GB2338581A

GB2338581A - A plaything

Info

Publication number: GB2338581A
Application number: GB9812945A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul William Hutley; Jonathan Charles Burchell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-06-17
Filing date: 1998-06-17
Publication date: 1999-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 2018-06-17
Also published as: GB2338581B; GB9812945D0

Abstract

A plaything for young children has a base-board 10 defining a plurality of apertures(12 Figure 2,) each being of a different configuration from the others and having an electrical sensor (18) associated therewith. Each of a plurality of play-pieces 11 has a base (13) and an upper section distinguishable from those of the other play-pieces, each base (13) being respectively configured for reception in only one of the apertures (12) in the base-board 10. The upper section of each play-piece 11 has at least a deformable portion connected internally of the play-piece to its base (13) and arranged to cause triggering of the sensor (18) when the play-piece has been inserted in the correct aperture in the base-board 10 and the upper section is deformed. A sound generator 26 (Figure 4) is connected electrically to all of the sensors (18) and is arranged to produce different sounds dependent upon the which sensor was triggered by the deforming of a play-piece, the sound advantageously being associated with the configuration of upper section of the play-piece triggering the sound.

Description

Ref. 11392 2338581 A PLAYTHING This invention relates to a plaything, and

in particular to a plaything primarily intended for use by young children, to assist with their early development.

A well-known plaything for young children has a panel which may be in the form of a base-board or a wall of a container, and which has a plurality of apertures each of a different shape from the others. The plaything includes a number of play-pieces each of which has a cross-sectional shape and size such that any one play-piece may be inserted into only one aperture of the panel.

Generally, the play-pieces are of simple geometrical shapes, in crosssection, and have a uniform cross-section along their length. Such a plaything is usually known as a "shape sorter" A plaything as has been described above is useful for teaching young children to recognise different shapes and to match the shape of a solid object with an aperture. The toy does have a limited appeal and a child may quickly become bored with it.

It is a principal aim of the present invention to provide a toy of the same general kind as a shape sorter as described above, but which is more likely to hold the interest of a child for significantly longer and which offers enhanced educational attributes.

According to the present invention, there is provided a plaything comprising:

Ref. 11392 j l - a base-board having a plurality of apertures therein, each aperture being of a different configuration from the others and having an electrical sensor associated therewith; - a plurality of play-pieces each having a base and an upper section distinguishable from the other upper sections, each base being configured for reception respectively in only one of the apertures in the base-board, the upper section of each play-piece having at least a deformable portion connected internally of the play-piece to its base and arranged to cause triggering of the sensor when the play-piece is inserted in the correct aperture in the base-board and the upper section is deformed; and - a sound generator connected electrically to all of the sensors and arranged to produce different sounds dependent upon the which sensor was triggered by the deforming of a play-piece.

With the plaything of this invention, it will be appreciated that when a child has correctly located a play-piece in the appropriate aperture, the sound generator may be triggered so as to produce an appropriate sound for the inserted play-piece. For example, the upper sections of the playpieces may be shaped to represent different animals, in which case the sound generator may be arranged to be able to reproduce the cries of those animals. Then, on inserting the base of a play-piece into the appropriate aperture in the baseboard, and then triggering the sensor by squeezing the deformable portion of the playpiece upper section, the sound generator may produce the cry of that animal. In the alternative, the sound generator could be arranged to utter the names of the animals so that when a sensor is triggered by squeezing the C - Ref. 11392 deformable part of an inserted animal, the sound generator will issue the name of that animal.

The upper sections of the play-pieces may take a variety of different forms. Mention has been made of animals and there is significant scope for variations on this theme, ranging from common domestic and farm animals through to wild animals or different birds and the calls associated with those birds. The upper sections could instead represent with common articles with which young children will be familiar by sight, and the sound generator then producing the names of those articles or perhaps even spelling the names, letter-by-letter. Thus, in this way, the plaything may be configured to have significant educational value, beyond the mere recognition of shapes.

In a preferred form of plaything of this invention, the whole of the upper section of each play-piece is deformable. Thus, the upper section may be in the form of a resilient plastics material or natural or synthetic elastomeric material moulding, whereby the upper section may be deformed merely by grasping and squeezing it. For such a case, at least the upper section of each play-piece is hollow and defines a closed volume, so that the deformation of the upper section raises the air pressure in the hollow part of the play-piece. That increase in air pressure may then be used to cause triggering of the sensor associated with an aperture, once the base of the play-piece has been inserted therein.

