Crawl toy

Abstract

A toy ( 10 ) convertible between a crawl mode and a remote-control mode. The toy ( 10 ) comprises a mobile body ( 12 ) and controller ( 14 ). Inputs ( 36, 38, 40 ) are housed in the controller ( 14 ) and are attached to the mobile body ( 12 ) while the toy ( 10 ) is in the crawl mode. These inputs provide a response (e.g., movement, audio stimulation) upon activation (e.g., manual touching) while the toy ( 10 ) is in the crawl mode. The controller ( 14 ) controls the mobile body ( 12 ) from a remote location while the toy ( 10 ) is in the remote-control mode.

1 . A toy convertible between a crawl mode and a remote-control mode, said toy comprising: 
 a mobile body;    an input which is attached to the mobile body while the toy is in the crawl mode and which provides a response upon activation while the toy is in the crawl mode; and    a controller which controls the mobile body from a remote location while the toy is in the remote-control mode.    
     
     
         2 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the input is provided on the controller, and wherein the controller is attached to the mobile body while the toy is in the crawl mode.  
     
     
         3 . A toy as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the response comprises movement of the mobile body.  
     
     
         4 . A toy as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the response comprises generation of an audible output.  
     
     
         5 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the activation comprises manual touching of the input.  
     
     
         6 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of inputs.  
     
     
         7 . A toy as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein at least two of the plurality of inputs provides a different response while the toy is in the remote-control mode.  
     
     
         8 . A toy as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of inputs provides the same response while the toy is in the crawl mode.  
     
     
         9 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the toy is converted to the crawl mode when the mobile body and the controller are in a certain positional relationship, and wherein the toy is converted to the remote-control mode when the mobile body and the controller are displaced from this positional relationship.  
     
     
         10 . A toy as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the mobile body and the controller include mating members which, when mated, place the toy in the crawl mode and, when un-mated, place the toy in the remote-control mode.  
     
     
         11 . A toy as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein mating members comprise a recess and a tab for receipt into the recess.  
     
     
         12 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the mobile body comprises a base, an antenna attached to the top of the base, and movement-providing members attached to the bottom of the base.  
     
     
         13 . A toy as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the movement-providing members comprise rollers rotatably attached to the bottom of the base.  
     
     
         14 . A toy as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the controller comprises a ring-shaped member with a central opening through which the antenna can be inserted.  
     
     
         15 . A toy as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the input(s) comprise a plurality of buttons positioned on the radially outer surface of the ring-shaped member.  
     
     
         16 . A method of playing with the toy set forth in  claim 1 , said method comprising the steps of: 
 placing the toy in the crawl mode, crawling towards the mobile body, and activating the input; and    placing the toy in the remote-control mode and using the controller to control the mobile body from a remote location.    
     
     
         17 . A toy providing different outputs in response to different positional relationships of a child, said toy comprising: 
 a body;    a proximity sensor which senses when a child is in a first zone Z 1  relative to the body and when a child is in a second zone Z 2  relative to the body;    response-providing components which provide a first response output in response to the child entering the first zone Z 1  and a second different response output in response to the child entering the second zone Z 2 .    
     
     
         18 . A toy as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the body comprises a base and movement-providing members attached to the base.  
     
     
         19 . A toy as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the movement-providing members comprise rollers rotatably attached to the bottom of the base.  
     
     
         20 . A toy as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the body comprises an antenna attached to the top of the base and wherein the proximity sensor is positioned within the antenna.  
     
     
         21 . A toy as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the response outputs is audio.  
     
     
         22 . A toy as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein both of the response outputs is audio.  
     
     
         23 . A toy as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the response outputs are audio, visual, movement, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         24 . A toy as set forth in  claim 17  wherein the first zone Z 1  has a range which is greater than three inches and less than six inches away from the body and wherein the second zone Z 2  is positioned between the body and the first zone Z 1 .