US5389031A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toy assembly
Assignee: Design Lab LLC
•
Filing: 1993-10-05
•
Granted: 1995-02-14
•
Expires: 2013-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A toy assembly includes a base toy unit, a plurality of accessories which are removably receivable in predetermined positions on the base toy unit, a plurality of switch assemblies for detecting the absence or presence of the accessories relative to the respective predetermined positions thereof and a control unit which is responsive to the switch assemblies for issuing prerecorded sound effect, including voice messages. The sound effect are preferably related to the removal or repositioning of the accessories relative to the respective predetermined positions thereof on the base toy unit for leading, responding to and reinforcing the activity of a child in a play format. The base toy unit is preferably embodied as a toy vehicle, the accessories are preferably formed as accessories which are related to the vehicle and the sound effect are preferably related to the vehicle and the accessories.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry D. Sharpe, III
- 👤 Ralph A. Beckman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:21
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H5/00; A63H17/00; A63H17/05; A63H17/08; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/00643; A63F2003/00678; A63F2003/0069; A63F9/00; A63F9/24; A63F2009/2448; A63F2009/247; A63F2009/2476
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A toy assembly comprising: a base toy unit; a first accessory removably receivable in a predetermined position on said base toy unit; detecting means for detecting the absence or presence of said first accessory at the predetermined position thereof on said base my unit; and sound effect producing means on said base toy unit responsive to said detective means for producing a first prerecorded sound effect when said first accessory is removed from the predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit, said sound effect producing means being manually actuatable for producing a second prerecorded sound effect in the event that said first accessory is absent from the predetermined position thereof at a predetermined time during the operation of said sound effect producing means, said prerecorded sound effects including at least one voice communication.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A toy assembly comprising: a base toy unit; a first accessory removably receivable in a predetermined position on said base toy unit; detecting means for detecting the absence or presence of said first accessory at the predetermined position thereof on said base my unit; and sound effect producing means on said base toy unit responsive to said detective means for producing a first prerecorded sound effect when said first accessory is removed from the predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit, said sound effect producing means being manually actuatable for producing a second prerecorded sound effect in the event that said first accessory is absent from the predetermined position thereof at a predetermined time during the operation of said sound effect producing means, said prerecorded sound effects including at least one voice communication.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
In the toy assembly of claim 1, said first prerecorded sound effect comprising a first prerecorded voice message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The toy assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second accessory removably receivable in a predetermined position on said base toy unit, said sound effect producing means being manually actuatable for producing said second sound effect by positioning said second accessory in the respective predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
In the toy assembly of claim 1, said sound effect producing means being operative for producing a third prerecorded sound effect when said first accessory is repositioned in the respective predetermined position thereof after said sound effect producing means has produced said second prerecorded sound effect.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The toy assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second accessory removably received in a predetermined position on said base toy unit, said sound effect producing means being manually actuatable producing said second prerecorded sound effect by removing said second accessory from the respective predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
In the toy assembly of claim 1, said base toy unit comprising a toy vehicle, said first accessory comprising an accessory which is coordinated with said toy vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
In the toy assembly of claim 1, said first accessory being pivotally attached to said base toy unit and being pivotable to and from said predetermined position thereon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
95 words
A toy vehicle assembly comprising: a toy emergency vehicle base unit; an emergency vehicle accessory functionally coordinated with said base unit and removably received thereon in a predetermined position; detecting means for detecting the removal of said accessory from said emergency vehicle base unit; and sound effect producing means responsive to the removal of said accessory from said emergency vehicle base unit as detected by said detecting means for producing a prerecorded voice message, including a spoken word phrase which is related to the removal of said accessory from said emergency vehicle base my unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
A toy vehicle assembly comprising: a toy emergency vehicle base unit; an emergency vehicle accessory functionally coordinated with said base unit and removably received thereon in a predetermined position; detecting means for detecting the removal of said accessory from said emergency vehicle base unit; and sound effect producing means responsive to the removal of said accessory from said emergency vehicle base unit as detected by said detecting means for producing a prerecorded voice message, including a spoken word phrase which is related to the removal of said accessory from said emergency vehicle base my unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
In the toy vehicle of claim 8, said my emergency vehicle base toy unit comprising a toy fire engine, said accessory comprising a fire engine accessory.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
96 words
A toy assembly comprising: a base toy unit comprising a toy fire engine; a first accessory comprising a toy ladder assembly pivotally attached to said toy fire engine and removably receivable in a predetermined position thereon; detecting means for detecting the absence or presence of said first accessory at the predetermined position thereof on said toy fire engine; and sound effect producing means on said toy fire engine responsive to said detecting means for producing a first prerecorded sound effect when said first accessory is removed from the predetermined position thereof on said toy fire engine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
