GB2487082A

GB2487082A - Toy touch screen

Info

Publication number: GB2487082A
Application number: GB201100257A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chun Kit Li
Original assignee: CASDON PLC
Current assignee: CASDON PLC
Priority date: 2011-01-07
Filing date: 2011-01-07
Publication date: 2012-07-11
Also published as: GB201100257D0

Abstract

A toy touch screen has a backing member 5 and a screen element 3 mounted on the backing member. The toy screen also has an illuminating means (25, figure 9) for illuminating a portion of the screen element, and a switch 17 for activating the illuminating means. The screen element has an actuating portion 9 that when pressed towards the backing member activates the switch 17. The screen element 3 may pivot about point 15. By pressing on an actuating portion, a child can cause that portion of the screen element to become illuminated, recreating the effect of a touch screen.

Description

TOY TOUCH SCREEN

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a toy touch screen.

Backsroundof the Invention In recent years, visual displays known as touch screens have become increasingly widespread in such items as automated teller machines (ATM5), and supermarket check-out tills, as well as media devices such as mobile phones and games consoles. Touch screens offer the advantage that a user can interact directly with a screen on which information is displayed, rather than having to use a mouse or cursor, for example.

In general, such screens comprise a surface on which information is displayed, and a layer of conductive material disposed beneath the surface. The information displayed on the screen includes different control options, which the user selects by pressing the relevant portion of the screen. A voltage is applied across the conductive layer, and when a user touches the screen, the pressure exerted at that point on the screen is detected, for example, by monitoring changes in current passing through the conductive layer. A controller determines the coordinates in the conductive layer where the change has occurred, and uses this to identify the option selected by a user.

Often, when an option is selected by a user, the screen confirms selection of that option by changing the appearance of that region of the display. For example, the colour or brightness of the screen may change in the region of the screen where the person applies finger pressure. The information displayed on the rest of the screen is then updated in accordance with the selected option.

A child who wishes to recreate the process of using a touch screen is faced with the problem that the above technology is complex, and unsuitable for implementation in a toy. Touch screens are likely to be expensive and fragile, and not sufficiently robust for use in a children's toy. In addition, there may be safety concerns associated with the conductive layer, particularly since the child may be exposed to this in the event that the fragile display surface is damaged.

Thus, there remains a problem of how to provide a toy with which a child can easily, and safely, recreate at least some of the effects observed when using a touch screen.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a toy touch screen having: a backing member, a screen element mounted on the backing member, an illuminating means for illuminating a portion of the screen element, and a switch for activating the illuminating means, wherein the screen element has an actuating portion that when pressed towards the backing member activates the switch.

By pressing on the actuating portion of the screen element, the child is able to activate the switch and in turn illuminate a portion of the screen element. Thus, the child can observe the illumination of the screen changing in response to pressing on a portion of the screen, thereby recreating the effects seen when using a real touch screen.

The toy touch screen may have a plurality of illuminating means and a plurality of switches for activating each respective illuminating means. The screen element may have a plurality of actuating portions, the actuating portions being positioned so that, upon pressing a respective actuating portion towards the backing member, the actuating portion will activate a respective switch.

The screen element may have a display surface on which information representing different types of function is displayed. The actuating portions may coincide with regions of the display surface on which the information is displayed.

Preferably, each illuminating means is positioned to illuminate a region of the screen element that coincides with a respective actuating portion. For example, the illuminating means may be positioned to illuminate those parts of the display surface on which information is displayed. When the child presses on a respective actuating portion, the portion of the screen element corresponding to that actuating portion may be illuminated, providing a faithful reproduction of a real touch screen.

The toy touch screen may be configured so that, when the pressure applied to an actuating portion is removed, the switch is no longer activated. For example the actuating portion may be configured to spring back to its initial position when it is no longer pressed towards the backing member.

Preferably, the screen element is pivotally mounted on the backing member, so that pressing on any one of the actuating portions causes the whole of the screen element to tilt, thereby moving the actuating portion towards the backing member and activating a respective switch.

Advantageously, by pivotally mounting the screen element on the backing member, the actuating portions can tilt towards the backing member, thereby activating the respective switches. The actuating portions can also tilt away from the backing member, to avoid activating a switch when not required to do so.

Preferably, the screen element can tilt about two or more axes that intersect with one another.

The toy touch screen may have a first actuating portion that when pressed will cause the screen element to tilt about a first one of the axes, and a second actuating portion that when pressed will cause the screen element to tilt about a second one of the axes.

