Tactile sensory popper plush

Abstract

A sensory toy including a popper having an upper surface, and one or more buttons disposed in the popper, each button comprising a shaft disposed underneath the upper surface and a tip disposed above the upper surface, the tip being configured to be changed from a convex shape to a concave shape when pushed by a user.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 713,384, filed October 29, 2024 in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.BACKGROUND

[0002] Neurodivergent people, especially children, benefit from sensory toys, i.e., toys which engage senses such as touch or hearing. Most sensory toys only have one type of engagement, however. For example, a stuffed animal or a flexible ball only have one texture or type of “feel.”

[0003] There is therefore a need for a sensory toy with multiple modes of engagement with a user’s sense of touch.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept provide a tactile sensory popper and methods of making and using the same.

[0005] The foregoing and / or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a sensory toy including a popper having an upper surface, and one or more buttons disposed in the popper, each button including a shaft disposed underneath the upper surface and a tip disposed above the upper surface, the tip being configured to be changed from a convex shape to a concave shape when pushed by a user.

[0006] In an exemplary embodiment, the one or more buttons may be configured to change from the concave shape to the convex shape when a main body of the popper is squeezed.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, the sensory toy may further include a central chamber in the popper connected to each of the one or more shafts. The central chamber and connected shafts may define an enclosed air pocket in the popper.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, the tip of each of the one or more buttons may be configured to be changed from the concave shape to the convex shape when an air pressure in the central chamber is increased.

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, the popper may be configured to be squeezed to increase the air pressure in the central chamber.

[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, the sensory toy may further include a shell including one or more sensory regions. The popper may further include a flange disposed around a hollow area, the hollow area being configured to admit a portion of the shell, the flange being configured to be affixed to the shell.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the sensory toy may further include a separate portion of the shell attached to the flange.

[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, the upper surface of the popper may have a convex arch shape.

[0013] The foregoing and / or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a method of making a sensory toy, the method including providing a popper having an upper surface, and disposing one or more buttons in the popper, each button including a shaft disposed underneath the upper surface and a tip disposed above the upper surface, the tip being configured to be changed from a convex shape to a concave shape when pushed by a user.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, the method may further include squeezing a main body of the popper to change the buttons from the concave shape to the convex shape.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the method may further include providing a central chamber in the popper connected to each of the one or more shafts, the central chamber and connected shafts defining an enclosed air pocket in the popper.

[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, the method may further include increasing an air pressure in the central chamber to change the tip of each of the one or more buttons from the concave shape to the convex shape.

[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, the method may further include increasing the air pressure in the central chamber by squeezing the popper.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the method may further include providing a shell including one or more sensory regions, providing a flange on the popper disposed around a hollow area; disposing a portion of the shell in the hollow area, and affixing the flange to the shell.

[0019] In an exemplary embodiment, the method may further include providing a separate portion of the shell attached to the flange.

[0020] In an exemplary embodiment, the method may further include providing a convex arch shape to the upper surface of the popper.

[0021] Additional features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] These and / or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a sensory toy according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates a sensory toy according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates a popper according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

[0026] FIG. 4A illustrates a rear plan view of a popper according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

[0027] FIG. 4B illustrates a front isometric view of a popper according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

[0028] FIG. 4C illustrates a side view of a popper according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

[0029] FIG. 4D illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a popper according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

[0030] FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate a popper sewn into part of a plush shell according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

[0031] FIG. 6 illustrates a popper being squeezed according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and

[0032] FIG. 7 illustrates a sensory toy with a popper in a belly section according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT

[0033] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept while referring to the figures. Also, while describing the present general inventive concept, detailed descriptions about related well-known functions or configurations that may diminish the clarity of the points of the present general inventive concept are omitted.

[0034] 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.

[0035] All terms including descriptive or technical terms which are used herein should be construed as having meanings that are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. However, the terms may have different meanings according to an intention of one of ordinary skill in the art, case precedents, or the appearance of new technologies. Also, some terms may be arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in this case, the meaning of the selected terms will be described in detail in the detailed description of the invention. Thus, the terms used herein have to be defined based on the meaning of the terms together with the description throughout the specification.

[0036] Also, when a part "includes" or "comprises" an element, unless there is a particular description contrary thereto, the part can further include other elements, not excluding the other elements.

[0037] Hereinafter, one or more exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

[0038] Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept provide a tactile sensory toy that may offer multiple types of tactile engagement. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the tactile sensory toy 10 may include a shell 100, for example a plush toy or a stuffed animal. Details of the shell 100 may vary between exemplary embodiments. The shell 100 may include one or more sensory regions 300. Each sensory region 300 may have a preselected tactile feel, for example a particular material, which may engage the user’s sense of touch. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, each sensory region 300 may have a different tactile feel. For example, a sensory region 300 located at a “belly” portion 110 of a stuffed animal shell 100 may include a silicone fur texture with a different feel from the rest of the shell 100. In this manner the shell 100 may include multiple sensory elements for a user to interact with.

