Convertible child's toy

Details Convertible child's toy Convertible child's toy

1999-11-29

2001-12-25

Muir, D. Neal (Department: 3712)

Amusement devices: toys

Infant's toy and means for retaining, attaching, or...

C446S071000, C446S143000, C446S408000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06332824

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a child's toy that produces a musical output and a light display in response to activation by the child. More particularly, the invention is directed to a toy that can be converted from an infant's gym to a piano suitable for toddlers.
2. Background of the Invention
Children at different stages of development have widely varying physical capabilities and mental aptitudes. In order to entertain and stimulate children at different developmental stages, many different toys are needed, leading to increased expense and clutter. It is desired to provide a toy that is usable by a child over a range of years, and that continues to stimulate the child as he or she develops. Activity gyms have proven useful in this regard because they present different activities on a single toy that are tailored to different age groups. Many activity gyms also accommodate children of different height by allowing their display angle to be varied. However, known activity gyms have failed to provide activities of interest to children over a wide range of ages. A toy is needed that can entertain children of different ages with differing levels of physical and mental development.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a child's toy which is convertible between an infant's gym and a toddler's piano. In the infant configuration, a small child can be placed under or seated in front of the toy within reach of hanging shapes. When the infant moves the hanging shapes, a sensory output of music and lights is produced. The infant's gym can be converted into a toddler configuration, which has keys arranged on top, resembling a piano. A toddler standing in front of the piano can produce a sensory output of music and lights by pressing the keys. Therefore, the present invention provides a toy which stimulates and entertains children over a range of ages, sizes, and interests.
In a preferred embodiment, the toy has a substantially planar activity unit mounted on two supports. The activity unit has audio speakers and lighted keys to provide a sensory output when activated. Further, the activity unit and supports have interlocking elements which allow the activity unit to be moved between a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation, corresponding to the infant's gym and toddler's piano, respectively. In the infant configuration, several shapes are suspended from the lower edge of the activity unit. Movement of the shapes initiates a sensory output of music and lights. In the toddler configuration, a sensory output is produced by pressing the keys on the activity unit. The sensory output is controlled by an output control unit located in the activity unit. A mode switch on the activity unit can be adjusted to vary the duration of the sensory output.
Numerous other objects and features of the invention should become apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2788608, 19570400
patent: 4904220, 19900200
patent: 4923428, 19900500
patent: 5145447, 19920900
patent: D339173, 19930900
patent: 5454745, 19951000
patent: 5478268, 19951200
patent: 5788253, 19980800
patent: 6203395, 20010300

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Convertible child's toy does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Convertible child's toy, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Convertible child's toy will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2580540