MXPA01003602A - Toy telephone having phone number teaching system - Google Patents

Abstract

A housing (11) supports a keypad (20) having a four by three matrix (103) of depressible buttons (21-32) each baring an appropriate number or symbol in correspondence to the four by three arrangement of a conventional telephone. The housing (11) further supports a pageable book (13) having a plurality of pivotally secured pages (33) each baring a selected image (73) and corresponding number (74). Each depressible button (21-32) includes a lighting device (41-52) and a push button switch (30) in association therewith. The depressible button (21) operates the switch when the button is pressed and the button is illuminated when the light is energized. An electronic circuit (112) within the housing operates the plurality of switches (103) and lights (102) associated with the plurality of buttons (21-32) in accordance with a stored instruction set.

Description

TOY PHONE. WHICH HAS A TELEPHONE NUMBER TEACHING SYSTEM Field of the Invention This invention relates, generally, to toy telephones and, particularly, to those that use various light and sound devices for added realism and game value.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Toy telephones have proven to be an extremely popular category of toy products. For the most part, these toy phones are usually conventional phones that simulate the type used in home telephone systems. Thus, toy telephones have been supplied by those skilled in the art with various ringing functions, conversation functions, light display and telephone dialing devices. With the advent of touch-tone phones, the dialing device has generally been replaced by types of push buttons, similar to tone-operated telephones in the home system.

In addition to entertainment and fun, toy telephones are often provided with additional devices that provide an instructional instruction or pattern. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,513,993, issued to Lindley et al., Discloses an EDUCATIONAL LEARNING DEVICE of the 911, which has a toy telephone that resembles a standard telephone, which is operable in accordance with a control processor to repeat, evaluate and instruct a child user in the appropriate marking of the emergency number (911). U.S. Patent No. 5,184,971, issued to Williams, teaches a TOY PHONE RECORDER, WITH RECORDED AND REPRODUCED IMAGE, having a toy phone equipped with a recorder operable by a plurality of push button sets. Pressing one of the button sets produces a playback of a particular message stored in the recorder. U.S. Patent No. 4,103,452, issued to Wood, states a CHILD TELEPHONE APPARATUS, which can be selectively connected to domestic stereo sound systems. The phone functions as a conversation toy that uses, for example, a stereo sound system, which requires playback on two separate speakers. U.S. Patent No. 4,104,821, issued to Nakajima, TOY PHONE WITH HOOD AND ENGRAVED MESSAGES, which has a recording device supported inside a toy telephone. A plurality of recorded messages are stored therein. The toy phone is capable of producing ringing sounds, according to a predetermined action pattern. U.S. Patent No. 5,609,508, issued to Wingate, points out a TOY PHONE WITH VISUAL EXHIBIT FOR RECORDED MESSAGES, which has a toy phone that supports an LED display, which enables audio and image data to be recorded by parents or similar persons, and reproduce such data in response to the manipulation of buttons inside the numeric keypad of the toy phone. U.S. Patent No. 2,582,086, issued to Bessell, discloses a TOY TELEPHONE, which has a conventional telephone base and telephone receiver support. The toy also includes a finger-marking device and a ringing device. This toy phone is operative to simulate the functions of a conventional telephone.

