Entertainment toy having multiple configurations

• US 7,244,165 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2002
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Gubitosi, Domenic T., Kelly, Brian S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks; Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cegielnik; Urszula M
• Application Number:
  US10/235,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20040048547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: 472/135, 472/64, 482/66, 482/35, 297/136, 297/137, 446/227, 446/175, 446/143, 446/397, 446/408, 847/18, 847/19, 847/20, 847/21, 847/43, 847/44, 847/45, 847/46, 846/00
• US Class Current: 446/175
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/006 Infant exercisers, e.g. for attachment to a crib
• 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 entertainment toy that can be disposed in multiple configurations is disclosed. In one embodiment, the entertainment toy includes a base having an upper surface, a support frame coupled to the base, and a seat that is configured to hold an infant. The seat is movably mounted on the support frame. The entertainment toy includes an output generating system. In one embodiment, the entertainment toy includes an actuator disposed on the base. The actuator is connected to the output generating system and is disposed to be engaged by a foot of the infant. The output generating system is configured to generate audible and/or visual outputs in response to activation of the actuator.

Claims

1. An entertainment toy for a child, comprising:

a base having an upper surface;

a support frame coupled to said base;

a seat configured to hold an infant, said seat being movably mounted on said support frame;

an output generating system; and

an actuator disposed on said base and connected to said output generating system, said actuator being disposed to be engaged by a foot of an infant located in said seat, said output generating system generating an output in response to manipulation of said actuator, said entertainment toy having, a first configuration in which said seat is supported on said support frame and a second configuration in which said seat is removed from said support frame.

2. The entertainment toy of claim 1, wherein said support frame includes a first rail and a second rail, and said seat is movably mounted on said first and second rails.

3. The entertainment toy of claim 1, wherein said seat is movable along and selectively disposable in a first position on said support frame and in a second position on said support frame spaced from said first position, said seat being disposable above said actuator in said first position.

4. The entertainment toy of claim 1, wherein said support frame includes a first frame portion and a second frame portion, said second frame portion being substantially parallel to said first frame portion, said seat being mounted for movement between said first frame portion and said second frame portion.

5. The entertainment toy of claim 1, wherein said seat includes a seat frame, a weightbearing portion, and a swivel mechanism, said swivel mechanism being configured to couple said seat frame and said weightbearing portion, said swivel mechanism enabling said weightbearing portion to rotate with respect to said support frame.

6. The entertainment toy of claim 1, wherein said seat is slidably mounted on and is configured to be removed from said support frame.

7. The entertainment toy of claim 1, wherein said seat includes a seat frame, a weightbearing portion coupled to said seat frame, and a height adjustment mechanism coupled to said weightbearing portion, said height adjustment mechanism being adjustable to retain the weightbearing portion at a plurality of different heights with respect to said upper surface.

8. An entertainment device comprising:

a base;

a frame, said frame coupled to said base;

a seat, said seat being removably coupled to said frame;

an output generating device; and

an actuator, said actuator being connected to said output generating device and disposed on said base, wherein said seat is configured to be positioned above said actuator when coupled to said frame, and activation of said actuator causes said output generating device to generate an output, said entertainment device having a first configuration in which said seat is supported on said support frame and a second configuration in which said seat is removed from said support frame.

9. The entertainment device of claim 8, wherein said frame includes a first frame portion and a second frame portion, said seat includes a first side and a second side opposite said first side, said first side of said seat being coupled to said first frame portion and said second side of said seat being coupled to said second frame portion.

10. The entertainment device of claim 8, wherein said frame includes a first frame portion and a second frame portion, said second frame portion being substantially parallel to said first frame portion, said seat being mounted for movement with respect to said base between said first frame portion and said second frame portion.

11. The entertainment device of claim 10, wherein said first frame portion includes a first rail, said second frame portion includes a second rail, and said seat includes a first rail engaging portion and a second rail engaging portion, said first rail engaging portion configured to engage said first rail, said second rail engaging portion configured to engage said second rail.

12. The entertainment device of claim 8, wherein said base includes a plurality of apertures and said actuator includes a plurality of movable members, each of said plurality of movable members being disposed in one of said plurality of apertures.

