg has been touched, with the hatching
cycle being of a predetermined duration and terminating with the
hatch lid being released. During the cycle, the illumination
devices and a sound generator are actuated in one or more patterns
with the patterns varying in response to the egg being touched.
[0009] From the foregoing compendium, it should be appreciated that
it is an aspect of the present invention to provide an interactive
hatching egg of the general character described which is not
subject to the disadvantages of the antecedents of the invention
aforementioned.
[0010] A feature of the present invention is to provide an
interactive hatching egg of the general character described which
instills in children caring instincts.
[0011] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an
interactive hatching egg of the general character described which
is well-suited for preschool age children.
[0012] A consideration of the present invention is to provide an
interactive hatching egg of the general character described which
is simple to use.
[0013] Another consideration of the present invention is to provide
an interactive hatching egg of the general character described
which fosters nurturing instincts.
[0014] A further feature of the present invention is to provide an
interactive hatching egg of the general character described which
is well-suited for unsupervised child play.
[0015] Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide an
interactive hatching egg of the general character described which
promotes development of tactile and auditory senses in
children.
[0016] A further consideration of the present invention is to
provide an interactive hatching egg of the general character
described which fosters association of tactile and visual senses in
children.
[0017] A still further consideration of the present invention is to
provide an interactive hatching egg of the general character
described capable of maintaining a child's attention.
[0018] To provide an interactive hatching egg of the general
character described which is suitable for economical low cost mass
production fabrication is a still further consideration of the
present invention.
[0019] Another feature of the present invention is to provide an
interactive hatching egg of the general character described with
internal components being inaccessible to young children.
[0020] A still further feature of the present invention is to
provide an interactive hatching egg of the general character
described which is responsive to being touched by a child.
[0021] An additional feature of the present invention is to provide
an interactive hatching egg of the general character described
which is durable and well-suited for preschool as well as school
age play environments.
[0022] Yet another consideration of the present invention is to
provide an interactive hatching egg of the general character
described which is well suited for usage by people of all ages.
[0023] Other aspects, features and considerations in part will be
obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.
[0024] With these ends in view, the invention finds embodiment in
the various combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and
series of steps by which the said aspects, features and
considerations are attained, all with reference to the accompanying
drawings, and the scope of which will be more particularly pointed
out and indicated in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the
various possible exemplary embodiments of the invention,
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an interactive hatching egg
constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention and
showing an upper and a lower section with the upper section having
a hatch lid which is operable to expose a baby animal and with the
lower section including a pair of sensors for detecting when the
egg has been touched;
[0027] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the interactive hatching egg
and showing the hatch lid in its open position and a chassis, which
fits within the lower section;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the chassis and showing a bracket
for carrying a power supply, a keyway for receiving an axial
retention post and a depression formed on the top face of the
chassis for receiving a motive drive;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the chassis, with portions
deleted for clarity and showing a circuit board mounted to the
chassis with a controller on the board;
[0030] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the chassis, with portions
deleted for clarity and illustrating a gear train driven by the
motive drive for releasing a spring latch; and
[0031] FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of the controller
operating system showing input and output devices.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0032] Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference
numeral 10 denotes generally an interactive hatching egg
constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, the egg
includes an upper shell section 12 and a lower shell section 14
joined along a plane which is transverse to a longitudinal axis 16
of the egg. The shell sections 12, 14 are preferably molded of a
suitable thermoplastic and in accordance with the invention, at
least a portion of the upper section 12 is somewhat
translucent.
[0033] Carried within the lower section 14 is a circular, generally
planar chassis having a peripheral side wall 20. A cover plate 22
is positioned over the upper edge of the side wall 20 to provide an
enclosure.
[0034] Extending from the bottom of the chassis 18, as illustrated
in FIGS. 2 and 3, is a power supply bracket 24 which carries, for
example, a pair of batteries 26. Projecting downwardly from the
bracket 24 is a transverse web 28 having a central keyway opening
30 for receiving a retention post 32 which extends upwardly from an
axial aperture at the bottom of the lower section 14. The post 32
is engaged in the keyway 30 to retain the chassis within the lower
section 14 and fix the upper section 12 to the lower section
14.
[0035] Mounted on the chassis 18 is a controller 34 carried on a
circuit board 36. In accordance with the invention, the controller
34 is operatively connected to one or more touch sensors 38 having
engagement services contoured to mate with the lower section 14.
The touch sensors are received within sockets 40 formed in the
lower section and which extend in a generally axial direction. The
upper portion of each sensor 38 is received in a cylindrical sleeve
42 and a radial branch 44 of each sensor 38 engages a cutout notch
46 of each sleeve 42, to lock the sensors 38 in position. The
sensors 38 are formed of or coated with a conductive material and
the upper end of each sensor 38 extends to and is registered with a
chassis aperture 48. A contact plate 50 extends from the board 36
to each of the sensors 38, with contact being completed through the
apertures 48.