Advantageously, the base of each play-piece is also hollow and is in communication with the hollow upper section, whereby deformation of the upper section imparts a deforming force on the base of the play-piece. By providing a weakened region in the base, which weakened region comes into register with Ref. 11392 the sensor associated with the aperture into which the base of the play- piece is inserted, the increase in the pressure may deform that weakened region outwardly so as to trigger the sensor. For example, the sensor may comprise a switch having an actuator disposed for actuation by the base of an inserted playpiece, which actuator is then moved from its rest position by the increase in pressure within the play-piece, leading to outward movement of the weakened region.

Other possibilities for triggering the sensor could include having a magnet within the play-piece base, which magnet is moved nearer the edge of the base by deformation of the upper section of the play-piece. In this case, the sensor could comprise either a reed switch or a Hall effect switch, triggered by a magnet moving sufficiently close thereto. Another possibility would be to provide an optical sensor which sensor is triggered when the base is deformed outwardly, by squeezing the upper section of a play-piece. Other possibilities will occur to those skilled in the art.

The sound generator should be able to generate at least as many different sounds as there are apertures in the base-board. However, it is preferred that the sound generator is able to generate many more sounds, and is adjustable so as to produce a required set of sounds. For example, where the upper sections of the play-pieces are in the form of animals, the sound generator optionally could generate either the cries of the animals or the names of the animals. Another possibility would be to provide an overlay for the baseboard, which overlay carries information for a user of the plaything and which overlay also sets or adjusts the sound generator to suit that information. Thus, Rerf. 11392 where the sound generator is to produce the cries of the animals, the overlay could simply have a picture of the animal adjacent the appropriate aperture in the base-board. However, when the names of the animals are to uttered, then the overlay could have the name spelt out adjacent the aperture, for comparison 5 with the name as uttered by the generator.

The plaything may also include a recording function. Thus, a user may record sounds for subsequent playback. In this case, the plaything would have to include the appropriate controls for the recording and play back functions but these may be built into the base-board, along with a microphone, for easy operation by a user.

Advantageously, the base-board is at least partially hollow and the sound generator together with a power source therefor is built into the space defined between the upper and lower surfaces of the base-board. Such a base-board may be configured as a tray, possibly for attachment to a chair, high chair or the like, for use by young children. In the alternative, the base-board could comprise the lid for a container, or could even be curved round to form a side wall for a container, in a similar manner to a conventional form of shape sorter.

By way of example only, one specific embodiment of plaything constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a general perspective view of the embodiment of plaything, expressly configured for use as a tray for a child's high-chair; Ref. 11392 1--- -6 Figure 2 shows in detail a squeezable play-piece and a shaped aperture therefor; Figure 3 shows a removable overlay for the base-board; and Figure 4 is a block diagram of the electronic module incorporated within 5 the base-board.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2, the embodiment of plaything of this invention comprises a hollow base-board 10 which is adapted to receive six distinct play-pieces 11 - and in the illustrated embodiment, these play-pieces take the form of attractive, stylised, wild animals. The base-board 10 is hollow and has six apertures 12 (Figure 2) formed in its upper surface,.in two groups of three adjacent a pair of opposed edges. Though the aperture 12 in Figure 2 has a simple rectangular shape, the other apertures (not shown) have different shapes and each play-piece has a base 13 appropriately configured to be received in only one of the apertures. Thus, by suitable selection of the cross- sectional shape and size of each aperture 12 and the corresponding base 13, any one play-piece can be inserted in only one aperture intended for that playpiece.

Each aperture 12 in the upper surface of the base-board is in the form of a socket, including side walls 14 projecting below the upper surface of the base- board. The socket is closed at its lower end, so that no access may be gained to the main area within the base-board, through the apertures. In an alternative arrangement, the walls 14 may extend down to the lower surface of the baseboard which also includes a corresponding aperture, whereby objects may be passed right through the base-board, in a manner similar to that of a Ref. 11392 1 conventional shape sorter. The illustrated play-pieces 11 are however prevented from passing right through, by virtue of a flange 15 formed around the upper end of the play-piece base 13.

Mounted within the base-board 10 is a sound generator and control circuit, to be described in more detail below, a loudspeaker 16, a microphone 17 and a battery power-pack (not shown) to which access may be gained for example through a removable door in the lower surface of the base-board. Fitted to a wall 14 of each aperture is a pressure sensitive switch 18, connected to the control circuit for the sound generator whereby actuation of the switch causes the generator to produce a sound signal which is reproduced through the loudspeaker16.

Each play-piece is moulded in a soft polyurethane material and defines a closed internal chamber, extending from the upper section into the base 13. The region of each base 13 which lies alongside the pressure sensitive switch 18 when the base 13 is properly located in an aperture is weakened, whereby an increase in air pressure in the chamber within the play-piece will tend to distend that weakened region outwardly. Thus, squeezing the upper section (stylised animal) of a play-piece having its base 13 correctly located in an aperture 12 will cause the pressure sensitive switch 18 of that aperture to operate, so triggering the sound generator.

