Water toy

Abstract

A water toy useable in a bathtub or shower area includes a frame assembly attachable to a supporting wall by suction cups, and a plurality of track pieces that are attachable to and supported by the frame assembly. The track pieces are interconnectable, and each piece defines a trough for the flow of water or objects therein by gravity. When assembled, the track pieces define a water slide for a child to play with when taking a bath or shower.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/729,228 filed on Oct. 21, 2005, and entitled “A Water Toy”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference and on which priority is hereby claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to a toy for a child or other user and in particular to a water-based toy.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Toys that a child may play with while taking a bath or in the bathtub are well known, such as rubber ducks or washable markers that allow the child to write on the walls of the tub or themselves. Bath toys help promote a child's confidence in the water and overcome their natural or develop fear of water, entertaining the child while bathing and being washed by his or her parent.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a water toy useable in a bathtub for enjoyment by a child.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a water toy for a child that entertains a child while bathing in the bathtub.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a water toy that, while being played, encourages the child to learn about the unique properties of water or any other liquid.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a water toy for a child where the child can learn about fluid mechanics while playing with the toy.

A water toy formed in accordance with the present invention allows the user (especially a young child) to create a water slide and then learn about the unique properties of water while playing with the toy. As an example, the water toy may be a modular water slide toy designed for the bath where users, often children, can send a small figure or object down a miniature water slide while imaging the user is actually riding down the water slide. The water slide may include high speed turns, spiral slides and a jump into the water. The user can connect tracks and corner pieces in various different configurations to create different water slide designs.

In a preferred embodiment, the water toy is a reconfigurable water maze construction toy that is a track and corner-based trough system oriented on a vertical plane or surface(s), such as a bathroom wall or bathtub surround surface, to facilitate a small figure, or other object, moving through the system (left to right and right to left) propelled by the water that is present in the toy or added to the toy. The figure, propelled by the water, drops elevation as it moves left to right and right to left down the tracks and corners. In an embodiment that may attach to the bathtub or wall surround, a framework that supports the water troughs adheres to the walls of the bathtub via suction cups and/or Velcro™ adhesion. The framework may rest on the top edge, or ledge, of the bathtub which provides vertical or horizontal support so that the role of the suction cups and/or Velcro™ adhesion is to hold the framework to the vertical plane of the wall, not to support the weight of the framework. The framework then provides a grid to attach and connect the corner pieces using a modular “keyhole” design. The corner pieces then connect to tracks. This modular keyhole design connecting to the vertical planar surface allows for continuously adjustable designs to modify the play experiences via various vertical positions and horizontal positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a water toy in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating more details of an upper starting position of the water toy shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating more details of an open position of a middle portion of the water toy shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating more details of the closed position of the middle portion of the water toy shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating more details of a turn portion of the water toy shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating more details of a lower portion of the water toy shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a frame assembly forming part of the water toy of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a track assembly mounted on the frame assembly, both assemblies being components of the water toy of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of an object forming part of the water toy of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is particularly applicable to a water slide toy 10 designed to be used in a bathtub 32 and it is in this context that the invention will be described. It will be appreciated, however, that the water toy 10 in accordance with the invention has greater utility since it can be used in various other different environments and can be implemented using different components than those used in the example shown in FIGS. 1-6.

The present invention is directed to a water slide toy 10. The water slide toy 10 of the present invention includes a frame assembly 34 and a track assembly 36.

The frame assembly 34 of the present invention may include a plurality of vertical members 38, but preferably includes a first vertical member 40 and a second vertical member 42.

The first vertical member 40 and second vertical member 42 may be constructed as rectangular or three-sided beams, each beam having a left vertical wall 44, right vertical wall 46, interconnecting mounting surface 48 and internal cavity 50. The interconnecting mounting surface 48 and vertical walls 44, 46 preferably form an angle of 90 degrees to each other. Each vertical member 38 may also have a proximal end 52, distal end 54, anterior surface 56, and posterior surface 58. The vertical members 38 may further include a plurality, but preferably four, mounting flanges 60 laterally extending outwardly from the posterior surfaces 58 of the vertical walls 44, 46; four flanges 60 are attached to each vertical member 38, preferably two flanges 60 located at the proximal end 52 and two flanges 60 at the distal end 54 of each member 38. Each mounting flange 60 includes a central bore 64. The central bores 64 are capable of receiving mounting hardware, such as suction cups 66. The interconnecting mounting surface 48 of each vertical member 38 also may include a plurality of track mounting slots 68. Each track mounting slot 68 has a proximal (upper) end 70, distal (lower) end 72, and internal hole 74, the proximal end 70 being relatively larger in width than the distal end 72 to define the slot 68 and internal hole 74 with a generally keyhole shape.

