Entertainment device with interchangeable toy

Abstract

An entertainment device includes a box, a crank, an interchangeable toy, and an interior spring arranged so that turning the crank causes the toy to pop out of the box at a present time under the influence of the spring. A custom mount can be attached to the interchangeable toy, while being mounted on the top of the spring. The toy can be any type of toy, e.g., a doll, truck, baseball, and so forth. Unlike a conventional jack-in-the-box where a toy is permanently attached to the spring, the toy of the present invention is attached to the spring though the custom mount and thus, is readily removable for additional play value. As a result, the entertainment device can be customized to suit the preference of the user by simply exchanging the toy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An entertainment device comprising:
 a box having an opening and a lid covering the opening;   an interchangeable toy that is stored in the box when the lid is in a closed position and is released from the box through the opening when the lid is in an open position;   an interior spring that is fixed within the box and is arranged to urge the toy out of the box; and   a custom mount by which the spring is detachably connected to the interchangeable toy.   
     
     
         2 . The entertainment device according to  claim 1 , wherein an attaching portion of the custom mount is insertable into the interchangeable toy. 
     
     
         3 . The entertainment device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a crank attached to a side of the box; and   a sound mechanism for producing a melody or sound effect that is located inside the box, wherein   the crank is connected to the sound mechanism, and   the melody is reproduced when the crank is turned with the lid in a closed position and stops when the lid opens.   
     
     
         4 . The entertainment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the custom mount is a sewing snap that comprises:
 a male part being attached to the top of the interior spring; and   a female part being sewn into the interchangeable toy.   
     
     
         5 . The entertainment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the custom mount is a plastic nipple that comprises:
 a female coupling portion installed in the interchangeable toy; and   a male bottom portion attached to the top of the interior spring,   wherein said female and male portions interlock with sufficient force to prevent the toy from flying off the spring when the lid is open and it is urged out of the box, but not so great as to prevent them from being manually separated.   
     
     
         6 . The entertainment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable toy is made of soft materials including fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The entertainment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable toy is made of hard materials selected from the group consisting of plastic, rubber, and glass. 
     
     
         8 . The entertainment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable toy and custom mount are connected via a bayonet connection. 
     
     
         9 . The entertainment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable toy and custom mount are connected via snapping. 
     
     
         10 . The entertainment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable toy and custom mount are connected via Velcro. 
     
     
         11 . The entertainment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the custom mount is a plastic nipple that comprises:
 a female coupling portion installed in the interchangeable toy; and   a male bottom portion attached to the top of the interior spring,   wherein the female coupling portion and the male bottom portion are connected via a bayonet connection.   
     
     
         12 . The entertainment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the interior spring is in a tapered form. 
     
     
         13 . The entertainment device according to  claim 9 , wherein a diameter of a coil formed on the bottom of the interior spring is 2.5 times of a diameter of a coil formed on the top of the interior spring. 
     
     
         14 . The entertainment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable toy is a photo frame. 
     
     
         15 . The entertainment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable toy is a container. 
     
     
         16 . The entertainment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the custom mount has a bottom part that is pivotally connected inside the box, and the interior spring biases the custom mount to move in a pivot from inside the box to outside the box. 
     
     
         17 . The entertainment device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a button attached to a side of the box; and   a sound mechanism for producing a melody or sound effect that is located inside the box, wherein   the button is connected to the sound mechanism, and the melody is reproduced when the button is pressed with the lid in a closed position and stops when the lid opens.   
     
     
         18 . The entertainment device according to  claim 1 , further including a key pad module on the surface of the box, said key pad module comprising:
 data input keys, and   a timing calculator, wherein   a melody or sound effect is reproduced when a set of data is entered with the lid in a closed position, said music or sound effect stopping when the lid opens, and   
       the timing calculator determines timing to release the interchangeable toy from the box based on the data entered thorough the data input keys. 
     
     
         19 . The entertainment device according to  claim 18 , further including a display for displaying a sequence in which the date input keys are actuated.