EP1684883A2

EP1684883A2 - Liquid activated toys and operating system for use with same

Info

Publication number: EP1684883A2
Application number: EP04811943A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mark Trageser; Kip Pohlman; Don Wayne Stoner; Ernst E. Ginkel; Raymond J. Martin
Original assignee: Mattel Inc
Current assignee: Mattel Inc
Priority date: 2003-11-21
Filing date: 2004-11-22
Publication date: 2006-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2024-11-22
Also published as: CA2545943C; CN1882378A; WO2005051506A3; WO2005051506A2; CN1882378B; EP1684883B1; EP1684883A4; CA2545943A1

Abstract

Toys and toy operating systems for use therein. A toy operating system (10 ) may include an input system (12) responsive to a predetermined quantitative characteristic of a liquid body (16), such as electrical conductivity, and a response system (14) coupled to the input system (12) and configured to generate one or more toy output patterns based at least in part on the given characteristic. A toy vehicle for use with such an operating system (10) may include a chassis, a chamber adapted to contain a liquid body, and at least one toy component operable to display an output according to a generated output pattern. Exemplary toy components include an audiovisual assembly to produce an audiovisual display and a drive assembly to move the toy vehicle across a ground surface.

Description

LIQUID ACTIVATED TOYS AND OPERATING SYSTEMS FOR USE WITH SAME

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to toys in which the

performance of the toy is a function of a predetermined quantitative

characteristic of a chosen liquid, and more particularly to toy vehicles

configured to exhibit one or more toy output patterns based on the electrical

conductivity of a chosen liquid. Summary

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to toys in which the

performance of the toy is a function of a given characteristic of a chosen liquid.

An operating system for such a toy may include an input system responsive to a

predetermined quantitative characteristic of a liquid, and a response system

coupled to the input system and configured to generate one or more toy output

patterns based at least in part on the given characteristic. In some

embodiments, the toy is a battery-powered toy vehicle with a chamber for

containing a liquid body, a pair of electrical contacts to measure the electrical

conductivity of the liquid body, a processor or logic unit to communicate data

representative of the measured conductivity, and a response system to operate one or more vehicle features or components of the toy based on the

conductivity data communicated according to a predetermined output pattern.

In some embodiments, the chamber is detachable from the toy vehicle.

Exemplary components may include a drive assembly to provide a motive

force for the toy vehicle, such as to move the toy vehicle across a ground

surface, and/or an audiovisual assembly including lights and speakers, such as

to produce an audiovisual display. Output patterns may include combinations

of lights, sounds, and/or toy vehicle movement speed.

[0003] In play patterns for use with such a toy vehicle, a user may fill the

chamber with a chosen mixture of one or more household liquids (such as

water, juice, or a carbonated beverage) according to the user's preference. The

contacts then measure the electrical conductivity of the chosen liquid mixture,

and the processor prompts the response system to produce an output pattern

that may simulate whether or not the chosen mixture is an appropriate "fuel"

for the vehicle. Thus, a user may try several different liquid mixtures in order

to discover an optimum "fuel" mixture that produces a user-preferred output

pattern.

[0004] Examples of fluid activated devices are found in U.S. Patent Nos.

4,347,683 and 4,547,169, Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-089654, and

publication WOO 174463, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by

reference. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0005] Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a toy operating system suitable for use

with a toy of the present disclosure.

[0006] Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a toy

vehicle operating system.

[0007] Fig. 3 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a toy

vehicle for use with the toy vehicle operating system of Fig. 2.

[0008] Fig. 4 and 5 are side elevation views of an exemplary embodiment

of a detachable liquid receiving chamber suitable for use with the toy vehicle of

Fig. 3.

[0009] Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the toy vehicle of Fig. 3, showing the

liquid receiving chamber of Figs. 4 and 5 coupled to the toy vehicle.

[0010] Fig. 7 is a side elevation view of the toy vehicle of Fig. 3, also

showing the liquid receiving chamber of Figs. 4 and 5 coupled to the toy

vehicle.