The touch screen may have a pair of actuating portions arranged such that, when one of the actuating portions in the pair is pressed towards the backing member, the screen element will tilt about a first one of the axes, and when the second actuating portion in the first pair is pressed towards the backing member, the screen element will tilt in the opposite direction about the first one of the axes.

The screen element may have a second pair of actuating portions arranged such that, when one of the actuating portions in the second pair is pressed towards the backing member, the screen element will tilt about a second one of the axes, and when the second actuating portion in the second pair is pressed towards the backing member, the screen element will tilt in the opposite direction about the second one of the axes.

The screen element may be mounted on the backing member by a joint that allows the screen element to tilt about any axis that lies in the same plane as the first and second axes, and which passes through the point where the first and second axes intersect with one another. For example, the screen element may be mounted to the backing member by a ball joint.

Preferably, the screen element is mounted on the backing member at a central region of the screen element.

Each switch may comprise a contact element disposed on an underside of the actuating portion facing the backing member, and a complementary contact element on the backing member facing the actuating portion, the two contact members being brought into contact on pressing the actuating portion towards the backing member.

The contact members may be, for example, a push button used to activate the illuminating means, and a compressible pad that will push against the push button when the two are brought into contact with one another.

The contact members may also comprise a pair of electrically conductive portions that when brought together complete an electric circuit for powering the illuminating means, and when moved apart from one another, break the electric circuit, causing the illuminating means to switch off.

Preferably, each illuminating means is housed within a respective cavity inside the screen element. By housing the illuminating means inside the screen element, it is possible to maintain a constant alignment between each illuminating means and the respective portions of the screen element that they are intended to illuminate. The cavities may be shaped so as to concentrate the light from the illuminating means on the portions of the screen element they are intended to illuminate.

The screen element may be received within a recess of the backing member.

The screen element may be a planar element. The screen element may curve towards the backing member at the periphery of the screen element. By curving towards the backing member, the distance between the actuating portions and the backing member can be reduced, thereby reducing the distance through which the actuating portions have to be pressed in order to activate the illuminating means.

The screen element may be disc shaped. The actuating portions may be arranged in a circular layout on the screen element. The actuating portions may also be arranged in other layouts, for example, a hexagonal arrangement.

Brief Description of the Drawi

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a toy touch screen according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a cross section through a toy touch screen according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 shows the cross sectional view of Figure 2, in which the actuating portion is pressed towards the backing member; Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view through a toy screen according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 shows a toy touch screen according to an embodiment of the present invention in which the screen element can tilt about multiple axes.

Figure 6 shows an exploded view of a toy touch screen in an embodiment of the present invention in which the screen element can tilt about multiple axes.

Figure 7 shows the underside of the screen element shown in the embodiment of figure 5.

Figure 8 shows a cross section taken along the line X-X' in Figure 7.

Figure 9 shows a front view of a toy touch screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 10 shows an isometric view of the rear of the toy touch screen shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 shows a side view of the toy touch screen shown in Figure 9.

Figure 12 shows an isometric view of the front of the toy touch screen shown in Figure 9.

Figure 13 shows another side view of the toy touch screen shown in Figure 9.

Figure 14 shows the toy touch screen of Figure 9 as seen from below.

Figure 15 shows the rear of the toy touch screen shown in Figure 9.

Figure 16 shows the toy touch screen of Figure 9 as seen from above.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows a toy touch screen 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The touch screen forms part of a larger toy assembly. In this embodiment, the toy assembly is designed to imitate a supermarket check-out counter. In other embodiments, the toy assembly may be designed to imitate, for example, the appearance of an automated teller machine (ATM), or a mobile phone, or other interactive media device, including a tablet computer such as those sold under the brand name iPAD.

The touch screen has a screen element 3 that is mounted on a backing member 5. The backing member may define a casing in which may be stored, for example, batteries for powering the touch screen.

The front surface of the screen element includes a display surface 7 that is designed to imitate the appearance of a touch screen as might be present, for example, in a supermarket self service check-out counter.

The display surface includes one or more actuating portions 9, 10, 11, which when pressed towards the backing member may become illuminated in the manner described below. The display surface is not necessarily confined to cover the screen element only, but may extend beyond the edges of the front face of the screen element.