[0039] One or more of the sensory regions 300 may include a popper device 200 attached to the shell 100. As illustrated for example in FIG. 2, a different shell 100 may be used with the same design of popper 200 without departing from the present general inventive concept. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the popper 200 may include a main body 210 and one or more buttons 220, which may be hollow, flexible convex protrusions extending above an upper surface 215 of the popper 200 (illustrated in FIG. 4C).

[0040] As illustrated for example in FIG. 4D, each button 220 may include a shaft 221 disposed inside the main body 210 below the upper surface 215, and a flexible tip 222 disposed at one end of the shaft 210 and extending above the upper surface 215 of the popper 200. The tip 222 may be configured to switch between a convex shape and a concave shape when an external force is applied to it, for example a user pushing the tip 222 in as illustrated in FIG. 3. When depressed to switch to the concave shape, the flexible tip 222 may be pushed into the shaft 221. The change from the convex to the concave shape or vice versa may generate an audible “pop” sound. A user may therefore interact with one or more buttons 220 for both tactile and auditory sensory stimulation.

[0041] Each button 220 may be airtight and filled with air, such that the air in each shaft 221 is compressed when the corresponding tip 222 is pressed to switch it to a concave shape. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, the button(s) 220 may be connected together inside the popper 200. As illustrated in FIG. 4D, each shaft 221 may be connected to a central chamber 225 included in the main body 210, defined by the button(s) 220 and a base 212. The central chamber 225 and button(s) 220 may be airtight, such that they define an enclosed air pocket in the popper 200.

[0042] According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D, the base 212 may be located inside of the main body 210, and may define a back wall of the central chamber 225. The central chamber 225 in turn may support and be connected to the shafts 221 of the buttons 220.

[0043] The popper 200 may be any size suitable for the particular exemplary embodiment, i.e., a size that allows the popper 200 to be attached to the shell 100 and for an intended user to interact with the popper 200. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, the popper 200 may be about 4 inches wide and about 3 inches deep. Similarly, the popper 200 may have any shape that allows the main body 210 to hold a desired number of buttons 220. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, the popper 200 may be approximately cylindrical in shape with an arched or convex upper surface 215, as illustrated in FIG. 4C.

[0044] According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the one or more popper devices 200 may be located at extremities of the shell 100. For example, if the shell 100 is a stuffed animal, the popper device(s) 200 may be located in the “feet” of the shell 100. Exemplary embodiments illustrating this placement of the popper 200 are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. It will be understood that these are only examples, and that one or more poppers 200 may be placed in any location on the shell 100. As illustrated in FIG. 7, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept a popper 200 may be located in a belly portion 110 of the shell 100. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the popper 200 may be attached to the shell 100, for example with glue or stitching 213 (illustrated in FIG. 5A).

[0045] As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4D, the main body 210 may further include a flange 240 which defines a hollow portion 211 at one side of the main body 210 away from the upper surface 215, such that the base 212 is disposed between the button(s) 220 and the hollow portion 211. The flange 240 may define a perimeter of the main body 210, and may be open on one side, e.g., a bottom side of the popper 200 opposite the upper surface 215. The hollow portion 211 may accommodate a portion of the shell 100, i.e., part of the shell 100 may be inserted into the hollow portion 211 and affixed to the main body 210 to hold the popper 200 in place on the shell 100. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, once part of the shell 100 is inserted into the hollow portion 211, the flange 240 may be attached to the shell 100, for example with stitching or glue. The flange 240 may allow the popper 200 to be attached to the shell 100 without compromising any of the buttons 220, i.e., the popper 200 may be attached to the shell 100 while keeping all buttons 220 and the central chamber 225 airtight.

[0046] In operation, the main body 210 or flange 240 of each popper 200 may be affixed to the shell 100, for example with stitching or glue. The shell 100 may partially or completely cover the main body 210, while leaving the upper surface 215 and button(s) 220 exposed. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept a portion of the shell 100 may be inserted into the hollow portion 211 and affixed to an inner wall of the flange 240. As illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5B, a separate portion 115 of the shell 100 may be attached to the outside of flange 240, for example with stitching 213. A user’s hand is illustrated to show how a user may interact with this portion 115, for example positioning the portion 115 to be affixed to the flange 240 as in FIG. 5A or touching the portion 115 to interact with it separately of the popper 200 as shown in FIG. 5B.