[0011] Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of the toy vehicle of Fig. 3 with

the toy vehicle operating system of Fig. 2, showing how various components of

the toy vehicle operating system are coupled with various components of the

toy vehicle. Detailed Description

[0012] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a toy operating system

10. The operating system includes an input system 12 and a response system

14. Input system 12 is coupled with a liquid body 16, and is configured to be

responsive to a predetermined quantitative characteristic or chemical property

of the liquid body, such as electrical conductivity. A liquid body may be any

volume of liquid, such as a mixture of one or more liquids contained in a

reservoir or other receptacle, a mixture of solid and liquid matter, and so forth.

Input system 12 is thus configured to measure or otherwise nonconsumptively

determine the characteristic and also to communicate data or other information

representative of the measured characteristic to response system 14. Response

system 14 is configured to generate one or more predetermined toy output

patterns, based at least in part on the communicated data or information.

[0013] A non-limiting exemplary embodiment of toy operating system 10

is shown in Fig. 2 as a toy vehicle operating system 110. Toy vehicle operating

system 110 includes an input system 112 and a response system 114, and is

coupled with a liquid body 116 contained in a reservoir 118. Reservoir 118

may be any receptacle adapted to contain a liquid body 116, such as a liquid

receiving chamber that may be detachably coupled with toy vehicle operating

system 110. [0014] As with the components of toy operating system 10 as explained

above, input system 112 is configured to measure a given characteristic of

liquid body 116, and response system 114 is configured to generate one or

more predetermined toy output patterns based at least in part on the

measurement.

[0015] As explained in more detail below, in some embodiments of toy

vehicle operating system 110, input system 112 may be configured to measure

the electrical conductivity of a liquid body in reservoir 118, and response

system 114 may be configured to generate a toy output pattern based on the

measured electrical conductivity. Thus, response system 114 may be

configured to generate different toy output patterns when liquids or liquid

mixtures having different conductive properties are placed in reservoir 118.

For example, a first predetermined toy output pattern may correspond to a

liquid mixture having an electrical conductivity in a first range, and a second

predetermined toy output pattern may correspond to another liquid mixture

having an electrical conductivity in a second range.

[0016] Input system 112 further includes a measuring assembly 120 to

measure the selected, or predetermined, characteristic. Toy vehicle operating

system 1 10 is configured to be responsive to the electrical conductivity of

liquid body 116. Thus, measuring assembly 120 includes a pair of electrical

contacts 122 configured to deliver an electrical current through liquid body 116 and thus determine the liquid's electrical conductivity. However, although

measuring assembly 120 is shown to include electrical contacts 122, the nature

of the characteristic to be measured may determine the structural characteristics

and/or components of the measuring assembly. As such, a toy operating

system configured to be responsive to other liquid properties may include

devices, instruments, or other structural components appropriate for

nonconsumptive measurement of one or more of such quantitative properties of

a liquid body.

[0017] Input system 112 also includes a processor assembly 130 coupled

to measuring assembly 120. Processor assembly 130 is configured to produce

information representative of the measurement of the liquid characteristic.

More particularly, in the exemplary toy vehicle operating system, processor

assembly 130 is configured to produce operational instructions, or inputs, for

one or more components of response system 114 based on the measured

electrical conductivity of a liquid body 116.

[0018] Different liquids may have different electrical conductivities within

a measurable spectrum extending from completely nonconductive (i.e. the

liquid does not conduct electricity) to completely conductive (i.e. current flows

through the liquid with no resistance). In the exemplary toy vehicle operating

system, processor assembly 130 is configured to produce a predetermined set

of operational instructions, prompting a corresponding toy output pattern, based on the liquid's conductivity as measured by measuring assembly 120.

For example, if a liquid's electrical conductivity is within a first conductivity

range within the spectrum, a first set of predetermined operational instructions

may be produced, which prompt a first corresponding output pattern, but if a

liquid's electrical conductivity is within a second conductivity range, a second

predetermined set of operational instructions may be produced, which prompt a

second corresponding output pattern. However, a toy vehicle operating system

may be configured to produce any desired number of sets of operational

instructions and/or output patterns to correspond with any desired number of

ranges.

