NOVELTY LIGHT-UP TOY
A light-up toy including a housing, a base connected thereto, a light source assembly rotatably mounted within the see-through housing, the light source assembly comprising a housing and a printed circuit board mounted within the housing, a plurality of light sources mounted on the printed circuit board, a motor disposed within the handle and connected to the power source, a power source disposed within the base for supplying power to the motor, a unit disposed within the handle and connected to the motor and to the printed circuit board assembly for rotating the printed circuit board assembly when the motor is turned on, a fan extending outwardly from the light source assembly, and a plurality of particles contained in the housing formed of a light-weight material, wherein when the light source assembly rotates, the plurality of particles are blown about the housing by the fan, to simulate snow fall.
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The present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/440,451, which claims priority to provisional application No. 60/684,208, the entirety of both applications being incorporated by reference herein.
FIELDThe present invention relates to a novelty light-up toy which includes an assembly including a plurality of rotating illumination sources, which form a variety of light patterns during operation, a fan extending from the assembly, and a plurality of particles that move about the toy during operation.
BACKGROUNDThere are known types of novelty items or toys that have lights that spin and are selectively turned on and off in patterns, some of which are mentioned in the copending application Ser. No. 11/440,451. Other prior art patents and publications set forth the concept of particles simulating snow flakes that are circulated within a globe by a fluid impeller or fan that drives to fluid. The fluid may be liquid or air in various of the documents.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,908 to Powell et al. relates to an animated displaying having a display chamber 14 within which are particles 16 that are propelled throughout the chamber to stimulate snow. A fan 26 draws air into the chamber and the fan 24 provides additional lifting force to the particles creating an animated blizzard.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,078 to Cassidy is a toy vacuum cleaner having polystyrene beads 60 that circulate due to a fan 40 between a cone 28 and an outer transparent container 20 to stimulate dust and/or dirt.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,282,820 to White et al. is a snow globe that includes particles 2 that are dispensed throughout the globe by a circulating fluid 3 that apparently is water (since a “watertight” seal is provided between the base and the globe enclosure).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,151 to Yuen discloses a snow circulating ornamental display in which the snow particles are circulated by a fluid (liquid) W that is agitated by a rotating plate UDW carrying ornament F.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,065,908 to Pineda-Sanchez et al. et al. is a snow globe. The globe contains a liquid and particles to simulate snow. A motor driven rotating member 28 or fan impeller provides turbulence to the water to create movement of the particles.
U.S. Patent Publication 2006/0111011 to Wang relates to an inflatable decorative device in which Styrofoam particles are air-blown by a blowing device 20 having a fan 21 and a spraying pipe 31 that sprays the particles from the top of the chamber 3.
U.S. Patent Publication 2006/0128258 Zebert et al. is a snow globe decoration similar to U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,065,908, 6,357,151 and 6,282,820.
U.S. Patent Publication 2006/0283062 to Moomaw has inner and outer inflatable members between which particles 16 simulating snow are circulates by an air fan 38.
U.S. Patent Publication 2007/0207700 to Ellis relates to a snow globe toy, FIG. 3 in which a motor opened fan 33 blows particles simulating snow throughout the globe 330.
SUMMARYBriefly, the invention is characterized in particular by a light-up toy including a see-through housing, a base connected to the see-through housing, and a light source assembly rotatably mounted within the see-through housing, the light source assembly comprising a housing and a printed circuit board mounted within the housing. The toy further includes a plurality of light sources mounted on the printed circuit board, a motor disposed within the handle and connected to the power source, having a motor shaft extending therefrom, a power source disposed within the base for supplying power to the motor, a rotation means disposed within the handle and connected to the motor shaft, and to the printed circuit board assembly for rotating the printed circuit board assembly when the motor is turned on, and an on/off switch on the base for selectively activating the power source and the motor. The toy also includes a fan extending outwardly from the light source assembly, and a plurality of particles contained in the housing formed of a light-weight material, wherein when the light source assembly rotates, the plurality of particles are blown about the housing by the fan, to simulate snow fall. According to one embodiment, the fan is formed of a clear, light-weight plastic sheet, and the light source assembly is in the shape of a Christmas tree.
According to one embodiment, a music box including the above-described light-up toy and a music assembly that plays music when turned on is provided.
For better understanding of the invention and additional objects and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing of a preferred embodiment, wherein
The invention will be described in general with reference to
Disposed within the housing 4 is a rotatably mounted light source assembly 20 comprised of a wing portion 3 and an arch portion 2 extending from one end of the wing portion 3. The light source assembly 20 comprises a printed circuit board 13 disposed therein. The printed circuit board 13 has a shape that fits within the light source assembly 20. Affixed to the printed circuit board 13 is a series of light sources 7 designed to illuminate when the light source assembly 20 rotates. The light sources 7 may be comprised of light emitting diodes, or other suitable light sources. The light sources 7 may be provided in a plurality of colors to create a colorful visual effect. The printed circuit board 13 includes an integrated circuit (IC, not shown), which includes a program to cause the light sources 7 to light up at different intensities and different intervals, causing patterns to appear in the light as the light source assembly 20 rotates. The IC is an off the shelf component, which can be purchased, for example, from MUPAC Development Ltd., in Hong Kong, China, model # MD—264.
An additional pair of light sources 6 is found at the ends of two flexible, rotatable arms 5. These arms 5, preferably constructed of PVC or similar flexible, or semi-flexible material, are located directly beneath the housing 4 of the toy. Disposed within the handle 8 according to the embodiments in
As seen for example in
Disposed within the handle 8 is a power source 25 for the toy 1, as well as the motor 12 that rotates the light source assembly 20 and the flexible arms 5. Preferably, the power source 25 comprises several batteries 15 (
Alternatively, in the embodiment shown in
According to one embodiment, the handle portion 8 holds 3 AAA batteries. However, other battery configurations are possible.
