Illuminated infant toy

• US 4,701,146 A
• Filed: 01/03/1986
• Issued: 10/20/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Neptune SA
• Original Assignee: Neptune SA
• Inventors: Swenson, Paula S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US06/815,940
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 446/130, 446/409, 446/485, 446/439, 446/438, 446/242, 446/419, 446/418, 446/170, 446/484, 446/431, 273/58 G, 273/58 E, 362/802, 362/809, 362/806, 362/363, 335/206
• US Class Current: 446/130
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 3/00 Rattles or like noise-producing devices , e.g. door-knockers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/809 Terrestrial globe

Abstract

A rattle for an infant is provided wherein the noise making device within the rattle also is a light activation device to momentarily light, in sequence, a plurality of lights mounted on the rattle. The noise-making device is made of magnetic material and is moved back and forth in a tube within the rattle so as to activate reed switches adjacent to the tube thereby sequentially illuminating the lights. The device is powered by batteries mounted in a handle on the rattle. In one form of the invention, the toy is elongated in shape and the magnetic member moves along a straight tubular path. In another embodiment, the magnetic member moves along an annular path and the toy is spherical.

Claims

1. A hand operated toy which provides both a sound and illumination response to the user, said toy comprising:

a generally spherical housing;

a magnetic member movable along a predetermined path within said housing upon turning or rolling said housing;

a plurality of normally open reed switches mounted along said predetermined path so as to be sequentially closed each time said magnetic member moves along said path past said switches;

battery means mounted in said housing; and

a plurality of lights in said housing connected in circuit with said battery means and said switches so that at least one of said switches is closed by said magnetic member.

2. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said path along which said magnetic member moves is circular.

3. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said battery means lies along an axis of said housing; and

said circular path is concentric with said axis.

4. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, further including:

a circuit board mounted adjacent said circular path with said reed switches arranged thereon around said circular path.

5. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said lights are arranged around the periphery of said circuit board and are viewable, when illuminated, through said housing.

6. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, further including:

a conductive ring around the periphery of said circuit board for connecting said light in said circuit.

7. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said housing has a removable battery cover along said axis for gaining access to said battery means.

8. A hand operated toy which provides both a sound and illumination response to the user, said toy comprising:

a generally spherical housing;

a magnetic member movable along a circular path within said housing upon turning or rolling said housing;

a plurality of normally open reed switches mounted along said predetermined path so as to be sequentially closed each time said magnetic member moves along said path past said switches;

battery means mounted in said housing;

a plurality of lights in said housing connected in circuit with said battery means and said switches so that at least one of said lights is illuminated each time one of said switches is closed by said magnetic member;

said battery means lies along an axis of said housing said circular path being concentric with said axis;

a circuit board mounted adjacent said circular path with said reed switches arranged thereon around said circular path;

said lights being arranged around the periphery of said circuit board and being viewable, when illuminated, through said housing; and

a conductive ring around the periphery of said circuit board for connecting said lights in said circuit.

9. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said magnetic member is spherical.

10. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said battery means includes a battery tube lying along said axis for containing a plurality of batteries arranged in series.

11. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, further including:

sound producing means in circuit with one of said reed switches.

12. An infant toy for rolling or turning which can provide both sound and illumination in response to the movement of said toy, said toy comprising:

a tubular housing for at least one battery, said housing having a longitudinal axis, a negative contact at one end and a positive contact at the other end;

a circuit board in the form of an annular disk surrounding said tubular housing and lying in a plane perpendicular to said axis;

a circular trackway adjacent said circuit board and extending around said housing;

an electrical circuit on said circuit board including lights arranged in series with reed switches positioned around said trackway; and

a magnetic member in said trackway movable therearound by manipulation of said toy to selectively close said reed switches to illuminate at least one of said lights.

13. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 12, further including:

a spherical housing around said tubular housing and said circuit board.

14. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

at least a portion of said spherical housing is transparent for viewing said lights when illuminated.

15. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said magnet is spherical.