[0019] Processor assembly 130 thus may include any computational

device, such as a microprocessor, a logic unit, or any other circuitry adapted to

produce information representative of the measured characteristic and to

communicate this information to the response system. As described above,

such information includes operational instructions for one or more components

of response system 114, but may optionally include any data, whether

processed, partially processed or unprocessed, or sub-sets of the data, relating

to the measured characteristic, which may be communicated to response

system 114.

[0020] Response system 114 may include components such as an

audiovisual assembly 140 to produce a plurality of predetermined audiovisual displays, a drive assembly 150 to provide a motive force for a toy vehicle, such

as to move the toy vehicle across a ground surface at a plurality of

predetermined rates of speed, and/or additional components, in any desired

combination. In the illustrated embodiment, response system 114 is configured

to generate a toy output pattern by activating one or more of such components

based on the operational instructions and/or other information received from

processor assembly 130. The configuration of the various components of a

response system, and the nature of the toy output patterns generated, may vary

depending on the nature of the toy vehicle used with the toy vehicle operating

system.

[0021] For example, if toy vehicle operating system 110 is used with a

battery-powered toy vehicle such as a toy racecar, audiovisual assembly 140

may further include a light system 142 and/or a speaker system 144. Light

system 142 may include one or more lights disposed on the toy vehicle chassis,

such as headlights, tail lights, and so forth, and speaker system 144 may

include one or more speakers configured to emit sounds consistent with a

racecar design, such as a tire squealing or an engine "revving" at various

speeds. Activation of audiovisual assembly 140 may thus include producing

lights and/or sounds simulating those produced by a racecar. Analogously,

drive assembly 150 may further include a motor assembly 152 coupled to a

driven wheel assembly 154. Motor assembly 152 may include one or more

motors, and driven wheel assembly may include one or more driven wheels adapted to move the toy vehicle across a ground surface. Thus, activation of

drive assembly 150 may include prompting motor assembly 152 to provide

motive power to a driven wheel of driven wheel assembly 154. Toy output

patterns for the toy vehicle may thus include various combinations of lights,

sounds, and/or toy vehicle movement speed.

[0022] Power for the various component systems of toy vehicle operating

system 110 may be supplied by one or more batteries and/or other power

sources. Continuing the example above, a toy vehicle for use with toy vehicle

operating system 110 may thus include a battery compartment or other

structural features to accommodate an onboard power source. Optionally, any

suitable form of power source may be used. Further, a power switch may be

provided to allow the power source to supply power to the various component

systems as required by toy vehicle operating system 110, or to disengage the

power supply if the toy vehicle is not in use.

[0023] Figs. 3-8 show an exemplary toy vehicle 210 and a liquid receiving

chamber 212 that may be used with toy vehicle operating system 110. More

particularly, Fig. 3 shows a top view of toy vehicle 210, which includes a

chassis 220 shaped to resemble a racecar. Toy vehicle 210 also includes a

plurality of wheels 222 mounted on the chassis, which further include a driven

wheel 224 and rolling wheels 226. Chassis 220 also includes a plurality of lights 228, a speaker 230, an actuator 232 in the form of a push button, and a

power switch 234.

[0024] Driven wheel 224, lights 228, speaker 230, and actuator 232 are

coupled to various component systems or assemblies of toy vehicle operating

system 110. More particularly, driven wheel 224 is coupled with drive

assembly 150, and lights 228 and speaker 230 are coupled with audiovisual

assembly 140. Actuator 232 is coupled to input system 112. Power switch 234

is coupled to a battery assembly or other power source (not shown), and is

configured to engage the power source with, or disengage the power source

from, the toy vehicle operating system.

[0025] Chassis 220 further includes a recessed channel 236. Retention

devices 238 are disposed on either side of recessed channel 236, and visible

within recessed channel 236 are electrical contacts 122 of toy vehicle operating

system 110.

