SHELL FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH A TRACK ADAPTOR
A universal track adaptor system having a shell including a portable device receiving surface arranged for receiving and detachably holding a portable electronic device, said shell further including a track facing surface, a plurality of wheels including a first wheel and a second wheel; a first track adaptor rotatably coupling said first wheel and said second wheel to said track facing surface, said first track adaptor having a specific range of motion, said first track adaptor including an adaptive mechanism operable to adjust a specific width between said first wheel and said second wheel through said specific range of motion, whereby said first wheel and said second wheel can be adapted to interface with a plurality of different sized tracks, as permitted by said specific range of motion.
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1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to toys and track adaptors for interfacing toys with tracks or track like mechanisms of various sizes found in any play environment, and a shell for a portable electronic device with an integrated track adaptor capable of adapting a portable electronic device into a toy that can be used on tracks of various sizes.
2. Description of Related Art
Many children, even a toddler like one of the inventors, are capable of creating fantasy worlds and entertaining themselves by taking a toy (like a train) and using their imagination to weave in other elements available in their immediate environment, and their imagination. For example, a child may take a toy train and the track from a sliding door, and make believe the train wheels fit and interface along the track of the sliding door. Similarly, the child may run the toy train along a metal stair banister, etc. It would be unusual for the wheel configuration of the toy train to match some element of the available environment, although play would be enhanced if this were the case.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA universal track adaptor system having a shell including a portable electronic device receiving surface arranged for receiving and detachably holding a portable electronic device, the shell further including a track facing surface, a plurality of wheels including a first wheel and a second wheel, a first track adaptor rotatably coupling the first wheel and the second wheel to the track facing surface. The first track adaptor has a specific range of motion and an adaptive mechanism operable to adjust a specific width between the first wheel and the second wheel through the specific range of motion. In this way the first wheel and the second wheel can be adapted to interface with a plurality of different sized tracks, as permitted by the specific range of motion.
These and other objects, features and characteristics of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from a study of the following detailed description in conjunction with the appended claims and drawings, all of which form a part of this specification. In the drawings:
The present invention contemplates a variety of systems, devices, methods and paradigms for engaging with a play environment, as well as more utilitarian functionalities including effective mechanisms for making use of portable electronic devices.
As will be appreciated, in some embodiments, the shell 110 is designed to provide protection, perhaps by absorbing mechanical energy, to the portable electronic device 50 when properly utilized. The design of the shell 110 in
The embodiment of
A display screen 52 of the portable electronic device 50 shows a train 54 or other suitable image to enhance play with the system 100.
As will be appreciated, a variety of combinations of control devices and/or adaptive mechanisms could be utilized to accomplish the desired effect of adjusting the width between wheels in pairs. The separate pairs of wheels could adjust separation width independently (e.g., each pair has an independent adjustment mechanism). In some cases, only one wheel pair, or even one wheel may be adjustable. As will be appreciated, the adjustment mechanism could adjust wheels in many degrees of motion, so disposition of the wheels could extend further or close in with regards to the shell 110, or change orientation, and/or a combination of all degrees of motion, in some embodiments. In another embodiment, the wheels are permanently fixed in an extended position, or perhaps removable to allow for more convenient use of the shell with respect to operation of the portable electronic device 50.
Returning to
Alternatively, wheels may substantially hold in place, being moved by the mechanism 130/124, otherwise locked, so no “manual” locking system is necessary. In another embodiment, the adjusting mechanism is simply built in and the adjustment is made by directly manipulating the wheels, e.g., the child can push the wheels together and likewise pull them apart. In this case there may or may not be a locking mechanism. It could be that when locked the wheel separation width is not adjustable, and when unlocked, the wheels are loose and readily adjustable. A clamp or other suitable device can accomplish this purpose.
At 954, activity involves adjusting the system to engage with some rail-like element found in the immediate play environment, and interfacing the system with that rail-like element. At 956, the software application is executed and the child can play with the toy, attached to a rail-like device, with suitable feedback and controls provided by the electronic device.
In addition to the above mentioned examples, various other modifications and alterations of the invention may be made without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure is not to be considered as limiting and the appended claims are to be interpreted as encompassing the true spirit and the entire scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A universal track adaptor system, said universal track adaptor system comprising:
- a shell including a portable device receiving surface arranged for receiving and detachably holding a portable electronic device, said shell further including a track facing surface;
- a plurality of wheels including a first wheel and a second wheel;
- a first track adaptor rotatably coupling said first wheel and said second wheel to said track facing surface, said first track adaptor having a specific range of motion, said first track adaptor including an adaptive mechanism operable to adjust a specific width between said first wheel and said second wheel through said specific range of motion, whereby said first wheel and said second wheel can be adapted to interface with a plurality of different sized tracks, as permitted by said specific range of motion.
