Activity device

• US 20060093995A1
• Filed: 11/04/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Jeffrey A., Weber, Gary E., Clark, Bradley M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,238,026 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/171
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 1/36 the elements being connectible by corresponding projections and recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied

Abstract

A multiple-sided activity device for toy blocks is disclosed. The activity device has a first side including a first activity adapted to interact with at least one of the plurality of toy blocks. The activity device also has a second side distinct from the first side, the second side including a block recognition mechanism configured to selectively interact with any of the plurality of toy blocks to identify which of the plurality of toy blocks is interacting with the block recognition mechanism and to produce block-specific sensory stimulating output.

Claims

1. An activity device for use with a plurality of toy blocks, at least two of the toy blocks being of substantially similar geometric shape, the activity device comprising:

a first side including a first activity adapted to interact with at least one of the plurality of toy blocks;

a second side distinct from said first side, said second side including a block recognition mechanism configured to selectively interact with any of the plurality of toy blocks, wherein the block recognition unit is adapted to identify which of the plurality of toy blocks is interacting with said block recognition mechanism; and

a control unit adapted to produce a block-specific sensory output in response to the selective interaction with said block recognition mechanism.

2. The activity device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said block-specific sensory output is block-specific sound output.

3. The activity device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said block-specific sound output is verbal.

4. The activity device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said block-specific sound output is a sound effect.

5. The activity device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said block-specific sound output is musical.

6. The activity device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said block-specific sensory output is visual output.

7. The activity device as claimed in claim 1 further including a third side distinct from said first side and said second side, wherein said third side includes a second activity adapted to interact with at least one of the plurality of toy blocks.

8. The activity device as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of said first activity and said second activity is a toy block sorting activity.

9. The activity device as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of said first activity and said second activity is a block stacking activity.

10. The activity device as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of said first activity and said second activity is a block drop activity.

11. The activity device as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of said first activity and said second activity is a pachinko block activity.

12. The activity device as claimed in claim 7 further including a fourth side distinct from said first side, said second side, and said third side, wherein said fourth side includes a third activity adapted to interact with at least one of the plurality of toy blocks.

13. The activity device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activity device is cube shaped.

14. The activity device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said block recognition mechanism includes a switch matrix activated by interaction with at least one of the plurality of toy blocks.

15. The activity device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said switch matrix includes a plurality of switches adapted to interact with a pattern on at least one of the plurality of toy blocks.

16. The activity device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said pattern includes a series of concentric rings.

17. A method of producing sensory output in an activity device for use with a plurality of toy blocks, at least two of the toy blocks having a substantially similar geometric shape, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an activity device for use with a plurality of toy blocks, the activity device including a first side and a second side;

providing an activity adapted to interact with the plurality of toy blocks on said first side of the activity device;

providing a block recognition mechanism adapted to selectively interact with one or more of the plurality of toy blocks, the block recognition mechanism being positioned on said second side of the activity device; and

engaging any of the plurality of toy blocks with the block recognition mechanism to produce a block-specific sensory output.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the block-specific sensory output is sound output.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said block-specific sound output is verbal.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said block-specific sound output is a sound effect.

21. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said block-specific sound output is musical.

22. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the block-specific sensory output is visual output.

23. The method as claimed in claim 17 further comprising the step of providing an activity adapted to interact with the plurality of toy blocks on a third side of the activity device, the third side being distinct from said first side and said second side.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein one of the activity of the first side and the activity of the third side is a block sorting activity.

25. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein one of the activity of the first side and the activity of the third side is a block stacking activity.

26. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein one of the activity of the first side and the activity of the third side is a block drop activity.

27. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein one of the activity of the first side and the activity of the third side is a pachinko block activity.

28. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the activity device is cube shaped.

29. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the block recognition mechanism includes a switch matrix activated by interaction with a pattern on at least one of the plurality of toy blocks.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the pattern includes a series of concentric rings.