U.S. patent application number 15/837689 was filed with the patent office on 2018-06-14 for array of toys simulating a vehicle control panel.
This patent application is currently assigned to Aqua-Leisure Industries, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Aqua-Leisure Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Scott R. de Grasse.
Application Number | 20180161686 15/837689 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62488299 |
Filed Date | 2018-06-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180161686 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
de Grasse; Scott R. |
June 14, 2018 |
ARRAY OF TOYS SIMULATING A VEHICLE CONTROL PANEL
Abstract
This invention relates to children's toys, and particularly to
an array of toys that may be attached to a baby boat or stroller,
or may be used independently in or out of a bathtub, pool, or other
body of water, to stimulate and entertain a child by providing a
simulated control panel or dashboard panel of a boat or other
vehicle. The toys are affixed to an inflatable body member, at
least one of the toys being in fluid communication with the
inflatable body member so that as the body member is inflated, that
toy is simultaneously inflated
Inventors: |
de Grasse; Scott R.;
(Marshfield, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Aqua-Leisure Industries, Inc. |
Avon |
MA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Aqua-Leisure Industries,
Inc.
Avon
MA
|
Family ID: |
62488299 |
Appl. No.: |
15/837689 |
Filed: |
December 11, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62433316 |
Dec 13, 2016 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 23/10 20130101;
A63H 33/3033 20130101; A63H 33/006 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63H 33/00 20060101
A63H033/00; A63H 23/10 20060101 A63H023/10; A63H 33/30 20060101
A63H033/30 |
Claims
1. A amusement device for children comprising: an inflatable body
having an arcuate shape to partly surround the child; a plurality
of toys arrayed on an external surface of the inflatable body, at
least one of said toys being inflatable and in fluid communication
with the inflatable body, said plurality of toys simulating a
control panel of a vehicle.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the inflatable body is comprised
of a soft plastic material.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein the at least one toy in fluid
communication with the inflatable body is comprised of a soft
plastic material.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein the at least one toy in fluid
communication with the inflatable body is comprised of the same
soft plastic material as the inflatable body.
5. The device of claim 1, further comprising attachment means for
removably attaching the inflatable body to a baby boat or
float.
6. The device of claim 1 further comprising attachment means for
removably attaching the inflatable body to a child's stroller.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein the inflatable body is adapted to
be placed partly around the waist of a child and remain secured to
the child without additional attachment means.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein one of the toys is a simulated
steering wheel.
9. The device of claim 1 where one of the toys emits the sound of
an engine starting when activated by the child.
10. The device of claim 1 where one of the toys emits the sound of
a vehicle horn when activated by the child.
11. The device of claim 1 where one of the toys simulates a vehicle
rear-view mirror.
12. An amusement device for children comprising an inflatable body
and a plurality of toys attached to said inflatable body, at least
one of said toys being inflatable and in fluid communication with
the inflatable body, so that when the inflatable body is being
inflated, the at least one toy is simultaneously inflated.
13. The device of claim 12 wherein said plurality of toys simulates
a control panel of a vehicle.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. Section
119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/433,316,
entitled "BUOYANT ARRAY OF TOYS," filed on Dec. 13, 2016, which is
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all
purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to children's toys, and particularly
to an array of toys that may be attached to a baby boat or
stroller, or may be used independently in or out of a bathtub,
pool, or other body of water, to stimulate and entertain a child by
providing a simulated control panel or dashboard panel of a boat or
other vehicle. The toys are affixed to an inflatable body member,
one or more of the toys being in fluid communication with the
inflatable body member so that as the body member is inflated, the
toy is also inflated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Beach and pool toys are immensely popular consumer items.
Many such items are designed for children, such as baby boats and
floats in which the child may be seated. An example is the
recreational flotation device of U.S. Design Patent D679,770, which
provides an inflatable U-shaped main body having a seat area,
combined with a removable kickboard.
[0004] The device of the instant invention may be used with such a
baby boat or float. For a boat having a curved front end, such as
that of U.S. Design Patent D679,770, the body of the device may be
curved to match generally the curvature of the front end, so that
the body of the device may rest on that end of the boat, partially
surrounding the child. Various objects comprising the toy array,
such as a toy steering wheel, a horn, a push-button electronic
noise-maker, a bell, a squeaker, and/or a rattle, are intended to
catch the attention of the child and to provide amusement, while
stimulating the child's mental and physical abilities. In
particular, the array of toys simulates a vehicle control panel or
dashboard.