US Patent: No. 5,474,484, issued to Lemelle, states a DOLL USED TO TEACH CHILDREN TO USE EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS 911, which has a wrist that supports a toy telephone in the upper portion 5 of the bull of this doll. The toy phone includes a tape player that has a pre-recorded tape of the words that will likely be used by an emergency dispatcher at 911, as the user pushes the sequence of buttons for the emergency 911 activate the recorded tape. Several other devices operate in a similar manner, using an apparatus similar to the oppressor button arrangements of toy telephones for teaching purposes. For example, the patent of E.U.A :, No. 3,958,344, issued to Lesiak, points out an TEACHING ASSISTANT TO LEARN THE NUMBERS; U.S. Patent No. 5,026,288, issued to Castiglia et al., states ILLUMINATED EDUCATIONAL BLOCKS, while U.S. Patent No. 2,500,507, issued to Avery et al., indicates an APPARATUS FOR TEACHING A WRITE IN MACHINE, which has a secondary keyboard, configured according to a conventional typewriter keyboard. While the devices of the prior art, described above, have provided an improvement in the technique and ^^^ úÉIU have enjoyed, in some cases, a commercial success, however, there remains a continuing need in the art for an effective and even better device, fun and entertainment, for teaching phone numbers critical to a child very young.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved toy telephone. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved toy telephone having a system for teaching telephone numbers. It is still a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved toy telephone, having a phone number teaching system, which is particularly suitable for very young children. According to the present invention, a toy telephone is provided which comprises: a housing, having a support and manual unit, which can be received therein, and an interior. A keyboard, formed on the housing, having a plurality of buttons that can be depressed, each formed of a material that transmits light, arranged in the housing in a matrix of four rows by three columns, buttons that can be pressed , each one has a symbol or a number on them, and a post that extends downwards; a plurality of lights, supported by the housing, one of the lights is supported under one of the selected buttons that can be depressed; a plurality of push button switches, supported by the housing, one of the push button switches is supported below one of the buttons that can be depressed, each push button switch is supported below one of the push buttons. the respective posts; a plurality of hinges, each pivotally coupled to one of the plurality of push buttons to the housing, to define a raised position and a depressed position; and a circuit element, which has a processor, which has an associated memory that stores a set of instructions, a matrix of the light controller has an input coupled to the processor and a plurality of outputs coupled to the plurality of lights for the exchange selective of each light, a switch matrix, having an output coupled to the processor and a plurality of inputs coupled to the plurality of pushbutton switches, to selectively detect each push button switch closure, and a program switch it is coupled to the processor to select a program mode, the set of stored instructions that responds to the mode of the program to receive a telephone number entered by the user and then repeatedly illuminate the lights in sequence, corresponding to the telephone number and detect if a corresponding push button has been pressed, whereby the toy phone is capable of receive, store and present a home telephone number and detect a push button push, correct or incorrect, on a repetitive basis to teach the user a home telephone number.

Brief Description of the Drawings The characteristics of the present invention, which is believed to be novel, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and further advantages, can be better understood with reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the various figures where similar reference numbers identify similar elements and where: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toy, constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view, partly in section, of a push button and the light apparatus of the present invention of the toy telephone, taken along lines 2-2 in section in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the Figure 2, in the activated configuration of the push button; and Figure 4 is a block diagram of the electronic circuit operating the toy telephone of the present invention.

