Motion induced sound and light generating system

• US 6,416,381 B1
• Filed: 08/15/2000
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Little Tikes Company The
• Original Assignee: Little Tikes Company The
• Inventors: Fuligni, Matt, Walter, Christopher G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US09/639,243
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 446/29, 446/297, 446/298, 446/175, 446/438, 446/219, 446/236, 446/397, 472/95, 472/102, 472/96, 472/98, 200/153.A, 200/61.52, 250/349
• US Class Current: 446/397
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 13/00 Cradle swings; Rocking-horses; Like devices resting on the ground
• 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 motion sensing device for producing either an audio or a visual output includes a toy body, a motion sensor, either a sound generating device or a light generating device, and a control circuit. The motion sensor is coupled to the toy body. The motion sensor defines a cavity and has at least three contacts and a moveable object disposed in the cavity. The moveable object is positionable between at least a first position in which, the movable object bridges a first combination of two of the at least three contacts to form a first circuit input, and a second position, in which the moveable object bridges a second combination of two of the at least three contacts forming a second circuit input. The control circuit is coupled to the toy body and is electrically coupled to the motion sensor and to the generating device. The control circuit is configured to transmit a varying actuation signal to the generating device based upon the rate of change of the moveable object between the first position and the second position. In another aspect of the invention, a toy includes a toy body, a control unit, a motion sensor, either a generating device, and a control circuit. In another aspect of the invention, a control unit for a riding toy having a toy body is provided and includes a housing, a motion sensing means, a generating device, and a control circuit. The housing is removably coupled to the toy body of the riding toy.

Claims

1. A motion sensing device for producing at least one of an audio and a visual output, the device comprising:

a toy body;

a motion sensor coupled to the toy body, the motion sensor defining a cavity, the motion sensor having at least three contacts and a moveable object disposed in the cavity;

at least one of a sound generating device and a light generating device coupled to the toy body; and

a control circuit coupled to the toy body and electrically coupled to the motion Se or and to the at least one of the sound generating device and the light generating device, the control circuit transmitting a signal to the at least one of the sound generating device and the light generating device, the signal having a characteristic based upon the rate of change of the moveable object within the cavity.

2. The motion sensing device of claim 1, wherein the moveable object is positionable between at least a first position in which the movable object bridges a first combination of two of the at least three contacts to form a first circuit input, and a second position, in which the moveable object bridges a second combination of two of the at least three contacts forming a second circuit input.

3. The motion sensing device of claim 1, wherein the moveable object is made of conductive material.

4. The motion sensing device of claim 1, wherein the moveable object is a metal ball.

5. The motion sensing device of claim 1, wherein the sound generating device is a sound transducer and wherein the light emitting device is at least one light emitting diode.

6. The motion sensing device of claim 1, wherein the signal is a varying actuation signal causes the sound generating device to produce a series of vehicle related sounds.

7. The motion sensing device of claim 1 wherein the toy body is selected from the group consisting of a rocking device, a climbing device, a rolling device, a swing, and a sliding device.

8. A toy comprising:

a toy body;

a control unit removably connected to the toy body;

a motion sensor coupled to the control unit, the motion sensor defining a cavity, the motion sensor having a first and second set of contacts and a moveable object disposed in the cavity, the moveable object positionable between at least a first position in which, the movable object bridges the first set of contacts, and a second position, in which the moveable object bridges the second set of contacts;

at least one of a sound generating device and a light generating device coupled to the control unit; and

a control circuit coupled to the control unit and electrically coupled to the motion sensor and to the at least one of the sound generating device and the light generating device, the control circuit transmitting a varying actuation signal to the at least one of the sound generating device and the light generating device based upon the rate of change of the moveable object between the first position and the second position.

9. The toy of claim 8, wherein the toy is a riding toy and wherein the toy body includes a seat.

10. The toy of claim 9, wherein the toy body has an arcuate lower surface.

11. The toy of claim 10, wherein the toy body is in the shape of a motorcycle.

12. The toy of claim 9, wherein the control unit includes at least one handle.

13. The toy of claim 8, wherein the toy body is in the shape of a vehicle.

14. The toy of claim 8, further comprising a battery operated power supply coupled to the control unit and electrically coupled to the control circuit.

15. A control unit for a toy having a toy body, the control unit comprising:

a housing removably coupled to the toy body of the riding toy;

motion sensing means coupled to the housing;

at least one of a sound generating device and a light generating device coupled to the housing; and

a control circuit coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the motion sensing means and to the at least one of the sound generating device and the light generating device, the control circuit transmits, during operation, a varying actuation signal to the at least one of the sound generating device and the light generating device based upon the rate of generally cyclical motion of the toy body.

16. The control unit of claim 15, wherein the motion sensing means includes a first and second set of contacts and positionable contact means, the moveable object positionable between at least a first position in which, the movable object bridges the first set of contacts, and a second position, in which the moveable object bridges the second set of contact.

17. The control unit of claim 15 wherein the housing includes at least one handle.

18. A motion sensing device for producing at least one of an audio and a visual output, the device comprising:

a toy body;

a motion sensor coupled to the toy body, the motion sensor defining a cavity, the motion sensor having at least three contacts and a moveable object disposed in the cavity;

at least one of a sound generating device and a light generating device coupled to the toy body; and

a control circuit coupled to the toy body and electrically coupled to the motion sensor and to the at least one of the sound generating device and the light generating device, the control circuit transmitting a signal to the at least one of the sound generating device and the light generating device, the signal having a characteristic based upon the duration of motion of the moveable object.

19. A toy comprising:

a toy body shaped as a vehicle;

a control unit removably connected to the toy body, wherein a portion of the control unit resembles a dash board;

a motion sensor coupled to the control unit, the motion sensor defining a cavity, the motion sensor having a first and second set of contacts and a moveable object disposed in the cavity, the moveable object positionable between at least a first position in which, the movable object bridges the first set of contacts, and a second position, in which the moveable object bridges the second set of contacts;

at least one of a sound generating device and a light generating device coupled to the control unit; and

a control circuit coupled to the control unit and electrically coupled to the motion sensor and to the at least one of the sound generating device and the light generating device, the control circuit configured to transmit a varying actuation signal to the at least one of the sound generating device and the light generating device based upon the rate of change of the moveable object between the first position and the second position.

20. A toy comprising:

a toy body shaped as a vehicle;

a control unit removably connected to the toy body;

a motion sensor coupled to the control unit, the motion sensor defining a cavity, the motion sensor having a first and second set of contacts and a moveable object disposed in the cavity, the moveable object positionable between at least a first position in which, the movable object bridges the first set of contacts, and a second position, in which the moveable object bridges the second set of contacts;

at least one of a sound generating device and a light generating device coupled to the control unit; and

a control circuit coupled to the control unit and electrically coupled to the motion sensor and to the at least one of the sound generating device and the light generating device, the control circuit configured to transmit a varying actuation signal to the at least one of the sound generating device and the light generating device based upon the rate of change of the moveable object between the first position and the second position,

wherein the control unit includes at least one light and a plurality of pushbuttons, the pushbuttons configured to cause the sound generating device of the control unit to emit one of a sound and a series of sounds.

21. The toy of claim 20, wherein the control unit is configured to produce a series of sounds selected from the group consisting of:

a siren, a horn, words, engine sounds, and a combination thereof.