GB2323047A - An amusement apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An amusement apparatus 1, comprising a play device in the form of a representation of a creature such as a frog 2 moulded from plastic, the device having an orifice 3 in the form of the frog's mouth and one or more play devices such as a plurality of plastic balls 5. The play device 2 also comprising a mechanism 6 for transferring a play piece from a reception portion 12 to the orifice 4 and then emitting them therefrom.

Description

AN AMUSEMENT APPARATUS The invention relates to amusement apparatus, particularly to such apparatus as is often placed in an amusement or leisure area such as a swimming pool or sand pit.

In such locations, parents often bring their children to play. Whilst such locations provide amusement and recreational possibilities of themselves, and educational too in the sense of the ability of a child being able to learn to swim at a pool and also social behaviour, nevertheless, it is often the case that additional amusements are perceived necessary, particularly at a swimming pool where their provision can help to dispel what would otherwise often be a natural inclination in a child to be- afraid of the water. Such additional amusements can be a simple ball or hoop to provide a throwing game, but this requires a partner to be able to play properly. Slides and chutes have also been provided, but these require supervision as they can be dangerous. Neither provides an interactive amusement or play apparatus which allows a user, particularly a child, to use the apparatus directly with little or no danger.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to provide such apparatus.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an amusement apparatus, comprising a play device and one or more play pieces, the device having an orifice, and a mechanism for transferring a play piece to the orifice and then emitting it therefrom.

Suitably, the play device may comprise a representation of a creature such as a frog, though it could be any other creature such as a dolphin, whale, monkey, clown, or any representation which is attractive to a user and which can engage their attention.

The device may suitably be free-standing. This enables the device to be located in any one of a plurality of desired locations.

The one or more play pieces may each comprise a ball, suitably a hollow plastic ball which is preferably lightweight and can readily be manipulated by a child. It will be understood that the play pieces may comprise any desired shape such as cubes, pyramids, stars, hoops, and the like.

The mechanism may comprise a timer whereby to delay emitting of a play piece from the orifice, thereby allowing a plurality of balls to be stored in the orifice prior to emission therefrom in a cascade.

The orifice may comprise a mouth of the creature, and may be closable by a part adapted to receive one or more play pieces.

The mechanism may comprise a pump element for delivering water to the orifice internally of the play device whereby to emit a flow of water and a play device from the orifice. This automatically provides a cascade of balls and water over the user.

Alternatively, the mechanism may comprise means for opening the orifice whereby to emit one or more play piece from the orifice. This is a relatively simple construction where no water is used which as in the first alternative would open the orifice under gravity owing to its accumulated weight on the closable part. The means may comprise a solenoid device for opening the closable part of the mouth.

The mechanism may comprise a means to transfer one or more playing piece to the orifice. This is suitably an integral part of the play device such as a limb, particularly a fore-limb when the apparatus is a frog.

The apparatus may also comprise means to provide a message to a user, for example an audible message. This can provide instruction for use, as well as enhancing the attractiveness of the amusement provided by the apparatus.

The play device may be made from plastic. This provides for relatively simple manufacture by moulding.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an amusement area such as a swimming pool including apparatus as hereinbefore defined.

An amusement apparatus embodying the invention is hereinbefore defined, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of amusement apparatus in the form of a frog according to the invention, mounted at the side of a swimming pool; Fig. 2 is a detail showing a stage in use of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows another stage in use of the apparatus of Fig. 1 and 2; and Fig. 4 shows the another stage of Fig. 3 from a different perspective.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an amusement apparatus 1, comprising a play device in the form of a representation of a creature such as a frog 2 moulded from plastic, the device having an orifice 3 in the form of the frog's mouth 4 and one or more play devices in the form of one or a plurality of plastic balls 5, the play device 2 also comprising a mechanism 6 for transferring a play piece, or in the embodiment, a plurality of balls 5, to the orifice 4 and then emitting them therefrom.

The frog figure 2 is free-standing and can therefore be located at any suitable location such as in the embodiment at the side of a swimming pool 7, though it could be at any pool, on a rock island or representation of a lily pad.

