Toy with remotely controlled security alarm

• US 6,028,533 A
• Filed: 07/14/1997
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jakks Pacific, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Toymax, Inc. (Jakks Pacific, Inc.)
• Inventors: Javors, Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US08/892,374
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 273/442, 446/409, 446/175, 446/454-7, 446/465
• US Class Current: 340/13.31
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/32 Acoustical or optical signalling devices

Abstract

A security alarm device is replicated in a toy vehicle. The security device includes a remote control which also can control vehicle functions. The remote control may control alarm arm and disarm, alarm and vehicle sounds such as arm, disarm, alarm set off, engine revving, tire screeching, motor drive, and vehicle lights. The security alarm device includes an LED which indicates whether the alarm is armed or unarmed, and a motion sensor which sets the alarm off (e.g., emitting a siren sound) when the toy vehicle is moved in its armed state.

Claims

1. A vehicular toy comprising:

a security alarm device comprising a controller having a control input and at least one sensor coupled to the controller, the security alarm device having an armed state and an unarmed state and being responsive to the at least one sensor in its armed state and to the control signal input to selectively assume the armed and unarmed states;

a signaling device coupled to the controller and responsive thereto to provide an audio or visual alarm signal;

the controller causing the signaling device to provide the alarm signal in response to activation of the at least one sensor in the armed state of the security alarm device and causing the signaling device to cease providing the alarm signal when the alarm device assumes its unarmed state.

2. The toy of claim 1 wherein the signaling device comprises an audio device coupled to the controller which projects sound as the audio alarm signal.

3. The toy of claim 1 wherein the signaling device comprises a visual device coupled to the controller which projects light as the visual alarm signal.

4. The toy of claim 1 comprising a propulsion system including an electric motor which propels the toy and a motor drive which selectively supplies power to the electric motor, the controller being coupled to the motor drive and selectively supplying drive signals thereto at least in response to signals at the control input thereof.

5. The toy of claim 1 comprising a remote control device coupled to the controller, the controller being operative to cause the alarm device to assume its armed and unarmed states in response to the remote control device.

6. The toy of claim 5 wherein the toy comprises a receiver wirelessly coupled to the remote control device, the receiver being coupled to the control input of the controller and being operative to wirelessly receive signals from the remote control device and provide signals in response thereto to the control input of the controller, the controller being responsive to the signals at the control input to cause the security alarm device to assume its armed and unarmed states.

7. The toy of claim 6 wherein the remote control device includes an infrared transmitter and the receiver includes an infrared receiver.

8. The toy of claim 1 comprising a remote control device and a receiver wirelessly coupled to the remote control device and coupled to the control input of the controller, and a propulsion system including an electric motor which propels the toy, the electric motor being coupled to and controlled by the controller, the controller being operative in response to signals provided by the receiver to the control input to cause the alarm device to assume its armed and unarmed states and to provide drive signals to the motor, the receiver providing signals to the control input in response to signals wirelessly received from the remote control device.

9. The toy of claim 1 wherein the controller provides arm/unarm signals to the signaling device representing changes of state of the security alarm device between its armed and unarmed states and an alarm signal to the signaling device in response to activation of the at least one sensor in the armed state of the security alarm device, the signaling device providing arm/unarm and alarm audio or visual signals in response thereto.

10. The toy of claim 9 comprising a receiver coupled to the control input of the controller and a remote control wirelessly coupled to the receiver, and wherein the remote control device comprises a first control which when activated causes the remote control device to wirelessly transmit signals in response to which the security alarm device assumes its armed and unarmed states and the signaling device provides arm/unarm audio signals, and a second control which when activated causes the remote control device to wirelessly transmit signals in response to which the controller causes the signaling device to provide audio being at least one of an engine revving or tire screeching sound.

11. The toy of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a motion sensor.

14. The toy of claim 12 or 1 comprising a remote control device coupled to the controller, the controller being operative to cause the alarm device to assume its armed and unarmed states in response to the remote control device.

15. The toy of claim 14 wherein the toy comprises a receiver wirelessly coupled to the remote control device, the receiver being coupled to the control input of the controller and being operative to wirelessly receive a signal from the remote control device and provide signals in response thereto to the control input of the controller, the controller being responsive to the signals at the control input to cause the security alarm device to assume its armed and unarmed states.

16. The toy of claim 15 wherein the remote control device includes an infrared transmitter and the receiver includes an infrared receiver.

12. A vehicular toy comprising:

a security alarm device comprising a controller having a control input and at least one sensor coupled to the controller, the security alarm device having an armed state and an unarmed state and being responsive to the at least one sensor in its armed state and to the control signal input to selectively assume the armed and unarmed states;

an audio device coupled to the controller responsive thereto to provide an alarm sound;

the controller causing the audio device to provide the alarm sound in response to activation of the at least one sensor in the armed state of the security alarm device and causing the audio device to cease providing the alarm sound when the alarm device assumes its unarmed state, the controller further causing the audio device to provide arm and unarm sounds when the state of the alarm device changes from armed to unarmed and from unarmed to armed.

13. The toy of claim 12 comprising a propulsion system including an electric motor which propels the toy and a motor drive which selectively supplies power to the electric motor, the controller being coupled to the motor drive and selectively supplying drive signals thereto at least in response to signals at the control input thereof.

