Ring drop toy

Abstract

A ring drop toy has a housing defining a vertical passage, a rocker mounted to the housing beneath the vertical passage between two, oppositely-directed housing exits, and a ring sized to be dropped down the vertical passage to engage the rocker. The rocker is mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis between two pivot orientations, configured such that dropping of the ring down the vertical passage causes the ring to be rolled out of one of the housing exits and causes the rocker to toggle between the pivot orientations such that a next dropping of a ring down the vertical passage will cause the ring to be rolled out of the other of the housing exits in the opposite direction.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to toys for young children, and more particularly to such toys featuring one or more rings to be dropped down slots. BACKGROUND Part of early child development involves kinematic play through which a child is exposed to various forms of causes and effects. Improved toys are sought to give children entertaining toys that also feature different kinematic effects. SUMMARY One aspect of the invention features a ring drop toy with a housing defining a vertical passage, a rocker mounted to the housing beneath the vertical passage between two, oppositely-directed housing exits, and a ring sized to be dropped down the vertical passage to engage the rocker. The rocker is mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis between two pivot orientations and has an apex between two oppositely-directed wings that are each oriented upward toward the vertical passage in a respective one of the pivot orientations. The rocker is configured such that dropping of the ring down the vertical passage causes the ring to be deflected out of one of the housing exits and causes the rocker to toggle between the pivot orientations, such that a next dropping of the ring down the vertical passage will cause the ring to be deflected out of the other of the housing exits. In some embodiments, the housing includes a resilient ring stop along the vertical passage, the ring stop configured to hold the ring until pressed from above with a force sufficient to deflect the ring stop and allow the ring to fall onto the rocker. In some cases, the ring stop comprises two opposing resilient fingers. In some configurations, the apex of the rocker is arranged to cross a vertical plane including the horizontal axis as the rocker pivots between the two pivot orientations in response to engagement by the ring. In some examples, the wings have concave upper surfaces extending to distal wing tips. The wing tips may be configured to alternately bear against a floor of the housing as the rocker toggles between its two pivot orientations. Engagement of the tips with the floor of the housing may limit pivoting of the rocker. In some cases, the upper surfaces of the wings have a radius approximately equal to an outer radius of the ring. In some embodiments, the rocker is configured to cause the ring to roll out of the housing exits. In some examples, the housing includes a base with an upper surface forming a floor beneath the rocker, and two walls extending upward from the floor and defining the vertical passage therebetween. In some embodiments, the housing also has a post extending upwardly from the base to one side of the two walls and spaced from the walls a distance sufficient to allow the ring to be dropped over the post. Preferably, the post is of a height sufficient to hold at least six such rings. Various embodiments of the invention can provide an engaging play that encourages a child to consider and understand the cause behind an observed effect. The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a ring drop toy. Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the ring drop toy. Fig. 3 is a top view of the ring drop toy. Fig. 4 is a cross-section view, taken along line 4-4 in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the ring drop toy. Figs. 6-10 sequentially illustrate play involving the sequential dropping of multiple individual rings. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the rings. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the rocker. Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, a ring drop toy 10 has a rigid structural housing 12 having a flat base 14 and two parallel walls 16a and 16b extending upward from an upper surface 18 of the base. The housing also has a post 20 extending upwardly from base 14 to one side of the two walls. As shown, post 20 is of sufficient height to allow multiple discrete rings 22, preferably at least six such rings, to be stacked on the base with the post extending up through all of the rings. Post 20 is spaced from the walls a distance sufficient to allow rings 22 to be dropped over the post without contacting the walls. A vertical passage 24 is defined between the two walls 16a and 16b and is of lateral dimensions sufficient to accommodate any of rings 22 being dropped, one at a time, through the passage. In other words, the rings are sized to be dropped down the vertical passage. Housing 12 can be formed from wood or from any other rigid, nontoxic material suitable for toys. Base 14, walls 16a and 16b and post 20 can be formed as separate pieces and then rigidly connected, such as by threaded fasteners or adhesive. Referring next to Figs. 3 and 4, walls 16a and 16b are held in their parallel spacing by their connection to base 14 and by two spacers 26 spanning the distance between the walls near their upper ends and lateral edges. The spacers are formed of thermoplastic material and each has a resilient finger 28 extending into the passage between the walls in opposition to each other. The two resilient fingers 28 form a ring stop 30 configured to hold a ring dropped into the passage until pressed from above with a force sufficient to deflect the ring stop and allow the ring to fall through the ring stop. The ring stop 30 thus forms a narrowest point along vertical passage 24. The distal or lower ends of resilient fingers 28 have inwardly-directed cam surfaces that are spaced apart slightly less than the diameter of a ring, but are elastically deflectable with a level of force readily applied from above by a typical toddler. As will be discussed further below, ring stop 30 is spaced from the upper end of the vertical passage a distance about equal to a diameter of one of the rings, such that when a first ring is held at the ring stop, a next ring pressed down into the passage from above can dislodge the first ring and then itself be held by the ring stop. A