U.S. patent application number 11/820672 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-19 for toy for use with vertical surfaces.
This patent application is currently assigned to LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.. Invention is credited to Eric Thomas Shuler, Jorge Soto, Petra Ute Trimmel.
Application Number | 20080145823 11/820672 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34316814 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080145823 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shuler; Eric Thomas ; et
al. |
June 19, 2008 |
Toy for use with vertical surfaces
Abstract
An apparatus and method of interacting with a user is described.
The method includes identifying a structure coupled to a base unit,
wherein the structure includes a visual identifier. A sound is
generated using a speaker of the base unit, wherein the sound is
associated with the visual identifier of the structure.
Inventors: |
Shuler; Eric Thomas;
(Piedmont, CA) ; Soto; Jorge; (Antioch, CA)
; Trimmel; Petra Ute; (San Francisco, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MURABITO, HAO & BARNES LLP
Third Floor, Two North Market Street
San Jose
CA
95113
US
|
Assignee: |
LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
Emeryville
CA
|
Family ID: |
34316814 |
Appl. No.: |
11/820672 |
Filed: |
June 19, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10699445 |
Oct 30, 2003 |
7234941 |
|
|
11820672 |
|
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60505980 |
Sep 24, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
434/159 ;
434/169; 434/201 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09B 5/062 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
434/159 ;
434/169; 434/201 |
International
Class: |
G09B 5/00 20060101
G09B005/00 |
Claims
1. An interactive educational apparatus comprising: a housing; a
receptacle disposed on said housing and for receiving a structure,
wherein said structure comprises a visual identifier; a processor
disposed within said housing and for generating an audio signal;
and an audio output component coupled to said housing and
communicatively coupled to said processor, said audio output
component for generating sound based upon said audio signal output
from said processor, wherein said sound is associated with said
visual identifier.
2. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 1, wherein said
visual identifier is selected from a group consisting of a letter,
a word, a number, a symbol and a picture.
3. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 1, wherein said
processor is operable to implement at least one mode of operation
for said interactive educational apparatus, and wherein said
processor is further operable to generate respective sounds for
each of said at least one mode of operation.
4. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 1 further
comprising: a component coupled to said processor and for
determining said visual identifier of said structure, and wherein
said processor is operable to generate said sound based upon said
identified visual identifier.
5. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 1, wherein said
component comprises an array of switches for activation by a
plurality of features of said structure when said structure is
placed on said receptacle.
6. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 1, wherein said
receptacle is operable to receive said structure in a single
orientation.
7. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 1, wherein said
housing further comprises at least one coupling feature for
coupling said interactive educational apparatus to a surface.
8. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 7, wherein said
coupling feature comprises at least one magnet.
9. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 1 further
comprising a component for sensing movement of said structure with
respect to said housing.
10. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 1, wherein said
housing and said structure are associated with a common theme.
11. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 1, wherein said
sound comprises a hint for a user to place said structure in said
receptacle.
12. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 1, wherein said
sound comprises a quiz associated with said visual identifier of
said structure.
13. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 1, wherein said
sound is generated in response to placement of said structure in
said receptacle.
14. An interactive educational apparatus comprising: a housing; a
receptacle disposed on said housing and for receiving a structure,
wherein said structure comprises a visual identifier; an interface
component coupled to said housing and for changing an operational
mode of said interactive educational apparatus; and a processor
disposed within said housing and for generating an audio signal; an
audio output component coupled to said housing and communicatively
coupled to said processor, said audio output component for
generating sound based upon said audio signal output from said
processor, said audio output component further for generating said
sound based upon a current operational mode of said interactive
educational apparatus, wherein said sound is associated with said
visual identifier.
15. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 14, wherein said
visual identifier is selected from a group consisting of a letter,
a word, a number, a symbol and a picture.
16. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 14 further
comprising: a component coupled to said processor and for
determining said visual identifier of said structure, and wherein
said processor is operable to generate said sound based upon said
identified visual identifier.
17. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 14, wherein said
component comprises an array of switches for activation by a
plurality of features of said structure when said structure is
placed on said receptacle.
18. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 14, wherein said
receptacle is operable to receive said structure in a single
orientation.
19. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 14, wherein said
housing further comprises at least one coupling feature for
coupling said interactive educational apparatus to a surface.
20. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 19, wherein said
coupling feature comprises at least one magnet.
21. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 14 further
comprising a component for sensing movement of said structure with
respect to said housing.
22. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 14, wherein said
housing and said structure are associated with a common theme.
23. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 14, wherein said
sound comprises a hint for a user to place said structure in said
receptacle.
24. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 14, wherein said
sound comprises a quiz associated with said visual identifier of
said structure.
25. The interactive educational apparatus of claim 14, wherein said
sound is generated in response to placement of said structure in
said receptacle.
26. An interactive educational system comprising: a structure
comprising a visual identifier; and a base unit comprising: a
housing; a receptacle disposed on said housing and for receiving
said structure; a processor disposed within said housing and for
generating an audio signal; and an audio output component coupled
to said housing and communicatively coupled to said processor, said
audio output component for generating sound based upon said audio
signal output from said processor, wherein said sound is associated
with said visual identifier.
27. The interactive educational system of claim 26, wherein said
base unit further comprises an interface component coupled to said
housing and for changing an operational mode of said interactive
educational system, and wherein said audio output component is
further for generating said sound based upon a current operational
mode of said interactive educational system.
28. The interactive educational system of claim 26, wherein said
structure comprises at least one magnet for coupling a body of said
structure to said receptacle.
29. The interactive educational system of claim 26, wherein said
visual identifier is selected from a group consisting of a letter,
a word, a number, a symbol and a picture.
30. The interactive educational system of claim 26, wherein said
base unit further comprises a component coupled to said processor
and for determining said visual identifier of said structure, and
wherein said processor is operable to generate said sound based
upon said identified visual identifier.
31. The interactive educational system of claim 26, wherein said
component comprises an array of switches for activation by a
plurality of features of said structure when said structure is
placed on said receptacle.
32. The interactive educational system of claim 26, wherein said
receptacle is operable to receive said structure in a single
orientation.
33. The interactive educational system of claim 26, wherein said
housing further comprises at least one coupling feature for
coupling said interactive educational system to a surface.
34. The interactive educational system of claim 33, wherein said
coupling feature comprises at least one magnet.
35. The interactive educational system of claim 26 further
comprising a component for sensing movement of said structure with
respect to said housing.
36. The interactive educational system of claim 26, wherein said
housing and said structure are associated with a common theme.
37. The interactive educational system of claim 26, wherein said
sound comprises a hint for a user to place said structure in said
receptacle.
38. The interactive educational system of claim 26, wherein said
sound comprises a quiz associated with said visual identifier of
said structure.
39. The interactive educational system of claim 26, wherein said
sound is generated in response to placement of said structure in
said receptacle.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation application of and
claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/699,445,
filed Oct. 30, 2003, entitled "TOY FOR USE WITH VERTICAL SURFACES,"
naming Eric Thomas Shuler and Jorge Soto as inventors, assigned to
the assignee of the present invention, and having attorney docket
number LEAP-P0191.01, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 60/505,980, filed Sep. 24, 2003, entitled
"Interactive Educational Apparatus For Use With Vertical Surfaces."
Both applications are incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety and for all purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are a number of educational toys that have been
described in the literature. For example, one such educational toy
is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,780. In this patent, a number
of blocks with indicia are described. Each block includes a voice
synthesizer and speaker so that when a child touches a block, the
name of the letter on the block sounds.
[0003] While a toy such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No.
