US20130102402A1

US20130102402A1 - Static Electric Toy

Info

Publication number: US20130102402A1
Application number: US13/715,551
Authority: US
Inventors: Zachary David Rome
Original assignee: Woodpecker Labs LLC
Current assignee: Woodpecker Labs LLC
Priority date: 2012-12-14
Filing date: 2012-12-14
Publication date: 2013-04-25

Abstract

A toy comprising foam material that easily generates static electricity, giving the toy the ability to adhere to or repel from a user's body or nearby objects. The toy, in a recognizable form, will provide amusement when affixed to people's bodies or objects in their surroundings.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention
Static cling toys can be used as a source of entertainment and amusement. This invention relates to a static cling toy that may provide amusement by being used in a prank on individuals. This static cling toy can also amuse users as it may be formed in fanciful shapes and adhered to an individual's body or onto nearby objects. Furthermore, this static cling toy can provide amusement as it may be in the form of a game or puzzle piece and played on objects beyond the conventional surface (e.g., table, floor, board).
2. Discussion of Related Art
Static electric toys have been used in the art, however, there are significant differences between the present invention and what is already known. Though there are references that use static electricity for toys, and more specifically static electricity for toy adherence, the claimed invention fundamentally diverges from these references; for example it produces a distinctive result. Among other things, the static electric charge causes the toy to adhere to a person's body or an object with the ability to be displaced rather than fixedly adhere to limited static cling materials, as disclosed in Pat. Pub. No. 2003/0009921, nylon, as disclosed in Pat. Pub. No. 2004/0115384, or clean, flat surfaces, such as window decals. Additionally, unlike the presently claimed invention, the toys in these references are not rubbed to generate a static electric charge. In other references, where the toy may be stroked to generate a static electric charge, the charge causes the toy to move (in a wiggling motion) rather than adhere, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,947 and Pat. Pub. No. 2004/0115384.
Generally, references relating to static electricity, particularly objects adhering to people or clothing due to static electricity, teach away from the invention. Typically, when considering the relationship between static electricity and a person or clothing, the rationale is to prevent or stop the static cling effect from occurring, as disclosed in Anti-static Agents, U.S. Pat. No. 3,164,481, and Anti-static Fabric Softening Compositions, U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,595. As shown in various embodiments, the claimed invention works conversely to this common rationale.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a toy capable of adhering to a person's body or to an object by way of static electric charge. The toy includes materials having an affinity for accepting a static electric charge which enables the toy to adhere to a person's body or to objects.
In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method of adhering the toy to a person's body or to an object by way of static electric charge. When the toy is rubbed against a conducting surface, a static electric charge is generated. After the static electric charge is generated, when the toy is put in contact with a person's body or an object, adhesion to the person's body or to the object may result.
In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method of repelling a toy from a person's body or to an object by way of static electric charge. When the toy is rubbed against a conducting surface, a static electric charge is generated. After the static electric charge is generated, when the toy is put in contact with a person's body or an object, repelling from the person's body or to the object may result.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The various embodiments of the invention may be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is the top view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is the bottom view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a profile view of one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