[0047] After portion 115 is affixed to the popper 200, thereby partially or completely covering the main body 210 as illustrated in FIG. 5B, the popper 200 may be separately affixed to the rest of the shell 100, for example with stitching or glue. As described above, according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept the popper 200 may be affixed to the shell 100 by attaching the flange 240 to the shell 100. In one exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept the flange 240 may be attached to the shell 100 with a leather stitcher or similar machine.

[0048] According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the popper 200 may be partially or completely made of a flexible material such as, for example, silicone. More specifically, the main body 210 may be configured such that the user may squeeze a portion of the main body 210, such as the perimeter, deforming the popper 200 as shown for example in FIG. 6. This deformation may squeeze the button(s) 220, generating a force that pushes any depressed buttons 220 outwards, changing them from concave to convex. As such, after pushing some or all of the buttons 220 to convex, a user may reset the popper 200 by squeezing the perimeter of main body 210.

[0049] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, air pressure may push the button(s) 220 back to a convex shape. If each button 220 is airtight and filled with air, then the air in each shaft 221 and central chamber 225 may be compressed when the tip 222 of the button 220 is changed from a convex shape to a concave shape. This compressed air may therefore exert a pressure biasing the tip 222 of the button 220 towards a convex shape. If the popper 200 is then compressed by being squeezed as described above and illustrated in FIG. 6, this compression may further increase the air pressure in each button 220 and in the central chamber 225, such that the air pressure may push the tip 222 of each button 220 from the concave shape back to the convex shape. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, each button 220 may be configured such that air pressure in the shaft 221 is not sufficient to push the tip 222 to the convex shape until the main body 210 is squeezed. Still further, according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the flange 240 may provide structure by defining the perimeter of the popper 200. This additional structure may help the popper 200 maintain its shape when squeezed, and therefore facilitate increasing the air pressure in central chamber 225 when the popper 200 is squeezed.

[0050] The upper surface 215 of the popper 200 may have a convex or arched shape, such that when the popper 200 is squeezed the upper surface 215 does not collapse inwards or generate force to push the button(s) 220 into the main body 210. Instead, with a convex upper surface 215, squeezing the main body 210 will generate force pushing the button(s) 220 outwards. An arched shape to the upper surface 215 may further allow enough air in the central chamber 225 and shaft(s) 221 such that when the popper 200 is squeezed (illustrated for example in FIG. 6), the air pressure inside the chamber 225 increases enough to reset the button(s), 220 i.e., switch any buttons 220 from concave shapes back to convex shapes.

[0051] Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A sensory toy, comprising: a popper having an upper surface; andone or more buttons disposed in the popper, each button comprising a shaft disposed underneath the upper surface and a tip disposed above the upper surface, the tip being configured to be changed from a convex shape to a concave shape when pushed by a user.

2. The sensory toy of claim 1, wherein the one or more buttons are configured to change from the concave shape to the convex shape when a main body of the popper is squeezed.

3. The sensory toy of claim 1, further comprising a central chamber in the popper connected to each of the one or more shafts, wherein the central chamber and connected shafts define an enclosed air pocket in the popper.

4. The sensory toy of claim 3, wherein the tip of each of the one or more buttons is configured to be changed from the concave shape to the convex shape when an air pressure in the central chamber is increased.

5. The sensory toy of claim 4, wherein the popper is configured to be squeezed to increase the air pressure in the central chamber.

6. The sensory toy of claim 1, further comprising a shell including one or more sensory regions,wherein the popper further comprises a flange disposed around a hollow area, the hollow area being configured to admit a portion of the shell, the flange being configured to be affixed to the shell.

7. The sensory toy of claim 6, further comprising a separate portion of the shell attached to the flange.

8. The sensory toy of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the popper comprises a convex arch shape.

9. A method of making a sensory toy, the method comprising: providing a popper having an upper surface; anddisposing one or more buttons in the popper, each button comprising a shaft disposed underneath the upper surface and a tip disposed above the upper surface, the tip being configured to be changed from a convex shape to a concave shape when pushed by a user.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising squeezing a main body of the popper to change the buttons from the concave shape to the convex shape.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a central chamber in the popper connected to each of the one or more shafts, the central chamber and connected shafts defining an enclosed air pocket in the popper.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising increasing an air pressure in the central chamber to change the tip of each of the one or more buttons from the concave shape to the convex shape.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising increasing the air pressure in the central chamber by squeezing the popper.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising: providing a shell including one or more sensory regions;providing a flange on the popper disposed around a hollow area;disposing a portion of the shell in the hollow area; andaffixing the flange to the shell.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a separate portion of the shell attached to the flange.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a convex arch shape to the upper surface of the popper.

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