4,986,780 may be suitable for some purposes, a number of
improvements could be made. A child's toys are often located in the
child's bedroom or playroom in a dwelling, while the child's
caregiver is working in the kitchen. The kitchen is typically the
most frequented part of a dwelling. The kitchen is where food is
prepared, the family eats its meals, snacks are eaten, and dishes
are washed. If the child is a toddler, a caregiver will often want
the child to be in the same room as the caregiver so that the child
can be supervised. Thus, if the child is in the kitchen with the
caregiver, the child will often be without his or her toys. The
caregiver may not want the child to bring toys into the kitchen,
since this may produce clutter the kitchen. Second, each block in
the above-described U.S. patent includes a speech chip and other
circuitry. Providing a speech chip in each block can be quite
costly and could be impractical for children's toys.
[0004] In addition to the educational toys described above, there
are a number of commercially available refrigerator magnets that
have specialized indicia such as letters. However, such
refrigerator magnets are not interactive or fun and are essentially
no better than pictures of numbers or letters that might be
depicted on a piece of paper.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Accordingly, it would be useful to provide for an
educational toy that can be used in the kitchen, that does not
clutter the kitchen, and that provides for fun and interactive
learning in a place where a child's caregiver and the child spend a
significant amount of time. It would also be desirable to
accomplish these objectives in a cost effective manner.
[0006] Embodiments of the invention are directed to interactive
educational toy apparatuses, and methods of using such interactive
educational toy apparatuses.
[0007] One embodiment of the invention is directed to an
interactive educational toy apparatus comprising: (a) an
indicium-containing structure including an indicium and a first
attachment element; and (b) a base unit capable of being attached
to a vertical surface, wherein the base unit includes (i) a
housing, (ii) a receiving region adapted to receive the
indicium-containing structure, (iii) a processor unit in the
housing, (iv) a speaker coupled to the processor unit, (v) a reader
coupled to the processor unit, and (vi) a second attachment element
coupled to the housing, wherein the indicium-containing structure
is capable of being attached to the base unit using the first
attachment element and the base unit is capable of being attached
to the vertical surface using the second attachment element.
[0008] Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method
of using an interactive educational toy apparatus comprising: (a)
attaching a base unit on a vertical surface, wherein the base unit
includes (i) a housing, (ii) a processor unit in the housing, (iii)
a speaker coupled to the processor unit, and (iv) a reader coupled
to the processor unit; and (b) attaching the indicium-containing
structure including an indicium on the base unit so that the
indicium-containing structure is attached to the base unit and the
vertical surface.
[0009] Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an
interactive educational toy apparatus comprising: (a) an
indicium-containing structure including a three-dimensional
indicium and a first magnet; and (b) a base unit capable of being
attached to a vertical surface, wherein the base unit includes (i)
a housing, (ii) a processor unit in the housing, (iii) a memory
unit coupled to the processor unit, wherein the memory unit
comprises code for audio associated with the indicium, (iv) a
speaker coupled to the processor unit, (v) a reader coupled to the
processor unit, and (vi) a second magnet and adapted to attract the
vertical surface so that the base unit is attached to the
surface.
[0010] These and other embodiments of the invention are described
in further detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and
not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying
drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar
elements.
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a base unit and a plurality of
indicium-containing structures on a vertical surface such as a
refrigerator door in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a base unit on a vertical surface and an
indicium-containing structure on the base unit in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the back of a base unit
in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a back of an
indicium-containing structure in accordance with one embodiment of
the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of some electronic components
that can be used in embodiments of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary circuit diagram in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the invention where each
indicium-containing structure comprises an animal part, and wherein
two indicium-containing structures are on a base unit that is
configured as a barn.
[0019] FIG. 8 shows depictions of pairs of indicium-containing
structures that can be used together with a single base unit in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the
present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. While the present invention will be
discussed in conjunction with the following embodiments, it will be
understood that they are not intended to limit the present
invention to these embodiments alone. On the contrary, the present
invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and
equivalents which may be included with the spirit and scope of the
present invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore,
in the following detailed description of the present invention,
numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a
thorough understanding of the present invention. However,
embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without these
specific details. In other instances, well-known methods,
procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in
detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present
invention.
EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Embodiments of the invention are directed to interactive
apparatuses that include a base unit that is capable of being
attached to a vertical surface such as a refrigerator door. An
indicium-containing structure including an attachment element can
be attached to the base unit so that the indicium-containing
structure is also vertically oriented when it is used. Preferably,
the attachment element in the indicium-containing structure is a
first magnet that attracts another magnet in the base unit to hold
the base unit and the indicium-containing structure together while
both are on the refrigerator door.
[0022] As used herein, "vertically oriented" includes the
disposition of objects such as the base unit and/or
indicium-containing structures on a vertical surface such as a
refrigerator door. "Attached" includes temporary coupling (e.g.,
magnetic coupling) in a manner whereby the attached objects do not
become easily separated (e.g., by gravity). Coupling can be direct
(e.g., as with a base unit to a refrigerator door without an
intervening structural element) or indirect (e.g., as with an
indicium-containing structure to a refrigerator door via an
intervening base unit).
[0023] In one embodiment, the base unit includes a receiving region
that can receive one or more of 26 indicium-containing structures
respectively containing the letters of the alphabet. A window
formed by a portion of the base unit may at least partially define
the receiving region. In some embodiments, each letter of each
indicium-containing structure can be three-dimensional and can be
formed with or attached to a tile-like back structure. Together,
the tile-like back structure and the three-dimensional letter may
form an indicium-containing structure that is received in the
window and the receiving region of the base unit. In preferred
embodiments, the indicium-containing structure includes a magnet
that is capable of being magnetically coupled to another magnet in
the base unit.
[0024] In the example above, each back structure of each
indicium-containing structure includes a unique code that
identifies the indicium-containing structure and corresponding
letter (or other indicium) on the indicium-containing structure. In
some embodiments, the code is a structural code that is embodied by
a structural pattern of protrusions and depressions at the back of
the indicium-containing structure. A reader in the base unit reads
the code when the indicium-containing structure is on the base
unit. The reader may comprise an array of switches. The structural
pattern on the back of the indicium-containing structure can
activate a predetermined number of binary switches in the array of
switches. Once the base unit recognizes which indicium-containing
structure is attached to the base unit, a speaker in the base unit
can sound the letter name and/or phonemes associated with the
letter on the indicium-containing structure. The sounds including
letter names and phonemes may be in the form of a song. U.S. Pat.
No. 5,188,533 describes letters sounds and phonemes, and is herein
incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
[0025] In some embodiments, placing an indicium-containing
structure on the base unit triggers speech from the base unit.
Alternatively or additionally, pressing the indicium-containing
structure while it is on the base unit also triggers speech from
the base unit. An upwardly biased depressible switch can be in the
receiving region of the base unit and can be under the
indicium-containing structure. The indicium-containing structure
can be depressed like a pressure sensitive button when it is on the
base unit. There may be a "letter-in button" under the
indicium-containing structure, so that the child does not have to
remove the indicium-containing structure and insert it again in
order to trigger speech repeatedly. The area below the receiving
region of the indicicium-containing structure can have a 3-position
switch (e.g., for off, low volume, and high volume) and a
music/song button which sings an ABC song.
[0026] As noted above, in some embodiments, the base unit attaches
to a vertical surface such as a refrigerator surface or magnetic
drawing board (or any magnetically attractable surface) via a
magnet in the base unit. There can alternatively or additionally be
wall-hanging-holes (e.g., shaped like a key-hole) in the back of
the base unit, so that the base unit can hang on a wall using nails
or hooks. Various other attachment elements including hook and loop
fasteners could alternatively be used.
[0027] The indicium-containing structures may include two or
three-dimensional indicia. A "three-dimensional" indicium includes
a z-direction component that is discernable by a user's touch
(unlike a two-dimensional letter printed on a piece of paper). The
indicia may be of any suitable character or nature. For example,
the indicia may include letters, numbers, symbols (e.g., square,
circle, etc.), animals, parts of animals, vehicles such as trains,
geographic entities such as states, insects, etc. Each
indicium-containing structure may include an individual letter, a
combination of letters, an image of a part of an animal, an image
of a whole animal, etc. Each of the indicium-containing structures
can have a magnet built into the back structure and can be free of
electrical circuits and electronic circuitry. In some embodiments,
the letters on the indicium-containing structures are about 36 mm
tall, and are stored right on the refrigerator when not in use.