13. The entertainment device of claim 12, wherein said actuator includes a plurality of switches, each of said plurality of switches being engageable by one of said plurality of movable members.

14. An entertainment device comprising:

a frame, said frame including a first rail and a second rail;

a seat, said seat being removably coupled to said first rail and said second rail; and

a sound generating mechanism, said sound generating mechanism being disposed on said frame beneath said seat and being configured to be engaged by an occupant of said seat, said entertainment toy having a first configuration in which said seat is supported on said support frame and a second configuration in which said seat is removed from said support frame.

15. The entertainment device of claim 14, wherein said sound generating mechanism includes a plurality of actuators and a plurality of switches, each of said plurality of switches being associated with one of said plurality of actuators.

16. The entertainment device of claim 14, wherein said sound generating mechanism includes a plurality of actuators, each of said plurality of actuators resembling a piano key.

17. The entertainment device of claim 14, wherein said seat is slidably coupled to said first rail and said second rail.

18. The entertainment device of claim 14, wherein said frame includes an abutment disposed proximate to an end of said first rail.

19. The entertainment device of claim 18, wherein said abutment is movable between a first position and a second position, said seat engaging said abutment when said abutment is in said first position, and said seat passing said abutment when said abutment is in said second position to enable said seat to be removed from said rails.

20. An entertainment device comprising:

a base having an upper surface;

a first actuator and a second actuator disposed on said upper surface;

an output generating device operable coupled to said first actuator and said second actuator and capable of producing one or more of an audible output and a visual output in response to actuation of either of said first actuator and said second actuator;

a support frame including;

a first support coupled to and projecting upwardly from said base, and having a first linear support rail disposed on an upper end thereof;

a second support coupled to and projecting upwardly from said base, and having a second linear support rail disposed on an upper end thereof, said second linear support rail being disposed parallel to said first linear support rail;

a seat mounted to said support frame in spaced relation to said upper surface for movement along said support rails with respect to said actuators, said seat being removable from said support frame;

whereby a user disposed in said seat can move said seat to be selectively positioned above said first actuator or said second actuator and can actuate said first actuator or said second actuator with the user'"'"'s foot.

21. The entertainment toy of claim 20, wherein said seat includes a seat frame, a weightbearing portion, and a swivel mechanism, said swivel mechanism being configured to couple said seat frame and said weightbearing portion, said swivel mechanism enabling said weightbearing portion to rotate with respect to said support frame.

22. The entertainment device of claim 20, wherein said base includes a plurality of apertures and each of said first actuator and said actuator includes a movable members, each of said movable members being disposed in one of said plurality of apertures.

23. The entertainment device of claim 20, wherein said frame includes an abutment disposed proximate to an end of said first rail, said abutment being movable between a first position and a second position, said seat being engageable with said abutment when said abutment is in said first position to prevent movement of said seat past said abutment, said seat being moveable past said abutment and removable from said first rail when said abutment is in said second position.

24. An entertainment toy for a child, comprising:

a base having an upper surface;

a support frame coupled to said base;

a seat configured to hold an infant, said seat being movably mounted on said support frame, the seat including a seat frame, a weightbearing portion, and a swivel mechanism, the swivel mechanism being configured to couple said seat frame and said weightbearing portion, the swivel mechanism enabling said weightbearing portion to rotate with respect to said support frame;

an output generating system; and

an actuator disposed on said base and connected to said output generating system, said actuator being disposed to be engaged by a foot of an infant located in said seat, said output generating system generating an output in response to manipulation of said actuator.

25. An entertainment toy for a child, comprising:

a base having an upper surface;

a support frame coupled to said base;

a seat configured to hold an infant, said seat being movably mounted on said support frame, the seat including a seat frame, a weightbearing portion coupled to the seat frame, and a height adjustment mechanism coupled to the weightbearing portion, the height adjustment mechanism being adjustable to retain the weightbearing portion at a plurality of different heights with respect to the upper surface;

an output generating system; and

an actuator disposed on said base and connected to said output generating system, said actuator being disposed to be engaged by a foot of an infant located in said seat, said output generating system generating an output in response to manipulation of said actuator.