Convertible activity toy

• US 6,540,579 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2001
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Frankel, Seth P., Gubitosi, Domenic T., Cimerman, Christopher D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K.
• Application Number:
  US09/855,692
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 446/227, 446/487, 446/478, 472/135, 297/DIG.11, 297/141, 297/136, 297/137, 297/118
• US Class Current: 446/227
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/3622 Specially shaped rolling boards for the balls, e.g. ball tracks
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/00 Other toys

Abstract

A convertible activity toy for promoting gross motor development in children includes a base receivable on a supporting surface and a top coupled to the base. The top includes a first portion and a second portion whereby the first portion is movable from a substantially coplanar orientation relative to the second portion to a substantially non-coplanar orientation relative to the second portion. The top and base define an opening and an interior space so that an infant can crawl through the opening into the interior space when the top is in the substantially coplanar orientation or so that the child may walk the opening and into the interior space or a portion thereof when the top is in the substantially non-coplanar orientation. The top includes activity items that are attractive to an infant and encourages the infant to reach up to the top by pulling up from a seated position to a standing position using handles or grips disposed on the toy. The toy also includes sensory output generators configured to encourage the infant to pull up using the handles or grips to reach the activity items. The convertible feature of the present invention allows the toy to be attractive to both an infant and a toddler and directly encourages and enables the infant to make the transition from crawling to standing.

Claims

1. A toy comprising:

a base receivable on a supporting surface, said base having an upper end, a lower end, and a pathway configured to guide an object from said upper end of said base to said lower end of said base;

a top coupled to said base, said top including a first portion and a second portion, said first portion movable from a substantially coplanar orientation relative to said second portion to a substantially non-coplanar orientation relative to said second portion, said first portion being pivotally coupled to said second portion, said top including a first opening defined therein, said first opening being in communication with said pathway on said base; and

an activity item disposed on one of said base and said top.

2. The toy of claim 1, wherein said top and said base define a second opening and an interior space therebetween, said second opening having a first configuration that allows a child to crawl through said second opening and into said interior space when said top is in said substantially coplanar orientation, said second opening having a second configuration that allows a child to walk through said second opening and into a portion of said interior space when said top is in said substantially non-coplanar orientation.

3. The toy of claim 2, wherein said activity item is coupled to said top and located so that a child in said interior space may interact with said activity item.

4. The toy of claim 2, further comprising:

a sensory output generator; and

an actuator operatively coupled to said sensory output generator and operable to initiate operation of said sensory output generator.

5. The toy of claim 4, wherein said actuator is actuated when a child passes through said second opening.

6. The toy of claim 4, wherein said sensory output generator generates at least one of a visible output and an audible output.

7. The toy of claim 4, wherein said actuator comprises a ball.

8. The toy of claim 1, wherein said top has a substantially annular configuration such that said first portion forms an arch configuration when said first portion is moved to said substantially non-coplanar orientation.

9. The toy of claim 1, wherein said first portion is pivotable about an axis lying in a common plane between said first portion and said second portion.

39. The toy of claim 1, wherein said pathway includes a first track section and a second track section, said toy further comprising:

an exchanger, said exchanger being coupled to said first track section and said second track section, said exchanger being configured to direct an object from said first track section to said second track section.

40. The toy of claim 39, wherein said opening in said top is in communication with said first track section, and said second track section is in communication with said pathway on said base.

41. The toy of claim 3, wherein said activity item is coupled proximate to a center of said first portion, said activity item extending downwardly from said first portion when said first portion is in said substantially coplanar orientation and in said substantially non-coplanar orientation, said activity item being disposed lower than said second portion when said first portion is in said substantially coplanar orientation, and said activity item being disposed higher than said second portion when said second portion is in said substantially non-coplanar orientation.

49. The activity center of claim 40, wherein said top includes a pivot assembly, each of said first portion and said second portion being coupled to said pivot assembly, said pivot assembly being configured to retain said first portion in said second position.

50. The activity center of claim 40, wherein said top includes a sensor coupled thereto, said sensor being disposed proximate to said opening, said sensor being configured to detect the passage of a user through said opening, said sensor being operable when said first portion is in said first position and being rendered inoperable when said first portion is in said second position.