[0005] The device of the instant invention may be removably
attached to the baby boat by known means, such as straps, buckles,
or hook-and-loop fasteners. The device may likewise be removably
attached to a stroller or car seat, or allowed to float by itself
in a bathtub or pool. Or if the body of the device is appropriately
shaped, it may be secured around the waist of a child while he or
she stands or walks, or it may be placed in the child's lap while
he or she sits.
[0006] Other advantages and novel features of the present invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description of
various non-limiting embodiments of the invention when considered
in conjunction with the accompanying figures. In cases where the
present specification and a document incorporated by reference
include conflicting and/or inconsistent disclosures, the present
specification shall control.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be
described by way of example with reference to the accompanying
figures, which are schematic and are not intended to be drawn to
scale. In the figures, each identical or nearly identical component
illustrated is typically represented by a single numeral. For
purposes of clarity, not every component is labeled in every
figure, nor is every component of each embodiment of the invention
shown where illustration is not necessary to allow those of
ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention. In the
figures:
[0008] FIG. 1 depicts an array of toys in accordance with one
embodiment of the instant invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 depicts an array of toys in accordance with another
embodiment of the instant invention, as seen from the side facing
the child.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a depiction of a child seated in a baby boat and
facing a device of the instant invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 depicts the device of the instant invention attached
to a baby stroller.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] FIG. 1 depicts an array of toys 10, comprising inflatable
body 12 having, in this embodiment, an arcuate shape. Attached to
body 12 are several toys: item 14 is a toy steering wheel that may
include at its center a button 16 that, when pushed, emits the
beeping sound of a vehicle horn. Item 18 is intended to replicate a
mirror, and may include a ball inside having a light that is
motion-activated when the child pushes or hits the mirror. Item 20,
projecting from main body 12, may include a squeaking means, and
item 22, also projecting from main body 12, may be a rattle. Toys
18, 20, and 22 are preferably constructed of a soft plastic
material, which may be the same soft plastic material as body 12,
and are in fluid communication with body 12 so that when the body
12 is being inflated these three items are also being inflated.
Item 24 may be a simulated starting button which, when pushed,
emits a sound like that of an engine starting.
[0013] Strap 26 may be employed to removably attach the device 10
to a stroller, car seat, or baby boat by connecting it to a
corresponding strap projecting from the baby boat, stroller, etc.
(not shown) by attachment means such as hook-and-loop
fasteners.
[0014] FIG. 2 depicts another embodiment of the instant invention:
an array of toys comprising buoyant body 30 having an arcuate shape
like that depicted in FIG. 1. Attached to body 30 are several toys
in array: item 34 is a toy steering wheel that may include at its
center a button 36 that, when pushed, emits the beeping sound of a
vehicle horn. Item 38 is intended to replicate a sea shell, and may
include a ball inside having a light that is motion-activated when
the child pushes or squeezes the shell. Item 40, projecting from
main body 30, may include a squeaking means, and item 32, also
projecting from main body 30, may be a rattle. Items 32, 38, and 40
are preferably constructed of a soft plastic material, which may be
the same soft plastic material as body 30, and are in fluid
communication therewith so that when body 30 is being inflated
these three items are also being inflated. Item 42 may be a
simulated starting button (as in the embodiment of FIG. 1) which,
when pushed, emits a sound like that of an engine starting.
[0015] FIG. 3 is an illustration of the placement of the device of
the instant invention at the front edge of a baby boat, with a baby
seated in the boat adjacent the device. FIG. 4 depicts the device
of the instant invention attached to a baby stroller.
[0016] From the description of at least one embodiment of the
present disclosure, various alterations, modifications, and
improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such
alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be
within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the
foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended
to be limiting.
[0017] While several embodiments of the present invention have been
described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the
art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or
structures for performing the functions and/or obtaining the
results and/or one of more of the advantages described herein, and
each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within
the scope of the present invention. More generally, those skilled
in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions,
materials, and configurations described herein are mean to be
exemplary and the actual parameters, dimensions, materials and/or
configurations will depend upon the specific application or
applications for which the teachings of the present invention
is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to
ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many
equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described
herein. It is therefore to be understood that the foregoing
embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, with the
scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, the invention
may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and
claimed. The present invention is directed to each individual
feature, system, article, material, and/or method described herein.
In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems,
articles, materials, and/or methods, if such features, systems,
articles, materials, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent,
is included within the scope of the present invention.
* * * * *