[0026] Liquid receiving chamber 212, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is

configured to contain a liquid body and be detachably coupled to chassis 220

within recessed channel 236. As such, chamber 212 includes substantially

cylindrical chamber wall 240 adapted to conform in size and shape with the

contour of channel 236 One end of chamber 212 includes an input port 242 for

delivery of a liquid into, or from, the chamber. A closure member 244, shown

as a screw cap, is adapted to prevent liquid from escaping from chamber 212 through input port 242. A pair of electrodes 246 are disposed on the other end

of chamber 212, which protrude through chamber wall 240 and into a liquid

body contained in chamber 212. The view shown in Fig. 4 depicts the

"bottom" of chamber 212, and the view shown in Fig. 5 depicts one "side" of

chamber 212.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 6, when chamber 212 is placed within recessed

channel 236 with the "bottom" of the chamber positioned against the surface of

channel 236, retention devices 238 are adapted to retain chamber 212 in place

until detached from the chassis, and electrical contacts 122 are positioned to

press against electrodes 246. Fig. 7 shows a side view of toy vehicle 210 with

chamber 212 coupled to chassis 220.

[0028] Fig. 8 shows a schematic representation of toy vehicle operational

system 110 as used with toy vehicle 210. When chamber 212 is coupled to

chassis 220 as described above, electrical contacts 122 of measuring assembly

120 are positioned against electrodes 246. When actuator 232 (not shown in

this view) is depressed, measuring assembly 120 of input system 112 generates

an electrical current and measures the current flow between electrodes 246, if

any. Processor assembly 130 produces operational instructions and/or other

information representative of the measured conductivity and communicates the

instructions to response system 1 14, prompting the components of response

system 114 to generate a toy output pattern consisting of a predetermined combination of activation of lights 228 and/or speaker 230, to produce an

audiovisual display, and/or provision of power to driven wheel 224, to move

the vehicle across a ground surface.

[0029] A variety of play patterns are thus available for use with toy

vehicle 210. For example, a user may fill chamber 212 with a mixture of one

or more household liquids (such as water, juice, or a carbonated beverage)

according to the user's preference. The chamber may then be attached to the

toy vehicle chassis. The user may then depress the actuator to prompt the

measuring assembly to measure the electrical conductivity of the liquid

mixture. The processor assembly may then prompt the response system to

produce an output pattern.

[0030] As mentioned above, in the exemplary toy vehicle operating

system, the toy output patterns produced by the toy vehicle, or response system

114, are dependent on the electrical conductivity of the liquid body in chamber

212. Thus, the exemplary toy vehicle will respond differently to liquids or

liquid mixtures with different conductive properties. As such, the toy vehicle

may simulate whether or not a given liquid or liquid mixture is an appropriate

"fuel" for the toy vehicle. A user may try several different liquid mixtures in

order to discover an optimum "fuel" mixture that produces a preferred output

pattern. [0031] For example, if the conductivity of the liquid or liquid mixture

placed in chamber 212 falls within a first conductivity range, the corresponding

toy output pattern includes activation of speaker 230 to emit a repeated sound

resembling that of an automobile starter, to indicate that the chosen liquid

mixture is not an appropriate "fuel." Alternatively, if the conductivity of the

liquid or liquid mixture placed in chamber 212 falls within a second

conductivity range, the corresponding toy output pattern includes rapid and

repeated activation of lights 228, activation of speaker 230 to emit a sound

resembling that of an engine starting and revving at a high rate, and activation

of drive assembly 150 to move the vehicle across a ground surface at a high

rate of speed, to indicate that the chosen liquid mixture is a powerful "fuel."

[0032] In the exemplary toy vehicle, the level of the toy vehicle's

performance increases with the electrical conductivity of the liquid or liquid

mixture contained in chamber 212. The following table is an example of six

different toy output patterns that may be generated by response system 114,

corresponding to six different electrical conductivity ranges. The conductivity

ranges are arbitrarily numbered 0-5 to represent nonconductivity (0) to high

conductivity (5).

Table 1 [0033] The toy vehicle may further include further components to

augment the vehicle's simulated reaction to different liquid mixtures. For

example, the table above refers to different motor outputs. Thus, drive

assembly 150 may include any appropriate systems or devices, such as a

feedback mechanism, to govern the output of a motor within the toy vehicle.