10. A toy comprising:

a base receivable on a supporting surface;

a support coupled to said base and extending upwardly therefrom, said support having an upper end and a lower end, said support including a first column and a second column, each of said first column and said second column extending from proximate to said upper end to proximate to said lower end;

a top coupled to said support, said top including a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being disposable in a first, substantially coplanar orientation relative to said second portion and in a second, substantially non-coplanar orientation relative to said second portion, said second portion being fixedly coupled to said support proximate to said upper end of said support, said first portion being pivotally coupled to said second portion; and

an activity item disposed on one of said base, said support, and said top.

11. The toy of claim 10, wherein said top, said base, and said support define an opening and an interior space therebetween, said opening having a first configuration that allows a child to crawl through said opening and into said interior space when said top is in said substantially coplanar orientation, said opening having a second configuration that allows a child to walk through said opening and into a portion of the interior space when said top is in said substantially non-coplanar orientation.

12. The toy of claim 11, wherein said activity item is coupled to said first portion of said top, said activity item being disposed so that a child can interact with said activity item while entering said opening.

13. The toy of claim 10, wherein said base and said support further define a pathway for guiding an object from an upper end of said support to said base.

14. The toy of claim 13, wherein said top further comprises an opening formed therein and in communication with said pathway.

15. The toy of claim 11, further comprising:

a sensory output generator; and

an actuator operatively coupled to said sensory output generator and operable to initiate operation of said sensory output generator.

16. The toy of claim 15, wherein said actuator is actuated when the child passes through said opening.

17. The toy of claim 15, wherein said sensory output generator generates at least one of a visible output and an audible output.

18. The toy of claim 15, wherein said actuator is a ball.

19. The toy of claim 10, wherein said top has a substantially annular configuration such that said first portion forms an arch configuration when said first portion is moved to said substantially non-coplanar orientation.

20. The toy of claim 10, wherein said first portion is pivotable about an axis lying in a common plane between said first portion and said second portion.

42. The toy of claim 15, wherein said actuator is operable when said first portion is in said first orientation, and said actuator is rendered inoperable when said first portion is in said second orientation.

43. The toy of claim 13, wherein said pathway extends between said first column and said second column.

44. The toy of claim 43, wherein said first column has an upper end, a lower end, and an opening proximate to said upper end, said first column opening being in communication with said pathway, said second column has an upper end, a lower end, and an opening proximate to its lower end, said second column opening being in communication with said pathway.

45. The toy of claim 10, wherein at least one of said first column and said second column includes a handle coupled thereto and said base is substantially U-shaped.

21. A convertible activity center comprising:

a body portion including a base receivable on a supporting surface and a top rotatable from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, said top and said base defining an interior space therebetween and an exterior space, said base further including an opening through which a child can pass between said interior space and said exterior space;

a plurality of activity items disposed on said body portion and arranged so that the child may interact with said activity items by one of crawling through said opening into said interior space and walking through said opening into a portion of said interior space;

a sensory output generator; and

an actuator operatively coupled to said sensory output generator and operable to initiate operation of said sensory output generator, said actuator being configured to be acutated when a child passes through said opening.

22. The convertible activity center of claim 21, wherein said body portion further includes a pathway for guiding an object from an upper end of said body portion to a lower end of said body portion.

23. The convertible activity center of claim 21, wherein said sensory output generator generates at least one of a visible output and an audible output.

24. The convertible activity center of claim 21, wherein said actuator comprises a ball.

46. The convertible activity center of claim 21, further comprising:

a sensor, said sensor being coupled to said top and being operatively connected to said sensory output generator, activation of said sensor causing said sensory output generator to generate an output.

47. The convertible activity center of claim 46, wherein said top has a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being pivotably coupled to said second portion, said first portion being disposable in a first orientation substantially coplanar with said second portion and in a second orientation substantially perpendicular to said second portion.

48. The convertible activity center of claim 47, wherein said sensor is coupled to said first portion, said sensor being operable when said first portion is in said first orientation, and said sensor being rendered inoperable when said first portion is in said second orientation.

