Chew toys for children

Abstract

A toy with a ring-shaped body having multiple sections each forming a portion of the ring-shaped body and each having a tubular base portion. At least a first tab projects radially outward from the tubular base portion of a first section of the multiple sections. Surface features protrude from at least one of the first tab and the tubular base portion of at least one of the multiple sections. At least a first pressure sensor is embedded in the first tab and operates to activate a first electrical device in response to pressure applied to the first tab exceeding a pressure threshold. Activation of the first electrical device produces light, or sound, or vibrates.

1 . A toy comprising:
 a ring-shaped body comprising multiple sections each forming a portion of the ring-shaped body and each having a tubular base portion;   at least a first tab projecting radially outward from the tubular base portion of a first section of the multiple sections;   surface features protruding from at least one of the first tab and the tubular base portion of at least one of the multiple sections; and   at least a first pressure sensor embedded in the first tab, the first pressure sensor operating to activate a first electrical device in response to pressure applied to the first tab exceeding a pressure threshold, wherein activation of the first electrical device produces light, or sound, or vibrates.   
     
     
         2 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple sections are multiple arcuate sectors of the ring-shaped body. 
     
     
         3 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the ring-shaped body is toroid-shaped and the multiple sections are toroid sectors of the ring-shaped body. 
     
     
         4 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the ring-shaped body has constant major and minor radii from a central axis of the ring-shaped body. 
     
     
         5 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple sections of the ring-shaped body are four arcuate sections each forming a 90-degree quadrant of the ring-shaped body. 
     
     
         6 . The toy of  claim 5 , wherein the four arcuate sections each comprise an arcuate-shaped tubular base portion having a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         7 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical device is within the tubular base portion of the first section from which the first tab projects. 
     
     
         8 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical device is within the tubular base portion of a second section of the multiple sections. 
     
     
         9 . The toy of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least a second tab projecting radially outward from the tubular base portion of a second section of the multiple sections; and   at least a second pressure sensor embedded in the second tab, the second pressure sensor operating to activate a second electrical device in response to pressure applied to the second tab exceeding a second pressure threshold, wherein activation of the second electrical device produces light, or sound, or vibrates.   
     
     
         10 . The toy of  claim 9 , wherein the tubular base portions of the first and second sections are immediately adjacent to each other on the ring-shaped body. 
     
     
         11 . The toy of  claim 10 , wherein the tubular base portions of third and fourth sections of the multiple sections are immediately adjacent to each other on the ring-shaped body and do not comprise tabs that project radially outward from the tubular base portions thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the surface features protrude from the first tab and from the tubular base portion of at least one of the multiple sections. 
     
     
         13 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular base portion of at least one of the multiple sections does not have surface features protruding therefrom. 
     
     
         14 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the multiple sections of the ring-shaped body are assembled to create the ring-shaped body and each adjacent pair of the multiple sections is separated by a wall and each of the multiple sections defines an enclosed internal cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The toy of  claim 14 , wherein the enclosed internal cavity of at least one of the multiple sections of the ring-shaped body is a sealed cavity and contains a gel and the tubular base portion of the at least one of the multiple sections is pliable and deformable. 
     
     
         16 . The toy of  claim 15 , wherein the tubular base portion of at least another of the multiple sections of the ring-shaped body is more rigid than the tubular base portion of the at least one of the multiple sections. 
     
     
         17 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular base portion of at least one of the multiple sections of the ring-shaped body is opaque and the tubular base portion of at least another of the multiple sections of the ring-shaped body is semi-transparent. 
     
     
         18 . A toy comprising:
 a toroid-shaped body comprising multiple arcuate sections each forming a portion of the toroid-shaped body and each having a tubular base portion;   a first tab projecting radially outward from the tubular base portion of a first arcuate section of the multiple arcuate sections;   a second tab projecting radially outward from the tubular base portion of a second arcuate section of the multiple arcuate sections that is immediately adjacent to the first arcuate section of the toroid-shaped body;   the tubular base portions of third and fourth arcuate sections of the multiple arcuate sections are immediately adjacent to each other on the toroid-shaped body and do not comprise tabs that project radially outward from the tubular base portions thereof.   surface features protruding from at least one of the first tab, the second tab, and the tubular base portion of at least one of the multiple arcuate sections;   at least a first pressure sensor embedded in the first tab, the first pressure sensor operating to activate a first electrical device in response to pressure applied to the first tab exceeding a pressure threshold, wherein activation of the first electrical device produces light, or sound, or vibrates; and   the tubular base portion of at least one of the multiple arcuate sections of the toroid-shaped body is opaque and the tubular base portion of at least another of the multiple arcuate sections of the toroid-shaped body is semi-transparent.   
     
     
         19 . The toy of  claim 18 , wherein the toroid-shaped body has constant major and minor radii from a central axis of the toroid-shaped body, and the multiple arcuate sections of the toroid-shaped body are four arcuate sections each forming a 90-degree quadrant of the toroid-shaped body. 
     
     
         20 . The toy of  claim 18 , wherein the multiple arcuate sections of the toroid-shaped body are assembled to create the toroid-shaped body, each adjacent pair of the multiple arcuate sections is separated by a wall, each of the multiple arcuate sections defines an enclosed internal cavity, the enclosed internal cavity of at least one of the multiple arcuate sections is a sealed cavity and contains a gel, and the tubular base portion of the at least one of the multiple arcuate sections is pliable and deformable.