Multi-Purpose Rocking Toy |
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申请号 | US11532671 | 申请日 | 2006-09-18 | 公开(公告)号 | US20080070710A1 | 公开(公告)日 | 2008-03-20 |
申请人 | Christine Drosendahl; | 发明人 | Christine Drosendahl; | ||||
摘要 | A dual purpose child seat and toy is disclosed. The toy can be employed in a rocking horse fashion by sitting in a forward facing direction and rocking back and forth. The base of the toy is curved to allow such rocking motion. In addition, the toy is configured so as to allow the child to turn in the opposite direction facing the rear of the toy with a backrest being provided for the child to recline. In such a position, the child can relax, watch television, read books, or the like. In addition, the toy is provided with storage capability and a convenient carrying handle. | ||||||
权利要求 | |||||||
说明书全文 | The present disclosure generally relates to toys and, more particularly, relates to rocking horses and hobby horses. Rocking horses have long been a toy enjoyed by children. Around the world children have sat on toy horses and rocked back and forth pretending to be riding a real animal. The activity is fun, relaxing, and to the relief of parents everywhere, both occupying and tiring for the child. Many versions of such rocking horses have been created over the centuries. One very early patented version is found in U.S. Pat. No. 23,003 to Woodworth et al Woodworth et al, patented in 1859, discloses a dual purpose hobby horse having first and second side walls defining a crib therebetween, wherein the side walls are formed with arcuate bottom edges so as to allow the crib to rock. In addition, a seat is provided at one end of the horse to allow the child to sit and lock. Another early attempt is found in U.S. Pat. No. 1,348,785 which discloses structure for converting any rocking chair into a rocking horse by clamping a board having a horse head extending therefrom to the aims of the chair. Still other toy horses have attempted to combine both the locking motion of a conventional locking horse with a wheeled motion of a vehicle. U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,371,731; 1,412,723; and 1,478,449 all disclose such toys. As the times have progressed, increased emphasis has been placed on the comfort of the child and thus various spring activated or shock absorbing additions or improvements to the art have been made. Such spring actuation also provides a more bouncy feel, more representative of the actual act of riding a horse. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,497,258 and 4,093,208 are representative of these types of patents. While all such patents and other known rocking horses have enjoyed some level of success and continue to be enjoyed by children today, further improvements are still being sought. For example, as toys have gotten bigger and bigger over the years, it would be advantageous if a rocking horse could be combined with another toy or piece of furniture to optimize the use of space within the child's room or other area of the house. In addition, it may be advantageous to simply combine other features into a conventional rocking horse so as to make its use mote desirable. In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a toy is disclosed which comprises a curved base, and a simulated animal body extending upwardly from the curved base. The simulated animal body includes a torso with a forward end and a rear end, a first backrest extending upwardly from the torso forward end, a second backrest extending upwardly from the torso rear end, a first handle extending from the first backrest and a second handle extending from the second backrest. In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a toy is disclosed which comprises a curved base, and a seat extending upwardly from the curved base. The seat includes a first station and a second station, the first station having a backrest forming a reclined chair for a child, and the second station having a handle forming a rocking chair for the child. In accordance with yet another aspect of the disclosure, a toy is disclosed which comprises a reclined chair backrest, a rocking chair backrest, and a seat used for both the reclined chair backrest and the rocking chair backrest. The seat is adapted to accommodate a child in forward and rearward facing directions These and other aspects and features of the disclosure will become mole apparent upon reading the following detailed description when taken into conjunction with accompanying drawings. While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be under stood, however, that there is no intention to limit the disclosure to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure defined by the appended claims. Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference to Referring now to Referring now to However, a time may come when the child may not wish to rock but rather use the toy 20 as a chair, perhaps for reading books, watching television, or relaxing. Accordingly, the toy 20 is able to be used in the reclined chair position 50 as shown in In addition, in the reclined chair position 50, the toy 20 provides a backrest 66 for added comfort of the child 46. The backrest 66 in the depicted embodiment is provided by a real surface 68 of the neck 36 and head 38, but in other embodiments could be provided entirely by the rear surface of the neck 36, or entirely by the rear surface of the head 38. In keeping with the overall configuration of the toy 20 being that of a giraffe, the tear surface 68 can be configured or colored to appear as a mane would be found on a real giraffe or horse. In the depicted embodiment, the rear surface 68 includes ribs 69 or other textured surfaces. In certain other embodiments, the surface 68 and/or mane 70 can be provided in the form of cushioned or padded materials such as foam or fabric or the like. In the giraffe embodiment, the mane 70 may terminate in antlers 71 which in the depicted embodiment are padded or otherwise cushioned. Such a feature may not only present added authenticity, but a comfortable head rest as well. In the reclined chair position 50, the first and second footrests 42 and 44 could be used fox the feet 54 of the child as well. Referring to With respect to the construction and materials of the toy 20, reference is now made to In operation, it can therefore be seen that the disclosed toy 20 provides a dual purpose chair for a child. In a forward position, the child can grasp handles provided proximate the head of the toy and by employing a rocking motion while seated on the toy, the curved base allows the toy to rock back and forth. However, in addition to such a locking motion, the toy can also be used as a reclined chair simply by reversing the direction of seating. In so doing, the toy is provided with a reclined backrest for the comfort of the child. If desired, the toy could also be enjoyed by two children simultaneously, with one facing forward and one facing rearward, and grasping a different handle, or set of handles. |