Radio controlled toy for free form drawing

• US 8,758,076 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gwen Austin
• Original Assignee: Gwen Austin
• Inventors: Austin, Gwen
• Primary Examiner(s): Brewster, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US11/496,929
• Time in Patent Office: 2,885 Days
• Field of Search: 446/146, 446/465, 446/175, 446454-456
• US Class Current: 446/146
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 13/15 imitating drawing or writing changeable or secret pictures B44F1/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

According to one embodiment a remote controlled drawing toy can be provided that allows a user to operate a drawing unit that couples drawing implements. For example, such a drawing unit can be used outdoors on sidewalks and driveways.

Claims

1. A toy for drawing comprising:

a self-powered body;

at least one drawing implement holder coupled with said self-powered body and configured to cause a drawing implement to contact a drawing surface while said drawing implement is being held by said drawing implement holder during operation of said toy on said drawing surface;

a receiver coupled with said self-powered body and configured to receive a sequence of drawing commands from a remote transmitter for controlling said self-powered body;

wherein said receiver coupled with said self-powered body is configured to cause said toy to draw a free-form design during operation solely in response to said sequence of drawing commands received from said remote transmitter; and

a memory coupled with said receiver for storing the sequence of drawing commands for available playback at a later time so as to cause the remote controlled drawing toy to reproduce the free-form design.

2. The toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drawing implement holder is retractably coupled with said self-powered body so as to allow said drawing implement holder to be substantially retractable within said body.

3. The toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drawing implement holder comprises:

a chalk holder.

4. The toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drawing implement holder comprises:

a crayon holder.

5. The toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drawing implement holder comprises:

a marker holder.

6. The toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drawing implement holder comprises:

a chalk wheel holder.

7. The toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drawing implement holder comprises:

a clamp configured for holding a piece of chalk.

8. The toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drawing implement holder comprises:

a clamp configured for holding a crayon.

9. The toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drawing implement holder is configured to apply a force to said drawing implement so as to force said drawing implement to contact said drawing surface during use.

10. The toy as claimed in claim 9 and further comprising a spring to apply said force.

11. The toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein said self-powered body comprises:

a removable shell cover.

12. The toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein said receiver is configured to receive signals transmitted at different frequencies.

13. The toy as claimed in claim 12 and further comprising:

a switch coupled with said receiver and configured to select a frequency of operation so as to allow the receiver to receive said signals transmitted at said different frequencies.

14. The toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one drawing implement holder is one of a plurality of drawing implement holders coupled with said self-powered body.

15. The toy as claimed in claim 14 wherein at least two of said drawing implement holders operate as independently operable drawing implement holders so as to allow one of said independently operable drawing implement holders to maintain a first drawing implement in contact with said drawing surface during operation while said other independently operable drawing implement holder maintains a second drawing implement out of contact with said drawing surface during said operation.

16. The toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drawing implement holder is configured to be moved from a position that causes said drawing implement to engage said drawing surface to a position that causes said drawing implement to not engage said drawing surface during use.

17. A method of free form drawing on a drawing surface, said method comprising:

providing a toy drawing apparatus with a drawing implement in contact with the drawing surface;

controlling said toy drawing apparatus with a remote control transmitter;

utilizing said remote control transmitter to transmit a sequence of drawing commands to a receiver associated with the toy drawing apparatus to cause said toy drawing apparatus to move across said drawing surface solely in response to said sequence of drawing commands to draw a free form drawing on said drawing surface;

providing a memory coupled with said receiver for storing the sequence of drawing commands; and

playing back the stored sequence of drawing commands at a later time to cause the remote controlled drawing toy to reproduce the free-form design.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17 and further comprising:

coupling a piece of chalk with said toy drawing apparatus so as to use said piece of chalk to draw said free form drawing.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17 and further comprising:

coupling a marker with said toy drawing apparatus so as to use said marker to draw said free form drawing.

20. The method as claimed in claim 17 and further comprising:

coupling a crayon with said toy drawing apparatus so as to use said crayon to draw said free form drawing.

21. A kit of materials for assembly in the field comprising:

a remote controlled toy vehicle for drawing on a drawing surface, the remote controlled vehicle comprising a receiver and further being configured to receive a sequence of drawing commands from a remote transmitter to cause said toy vehicle to draw a free-form design during operation solely in response to said drawing commands, wherein said remote controlled vehicle further comprises a memory coupled with said receiver for storing the sequence of drawing commands for available playback at a later time to cause the remote controlled vehicle to reproduce the free-form design; and

at least one drawing implement for use with said remote controlled toy vehicle;

wherein said drawing implement is configured for holding by said remote controlled vehicle during use in contact with said drawing surface.