Amusement devices: toys – Figure toy or accessory therefor – Having mechanism or manipulatable means to move figure or...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-19
2001-05-29
Ackun, Jr., Jacob K. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Figure toy or accessory therefor
Having mechanism or manipulatable means to move figure or...
C446S297000, C446S298000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238263
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a device for soothing, distracting, and stimulating an infant or child. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device having a human-like face formed by indentations in a light-colored surface to create shadows that contrast with the light-colored surface to captivate the infant or child, and also having a vibration mechanism, light source, and sound source to soothe and distract the infant or child.
2. The Background Art
A crying or fussing child can create numerous problems for its parents and care givers, and this is especially so when a child cries, screams, etc., in public situations, such as meetings, church services, and the like. In such situations, the crying or fussing child prevents not only the parent or care-giver, but the entire group, from paying attention to the meeting or service. Numerous toys and other objects have been developed and are used by parents in an attempt to quiet their children. For example, flannel books and small plastic toys are often brought to entertain the children and to redirect the child's attention in the event that he or she begins to cry. The problem with books and many plastic toys is that they often rely on sensory stimulation which is insufficient to distract the attention of the crying or fussing child.
Other child amusement devices, such as rattles, are often effective in distracting the child's attention. However, as will be appreciated by parents and other care givers, a major concern with using such a device to quiet a crying child in certain public places is the noise created by the rattle material. This is especially a concern when the child is crying during a meeting, a church service, or other similar setting. Quieting a child by use of a loud rattle achieves little benefit, as the rattle becomes nearly as distracting as the crying of a child.
In addition to soothing a child, it is often necessary to occupy the child's hands. For example, in such situations such as changing diapers and administering medications, a child tends to grasp the messy diaper or medicine with his or her hands.
In addition to calming or distracting a child, there has been a renewed interest in stimulating or otherwise captivating the child, and to promote various physical and mental developments.
An additional concern to parents is the safety of their children's toys. It is desirable that any toy or device used by a child be free of small objects which may choke a child, or be free of substances which are toxic, such as paint. As parents and care givers will appreciate, any toy or other object which a child obtains immediately finds its ways to a child's mouth.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to develop a device capable of soothing and distracting a child or infant, which does not itself create any disturbance located near the child. It would also be advantageous to develop such a device sufficiently small that it can be held by a small child or infant, but not so small as to fit completely within the mouth of the child to present a danger of choking. It would also be advantageous to develop such a device which is free of dangerous or toxic components. It would also be advantageous to develop such a device for not only soothing and distracting a child, but also stimulating the child's physical and mental growth.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for soothing, stimulating, distracting and captivating a child.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a device which is safe for a child's use.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a device for stimulating the child's physical senses and mental abilities.
The above objects and others not specifically recited are realized in a specific illustrative embodiment of a device for soothing, stimulating, and captivating a child. The device has a rigid, disk-shaped body with a rigid body wall defining an interior cavity and including a first circular wall or face. The first circular wall advantageously has an outer surface with a light color and a plurality of indentations formed in the surface configured for casting shadows on the light color of the surface, and creating contrast between the shadows and the light color. The indentations advantageously are sized and shaped to form a human face including first and second indentations forming eyes and a third indentation forming a mouth. The human face captivates the child while the contrasting dark shadows and light colored surface attract the child's eyes, without the use of paint.
A pair of broadly rounded protrusions extend from opposite sides of the body. Each protrusion has a perimeter edge to form a handle sized to be grasped by a child's hands, and/or extend into a child's mouth such that the child may easily grasp the device, and may use the device for teething. The protrusions are positioned on opposite sides of the human face and are generally configured to define human ears.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a vibration mechanism is disposed in the interior cavity of the body and operatively coupled to the body wall for vibrating the body to soothe, calm and distract the child. A light source is disposed on the body wall for emitting light to stimulate the child and capture the child's attention. A sound generator is disposed in the interior cavity of the body for emitting sound for capturing the child's attention. A power source is disposed in the interior cavity of the body and electrically coupled to the vibration mechanism, light source, and sound generator. A switch mechanism is operatively coupled between the power source and the vibration mechanism, light source, and sound generator for selectively activating the vibration mechanism, light source, and sound generator, such that any combination of the vibration mechanism, light source, and sound generator may be activated.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the switch mechanism may comprise three separate switches for individually and separately activating one of the vibration mechanism, light source, or sound generator. The switches maybe disposed between the protrusions above the first and second indentations and have a hair-like configuration.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention without undue experimentation. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
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Ackun Jr. Jacob K.
Fernstrom Kat
Thorpe North & Western LLP
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