Peg board toy with automatically extinguished light

Abstract

A toy includes a peg board through which spaced apertures extend. The toy includes a light source positioned opposite a side of the peg board from which the pegs are inserted. The light source illuminates the apertures. A switch circuit operates the light source and may extinguish the light source automatically following a period during which the toy is not manipulated.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This description relates to a toy and particularly to a toy in which pegs may be assembled in various patterns or pictures on a board or other surface.

BACKGROUND

LITE BRITE®, a well-known toy, includes a board that defines an array of apertures that are each capable of receiving a peg. Light from a source behind the board is transmitted through received pegs so as to enhance the appearance of designs or pictures formed using the pegs.

SUMMARY

In one general aspect, a toy includes a peg board having spaced apertures extending through the peg board and sized to receive pegs. A light source positioned opposite the peg board from a side through which the pegs are inserted illuminates the apertures and any pegs inserted into the apertures. A switch circuit operates the light source and extinguishes the light source automatically following a period during which the toy is not manipulated.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the toy may include a reflector situated and configured to receive light from the light source and to reflect the light to illuminate further the apertures and any pegs inserted into the apertures. A casing of the toy may retain the switch circuit, the light source, the reflector, and the peg board. The peg board may be connected to the casing to allow a limited range of motion relative to the casing. The movement may be controlled by springs.

The switch circuit may be coupled to the peg board so that manipulation of the peg board or the casing operates the switch circuit. For example, the switch circuit may include a movement switch, a pressure switch, or a capacitive switch. The switch circuit may automatically extinguish the light source by causing the light source to extinguish suddenly or gradually over a short period of time. To extinguish the light source, operation of the switch circuit may be timed using analog devices with corresponding RC time constants or using a digital timer. A battery may power the light source and the switch circuit.

The toy may include a drawer structured to hold pegs as well as a design sheet to cover the peg board. The peg board may be of various shapes, such as circular or polygonal. The pegs may be transparent or translucent.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy kit including a toy assembly.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the toy assembly of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are circuit diagrams of switch circuits for use in the toy assembly of FIG. 1.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a toy kit 100 includes a toy assembly 105 in which one or more pegs 110 and one or more loop pegs 115 may be inserted. The toy assembly 105 includes a casing 120 that contains a light source 125. The toy assembly 105 also includes a peg board 130 that covers the light source 125 and is attached to the casing 120. The peg board 130 defines an array of apertures 135 that are sized to receive ends of the pegs 110 and the loop pegs 115. Manipulation of the toy assembly 105 (e.g., when a child or other user inserts a peg or touches the toy assembly) turns on the light source 125. The light source 125 is turned off automatically after a short period absent further manipulation of the toy assembly 105.

A design sheet 140 may cover the peg board 130. The design sheet 140 may include, for example, a black piece of construction paper printed with a pattern corresponding to certain aperture locations in the aperture array. The child or other user may select an aperture based on the pattern and puncture the design sheet by inserting a peg into the aperture in the peg board 130. The pegs 110 and 115 may be of different colors so as to permit the child or other user to use the pegs 110 and 115, and the optional design sheet 140, to create various types of predetermined images or patterns.

The casing 120 includes an upper aperture 145 to accommodate the light source 125 and to receive a reflector 150. The reflector 150 also includes an aperture 155 through which light source 125 protrudes from the casing 120. Switch circuit 160 to control the light source 125 is housed in the casing 120 (switch circuit 160 is discussed in greater detail with respect to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5). A transparent or translucent light source cover 165 covers the aperture 155 and the protruding light source 125 to protect the light source 125.

The peg board 130 is attached to the casing 120 to cover the reflector 150 and the light source 125. For example, in the illustrated implementation, the peg board 130 includes small downward facing columns 170 that are configured to receive retaining screws 175. In corresponding fashion, the casing 120 includes attachment apertures 180 around a periphery of its upper aperture 145. The retaining screws 175 attach the peg board 130 to the casing 120 through the attachment apertures 180.

