Educational toy

Abstract

A toy comprising a mobile device and a plurality of islands, which can be arranged on a surface (e.g., the floor). During play, the mobile device can be selectively moved to a location within a predetermined proximity of each of the islands. An identification tag is associated with each island and contains information to identify the associated island and distinguish it from the other islands. A reader reads the identification tag when the mobile device is placed in the predetermined proximity of the island, and a different output is generated for each island.

1 . A toy comprising: 
 a plurality of islands that can be arranged on a surface;    a mobile device that can be selectively moved to a location within a predetermined proximity of each of the islands;    an identification tag associated with each island, which contains identification information to identify the associated island and distinguish it from the other islands;    a reader that reads the identification tag when the mobile device is placed in the predetermined proximity of the associated island;    an output device which generates a humanly-recognizable output; and    a logic device which instructs the output device to generate a different output depending upon which island has been identified by the reader.    
   
   
       2 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the output device generates a different output for each of the plurality of islands.  
   
   
       3 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of islands can be arranged on a floor surface.  
   
   
       4 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of islands remain stationary during play.  
   
   
       5 . A toy as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein all of the plurality of islands remain stationary during play.  
   
   
       6 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined proximity is zero, and the reader reads the identification tag when the mobile device contacts the associated island.  
   
   
       7 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined proximity is greater than zero, and the reader reads the identification tag when the mobile device is near the associated island.  
   
   
       8 . A toy as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the reader reads the identification tag when the mobile device is positioned over the associated island.  
   
   
       9 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises a body and motion-providing members attached to the body.  
   
   
       10 . A toy as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the movement-providing members comprise rollers rotatably attached to the body base.  
   
   
       11 . A toy as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the mobile device resembles a vehicle.  
   
   
       12 . A toy as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the mobile device is a ride-on device.  
   
   
       13 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises an article of clothing.  
   
   
       14 . A toy as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the mobile device comprises a shoe.  
   
   
       15 . A toy as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the mobile device comprises a sandal.  
   
   
       16 . A toy as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the mobile device comprises a pair of shoes.  
   
   
       17 . A toy as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the mobile device comprises a pair of sandals.  
   
   
       18 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the reader broadcasts a radio frequency activation signal, which is received by one of the tags when the associated island is within a predetermined proximity of the mobile device, and wherein the tag is powered to transmit identification information to the reader.  
   
   
       19 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each tag comprises a bar code printed on the associated island and wherein the reader reads the bar code to obtain identification information pertaining to that particular island.  
   
   
       20 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the output is generated within the mobile device.  
   
   
       21 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the output is audio.  
   
   
       22 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the output is visual.  
   
   
       23 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the output is both audio and visual.  
   
   
       24 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the islands comprise pads, matts, and/or cards for arrangement on the surface.  
   
   
       25 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the islands have indicia on both sides, whereby they may be flipped over to provide an alternate teaching theme.  
   
   
       26 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the islands comprise road signs, colors, numbers, animals, plants, vehicles, food, well-known characters, people, and/or household items and wherein at least some of the islands are unique relative to the other islands so that the child can visually distinguish therebetween.  
   
   
       27 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the toy has a mode selector, wherein different learning themes can be selected by selecting different modes of operation.  
   
   
       28 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the toy is set up for play, and the plurality of islands are arranged on a surface.  
   
   
       29 . A toy as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of islands are arranged so that they are non-attached and there is a certain separation distance thereamong.  
   
   
       30 . A toy as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein the islands are arranged in a pattern.  
   
   
       31 . A toy as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein the islands are arranged randomly.  
   
   
       32 . A toy as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the output device is associated with the mobile device.  
   
   
       33 . A method of playing with the toy of  claim 1 , comprising the steps of arranging the plurality of islands on a surface and selectively moving the mobile device of the toy to one of the islands and placing it in a predetermined proximity thereto.  
   
   
       34 . A toy comprising: 
 a plurality of stationary islands that can be arranged on a floor;    a mobile device resembling a vehicle and having a body and movement-providing members attached to the body, the body being selectively movable over each of the islands;    an identification tag associated with each island, which contains identification information to identify the associated island and distinguish it from the other islands; and    a reader, which reads the identification tag when the mobile device is placed over the associated island;    wherein a different output is generated by the mobile device depending upon which island has been identified by the reader.    
   
   
       35 . A toy comprising: 
 a plurality of islands that can be stationarily arranged on a floor surface;    a mobile device comprising a pair of shoes that can be moved to selectively step on each of the islands;    an identification tag associated with each island, which contains identification information to identify the associated island and distinguish it from the other islands; and    a reader, which reads the identification tag when at least one of the pair of shoes steps on the associated island;    wherein a different output is generated by the mobile device depending upon which island has been identified by the reader.