Baby rattle and a toy comprising a baby rattle

• US 5,713,782 A
• Filed: 09/17/1996
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interlego, AG (Kirkbi A/S)
• Original Assignee: Interlego, AG (Kirkbi A/S)
• Inventors: Jensen, Hanne Davidsen, Berggreen, Ib Hartmann, Jensen, Arne Egholm
• Primary Examiner(s): Muir, D. Neal
• Application Number:
  US08/714,855
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 446/419, 446/418, 446/421, 446/422, 446/128, 446/85, 446/490, 446/489
• US Class Current: 446/419
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/006 Infant exercisers, e.g. for attachment to a crib
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/086 with primary projections fitting by friction in complementary spaces between secondary projections, e.g. sidewalls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 5/00 Musical or noise- producing devices for additional toy effects other than acoustical musical tops A63H1/28; sound-producing dolls A63H3/28; musical toy vehicles A63H17/268; acoustical vehicle-signalling devices A63H17/32; whistling toy locomotive arrangements A63H19/14; music, sound or noise production in general G10

Abstract

A baby rattle (1) comprising two rattle portions (2,3) and an elongated elastic spacer element (4) which connects the two rattle portions (2,3), wherein the two rattle portions (2,3) have mutually complementary coupling portions (5,6) which allow the two rattle portions (2,3) to be coupled to each other, and wherein the weight of the two rattle portions (2,3) and the rigidity of the elastic spacer element (4) are adjusted relative to each other so that the elastic spacer element (4), like a column, may in itself support the one rattle portion (2,3) when the elastic spacer element is maintained substantially vertically upright relative to the second rattle portion (3,2), and wherein the mutually complementary coupling portions (5,6) possess sufficient coupling force to keep the two rattle portions (2,3) together despite the force applied from the elongated elastic spacer element (4) by coupling of the rattle portions (2,3). Hereby a baby rattle is provided which makes many play options available by use of only a few constituents.

Claims

1. A baby rattle (1) comprising two rattle portions (2,3) and an elongated elastic spacer element (4) which connects the two rattle portions (2,3), CHARACTERIZED IN that the two rattle portions (2,3) have mutually complementary coupling elements (5,6) which allow the two rattle portions (2,3) to be coupled to each other, and wherein the weight of the two rattle portions (2,3) and the rigidity of the elastic spacer element (4) are adjusted relative to each other so that the elastic spacer element (4), like a column, is in itself capable of supporting the one rattle portion (2,3) when the elastic spacer element (4) is maintained substantially vertically upright relative to the second rattle portion (3,2), and wherein the mutually complementary coupling elements (5,6) establish an interference fit with sufficient resistance to keep the two rattle portions (2,3) together despite the force applied by the elongated elastic spacer element (4) to the two rattle portions (2,3) when the rattle portions (2,3) are coupled to each other.

2. A baby rattle according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN that the mutually complementary coupling elements (5,6) are constituted of a coupling stud (5) on the one rattle portion (2), and a complementarily designed recess (6) on the second rattle portion (3).

3. A baby rattle according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN that the elongated elastic spacer element (4) is substantially in the form of an elongated, essentially rod-shaped element with a longitudinal axis extending between the two rattle portions (2,3), and that the complementary coupling elements (5,6) on the two rattle portions (2,3) are so arranged that their coupling orientation relative to each other is transversal to the longitudinal axis of the elastic spacer element.

4. A baby rattle according to claim 3, CHARACTERIZED IN that the two rattle portions (2,3) are connected in a torsionally rigid manner to the elongated elastic spacer element (4), and that the coupling elements (5,6) on the two rattle portions (2,3) are arranged on the same side relative to the elongated elastic spacer element (4).

5. A baby rattle according to claim 3, CHARACTERIZED IN that the length of the elongated elastice spacer element (4) is adapted so that upon coupling of the two rattle portions (2,3), its longitudinal axis substantially follows a circle for the major part of the length of the elongated elastic spacer element (4).

6. A baby rattle according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN that the elongated elastic spacer element (4) is constituted completely of an elastic material.

7. A baby rattle according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED IN that the surface of the elongated elastic spacer element (4) is provided with profiles or protruding studs (7).

8. A baby rattle according to claim 5, CHARACTERIZED IN that the two rattle portions (2,3) are each substantially semispherical and provided with a plane surface opposite the semispherical side, and wherein the complementary coupling elements (5,6) are arranged on the plane sides of the rattle portions (2,3), and the elongated elastic spacer element (4) is secured to the two rattle portions (2,3) on the semispherical side.

9. A toy comprising a baby rattle (1) having two rattle portions (2.3 and an elongated elastic spacer element (4) which connects the two rattle portions (2,3), CHARACTERIZED IN that the two rattle portions (2,3) have mutually complementary coupling elements (5,6) which allow the two rattle portions (2,3) to be coupled to each other and wherein the weight of the two rattle portions (2,3) and the rigidity of the elastic spacer element (4) are adjusted relative to each other so that the elastic spacer element (4), like a column, is in itself capable of supporting the one rattle portion (2,3) when the elastic spacer element (4) is maintained substantially vertically upright relative to the second rattle portion (3,2), and wherein the mutually complementary coupling elements (5,6) establish an interference fit with sufficient resistance to keep the two rattle portions (2,3) together despite the force applied by the elongated elastic spacer element (4) to the two rattle portions (2,3) when the rattle portions (2,3) are coupled to each other;

and a number of building or stacking blocks (8) which are each provided with a number of coupling elements (12) corresponding to the coupling elements (5,6) on the rattle portions (2,3) of the baby rattle (1), thereby allowing the baby rattle (1) to be used as a building component by the coupling of the baby rattle (1) onto a building or stacking block (8).