One example of a feedback mechanism consists of a photodiode and LED,

which may be positioned on either side of a tach wheel mounted on an axle.

As the axle and the tach wheel rotate, a light beam traveling from the LED may

be intermittently received by the photodiode through perforations disposed on

the periphery of the tach wheel, which are aligned with the path of the light

beam. Processor assembly 130 may be coded to count the number of times the

light beam is received by the photodiode during a given time increment. This

count may allow the processor to control the drive assembly to increase or

decrease the motor output to maintain a consistent given vehicle speed.

[0034] Such a feedback mechanism may optionally be used to allow the

toy vehicle to mimic a response to an inappropriate "fuel." For example,

processor assembly 130 may be coded to intermittently interrupt the power

supply to drive assembly 150, for example, by employing a random number

generator or by means of a count of the number of times the light beam is

received by the photodiode. This intermittent interruption of power can be

incorporated in a set of operational instructions, which can result in a toy output pattern that includes the vehicle moving in a "chugging" motion, such as

to simulate the vehicle's response to an inappropriate "fuel."

[0035] Optionally, the exemplary toy vehicle may be operated

independent of the conductivity of a liquid in chamber 212, with no liquid in

chamber 212, or with chamber 212 detached from toy vehicle 210. Power

switch 234 is selectively movable among an "off position designated by the

number 0, a first "on" position designated by the number 1 , and a second "on"

position designated by the number 2. The first "on" position allows the toy

vehicle to be used with different liquid mixtures as described above, and the

second "on" position, for use if a user prefers not to test the toy vehicle's

performance using different liquid mixtures, allows the toy vehicle, when

actuator 232 is depressed, to respond with a predetermined toy output pattern

corresponding to a highly conductive liquid.

[0036] The exemplary toy vehicle described herein is intended to be a

non-limiting example of a toy vehicle that may be used with the toy operating

systems of the present disclosure. As such, several variations are possible and

are within the scope of the disclosure. For example, in some embodiments, the

toy operating system may be adapted to couple with one or more liquid

chambers simultaneously. In some embodiments, one or more liquid chambers

may be permanently coupled with the toy operating system. In such

embodiments, a user may be allowed to choose from among several liquid chambers. In some embodiments, a liquid chamber may not include an input

port, but may rather contain a liquid in a sealed chamber. In some

embodiments, a toy vehicle may include a feature or component that allows the

chamber to be automatically emptied in a gradual manner while being operated,

simulating the consumption of fuel, such as to enhance entertainment value of

the toy vehicle.

[0037] Although the toy and toy operating system disclosed herein have

been described in the context of the exemplary embodiment of a toy vehicle,

the disclosed toy operating systems may be used with other toys. For example,

a toy doll may be used with a toy operating system that prompts different

output patterns based on the measurement of a quantitative characteristic of a

liquid contained in a detachable chamber configured to resemble a baby bottle,

allowing a user to test different liquids to produce a user-preferred response.

[0038] It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses

multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these

inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments

thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting

sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions

includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the

various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein.

Similarly, where any claim recites "a" or "a first" element or the equivalent thereof, such claim should be understood to include incorporation of one or

more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such

elements.

[0039] Inventions embodied in various combinations and subcombinations

of features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through

presentation of new claims in a related application. Such new claims, whether

they are directed to a different invention or directed to the same invention,

whether different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims,

are also regarded as included within the subject matter of the inventions of the

present disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A toy operating system, comprising: an input system responsive to a predetermined quantitative characteristic of a liquid body; and a response system coupled to the input system and configured to generate one or more toy output patterns based at least in part on the given characteristic.

2. A toy vehicle operating system including the toy operating system of claim 1.

3. A toy vehicle including the toy vehicle operating system of claim

2.

4. The toy operating system of claim 1 wherein the input system further includes: a measuring assembly to measure the characteristic; and a processor assembly to produce information representative of the measurement and to communicate the produced information to the response system.