The first vertical member 40 and second vertical member 42 are horizontally displaced from each other and vertically oriented with their posterior surfaces 58 situated against a mounting surface 76, such as a shower door or bathroom tub wall, or on a wall adjacent to a water table in a play center, for example. The frame assembly 34 is secured to the mounting surface 76 by the mounting hardware attached to the mounting flanges 60, such as suction cups 66. The frame assembly mounting hardware may either support the entire water slide toy 10 or the distal ends 54 of the vertical members 38 may be further vertically supported by the ledge 78 of a wall or door, or edge of a bathtub 32, leaving the mounting hardware to support primarily horizontal forces as opposed to both horizontal and vertical forces.

The frame assembly 34 may further include a cross-brace member 80 fixedly joined or removably attached to the first and second vertical members 40, 42 More specially, the cross-brace member 80 may include a planar main body 82 and two pairs of separated left and right extension members 84, 86 extending outwardly from opposite lateral sides of the planar main body 82. The left extension members 84 are joined or attachable to and detachable from (for ease of disassembly and storage of the water toy) the left or right vertical wall 44, 46 of the first vertical member 40, and similarly, the right extension members 86 are joined or attachable to and detachable from the left or right vertical wall 44, 46 of the second vertical member 42. The cross-brace member 80 may be attachable to the first and second vertical members 40, 42 by any means well know in the art for removably or fixedly securing two components together, including integrally forming the cross-brace member 80 and first and second vertical members 40, 42 as a unitary structure, such as from injection molded plastic, a keyhole slot/pin interlocking arrangement, screws or other fasteners, gluing the cross-brace member 80 and vertical members 40, 42 together, or the like. The cross-brace member 80 may also include hardware to mount the toy 10 to a vertical surface, such hardware being suction cups 66, Velcro™ hook and loop fasteners or any other suitable means.

The track assembly 36 of the present invention may include intermediate track pieces 88 and corner pieces 90. The track pieces 88 may be formed in various shapes and sizes such as a straight, curved or wavy. Each track piece 88 has a proximal end 92, distal end 94, anterior sidewall 96, and posterior sidewall 98, and is concave in cross-sectional shape to define a trough 100. The track pieces 88 extend between the corner pieces 90 at least partially across the span of the first and second vertical members 40, 42 and are supported by the corner pieces 90 at the proximal and distal ends 92, 94. The corner pieces 90 have an anterior sidewall 102 and posterior sidewall 104, and a partial track section 106 defining a trough 108. The proximal and distal ends 92, 94 of the intermediate track pieces 88 are received by the troughs 108 of the corner pieces 90 and are supported thereby. The troughs 108 of the corner pieces 90 and the troughs 100 of the intermediate track pieces 88, when the corner pieces 90 and track pieces 88 are assembled together, provide a fluid flow path for the water to travel by gravity from the top of the assembled water toy 10 toward the bottom thereof and into the tub or shower near which the water toy 10 of the present invention is affixed.

A cylindrical or oblong protrusion 110 or key having a radially extending flange 112 extends outwardly from the posterior side wall 104 of the corner pieces 90 (or the intermediate track pieces 88). The width and height of the key 110 and flange 112 are dimensioned so that they may be freely received by the enlarged proximal end 70 of the track mounting keyhole slots 68 formed in the first and second vertical members 40, 42 of the frame assembly 34, and slid down into, and lockingly received by, the narrower distal end 72 of the keyhole slot 68 so that the corner pieces 90 of the track 36 may be held in place by the first and second vertical frame members 40, 42 at any slot 68 therealong and in any arrangement desired by the child. Such protrusions or keys 110 may be formed on the anterior sidewalls 102 of the corner pieces 90 (or the intermediate track pieces 88) as well to allow the pieces to be mounted in a reverse direction on either vertical frame member 38. It should be realized that the placement of the keyhole slots 68 and projections 110 on the first and second vertical members 40, 42 and corner and intermediate track pieces 90, 88 may be reversed in accordance with the present invention such that the first and second vertical members include the projections and the corner pieces and/or intermediate track pieces include the cooperating keyhole slots.

