NOVELTY LIGHT-UP AND ACTION TOY

Abstract

A hand held light up and action toy including a wand like housing with a means for holding and controlling on one end and a opposite end generally enlarged as compared to the wand-like body, with lighting disposed at various positions on the toy, with a means for blowing air contained therein.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of hand-held novelty toys, more particularly to those toys which light up and perform some action under the control of the user such as activation of light displays or generating air movement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are a great many hand held wand type novelty toys in the art. Many are not disclosed in patents but can be found with an internet search. Many are disclosed in the patent literature. These toys vary in complexity from simple wands with minimal ornamentation such as for a birthday or sporting event with names or logos, or ribbons that have no lighting or other functions to very complicated light up toys with printed circuit boards and motorized moving parts. Many that have motorized moving parts are used to generate soap bubbles or twirl parts with flashing lights. All of these toys are simply for play value. They provide entertainment by creating interesting light patterns or soap bubbles, or just help create a festive atmosphere.

US2006/0116050A1 describes an illuminated bubble wand which allows the user to enhance his enjoyment of making bubbles under low light conditions by with a light wand utilizing LED technology or chemi-luminescent technology contained in the wand body with a shaped end loop for mechanically producing bubbles by waving the wand after dipping it in a soap solution.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,764A, U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,130B1, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,622B2 are hand-held devices that have air blowing capability, but are directed solely to generating soap bubbles.

US2006/0270309A1 and US20060094327A1 are more complicated devices which produce interesting light and sound patterns using motorized mechanisms, LEDs, and printed circuit boards to create a festive atmosphere.

Many individuals, especially children with special needs, have the need to feel that they are having an effect in certain situations. None of the previous art discovered is designed to give the user, especially a child with special needs, the feeling of affectance in his environment. Therefore, this device is intended to not only provide an interesting display of lights and a festive atmosphere, but to provide the user with the sense that he has caused something to happen by the use of this toy such as blowing out the candles on a birthday cake.

The act of blowing in itself is challenging to some individuals, especially with poor motor control, and can result in spraying drops of saliva, creating an unsanitary condition. Therefore, a person with this condition would not be able to effectively participate in blowing out candles on a birthday cake, and may have negative feelings as a result.

Therefore there is a need for a device that is fun to use, entertaining and festive, but also allows a person with special needs to participate fully in a birthday or other celebration by giving him the ability to blow out candles on a birthday cake.

There could also be many other entertainment uses for this device with its unique abilities of blowing air, flashing lights, and playing musical segments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a novelty item which is generally wand-like having a handle with control means on one end, an elongated body which may be decorated with lights or other decorative items such as patterns displayed on the body material, and a end of the wand body opposite the handle being generally enlarged as compared to the wand body said enlarged end having a circular, polygonal, or fan shape. The generally enlarged end may also take the shape of a crown, such as for a king. Said opposite end will emit a stream of air sufficient to blow out candles or move other light objects being powered with a blowing device. Said enlarged end may also be decorated in the same manner as said body of the wand. The wand controls located in said handle can activate lights, the air blowing mechanism, and/or sound devices. An example of said sound device would be a miniaturized electronic synthesizer. Said sound device could play “Happy Birthday” or some other tune when activated by said controls means. It is easy to see that the present invention can take on many variations of shape and design and not depart from the original spirit of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment wherein,

FIG. 1 is a top view of the light-up toy in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 2 is a side and bottom view of the light-up toy in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 3 is a three quarter view of the light-up toy in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment with a different and fanciful expression of the basic idea of the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Now referring in detail to FIGS. 1-4 in the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a top view in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, which shows the handle 2, the handle cover 1, and the body of the wand like light-up toy. The generally elongated wand-like shape is clearly seen, as well as the decorative body 3 and generally enlarged end opposite the handle 3a.

FIG. 2 illustrates a correlated side and bottom view in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, which shows the control mechanisms 4 in the shape of buttons or triggers, a battery/electronics bay 5, and a blower/electronics bay 6. An air outlet is shown 7. The electronics bays may contain controls or power supplies for lights, sound devices, and/or air blowing devices.

FIG. 3 illustrates a three quarter view in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, which shows the general appearance of the toy, including said opposite end in the shape of a king's crown 9 and lighting strips running up the body of said wand and lights at the terminal ends of said crown-like enlarged end 8.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment with a different and fanciful expression of the basic idea of the present invention. The lights 11 which may be LED or another type of light are curving along the body of said toy with other lights that are spherical or other of various shapes interspersed along the body and said opposite end. The handle and handle cover 10, which said cover is optional, can be of various fanciful shapes which to not change the utility of the toy, but only its appearance.

Claims

1-25. (canceled)

26. A hand-held toy comprising a wand-like housing with a holding means and a controlling means on one end and a generally enlarged opposite end with a means for blowing air from said opposite end.

27. The device of claim 1 additionally comprising the functions of producing sound and displaying decorative lights.

28. The device of claim 2 which said means for controlling is capable of causing said functions to operate simultaneously.

29. The device of claim 2 which said means for controlling is capable of operating each function independently.

30. The device of claim 2 which said enlarged opposite end is generally in the shape of a fan

31. The device of claim 2 which said enlarged opposite end is in a generally circular shape.

32. The device of claim 2 which said enlarged opposite end is in a generally polygonal shape

33. The device of claim 2 which said enlarged opposite end is generally in the shape of a king's crown

34. The device of claim 2 which is powered with batteries

35. The device of claim 2 which is approximately about 12 to 18 inches long.

36. A hand-held toy comprising a wand-like housing with a holding means and a controlling means on one end and a generally enlarged opposite end with a means for blowing air from said opposite end.

37. The device of claim 11 with lighting provided on said housing.

38. The device of claim 11 in which said housing is made of a non opaque material with lighting effects visible inside said housing.

39. A hand-held toy comprising a wand-like housing with a holding means and a controlling means on one end and a generally enlarged opposite end with a means for blowing air from said opposite end said toy having decorative lighting and capable of producing sounds said lighting and sounds being controlled by said controlling means.