5. The toy operating system of claim 4 wherein the characteristic is electrical conductivity, and wherein the measuring assembly further includes a pair of electrical contacts adapted to measure the electrical conductivity of a liquid.

6. The toy operating system of claim 4 wherein the produced information includes a set of one or more operational instructions for the response system.

7. The toy operating system of claim 6, wherein the processor assembly is configured to produce a plurality of sets of one or more operational instructions including a first set and a second set; wherein the first set of one or more operational instructions is produced when the measurement of the characteristic falls within a first range; and wherein the second set of one or more operational instructions is produced when the measurement of the characteristic falls within a second range different from the first range.

8. The toy operating system of claim 7 wherein the response system is configured to generate a first toy output pattern corresponding to the first set of one or more operational instructions and a second toy output pattern corresponding to the second set of one or more operational instructions, such that the first toy output pattern is different from the second toy output pattern.

9. The toy operating system of claim 4 wherein the response system is configured to generate a toy output pattern coπesponding to the measurement of the characteristic.

10. The toy operating system of claim 1 wherein the response system further includes one or more toy components, and wherein generating a toy output pattern includes activating of one or more toy components.

11. The toy operating system of claim 10 wherein toy components include one or more of a drive assembly, and an audiovisual assembly.

12. The toy operating system of claim 1, wherein the response system further includes: an audiovisual assembly to produce an audiovisual display; and a drive assembly to provide a motive force for a toy vehicle; and wherein generating a toy output pattern includes activating of one or more of the drive assembly and the audiovisual assembly.

13. The toy operating system of claim 12, wherein the audiovisual assembly further includes one or more of: a light assembly including one or more lights, and a speaker assembly including one or more speakers.

14. The toy operating system of claim 12, wherein the drive assembly further includes a motor assembly including one or more motors, coupled with a driven wheel assembly including one or more driven wheels.

15. The toy operating system of claim 1, further including a reservoir for containing a liquid body, wherein the reservoir is configured to be detachably coupled with the input system.

16. A toy including the toy operating system of claim 1.

17. The toy of claim 16, wherein the toy is a toy vehicle.

18. A method of operating a toy, comprising measuring a predetermined quantitative characteristic of a liquid; selecting one of a plurality of predetermined toy output patterns, wherein the selection is based at least in part on the measurement; operating one or more toy components according to the selected toy output pattern.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein measuring a predetermined quantitative characteristic of a liquid includes measuring the electrical conductivity of the liquid.

20. A toy vehicle operating system performing the method of claim

18.

21. A toy vehicle for use with the toy vehicle operating system of claim 20.

22. A toy vehicle comprising: a chassis; at least one toy component operable to display an output; a chamber adapted to contain a liquid body; an input system configured to measure a predetermined quantitative characteristic of a liquid body contained in the chamber and operate the at least one toy component according to one of a plurality of output patterns that corresponds to the measurement.

23. The toy vehicle of claim 22, wherein the at least one toy component includes a drive assembly to move the toy vehicle across a ground surface at a plurality of predetermined rates of speed; and wherein each of the plurality of output patterns includes operating the drive assembly to move the toy vehicle across a ground surface at a corresponding one of the plurality of predetermined rates of speed.

24. The toy vehicle of claim 22, wherein the at least one toy component includes an audiovisual assembly to produce a plurality of predetermined audiovisual displays; and wherein each of the plurality of output patterns includes operating the audiovisual assembly to produce a corresponding one of the plurality of predetermined audiovisual displays.

25. The toy vehicle of claim 22, wherein the liquid receiving chamber is configured to be detachably coupled to the chassis.

26. The toy vehicle of claim 22, wherein the predetermined quantitative characteristic is electrical conductivity.

27. The toy vehicle of claim 26 wherein the liquid receiving chamber includes a pair of electrodes protruding into a liquid body contained in the chamber, and wherein the input system is adapted to generate an electrical current between the electrodes.

28. The toy vehicle of claim 22, wherein the at least one toy component is configured to be selectively operable independent of a predetermined quantitative characteristic of a liquid body contained in the chamber.