Infant-operable remote controlled entertainment and education device and system

• US 6,746,299 B1
• Filed: 12/06/2002
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Graf
• Original Assignee: David Graf
• Inventors: Graf, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABDELWAHED, ALI F
• Application Number:
  US10/313,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20040110445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 446/227, 446/454, 446/456, 446/491
• US Class Current: 446/227
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/006 Infant exercisers, e.g. for attachment to a crib
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/22 Optical, colour, or shadow toys puzzles with optical elements A63F9/0613; kaleidoscopes G02B27/08
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/26 Magnetic or electric toys electric drives A63H29/22 ; indoor games played with small balls using magnetic power A63F7/0088, A63F7/068

Abstract

An Infant-Operable Remote Controlled Entertainment and Education Device and System is disclosed. Also disclosed is a system that includes a control device that is safe to be left with unsupervised infants. The system further includes a responder device that is in communication with the control device. The control device has a plurality of buttons or other touch-sensitive portions dispersed on its face, and each of these buttons has a unique shape or design displayed thereon. Correspondingly, the responder device includes a plurality of figures or members that have shapes or display designs that correspond to the buttons on the control device. In operation, touching or pressing one of the control buttons or touch-sensitive portions of the control device will cause one of the figures or members on the responder device to animate or otherwise agitate in response. In view of the fascination that infants have with remote control devices, it is expected that the link between pressing a control device button and receiving a response from the responder device will provide an educational experience to the infant.

Claims

1. An infant-operable entertainment system, comprising:

a responder assembly comprising a housing and a first responder module;

an infant-operable control assembly, configured for placement within reach of an infant for tactile interaction therewith by said infant, said control assembly comprising a base and a first control module, said control assembly in communication with said responder assembly; and

whereby said control assembly to responder assembly communication causes said first responder module to agitate responsive to activation of said first control module, wherein said first control module comprises a first indicia displayed thereon and said first responder module further comprises said first indicia displayed thereon.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said agitation comprises a light being illuminated.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said agitation comprises movement of a three-dimensional figure.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said responder assembly further comprises an audio output device, said audio output device configured to provide audible sounds responsive to activation of said first control module.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said control assembly further comprises a second control module and said responder assembly further comprises a second responder module, whereby said control assembly to responder assembly communication causes said second responder module to agitate responsive to activation of said second control module.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said control assembly further comprises a third control module and said responder assembly further comprises a third responder module, whereby said control assembly to responder assembly communication causes said third responder module to agitate responsive to activation of said third control module.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said control assembly further comprises a fourth control module and said responder assembly further comprises a fourth responder module, whereby said control assembly to responder assembly communication causes said fourth responder module to agitate responsive to activation of said fourth control module.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein:

said three-dimensional figure defines a first shape; and

said first indicia substantially depicts said first shape.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein:

said three-dimensional figure defines a first shape; and

said first control module defines said first shape.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said control assembly comprises a housing, said housing configured to be handheld by an infant.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said control assembly contains multiple symbolically identifiable selections having appearances that are symbolically identifiable and distinct from one another, each said symbolically identifiable selection corresponding to a similar feature on said responder assembly defined by a similar appearance, each said responder assembly feature having said appearance that is distinct from said other responder assembly features comprising said responder assembly, whereby when said symbolically identifiable selection of said control assembly is activated, feedback is provided to an infant user via agitation of said responder assembly feature having a similar said appearance to said appearance of said activated symbolically identifiable selection.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said agitation comprises said eye winking.

12. An infant-operable entertainment system, comprising:

a responder assembly comprising a housing and a plurality of responder modules;

a control assembly comprising a base and a plurality of control modules, each said control module defining an appearance distinct from said other control modules comprising said control assembly, each said control module linked to one discrete said responder module, each said responder module further defining an appearance that is substantially similar to said appearance of one said control module, said responder module appearances being distinct from said other responder modules comprising said responder assembly, said control assembly in communication with said responder assembly and further configured to be safely tactilely interacted with by an unsupervised infant; and

whereby said control assembly to responder assembly communication causes a said responder module to agitate responsive to activation of said control module to which said responder module is linked, and which activated control module has said appearance that is substantially similar to said appearance of said agitating responder module.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein one said control module comprises a star indicia displayed thereon and said linked responder module further comprises said star indicia displayed thereon.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein one said control module defines a star shape and said linked responder module defines said star shape.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein one said responder module comprises a pop-up figure defining a three-dimensional appearance and said linked control module displays indicia defining a two-dimensional appearance substantially representing said three-dimensional appearance of said pop-up figure.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein one said responder module comprises a worm-shaped three-dimensional figure defining a three-dimensional appearance and said linked control module displays indicia defining an appearance substantially representing said three-dimensional appearance of said worm-shaped figure;

and

said housing is further shaped substantially similar to an apple, said housing further defined by at least one aperture formed therein through which said worm-shaped three-dimensional figure can protrude responsive to activation of said linked control module.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein:

said housing is shaped substantially similar to a head of an animal;

one said responder module comprises an eye defining an appearance, said eye attached to said head; and

said linked control module displays indicia substantially representing said appearance of said eye.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein said agitation comprises said star shape rotating.

20. An infant-operable entertainment system, comprising:

a infant-operable control assembly comprising a first and second control module, said first control module displaying a first appearance and said second control module displaying a second appearance said control assembly further configured to be safely tactilely interacted with by an infant;

a responder assembly configured to communicate with said control assembly and further defined by a first responder module displaying said first appearance and a second responder module displaying said second appearance; and

whereby activation of said first control module responsively causes said first responder module to agitate and activation of said second control module responsively causes said second responder module to agitate.