Toy

• US 7,059,934 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2004
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Origin Products Limited (Mattel Incorporated)
• Inventors: Whitehead, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Ricci, John A.
• Application Number:
  US10/912,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20050032458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 446476-478, 446/487, 446/484, 446/485, 446/129, 446/91, 446/82, 273237-238
• US Class Current: 446/477
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/52 Dolls' houses, furniture or other equipment simulating liquid flow A63H33/3022; Dolls' clothing or footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/042 Mechanical, electrical, optical, pneumatic or hydraulic arrangements; Motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/046 comprising magnetic interaction means, e.g. holding together by magnetic attraction
• 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

The invention relates to the provision of a play area of a toy, typically a model, said play area provided for the selective placement of toy articles thereon, at least one of which has a function which is activated by the provision of electrical power to the article. The play area is provided with electrically conductive material on at least a portion thereof which is connected to a power supply such that when the article, which has electrical contacts thereon, is placed on the play area portion, power is supplied to the article and the function activated.

Claims

1. A toy, said toy including a playbase and/or play surface and, at least one article, said article provided for selective positioning on the playbase and/or surfaces and provided with location means to allow the said article to be retained in a selected position, said at least one article having a function which can be seletively changed between an inactive condition and an active condition and wherein at least one portion of the playbase or play surface includes two electrically conductive material portions connected to a power supply defining electrical tracks, a first track connected to a positive terminal of a power supply, a second track connected to a negative terminal of the power simply, the two tracks separated by non-conductive material and are adjacent substantially along the length and said article includes first and second electrical contacts such that the article can be placed with a first contact on said first or second track and a second contact on the other of the first or second tracks to complete an electrical circuit, said tracks supplying power to the article to change the said function to an active condition.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the article includes a base and the contacts are located at the base of said article.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the contacts also act as retaining means to retain or attract the article to said surface.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the playbase or play surfaces include or are formed by a magnetically attractive material.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the contacts on the article are magnetic.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the contacts act to securely locate the article on the playbase or surface to allow electrical contact.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the track or tracks are applied by the application of a conductive ink.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the spacing between adjacent tracks matches the spacing of the electrical contacts on the article.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the track is applied in a configuration so as to ensure that the adjacent portions of the track are spanned by the base of the article.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one function is any, or any combination of, a sound generating means, a movement generating means and/or light generating means.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said one portion includes a boundary having a width greater than the largest size of the contacts on the article.

12. A toy model, said model depicting a play environment in which one or a series of articles can be selectively positioned and retained in said position by engagement means, and wherein said article has a function which is activated upon the supply of electrical power thereto via electrical contacts mounted on the article and said model includes at least one surface on or adjacent to which is provided two electrically conductive tracks over a defined area, said tracks separated by a non-conductive material and the two tracks are adjacent substantially along the length of the boundary, said tracks connected to a power supply such that positioning of said article on the tracks in said defined area causes power to be supplied to activate the function, and the positioning of said article is range-taking with respect to the supply of power.

13. A toy model according to claim 12 wherein the surface has indication means to indicate the position in said defined area where activation of the article function will occur.