Each actuating portion is labelled with a sign on the display surface that indicates a certain function such as "Scan an item", "Pay Cash" etc. When the actuating portion is pressed towards the backing member, that region of the display surface may become illuminated, and/or the corresponding sign may light up, thereby recreating the effect of a real touch screen.

Figure 2 shows a cross section taken through a toy touch screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The screen element 3 is received on or e.g. in a recess 13 of the backing member 5. The screen element is mounted, for example pivotally, on the backing member at a central pivot point 15, allowing the whole screen element to tilt about an axis towards the backing member (here, the axis extends into and out of the plane of the drawings shown in Figures 2 and 3) The whole of the screen element tilts on pressing the actuating portion. However, as explained above, the display surface may extend beyond the edges of the screen element. Thus, it is possible, for example, that the display surface will include designs and features that lie beyond the edges of the screen element and which do not move when the user presses an actuating portion.

The touch screen has one or more illuminating means in the form of, for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs), which may be positioned behind each one of the actuating portions 9 on the display surface. When activated, the LEDs may illuminate those portions of the display surface, which may then cause the signs on the display surface to light up. Each LED is activated by a respective switch that is located, for example, on the backing member, facing towards the screen element. In this embodiment, the switches comprise push buttons located on the backing member.

Each actuating portion has an associated contact element 17, in the form of e.g. a rubber pad, which is located on the opposite side of the screen element, facing the backing element. The contact elements are aligned with the switches used to activate the LEDs.

When an actuating portion is pressed towards the backing member, the screen element tilts about the axis, bringing the rubber pad associated with that actuating portion into contact with one of the push buttons located on the backing member. By pressing against the button, the rubber pad causes the LED positioned behind the actuating portion to light up.

Thus, each time an actuating portion is pressed towards the backing member, the LED positioned behind the actuating portion becomes activated, causing the actuating portion to light up. In this way, a child can recreate the effect of a touch screen lighting up when finger pressure is applied to a region of the screen element.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the screen element may have a pair of actuating portions. Each actuating portion may have its own contact element 9. The actuating portions may be arranged, for example, on opposite sides of the pivot point 15, so that alternately pressing on the two actuating portions causes the screen element to tilt in opposite directions about the axis.

Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the invention in which the screen element is mounted on the backing member by a plate 19. The contact elements are disposed, for example, on the underside of the plate facing towards the backing member.

Figure 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the screen element can tilt about multiple axes. (In order to illustrate those features. of the screen element that are positioned behind the display surface, the display surface is omitted from Figure 5).

In this embodiment, the screen element has one or more recessed portions 23, or cavities, for housing the illuminating means 25 which may be, for example, LEDs.

The actuating portions of the display surface may, for example, overlay the cavities.

Each one of the cavities is e.g. substantially cuboidal.

The walls of the cavity may help to prevent the light emitted by the respective LED from illuminating other portions of the display surface. The walls of the cavity may help to concentrate the light on the regions of the display surface corresponding to the actuating portions.

Figure 6 shows an exploded view of the touch screen in Figure 5. The screen element is mounted, for example, on the backing member by a ball joint 21. When mounted on the backing member, the screen element can tilt about a plurality of axes, of which two axes 26, 28 are shown in Figure 6. The two axes 26 and 28 run in vertical and horizontal directions, respectively, where the vertical direction is defined to run from the bottom edge of the screen element to the top edge of the screen element when the touch screen is stood upright. The horizontal direction is defined to run perpendicularly to the vertical direction, from the left hand side of the screen element to the right hand side of the screen element.

The vertical and horizontal axes 26, 28 intersect, for example, at the point where the screen element is mounted on the ball joint. Once mounted on the ball joint, the screen element can tilt about any axis that lies in the same plane as the horizontal and vertical axes, and which intersects at the same point as the first and second axes.

Figure 7 shows the underside of the screen element shown in Figure 5 (i.e. the side of the screen element that faces the backing member) . The screen element has a backing plate 27 that e.g. abuts the recessed portions of the screen element that form the cavities used to house the LEDs. The backing plate is fixed to the screen element by e.g. a series of security pegs 29. The rubber pads 31, 32 that form the contact elements are mounted on the backing plate, for example, facing towards the backing member. Each rubber pad is located, for example, directly behind one of the cavities in which an LED is housed.

The actuating portions are arranged, for example, in pairs with the actuating portions in each pair being located on opposite sides of the ball joint. To help illustrate this, the rubber pads associated with each pair of actuating portions are labelled separately as 31 and 32 in Figure 7.

