Handheld toy having rotating LED's

Abstract

A handheld toy having a handle portion and a barrel portion is provided. The handle portion includes a hand grip and a compressible trigger partially positioned therein. The barrel portion includes a clear hollow tube substantially enclosing a rotatable shaft. The shaft is driven by a motor contained within the handle portion and activated by pressing the trigger. A plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's) are attached to the shaft and extend therefrom. When a user presses the trigger, the LED's light up in varying patterns based on pre-programmed instructions, causing a varied light pattern to project from the hollow tube as the shaft rotates. The handle portion includes a speaker and corresponding circuitry contained therein for sound effects. The toy contains batteries in the handle portion for power, but can also use other power means. The toy can be shaped to resemble various objects including a sword and gun.

1 . A handheld toy device comprising:
 a) a housing, the housing including a handle portion and a barrel portion, the handle portion defining an interior handle region and including means for device activation, the barrel portion defining an interior barrel region having a rotatable shaft positioned therein;   b) means for rotating the shaft coupled to the shaft; and   c) at least one light emitting diode coupled to the shaft   whereby when a user initiates the means for device activation, the at least one diode lights up and the means for rotating the shaft causes the shaft to rotate, creating a pattern of light to emit from the barrel portion.   
   
   
       2 . The handheld toy device of  claim 1 , wherein the barrel portion further comprises a substantially transparent tube substantially surrounding the shaft for the purpose of allowing a user to view the shaft. 
   
   
       3 . The handheld toy device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for rotating the shaft is an electric motor connected to an electric circuit. 
   
   
       4 . The handheld toy device of  claim 3 , wherein the electric circuit is opened and closed by the means for device activation. 
   
   
       5 . The handheld toy device of  claim 4 , wherein the means for device activation is a trigger partially contained within the handle interior region, the trigger engagingly contacting a return coil contained within the handle interior region, whereby when the trigger is compressed the return coil closes the electric circuit and when the trigger is released the return coil causes the trigger to return to its uncompressed state and opens the electric circuit. 
   
   
       6 . The handheld toy device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for rotating the shaft is non-electrical. 
   
   
       7 . The handheld toy device of  claim 1  further comprising a speaker located within the housing for the purpose of producing one or more sounds. 
   
   
       8 . The handheld toy device of  claim 7 , where the one of more sounds is selected from the group comprising music and sound effects. 
   
   
       9 . The handheld device of  claim 8 , where the one or more sounds is controlled by means other than the means for device activation of the LED's. 
   
   
       10 . The handheld device of  claim 8 , where the means for device activation of the LED's additionally comprises means to activate the one or more sounds is controlled, such that the pattern of activating the LED's is coordinated with the pattern of activating the one or more sounds. 
   
   
       11 . The handheld toy device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is shaped to resemble a sword, whereby the handle portion and the barrel portion are situated along the same axis. 
   
   
       12 . The handheld toy device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is shaped to resemble a gun, whereby the handle portion is positioned perpendicular to the barrel portion. 
   
   
       13 . The handheld toy device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one light emitting diode comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes. 
   
   
       14 . The handheld toy device of  claim 13  further comprising circuitry located within the housing for the purpose of controlling the duration the plurality of light emitting diodes are lit and the number of the plurality of light emitting diodes that are lit. 
   
   
       15 . The handheld toy device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is comprised of a durable and lightweight material. 
   
   
       16 . The handheld toy device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes designs on the outer surface thereof for the purpose of providing visual enhancement of the handheld toy device. 
   
   
       17 . A handheld toy device comprising:
 a) a housing, the housing including a handle portion and a barrel portion, the handle portion defining an interior handle region and including means for device activation, the barrel portion defining an interior barrel region having a rotatable shaft positioned therein;   b) an electric motor coupled to the shaft for the purpose of rotating the shaft, the electric motor located within the interior handle region and electrically connected to an electric circuit opened and closed by the means for device activation; and   c) a plurality of light emitting diodes coupled to the shaft   whereby when a user compresses the trigger, the at least one diode lights up and the means for rotating the shaft causes the shaft to rotate, creating a pattern of light to emit from the barrel portion.   
   
   
       18 . The handheld toy device of  claim 17  further comprising a speaker located within the housing for the purpose of producing sound effects. 
   
   
       19 . The handheld toy device of  claim 17 , wherein the housing is shaped to resemble a sword, whereby the handle portion and the barrel portion are situated along the same axis. 
   
   
       20 . The handheld toy device of  claim 17 , wherein the housing is shaped to resemble a gun, and, whereby the handle portion is positioned perpendicular to the barrel portion. 
   
   
       21 . The handheld toy device of  claim 17 , wherein the means for device activation is a trigger partially contained within the handle interior region, the trigger engagingly contacting a return coil contained within the handle interior region, whereby when the trigger is compressed the return coil closes the electric circuit and when the trigger is released the return coil causes the trigger to return to its uncompressed state and opens the electric circuit. 
   
   
       22 . The handheld toy device of  claim 17  further comprising circuitry located within the housing for the purpose of controlling the duration the plurality of light emitting diodes are lit and the number of the plurality of light emitting diodes that are lit. 
   
   
       23 . A method for making a handheld toy device comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a housing, the housing including a handle portion and a barrel portion, the handle portion defining an interior handle region and including means for device activation, the barrel portion defining an interior barrel region having a rotatable shaft positioned therein;   b) providing a means for rotating the shaft for coupling to the shaft;   c) coupling the means for rotating the shaft to the shaft;   d) providing at least one light emitting diode for attachment to the shaft; and   e) attaching the at least one light emitting diode to the shaft.