Infant development ring toy

• US 4,249,333 A
• Filed: 03/08/1978
• Issued: 02/10/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Newfield Child Development, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson
• Inventors: Chase, Richard A., Williams, D. Michael, Simpson, Danny E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shay, F. Barry
• Application Number:
  US05/884,780
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 46/1 R, 46/175, 46/175 R, 46/193, 128/359, D21/63, D24/45
• US Class Current: 446/486
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/02 Teething rings
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/00 Other toys

Abstract

An infant development toy comprising a plurality of rings of varying diameter connected to each other and to a central object by a flexible connecting means. Optionally, the connecting means may be extended outside the rings to form a primary handle, and a bell may be contained within the central object or the primary handle. The rings and central object are of a size, and are spaced along the connecting means in such a manner that, when the toy is held aloft by and suspended from the point of connection of the largest ring and the connecting means, the rings are concentric and surround the central object.

Claims

1. An infant development toy comprising:

a plurality of rings of varying diameter, including a largest ring, a next largest ring, a central object, and flexible connecting means connecting said central object and said plurality of rings in such a manner, that when the toy is freely suspended from the point of connection of the largest ring and the connecting means, the connecting means is disposed vertically as the toy assumes a configuration wherein the rings are concentric about the central object, said flexible connecting means being the sole means connecting said rings, and said connecting means being sufficiently flexible that the next largest ring is readily movable out of the plane defined by the largest ring.

2. Infant development toy as in claim 1 wherein the flexible connecting means extends outwardly of the rings, forming a primary handle.

3. Infant development toy as in claim 2 wherein the rings are made of a firm, flexible material suitable for teething.

4. Infant development toy of claim 3 wherein said rings and said connecting means are integrally formed.

5. Infant development toy as in claim 3 wherein the central object comprises a hollow sphere containing a bell.