U.S. patent application number 13/937611 was filed with the patent office on 2014-01-09 for decorative and interactive toy.
This patent application is currently assigned to ZUE HOLDINGS, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Bruce N. Lemons, Ronald S. Martinez, Robin Peng. Invention is credited to Bruce N. Lemons, Ronald S. Martinez, Robin Peng.
Application Number | 20140011421 13/937611 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49878863 |
Filed Date | 2014-01-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140011421 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Martinez; Ronald S. ; et
al. |
January 9, 2014 |
Decorative and Interactive Toy
Abstract
The present invention is a decorative and interactive toy which
may be used to enhance user involvement with an environment. The
toy features a figurine attachable to a mount which is then
utilized to attach the figurine to a number of different familiar
items and other toys, games, decorations, etc. The toy may be
manufactured with circuitry and/or processors which allow the
addition of the toy to an element of the environment, another toy
as an example, to modify the behavior of the environmental element.
The distinctive mount may also the utilized as a general motif to
enhance brand awareness.
Inventors: |
Martinez; Ronald S.;
(Syracuse, UT) ; Lemons; Bruce N.; (Las Vegas,
NV) ; Peng; Robin; (South Jordan, UT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Martinez; Ronald S.
Lemons; Bruce N.
Peng; Robin |
Syracuse
Las Vegas
South Jordan |
UT
NV
UT |
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
ZUE HOLDINGS, LLC
Syracuse
UT
|
Family ID: |
49878863 |
Appl. No.: |
13/937611 |
Filed: |
July 9, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61669595 |
Jul 9, 2012 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/73 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 3/50 20130101; A63H
33/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/73 |
International
Class: |
A63H 33/00 20060101
A63H033/00 |
Claims
1. An interactive toy comprising a base mount and a figurine
attachable thereto, the base mount further comprising: a central
body; at least one attachment point for the figurine; a plurality
of arms extending from the central body; a plurality of hooks, one
located at a foot of each arm.
2. The interactive toy of claim 1, further comprising a carrier
unit, the carrier unit still further comprising a plurality of
slots, corresponding in number to the plurality of arms, into which
the hooks slide and lock, thereby connecting the base mount to the
carrier unit.
3. The interactive toy of claim 2, the carrier unit being selected
from the set of carrier units consisting of: toy vehicles, book
binders, articles of clothing, jewelry, pencils, pens, suction
cups, backpacks, board games, computer docking stations, and play
sets.
4. The interactive toy of claim 1, the figurine and base mount
having circuitry activated when the figurine and base mount are
mutually attached.
5. The interactive toy of claim 4, further comprising a carrier
unit, the carrier unit still further comprising a plurality of
slots, corresponding in number to the plurality of arms, into which
the hooks slide and lock, thereby connecting the base mount to the
carrier unit, the carrier unit also further comprising circuitry
activated when the base mount and carrier unit are mutually
attached.
6. The interactive toy of claim 5, the carrier unit being selected
from the set of carrier units consisting of: toy vehicles, book
binders, articles of clothing, jewelry, pencils, pens, suction
cups, backpacks, board games, computer docking stations, and play
sets.
7. The interactive toy of claim 1, the figurine further comprising
a means for wireless communication.
8. The interactive toy of claim 1, at least two adjacent arms being
connected to each other by a cross-beam, leaving space for a strap
to be threaded over the cross-beam.
9. The interactive toy of claim 8, further comprising a carrier
unit, the carrier unit still further comprising a plurality of
slots, corresponding in number to the plurality of arms, into which
the hooks slide and lock, thereby connecting the base mount to the
carrier unit.
10. The interactive toy of claim 9, the carrier unit being selected
from the set of carrier units consisting of: toy vehicles, book
binders, articles of clothing, jewelry, pencils, pens, suction
cups, backpacks, board games, computer docking stations, and play
sets.
11. The interactive toy of claim 8, the figurine and base mount
having circuitry activated when the figurine and base mount are
mutually attached.
12. The interactive toy of claim 11, further comprising a carrier
unit, the carrier unto still further comprising a plurality of
slots, corresponding in number to the plurality of arms, into which
the hooks slide and lock, thereby connecting the base mount to the
carrier unit, the carrier unit also further comprising circuitry
activated when the base mount and carrier unit are mutually
attached.
13. The interactive toy of claim 12, the carrier unit being
selected from the set of carrier units consisting of: toy vehicles,
book binders, articles of clothing, jewelry, pencils, pens, suction
cups, backpacks, board games, computer docking stations, and play
sets.
14. The interactive toy of claim 8, the figurine further comprising
a means for wireless communication.