Description of the Preferred Modality Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a toy telephone, constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally with the reference number 10. The toy telephone 10 includes a housing 11, preferably formed of a material molded plastic or similar. The housing 11 defines a handle 16, a support 12 of the manual assembly and a multi-page book 13. The housing 11 also supports a keyboard 20, which has a plurality of push buttons arranged on a conventional telephone keypad 3 by the matrix 4. Also, according to the characteristics of the telephone keypad, the push buttons, 21 to 50 , correspond in sequence to the numbers 1 to 0. The additional keyboard 31 corresponds to the "star" key, while the push button 32 corresponds to the "pound" symbol key. Thus, the arrangement of the buttons and the numbers and symbols thereof is for the child user a substantially enlarged version of a touch tone telephone keypad. A manual simulated telephone unit 14 includes a character aid 15 and is received within the holder 12. A simulated telephone cord 36, having a security connector 37, connects the hand unit 14 to the housing 11. The cord 36 does not it is an electrical conductor and is merely intended to simulate the typical telephone cord. The housing 11 further supports a pair of mode buttons, 17 and 18, operative in the manner described below. In accordance with the present invention, each button of buttons 21 to 32 is provided with a corresponding underlying light element, such as an incandescent bulb. Thus, the buttons 21 to 32 are operatively coupled to a corresponding plurality of lamps 41 to 52. Furthermore, each push button, 21 to 32, is mechanically coupled by means indicated below in Figures 2 and 3 in greater detail to a plurality. corresponding switches, 61 1 72, buttons and push. The operating mechanisms which support the incandescent lamps and which are coupled between the push buttons, 21 to 32, and the switches 61 to 72 are substantially identical. Thus, with temporal reference to Figures 2 and 3, it will be noted that each of the buttons, 21 to 32, can be illuminated by the respective lamps and by pressing each of the buttons, 21 to 32, they activate one of the corresponding switches , 61 to 72, according to the circuit shown in Figure 4. Thus, each of the buttons, 21 to 32, can be illuminated and depressed independently, according to the anticipated operation pattern of the toy telephone of this invention. The mode button 17 is operative to change the operation of the circuit 100 (see Figure 4), which is supported inside the housing 11, using conventional manufacturing techniques (not shown) in a selected mode of operation. Similarly, the mode button 18, when depressed, operates the circuit 100 (seen in Figure 4) in an alternative operation mode. In the operation of the toy telephone 10, selected by the button 17 of the oppression mode, the circuit 100 (seen in Figure 4), randomly selects a sequence of numbers, preferably a telephone number, and in sequence illuminates one of the buttons, 21 to 32, corresponding. A corresponding audio suggestion, which says the operational numbers, as each push button is illuminated, is also operational. The child user tries to push each button, as the button is illuminated and thus is directed towards the association of the number and position within the keyboard 20 of each button. A) Yes, in response to the mode button 17, a sequence of lights is activated to illuminate a corresponding sequence of buttons that the child attempts to follow. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the number associated with the illuminated button is said by a sound circuit 106 (see Figure 4). In this way, the electronic circuit within the housing 11 operates in response to the button 17 so as to repeatedly expose the child user to the numbers and position on the keyboard of these numbers within the keyboard 20 that produce a highly efficient learning aid, directed specifically towards the same keyboard arrangement, found in a conventional telephone. The telephone toy 10 can be operated in an alternate mode in response to the oppressor button 18, which causes the electronic circuit inside the housing 11 (circuit 100, seen in Figure 4), operate specifically to teach the child user his home telephone number. For this purpose and as described below in greater detail, a program switch 109 (seen in Figure 4) is moved to the program position that allows the parent or other adult to program the child's telephone number, which is look to be memorized. The operation of the program switch 109 (see Figure 4) is described below in greater detail. However, it is sufficient to note that the parents are able to enter a selected number 5, such as the home telephone number and then that number will be controlled in the teaching operation as the buttons associated with each digit of the telephone number they are operated in sequence. As also described in more detail below, one of the parents has programmed the telephone number of the home or similar, the program switch 109 is returned to the locked or unscheduled position. For convenience purposes and to avoid unwanted manipulation of the program switch by the child user, this program switch 109 is preferably supported on the rear surface of the housing 11 and thus shown in Figure 1 in a representation of dashed lines. It will be apparent, however, that the switch 109 can be located virtually anywhere in the toy 10 without Depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The housing 11 further supports a book 13, formed of a plurality of pages 33, each pivotally movable in a hinge 34, in the manner indicated by the arrows 35. Pages 33 of book 13 may, for iMUME example, include the combination of an image, such as an image 73 of characters together with a sequence of numeric digits, such as the telephone number 74. In this way, the child user is encouraged to learn the activity of paging the book to obtain the number of a character that has its associated number and image in a common page. This adds an additional teaching capability for the toy telephone of the present invention. In correspondence with the conventional telephone, the manual unit 14 can be removed from the support 12 and is generally configured in accordance with a conventional telephone manual unit, adding a further operation and realism value to the toy telephone of the present invention. Figure 2 indicates a sectional view with partial section of the button 30, taken along the lines of section 2-2 in Figure 1. As a revision, it shows the button 30 in its normal or elevated position. It will be understood that the structure of the button 30 and its associated apparatus is repeated for the remaining buttons, which have corresponding association within the keyboard 20 (see in Figure 1). Thus, the structure indicated in Figures 2 and 3, for the button 30, will be understood to be equally descriptive and apply with equal force to the buttons 21 to 29 and the buttons 31 and 32 together with the corresponding associated apparatus. More specifically, the housing 11 includes a hinge 117, which extends from the button 30 and pivotally supports the button 30 with respect to the housing 11. This button 30 further defines a tongue 121, which extends downwards, which passes to through an opening 120 formed in the housing 11. A bushing 111, having an opening 110, is formed integrally with the housing 11 and extends downwardly thereof. The button 30 also includes a post 115, which extends downward. A printed circuit board 112 supports a light 50, which has an incandescent focus 114 supported in an electrically coupled manner to the circuit board 112. A resistor 113 is used to protect the overcurrent of the focus 114. The board 112 of the printed circuit also includes a switch that can be depressed, placed in alignment with the post 115. A plurality of connecting cables, such as cable 116, preferably formed of a "ribbon cable", provide the electrical connections between focus 114, resistor 113 and switch 70. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, switch 70 is conventionally manufactured and includes a return spring, which urges the resilient member of the switch 70 up against 115. Further, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the button 30 is molded of a material that transmits color light, such as a molded plastic or similar. In the configuration shown in Figure 2, the button 30 is in its raised position, as it is pivoted upwards in the direction indicated by the arrow 122, around the hinge 117, due to the return force of the switch 70, exerted against the post 115 in the upward direction. The raised position of the button 30 is limited by the contact of the tongue 121 against the lower side of the housing 11, beyond the opening 120. In the raised position shown, the focus 114 can be illuminated by appropriate energy signals, applied by cable 116, as desired. However, in the raised position shown, switch 70 is not operative. Thus, the use of the focus 114 and the switch 70 together with the cooperating features of the button 30, facilitate the independent illumination of the button 30 and the response to pressing the button 30. Figure 3 shows a sectional view, partially in section, of the button 30 and its associated apparatus, taken along the lines in section 2-2 in Figure 1. In Figure 3, button 30 is already shown depressed by a user, exerting a downward force on button 30. Of importance with respect to the present invention, is the cooperation of post 115, hinge 117 and switch 70, to provide communication of the oppressive action of the button to circuit 100 (seen in Figure 4). More specifically, the housing 11 includes a hinge 117, which extends from the button 30 and pivotally supports the button 30 with respect to the housing 11. The button 30 further defines a tongue 121, which extends downward, which passes to through an opening 120, formed in the housing 11. A bushing 111, having an opening 110 is formed integrally with the housing 11 and extends downwardly thereof. The button 30 also includes a post 115, which extends downward. A printed circuit board 112 supports a light 50, having an incandescent focus 114 supported in an electrically coupled manner to the circuit board 112. A resistor 113 expands at the focus 114 for protection of overcurrents. The printed circuit board 112 further includes a switch 70, which can be depressed, placed in alignment with the post 115. A plurality of connecting cables, such as the cable 116, preferably formed of a "ribbon cable", supplies the electrical connections between the focus 114, the resistor 113 and the switch 70. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the switch 70 is conventionally manufactured and includes a return spring that pushes the switch-down member 70 of the switch upwards In addition, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the button 30 is molded of a material, which transmits light, of color, such as molded plastic or the like. During operation, the user presses down in the direction indicated by arrow 118, overcoming the return force of switch 70 and causing button 30 to pivot about hinge 117. Tab 121 moves downward from housing 11 , as button 30 pivots. The post 115 is supported by the button 30 and thus moves downward during the pivotal movement of the button around the hinge 117 which operates the switch 70. This switch 70 is shown fully depressed or activated by the pivoted downward position of the button. 30. As described below in more detail, the independent coupling of the switch 70 and the focus 114 under the button 30, facilitates the illumination of the focus 114 and the action of the switch 70, independently of each other, to increase the flexibility of the device of the present invention.

