GB2399768A

GB2399768A - Inflatable toy

Info

Publication number: GB2399768A
Application number: GB0406090A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil Shinner
Original assignee: Worlds Apart Ltd
Current assignee: Worlds Apart Ltd
Priority date: 2003-03-26
Filing date: 2004-03-17
Publication date: 2004-09-29
Also published as: GB0406090D0; GB0306910D0

Abstract

An inflatable toy is provided which includes an inflatable body having at least one seating portion 2 provided thereon for allowing a user to sit on the toy and at least one handle portion 6 onto which a user can grip whilst using the toy. The user typically uses their weight and/or legs to bounce the toy and themselves on or along a surface in use. The inflatable body is provided with at least one protruding member 8 which protrudes outwardly from a portion of the inflatable body in use. The protruding members may be movable between a retracted and extended position (see figures IE-IG). The toy may include two joined bodies each having a seating portion (see figures 1D and 1H).

Description

Inflatable Tov

This invention relates to an inflatable toy, and particularly but not necessarily exclusively to improvements to an inflatable toy commonly referred to as a "space hopper".

Inflatable toys commonly referred to as space hoppers typically comprise an air filled inflatable spherical body having two handles located on or adjacent the top of the body. In use, the user sits on a portion of the body with their legs astride the body and whilst holding on to the handles, the user uses their legs to bounce themselves and the toy up and down and/or along a surface. The combination of the air in the inflatable body and the elastic properties of the material from which the toy is made allow the toy and the user to bounce. Whilst the toy can provide entertainment for a child for a limited period of time, once the child has mastered how to stay on the toy they may become disinterested in the toy.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an improved inflatable toy.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide an inflatable toy which has further features by which the interest of a child playing with the toy can be maintained.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an inflatable toy, said toy including an inflatable body having at least one seating portion provided thereon for allowing a user to sit on the toy and at least one handle portion onto which a user can grip whilst using the toy and wherein the inflatable body is provided with at least one protruding member which protrudes outwardly from a portion of the inflatable body in use.

The bounce effect is typically obtained by a user sitting on the seat portion, possible with their legs astride the toy, the user typically using their leg, legs or weight to propel themselves and the toy along a surface, to balance on the toy and/or to bounce on a surface.

In one embodiment the at least one protruding member is a substantially annular protruding member which aids the balance of the user on the toy. This is particularly beneficial for young children using the toy. 'l'he user can also place a foot or feet on the protruding member during use of the toy.

preferably the annular protruding member is located around a whole or part of the perimeter of the toy and typically adjacent a base thereof.

In a further embodiment the at least one protruding member is or includes at least one further inflatable body joined to the first inflatable body. The at least one further inflatable body has a seat portion and at least one further handle portion for use by at least a second user, thereby allowing at least two users to use the inflatable toy at the same time. The further body can be provided in substantially the same shape, size and/or form as the first inflatable body or can be provided in a different size, shape and/or form.

The at least one further inflatable body can be integrally formed with the first inflatable body or attached thereto by attachment means including any or any combination of one or more clips, Velcro, tics, straps and/or the like.

Preferably the at least one protruding member is movable from or between a first retracted position and a second extended position.

In one embodiment the member is substantially recessed in the inflatable body in the first retracted position.

l'referably the member moves between said first and second position when the fluid in the inflatable body is compressed and/or the fluid pressure in the body increases beyond a pre- dctermined threshold value. These members are typically formed from substantially flexible material.

This threshold is typically reached when the inflatable body impacts with a surface during bouncing of the toy with a user thereon.

typically the threshold is sufficiently high so that the person sitting on the body does not cause movement of the member and it is only when the bounce effect is created that compression goes beyond the threshold level.

lhe one or more members can be provided at any location on the inflatable body and are preferably located above the base of the toy.

Preferably a plurality of protruding members are provided on the surface of the inflatable body.

Preferably the flexible members are integrally formed with the inflatable body and are further preferably in fluid communication with the inflatable body.

In one embodiment the protruding members are in the form of a number of arms. In an alternative embodiment the flexible members are in the form of a number of nodules.

The member can be resiliently biased by suitable biasing means to an extended position, such that on reduction of the fluid pressure in the inflatable body, the members move from an extended position to a retracted position.

In a further embodiment cover means are provided over a whole or part of the inflatable body. The cover means can be made from any type of fabric but is typically elastically deformable fabric. For example, the cover can be made from lycra.

Preferably the cover is detachably attached to the inflatable body, thereby allowing the cover to be cleaned, repaired and/or changed.