17. The toy of claim 12 comprising a remote control device and a receiver wirelessly coupled to the remote control device and coupled to the control input of the controller, and a propulsion system including an electric motor which propels the toy, the electric motor being coupled to and controlled by the controller, the controller being operative in response to signals provided by the receiver to the control input to cause the alarm device to assume its armed and unarmed states and to provide drive signals to the motor, the receiver providing signals to the control input in response to signals wirelessly received from the remote control device.

18. The toy of claim 12 wherein the controller provides arm/unarm signals to the signaling device representing changes of state of the security alarm device between its armed and unarmed states and an alarm signal to the signaling device in response to activation of the at least one sensor in the armed state of the security alarm device, the signaling device providing arm/unarm and alarm audio or visual signals in response thereto.

19. The toy of claim 18 comprising a receiver coupled to the control input of the controller and a remote control wirelessly coupled to the receiver, and wherein the remote control device comprises a first control which when activated causes the remote control device to wirelessly transmit signals in response to which the security alarm device assumes its armed and unarmed states and the signaling device provides arm/unarm audio signals, and a second control which when activated causes the remote control device to transmit signals in response to which the controller causes the signaling device to provide audio being at least on of an engine revving or tire screeching sound.

20. The toy of claim 12 wherein the sensor comprises a motion sensor.

21. A toy comprising:

a security alarm device comprising a controller having a control input and at least one sensor coupled to the controller, the security alarm device having an armed state and an unarmed state and being responsive to the at least one sensor in its armed state and to the control signal input to selectively assume the armed and unarmed states;

a signaling device coupled to the controller and responsive thereto to provide an audio or visual alarm signal;

the controller causing the signaling device to provide the alarm signal in response to activation of the at least one sensor in the armed state of the security alarm device and causing the signaling device to cease providing the alarm signal when the alarm device assumes its unarmed state.

22. A toy comprising:

a security alarm device comprising a controller having a control input and at least one sensor coupled to the controller, the security alarm device having an armed state and an unarmed state and being responsive to the at least one sensor in its armed state and to the control signal input to selectively assume the armed and unarmed states;

an audio device coupled to the controller responsive thereto to provide an alarm sound;

the controller causing the audio device to provide the alarm sound in response to activation of the at least one sensor in the armed state of the security alarm device and causing the audio device to cease providing the alarm sound when the alarm device assumes its unarmed state, the controller further causing the audio device to provide arm and unarm sounds when the state of the alarm device changes from armed to unarmed and from unarmed to armed.

23. A toy comprising:

a security alarm device comprising a controller having a control input and at least one sensor coupled to the controller, the security alarm device having an armed state and an unarmed state and being responsive to the at least one sensor in its armed state, the controller causing the security alarm device to selectively assume the armed and unarmed states in response to signals at the control input;

a wireless remote control device coupled to the controller which in response to signals from the remote control device causes the alarm device to assume its armed and unarmed states

a signaling device coupled to the controller and responsive thereto to provide an audio or visual alarm signal;

the controller causing the signaling device to provide the alarm signal in response to activation of the at least one sensor in the armed state of the security alarm device and causing the signaling device to cease providing the alarm signal when the alarm device is caused to assume its unarmed state.

24. The toy of claim 23 wherein the toy comprises a receiver wirelessly coupled to the remote control device, the receiver being coupled to the control input of the controller and being operative to wirelessly receive a signal from the remote control device and provide signals in response thereto to the control input of the controller, the controller being responsive to the signals at the control input to cause the security alarm device to assume its armed and unarmed states.

25. The toy of claim 24 wherein the controller provides arm/unarm signals to the signaling device representing changes of state of the security alarm device between its armed and unarmed states and an alarm signal in response to activation of the at least one sensor in the armed state of the security alarm device, the signaling device providing arm/unarm and alarm audio or visual signals in response thereto.

26. A toy comprising:

a security alarm device comprising a controller having a control input and at least one sensor coupled to the controller, the security alarm device having an armed state and an unarmed state and being responsive to the at least one sensor in its armed state, the controller causing the security alarm device to selectively assume the armed and unarmed states in response to signals at the control input;

a wireless remote control device coupled to control input of the controller which in response to signals from the remote control device causes the alarm device to assume its armed and unarmed states

an audio device coupled to the controller responsive thereto to provide an alarm sound;

the controller causing the audio device to the alarm sound in response to activation of the at least one sensor in the armed state of the security alarm device and causing the audio device to cease providing the alarm sound when the alarm device is caused to assume its unarmed state, the controller further causing the audio device to provide arm and unarm sounds when the state of alarm device changes from armed to unarmed and from unarmed to armed.

27. The toy of claim 26 wherein the toy comprises a receiver wirelessly coupled to the remote control device, the receiver being coupled to the control input of the controller and being operative to wirelessly receive a signal from the remote control device and provide signals in response thereto to the control input of the controller, the controller being responsive to the signals at the control input to cause the security alarm device to assume its armed and unarmed states.

28. The toy of claim 27 wherein the controller provides arm/unarm signals to the audio device representing changes of state of the security alarm device between its armed and unarmed states and an alarm signal in response to activation of the at least one sensor in the armed state of the security alarm device, the audio device providing arm/unarm and alarm sounds in response thereto.