[0028] In some embodiments, the indicia on the indicium-containing
structures include an ordered set of indicia. For example, each
indicium-containing structure can include one letter in an ordered
set of letters. There can be 26 letters of the alphabet associated
with 26 indicium-containing structures. The front surface of each
letter can be printed in different colors (e.g., red, yellow, blue,
or green) to also teach children about different colors. It is also
possible to add a Braille dot-pattern on each letter so that a
child can learn Braille.
[0029] As noted above, when one or more indicium-containing
structures are on the base unit and/or when the one or more
indicium-containing structures are depressed by the user when they
are on the base unit, the base unit may play sounds associated with
the indicia on the one or more indicium-containing structures. The
sounds associated with the indicia may relate to the indicia in any
suitable manner. For example, if the indicia are letters, then the
sounds of the letter names and phonetic pronunciation(s) of the
letters can be produced. These may be in the form of a song in some
embodiments. In another example, the indicia may comprise colors
and the sounds of the names of the colors may be produced. In other
embodiments, if the indicia are parts of animals, then the sounds
that are produced may be the names of the animals, or the sounds
made by the animals. The sound associated with the indicium may
also be speech (or other sound), which indicates that the user has
selected the correct or incorrect indicium-containing structure
(e.g., "that's correct"). The computer code for these and other
sounds may be stored in a memory unit in the base unit.
[0030] The interactive apparatus can have various play modes. For
example, a user can insert an indicium-containing structure and can
press it to hear a phonics song about that letter. Pressing a
separate music button in the base unit causes the base unit to play
a song such as the ABC song. The interactive apparatus can teach
about letters, phonemes, and letter-object correlation. Other play
modes are described below.
[0031] FIG. 1 shows a base unit 16 including a window 16(a)
defining a receiving region for the indicium-containing structure.
The window 16(a) is cooperatively structured with each of the
indicium-containing structures 18(a)-18(e). Both the base unit 16
and the indicium-containing structures 18(a)-18(e) are vertically
oriented and are attached to refrigerator door surface 100 with
internal magnets. As shown, each indicium-containing structure
18(a)-18(e) and the window 16(a) is wider at a bottom portion and
narrower at a top portion. This configuration encourages a child to
always put the indicium-containing structures 18(a)-18(e) into the
window 16(a) in the correct orientation. The window 16(a) (and/or
receiving region) of the base unit 16 and each indicium-containing
structure 18(a)-18(e) can be configured so that each is oriented in
a single direction. Then, the user cannot place the
indicium-containing structure on the base unit in the incorrect
orientation.
[0032] The base unit 14 also includes a speaker 16(b), a music
button 16(c), and an on/off/volume switch 16(d). The indicia on the
indicium-containing structures 18(a)-18(e) may be three-dimensional
letters as shown in FIG. 1. Switches 16(e) are in the window 16(a),
and are selectively activated by structural codes on the back
structures of the indicium-containing structures 18(a)-18(e). The
switches 16(e) may form part of a reader that is capable of reading
the structural codes and identifying each indicium-containing
structure 18(a)-18(e).
[0033] The back surface of the receiving region defined by the
window 16(a) in the base unit 16 may be an upwardly biased
depressible switch. When an indicium-containing structure is in the
window 16(a) and is depressed, the upwardly biased switch is also
depressed to cause the base unit 16 to produce sound. In the
absence of external pressure, no sound is produced in some
embodiments. Accordingly, in one embodiment, an indicium-containing
structure in the window 16(a) acts like a button that can be
pressed to cause the base unit 16 to produce some audio relating to
the indicium on the indicium-containing structure.
