Interactive toy
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A developmental toy for small children, the toy comprisinga contacting member;
- an electric motor that rotates the contacting member to move the toy along a surface;
a sensor responsive to input from a child; and
a controller that, in response to indication from the sensor of receipt of the input, signals the electric motor to move the toy from a starting position for an initial period of time in an initial direction, signals the motor to wait a waiting period of time, and if no further input is received within the waiting period of time, signals the motor to move the toy in an opposite sense, generally toward the starting location, at an angle between about 90 degrees to about 270 degrees relative to the initial direction.
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Abstract
A developmental toy for small children includes a contacting member is rotated by an electric motor and a controller that, in response to input from a sensor, signals the electric motor to move the toy from a starting position for an initial period of time in an initial direction and signals the motor to wait a resting period of time. If no further input is received from a child that is detected by the sensor within the resting period of time, the controller signals the motor to move the toy back in an opposite sense, toward the starting location.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A developmental toy for small children, the toy comprising
a contacting member; -
an electric motor that rotates the contacting member to move the toy along a surface;
a sensor responsive to input from a child; and
a controller that, in response to indication from the sensor of receipt of the input, signals the electric motor to move the toy from a starting position for an initial period of time in an initial direction, signals the motor to wait a waiting period of time, and if no further input is received within the waiting period of time, signals the motor to move the toy in an opposite sense, generally toward the starting location, at an angle between about 90 degrees to about 270 degrees relative to the initial direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for developing motor skills of a small child using a toy, the method comprising:
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providing control circuitry for controlling actuation of a motor, the motor configured to rotate a drive shaft in a first direction and in an opposite, second direction;
operatively connecting the drive shaft to a contacting member to cause rotation of the contacting member, the contacting member configured to move the toy a distance;
signaling the control circuitry to actuate the motor to rotate the drive shaft in the first direction for moving the toy in an initial direction for an initial period of time along a surface in response to a first induced motion of the toy;
signaling the control circuitry to discontinue actuation of the motor for a waiting period of time; and
in the absence of a second induced motion for the waiting period of time, signaling the control circuitry to actuate the motor in the second direction for moving the toy in a sense generally opposite and at an angle between about 90 degrees to about 270 degrees relative to the initial direction.
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20. A developmental toy for small children comprising:
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a contacting member configured to move the toy;
a bi-directional motor including a drive shaft operatively connected to the contacting member, the bi-directional motor configured to rotate the drive shaft in a first direction and in a second, opposite direction; and
control means for actuating the bi-directional motor to rotate the contacting member and move the toy along a surface a distance in an initial direction and for pausing the bi-directional motor to maintain a position of the toy;
wherein, in response to a first induced motion, the control means actuates the bi-directional motor in the first direction for a first period of time and pauses the bi-directional motor after the first period of time for a resting period of time; and
wherein, in the absence of a second induced motion during the resting period of time, the control means actuates the bi-directional motor in the second direction at an angle between about 90 degrees to about 270 degrees relative to the initial direction for a second period of time. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for developing the motor skills of a child using a developmental toy having a contacting member, an electric motor that rotates the contacting member to move the toy along a surface, a sensor responsive to input from a child and a controller that, in response to indication from the sensor of receipt of the input, signals the electric motor to move the toy in an initial direction, the method comprising:
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in response to indication from the sensor, moving the toy from an initial position for a first period of time;
pausing the toy for a resting period of time; and
if no signal received from the sensor within the resting period of time, moving the toy in an opposite sense, generally toward the starting location at an angle between about 90 degrees to about 270 degrees relative to the initial direction.
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Specification