The attachment means can include one or more zips, buttons, VELCRO, hooks, clips, stitching and/or the like.

In one embodiment the cover means and/or inflatable body are provided with one or more images and/or illustrations thereon to provide an impression of the toy being a creature, person or animal. The protruding members are typically associated with the images and movement of the protruding member typically provides the appearance of movement of the image or images.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an inflatable toy including an inflatable body having at least a seat portion on which a user can sit and at least one handle portion onto which a user can grip during use, and wherein the inflatable body is provided with one or more members which are capable of moving between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the body in use.

Preferably movement between the retracted position and extended position is as a result of different compressed conditions.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of use of an inflatable toy, said method including the steps of a user sitting on a seat portion on an inflatable body of the toy and gripping at least one handle portion provided thereon, the inflatable body provided with one or more members thereon such that on application of a force or weight on the inflatable body by the user, said members moving between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the body.

The features of the present invention can be provided in any combination on the toy and the toy typically provide increased interest of a user therein.

[,mbodimcnts of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures wherein: Figures I A- 1 H illustrate different embodiments of an inflatable toy according to the present invention; and Figures 2A-2D illustrate a cover used on an inflatable toy according to the present invention.

Referring firstly to Figure 1A, there is provided an inflatable toy 2 comprising an inflatable body 4 having handle portions 6 and an annular protruding member 8 located adjacent a base 10 of the toy.

The inflatable body when fully inflated is typically substantially spherical in shape. However, it is noted that the body can be provided in any suitable shape. For example, the base of the body can be curved or hemispherical in shape and an upper part of the part can be square in shape.

In use, a user sits on a seat portion 12 of the toy with their legs astride the body 4. The seat portion can be an area of the inflatable body of a particular shape, colour and/or aesthetic design.

Alternatively the seat portion can be a separate device or component which is attached to the inflatable toy in a suitable position. The user grips the handle portions and bounces the toy, and hence themselves, up and down and/or along a surface, typically using their legs to propel themselves along the surface.

The handle portions 6 are typically in the form of one or more outwardly protruding arms which the user can grip. The arms can be provided of a suitable gripping shape or non-slip material can be provided thereon.

The annular protruding member 8 is located around the perimeter of the body and can be used to allow a user to locate their feet thereon in use. It also helps a user to balance on the device by preventing the toy from rolling too much when being bounced along a surface.

Figure 1B shows a toy 14 similar to the toy in Figure 1A but a single handle 16 is provided. Figure ID shows an inflatable toy 18 having two inflatable body portions 20 and 22 joined together via a protruding member in the form of arm 23. Each body portion 20 and 22 is provided with handles 24 and 26 respectively. Two users can use the toy simultaneously and each user sits astride a body portion 20, 22 gripping the respective handles. The toy 18 can then be used in the conventional manner.

Figure 1H shows a similar toy to that in Figure ID but a further annular protruding member 28 is provided around both inflatable body portions to aid balance of the users on the toy. Alternatively separate annular protruding member can be provided on each body portion 20, 22.

Referring to Figures 1C, TED, IF and 1(], the toy is provided with an number of flexible members 30 which move from a retracted position, as shown in Figures 1C to an extended position, as shown in Figure 1(. '{he members 30 protrude from the body when the fluid in the inflatable body 32 increases beyond a pre-determined pressure threshold. This typically occurs when the fluid in the body reaches a certain compressed condition, for example, during impact of the toy (and user) with a surface 34 during bouncing. (For clarity the user is not shown on the inflatable toy). The compressed fluid is typically forced into the members 30 from the inflatable body, thereby resulting in the members extending outwardly of the body of the toy.

Extension of the members 30 from a hrst retracted position, as shown in figure 1 e, to a second position in which the members extend outwardly from the inflatable body, as shown in figure If, typically provides increased interest to the user. In addition, if the toy is provided in a particular shape to give the appearance of a ctcature, person, animal or similar, movement of the members from retracted to extended positions can be used to increase the realism of the toy. For example, the members 30 may be provided in the shape of arms, eyes, tentacles and/or the like of an alien or monster which retract and extend from the body of the toy.

In one embodiment of the toy, the members 30 may be retracted into the body of the toy to form dimples 31 when fluid pressure in the toy falls below a pre-determined fluid pressure threshold, as shown in figure 1E, and extend from the body of the toy when the fluid within the body increases beyond the threshold, as shown in figure IF.