All references discussed in the present disclosure are hereby incorporated by reference. In the event of a conflict between any definitions in the references and the present disclosure, the present disclosure controls.
As used throughout this disclosure, the term “toy” refers to an item that provides amusement. In certain embodiments, the toy can provide amusement when used to play a prank. For example, the toy can be used to play a prank by an individual (Person A) adhering it to an unknowing person's body (Person B). Used herein the term “person's body” may include, but is not limited to, human skin, hair, or clothing. The prank is particularly amusing because the toy may be in a recognizable form that can frighten or displease a person when found on or nearby. In this example, the toy that Person A is using is in the recognizable form of a spider. Used herein the term “recognizable form” is when the toy can be identified by an individual as a particular shape or thing. Other examples of recognizable forms may be, but are not limited to, an insect, a pet animal, a puzzle piece, a moustache, or a booger.
In certain embodiments, the toy is then touched to a conducting surface to generate static electric charge. In an exemplary prank, Person A rubs the toy spider against his wool sweater. Used herein the term “touching” refers to putting the toy in immediate proximity with a conducting surface resulting in the toy gaining or losing electrons. Examples of touching include, but are not limited to, rubbing the toy against someone's hair or placing the toy to a plasma globe machine. Used herein the term “conducting surfaces” means materials that have a tendency to give up or accept electrons, thereby allowing the toy to become static electrically charged. Some examples of conducting surfaces are, but are not limited to human hair, acrylic, leather, or fur.
After Person A rubs the toy on the conducting surface, he then contacts the toy to Person B's arm. Used herein the term “contacting” is the means by which the toy is placed on the person's body or object it adheres to, or in certain embodiments, is repelled from. Contacting can include, but is not limited to dropping the toy, throwing the toy, or placing the toy onto person or object. In certain embodiments of the present invention, once contact is made, the toy will adhere to Person B's arm without the application of additional force. Used herein the term “adhere” is the result of the giving off and accepting of electrons between the toy and a person's body or objects. Used herein the term “additional force” is any external stimuli applied to the toy beyond static electric charge. This can include, but is not limited to, adhesives, magnets, pressure by a person's hand or body, paper clips, staples, or safety pins.
In certain embodiments, the prank comes to fruition when Person B discovers the toy adhered to his arm and makes regular efforts to remove the toy. Used herein the term “regular efforts of removal” are deliberate attempts made by an individual to take the toy off or detach the toy from the his/her body or from the object. Examples of regular efforts of removal include but are not limited to the individual shaking, swatting, blowing, or brushing the toy. In certain embodiments, the toy will not only resist regular efforts of removal, but may also be displaced during these efforts of removal. In one example, Person B attempts to remove the toy from their body by shaking their arm. The toy then displaces itself from Person B's arm to Person B's pant leg. Used herein the term “displace” is the relocation of the toy from one point on a person's body or on an object to different point on the same person's body or the same object or onto a different person's body or a different object. In another scenario, a third individual (Person C) may attempt to swat the toy off of Person B and the toy then displaces itself onto Person C's hand. In another example, the toy can be placed on a nearby object to startle Person B. Used herein the term “object” may be any item in a person's surrounding that has a weaker, neutral or opposite electrical charge than the toy's static electric charge. Examples of objects include but are not limited to cups, chairs, or the wall.
In other embodiments, the toy will repel from certain items. Used herein the term “repel,” is the result of the static electrically charged toy and the certain item having like charges. Used herein, “like charges” refers to the polarity, not the degree, of the charges. In certain embodiments, the charged toy will repel from certain items that have a like charge. Used herein the term “certain items” may be any item in a person's surrounding that has, at least in part, a like charge as the toy's electric charge. An example of certain items include, but is not limited to, an additional toy of the same type described in this disclosure.
The toy being used to play a prank is only one of many ways that it can provide amusement. In certain embodiments, the toy may be formed in fanciful shapes and adhered to an individual's body or onto nearby objects. For example, the toy may be in the form of a monkey and placed on a user's shoulder like a pet. In other embodiments, the toy may be in the form of a game or puzzle piece and played on objects beyond the conventional surface (e.g., table, floor, board). For example, the toy may be in the form of puzzle pieces and could be assembled on the side of a fabric couch.
Turning now to the figures, with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the toy may be made in part or completely of foam. The foam may be comprised of but not limited to: Polyurethane, Styrene (Polystyrene, (Expanded Polystyrene, Extruded Polystyrene)), Polyolefin foams (Polyethylene, Polypropylene), Vinyl foams, Neoprene, Silicone Foams, Polyvinyl chloride, Ethyl-vinyl acetate, or a combination thereof.
In this embodiment, the FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 show the toy in the form of a water bug. The toy has a body 100, which may adhere to a person or item. The toy also has legs 102 which may be separate pieces attached to the body or molded as a single piece with the body. The legs may produce additional surface area for adhesion. In different embodiments, the body and legs may be in full or partial contact with a person or item. A pair of eyes 104 can be painted on the body or be separate pieces attached to the body. Any part of the toy, or the toy as a whole, can be painted on or aesthetically modified to more realistically resemble the desired recognizable form.
While the present invention has been illustrated and described by means of specific embodiments and alternatives, it is to be understood that numerous changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited in any way except in accordance with the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

I claim:

1. A toy comprising:

material having an affinity for accepting a static electric charge which, when rubbed against a conducting surface, generates static electric charge capable of adhering said toy to a person's body or an object.

2. The toy of claim 1, wherein said material comprises foam.

3. The toy of claim 1, wherein said toy may be in a recognizable form.

4. The toy of claim 1, wherein said toy may repel from certain items.

5. A method of adhering a toy to a person's body or an object with static electric charge, comprising the steps of:

(i) touching said toy to a conducting surface to generate excess static electric charge; and

(ii) contacting said toy with a person's body or an object.

6. The method as in claim 5, wherein said material comprises foam.

7. The method as in claim 5, wherein following step (ii), said toy adheres to said person or said object without application of additional force.

8. The method as in claim 5, wherein following step (ii), adhesion of said toy resists regular efforts of removal.

9. The method as in claim 5, wherein following step (ii), regular efforts of removal may displace said toy to a different location on said person's body or said object or to a different person's body or a different object.

10. A method of adhering a toy to a person's body or an object or repelling a toy from certain items, comprising the steps of:

(i) touching said toy to a conducting surface to generate an excess static electric charge; and

(ii) contacting said toy with a person's body, with an object, or with certain items.