The corner pieces 90 may be formed in various shapes and sizes and may also perform different functions. For example, a corner piece 90 in the form of a water reservoir 114 with a moveable gate 116 covering an opening 118 that fluidly communicates with the trough 100 of the track piece 88 or corner piece 90 holds the liquid and then releases it at the user's discretion (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as a starting piece 26), a corner piece 90 in the form of a banked turn 120 that changes direction and elevation of the object and water at high speed (shown in FIG. 5), a corner piece 90 in the form of a teeter-totter 122 which is a delayed action mechanism that has a water reservoir 124 with a counter-weight 126 that when filled on one side with water, releases the water and figure (or object) with increased velocity (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4), a corner piece 90 in the form of a jump turn 128 with a rotating water wheel 130 pivotally affixed thereto (shown in FIG. 6) or a corner piece 90 in the form of a spiral exit slide 132, are envisioned to be used in the water toy 10 of the present invention and form a portion thereof. The corner piece 90 defining the jump turn 128 with a water wheel 130 (shown in FIG. 6) is comprised of two separate features which include a ramp 134 that propels water and the FIG. 30 (or object) into the air and onto a lower second track piece 88 and, in the bottom of the trough 100 of the lower second track 88 is formed a hole 136 to release a small increment of water onto a water mill wheel 130, causing the wheel 130 to spin. The corner piece 90 defining the spiral exit slide 132 (also shown as an end piece 28 in FIG. 1) guides the liquid and the FIG. 30 through a 360 degree turn while dropping elevation, then drops the water and the FIG. 30 into the tub 32 as shown in FIG. 1.

The water toy 10 of the present invention may further include a starting piece 26 and an end piece 28 located at the start of the toy 10 (at the vertical top thereof) and end of the toy (at the vertical bottom thereof), respectively to define the water reservoir 114 with release gate 116 and the miniature water slide, respectively thereat. As mentioned previously, each corner piece 90 may be fixed to the end or ends of one or two intermediate track pieces 88 to define a continuous path for water and/or object to flow from the starting piece to the end piece.

As also stated previously, the track assembly 36 is affixed to the frame assembly 34 by utilizing the cylindrical keys 110 and corresponding track mounting slots 68 in the interconnecting mounting surfaces 48 of the frame assembly 34. For example, the cylindrical key 110 on the posterior surface 98 of a given piece of track (i.e., corner piece 90 or intermediate track piece 88) is inserted through the proximal end 70 of a mounting keyhole slot 68 on a vertical member 38. Once inserted, the track is forced downwards and the cylindrical key 110 moves into the distal, smaller end 72 of the mounting slot 68, locking the piece of track in place by the flange 112 of the key 110. Similarly, the cylindrical key 110 on another piece of track is inserted into the proximal end 70 of a mounting slot 68 on the opposite vertical member 38 and locked into place. Intermediate track pieces 88 may then be suspended between and supported by the pieces that are held in place on the first and second vertical frame members 40, 42. Layers of track 88 can be affixed to the frame assembly 34 in similar fashion. Corner pieces 90 are attached by their cylindrical keys 110 to the mounting slots 68, and may be used to connect the intermediate pieces 88 of track, distal end to proximal end, as mentioned previously.

The operation and further structure of the water toy 10 of the present invention will now be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a water toy 10 formed in accordance with the invention. The water toy 10 in this example may be adhered/attached to a flat surface, such as the wall of a bathtub 32, as shown in FIG. 1. The toy may comprise a framework 34 that may include a first member 40 and a second member 42 that are horizontally displaced from each other. Other framework may also be used with the toy and would be within the scope of the invention. In the example shown in FIG. 1, each member 40, 42 may have one or more attachment mechanisms 60 that are used to attach/adhere the framework to a flat surface. In one example, the attachment mechanism may be suction cups, as shown in FIG. 1, Velcro™ hook and loop fasteners or any other attachment mechanism that could be used to attach/adhere the framework to the flat surface. In a preferred embodiment, the framework 34 may rest on the top edge, or ledge, of the bathtub as shown in FIG. 1 so that the framework members and bathtub edge provide vertical support and support the weight of the other pieces of the water toy. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the attachment mechanisms 60 hold the framework 34 to the flat plane of the wall but do not need to support the weight of the framework and the rest of the water toy. Alternatively, the framework may be adhered/connected to the surface without resting on the tub lip or edge by utilizing stronger connecting mechanisms that will support the weight of the framework, pieces of the toy and the liquid. The framework may have a grid of attachment areas 68 into which the other components of the water toy may be attached and connected using a keyhole design shown in more detail in FIG. 2. The water toy 10 may further comprise one or more track pieces 88 that may be straight, curved or wavy, as shown in FIG. 1. Each track piece forms a trough in which a liquid, such as water, may flow along the trough. In addition, a figure of the toy may float on the liquid and travel in the trough.