96 words
A toy assembly comprising: a base toy unit comprising a toy fire engine; a first accessory comprising a toy ladder assembly pivotally attached to said toy fire engine and removably receivable in a predetermined position thereon; detecting means for detecting the absence or presence of said first accessory at the predetermined position thereof on said toy fire engine; and sound effect producing means on said toy fire engine responsive to said detecting means for producing a first prerecorded sound effect when said first accessory is removed from the predetermined position thereof on said toy fire engine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
In the toy assembly of claim 10, said accessory comprising a firefighter character figure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
111 words
A toy assembly comprising: a base toy unit comprising a toy fire engine; a plurality of toy fire engine related accessories removably receivable in respective predetermined positions thereof on said base toy unit; detecting means for detecting the absence or presence of said accessories in the respective predetermined positions thereof on said base my unit; and voice producing means on said base toy unit for detecting the absence or presence of said accessories relative to the respective predetermined positions thereof and for producing a predetermined voice message in response to the removal or repositioning of one of said accessories relative to the respective predetermined position thereon on said base toy unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
111 words
A toy assembly comprising: a base toy unit comprising a toy fire engine; a plurality of toy fire engine related accessories removably receivable in respective predetermined positions thereof on said base toy unit; detecting means for detecting the absence or presence of said accessories in the respective predetermined positions thereof on said base my unit; and voice producing means on said base toy unit for detecting the absence or presence of said accessories relative to the respective predetermined positions thereof and for producing a predetermined voice message in response to the removal or repositioning of one of said accessories relative to the respective predetermined position thereon on said base toy unit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
In the toy assembly of claim 12, said voice message being dependent on the absence or presence of another one of said accessories relative to the respective predetermined position thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
In the toy assembly of claim 13, said voice producing means producing a first message in the event that said another one of said accessories is absent from the respective predetermined position thereof and producing a different second prerecorded voice message in the event that said another one of said accessories is present at the respective predetermined position thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
111 words
A toy assembly comprising: a base toy unit; a first accessory removably receivable in a predetermined position on said base toy unit; detecting means for detecting the absence or presence of said first accessory at the predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit; and sound effect producing means on said base toy unit responsive to said detecting means for producing a first prerecorded voice message when said first accessory is removed from the predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit, said sound effect producing means being manually actuatable for producing a second predetermined voice message in the event that said first accessory is absent from the predetermined position thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
111 words
A toy assembly comprising: a base toy unit; a first accessory removably receivable in a predetermined position on said base toy unit; detecting means for detecting the absence or presence of said first accessory at the predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit; and sound effect producing means on said base toy unit responsive to said detecting means for producing a first prerecorded voice message when said first accessory is removed from the predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit, said sound effect producing means being manually actuatable for producing a second predetermined voice message in the event that said first accessory is absent from the predetermined position thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
The toy assembly of claim 15 further comprising a second accessory removably receivable in a predetermined position on said base toy unit, said sound effect producing means being manually actuatable for issuing said second sound effect by positioning said second accessory in the respective predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
In the toy assembly of claim 15, said sound effect producing means being operative for issuing a third predetermined voice message when said first accessory is repositioned in the respective predetermined position thereof after the production of said second predetermined voice message.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
The toy assembly of claim 15 further comprising a second accessory removably received in a predetermined position on said base toy unit, said sound effect producing means being manually actuatable for issuing said second predetermined voice message by removing said second accessory from the respective predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
In the toy assembly of claim 15, said first accessory being alternatively positionable in different first and second predetermined positions on said base toy unit, said sound effect producing means being responsive to positioning said first accessory in the second predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit for producing a second predetermined voice message.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
87 words
A toy assembly comprising: a base toy unit comprising a toy fire engine; a fire engine related accessory removably receivable in a predetermined position on said base toy unit; detecting means for detecting the absence or presence of said first accessory at the predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit; and sound effect producing means on said base toy unit responsive to said detecting means for issuing a prerecorded voice communication when said accessory is moved into the predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
87 words
A toy assembly comprising: a base toy unit comprising a toy fire engine; a fire engine related accessory removably receivable in a predetermined position on said base toy unit; detecting means for detecting the absence or presence of said first accessory at the predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit; and sound effect producing means on said base toy unit responsive to said detecting means for issuing a prerecorded voice communication when said accessory is moved into the predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
