GB2286709A - Educational toy - Google Patents

Abstract

An educational toy comprises means for randomly generating a sequence of lights and/or musical tones. A child's task is to imitate these lights and/or tones by pressing corresponding input buttons. In the event of a correct imitation a box 2 is unlocked to permit the child to gain access to a prize located therein. The number of notes and/or lights may be selected in advance to vary the degree of difficulty. <IMAGE>

Description

EDUCATIONAL TOY This invention relates to a toy, and in particular relates to a toy that not only provides a child with amusement and pleasure, but which also serves to stimulate the child and to provide an educational function.

Many different types of toys are known. The majority of these are simply designed to give pleasure to a child and to entertain the child and little more. A second class of toys however are designed to assist in a child's learning and development through the medium of play. For example such toys may be designed to improve a child's physical co-ordination, or to improve a child's mental abilities.

It is considered that where such a learning experience can be combined with an element of play the child will be more receptive than in an otherwise "dry" context with the element of fun removed. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a further form of educational toy having such advantages.

According to the present invention there is provided an educational toy, comprising: means for randomly generating an output signal, input means whereby a user may input a signal in response to a randomly generated said output signal, comparator means for comparing said randomly generated output signal and said input signal, and reward means whereby when said comparator means detects that said user input signal corresponds to said randomly generated output signal a reward is given to the user.

An object of the toy therefore is for a child to attempt to imitate a randomly generated signal, thus stimulating a child's recognitive mental skills, with the incentive of a reward in the event of a correct repetition of the output signal.

Preferably the randomly generated output signal comprises a random sequence of lights and/or musical tones, and the input means comprises means for activating corresponding lights and/or generating corresponding musical tones. In a particularly preferred embodiment means may be provided for selecting the number of lights and/or tones comprising the output signal, thus allowing for variation in the difficulty of the toy from the point of view of a user.

In a preferred embodiment means may be provided whereby the child or other user is permitted a number of attempts at imitating the randomly generated output signal. The number of attempts allowed may be pre-selected, but preferably the number of permitted attempts is itself randomly generated, thus adding an extra element of interest to the game since a child will not then know how many attempts he will be allowed and thus will be encouraged to endeavour to correctly imitate the output signal as quickly as possible.

Preferably, in addition to the activation of the reward means indicating the input of a "correct" imitating signal, means may be provided to indicate the input of an "incorrect" imitating signal, for example a red light or a buzzer or other means for generating a sound effect that will be associated with a "wrong answer".

The reward means itself may take any of a wide range of forms, and may for example comprise or include flashing lights or appropriate sound effects. Preferably however the reward means comprises a lockable box or container within which may be located a prize and which will be opened upon input of a correct imitating signal.

If the container is such that the prize cannot be seen therein, this can be particularly advatageous since then the nature of the prize will be an extra element of mystery to a child and will provide a further incentive to the child. Other possible forms of reward include, for example, a moving merry-go-round with melodies and flashing lights, a dancing figurine of the type found in a music box, a jack-in-the-box, or an alien creature that moves its body or limbs with accompanying sound effects.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig.l is a perspective view of a toy according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig.2 is a block diagram of the circuitry of the embodiment of Fig. 1, and Fig.3 is a flowchart illustrating use of the embodiment of Figs. 1 & 2.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1 a toy comprises a generally oval plastics housing 1, though of course any other shape would be possible. The upper surface of the housing 1 is shown in Fig. 1 and is presented to a child playing with the toy. The lower surface (not shown) includes means for accessing a battery chamber.

The upper surface of the housing 1 is effectively the playing surface. At one end of the upper surface there is provided an electronically lockable box 2, which in this particular embodiment is in the form of a "treasure chest". In front of the box 2 is formed an array 3 of lights 4 and corresponding buttons 5, the functions of which will be described further below. The upper, playing, surface is also provided with a selector switch 6 for selecting the level of difficulty of the toy. The upper surface also includes a start button 18. The upper surface is also preferably provided with surface decorations, in the example of the illustrated embodiment these are intended to be evocative of the sea to match the theme of the treasure chest box 2.