[0036] A sensor circuit 52, mounted to the board 36, is coupled to
plates 50 and generates a signal upon detecting contact between
child's hands and the touch sensors 38. Any of a number of known
sensor circuits may be employed including capacitive, current flow,
etc. Additionally, the touch sensors may comprise one or more
pressure sensitive switches.
[0037] Also coupled to the controller 34 are a plurality of output
devices including an illumination device or devices 54, which may
comprise a light emitting diode or diodes, an electroilluminescent
wire or panel or any other known illumination output device. It
should be noted that apertures 56 for the illumination devices 54
are provided in the cover plate 22, such that illumination will be
viewable through the translucent portion of the upper section
12.
[0038] Also coupled to the controller 34 is a sound generator
output device 58 which may comprise, for example, a piezoelectric
device mounted to the underside of the cover plate 22 and coupled
to the controller 34 by suitable electrical leads (not shown). A
further output device coupled to the controller 34 is a motive
drive 60, illustrated in an exemplary manner as an electric motor.
It should be appreciated that any various electromechanical drives
may be utilized, such as, a linear motor or solenoid. The electric
motor is carried in a depression 61 of the chassis 18.
[0039] Referring now to FIG. 5, a typical drive train 62 is
illustrated for instances wherein the motive drive 60 comprises an
electric motor. The drive train 62 includes a worm gear 64 coupled
to a motor shaft, with the worm gear 64 driving a spur gear 66. A
pinion 68, concentrically mounted to the spur gear 66, drives a
further spur gear 70. A post 72, extending axially from the spur
gear 70, engages a cam 74 on a latch plate 76. The latch plate 76
is pivotally mounted to an axial post 78, extending from the
chassis 18.
[0040] Engagement between the post 72 and the cam 74 causes the
latch plate 76 to rotate in a counter clockwise direction about the
post 78, against the bias of an integral leaf spring 80, causing a
latch 82 to move inward in a substantially radial direction.
[0041] The latch 82 thus disengages from a mating latch 84 which is
fixed to a translucent hatch lid 86 formed in the upper section 12.
When the latches 82, 84 are disengaged, the hatch lid 86 swings
from its closed position, shown in FIG. 1, to its open position,
shown in FIG. 2, about a spring biased hinge 88 to expose a toy
baby animal 90, seated on the cover plate 22.
[0042] In manufacture of the interactive hatching egg 10 in
accordance with the invention, after the chassis components have
been assembled, the lid is positioned such that the apertures 56
are registered with the illumination devices 54 and the latch 82
projects through a rectangular opening 92. With the components thus
registered, a pair of screws 94 are extended through registered
openings in the chassis 18 and the cover 22; the screws 94 are
anchored in sockets 96, formed in the upper section 12. The chassis
is thus fixed to the upper section 12 and extends downwardly
therefrom.
[0043] Thereafter, the upper and lower sections are registered such
that the touch sensors 38 are registered with the chassis openings
48. The upper and lower sections are then urged together and locked
in position by rotation of the retention post 32 in the keyway
30.
[0044] Pursuant to the invention, the controller 34 is programmed
to initiate a hatching cycle upon receiving a first signal from the
sensor circuit 52, indicating that the egg 10 has been touched by a
child. The hatching cycle may extend for any predetermined
duration, e.g. from one hour or less to twenty four or forty eight
hours.
[0045] At the end of the hatching cycle, the motive drive 60 is
actuated to disengage the latches 82,84 such that the hatch lid 86
swings open, exposing the toy baby animal 90 which then may be
removed from the egg.
[0046] During the hatching cycle, the controller program actuates
the illumination devices 54 in various patterns and also actuates
the sound generator 58 to produce various sounds. The actuation of
the illumination devices 54 and sound generator 58 may be
continuous or intermittent. The types of sounds and duration
thereof is predetermined pursuant to the controller program.
[0047] Upon receiving a signal from the sensor circuit 52 that the
egg has been touched during a hatching cycle, which would occur if
a child handled the egg in a nurturing or caring manner, the
controller 36 is programmed to vary the intensity and/or pattern of
its actuation of the illumination devices and/or sound generator so
that the child receives a responsive feedback.
[0048] The controller 34 may also be programmed to vary the
hatching cycle, e.g. shorten the cycle duration in response to a
signal or signals indicating that the egg has been touched during a
cycle.
[0049] An alternate program for a hatching cycle is for the
controller to actuate the illumination devices and/or sound
generator only if the egg is touched during a hatching cycle or to
provide intermittent actuation, e.g. at commencement and/or end of
the cycle if the egg is not touched as well as actuation when
touched.
[0050] Thus it will be seen that there is provided an interactive
hatching egg which achieves the various aspects, features and
considerations of the present invention and which is well suited to
meet the conditions of practical usage.
[0051] It should be understood that the invention should not be
construed as limited in utility. For example, the invention will
find usage in adult markets, as for example, as a novelty device,
interactive desk ornament or gift dispenser.
[0052] Since various possible embodiments might be made of the
present invention and since various changes might be made in the
exemplary embodiments shown herein without departing from the
spirit of the invention, it should be understood that all matter
herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings should be
interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *