Convertible child's toy
OwnerRobert A. Tell, David B. Fisher +2inventors
InventorsRobert A. Tell, David B. Fisher, Domenic T. Gubitosi, Christopher D. Cimerman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A child's toy is provided which is convertible between an infant's gym and a toddler's piano. In the infant configuration, a small child can be placed under or seated in front of the toy within reach of hanging shapes. When the infant moves the hanging shapes, a sensory output of music and lights is produced through audio speakers and lighted keys. The infant's gym can be converted into a toddler configuration, which has keys arranged on top, resembling a piano. A toddler standing in front of the piano can produce a sensory output of music and lights by pressing the keys. A mode switch can be adjusted to vary the duration of the sensory output.
Claims17
A convertible toy for use by a toddler and an infant, said convertible toy having a first and second configuration and being supportable on a support surface, comprising:
- an activity unit including a housing defining a substantially planar surface, and a sensory output device, said sensory output device including
- a first switch for selecting between an “on” and “off”,
- at least one second switch for producing audio output by the toddler,
- a third switch for producing audio output by the infant, said third switch being associated with a support for at least one dangling toy, said third switch being disabled when said support is in a non-use position, and
- a microprocessor associated with said first switch, said at least one second switch and said third switch, said microprocessor storing a plurality of audio output in digital form and being programmed to generate said audio output upon activation of one of said at least one second switch and said third switch;
- a base supporting said activity unit interchangeably between a first orientation and a second orientation;
- and
- a housing formed on one of said activity unit and said base, said housing defining a first and second engagement with a mating piece formed on the other of said base and said activity unit, wherein when said mating piece is engaged with said first engagement, said activity unit is in said first orientation such that said substantially planar surface extends approximately parallel to the support surface, and wherein when said mating piece is engaged with said second engagement, said activity unit is in said second orientation, said second orientation being rotatably offset from said first orientation;
- wherein when said convertible child's toy is in the first configuration, said activity unit is in said first orientation, said at least one second switch is enabled and said third switch is disabled;
- wherein when said convertible child's toy is in the second configuration, said activity unit is in said second orientation and said third switch is enabled.
A method for entertaining an infant and a toddler by providing a musical toy that is convertible between a first orientation suitable for use by the toddler and a second orientation suitable for use by the infant, the infant referring to a child who has not fully developed such that he or she is capable of standing and the toddler referring to a child who is capable of standing, the musical toy being disposable on a support surface, said method for entertaining an infant and a toddler comprising the steps of:
- providing an activity unit including a housing defining a substantially planar surface and a sensory output device, the sensory output device including
- at least one first switch adapted for producing audio output upon activation by the toddler, and
- a second switch adapted for producing audio output upon activation by the infant interacting with at least one dangling toy;
- a microprocessor associated with the at least one first switch and the second switch, the microprocessor storing a plurality of audio output in digital form and being programmed to generate the audio output upon activation of one of the at least one first switch and the second switch;
- providing a base supporting the activity unit interchangeably between a first orientation and a second orientation;
- providing a housing formed on one of the activity unit and the base, the housing defining a first and second engagement structure for receiving a mating piece formed on the other of the base and said activity unit, wherein when the mating piece is engaged with the first engagement structure, the activity unit is in a first orientation such that the substantially planar surface extends approximately parallel to the support surface, and wherein when the mating piece is engaged with the second engagement structure, the activity unit is in a second orientation, the second orientation being rotatably offset from the first orientation;
- wherein when it is desirable to entertain the toddler,
- configuring the convertible toy in the first orientation so as to allow a toddler standing beside the activity unit to access the at least one first switch, and
- enabling the at least one first switch and disabling the second switch;
- and
- wherein when it is desirable to entertain the infant,
- configuring the convertible toy in the second orientation so as to allow an infant disposed beneath the activity unit to access the second switch by interaction with the at least one dangling toy, and
- enabling the second switch.
A convertible toy for use by a toddler and an infant, said convertible toy having a first and second configuration and being supportable on a support surface, comprising:
- an activity unit including a housing defining a substantially planar surface, and a sensory output device, said sensory output device including
- a first switch for selecting between an “on” and “off”,
- at least one second switch for producing audio output by the toddler,
- means for producing audio output by the infant, and
- a microprocessor associated with said first switch, said at least one second switch and said means for producing audio output by the infant, said microprocessor storing a plurality of audio output in digital form and being programmed to generate said audio output upon activation of one of said at least one first switch and said means for producing audio output by the infant;
- a base supporting said activity unit interchangeably between a first orientation and a second orientation;
- and
- a housing formed on one of said activity unit and said base, said housing defining a first and second engagement with a mating piece formed on the other of said base and said activity unit, wherein when said mating piece is engaged with said first engagement, said activity unit is in said first orientation such that said substantially planar surface extends approximately parallel to the support surface, and wherein when said mating piece is engaged with said second engagement, said activity unit is in said second orientation, said second orientation being rotatably offset from said first orientation;
- wherein when said convertible child's toy is in the first configuration, said activity unit is in said first orientation, said at least one second switch is enabled and said means for producing audio output by the infant is disabled;
- wherein when said convertible child's toy is in the second configuration, said activity unit is in said second orientation and said means for producing audio output by the infant is enabled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.