Children's toy

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a children's toy configured for moving one or more loose objects in a manner that is entertaining to a child. In various embodiments, the children's toy includes a housing having an inlet that permits a child to place one or more loose objects (e.g., toy balls) in the housing. The toy further includes a drive system configured to drive such loose objects through the housing along a helical path and out of the housing through an outlet.

1 . A children's toy configured for visibly moving one or more loose objects in order to entertain a child, the children's toy comprising:
 a housing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the inlet being dimensioned to permit a loose object to enter the housing and the outlet being dimensioned to permit the loose object to exit the housing;   a drive system comprising at least one rotating member configured for driving the loose object through the housing along an at least partially helical path between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the housing is configured such that the loose object is visible from outside the housing as it moves along the helical path through the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The children's toy of  claim 1 , wherein the drive system further comprises one or more wheels configured for rotating as the children's toy moves along a support surface, the drive system being configured such that the rotation of at least one of the one or more wheels causes the rotating member to rotate and drive a loose object positioned within the housing along the helical path. 
     
     
         3 . The children's toy of  claim 2 , further comprising a frame operatively connected to the one or more wheels, wherein the frame and the one or more wheels are configured to act as a chassis for supporting the housing and drive system. 
     
     
         4 . The children's toy of  claim 3 , wherein the rotating member is operatively connected to a drive shaft that is operatively connected to a gear assembly; and
 wherein at least one of the one or more wheels is operatively connected to the gear assembly and configured for driving the rotating member via the gear assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The children's toy of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more wheels comprise four wheels operatively connected to the frame, the housing, frame, and four wheels being configured to resemble a cement truck. 
     
     
         6 . The children's toy of  claim 1 , wherein the drive system further comprises a motor configured for rotating the rotating member. 
     
     
         7 . The children's toy of  claim 1 , wherein the drive system further comprises a hand crank configured to enable a user to manually rotating the rotating member. 
     
     
         8 . The children's toy of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rotating member comprises a propeller having one or more blades configured for engaging the loose object as the propeller rotates in order drive the loose object along the helical path. 
     
     
         9 . The children's toy of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more blades are substantially flat. 
     
     
         10 . The children's toy of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more blades are curved. 
     
     
         11 . The children's toy of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more blades extend helically along the length of the propeller. 
     
     
         12 . The children's toy of  claim 8 , wherein the housing includes one or more guide members protruding inwardly from an inner surface of the housing, the guide members being configured for guiding the movement of the loose object along at least a portion of the helical path. 
     
     
         13 . The children's toy of  claim 1 , further comprising an intake member providing an opening dimensioned for receiving the loose object and directing the loose object into the housing via the housing's inlet. 
     
     
         14 . The children's toy of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is substantially transparent. 
     
     
         15 . The children's toy of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is substantially translucent. 
     
     
         16 . A children's toy configured for moving one or more loose objects in order to entertain a child, the children's toy comprising:
 a housing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the inlet being dimensioned to permit at least one loose object to enter the housing and the outlet being dimensioned to permit the loose object to exit the housing; and   a drive system comprising at least one rotating member configured for driving the loose object through the housing along an at least partially helical path between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the rotating member and housing are configured for engaging the loose object in order to guide the loose object along the helical path.   
     
     
         17 . A children's toy configured for moving one or more loose objects in order to entertain a child, the children's toy comprising:
 a housing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the inlet being dimensioned to permit at least one loose object to enter the housing and the outlet being dimensioned to permit the loose object to exit the housing; and   a drive system comprising at least one rotating member configured for driving the loose object through the housing along an at least partially helical path between the inlet and the outlet;   wherein the children's toy is configured to resemble a small-scale version of a full-scale object generally familiar to and recognizable by a child.   
     
     
         18 . The children's toy of  claim 17 , wherein the children's toy is configured to resemble a small-scale version of a cement truck. 
     
     
         19 . The children's toy of  claim 17 , wherein the children's toy is configured to resemble a small-scale version of a device. 
     
     
         20 . The children's toy of  claim 17 , wherein the children's toy is configured to resemble a small-scale version of an animal.