[0034] FIG. 2 shows how an indicium-containing structure 18(c) fits
into the window of the base unit 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the
indicium-containing structure 18(c) includes a three-dimensional
letter 18(c)' integrally formed with a back structure. The back
structure of the indicium-containing structure 18(c) and the window
formed in the base unit 16 are shaped so that the
indicium-containing structure 18(c) can be oriented in a single
direction when it is on and attached to the base unit 16.
[0035] When the indicium-containing structure 18(c) with the letter
I is placed on the base unit 16, it is attached to the base unit 16
via a magnetic coupling force. The user can press the letter I and
the base unit 16 may play sounds associated with the letter I "The
letter 1, I says `eye` and I says `ih`".
[0036] Although a single indicium-containing structure is received
in the receiving region of the base unit in the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1-2, it is understood that the base 15 unit would
alternatively accommodate two or more indicium-containing
structures. There can be one window in a base unit to accommodate
two or more indicium-containing structures, or there may be two or
more windows in a base unit that accommodate two or more
indicium-containing structures. Such base units can be used to help
teach children how to spell words, learn phonemes, learn math,
learn pattern matching, etc. Examples of other embodiments where
multiple indicium-containing structures are used with a single base
unit are described below.
[0037] FIG. 3 shows a back structure of a base unit 16. The back
structure includes two holes 28 that can receive nails or other
structures. This allows the base unit 16 to hang from a wall.
Alternatively or additionally, magnets 26 internal to the base unit
16 and closer to the back surface of the base unit 16 can be
included so that the base unit 16 can hang from a vertical surface
such as a refrigerator. Another internal magnet 280 closer to the
front surface of the base unit 16 may be used to attract the
indicium-containing structure (not shown in FIG. 3) at the opposite
side of the base unit 16. A battery cover door 22 for covering a
battery storage compartment is also shown.
[0038] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a back view of an
indicium-containing structure 18(c). It includes an internal magnet
68 (or other attachment element) that can magnetically attract to
the magnet 28 in the base unit 16 (see FIG. 4(a)). The lower edge
of the back structure 18(c)'' includes a pattern of protrusions
18(c)''' and recesses 60 that form a structural pattern and code
that is specific to that indicium-containing structure 18(c). The
code can be read with a reader in the base unit, where the reader
includes the switches 16(e) in the window 16(a) of the base unit 16
(see FIG. 1). The structural pattern selectively activates a
predetermined number of the switches 16(e). This allows the base
unit 16 to identify the particular indicium-containing structure as
well as the indicium on it, so that a processor unit in the base
unit 16 can select the appropriate audio from a memory unit.
[0039] Since magnets (or other attachment elements) are in both the
indicium-containing structures 18(a)-18(e) and the base unit 16,
the indicium-containing structures 18(a)-18(e) and the base unit 16
can be securely attached to a vertical surface such as a
refrigerator door. The indicium-containing structures 18(a)-18(e)
can be used with or without the base unit 16. For example, the
indicium-containing structures 18(a)-18(e) can be mixed and matched
on the refrigerator door to make words such as "C-A-T". The
indicium-containing structures 18(a)-18(e) can also be used to hold
up pictures, notes, etc. like normal refrigerator magnets.
[0040] Although a reader including a plurality of depressible
switches 16(e) is described in detail, other types of readers can
be used. The readers may use mechanical, electromechanical,
optical, or electro-optical means to identify the
indicium-containing structure. For example, the reader could
comprise a plurality of optical sensors and the indicium-containing
structures can include a pattern of holes that allow a specific
pattern of light to pass to the optical sensors.
[0041] FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of some electrical components
of a base unit. FIG. 5 shows a processor unit 42 which may include
a microprocessor and/or a speech synthesizer, and a memory unit 48
coupled thereto. The processor unit 42 and the memory unit 48 may
be on the same or different computer chips. An exemplary processor
unit 42 can include a Sunplus SPC251A2 chip. A speaker 44 is
coupled to the processor unit 42, and an amplifier and other sound
producing circuitry (known to those in the art) may also be
included. A 2 inch, 16 ohm, 40 mm, metal frame Mylar.TM. cone-type
speaker can be used as a speaker. A switch array 46 corresponding
to a reader may also be coupled to the processor unit 42. Other
switches 50 such as volume switches, on-off switches, music
switches, etc. may also be coupled to the processor unit 42.
