CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This Application claims priority from Application 16/794,125 filed on February 18, 2020 in the United States; Application 16/794,125 claims priority from Application 62/806,548 filed on February 15, 2019 in the United States; This Application claims priority from Application 62/806,548 filed on February 15, 2019 in the United States; the contents of which are all hereby expressly incorporated by reference thereto in their entireties for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to novelty and amusement devices, and more specifically, but not exclusively, to interactive devices such as squeezable toys for young children.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.

[0004] There is a very wide range of interactive toys for young children that engage their interest and promote play, hand/eye coordination, and provide other benefits.

[0005] Manufacturers, caregivers, and children, among others, have a strong interest in developing a new interactive toy to maintain a freshness and excitement for toys in this category.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Disclosed is a system and method for a new interactive toy. The following summary of the invention is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the technical features related to interactive toys disposed in a plush animal, and is not intended to be a full description of the present invention. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the invention can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole. The present invention is applicable to other formats and creature types, among other possible implementations, including non-plush formats, and sound producing fluid valves coupled to a fluid bladder.

[0007] An embodiment of the present invention for an interactive toy may include a combination of a plush covered character with a special embedded bladder. As illustrated, a child squeezing a specific embodiment of the toy may expel air from within the automatically refilling bladder to create a flatulence simulating sound accompanying an operation of a component of the plush covered character. For example, the interactive toy format may include a fanciful animal, for example, a unicorn, having a body containing the bladder and a flexible tail coupling to the body. A special outlet system, coupled to the bladder and disposed within the flexible tail, creates the flatulence sound while concurrently operating the flexible tail (e.g., lifting and/or flapping the tail). As the air exits through the flexible tail and not through an anus, the interactive toy may provide an additional element under the tail (e.g., a comical design element or butt image for example) in lieu of the anus. This optional element is selectively revealed responsive to the expelling air which may add to the interactivity and interest to the child.

[0008] Some embodiments may not include a plush covering with the bladder, valve, and other components exposed for direct manipulation.

[0009] In other embodiments, the sound producing fluid valve may be coupled to another auto-refilling bladder format, such as a“whoopee cushion” for generation of flatulence sounds upon compression of the bladder.

[0010] A sound producing apparatus, including a fluid bladder defining a bladder volume configured to receive and contain a quantity of a fluid; a one-way refill valve coupled to the bladder volume; and an outlet, coupled to the bladder volume, configured to direct a stream of the fluid out of the bladder volume wherein the outlet is further configured to produce, responsive to the stream of the fluid, an outlet sound simulating or parodying one or more sounds associated with flatulence.

[0011] A method for operating an interactive toy, including defining a body portion coupled to a flexible appurtenance at a body location, the body portion including a flexible region and the flexible appurtenance including a fluid channel disposed therethrough; producing a flatulence simulating system within the interactive toy, the flatulence simulating system including a bladder coupled to the body portion proximate the flexible region and further coupled to the fluid channel, and the flatulence simulating system configured to generate a fluid stream exiting from the bladder in response to a manipulation of the flexible region with the flatulence simulating system further configured to suspend the fluid stream exiting from the bladder with the manipulation of the flexible region, the flatulence simulating system including a sound producing region configured to generate, responsive to the fluid stream exiting from the bladder, a series of sound simulating or parodying a flatulence sound; directing, responsive to the manipulation, the fluid stream through the flexible appurtenance to produce a selective appurtenance fluid stream; and setting an operational mode of the flexible appurtenance responsive to the selective appurtenance fluid stream, the operational mode including an unactuated mode configured not to move the flexible appurtenance when the selective appurtenance fluid stream is not flowing, and the operational mode including an actuated mode configured to move, raise, wave, flap, or otherwise drive a relative motion between the flexible appurtenance and the body portion when the selective appurtenance fluid stream is flowing.

[0012] Any of the embodiments described herein may be used alone or together with one another in any combination. Inventions encompassed within this specification may also include embodiments that are only partially mentioned or alluded to or are not mentioned or alluded to at all in this brief summary or in the abstract. Although various embodiments of the invention may have been motivated by various deficiencies with the prior art, which may be discussed or alluded to in one or more places in the specification, the embodiments of the invention do not necessarily address any of these deficiencies. In other words, different embodiments of the invention may address different deficiencies that may be discussed in the specification. Some embodiments may only partially address some deficiencies or just one deficiency that may be discussed in the specification, and some embodiments may not address any of these deficiencies.

[0013] Other features, benefits, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon a review of the present disclosure, including the specification, drawings, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally- similar elements throughout the separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, further illustrate the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates an interactive toy including an embedded flatulence simulation system; [0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of the interactive toy with a tail disposed in an unactuated mode;

[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of the interactive toy with the tail disposed in an actuated mode;

[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the flatulence simulation system;

[0019] FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the flatulence simulation system;

[0020] FIG. 6-FIG. 8 illustrates a sequence for operation of an outlet system included as part of the flatulence simulation system;

[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of a resting mode for the outlet system;

[0022] FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of an intermediate mode for the outlet system; and

[0023] FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of an active mode for the outlet system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for a new interactive toy. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its

requirements.