rocker 32 is mounted to housing directly beneath vertical passage 24, such that a ring released from ring stop 30 will fall to engage the rocker. Rocker 32 is mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis 34 between two pivot orientations, one such orientation being shown in Fig. 4. Rocker 32 has an apex 36 between two oppositely-directed wings 38a and 38b that are each oriented upward toward vertical passage 24 in a respective one of the pivot orientations. Rocker 32 is positioned between two, oppositely-directed housing exits 40a and 40b, each exit being defined between walls 16a and 16b and between the upper surface 18 of the base and a respective one of the spacers 26. Rocker 3 32 is thus configured such that dropping of a ring 22 down vertical passage 24 causes the ring to be deflected out of one of the housing exits 40a and 40b, and causes the rocker to toggle between the pivot orientations, such that a next dropping of a ring down the vertical passage will cause the ring to be deflected out of the other of the housing exits. Such a sequence is described below with respect to Figs. 6-10. The apex 36 of rocker 32 is arranged to cross a vertical plane 42 including horizontal axis 34 as the rocker pivots between the two pivot orientations in response to engagement by the ring. Wings 38a and 38b have concave upper surfaces 44 extending to distal wing tips 46. The wing tips are configured to alternately bear against the upper surface 18 of base 14 (the floor of the housing) as the rocker toggles between its two pivot orientations. Rocker 32 is positioned just above the base of the housing, such that engagement of tips 46 with the floor of the housing limits pivoting of the rocker. Upper surfaces 44 of wings 38a and 38b preferably each have a radius approximately equal to an outer radius of each of the rings 22, which are preferably all of the same size and shape. The geometry and positioning of rocker 32 are such that dropping a ring down the vertical passage to engage the rocker will cause the ring to roll out of one of the housing exits, while toggling the rocker to its other pivot orientation such that a next ring will roll out of the other of the housing exits, as described below. Once rolled out of an exit, a ring is then free to roll away from the housing across whatever surface is supporting the housing for play, to the delight of the child. Referring next to Fig. 5, ring drop toy 10 is assembled from a number of discrete components in such a way as to not be disassembled in any manner, other than moving rings 22, during play. Walls 16a and 16b and post 20 are secured to base 14 by threaded wood screws 48. The lower end of post 20 is keyed to a slot 50 in the base to resist rotation during play. The lower ends of the walls fit into elongated recesses 52 for further stability. An elongated vertical aperture 54 through wall 16b allows a child to see a ring held at the ring stop. Rocker 32 is mounted for rotation on an axle 56 held by axle mounts 58 keyed into corresponding recesses in each of the two walls to as to hold the axle in position with the rocker positioned between the two axle mounts. Spacers 26 are positioned by posts extending into blind holes in the walls. This view also shows the structure and orientation of the resilient fingers 28 of the ring stop. Figs. 6-10 schematically illustrate the sequence of play involving dropping three consecutive rings 22 down the vertical passage of the ring drop toy. Beginning with Fig. 6, a first ring 22a is dropped into the passage and is temporarily held at the ring stop formed by the resilient fingers of spacers 26. Rocker 32 is meanwhile in a first of its pivot orientations, canted to the left with its left wing tip 46 resting on the upper surface of the base. Next (Fig. 7), a second ring 22b is dropped into the passage to dislodge first ring 22a from the ring stop to continue its drop along the passage to engage rocker 32, while the second ring is held at the ring stop. The first ring 22a specifically engages the right side of rocker apex 36 and right wing 38b. Momentum from the falling ring imparts a torque to rocker 32 about its pivot axis, causing the rocker to pivot to the right until its right wing tip 46 engages the upper surface of the base (Fig. 8) and induces a rotation in the ring as the ring rolls out of the right housing exit 40b. The rocker is left in the other of its pivot orientations, as shown in Fig. 8, canted to the right with the upper concave surface of its left wing 38a oriented upward toward the passage. Next dropping a third ring 22c into the vertical passage dislodges second ring 22b from the ring stop to fall onto rocker 32 (Fig. 9), causing rocker 32 to toggle to the left and second ring 22b to roll out of the left housing exit 40a (Fig. 10). As noted above, some minor amount of force may be required, pushing down on a ring from above, to release a previously dropped ring from the ring stop. Release of a ring from the ring stop causes the released ring to continue to drop along the vertical passage to engage the rocker. Referring last to Figs. 11 and 12, rings 22 and rocker 32 can be molded of thermoplastic resin. Rocker 32 can be designed for reasonably constant wall thickness molding in a cavity with a single draw, and is symmetric about a plane perpendicular to its center hole 50. Ring 22 can be blow-molded to result in a hollow and lightweight ring structure. The rings 22 provided with the ring drop toy can be molded of differing colors. While the above example has been described for illustration purposes, the foregoing description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. There are and will be other examples and modifications within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A ring drop toy, comprising:a housing defining a vertical passage;a rocker mounted to the housing beneath the vertical passage between two, oppositely-directed housing exits; anda ring sized to be dropped down the vertical passage to engage the rocker;wherein the rocker is mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis between two pivot orientations, the rocker having an apex between two oppositely-directed wings that are each oriented upward toward the vertical passage in a respective one of the pivot orientations;wherein the rocker is configured such that dropping of the ring down the vertical passage causes the ring to be deflected out of one of the housing exits and causes the rocker to toggle between the pivot orientations such that a next dropping of the ring down the vertical passage will cause the ring to be deflected out of the other of the housing exits.

