Projected implement entertainment device

• US 20070082764A1
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Nissen, Erica, Brown, Jeffrey, Weber, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,448,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/476
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/06 Ring or disc tossing games , e.g. quoits; Throwing or tossing games, e.g. using balls; Games for manually rolling balls, e.g. marbles
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/006 Infant exercisers, e.g. for attachment to a crib

Abstract

A reconfigurable target/projectile activity entertainment device is disclosed, wherein the device includes a projectile, a target having a target area and a reversible base connectable to the target. The target is in the form of a hoop or ring and is disposed above the reversible base. The hoop has an opening therein that forms the target area. The hoop contains a sensor that detects a projectile passing through the target area and communicates with a sensory generator to generate sensory-stimulating output (i.e., lights and sounds). Projectiles directed through the target area drop to the reversible base below the target area. The reversible base has a first side and a second side. The first side is concave for collecting a projectile that drops thereon. The second side is opposite the first side and has a convex side that deflects projectiles dropping thereon to deflect the projectile away from the device. The reversible base can be reconfigured between a first mode wherein the concave side faces the target area and a second mode that wherein the convex side faces the target.

Claims

1. A activity entertainment device comprising:

a projectile;

a target having a target area; and

a convertible projectile movement controller, wherein said projectile movement controller is convertible between a first mode wherein after said projectile passes through said target area, said projectile movement controller directs said projectile away from said activity entertainment device and a second mode wherein after said projectile passes through said target area, the projectile movement controller contains said projectile in proximity to said activity entertainment device.

2. The activity entertainment device of claim 1, wherein said convertible projectile movement controller is a base disposed below said target area.

3. The activity entertainment device of claim 1, wherein said convertible projectile movement controller has a deflection side and an opposed containment side and wherein said containment side of said projectile movement controller faces said target area in said second mode and said deflection side of said projectile movement controller faces said target area in said first mode.

4. The activity entertainment device of claim 3 wherein said convertible projectile movement controller is bowl shaped and said containment side of said projectile movement controller is concave and said deflection side of said projectile movement controller is convex.

5. The activity entertainment device of claim 3, wherein said target area is an opening in a ring through which said projectile is dropped or tossed.

6. The activity entertainment device of claim 3, wherein said target includes a sensor for detecting the presence of said projectile passing therethrough.

7. The activity entertainment device of claim 5, wherein said ring includes a sensor for detecting the presence of said projectile as said projectile passes through said ring.

8. The activity entertainment device of claim 6, wherein said sensor is an optical sensor.

9. The activity entertainment device of claim 6, further comprising a sensory output generator wherein when said sensor detects the presence of said projectile, said sensor communicates with said sensory output generator to generate sensory-stimulating output.

10. The activity entertainment device of claim 2, wherein said base has at least a first side and a second side and said base is removable from said target and reversible so that in said first mode said first side faces said target area and in said second mode said second side faces said target area.

11. The activity entertainment device of claim 10, wherein said target has a sensor for detecting the presence of said projectile, wherein said base contains a power source and wherein said power source powers said sensor.

12. An activity entertainment device for receiving an projectile comprising:

a target having a target area; and

a base, wherein said base has a deflection side and an opposed containment side, said base being reversible between a first mode wherein after said projectile passes through said target area, said deflection side of said base directs said projectile away from said activity entertainment device and a second mode wherein after said projectile passes through said target area, said containment side of said base contains said projectile in proximity to said activity entertainment device.

13. The activity entertainment device of claim 12, wherein said target includes a sensor for detecting the presence of said projectile within said target area.

14. The activity entertainment device of claim 12, wherein said target is a ring through which said projectile passes.

15. The activity entertainment device of claim 13, further comprising a sensory output generator configured wherein when said sensor detects the presence of said projectile, said sensor communicates with said sensory output generator to generate sensory-stimulating output.

16. The activity entertainment device of claim 12, wherein said base is bowl shaped and said containment side of said base is concave and said deflection side of said base is convex.

17. The activity entertainment device of claim 16, wherein said containment side of said base faces said target area in said second mode and said deflection side of said base faces said target area in said first mode.

18. The activity entertainment device of claim 17, wherein said target includes a sensor for detecting the presence of said projectile within said target area and comprising a sensory output generator wherein when said sensor detects the presence of said projectile, said sensor communicates with said sensory output generator to generate sensory-stimulating output.

19. The activity entertainment device of claim 13, wherein said base contains a power source and wherein said power source powers said sensor.

20. A method of reconfiguring an activity entertainment device comprising:

providing a projectile;

providing a target having a target area;

providing a reversible projectile direction controller having two sides; and

reconfiguring a said controller between a first mode wherein said first side faces said target area and wherein after said projectile passes through said target area, said projectile direction controller directs said projectile away from said activity entertainment device, and a second mode wherein said second side faces said target area and wherein after said projectile passes through said target area, the projectile direction controller contains said projectile in proximity to said activity entertainment device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said first side of said reversible projectile direction controller is convex and said second side of said reversible projectile direction controller is concave.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of reconfiguring further comprises separating said projectile direction controller from said target and reversing said projectile direction controller from said convex side to said concave side or from said concave side to said convex side before reattaching said direction controller to said target.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of directing said projectile through said target area and retrieving said projectile from said direction controller.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of directing said projectile through said target area and retrieving said projectile after said second side directs said projectile away from said direction controller.