25. An activity center comprising:

a base receivable upon a supporting surface;

a top having a general annular configuration and being coupled to said base, said top having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being pivotally coupled to said second portion, said first portion of said top being rotatable relative to said second portion from a first position to a second position to form an arch configuration with respect to said second portion, said first portion and said second portion being substantially coplanar when said first portion is in said first position; and

a plurality of activity items disposed on one of said base and said top and configured for engagement by a child, and

wherein said top and said base define a child play area, said child play area being configured so that a child can be located in said child play area in one of a standing position and a seated position.

26. The activity center of claim 25, wherein said base further includes a pathway for guiding an object from an upper end of said base to a lower end of said base.

27. The activity center of claim 26, wherein said top further comprises an opening formed therein and in communication with said pathway.

28. The activity center of claim 25, further comprising:

a sensory output generator; and

an actuator operatively coupled to said sensory output generator and operable to initiate operation of said sensory output generator.

29. The activity center of claim 28, wherein said actuator is actuated when the child engages one of said plurality of activity items.

30. The activity center of claim 28, wherein said sensory output generator generates at least one of a visible output and an audible output.

31. The activity center of claim 28, wherein said actuator comprises a ball.

32. An activity center comprising:

a base receivable upon a supporting surface;

a support coupled to said base and extending upwardly therefrom;

a top having a general circular configuration and coupled to said support, a portion of said top rotatable from a first position to a second position to form an arch configuration; and

a plurality of activity items disposed on one of said base, said support, and said top configured for engagement by a child, and

wherein said top, said support, and said base define a child play area configured to accommodate the child in one of a standing or a seated position.

33. The activity center of claim 32, wherein said base and said support further include a pathway for guiding an object from an upper end of said support to said base.

34. The activity center of claim 33, wherein said top further comprises an opening formed therein and in communication with said pathway.

35. The activity center of claim 32, further comprising:

a sensory output generator; and

an actuator operatively coupled to said sensory output generator and operable to initiate operation of said sensory output generator.

36. The activity center of claim 35, wherein said actuator is actuated when the child engages one of said plurality of activity items.

37. The activity center of claim 35, wherein said sensory output generator generates at least one of a visible output and an audible output.

38. The activity center of claim 35, wherein said actuator comprises a ball.

51. The activity center of claim 34, wherein said support includes a first column and a second column, said first column having an upper end and an opening proximate to said upper end, said opening of said column being in communication with said pathway.

52. The activity center of claim 35, further comprising:

a sensor, said sensor being coupled to said first portion and being operatively connected to said sensory output generator, activation of said sensor causing said sensory output generator to generate an output, said sensor being operable when said first portion is in said first position, and said sensor being rendered inoperable when said first portion is in said second position.

53. An infant activity toy having multiple configurations, said toy comprising:

a base, said base being configured to be disposed on a supporting surface;

a support, said support including a first column and a second column, each of said first column and said second column including an upper end and a lower end; and

a substantially annular top, said top including a first portion and a second portion, said second portion being fixedly coupled to said support, said first portion being arch-shaped and having a first end and a second end, said second portion being arch-shaped and its own first end and second end, said first end of said first portion being pivotally coupled to said first end of said second portion, said second end of said first portion being pivotally coupled to said second end of said second portion, said first portion being selectively positionable in a first orientation and in a second orientation relative to said second portion, said first portion being substantially coplanar with said second portion in said first orientation, said first portion being substantially perpendicular to said second portion in said second orientation, said first portion and said base defining an opening therebetween, said opening having a first configuration when said first portion is in said first orientation so that a child may crawl through said opening, said opening having a second configuration when said first portion is in said second orientation so that a child may walk through said opening, said second configuration being larger than said first configuration, an a portion of said opening having an arch shape defined by said first portion.

54. The infant activity toy of claim 53, wherein said first column includes an upper end, a lower end, and an opening disposed proximate to said upper end, said second column including an upper end, a lower end, and an opening disposed proximate to its lower end, said support including a pathway extending between said first column opening and said second column opening.

55. The activity center of claim 54, further comprising:

a sensory output generator; and

a sensor, said sensor being coupled to said first portion and being operatively connected to said sensory output generator, activation of said sensor causing said sensory output generator to generate an output, said sensor being operable when said first portion is in said first position, and said sensor being rendered inoperable when said first portion is in said second position.