Interactive apparatus with interactive device

• US 7,033,178 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2004
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wood, Michael C., Soto, Jorge Gabriel
• Primary Examiner(s): ACKUN, JACOB K
• Application Number:
  US10/819,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20040191733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 473/571, 443/242, 443/243, 443/265, 443/266, 443/484, 443/397, 443/409, 434/81, 434/206, 446/242, 446/243, 446/265, 446/266, 446/484, 446/397, 446/409, 446/175
• US Class Current: 434/81
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/00 Other toys
• 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

An interactive apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a interactive ball includes (a) a plurality of indicia, (b) a processor and memory unit operatively coupled to the plurality of indicia, (c) an audio output unit operatively coupled to the processor and memory unit, (d) a first outer surface; and (e) a second outer surface that is recessed with respect to the first outer surface, wherein the plurality of indicia are present at the second outer surface.

Claims

1. An interactive apparatus comprising:

a rigid holder comprising a pair of arms;

an interactive device comprising

(a) a plurality of letters or numbers disposed around an equatorial band around the device;

(b) a motion sensor unit,

(c) a processor and memory unit operatively coupled to the motion sensor unit, and

(d) an audio output unit operatively coupled to the processor and memory unit,

wherein the interactive device is mounted on a portion of the holder so that the interactive device is able to undergo a revolving motion in relation to the portion of the holder upon which it is mounted, and wherein the revolving motion causes the interactive device to play a song, and wherein stopping of the revolving motion causes the playing of the song to stop, and

wherein the pair of arms hold the interactive device so that the plurality of letters or numbers is displayed to the user.

2. The interactive apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is capable being spun by a user in a uniaxial direction while the device is held by the holder.

3. A device including

a rigid holder;

and

an interactive device mounted on a portion of the holder so that the interactive device is able to undergo a revolving motion in relation to the portion of the holder upon which it is mounted, wherein the interactive device comprises

(a) a motion sensor unit,

(b) a processor and memory unit operatively coupled to the motion sensor unit, and

(c) an audio output unit operatively coupled to the processor and memory unit,

wherein the revolving motion causes the interactive device to play a song, and wherein stopping of the revolving motion causes the playing of the song to stop.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the song stops at a song halt point, and wherein the song begins playing from the song halt point after the revolving motion re-starts.

5. The device of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of indicia.

6. The device of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of indicia, wherein the plurality of indicia, the processor and memory unit and the audio output unit are configured such that when an indicium of one of the plurality of indicia is pressed, the depressed indicium is phonetically pronounced.

7. The device of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of indicia, wherein each indicium in the plurality of indicia corresponds to a different song.

8. The device of claim 3 further comprising:

a plurality of lights disposed on the interactive device.

9. The device of claim 3, wherein the interactive device includes a first outer surface and a second outer surface, the second outer surface recessed below the first outer surface, and

wherein the plurality of indicia is disposed at the second outer surface are below the first outer surface.

10. The device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of indicia is in the form of buttons disposed below the first outer surface.

11. The device of claim 3, wherein the second outer surface includes an equatorial band.

12. The device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of indicia is alphanumeric indicia.

13. The device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of indicia includes the 26 letters of the alphabet.

14. The device of claim 3, wherein the audio output unit includes a sound synthesizer and speaker.

15. The device of claim 3, wherein the motion sensor unit includes at least one ball-in-cage motion sensor.

16. The device of claim 3, wherein an outer surface of the device is formed at least partially of a soft material.