76 words
A toy vehicle assembly comprising: a toy fire engine base unit; a toy fire engine accessory movably mounted on said base unit; detecting means for detecting a predetermined movement of said accessory on said base unit; and sound effect producing means responsive to said predetermined movement as detected by said detecting means for producing a prerecorded voice message, including a spoken word phrase which is related to the movement of said accessory on said base unit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
76 words
A toy vehicle assembly comprising: a toy fire engine base unit; a toy fire engine accessory movably mounted on said base unit; detecting means for detecting a predetermined movement of said accessory on said base unit; and sound effect producing means responsive to said predetermined movement as detected by said detecting means for producing a prerecorded voice message, including a spoken word phrase which is related to the movement of said accessory on said base unit.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
In the toy vehicle of claim 21, said accessory comprising a ladder assembly on said toy fire engine.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
36 words
In the toy vehicle of claim 22, said ladder assembly being pivotally mounted on said toy fire engine, said detecting means being responsive to predetermined pivotal movement of said ladder assembly for producing said voice message.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
115 words
A toy assembly comprising: a base toy unit; a first accessory removably receivable in different first and second predetermined positions on said base toy unit; detecting means for detecting the absence or presence of said first accessory at the predetermined first and second positions thereof on said base toy unit; and sound effect producing means on said base my unit responsive to said detecting means for producing a first prerecorded sound effect when said first accessory is removed from the first predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit and responsive to positioning said first accessory in the second predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit for producing a different second prerecorded sound effect.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
115 words
A toy assembly comprising: a base toy unit; a first accessory removably receivable in different first and second predetermined positions on said base toy unit; detecting means for detecting the absence or presence of said first accessory at the predetermined first and second positions thereof on said base toy unit; and sound effect producing means on said base my unit responsive to said detecting means for producing a first prerecorded sound effect when said first accessory is removed from the first predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit and responsive to positioning said first accessory in the second predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit for producing a different second prerecorded sound effect.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
44 words
In the toy assembly of claim 24, said base toy unit comprising a toy fire engine, said accessory comprising a toy fire hose which is positionable on said toy fire engine in stored and operative positions corresponding to said first and second positions, respectively.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
91 words
A toy assembly comprising: a base toy unit comprising a toy fire engine; a first toy fire engine related accessory removably receivable in a predetermined position on said base toy unit; detecting means for detecting the absence or presence of said first accessory at the predetermined position thereof on said toy fire engine; and sound effect producing means on said toy ire event responsive to said detecting means for producing a first prerecorded voice communication when said first accessory is removed from the predetermined position thereof on said toy fire engine.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
91 words
A toy assembly comprising: a base toy unit comprising a toy fire engine; a first toy fire engine related accessory removably receivable in a predetermined position on said base toy unit; detecting means for detecting the absence or presence of said first accessory at the predetermined position thereof on said toy fire engine; and sound effect producing means on said toy ire event responsive to said detecting means for producing a first prerecorded voice communication when said first accessory is removed from the predetermined position thereof on said toy fire engine.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
131 words
A toy assembly comprising: a base toy unit; a first accessory removably receivable in a predetermined position on said base toy unit; detecting means for detecting the absence or presence of said first accessory at the predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit; and sound effect producing means on said base toy unit responsive to said detecting means for producing a first prerecorded sound effect when said first accessory is removed from the predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit, said first prerecorded sound effect comprising a first prerecorded voice message which is randomly selected from a group of a plurality of prerecorded voice messages, each of the voice messages in said group being related in context to the removal of said first accessory from the predetermined position thereof.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
131 words
A toy assembly comprising: a base toy unit; a first accessory removably receivable in a predetermined position on said base toy unit; detecting means for detecting the absence or presence of said first accessory at the predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit; and sound effect producing means on said base toy unit responsive to said detecting means for producing a first prerecorded sound effect when said first accessory is removed from the predetermined position thereof on said base toy unit, said first prerecorded sound effect comprising a first prerecorded voice message which is randomly selected from a group of a plurality of prerecorded voice messages, each of the voice messages in said group being related in context to the removal of said first accessory from the predetermined position thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1640417A
Cited
US2846813A
Cited
US4173840A
Cited
US4265047A
Cited
US4318245A
Cited
US4325199A
Cited
US4348191A
Cited
US4573941A
Cited
USD297034S
Cited
US4820233A
Cited
US4964837A
Cited
US4964837B1
Cited
US4993983A
Cited
US5147237A
Cited
US5024626A
Cited
US5292275A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-02-13 | 1998-08-15 | 1999-02-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-02-13 | 2002-08-15 | 2003-02-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-02-13 | 2006-08-15 | 2007-02-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |