Magnetic switch and apparatus including magnetic switch

• US 20060082429A1
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lynch, Larry, Freeman, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,167,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 335/205
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/00 Dolls puppets or marionettes for shows or theatres A63J19/006
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/26 Magnetic or electric toys electric drives A63H29/22 ; indoor games played with small balls using magnetic power A63F7/0088, A63F7/068
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/38 Picture books with additional toy effects, e.g. pop-up or slide displays picture books B42D1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/0006 Permanent magnet actuating reed switches H01H35/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/0066 magnet being removable, e.g. part of key pencil
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/0073 actuated by relative movement between two magnets

Abstract

A magnetic switch and children'"'"'s apparatuses, such as print media apparatuses and plush dolls, which include magnetic switches are disclosed. One magnetic switch includes a first conductor and a second conductor spaced apart from the first conductor. A third conductor is disposed under the first and second conductors, the third conductor being formed from a magnetic material. A magnet is also included, the magnet being adapted to move the third conductor towards the first and second conductors so as to form a conductive bridge. Another magnetic switch includes a first conductor and a second conductor spaced apart from the first conductor. A first magnet is disposed under the first and second conductors. A second magnet is also included, the second magnet being adapted to move the first magnet so that the first and second conductors form a conductive bridge.

Claims

1. A magnetic switch comprising:

(a) a first conductor;

(b) a second conductor spaced apart from the first conductor;

(c) a third conductor disposed under the first and second conductors, the third conductor being formed from a magnetic material; and

(d) a magnet adapted to move the third conductor towards the first and second conductors so as to form a conductive bridge.

2. The magnetic switch of claim 1, wherein the first and second conductors are formed from non-magnetic material.

3. The magnetic switch of claim 2, wherein the first and second conductors are formed from copper, bronze, silver, or gold material.

4. The magnetic switch of claim 1, wherein the third conductor is formed from ferrous, iron, nickel, or cobalt material.

5. The magnetic switch of claim 1, wherein the third conductor is free-floating.

6. The magnetic switch of claim 1, wherein the third conductor and magnet are aligned along an axis.

7. The magnetic switch of claim 1, wherein the magnet is laminated.

8. A print media apparatus comprising:

(a) a platform including a surface;

(b) at least one magnetic switch under the surface, the magnetic switch including first and second spaced apart conductors and a third conductor disposed under the first and second conductors, the third conductor being formed from a magnetic material;

(c) a processor coupled to the magnetic switch; and

(d) a book on the surface, wherein a magnet is coupled to a page of the book and adapted to move the third conductor towards the first and second conductors so as to form a conductive bridge.

9. The print media apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one magnetic switch comprises a plurality of magnetic switches offset at different locations in the platform under the surface.

10. The print media apparatus of claim 8, wherein the magnet is embedded within the page.

11. The print media apparatus of claim 8, wherein the magnet comprises a plurality of magnets offset at different locations on a plurality of pages.

12. The print media apparatus of claim 8, wherein the third conductor is free-floating in a cavity of the platform.

13. The print media apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

(e) a speaker coupled to the processor.

14. The print media apparatus of claim 8, wherein the book is a children'"'"'s book.

15. A plush doll comprising:

(a) a plush body including a surface;

(b) at least one magnetic switch under the surface, the magnetic switch including first and second spaced apart conductors and a third conductor disposed under the first and second conductors, the third conductor being formed from a magnetic material;

(c) a processor coupled to the magnetic switch; and

(d) a book on the surface, wherein a magnet is coupled to a page of the book and adapted to move the third conductor towards the first and second conductors so as to form a conductive bridge.

16. The plush doll of claim 15, wherein the plush body comprises a human or animal shape.

17. The plush doll of claim 15, wherein the plush body comprises a rigid or semi-rigid structure that is padded.

18. The plush doll of claim 15, wherein the book comprises a children'"'"'s flip book.

19. The plush doll of claim 18, wherein the flip book teaches about emotions.

20. The plush doll of claim 15, wherein the at least one magnetic switch comprises a plurality of magnetic switches offset at different locations in the platform under the surface.

21. The plush doll of claim 15, wherein the magnet is embedded within the page.

22. The plush doll of claim 15, wherein the magnet comprises a plurality of magnets offset at different locations on a plurality of pages.

23. The plush doll of claim 15, wherein the third conductor is free-floating in a cavity of the platform.

24. The plush doll of claim 15, further comprising:

(e) a speaker coupled to the processor.

25. A plush doll comprising:

(a) a plush body including a surface;

(b) at least one switch under the surface;

(c) a processor coupled to the switch;

(d) a flip book on the surface; and

(e) a speaker coupled to the processor.

26. The plush doll of claim 25, wherein the plush body comprises a human or animal shape.

27. The plush doll of claim 25, wherein the plush body comprises a rigid or semi-rigid structure that is padded.

28. The plush doll of claim 25, wherein the flip book teaches about emotions.

29. The plush doll of claim 25, wherein the at least one switch comprises a plurality of electrical elements.

30. The plush doll of claim 29, wherein the electrical elements comprise a plurality of pressure switches.

31. The plush doll of claim 29, wherein the electrical elements comprise a plurality of transmitting or receiving antennas.

32. The plush doll of claim 31, further comprising a stylus that can be located by the antennas.

33. The plush doll of claim 25, wherein the at least one switch comprises a plurality of reed switches.

34. The plush doll of claim 25, wherein the at least one switch comprises a magnetic switch having first and second spaced apart conductors and a third conductor disposed under the first and second conductors, the third conductor being formed from a magnetic material.

