Activity device

• US 7,238,026 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2004
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Jeffrey A., Weber, Gary E., Clark, Bradley M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom; Kurt
• Application Number:
  US10/980,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20060093995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 434/258, 434/259, 434/260, 434/319, 446/175, 446/397, 446/408, 844/70.R, 844/76, 846/00, 846/09
• US Class Current: 434/258
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 1/36 the elements being connectible by corresponding projections and recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied

Abstract

A multiple-sided activity device for toy blocks is disclosed. The activity device has a first side including a first activity adapted to interact with at least one of the plurality of toy blocks. The activity device also has a second side distinct from the first side, the second side including a block recognition mechanism configured to selectively interact with any of the plurality of toy blocks to identify which of the plurality of toy blocks is interacting with the block recognition mechanism and to produce block-specific sensory stimulating output.

Claims

1. An activity device for use with a plurality of toy blocks, at least two of the toy blocks being of substantially similar geometric shape, the activity device comprising:

a first side including a first activity configured to receive at least one of the plurality of toy blocks, the first activity comprising a block receiving portion;

a second side distinct from said first side, said second side including a block recognition mechanism configured to receive any of the plurality of toy blocks, wherein the block recognition unit identifies which of the plurality of toy blocks is received in said block recognition mechanism; and

a control unit to produce a block-specific sensory output in response to the selective interaction with said block recognition mechanism,

wherein said first activity does not include a block recognition mechanism.

2. The activity device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said block-specific sensory output is block-specific sound output.

3. The activity device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said block-specific sound output is verbal.

4. The activity device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said block-specific sound output is a sound effect.

5. The activity device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said block-specific sound output is musical.

6. The activity device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said block-specific sensory output is visual output.

7. The activity device as claimed in claim 1 further including a third side distinct from said first side and said second side, wherein said third side includes a second activity comprising a second block receiving portion to receive at least one of the plurality of toy blocks.

8. The activity device as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of said first activity and said second activity is a toy block sorting activity including at least two distinct openings for receiving at least one of the plurality of toy blocks.

9. The activity device as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of said first activity and said second activity is a block stacking activity comprising a block stacking portion which receives at least two of the plurality of toy blocks in a stacked relationship.

10. The activity device as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of said first activity and said second activity is a block drop activity including a mechanism for selectively allowing at least one of the plurality of toy blocks to drop out of the activity device.

11. The activity device as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of said first activity and said second activity is a pachinko block activity including at least one block deflecting post.

12. The activity device as claimed in claim 7 further including a fourth side distinct from said first side, said second side, and said third side, wherein said fourth side includes a third activity comprising a third receiving portion to receive at least one of the plurality of toy blocks.

13. The activity device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activity device is cube shaped.

14. The activity device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said block recognition mechanism includes a mechanical switch matrix activated by interaction with at least one of the plurality of toy blocks.

15. The activity device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said switch matrix includes a plurality of switches adapted to interact with a pattern on at least one of the plurality of toy blocks.

16. The activity device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said pattern includes a series of raised or recessed concentric rings.

17. A method of producing sensory output in an activity device for use with a plurality of toy blocks, at least two of the toy blocks having a substantially similar geometric shape, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an activity device for use with a plurality of toy blocks, the activity device including a first side and a second side;

providing a first activity including a first receiving portion to receive at least one of the plurality of toy blocks on said first side of the activity device;

providing a block recognition mechanism to receive one or more of the plurality of toy blocks, the block recognition mechanism being positioned on said second side of the activity device; and

engaging any of the plurality of toy blocks with the block recognition mechanism to produce a block-specific sensory output,

wherein the first activity does not include a block recognition mechanism.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the block-specific sensory output is sound output.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said block-specific sound output is verbal.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said block-specific sound output is a sound effect.

21. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said block-specific sound output is musical.

22. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the block-specific sensory output is visual output.

23. The method as claimed in claim 17 further comprising the step of providing a second activity including a second receiving portion to receive at least one of the plurality of toy blocks on a third side of the activity device, the third side being distinct from said first side and said second side.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein one of the first activity and the second activity is a block sorting activity including at least two distinct openings for receiving at least one of the plurality of toy blocks.

25. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein one of the first activity and the second activity is a block stacking activity comprising a block stacking portion which receives at least two of the plurality of toy blocks in a stacked relationship.

26. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein one of the first activity and the second activity is a block drop activity including a mechanism for selectively allowing at least one of the plurality of toy blocks to drop out of the activity device.

27. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein one of the first activity and the second activity is a pachinko block activity comprising at least one block deflecting post.

28. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the activity device is cube shaped.

29. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the block recognition mechanism includes a mechanical switch matrix activated by interaction with a physical pattern on at least one of the plurality of toy blocks.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the physical pattern includes a series of raised or recessed concentric rings.

31. An activity device for use with a plurality of toy blocks, at least two of the toy blocks being of substantially similar geometric shape, the activity device comprising:

a first side including a first activity configured to receive at least one of the plurality of toy blocks, the first activity comprising a block receiving portion;

a second side, distinct from, and perpendicular to said first side, said second side including a block recognition mechanism configured to receive any of the plurality of toy blocks, wherein the block recognition unit identifies which of the plurality of toy blocks is received in said block recognition mechanism; and

a control unit to produce a block-specific sensory output in response to the selective interaction with said block recognition mechanism.

32. The activity device as claimed in claim 31, wherein said block-specific sensory output is block-specific sound output.

33. The activity device as claimed in claim 32, wherein said block-specific sound output is at least one of verbal output, a sound effect, musical output, and visual output.

34. The activity device as claimed in claim 31 further including a third side distinct from and perpendicular to said first side and said second side, wherein said third side includes a second activity comprising a second receiving portion to receive at least one of the plurality of toy blocks.

35. The activity device as claimed in claim 34, wherein one of said first activity and said second activity is a toy block sorting activity including at least two distinct openings for receiving at least one of the plurality of toy blocks, a block stacking activity comprising a block stacking portion which receives at least two of the plurality of toy blocks in a stacked relationship, a block drop activity including a mechanism for selectively allowing at least one of the plurality of toy blocks to drop out of the activity device, or a pachinko block activity including at least one block deflecting post.