The water toy 10 may further comprise one or more corner pieces 90 that are located at the ends of the track piece that may have different configurations as described below in more detail. Each corner piece causes a change of direction of the liquid and figure, but is also designed as a unique kinetic experience for the user. The corner pieces can be used modularly on either side of the framework so that the toy may be configured in a variety of different ways. The corner pieces may include, for example, a water reservoir with a gate moveable by a handle that is graspable by the user to hold the liquid and then release it at the user's discretion (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as a starting piece 26), a banked turn that changes direction and elevation of the object and water at high speed (shown in FIG. 5), a teeter-totter which is a delayed action mechanism which uses a reservoir with a counter-weight that when filled on one side with water, releases the water and figure (or object) with increased velocity (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4), a jump turn with a water wheel (shown in FIG. 6) or a spiral exit slide. The jump turn with a water wheel (shown in FIG. 6) is comprised of two separate features which include a ramp that propels water and the figure (or object) into the air and onto a lower track and, underneath the lower second track, is a hole to release a small increment of water onto a water mill wheel, causing the wheel to spin. The spiral exit slide (also shown as an end piece 28 in FIG. 1) guides the liquid and the figure through a 360 degree turn while dropping elevation, then drops the water and the figure into the tub as shown in FIG. 1. The toy may further comprise a starting piece 26 and an end piece 28 located at the start of the toy and end of the toy, respectively, to form a water slide.

The track pieces 88 can be arranged in a planar surface, such as against the flat surface, but may also be oriented at angles if more than one framework is used. The toy 10 may also include a pump (battery or manually operated) that automatically pumps the liquid up to the starting piece 26. The toy 10 may also include at least two separate tracks so that two users can race each other. For this purpose, the corner pieces or intermediate track pieces may include protrusions or keys situated on their anterior sidewalls (i.e., facing away from the supporting wall) so that corner pieces and/or intermediate track pieces having cooperating keyhole slots formed therein may be attached thereto and supported thereby to define a second, outer layer of track through which water and objects may flow. The toy 10 may also include devices that allow the child to choose the direction of the floating figure while in motion down the track, such as by using a swinging gate that can be moved to direct the toy down a spiral path or straight path to another track.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating more details of the upper starting piece 26 of the water toy shown in FIG. 1. The upper starting piece may have a reservoir that holds an amount of liquid which can then be released under user control to send a figure or water down the track. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating more details of an open position of a teeter-totter of the water toy shown in FIG. 1. The teeter-totter may have a first position shown in FIG. 3 and a second position shown in FIG. 4, wherein the water and figure may flow into the teeter-totter in FIG. 3 due to gravity. Then, the weight of the liquid and figure causes the teeter-totter to move into the second position shown in FIG. 4 so that the liquid and figure are released.

The figurine or object that is propelled down the track may have two parts and a unique design in a preferred embodiment of the toy. In particular, the FIG. 30 may be plastic and may be shaped to resemble a person sitting in or on an inner tube, as shown in FIG. 9. The FIG. 30 may be inserted into another piece shaped to resemble an inflatable inner tube made of a light, buoyant material (e.g. EVA foam) so that the figure with the second piece floats on the liquid down the track.

The water toy 10 of the present invention allows a child to enjoy and relish his bathtime experience, while teaching him or her some fundamental principles of fluid dynamics. The water toy encourages creativity in permitting the child to design and build, and then operate, his or her own arrangement of track. The water toy of the present invention helps overcome the child's natural or developed fear of water, and occupies and distracts the child while the parents can attend to the cleaning the child.

Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A water toy, which comprises:

a frame assembly, the frame assembly being mountable to a supporting surface in proximity to a source of water; and

a track assembly, the track assembly being mountable to the frame assembly and being supported thereby, the track assembly including corner pieces and intermediate track pieces connectable to the corner pieces, the corner pieces and intermediate track pieces when connected together define a water flow path.