[0025] Various modifications to the preferred embodiment and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.

[0026] Definitions

[0027] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this general inventive concept belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0028] The following definitions apply to some of the aspects described with respect to some embodiments of the invention. These definitions may likewise be expanded upon herein.

[0029] As used herein, the term“or” includes“and/or” and the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as“at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list.

[0030] As used herein, the singular terms“a,”“an,” and“the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to an object can include multiple objects unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0031] Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of“in” includes“in” and“on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being“on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being“directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present.

[0032] As used herein, the term“set” refers to a collection of one or more objects. Thus, for example, a set of objects can include a single object or multiple objects. Objects of a set also can be referred to as members of the set. Objects of a set can be the same or different. In some instances, objects of a set can share one or more common properties.

[0033] As used herein, the term“adjacent” refers to being near or adjoining. Adjacent objects can be spaced apart from one another or can be in actual or direct contact with one another. In some instances, adjacent objects can be coupled to one another or can be formed integrally with one another.

[0034] As used herein, the terms“connect,”“connected,” and“connecting” refer to a direct attachment or link. Connected objects have no or no substantial intermediary object or set of objects, as the context indicates. [0035] As used herein, the terms“couple,”“coupled,” and“coupling” refer to an operational connection or linking. Coupled objects can be directly connected to one another or can be indirectly connected to one another, such as via an intermediary set of objects.

[0036] The use of the term“about” applies to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. This term generally refers to a range of numbers that one of ordinary skill in the art would consider as a reasonable amount of deviation to the recited numeric values (i.e., having the equivalent function or result). For example, this term can be construed as including a deviation of ±10 percent of the given numeric value provided such a deviation does not alter the end function or result of the value. Therefore, a value of about 1% can be construed to be a range from 0.9% to

1.1% .

[0037] As used herein, the terms“substantially” and“substantial” refer to a considerable degree or extent. When used in conjunction with an event or circumstance, the terms can refer to instances in which the event or circumstance occurs precisely as well as instances in which the event or circumstance occurs to a close approximation, such as accounting for typical tolerance levels or variability of the embodiments described herein.

[0038] As used herein, the terms“optional” and“optionally” mean that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur and that the description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances in which it does not.

[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates an interactive toy 100 including an embedded flatulence simulation system 105. Toy 100 may be presented in many different formats depicting real and fictitious creatures. In FIG. 1, toy 100 is presented as a plush unicorn 110 having a flexible tail 115. System 105 includes a bladder 120 coupled to an outlet 125 Bladder 120 is disposed inside a body of unicorn 110 and outlet 125 is disposed inside tail 115.

[0040] FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of interactive toy 100 with tail 115 disposed in an unactuated mode, FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of interactive toy 100 with tail 115 disposed in an actuated mode. With an actual animal, lifting a tail would reveal an anus. For interactive toy 100, the actuated mode and air exiting through tail 115 provides an opportunity to present an additional interactive element 305 (e.g., a comical icon, image, or feature) that is selectively revealed and hidden as tail 115 is lifted and dropped responsive to operation of unicorn 115. [0041] In operation, bladder 120 is compressed which expels air through outlet 125. Outlet 125 is specially configured to produce the desired sound and to lift/flap tail 115 (e.g., transition from unactuated mode illustrated in FIG. 2 to actuated mode illustrated in FIG. 3). Once the compression is relaxed, bladder 120 automatically expands and refills through a one-way refill valve. Once air is no longer directed through outlet 125, tail 115 falls (e.g., transition from actuated mode illustrated in FIG. 3 to unactuated mode illustrated in FIG. 2). Toy 100 is then ready for re-actuation once bladder 120 is sufficiently refilled.

[0042] FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 include sets of dashed lines: a) dashed lines for bladder 120 illustrate a compression which expels air; and b) dashed lines for tail 115 illustrate a transition which lifts/flaps tail 115 responsive to the expelling air responsive to compression of bladder 120.

[0043] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of flatulence simulation system 105 and FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of flatulence simulation system. Flatulence simulation system 105 includes bladder 120 and outlet 125 to generate an air stream producing, in cooperation with outlet 125, a sound simulating or parodying some aspects of flatulence and to operate a flexible structure (e.g., tail 115) of toy 100.

[0044] Flatulence simulation system 105 includes a one-way refill valve 405, an installation tab 410, a pleated region 415 operating as a noisemaker, and a securement 420 attaching outlet 125 to an air exit port of bladder 120.

[0045] Valve 405 is illustrated as optionally including a wide-aperture intake for fast air intake while reducing, inhibiting, or preventing any inlet sound (e.g., whistling) as air refills bladder 120 from ambient during the expansion. When inlet sound is less of a concern or some other mechanism is used for inlet sound suppression.

[0046] Installation tab 410 is optional to provide a solid anchor that may be sewn into center seam of plush to prevent or limit shifting of flatulence simulation system 105 inside the body of interactive toy 100.