2. A universal track adaptor system as recited in claim 1, wherein said universal track adaptor further comprises:
- a wheel retracting mechanism operable to move said first wheel and said second wheel between a track engaging position suitable for interfacing said first wheel and said second wheel, and a retracted position.
3. A universal track adaptor system for interfacing a toy with a plurality of different sized tracks, said universal track adaptor system comprising:
- a base including a toy receiving surface arranged for receiving and detachably holding said toy, said base further including a track facing surface;
- a plurality of wheels including a first wheel and a second wheel;
- a first track adaptor rotatably coupling said first wheel and said second wheel to said track facing surface, said first track adaptor having a specific range of motion, said first track adaptor including an adaptive mechanism operable to adjust a specific width between said first wheel and said second wheel through said specific range of motion, whereby said first wheel and said second wheel can be adapted to interface with a plurality of different sized tracks, as permitted by said specific range of motion.
4. A toy train with integral track adaptor system comprising:
- a train module;
- a plurality of wheels including a first wheel and a second wheel;
- a first track adaptor rotatably coupling said first wheel and said second wheel to said track facing surface, said first track adaptor having a specific range of motion, said first track adaptor including an adaptive mechanism operable to adjust a specific width between said first wheel and said second wheel through said specific range of motion, whereby said first wheel and said second wheel can be adapted to interface with a plurality of different sized tracks, as permitted by said specific range of motion.
5. A universal track adaptor system as recited in claim 1, wherein said shell is formed including material providing protection to said portable electronic device.
6. A universal track adaptor system as recited in claim 5, wherein said shell absorbs at least a portion of mechanical energy applied thereto, thus protecting said portable electronic device.
7. A universal track adaptor system as recited in claim 5, wherein said shell includes a section arranged to cover and protect a display screen of said portable electronic device.
8. A universal track adaptor system as recited in claim 1, wherein said shell is formed to receive said portable electronic device such that a display screen of said portable electronic device is visible when engaged with said universal track adaptor system.
9. A universal track adaptor system as recited in claim 2, wherein said first track adaptor is formed such that when said wheel retracting mechanism is in said retracted position, said track facing surface is substantially flat.
10. A universal track adaptor system as recited in claim 1 wherein said shell includes at least one additional component suitable for enhancing an intended operation of said universal track adaptor system.
11. A universal track adaptor system as recited in claim 1, wherein said universal track adaptor system is intended to facilitate play as a toy airplane, said universal track adaptor system further including retractable wing components formed into said shell.
12. A universal track adaptor system as recited in claim 1, wherein said shell couples electronically with said portable electronic device and is operable to provide information to said portable electronic device about a state configuration of said universal track adaptor system.
13. A universal track adaptor system as recited in claim 2 further comprising a first locking mechanism operable to lock said first track adaptor in a first desired position.
14. A universal track adaptor system as recited in claim 2 further comprising a second locking mechanism operable to lock said wheel retracting mechanism in a second desired position.
15. A method
- physically coupling a portable electronic device to a portable electronic device receptacle of a toy;
- on said portable electronic device, executing a software application operable to respond to user control and/or manipulation of said toy to facilitate play via feedback from said portable electronic device.
16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said toy is a toy train, further comprising:
- generating and displaying on a display screen of said portable electronic device, visual feedback responsive to motion of said toy, said visual feedback simulating a suitable perspective of a train in motion.
17. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said toy is a toy airplane, further comprising:
- generating and displaying on a display screen of said portable electronic device, visual feedback responsive to motion of said toy, said visual feedback simulating a suitable perspective of an airplane in motion.
18. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:
- coupling said toy to a rail or other receiving mechanism such said toy is substantially limited to move along said rail or other receiving mechanism.
19. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising:
- generating and displaying on a display screen of said portable electronic device, visual feedback responsive to motion of said toy along said rail or other receiving mechanism, said visual feedback simulating a suitable perspective of the toy in motion.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 31, 2012
Publication Date: Mar 6, 2014
Applicant: GuessWhat, LLC (Palo Alto, CA)
Inventors: Lukas Coleman (Menlo Park, CA), Brian R. Coleman (Menlo Park, CA)
Application Number: 13/601,977
International Classification: A63H 33/00 (20060101); A63H 19/22 (20060101);