MtaüMitfÜta Once the force on the button 30 is removed, the restoring force of the switch 70 drives the post 115 upwards, pivoting the button 30 around the hinge 117 to thereby raise the tongue 121 to the lower surface of the housing 11. At this point, the button 30 and its associated apparatus are returned to the configuration shown in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a flow diagram of an electronic circuit, generally with the reference number 100, which is the reference within the telephone. of toy of the present invention. The circle 100 includes a processor 101, which, in its preferred embodiment, is a conventional microprocessor, having an associated memory 105 within which a set of instructions are stored. The circuit 100 further includes a light driver 102, operatively coupled to the processor 101. This light driver 102 includes a four-by-three array arrangement, which is operatively coupled to the switches 41 to 52 (see Figure 1). The circuit 100 further includes a matrix 103 of switches having a plurality of inputs coupled to form a four-by-three matrix of switches 61 to 72. Switches 61 to 72 correspond to the four-by-three keyboard (seen in Figure 1) of the toy of the present invention. The matrix 103 of switches is operatively coupled to the processor 101. The circuit 100 further includes a supply of batteries 125. This supply of batteries 125 is supported within the housing 11 (not shown) in a conventional manner and supplies electrical, positive and negative terminals ,. which are operatively coupled to circuit 100 in a conventional manner (not shown). The circuit 100 further includes a sound circuit 106, operatively coupled to the processor 101, which produces output signals applied to an audio driver 107. The impeller 107 responds to the signals from the sound circuit 106 to drive a conventional horn 108. A mode selection switch 104 is operatively coupled to the processor 101 and a program switch 109 is similarly coupled to the processor 101. The various devices shown in Figure 4 they use well-known electronic circuit components to carry out the operation of the toy telephone of the present invention. During the operation, the processor 101 is operative in any of two alternative modes, at the input 104 which selects response modes. With the temporary return to Figure 1, it will be noted that the mode buttons, 17 and 18, are used by the user to operate the mode selection 104 and configure the operation of the processor 101 in a selected mode. Activation of the program switch 109 allows the parents of the child user to enter a number, such as the home telephone number, to the processor 101. According to the set of instructions within the memory 105, the processor 101 stores this Then, when a mode has been selected, the processor 101 responds to the corresponding stored instruction set, within the memory 105, to apply digitally encoded signals to the light impeller 102, which, in accordance with its matrix configuration, decode the digital input signals and apply power signals to the appropriate outputs to illuminate selected lights of the lights 41 to 52. Concurrently, the processor 101 transfers the digitally encoded audio signals to the sound circuit 106 , which, according to conventional manufacturing techniques, decode digital sound signals into signals appropriate audio, which, in turn, is applied to the speaker 108 or the audio driver 107.