The central region of the upper surface of the base-board 10 includes control buttons 20 for the sound generator and control circuit within the baseboard. An overlay 21, laid on the upper surface of the base-board as shown in Figure 3, includes suitable designations for the control buttons 20. This overlay Ref. 11392 may be changed so as to suit the intended use of the plaything - and the laying of an appropriate overlay on the upper surface of the base-board may adjust the control circuit automatically, to suit the indications on the upper surface of the overlay. This could be achieved, for example, by having a plurality of contacts on the upper surface of the base-board and connected to the control circuit, the underside of the overlay defining tracks linking some of those contacts, to ensure operation of the control circuit in the correct mode.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base-board 10 is intended to be used as a tray for a high-chair, for use by very young children. As well as performing the normal functions of a tray for a high-chair, the plaything is intended to keep small children amused by allowing them to remove and replace the play-pieces and also to have the plaything make sounds corresponding to the animals depicted by the play-pieces, when squeezed. In addition, messages associated with each animal may be pre-recorded and selected by pressing the appropriate control button 20, which messages may range from just the name of the animal through to a more complex statement about that animal.

The base-board 10 should suitably be sealed, to allow wiping down or the spillage of liquids, without affecting the operation of the plaything. Moreover, the lack of user-accessible small parts renders the plaything suitable for very small children.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown a block diagram of the sound generator and control circuit incorporated within the base-board 10. A microprocessor 25 controls the operation of a digital sound record/playback integrated circuit 26, of the kind now widely available commercially for a variety l- 1 Ref. 11392 of different intended uses. The microphone 17 is connected to an input of the circuit 26, and loudspeaker 16 to the output, the operation of the circuit 26 being controlled solely by the microprocessor 25. The pressure sensitive switches 18 and further push buttons 20 are shown diagrammatically at 27 and all control the operation of the microprocessor, running a pre-set program. Included within the microprocessor is a random access memory in which are pre-recorded digital sound patterns, ready for reproducing through the integrated circuit 26 and loudspeaker 16. Operation of the push buttons 20 in a suitable manner allows the recording of a message, as described hereinbefore, for reproduction either 10 by squeezing a play-piece or by pressing a further button.

Ref. 11392 r:

Claims

1 A plaything comprising:

- a base-board having a plurali ty of apertures therein, each aperture being of a different configuration from the others and having an electrical sensor 5 associated therewith; - a plurality of play-pieces each having a base and an upper section distinguishable from the other upper sections, each base being configured for reception respectively in only one of the apertures in the base-board, the upper section of each play-piece having at least a deformable portion connected internally of the play-pie ce to its base and arranged to cause triggering of the sensor when the play-piece is inserted in the correct aperture in the base-board and the upper section is deformed; and - a sound generator connected electrically to all of the sensors and arranged to produce different sounds dependent upon the which sensor was triggered by the deforming of a play-piece.

2. A plaything as claimed in claim 1, wherein the whole of the upper section of the play-piece is deformable.

3. A plaything as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least the upper section of each play-piece is hollow and defines a closed volume, whereby deformation thereof raises the air pressure in the hollow part of the play-piece.

4. A plaything as claimed in claim 3, wherein the base of each play-piece is resiliently deformable.

Ref. 11392 r

5. A plaything as claimed in claim 4, wherein the base of each play-piece is hollow and is in communication with the hollow upper section, whereby deformation of the upper section causes the base also to deform.

6. A plaything as claimed in claim 5, wherein the base has a weakened region which comes into register with the sensor associated with the aperture into which the play-piece is inserted.

7. A plaything as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor comprises a switch having an actuator disposed for actuation by a play-piece inserted into the correct aperture in the base-board.

8. A plaything as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the sound generator is arranged to be capable of generating at least as many different sounds as there are apertures in the base-board.

9. A plaything as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein an overlay is provided for the base-board which overlay carries information for a user of the plaything and which also sets or adjusts the sound generator to suit that information.

10. A plaything as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the sound generator includes a recording function and there is provided a microphone whereby a user may record sounds for subsequent playback.

11. A plaything as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the sound generator and an electrical power source therefor is contained within the baseboard.

12. A plaything as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the baseboard is sealed in a liquid-tight manner.

C Ref. 11392

13. A plaything as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

14. A plaything as claimed in any of the preceding claims and configured as a tray for use on a chair, high chair or the like, for use by young children.

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