The attachment allows the peg board 130 a limited range of motion relative to the casing 120. The limited range of motion is controlled by springs 185 located between the peg board 130 and the casing 120. The springs 185 are configured to compress when the peg board 130 is pressed toward the casing 120 from an original position and to return the peg board 130 to the original position after pressure is released. The springs 185 encircle each of the columns 170 of the peg board 130. The spring controlled movement of the peg board 130 is used by the switch circuit 160 to activate the light source 125.

The casing 120 also includes a bottom portion 190 that is attached to the casing 120 by bottom screws 195. The bottom portion 190 includes a receptacle 200 configured to receive a battery (not shown) from below. The battery powers the light source 125 and the switch circuit 160. The receptacle 200 is provided with a battery compartment door 205. The battery compartment door 205 is separate from the bottom portion 190 and is retained in a closed position by a battery door screw 210 or a latch (not shown). The casing 120 also includes a drawer aperture 215 configured to receive a peg drawer 220. A child or another user may use the peg drawer 220 to store game pegs 110 until they are needed.

FIG. 3 illustrates one implementation 300 of the switch circuit 160. The switch circuit 300 connects to the light source 125, and includes a switch 310 and a battery 320. The switch circuit 300 also includes a transistor amplifier 330 that drives the light source 125 when the transistor amplifies 330 is activated by the switch 310. A single n-channel BJT transistor may be used for the transistor amplifier as illustrated in FIG. 3. Other transistor configurations will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill, such as, for example, a Darlington configuration amplifier 410 including two BJT transistors as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring again to FIG. 3, a capacitor 350 connects from the base of transistor 330 to the positive terminal of the battery 320. Similarly, a resistor 340 connects from the base of transistor 330 to the switch 310. A node 360 with a variable voltage Vt defines the electrical connection between the transistor amplifier 330, the resistor 340, and the capacitor 350.

The switch 310 is located between the resistor 340 and the negative terminal of the battery 320. Accordingly, closing the switch 310 connects the resistor electrically to the negative terminal of the battery 320.

In an initial state, the switch 310 is open. The voltage Vt is zero volts and the transistor is turned off because, in the initial state, the capacitor 350 is fully charged and no current flows through the resistor 340.

Later, when the switch 310 is closed (e.g., when a peg 110 is pressed into the peg board 130 such that the peg board pushes on the switch 310), the capacitor 350 discharges rapidly through the resistor 340. The current discharge through resistor 340 causes Vt to increase past a turn-on threshold (e.g., about 0.7 V), which turns on the transistor 330 and illuminates the light source 125.

When the switch 310 opens again (e.g., when pressure is removed from the peg board 130), voltage Vt gradually decays as a small base current of the transistor 330 slowly recharges the capacitor 350. The light source 125 dims slowly as Vt decays toward the turn-on threshold, below which the transistor 330 turns off and the light source 125 is fully extinguished

The time required to illuminate the light source 125 when the switch 310 is closed and the duration of illumination after the switch 310 is opened are controlled by the size of capacitor 350 in view of resistances to charging and discharging of the capacitor. The parameter that describes the time required for a capacitor to charge or discharge through a resistance is known as an RC time constant. The RC time constant is equal to the value of the capacitance multiplied by the resistance, and a capacitor generally will charge or discharge fully within five multiples of the time constant. A 10 uF capacitor 350, for example, may be used in the switching circuit 300. To discharge the capacitor 350 quickly when the switch 310 is closed (e.g., within a fraction of a second), resistor 340 may be of a small value such as 22 ohms. When charging, a base resistance of the transistor 330 controls the discharge time of the capacitor 350. That base resistance typically is large (e.g., 500 K ohm or 1 M ohm), causing capacitor 350 to charge slowly. Capacitor 350 may requires tens of seconds to charge based on the values described before light source 125 is extinguished.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, rather than using a movement switch, the switch circuit 160 may be activated by a pressure on the peg board 130 using a pressure switch. The switch circuit 160 might also include a capacitive switch that switches when a capacitance of the toy assembly 200 is altered, as when the child or other user touches it.