[0042] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary circuit diagram for an electronic
configuration that can be used in an embodiment of the invention of
the type shown in FIGS. 1-2. A number of binary codes for the
letters A-Z are shown in FIG. 6. It is understood that other
embodiments of the invention could use other circuit configurations
and the illustrated circuit diagram is for purposes of
illustration.
[0043] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7
shows a base unit 92 in the form of barn, and indicium-containing
structures 94(a) and 94(b) in the form of parts of a pig. The parts
of the pig may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional. FIG. 8
shows a set of indicium-containing structures that includes pairs
of parts of animals, wherein the animals include a pig, sheep, cow,
duck, and horse. Any of the pairs can be put into the base unit 92
shown in FIG. 7. The different animals may be different colors to
teach children about colors. For example, the cow, pig, duck,
sheep, and horse, may be respectively colored purple, pink, yellow,
blue, and orange. This embodiment shows that the base unit and the
indicium-containing structures may correspond to a common theme
(e.g., a farm theme).
[0044] The base unit 92 and indicium-containing structures 94(a)
and 94(b) may operate under the same principles as described above.
For example, the base unit 92 and the indicium-containing
structures 94(a) and 94(b) may both contain magnets to allow them
to be attached to a vertical surface. However in the embodiment
shown in FIGS. 7-8, because combinations of different
indicium-containing structures are used on the base unit 92,
different play patterns may be presented. For example, the base
unit 92 can be programmed to provide a reward response if the
correct pairs of animal parts are placed in the base unit 92. The
base unit 92 can provide different instructional feedback if the
wrong animal parts are put together.
[0045] The embodiments in FIGS. 7 and 8 show that multiple
indicium-containing units can be used with a single base unit, and
that the indicia associated with the indicium-containing units can
be symbols, parts of animals, etc., and are not limited to the
letters of the alphabet. The illustrated embodiment can be a
magnetic puzzle toy to introduce animal names, animal sounds,
colors, and textures through silly and creative matching play with
a magnetic farmhouse that attaches to the refrigerator or that can
be played with on the floor. A child can mix & match 5
different farm animals for up to 25 different combinations. This
promotes animal names, animal sounds, matching, colors, and fine
motor play.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 7, if a child puts the correct
indicium-containing structures containing the correct animal parts
on the base unit 92, then the child is rewarded with appropriate
audio. For example, if the child puts the indicium-containing
structures 94(a) and 94(b) including the pig head and pig tail on
the base unit 92, then a reward such as "Wow! You made a pretty
pink pig!" and a variation of the "Old MacDonald Had A Farm" song
could play. The child may also press down on the
indicium-containing structures 94(a) and/or 94(b) to receive
appropriate audio. For example, a child can press down on the
indicium-containing structures 94(a) and/or 94(b) and audio such as
pig sounds, audio relating to pig characteristics, audio relating
to a pig's head or a pig's tail, etc. may sound from the base unit
92.
[0047] If the child puts in the wrong combination of
indicium-containing structures, then the base unit 92 could provide
the appropriate feedback. For example, if the child puts an
indicium-containing structure including a cow head and an
indicium-containing structure including a pig tail on the base unit
92, then some silly audio may be played for the child. For example,
if the wrong animal parts are put together, then audio such as
"[t]hat's silly!" may play from base unit 92. Pressing down on the
incorrect pair of animal parts on the indicium-containing
structures may further produce other silly audio (e.g., a giggle)
or audio indicating that the incorrect pair of indicium-containing
structures is on the base unit 92.
