Dollhouse and method of folding the dollhouse

• US 8,608,529 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2012
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TOMY International, Inc. (TOMY Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: TOMY International, Inc. (TOMY Company Limited)
• Inventors: Smith, Robin K., Davidson, Liliane
• Primary Examiner(s): HARPER, TRAMAR YONG
• Application Number:
  US13/622,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20130017757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 446/447
• 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

Abstract

A dollhouse is moveable from a closed or folded position to an open or unfolded position. In its open configuration, the dollhouse provides one or more play areas on each side of the dollhouse. The dollhouse can be provided with a variety of sensors for detecting play activities and providing feedback such as audible feedback, motion or lights in response to the specific play activities. Feedback can also be produced in response to the order in which the sensors are activated and in response to activation by particular play components to encourage desired play behavior.

Claims

1. A dollhouse, including:

a first sensor in the dollhouse;

a second sensor in the dollhouse;

means for providing different feedback to a user in response to the order or timing in which the first and second sensors are activated by the user, wherein the feedback generated from each of said sensors is variable in regards to the sequencing or timing of activation; and

wherein the means for providing feedback provides positive feedback when the user activates the first sensor and subsequently activates the second sensor and provides corrective feedback when the user activates the second sensor and subsequently activates the first sensor by informing the user what an appropriate sequence of activities would be.

2. The dollhouse according to claim 1, wherein the means for providing feedback includes a speaker.

3. The dollhouse according to claim 1, wherein the means for providing feedback includes a light.

4. The dollhouse according to claim 1, wherein the means for providing feedback includes a moveable component.

5. The dollhouse according to claim 1, wherein the means for providing feedback includes a microprocessor.

6. The dollhouse according to claim 1, further including a port for connecting the dollhouse to a memory device.

7. The dollhouse according to claim 1, further including a transceiver for establishing a wireless connection to a network.

8. The dollhouse according to claim 1, further including at least one play piece for activating at least one of the sensors.

9. The dollhouse as set forth in claim 1, wherein a first feedback is provided when said first sensor is activated first and thereafter said second sensor is activated second.

10. The dollhouse as set forth in claim 9, wherein if said second sensor is not activated within a set time after said first sensor is activated, a second feedback is provided.