2. A water toy as defined by claim 1, wherein the frame assembly includes a first vertical member and a second vertical member, the first vertical member having a plurality of first track mounting means situated thereon, the second vertical member having a plurality of the first mounting means situated thereon, at least one of the corner pieces and the intermediate track pieces having a second mounting means situated thereon, the first mounting means being engageable with the second mounting means to secure the track assembly to the frame assembly.

3. A water toy as defined by claim 2, wherein the first mounting means is engageable with the second mounting means to removably secure the track assembly to the frame assembly.

4. A water toy as defined by claim 3, wherein each of the first and second vertical members includes a wall; wherein the first mounting means is a slot formed through the wall of the first and second vertical members; and wherein the second mounting means is a projection situated on at least one of the corner pieces and intermediate track pieces, the projection being receivable in a corresponding slot.

5. A water toy as defined by claim 4, wherein the slot has a keyhole shape, and wherein the projection includes a radially extending flange.

6. A water toy as defined by claim 3, wherein each of the first and second vertical members includes a wall; wherein the first mounting means is a projection formed on the wall of the first and second vertical members; and wherein the second mounting means is a slot formed on one of the corner pieces and the intermediate track pieces, the projection being receivable in a corresponding slot.

7. A water toy as defined by claim 6, wherein the slot has a keyhole shape, and wherein the projection includes a radially extending flange.

8. A water toy as defined by claim 2, wherein the frame assembly further includes a cross-brace member, the first vertical member being spaced apart from the second vertical member, the cross-brace member being interposed between and joined to the first and second vertical members.

9. A water toy as defined by claim 2, wherein the frame assembly includes means for mounting the frame assembly to the supporting surface.

10. A water toy as defined by claim 9, wherein the frame assembly mounting means includes a plurality of suction cups affixed to the frame assembly.

11. A water toy as defined by claim 10, wherein at least one suction cup of the plurality of suction cups is situated on each of the first and second vertical members.

12. A water toy as defined by claim 11, wherein each of the first and second vertical members includes at least one flange extending laterally therefrom, the at least one flange having one of the plurality of suction cups mounted thereon.

13. A water toy as defined by claim 8, wherein the cross-brace member includes means for mounting the frame assembly to the supporting surface.

14. A water toy as defined by claim 13, wherein the frame assembly mounting means includes at least one suction cup affixed to the cross-brace member.

15. A water toy as defined by claim 1, wherein at least some of the corner pieces define a first trough for a flow of water therethrough, and wherein at least one of the intermediate track pieces defines a second trough for the flow of water therethrough, at least one of the corner pieces defining the first trough and the at least one intermediate track piece defining the second trough being connectable to define a water path through the first and second troughs.

16. A water toy as defined by claim 1, wherein at least one of the corner pieces defines at least one of a banked turn, a teeter-totter, a jump turn, a spiral slide and a reservoir for releasably holding water.

17. A water toy as defined by claim 1, wherein the frame assembly includes a first vertical member and a second vertical member, each of the first and second vertical members having means for releasably mounting the vertical member to the supporting surface, each of the first and second vertical members having a wall through which is formed a plurality of spaced apart keyhole-shaped slots; and

wherein each of the corner pieces of the track assembly includes a first projection extending therefrom, the first projection being receivable in one of the keyhole-shaped slots of the plurality of slots of one of the first vertical member and the second vertical member to removably secure the corner pieces to one of the first and second vertical members, the intermediate track pieces extending between and being supported by one of the corner pieces secured to the first vertical member and another of the corner pieces secured to the second vertical member.

18. A water toy as defined by claim 17, wherein each of the corner pieces includes a posterior side and an anterior side; and wherein each of at least some of the corner pieces includes the first projection situated on the posterior side and a second projection situated on the anterior side and extending therefrom, the second projection having a shape which is similar to that of the first projection to allow at least some of the corner pieces to be removably secured to the first vertical member and the second vertical member by one of the keyhole slots of the first vertical member and the second vertical member receiving one of the first projection on the posterior side and the second projection on the anterior side of the at least some of the corner pieces.

19. A water toy as defined by claim 1, which further comprises:

an object moveably receivable by the track assembly and travelable along the water flow path defined by the corner pieces and the intermediate track pieces when connected together.

20. A water toy as defined by claim 19, wherein the object is propelled by water flowing through the track assembly along the water flow path.