Programmable toy

• US 6,250,987 B1
• Filed: 04/09/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Silverlit Toys Manufactory Limited (Silverlit Toys)
• Original Assignee: Silverlit Toys Manufactory Limited (Silverlit Toys)
• Inventors: Choi, Kei Fung
• Primary Examiner(s): RIMELL, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US09/288,951
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 446/431, 446/436, 446/457, 446/460, 446/269, 446/270, 446/297, 446/397, 446/437-438, 446/465, 701/36, 180/204
• US Class Current: 446/436
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/004 Stunt-cars, e.g. lifting front wheels, roll-over or invertible cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/395 steered by program
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A programmable device such as a toy or novelty item has a keyboard which can be activated by a user to set up any one of multiple different motions of the toy. Sounds and lights can be activated to coordinate with the movement. The toy can be a car or other device capable of moving in the environment.

Claims

1. A programmable toy device comprising:

a body;

a motor for activating a motive generator on the body for causing the body to move relative to a surrounding environment;

a key pad mounted on the body including a series of control switches for operation by a user;

the control switches being in the body and being connected with a microprocessor located in the body for translating signals received from the switches into control signals for programming the microprocessor for operating the motor under multiple different operational programs whereby the body is caused to move in different directions according to the action of the motor on the motive generator;

the arrangement being such that the motor, motive generator, keypad, switches and microprocessor are contained with the body, and wherein the switches and keypad are not operable or controllable under the action of a remote or detached controller;

wherein the controller permits for a repetition of a previously programmed movement of the body when a selected control switch is activated;

wherein the microprocessor is programmable so as to permit for a selection of motions including multiple motions of forward, backward, left turn, right turn and sinusoidal;

including the motion of pop-wheeling, and wherein the center of gravity of the vehicle is located strategically relative to the wheels thereby to permit tipping of the vehicle according to the control of the wheel motion and thereby to permit pop-wheeling; and

a free roller element located towards the rear of the vehicle, the free roller element being for facilitating motion of the vehicle where the motion is in a tilted pop-wheeled state.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 including a light generator for creating light, and means for selectively interacting the light generator in relation to the activation of the motive generator.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body is a representation selectively of a boat, train, plane, automobile, or motor bike.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is connected to control means for operating the motor, and including control means for operating a light generator and a sound generator.

5. A programmable toy device comprising:

a body;

a motor for activating a motive generator on the body for causing the body to move relative to a surrounding environment;

a key pad mounted on the body including a series of control switches for operation by a user;

the control switches being in the body and being connected with a microprocessor located in the body for translating signals received from the switches into control signals for programming the microprocessor for operating the motor under multiple different operational programs whereby the body is caused to move in different directions according to the action of the motor on the motive generator;

the arrangement being such that the motor, motive generator, keypad, switches and microprocessor are contained with the body, and wherein the switches and keypad are not operable or controllable under the action of a remote or detached controller;

wherein the controller permits for a repetition of a previously programmed movement of the body when a selected control switch is activated; and

sensors for determining the nature of the environment surrounding the device, and means for relating the nature of the environment as sensed selectively to activate a sound, light, or motion according to signals from the sensor.

6. A toy as claimed in claim 5 wherein the body is representative of an automobile vehicle and wherein there are four spaced wheels, and wherein two wheels are driven by a respective motor.

7. A toy as claimed in claim 6 wherein the microprocessor is programmable so as to permit for a selection of motions including multiple motions of forward, backward, left turn, right turn and sinusoidal.

8. A toy as claimed in claim 7 including the motion of pop-wheeling, and wherein the center of gravity of the vehicle is located strategically relative to the wheels thereby to permit tipping of the vehicle according to the control of the wheel motion and thereby to permit pop-wheeling.

9. A toy as claimed in claim 6 including a speaker for creating sounds, and means for selectively interacting via activation of the wheels with sounds from the speaker.

10. A toy as claimed in claim 6 including a light generator for creating light, and means for selectively interacting the light of the light source in relation to the activation of the wheels.

11. A toy as claimed in claim 6 wherein the microprocessor is connected to control means for operating the motor, and control means for operating a light source and a speaker in the body.

12. A toy as claimed in claim 6 wherein the key pad permits the operation of multiple controls which is thereby to permit the selection of multiple combinations of motion of the body.

13. A programmable toy device comprising:

a body;

a motor for activating a motive generator on the body for causing the body to move relative to a surrounding environment;

a key pad mounted on the body including a series of control switches for operation by a user;

the control switches being in the body and being connected with a microprocessor located in the body for translating signals received from the switches into control signals for programming the microprocessor for operating the motor under multiple different operational programs whereby the body is caused to move in different directions according to the action of the motor on the motive generator;

the arrangement being such that the motor, motive generator, keypad, switches and microprocessor are contained with the body, and wherein the switches and keypad are not operable or controllable under the action of a remote or detached controller;

wherein the controller permits for a repetition of a previously programmed movement of the body when a selected control switch is activated; and

wherein the controller permits for at least 32 distinct controlling actions of the body.

14. A programmable toy device comprising:

a body;

a motor for activating a motive generator on the body for causing the body to move relative to a surrounding environment;

a key pad mounted on the body including a series of control switches for operation by a user;

the control switches being in the body and being connected with a microprocessor located in the body for translating signals received from the switches into control signals programming the microprocessor for operating the motor under different programs whereby the body is caused to move in different directions according to the action of the motor on the motive generator;

the arrangement being such that the motor, motive generator, keypad, switches and microprocessor are contained with the body; and

a sensor for determining the relationship of the body elements to the environment, and thereby permitting the alteration of the action of the body in response to the sensed environment.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14 including operation of a single key on the keypad to permit for the operation of the body in a demonstration mode.

16. A device as claimed in claim 14 including a battery power source and an automatic shut-off switch for disabling the battery after a preselected time of being in an “

on”

position without movement of the body.

17. A device as claimed in claim 15 including means for repeating a previously programmed movement of the body when a selected control switch is activated.

18. A device as claimed in claim 16 including means for repeating a previously programmed movement of the body when a selected control switch is activated.

19. A programmable toy device comprising:

a body;

a motor for activating a motive generator on the body for causing the body to move relative to a surrounding environment;

a key pad mounted on the body including a series of control switches for operation by a user;

the control switches being in the body and being connected with a microprocessor located in the body for translating signals received from the switches into control signals programming the microprocessor for operating the motor under different programs whereby the body is caused to move in different directions according to the action of the motor on the motive generator; and

the arrangement being such that the motor, motive generator, keypad, switches and microprocessor are contained with the body; and

means for saving a program procedure for the body and means for adding to the program set of actions by adding additional actions.

20. A programmable toy device comprising:

a body;

a motor for activating a motive generator on the body for causing the body to move relative to a surrounding environment;

a key pad mounted on the body including a series of control switches for operation by a user;

the control switches being in the body and being connected with a microprocessor located in the body for translating signals received from the switches into control signals programming the microprocessor for operating the motor under different programs whereby the body is caused to move in different directions according to the action of the motor on the motive generator;

the arrangement being such that the motor, motive generator, keypad, switches and microprocessor are contained with the body; and

means for causing the vehicle to vibrate or shake under the action of the motor on the body.