The mouth 4 has a part 8 which in the embodiment is hinged to the body 9 of the frog 2, to open and close the mouth, and which also protrudes to form a lip 10, so that balls 5 can be placed thereon in one position for passage into the mouth. One limb or arm 11 is hollow and has a part such as a "hand" 12 which forms a tray on which balls 5 are placed for transfer to the mouth 4 by being sucked by an air flow created by an internal fan from the hand into the mouth through the hollow limb. This limb 11 forms a transfer device and is part of the mechanism 6, which also includes suitable conduiting (not shown) internally of the body 9, and a pump, also not shown, to pump water into the mouth 4 from inside the frog 2. The mechanism also includes means (also not shown) such as an audible message means for communicating with a user.

The mechanism 6 in the embodiment is electrically operated and has various timers and switches as required (and also not shown) to provide an operating sequence as will be described. The power requires a 24 volt supply which is passed to the apparatus 1 through an armoured cable passing from the top of the frog 2 to a suitable location where a plug and low voltage transformer are located. Thus the apparatus 1 meets health and safety regulations. In use, users 13 such as children see the frog 2 at say the side of the pool 7 in a quiescent state with the closable part 8 of the mouth 4 in the position shown in Fig. 1, namely so that the mouth is closed. Children gather round the frog 2, see the balls 5, and place one in the hand 12 of the transfer limb 11. This activates a switch of the mechanism 6 which puts the apparatus 1 into operation for a set period. The switch also actuates the means providing the audible message, whereupon the children hear the frog utter a message such as "thank you", the ball 5 is transferred up the arm 11 to the mouth 4 and sits on the closable part 8 of the mouth 4. The audible message then says "more balls please" and the children load the balls 5 into the hand 12 which transfers them to the mouth 4 where they are stored. The switch also actuates the pump, or there is a separate timer for operating same. When operated, the pump pumps water from the pool through the conduiting internally of the frog 2 to the mouth 4. The water builds up on the hinged part 8 until after about a minute the weight of water on that part causes it to hinge down under gravity overcoming the action of a counter balance device usually active to close the part 8, so releasing a cascade 14 of water and balls (which are suitably coloured) onto the children 13 in the pool 7. The mouth 4 is then closed by the hinged part 8 returning by the counter balance device to its initial (Fig. 1) position ready to be used again, the weight of the water having been removed, so enabling the counter balance device to restore the part 8 to the closed position.

In another embodiment, not shown, water is not required to open the mouth 4 by gathering on the hinged part 8 of the mouth 4. In the embodiment, the mechanism includes a device such as a solenoid device which operates the hinged part 8 to open it after a certain lapsed time in order to release the balls 5. This is suitable where the amusement apparatus 1 is located in a position where there is no water, for example at a sand pit, or non-water amusement location. However, this second embodiment could be modified by provision of a fan and conduiting which provide a stream of air, which could be warm air if a heater is included, to blow the balls 5 out of the mouth 4 when it opens. In this embodiment the mouth is returned to its closed position by for example a cam device.

In every embodiment the message means would enable the frog to play a tune when the balls are emitted, such as "I'm forever blowing bubbles".

It will be understood that every embodiment provides an interactive amusement apparatus 1 which provides entertainment for users, particularly children as well as teaching them social behaviour in for example learning to say "please" and "thank you".

Claims (17)

1. An amusement apparatus, comprising a play device and one or more play pieces, the device having an orifice, and a mechanism for transferring a play piece to the orifice and then emitting it therefrom.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, the play device comprising a representation of a creature such as a frog.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, the device being freestanding.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the one or more play pieces comprising a plurality of lightweight balls.

5. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 4, the mechanism comprising a timer element whereby to delay emitting of a play piece from the orifice.

6. Apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 5, the orifice being closable by a part adapted to receive one or more play pieces.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, the mechanism comprising a pump element for delivery of water to the orifice internally of the play device whereby to emit a flow of water and a play piece from the orifice.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 6, the mechanism comprising means for opening the orifice whereby to emit one or more play pieces.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, the means comprising a solenoid device for operating the closable part of the orifice.

10. Apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 9, the mechanism comprising a means to transfer one or more play pieces to the orifice.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, the transfer means comprising a limb of the creature.

12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the mechanism comprising means to provide a message to a user of the apparatus.

13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, the means comprising an audible means.

14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the play device comprising plastic.

15. An amusement apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. An amusement area, including apparatus according to any preceding claim.

17. An amusement area according to Claim 16, comprising a swimming pool.