Resilient biasing means can be used to allow the members to move from the extended to the retracted positions. Alternatively, a user may be required to depress the extending members 30 inwardly of the body of the toy to retract the members.

Referring to Figures 2A-2D, the toy is provided with a cover 32.

The cover is detachably attached around the body of the toy and is provided with an aperture at the base of the toy to prevent damage to the cover caused by continual impacting of the base with a ground surface.

The cover can be provided with one or more images, printed matter, text and/or the like thereon to increase the realism of the appearance of the toy in a particular form. The cover can also be used to limit the movement of the flexible members 30 relative to the body.

The cover can be made from any type of fabric but is preferably made from lycra, the flexible members allowing localized stretching of the lycra when in an extended position as shown in Figure 2D.

One or more images on the cover can provided in a suitable position with respect to the movable members such that movement of the members is associated with the image in some way, such as by giving the impression that the image is moving. Images can also be provided on the surface of the inflatable body for use in a similar manner.

Any number of protrudable members can be provided on the toy and are typically integrally formed with the toy. The inflatable toy is typically inflated using air but can be inflated using any suitable fluid. One or more valve means can be provided on the toy and/or protruding members to allow inflation of the same in use.

Thus the present invention provides a number of different features which can be used to provide increased stability of a user on the inflatable toy and/or greater interest of the toy to the user.

Claims

Claims: 1. An inflatable toy, said toy including an inflatable body having

at least one seating portion provided thereon for allowing a user to sit on the toy and at least one handle portion onto which a user can grip whilst using the toy and wherein the inflatable body is provided with at least one protruding member which protrudes outwardly from a portion of the inflatable body in use.
2. An inflatable toy according to claim 1 wherein a user sits on the seating portion of the toy in use, the user using their legs and/or weight to propel themselves and the toy along a surface, to balance themselves on the toy and/or to bounce the toy on the surface.
3. An inflatable toy according to claim 1 wherein the protruding member is a substantially annular member provided around a whole or substantial part of the perimeter of the inflatable body.
4. An inflatable toy according to claim 3 wherein the annular protruding member is located adjacent a base of the

inflatable body.
5. An inflatable toy according to claim 1 wherein the protruding member is or includes at least one further inflatable body joined to the first inflatable body.
6. An inflatable toy according to claim 5 wherein the further inflatable body includes a seating portion and one or more handle portions to allow a further user to use the same.
7. An inflatable toy according to claim 5 wherein the further inflatable member body is integrally formed with the first

inflatable body.
8. An inflatable toy according to claim 5 wherein the further inflatable member is attached to the first inflatable body by attachmcut means.
9. An inflatable toy according to claim 1 wherein the at least one protruding member is movable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the inflatable body in use.
1 O. An inflatable toy according to claim 9 wherein in the retracted position the at least one protruding member is substantially recessed in the inflatable body.
11. An inflatable toy according to claim 9 wherein the at least one protruding member moves from the retracted position to the extended position when the fluid in the inflatable body is compressed or the pressure increased therein beyond a pre-determined threshold value.
1 2. An inflatable toy according to claim 11 wherein the threshold value is reached when a user sitting on the seating portion of the toy bounces the toy on a surface.
13. An inflatable toy according to claim 1 wherein the at least one protruding member is substantially flexible.
14. An inflatable toy according to claim 1 wherein the at least one protruding member is in fluid communication with

the inflatable body.
15. An inflatable toy according to claim 1 wherein the at least one protruding member is independently inflatable with respect to the inflatable body.
16. An inflatable toy according to claim 9 wherein the member is movable from an extended position to a retracted position on depression of the member with respect to the

inflatable body.
17. An in flatable toy according to claim 9 wherein the member is movable from an extended position to a retracted position via resilient biasing means.
18. An inflatable toy according to claim 1 wherein cover means arc provided over a whole or part of the inflatable body.
19. An inflatable toy according to claim 18 wherein the cover means are formed from elastically deformable fabric.
20. An inflatable toy according to claim 18 wherein the cover means are detachably attached to the inflatable body.
21. An inflatable toy according to claim 1 or claim 18 wherein the cover means and/or inflatable body have one or more images thereon which are associated in some way with the at least one protruding member.
22. An inflatable toy according to claim 21 wherein movement of the protruding member provides the appearance of movement of said one or more images.
23. A method of using an inflatable toy, said method including the steps of a user sitting on a seat portion on an inflatable body of the toy and gripping at least one handle portion provided thereon, the inflatable body provided with one or more members thereon such that on application of a force or weight on the inflatable body by the user, said members moving between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the body.