15. An interactive toy comprising a base mount and a figurine
attachable thereto, the base mount further comprising: a central
body; at least one attachment point for the figurine; a plurality
of arms extending from the central body; at least one cross-beam,
connecting adjacent arms in a manner to allow a strap to be
threaded over the cross-beam.
16. The interactive toy of claim 15, the figurine and base mount
having circuitry activated when the figurine and base mount are
mutually attached.
17. The interactive toy of claim 16, the carrier unit being
selected from the set of carrier units consisting of: toy vehicles,
book binders, articles of clothing, jewelry, pencils, pens, suction
cups, backpacks, board games, computer docking stations, and play
sets.
18. The interactive toy of claim 15, the figurine further
comprising a means for wireless communication.
19. The interactive toy of claim 15, further comprising a carrier
unit, the carrier unit still further comprising a plurality of
slots, corresponding in number to the plurality of arms, into which
the hooks slide and lock, thereby connecting the base mount to the
carrier unit.
20. The interactive toy of claim 19, the carrier unit being
selected from the set of carrier units consisting of: toy vehicles,
book binders, articles of clothing, jewelry, pencils, pens, suction
cups, backpacks, board games, computer docking stations, and play
sets.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority as a non-provisional
perfection of prior filed U.S. Provisional Application No.
61/669,595, filed Jul. 9, 2012 and incorporates the same herein by
reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of toys and more
particularly relates to a figurine capable of interacting with
clothing, other toys, computers, and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Toys are a mainstay of childhood development. Not only do
they provide entertainment, but they also facilitate social
interaction and training for roles later assumed in adult life. As
such, toys which are more interactive, which is to say toys that
utilize environmental aspects and spur activities with others, tend
to help social development in ways that more isolated toys and
games do not.
[0004] The present invention is a decorative and interactive toy
which is customizable for use in a user's environment. The toy
features a mount structure that enables attachment to myriad items
and thereby facilitates identification and interaction with other
similarly minded children. The toy may also feature interactive
circuitry to further facilitate environmental and/or computer and
virtual interaction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
types of toys, this invention provides a decorative and interactive
toy which interfaces with a broad segment of a user's environment.
As such, the present invention's general purpose is to provide a
new and improved toy that is usable with multiple items that may be
found in a user's environment. Such items would include readily
found generic items in a user's environment and specially purchased
items made to interaction with the toy.
[0006] To accomplish these objectives, the decorative and
interactive toy of the present invention, in its most basic
embodiment, comprises at least one selectable figurine from a set
of figurines and a mount which accommodates at least one figurine.
The mount then interfaces with various other items, both specially
constructed for the mount and regular, non-modified household and
clothing items. Circuitry may be added for increased utility as
identification and memory storage capacity is then enabled.
[0007] The more important features of the invention have thus been
outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows
may be better understood and in order that the present contribution
to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the
invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject
matter of the claims that follow.
[0008] Many objects of this invention will appear from the
following description and appended claims, reference being made to
the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification
wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in
the several views.
[0009] Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
in its application to the details of construction and the
arrangements of the components set forth in the following
description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is
capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out
in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology
and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description
and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0010] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be
utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded
as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical figurine and a
mount for the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the figuring and mount of
FIG. 1, being positioned on a wristband.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the mount of FIG. 1,
demonstrating the locking mechanism.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a front plan view of the figurine and mount of
FIG. 1, being positioned upon a wrist mounted toy.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a front plan view of the figurine and mount of
FIG. 1, being positioned upon a belt.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a front plan view of the figurine and mount of
FIG. 1, being positioned upon a headband.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a front plan view of the figurine and mount of
FIG. 1, being positioned upon a shoe.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a front plan view of the figurine and mount of
FIG. 1, being positioned upon a backpack. FIG. 9 is a front plan
view of the a deck of cards, utilizing the mount of FIG. 1 as a
decorative motif.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a front plan view of the mount of FIG. 1, being
positioned upon a radio controlled toy.
[0020] FIG. 11 is a front plan view of multiple figurines and
mounts of FIG. 1, being used in a board game.
[0021] FIG. 12 is a front plan view of the figurine and mount of
FIG. 1, being positioned upon a suction cup for environmental
decoration.
[0022] FIG. 13 is a front plan view of the figurine and mount of
FIG. 1, being positioned upon a toy car.
[0023] FIG. 14 is a front plan view of the figurine and mount of
FIG. 1, being positioned upon a book.
[0024] FIG. 15 is a front plan view of the figurine and mount of
FIG. 1, being positioned upon a ring.
[0025] FIG. 16 is a front plan view of a number of mounts of FIG.
1, being positioned upon a fork in a tableware set utilizing the
disclosed mount as a decorative motif.
[0026] FIG. 17 is a front plan view of a bottle utilizing the
figurine and mount of FIG. 1 as a decorative motif.
[0027] FIG. 18 is a front plan view of the figurine and mount of
FIG. 1, being positioned upon a toothbrush.
[0028] FIG. 19 is a front plan view of the figurine and mount of
FIG. 1, being positioned upon a pencil.
[0029] FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the figurine of FIG. 1
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0030] With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment
of the decorative and interactive toy is herein described. It
should be noted that the articles "a", "an", and "the", as used in
this specification, include plural referents unless the content
clearly dictates otherwise.
[0031] With reference to FIG. 1, a figurine 10 is positioned upon a
mount 20 to create the base unit 1 of the invention. The mount 20
may be of any shape or size, but the depicted preferred embodiment
mount 20 has a central body defined by a central mounting peg 22
and a plurality (in this case, four) arms 24 extending radially
therefrom. Each arm 24 presents an auxiliary mounting peg 26 and a
hooked foot 28. Figurine 10 resides on and locks onto either the
central mounting peg 22 or one of the auxiliary pegs 26, having a
receiving port 18 (FIG. 20), to accept each peg until the user
desires removal.
[0032] At this point, the base unit 1 may be positioned upon
another article, such as wristband 34, shown in FIG. 2. In this
case, wristband 34 features a mounting plate 30 with a plurality of
slots 32 which accommodate the hooked feet 28 of each leg 24. The
base unit may then be locked into position by a simple twisting
motion, as shown in FIG. 3. It is, of course, to be understood that
additional mounting structures are possible; however, the mount as
described in this instant application is preferred as it may be
utilized in multiple settings, as shown in the figures, and
presents an interesting iconography which may also be utilized in
brand awareness. This is actually illustrated in the examples of
the dinner set, FIG. 16, and the deck of cards, FIG. 9, where the
mount is used as a motif for the items.
[0033] The mounts 20 and figurines 10 may also include basic
circuitry 21 that allow for a measure of control of items with
which the decorative toy interfaces (FIGS. 1 and 20). Power may
reside inside the figurine 10 or be provided by the base unit 20 or
by to whatever the base unit 20 is attached. Likewise, a processor
may also be internal or in some other component of the system, such
as the base unit 20. Such circuitry would include anything known in
the art presently, such as RFID chips, processors, and other
integrated circuits 12 and magnets, or methods later developed.
Such construction may also then be developed so that the decorative
toys may interact with each other directly or through computer
interfaces, such as by a wireless transceiver 16 as two figurines
are shown interacting wirelessly in FIG. 11. In so doing, the
decorative and interactive toy of the present invention may be
utilized in educational and media settings, where the figurines may
be used as access keys, virtually as avatars, or, of so equipped,
as EEPROM or flash memory 14 so that data may be transferred from
one location to another or so that data can be shared between
individuals utilizing the toys. The base 20 my be equipped with a
USB or other interface, or may interface with a computer dock.
[0034] Many alternative use settings are possible; in fact the only
limits to use settings are the imagination. The Figures depict many
suggested uses and include attachment to clothing, such as the belt
of FIG. 5, the headband of FIG. 6 and the shoe of FIG. 7. The toy
may be added to a backpack (FIG. 8) or even attached to any type of
strap, such as a VELCRO fastened shoe. For attachment to a strap,
the arms 24 of an alternate mount 20a may be connected by a
cross-beam 29 or similar structure around which the strap may
thread. The toy and decorative construction may be made to
interface with other toys, such as the wrist toy of FIG. 4, the RC
top of FIG. 10 and the car of FIG. 13 and may be use to modify toy
behavior or control. Decorative purposes may be accomplished by the
creation of different base mounts, such as the suction cup in FIG.
12 or the book strap of FIG. 14, to attach the toy thereto.
Household items may be manufactured to interface with the mount,
such as the toothbrush of FIG. 18, so that children may further
personalize their own items with the figurines. Different sizes of
mounts 20 and figurines 10 may be manufactured and used, as can be
seen with the service set in FIG. 16, the pencil top in FIG. 19,
and the ring in FIG. 15. Games may also be developed that utilize
the figurine toys (FIG. 11) either as pawns and tokens or as a
control module for the game itself. Similarly to the board game,
playsets may be developed that utilize the base units or just the
figurines. Entire figurines and mounts may also be utilized as a
decorative motif, such as with the bottle in FIG. 17.
[0035] The figurines 10 may be of any shape or character. As such,
numerous opportunities are presented for promotional ties with
other established or later developed brands and characters.
[0036] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and
variations can be made and still the result will come within the
scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific
embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.
* * * * *