Magnetic switch and apparatus including magnetic switch

• US 7,167,675 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lynch, Larry, Freeman, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrera; Ramon M.
• Application Number:
  US10/966,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20060082429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 335205-207, 200/404, 434/317
• US Class Current: 434/317
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/00 Dolls puppets or marionettes for shows or theatres A63J19/006
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/38 Picture books with additional toy effects, e.g. pop-up or slide displays picture books B42D1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/0006 Permanent magnet actuating reed switches H01H35/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/0066 magnet being removable, e.g. part of key pencil
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/0073 actuated by relative movement between two magnets

Abstract

A magnetic switch and children'"'"'s apparatuses, such as print media apparatuses and plush dolls, which include magnetic switches are disclosed. One magnetic switch includes a first conductor and a second conductor spaced apart from the first conductor. A third conductor is disposed under the first and second conductors, the third conductor being formed from a magnetic material. A magnet is also included, the magnet being adapted to move the third conductor towards the first and second conductors so as to form a conductive bridge. Another magnetic switch includes a first conductor and a second conductor spaced apart from the first conductor. A first magnet is disposed under the first and second conductors. A second magnet is also included, the second magnet being adapted to move the first magnet so that the first and second conductors form a conductive bridge.

Claims

1. A magnetic switch comprising:

(a) a first conductor;

(b) a second conductor spaced apart from the first conductor;

(c) a first magnet disposed under the first and second conductors; and

(d) a second movable magnet adapted to move the first magnet so that the first and second conductors form a conductive bridge.

2. The magnetic switch of claim 1, wherein the first and second conductors are formed from non-magnetic material.

3. The magnetic switch of claim 2, wherein the first and second conductors are formed from copper, bronze, silver, or gold material.

4. The magnetic switch of claim 1, wherein the first or second magnet is formed from ferrous, iron, nickel, or cobalt material.

5. The magnetic switch of claim 1, wherein the first magnet is non-conductive.

6. The magnetic switch of claim 1, wherein the first magnet is coupled to the second conductor and the second magnet is adapted to move the first magnet and the second conductor towards the first conductor.

7. The magnetic switch of claim 1, wherein the first and second magnets are aligned along an axis.

8. The magnetic switch of claim 1, wherein the second magnet is laminated.

9. A print media apparatus comprising:

(a) a platform including a surface;

(b) at least one magnetic switch under the surface, the at least one magnetic switch including first and second spaced apart conductors and a first magnet disposed under the first and second conductors;

(c) a processor coupled to the at least one magnetic switch; and

(d) a book on the surface, wherein a second movable magnet is coupled to a page of the book and adapted to move the first magnet so that the first and second conductors form a conductive bridge.

10. The print media apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one magnetic switch comprises a plurality of magnetic switches offset at different locations in the platform under the surface.

11. The print media apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second magnet comprises a plurality of magnets offset at different locations on a plurality of pages.

12. The print media apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

(e) a speaker coupled to the processor.

13. The print media apparatus of claim 9, wherein the book is a children'"'"'s book.

14. The print media apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first and second conductors are formed from non-magnetic material.

15. The print media apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first and second conductors are formed from copper, bronze, silver, or gold material.

16. The print media apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first or second magnet is formed from ferrous, iron, nickel, or cobalt material.

17. The print media apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first magnet is non-conductive.

18. The print media apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first magnet is coupled to the second conductor and the second magnet is adapted to move the first magnet and the second conductor towards the first conductor.

19. The print media apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first and second magnets are aligned along an axis.

20. A print media apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first and second conductors form a conductive bridge when the second magnet moves downward towards the first magnet.

21. A print media apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first magnet is coupled to the second conductor and the second magnet moves the first magnet and the second conductor towards the first conductor when the second magnet moves downward towards the first magnet.

22. A print media apparatus of claim 9 wherein the second magnet is disposed directly above the first ad second conductors and the first magnet is disposed directly under the first and second conductors.

23. A print media apparatus of claim 9 wherein the second magnet is and the first conductor are aligned along a axis.

24. A print media apparatus of claim 9 wherein a end of the first magnet is attracted to an adjacent end of the second magnet.

25. A print media apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first magnet lies completely below the first and second conductors.

26. A print media apparatus comprising:

(a) a platform including a surface;

(b) at least one magnetic switch under the surface, the at least one magnetic switch including first and second so spaced apart conductors and a first magnet disposed under the first and second conductors;

(c) a processor coupled to the at least one magnetic switch; and

(d) a book on the surface, wherein a second movable magnet is coupled to a page of the book and adapted to move the first magnet so that the first and second conductors form a conductive bridge, wherein the second magnet is embedded within the page.

27. A print media apparatus comprising:

(a) a platform including a surface;

(b) at least one magnetic switch under the surface, the at least one magnetic switch including first and second spaced apart conductors and a first magnet disposed under the first and second conductors;

(c) a processor coupled to the at least one magnetic switch; and

(d) a children'"'"'s book on the surface, wherein a second magnet is embedded within a page of the book and adapted to move the first magnet so that the first and second conductors form a conductive bridge.