Referring now to Fig.2 there is shown schematically the basic circuit diagram in block form. The circuitry itself is of course provided on a circuit board located within the housing 1. The circuit includes a random number generator 7, with an output to a random number memory 8. Random number memory 8 in turn has two outputs, one to a tone sound generator and LED activator 9, the other to a comparator 10. Comparator circuit 10 receives an input in addition to memory 8 from an input notes memory 12. Together with input keys 5, which provide an input to the input notes memory 12, these elements form the heart of the circuitry.

However, the circuitry also provides various preferred features, including a number of notes selection circuit 11, sound generation means 14 for generating an appropriate sound in the event of an "incorrect" or "correct" input sequence respectively, a number of permitted attempts selection circuit 15 and number of attempts counting circuit 16, and successful completion indication circuit 19.

Also included are a power control circuit 17, start button 18 and reset circuit 20.

Referring now to the flowchart forming Fig.3, to begin with the level of difficulty of the game is selected by means of level selection switch 6 which controls the number of notes selection circuit 11 which in turn controls the number of notes in the sequence to be generated by the random number generator. In the illustrated embodiment three levels of play are possible: three notes, five notes or seven notes.

Also to be selected is the number of attempts to be permitted, which number may be actively selected by a user or alternatively may be selected at random by number of attempts selection circuit 15. The game is then switched on.

A random sequence of numbers is generated by random number generating means and the sequence is stored in the memory. An output from the memory goes to the tone generator and LED activation circuitry to generate a sequence of tones with a corresponding flashing LED, equal in number to the number of notes selected at the level of play selection stage.

After having heard the sequence of notes and seen the corresponding LEDs 4 illuminated, the childs task is to imitate the random sequence by pressing input buttons 5. The input signal thus generated by the child is then compared by the comparator means 11 with the sequence stored in the memory. If the sequence is incorrect, sound generation means generates an appropriate "wrong" answer sound, if the sequence is correct a "right" answer sound is generated.

If a correct signal or sequence is input by the child, and providing it is within the number of attempts permitted by the number of attempts selection circuit 15, the successful completion indication circuit is activated 19 to open the box 2 whereby the child may gain access to the prize inside the box. Of course another possibility is that a child may have to get a number of correct sequences in succession before the box will be opened, possibly the number being greater if a low level of difficulty is selected.

If desired successful completion of the game by the child may be accompanied by appropriate light or sound effects.

Preferably means are also provided, but which are not shown, whereby the box 2 can be opened mechanically in the event of either failure of the electronics or the child being unable to successfully imitate a randomly generated sequence, such that the contents of the box can be retrieved if necessary.

Claims (10)

1. An educational toy, comprising: means for randomly generating an output signal, input means whereby a user may input a signal in response to a randomly generated said output signal, comparator means for comparing said randomly generated output signal and said input signal, and reward means whereby when said comparator means detects that said user input signal corresponds to said randomly generated output signal a reward is given to the user.

2. A toy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the randomly generated output signal comprises a random sequence of lights and/or musical tones, and the input means comprises means for activating corresponding lights and/or generating corresponding musical tones.

3. A toy as claimed in claim 2 wherein means are provided for selecting the number of lights and/or tones comprising the output signal.

4. A toy as claimed in any preceding claim wherein means are provided to permit a user only a limited number of attempts to imitate the output signal.

5. A toy as claimed in claim 4 wherein the number of permitted attempts is preselectable.

6. A toy as claimed in claim 4 wherein the number of permitted attempts is randomly selected.

7. A toy as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said reward means comprise a mechanical device activated upon successful imitation of the output signal.

8. A toy as claimed in claim 7 wherein the reward means comprises an electronically lockable box.

9. A toy as claimed in claim 8 wherein mechanical means are further provided to permit the said box to be unlocked.

10. An educational toy substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.