At this point, the processor 101 has activated the lights under buttons 31 to 52 (see Figure 1) and its output corresponding to the sound, such as the human voice that articulates the numbers corresponding to each illuminated focus. The child user responds to the lighting of spotlights 41 to 52 by pressing one of the selected buttons, 21 to 32 (see Figure 1). The pressure of one of the selected buttons, 21 to 32, supplies the activation of one of the corresponding switches, 61 to 72. The matrix 103 includes a conventional circuit system to receive the matrix input of the oppressed switches and decodes the value of the array to produce corresponding digital signals, which are communicated to the processor 101. Next, the processor 101 uses the digital signals applied from the switch matrix 103 and the instruction set stored within the memory 105 to determine the correct form of the child's response. The operation of the circuit 100 in each of the alternative modes is carried forward substantially as described above. The functional difference in operation in each mode is, in essence, provided by the activities of the processor 101 in determining which sequence of numbers is to be applied to the sound circuit 106 and the drivers Ytifai & _ ^ É 102 light. In the first mode of operation, the processor 101 produces a sequence of numbers, which may be random, pseudo-random or the like, for the application to the light driver 102 and the sound circuit 106. In this way, the above-described operation pattern is produced when the child user attempts to replicate or repeat the sequence of illuminated buttons, operated by the processor 101. In contrast, the operation in the alternative mode (initiated by the program switch 109) allows a parent to input a selected number, such as the home telephone number, to processor 101, whereby this processor 101 stores the sequence of selected numbers within memory 105. Program switch 109 is then moved to the inactive or locked position and the processor 101 uses the sequence of stored numbers repeatedly to learn by sound the number by means of the circuit 106 and turn on in sequence one of the appropriate lights, 41 to 52. In this mode of operation, the child user is presented repeatedly with the number sequence of the telephone number and tries to follow the sequence of numbers by pressing the appropriate buttons os, 21 to 32 (see Figure 1), thus operating switches 61 to 72. Once again, matrix 103 converts the sequence of closed switches to appropriate digitally coded signals, which are returned to processor 101. This processor 101 then compares the returned numbers with the numbers supplied by the parents, stored, within the memory 105, and initiates an appropriate response. It has been shown a toy phone, adapted and built specifically to maximize the teaching capabilities of the device in relation to the operation of the phone. The child user is encouraged to learn the numbers as well as the positions of each number within a conventional telephone keypad arrangement. Of particular importance with respect to the present invention is the provision of a program mode, in which the parents are able to input a selected number, such as the home telephone number, or the like, to be taught to the child user . While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the invention, in its broader aspects. Therefore, the object of the appended claims is to cover all these changes and modifications, as they are within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (3)

1. CLAIMS 1, A toy telephone, which comprises: a housing, which has a support and manual unit, which can be received inside it, and an interior; a keyboard formed on the housing, which has a plurality of buttons that can be depressed, each formed of a material that transmits light, arranged on the housing in a matrix of four rows by three columns, these buttons that can be pressed have each a symbol or number on them and a post, which extends downwards; a plurality of lights, supported by said housing, one of these lights is supported below a selected one of the buttons that can be depressed; a plurality of push button switches, supported by the housing, one of the push button switches is supported below a selected one of the buttons that can be depressed, each of the push button switches is supported below one of said respective posts; a plurality of hinges, each pivotally coupling one of the plurality of push buttons to the housing, to define a raised position and a depressed position; and a circuit element, having a processor having associated memory, which stores a set of instructions, a matrix of the light controller, having an input coupled to said processor and a plurality of outputs coupled to said plurality of lights , for the selective exchange of each light, a matrix of switches, having an output coupled to said processor and a plurality of inputs coupled to said plurality of pushbutton switches, to selectively detect each closing of the push button switch, and a program switch is coupled to said processor, to select a program mode; this set of stored instructions responds to said program mode to receive a home telephone number, entered by the user, and then repeatedly illuminate said lights in sequence corresponding to said telephone number and detect whether a corresponding push button is he has oppressed; whereby said toy telephone is capable of receiving, storing and presenting a home telephone number and detecting a pressing of a push button, correct or incorrect, on a repetitive basis, to teach the user a home telephone number.
2. 2. The toy telephone, defined in claim 1, wherein the symbol or number on said push buttons, form a number and symbol arrangement, which corresponds to a standard telephone keypad.
3. 3. The toy phone, defined in claim 2, which also includes a sound element, to provide music and voice suggestions to the user.