When alternate ones in the first pair of actuating portions are pressed, the whole screen element is caused to tilt about the first axis 26. Thus, pressing alternate ones of the first pair of actuating portions causes the right hand side edge of the screen element to alternately move towards and away from the backing member. As the right hand side edge of the screen element moves away from the backing member, the left hand side edge of the screen element moves towards the backing member, and vice versa.

Similarly, when alternate ones in the second pair of actuating portions are pressed, the whole screen element is caused to tilt about the second axis 28. Thus, pressing alternate ones of the second pair of actuating portion causes the top edge of the screen element to alternately move towards and away from the backing member. As the top edge of the screen element moves away from the backing member, the bottom edge of the screen element moves tcwards the backing member, and vice versa.

The whole screen element tilts on pressing an actuating portion. Pressing on any one of the actuating portions may cause each of the other actuating portions to move relative to the backing member.

Figure 8 shows a cross section as taken along the line X' in Figure 7. Here, it can be seen that the screen element is retained on the ball joint by e.g. a retaining cap 33 and screw.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure.

For example, although in the above embodiments the switches for the LED5 are located on the backing member, and the rubber pads used to press those switches are located on the screen element, it is possible that these components may be reversed, so that the rubber pads are located on the backing member, and the switches are located on the screen element. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A toy touch screen having: a backing member, a screen element mounted on the backing member, an illuminating means for illuminating a portion of the screen element, and a switch for activating the illuminating means, wherein the screen element has an actuating portion that when pressed towards the backing member activates the switch.
2. A toy touch screen according to claim I, wherein the touch screen has a plurality of illuminating means and a plurality of switches for activating the respective illuminating means, and the screen element has a plurality of actuating portions, the actuating portions being positioned so that, upon pressing a respective actuating portion towards the backing member, the actuating portion will activate a respective switch.
3. A toy touch screen according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the screen element is pivotally mounted on the backing member, so that pressing on any one of the actuating portions causes the whole of the screen element to tilt, thereby moving the actuating portion towards the backing member and activating a respective switch.
4. A toy touch screen according to claim 3, wherein the touch screen has a pair of actuating portions, the actuating portions being arranged such that, when one of the actuating portions in the pair is pressed towards the backing member, the whole of the screen element will tilt about a first axis, and when the second actuating portion in the first pair is pressed, the whole of the screen element will tilt in the opposite direction about the first axis.
5. A toy touch screen according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the screen element can tilt about two or more axes that intersect with one another, the screen element having a first actuating portion that when pressed will cause the screen element to tilt about a first one of the axes, the screen element having a second actuating portion that when pressed will cause the screen element to tilt about a second one of the axes.
6. A toy touch screen according to claim 5, wherein the screen element has first and second pairs of actuating portions, the first pair of actuating portions being arranged such that, when one of the actuating portions in the first pair is pressed towards the backing member, the screen element will tilt about the first axis, and when the second actuating portion in the first pair is pressed, the screen element will tilt in the opposite direction about the first axis, the second pair of actuating portions being arranged such that, when one of the actuating portions in the second pair is pressed towards the backing member, the screen element will tilt about the second axis, and when the second actuating portion in the second pair is pressed, the screen element will tilt in the opposite direction about the second axis.
7. A toy touch screen according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the screen element is mounted on the backing member by a joint that allows the screen element to tilt about any axis that lies in the same plane as the first and second axes, and which passes through the point where the first and second axes intersect one another.
8. A toy touch screen according to claim 7, wherein the joint is a ball joint.
9. A toy touch screen according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the screen element is mounted on the backing member at a central region of the screen element.
10. A toy touch screen according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each illuminating means is positioned to illuminate a region of the screen element that coincides with a respective actuating portion.
11. A toy touch screen according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each switch comprises a contact element disposed on an underside of the actuating portion facing the backing member, and a complementary contact element on the backing member facing the actuating portion, the two contact members being brought into contact on pressing the actuating portion towards the backing member.
12. A toy touch screen according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each illuminating means is housed within a cavity inside the screen element.
13. A toy touch screen according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the backing element has a recess and the screen element is received within the recess.
14. A toy touch screen according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the screen element curves towards the backing member at the periphery of the screen element.
15. A toy touch screen according to any one of claims 2 to 14, wherein the actuating portions are arranged in a circular layout on the screen element.
16. A toy touch screen substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying Figures.