It is also a preferred embodiment of the present invention that the flexible arms 5 have a single light source 6 disposed only at their ends. The light sources 6 may be light emitting diodes or other similar devices. However, the invention also contemplates the use and placement of additional light sources 6 along the length of the flexible arms 5, or more than two arms, if a more complex lighting display pattern is desired.
The printed circuit board 13 is shown in
Another embodiment of the handle is shown in
The slide switch 104 includes a peg 118 protruding from one side (
Similarly to the embodiment shown in
The top contact plate 128 forms the top of the battery compartment 136. A battery chamber divider 109 is provided to separate the battery compartment 136 into separate chambers, one for each battery 108. A battery door 110 is removably connected via a screw (not shown) that can be inserted and tightened in corresponding openings 138 and 140 in the battery door 110 and back handle body 102, respectively.
As seen in
According to one embodiment, the light source assembly 220 is in the shape of a Christmas tree, and may be covered by a green decorative sheet oil both sides. Alternative configurations, such as a Santa Clause, or snowman, are also within the scope of the invention. The light source assembly 220 may be constructed of two halves made of a rigid material, such as plastic, which hold a printed circuit board (not shown) between them. Light sources 222 are connected to the printed circuit board and extend from the printed circuit board toward the outside of the light assembly, similarly to the light sources described above with respect to
Also extending outwardly from the light assembly 220 is a fan 240. The fan 240 may be made of a clear plastic, light weight sheet, such as a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheets. The fan 240 is shown in a circular shape, but can be any shape within the scope of the invention.
Particles 230 are contained within the see-through housing 4. Particles 230 may be bead shaped, or flat, and are made of a light weight material, such as vacuum metallized PVC, or Styrofoam®. The housing 4 contains only air; no liquid is provided. Because the particles 230 are light-weight, when the light assembly 220 rotates, when the toy is operated, the particles 230 are blown around the housing 4, simulating a snowfall effect.
Another embodiment is shown in
According to one embodiment as shown in
Although all the figures show a dome-shaped housing portion 4, it is certainly possible to utilize an alternate shape, such as a pyramid, and perhaps a transparent but colored dome 4 or pyramid, so long as the shape and color allow the user a 3-D view of the printed circuit board 13 and light sources 7, or the light source assembly 220. The number and placement of the light sources 6, 7, 222 along the flexible arms 5 and printed circuit board 13 or connected to the assembly 220, respectively, may also be modified, according to the lighting display desired.
The light source assemblies 20, 220 may be made of a rigid material, such as plastic. Decorative sheets may be adhered to the outer surface of the light source assemblies 20, 220. These sheets can be solid opaque film sheets or they could be in the form of images or patterns. In addition, without departing from the inventive design, the decorative sheets can be omitted in their entirety. In this case, during the rotation the light patterns would appear to be free floating within the housing.
In the embodiments of
Although various features of the invention have been described with particular embodiments. It is considered within one of ordinary skill in the art to mix and match the features in other embodiments not depicted in the figures.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without undue experimentation and without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and arc intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. The means, materials, and steps for carrying out various disclosed functions may take a variety of alternative forms without departing from the invention.
Thus the expressions “means to . . . ” and “means for . . . ”, or any method step language, as may be found in the specification above and/or in the claims below, followed by a functional statement, are intended to define and cover whatever structural, physical, chemical or electrical element or structure, or whatever method step, which may now or in the future exist which carries out the recited function, whether or not precisely equivalent to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed in the specification above, i.e., other means or steps for carrying out the same functions can be used; and it is intended that such expressions be given their broadest interpretation.
Claims
1. A light-up toy comprising:
- a see-through housing;
- a base connected to the see-through housing;
- a light source assembly rotatably mounted within the see-through housing, the light source assembly comprising a housing and a printed circuit board mounted within the housing;
- a plurality of light sources mounted on the printed circuit board;
- a motor disposed within the handle and connected to the power source, having a motor shaft extending therefrom;
- a power source disposed within the base for supplying power to the motor;
- a rotation means disposed within the handle and connected to the motor shaft, and to the printed circuit board assembly for rotating the printed circuit board assembly when the motor is turned on;
- an on/off switch on the base for selectively activating the power source and the motor;
- a fan extending outwardly from the light source assembly; and
- a plurality of particles contained in the housing formed of a light-weight material, wherein when the light source assembly rotates, the plurality of particles are blown about the housing by the fan, to simulate snow fall.
2. The toy of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises at least one battery connected to the printed circuit board to supply power to the plurality of light sources located thereon.
3. The toy of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.
4. The toy of claim 3, wherein the light emitting diodes are different colors.
5. The toy of claim 1, wherein the see-through housing is dome-shaped.
6. The toy of claim 1, wherein the see-through housing is constructed of a plastic material.
7. The toy of claim 1, wherein the fan is formed of a clear, light-weight plastic sheet.
8. The toy of claim 1, wherein the light source assembly is in the shape of a Christmas tree.
9. A music box comprising:
- the light-up toy or claim 1; and
- a music assembly that plays music when turned on.
10. The music box of claim 8, wherein the fan is formed of a clear, light-weight plastic sheet.
11. The music box of claim 8, wherein the light source assembly is in the shape of a Christmas tree.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 20, 2008
Publication Date: May 20, 2010
Applicant: Maui Toys, Inc. (Youngstown, OH)
Inventor: Brian D. Kessler (Los Angeles, CA)
Application Number: 12/274,905
International Classification: A63H 1/24 (20060101); A63H 33/20 (20060101);