One of ordinary skill would recognize, moreover, that other methods might control how long the light source 125 remains illuminated. For example, FIG. 5 illustrates a digital implementation 500 of the switch circuit 160. The digital switch circuit 500 includes a digital timer 505 configured to operate in a monostable mode. In an initial state, switch 510 is open, the output (Pin 3) of timer 505 is low, and light source 125 is not illuminated by transistor amplifier 515. When switch 510 is closed and connects the trigger (Pin 2) to ground, the timer 505 causes the output (Pin 3) to go high. When the output (Pin 3) is high, transistor amplifier 515 turns on and illuminates the light source 125. The timing of the switch circuit 500 is determined based on the values of resistor R₁ and capacitor C₁. Specifically, after a time equal to about 1.1R₁C₁, the timer causes the output (Pin 3) to go low, which turns off transistor amplifier 515 and extinguishes the light source 125.

Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A toy comprising:

a peg board having spaced apertures extending therethrough, each aperture being sized to receive an end of a peg;

a light source positioned to illuminate the apertures from opposite a side of the peg board from which pegs are to be inserted; and

a switch circuit connected to the light source to extinguish the light source automatically following a period during which the toy is not manipulated.

2. The toy of claim 1, further comprising a reflector situated and configured to receive light from the light source and to reflect the light to illuminate further the apertures.

3. The toy of claim 2, further comprising a casing configured to retain the switch circuit, the light source, the reflector, and the peg board.

4. The toy of claim 3, in which a connection between the peg board and the casing is configured to provide the peg board with a limited range of motion relative to the casing.

5. The toy of claim 4 wherein the connection between the peg board and the casing comprises springs.

6. The toy of claim 4 wherein the switch circuit is coupled to the peg board such that movement of the peg board through the limited range of motion operates the switch circuit.

7. The toy of claim 3 wherein the casing comprises a drawer configured to hold pegs.

8. The toy of claim 3 further comprising a battery to power the light source.

9. The toy of claim 8 wherein the battery is retained by the casing.

10. The toy of claim 1 wherein the switch circuit comprises a pressure switch.

11. The toy of claim 1 wherein the switch circuit comprises a capacitive switch.

12. The toy of claim 1 wherein automatically extinguishing the light source further comprises causing the light source to extinguish gradually over a short period of time.

13. The toy of claim 12 wherein the switch circuit is configured to cause the emitted light to extinguish gradually over a short period of time based on an RC time constant of the switch circuit.

14. The toy of claim 1 wherein the switch circuit comprises a digital timer configured to determine a length of the short period of time after which the switch circuit will extinguish the light source.

15. The toy of claim 1 further comprising at least one peg that is at least partially translucent.

16. The toy of claim 1 further comprising at least one peg that is at least partially transparent.

17. The toy of claim 1 wherein the peg board is circular.

18. The toy of claim 1 wherein the apertures in the peg board are arranged with radial symmetry.

19. The toy of claim 1 wherein the peg board is in the shape of a polygon.

20. The toy of claim 1 wherein the apertures in the peg board are arranged in the shape of a polygon.

21. The toy of claim 1 further comprising a design sheet sized to cover the peg board.

22. A toy comprising:

a peg board having spaced apertures extending therethrough, each aperture being sized to receive an end of a peg;

a light source positioned to illuminate the apertures from opposite a side of the peg board from which pegs are to be inserted;

a switch circuit connected to the light source to extinguish the light source automatically following a period during which the toy is not manipulated; and

a casing configured to retain the switch circuit, the light source, the reflector, and the peg board;

wherein a connection between the peg board and the casing is configured to provide the peg board with a limited range of motion relative to the casing and the switch circuit is coupled to the peg board such that movement of the peg board through the limited range of motion operates the switch circuit.

23. A method of manufacturing a toy, the method comprising:

providing a peg board having spaced apertures extending therethrough with each aperture being sized to receive an end of a peg;

positioning a light source to illuminate the apertures from opposite a side of the peg board from which pegs are to be inserted; and

connecting a switch circuit to the light source to extinguish the light source automatically following a period during which the toy is not manipulated.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising situating a reflector to receive light from the light source and to reflect the light to illuminate further the apertures.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing a casing sized to retain the switch circuit, the light source, and the peg board.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising connecting the peg board to the casing to provide the peg board with a limited range of motion relative to the casing.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising connecting the switch circuit to the peg board such that movement of the peg board through the limited range of motion operates the switch circuit.