35. The plush doll of claim 33 or 34, further comprising a magnet coupled to a page of the flip book and adapted to close the switch.

36. The plush doll of claim 33 or 34, further comprising a stylus having a magnet, the magnet adapted to close the switch.

37. An interactive print media apparatus comprising:

(a) a platform including a surface;

(b) at least one magnetic switch under the surface;

(c) a print medium on the platform;

(d) a processor coupled to the magnetic switch;

(e) a stylus coupled to the platform, the stylus including a magnet adapted to close the magnetic switch.

38. The interactive print media of claim 37, wherein the at least one magnetic switch comprises a plurality of magnetic switches offset at different locations in the platform under the surface.

39. The interactive print media of claim 37, wherein the at least one magnetic switch comprises first and second spaced apart conductors and a third conductor disposed under the first and second conductors, the third conductor being formed from a magnetic material.

40. The print media apparatus of claim 39, wherein the third conductor is free-floating in a cavity of the platform.

41. The interactive print media of claim 37, wherein the at least one magnetic switch comprises a reed switch.

42. The print media apparatus of claim 37, wherein the magnet is coupled to a distal tip of the stylus.

43. The print media apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

(f) a speaker coupled to the processor.

44. A magnetic switch comprising:

(a) a first conductor;

(b) a second conductor spaced apart from the first conductor;

(c) a first magnet disposed under the first and second conductors; and

(d) a second magnet adapted to move the first magnet so that the first and second conductors form a conductive bridge.

45. The magnetic switch of claim 44, wherein the first and second conductors are formed from non-magnetic material.

46. The magnetic switch of claim 45, wherein the first and second conductors are formed from copper, bronze, silver, or gold material.

47. The magnetic switch of claim 44, wherein the first or second magnet is formed from ferrous, iron, nickel, or cobalt material.

48. The magnetic switch of claim 44, wherein the first magnet is non-conductive.

49. The magnetic switch of claim 44, wherein the first magnet is coupled to the second conductor and the second magnet is adapted to move the first magnet and the second conductor towards the first conductor.

50. The magnetic switch of claim 44, wherein the first and second magnets are aligned along an axis.

51. The magnetic switch of claim 44, wherein the second magnet is laminated.

52. A print media apparatus comprising:

(a) a platform including a surface;

(b) at least one magnetic switch under the surface, the magnetic switch including first and second spaced apart conductors and a first magnet disposed under the first and second conductors;

(c) a processor coupled to the magnetic switch; and

(d) a book on the surface, wherein a second magnet is coupled to a page of the book and adapted to move the first magnet so that the first and second conductors form a conductive bridge.

53. The print media apparatus of claim 52, wherein the at least one magnetic switch comprises a plurality of magnetic switches offset at different locations in the platform under the surface.

54. The print media apparatus of claim 52, wherein the second magnet is embedded within the page.

55. The print media apparatus of claim 52, wherein the second magnet comprises a plurality of magnets offset at different locations on a plurality of pages.

56. The print media apparatus of claim 52, further comprising:

(e) a speaker coupled to the processor.

57. The print media apparatus of claim 52, wherein the book is a children'"'"'s book.

58. A plush doll comprising:

(a) a plush body including a surface;

(b) at least one magnetic switch under the surface, the magnetic switch including first and second spaced apart conductors and a first magnet disposed under the first and second conductors;

(c) a processor coupled to the magnetic switch; and

(d) a book on the surface, wherein a second magnet is coupled to a page of the book and adapted to move the first magnet so that the first and second conductors form a conductive bridge.

59. The plush doll of claim 58, wherein the plush body comprises a human or animal shape.

60. The plush doll of claim 58, wherein the plush body comprises a rigid or semi-rigid structure that is padded.

61. The plush doll of claim 58, wherein the book comprises a children'"'"'s flip book.

62. The plush doll of claim 61, wherein the flip book teaches about emotions.

63. The plush doll of claim 58, wherein the at least one magnetic switch comprises a plurality of magnetic switches offset at different locations in the platform under the surface.

64. The plush doll of claim 58, wherein the second magnet is embedded within the page.

65. The plush doll of claim 58, wherein the second magnet comprises a plurality of magnets offset at different locations on a plurality of pages.

66. The plush doll of claim 58, further comprising:

(e) a speaker coupled to the processor.

67. An interactive print media apparatus comprising:

(a) a platform including a surface;

(b) at least one magnetic switch under the surface, the magnetic switch including first and second spaced apart conductors and a first magnet disposed under the first and second conductors;

(c) a print medium on the platform;

(d) a processor coupled to the magnetic switch;

(e) a stylus coupled to the platform, the stylus including a second magnet adapted to close the magnetic switch.

68. The interactive print media of claim 67, wherein the at least one magnetic switch comprises a plurality of magnetic switches offset at different locations in the platform under the surface.

69. The print media apparatus of claim 67, wherein the second magnet is coupled to a distal tip of the stylus.

70. The print media apparatus of claim 67, further comprising:

(f) a speaker coupled to the processor.

71. A plush book comprising:

(a) a plush platform including a surface;

(b) at least one magnetic switch under the surface, the magnetic switch including first and second spaced apart conductors and a first magnet disposed under the first and second conductors;

(c) a processor coupled to the magnetic switch; and

(d) a plush book on the surface, wherein a second magnet is coupled to a page of the book and adapted to move the first magnet so that the first and second conductors form a conductive bridge.