[0047] Pleated region 415 of outlet 125 is configured as a noise maker having a large opening into a bellows allowing resonation of bass sounds during air flow through tail 115. Pleats also form intermediate gate valves separating various outlet regions as further described in context of FIG. 6-FIG. 8 herein. Pleated region 415 may include a natural or synthetic elastomer (e.g., rubber) to operate as a noise maker having the features described herein.

[0048] Securement 420, such as an annular indentation around the air exit port, produces a large ridge to help inhibit outlet 125 from detaching from bladder 120 during operation. The ridge and indentation allow use of a quick-tie, tape, rubber band or the like to secure outlet 120 in place.

[0049] For an interactive toy, especially for young children, the simulation/parodying of the flatulence sound may not necessarily be that close - most any sharp, explosive, and/or extended sound produced from a manipulation of a fluid bladder may serve a goal of amusement. This may be further compounded by associating the sound with the operation of the tail - having the tail raise/flap/wave along with an associated sound provides some of the parodying experience, including when the interactive toy includes an animal (real or fanciful (e.g., a unicorn)) theme to delight and amuse the children.

[0050] FIG. 6-FIG. 8 illustrates a sequence for operation of outlet 125 included as part of the flatulence simulation system 105. FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of a resting mode for outlet 125, FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of an intermediate mode for outlet 125; and FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of an active mode for outlet 125. Four regions of interest are identified for outlet 125, including a first air pressure volume 605, a first pressure sensitive air gate 610, a second air pressure volume 615, and a second pressure sensitive air gate 620 upwardly supported by volume 615.

[0051] FIG. 6 illustrates a first phase response of outlet 125 to compression of bladder 120. When bladder 120 is compressed, pressure builds in first air pressure volume 605. Air gate 610 and air gate 620 are both closed.

[0052] FIG. 7 illustrates a second phase response following the first phase illustrated in FIG.

6. When enough pressure builds in first volume 605, first air gate 610 opens to fill second air pressure volume 615. Second air gate 620 remains closed.

[0053] FIG. 8 illustrates a third phase response following the second phase illustrated in FIG.

7. As second air pressure volume 615 fills, pleated walls of outlet 125 are pushed apart forming a tubular support to straighten second air gate 620. As pressure is relieved out of an air exit in tail 115 (responsive to the opening of second gate 620), first gate 605 closes. Further, as second air gate 620 opens and expands along with first air gate 605, the pleats of outlet 125 straighten and open which results in tail 115 standing up.

[0054] First air gate 605 closes as air pressure is relieved through the opening of second air gate 620. Closure of first air gate 605 returns the process to the state depicted in FIG. 6. As long as bladder 120 is compressing to create air flow/air pressure increase, outlet 125 sequences through the states illustrated in FIG. 6-FIG. 8. This repeating sequence produces the alternating flatulence sound simulation with tail 115 either held upright or flapping up and down for the duration of the compressing of bladder 120.

[0055] The system and methods above have been described in general terms as an aid to understanding details of preferred embodiments of the present invention. In the description herein, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of components and/or methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

[0056] While FIG. 1 illustrates a fanciful animal format which may include a plush covering, other implementations and embodiments may include a latex/mbber themed character with an integrated one-way valve, tail animation features, and noise maker components. An implementation of the present invention may be adapted for an improved/simplified“whoopee cushion” based on the one-way refill valve, quick intake/reset system. A typical whoopee cushion typically requires that one blow up the“cushion” through an exit reed. An embodiment of the present invention may include use of a root-molded bladder, combined with a quick-refill one-way valve and an exit noise- maker reed to provide an improved whoopee cushion. In some implementations, it may be desired to further include a flexible appurtenance that is activated when the whoopee cushion is operated, such as raising a flag or other component, or other structural motion.

[0057] Some features and benefits of the present invention are realized in such modes and are not required in every case. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that an embodiment of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other apparatus, systems, assemblies, methods, components, materials, parts, and/or the like. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not specifically shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of the present invention.

[0058] Reference throughout this specification to“one embodiment”,“an embodiment”, or “a specific embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention and not necessarily in all embodiments. Thus, respective appearances of the phrases“in one

embodiment”,“in an embodiment”, or“in a specific embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics of any specific embodiment of the present invention may be combined in any suitable manner with one or more other embodiments. It is to be understood that other variations and modifications of the embodiments of the present invention described and illustrated herein are possible in light of the teachings herein and are to be considered as part of the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0059] It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the

drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application.

[0060] Additionally, any signal arrows in the drawings/Figures should be considered only as exemplary, and not limiting, unless otherwise specifically noted. Combinations of components or steps will also be considered as being noted, where terminology is foreseen as rendering the ability to separate or combine is unclear.

[0061] The foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed herein. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes only, various equivalent modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate. As indicated, these modifications may be made to the present invention in light of the foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention and are to be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0062] Thus, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of embodiments of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth. Therefore, many

modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the essential scope and spirit of the present invention. It is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular terms used in following claims and/or to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any and all embodiments and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims. Thus, the scope of the invention is to be determined solely by the appended claims.