Amusement devices: toys – Sounding – Including rolling or tumbling toy
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-18
2001-03-13
Rimell, Sam (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Sounding
Including rolling or tumbling toy
C446S397000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06200193
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to novelty devices. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a novelty device that is activated by external stimuli.
2. Description of Related Art
Novelty devices for entertaining or amusing individuals are known in the art. Such devices take many forms, from the ubiquitous Slinky toy which has in the past entertained children and adults for hours on end, to the faddish Rubick's cube, which combines aspects of puzzle solving in an engrossing and challenging game. Novelty devices of this nature have always fascinated, and provided harmless distractions for people, thereby relieving stress.
In the class of novelty devices that are devoted to sheer entertainment, many such devices; have utilized moving parts under power in order to grab the attention of individuals and to engage the individual for an extended period of time. Such devices sometimes produce visual, auditory and/or other sensual output to hold the attention of, and entertain, people.
Novelty devices that provide surprising or unexpected responses also engender a sense of amusement in people observing or evoking the response. Others also especially enjoy watching others so they react to such responses, and derive stress relief and entertainment from their observations.
Similarly, novelty devices that operatively react to an external stimulus in some way are particularly intriguing. The element of surprise, combined with a humorous motif, makes a novelty item even more attractive. Numerous different types of such devices are on the market, with new devices appearing regularly.
However, the art has not heretofore provided a novelty device that combines the above-referenced elements and which consistently provides entertainment in a varied and provocative manner. The inventor of the subject matter herein claimed and disclosed has recognized the need for such a novelty device, and has overcome many of the difficulties that are inherent in the design and manufacture of prior novelty devices to achieve advantageous and unexpected results.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforementioned long felt needs are fulfilled, and problems solved, by a novelty item provided in accordance with the present invention. Preferably, the novelty device takes; the form of a substantially closed box or housing including an input signal means for producing, in response to an external stimulus, an input electrical signal, and processing means responsive to the input electrical signal for processing the input electrical signal and producing an activation signal. In addition, the novelty item includes operating means, responsive to the activation signal, for producing an output signal to operate a device that provides a user-perceivable reaction to the input electrical signal for at least a predetermined period of time.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the novelty device reacts to external stimuli by simultaneously producing a plurality of related sensory outputs to entertain a user or observer of the device. The sensory outputs may be, for example, a combination of audio and motion outputs, and may be activated by any of a number of appropriate stimuli such, for example, as touch, sound, a manually-operated pushbutton, light, proximity, infrared illumination, motion or any combination thereof. Olfactory outputs, pure visual outputs, and tactile outputs generated by the novelty device are also contemplated. The audio outputs may simulate or resemble any sound reproducible by an integrated circuit sound chip or other electronic or mechanical device, such for example as a human voice, an animal noise, or a sound effect.
Visual outputs may include, without limitation, flashing lights, moving members or appendages, video or animated features, and the like. All such effects can generally be produced by electronic components which are readily available and known to those of skill in the art. Tactile outputs, as for example heat and cold, may also be provided by novelty devices contemplated in accordance with the invention. All such outputs, of whatever type, are intended to entertain and surprise individuals observing the inventive devices, and can be actuated by the individuals in accordance with the present invention either knowingly, or unknowingly.
The novelty devices described and disclosed herein are safe, effective, and may be powered by standard batteries providing a self-contained power source. The devices may be manufactured from plastic or injection molded material, or may be thermoformed by conventional methods. Thus, the devices taught herein are economical to manufacture. The novelty devices of the present invention provide endless hours of fun and entertainment to individuals using and observing them. Such results have not heretofore been achieved in the art.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3659030 (1972-04-01), Scott
patent: 4466327 (1984-08-01), Hinton
patent: 5533920 (1996-07-01), Arad et al.
patent: 5533921 (1996-07-01), Wilkinson
patent: 5545071 (1996-08-01), Shiraishi
patent: 5660575 (1997-08-01), Chuang
patent: 5720644 (1998-02-01), Ku
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Rimell Sam
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