[0048] In the above-described embodiments, audio feedback is
provided after the user has placed one or more indicium-containing
structures on the base unit. However, in other embodiments, the
base unit may be preprogrammed to prompt the user to place a
correct indicium-containing structure on the base unit. For
example, in a quizzing mode, with reference to the previous
alphabetic letter example, the base unit 16 may be programmed to
ask the user to put the letter C into the base unit. If the user
puts the correct indicium-containing structure on the base unit,
the base unit 16 may play a reward audio segment for the user. If
the user puts the wrong indicium-containing structure on the base
unit, the base unit 16 may be preprogrammed to provide
reinforcement audio ("A, you found the letter A") or audio
indicating that an incorrect selection has been made ("Try again").
With respect to the examples provided in FIGS. 7 and 8, the base
unit 92 may be preprogrammed to play audio such as "can you make a
cow?" can play to prompt the child to put the pieces of the cow
into the base unit 92. Alternatively, to teach the spelling of
three letter words, the base unit may prompt the user to spell
"CAT". The child will then have to attach the correct sequence of
letters to the base unit. Once attached, any of the individual
letters may be depressed to receive some audio related to the
depressed letter. Alternatively, combinations of letters can be
simultaneously depressed to produce audio that is related to the
combination of depressed letters (e.g., pressing C-A-T
simultaneously causes the base unit to say "cat"). Thus, in some
embodiments, the interactive toy apparatus may include two or more
operational modes including at least two of a declarative mode, a
song mode, a quizzing mode, etc. These modes may be preprogrammed
into the memory unit of the base unit using programming processes
known by those of ordinary skill in the art. A mode selector switch
(not shown) may be added to the base units 16 and/or 92 to allow a
user to switch between different modes.
[0049] Other modifications are also possible. For example, external
data cartridges containing code for audio for different sets of
indicium-containing structures may also be provided. The external
data cartridge (or other information transferable storage medium)
may insert into a recess in the housing of the base unit to provide
the base unit with new and different audio code. For example, an
indicium-containing structure including the numbers 1-10 and a data
cartridge with audio for these indicium-containing structures may
be used with the base units of the type previously described.
[0050] Embodiments of the invention provide a number of advantages.
First, the parts of the toy apparatus including the base unit and
indicium-containing structures include attachment elements such as
magnets. These features allow a caregiver to place them on a
refrigerator. A child can play with the toy apparatus in the
kitchen on the refrigerator door while the caregiver is also in the
kitchen performing normal household tasks such as cooking and
cleaning. Second, as noted above, family members often spend most
of their time in a kitchen. The indicia on the indicium-containing
structures are vertically oriented and are prominently displayed to
children and family members and serve as constant reinforcement
mechanism for teaching predetermined subjects. For example, as
shown in FIG. 1, the letters of the alphabet can be placed on a
refrigerator door and the letters of the alphabet are always
visible to a child. Third, the base unit and the
indicium-containing structures can be used as regular refrigerator
magnet structures. They can be used to hold pictures, notes, etc.
on a refrigerator door. Fourth, the indicium-containing structures
can be used independently of the base unit while on the
refrigerator door. For example, as noted above, the
indicium-containing structures including letters can be mixed and
matched in suitable combinations on the refrigerator to form words.
Fifth, specialized circuit components such as speech chips need not
be incorporated into each indicium-containing structure.
Electronics can be primarily incorporated into the base unit, thus
reducing manufacturing costs.
[0051] The terms and expressions which have been employed herein
are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there
is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of
excluding equivalents of the features shown and described, or
portions thereof, it being recognized that various modifications
are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Moreover,
any one or more features of any embodiment of the invention may be
combined with any one or more other features of any other
embodiment of the invention, without departing from the scope of
the invention. For example, any of the features described with
reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 can be combined with the features
described with respect to the other Figures without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0052] Also, it should be understood that the present invention as
described above can be implemented in the form of control logic
using computer software in a modular or integrated manner. Based on
the disclosure and teachings provided herein, a person of ordinary
skill in the art will know and appreciate other ways and/or methods
to implement the present invention using hardware and a combination
of hardware and software.
[0053] All references, patent applications, and patents mentioned
above are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety for
all purposes. None of them are admitted to be prior art to the
presently claimed inventions.
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