2. The ring drop toy of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a resilient ring stop along the vertical passage, the ring stop configured to hold the ring until pressed from above with a force sufficient to deflect the ring stop and allow the ring to fall onto the rocker.

3. The ring drop toy of claim 2, wherein the ring stop comprises two opposing resilient fingers.

4. The ring drop toy of any of the above claims, wherein the apex of the rocker is arranged to cross a vertical plane including the horizontal axis as the rocker pivots between the two pivot orientations in response to engagement by the ring.

5. The ring drop toy of any of the above claims, wherein the wings have concave upper surfaces extending to distal wing tips.

6. The ring drop toy of claim 5, wherein the wing tips are configured to alternately bear against a floor of the housing as the rocker toggles between its two pivot orientations.

7. The ring drop toy of claim 6, wherein engagement of the tips with the floor of the housing limits pivoting of the rocker.

8. The ring drop toy of any of claims 5 through 7, wherein the upper surfaces of the wings have a radius approximately equal to an outer radius of the ring.

9. The ring drop toy of any of the above claims, wherein the rocker is configured to cause the ring to roll out of the housing exits.

10. The ring drop toy of any of the above claims, wherein the housing comprises a base with an upper surface forming a floor beneath the rocker, and two walls extending upward from the floor and defining the vertical passage therebetween.

11. The ring drop toy of claim 10, wherein the housing further comprises a post extending upwardly from the base to one side of the two walls and spaced from the walls a distance sufficient to allow the ring to be dropped over the post.

12. The ring drop toy of claim 11, wherein the post is of a height sufficient to hold at least six such rings.

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