Article and method using pressurized air to provide motive power for toys

Abstract

An article comprises a body, wherein a portion of the body is hollow. A pressurized gas is disposed within the hollow portion of the body. The hollow portion of the body has at least one opening defined therein. The opening is adapted to enable the pressurized gas to escape from the hollow portion of the body, such that the escaping gas provides energy to an associated object operatively associated with the body. The article and method of pressurizing hollow toys may provide a plurality of objects that are interchangeably and operatively associated with the body of the article.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An article, comprising: 
 a body, a portion of said body being hollow;    a pressurized gas disposed within said hollow portion of said body, said hollow portion having at least one opening defined in said hollow portion of said body, said opening adapted to enable said pressurized gas to escape from said hollow portion of said body, such that pressurized gas escaping from said hollow portion of said body provides energy to an associated object operatively associated with said body.    
     
     
         2 . An article, comprising: 
 a frame; and,    a pressurization mechanism in air flow communication with said frame, wherein 
 placement of an associated object on said frame results in a visual effect and an audio effect.  
   
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein said frame has a top portion having at least one station with a hole defined therein for air to flow from said pressurization mechanism to the object.  
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein said station is an appliance station.  
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein said station is a burner.  
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein said station comprises an audio mechanism, said audio mechanism being activated by placement of the object on said station.  
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein said station comprises a plurality of concentric annular rings.  
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 7 , further comprising a channel defined between each of said concentric rings, said station further comprising an audio mechanism positioned within each channel.  
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein each audio mechanism produces a different sound.  
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein said station further comprises an air flow control mechanism operatively connected to said frame.  
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein said air flow control mechanism comprises a solid portion having a first opening and a second opening, wherein said second opening is larger than said first opening, said solid portion and first and second openings are adapted to align with said opening defined in said station.  
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein said station further comprises a timer operatively connected to said frame.  
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein said pressurization mechanism is a manifold.  
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 13 , wherein said manifold further comprises: 
 a body having a fan rotatably disposed therein; and,    at least one port extending from said body.    
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein said article is a self-contained unit.  
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 3 , further comprising a faucet operatively connected to said frame, said faucet comprising an audio mechanism adapted to produce an audible sound.  
     
     
         17 . An object utilized with an associated pressurized toy, said object comprising: 
 a base, said base having a hole defined in said base for an associated gas to pass therethrough from the pressurized toy; and,    a body operatively connected to said base, the gas adapted to transmit energy to said object.    
     
     
         18 . The object of  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of said base is dome-shaped.  
     
     
         19 . The object of  claim 18 , wherein said dome-shaped base further comprises a flat portion.  
     
     
         20 . The object of  claim 17 , further comprising a top operatively connected to said body, said top having a plurality of holes to enable the gas to escape from said body.  
     
     
         21 . The object of  claim 17 , wherein said hole in said base is angled.  
     
     
         22 . A toy system, comprising: 
 a toy body with a cavity defined therein;    a workstation adapted to be received within said cavity, said workstation further comprising: 
 a pressurizing mechanism for producing an associated gas; and,  
 an audio mechanism adapted to produce sound upon activation; and,  
   at least one object adapted to be selectively positioned on said workstation, wherein upon placement of the object on said workstation, the gas transmits energy to said object and the object activates said audio mechanism.    
     
     
         23 . The toy system of  claim 22 , wherein said toy body is a toy kitchenette.  
     
     
         24 . The toy system of  claim 22 , wherein said workstation is a self-contained unit.  
     
     
         25 . The toy system of  claim 22 , wherein said pressurizing mechanism is a manifold.  
     
     
         26 . A method for utilizing a toy, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a toy body with a cavity defined therein; a workstation adapted to be received within said cavity, said workstation further comprising a pressurizing mechanism, and an audio mechanism;    activating said pressurizing mechanism to produce gas flow;    releasing said gas through an opening in said workstation and into operative engagement with said object, said released gas transferring energy to an associated object.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of: 
 positioning the object on said workstation; and,    producing sound.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the workstation further comprises at least one air flow control mechanism.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising the step of: 
 controlling the flow of the gas through the workstation via said air flow control mechanism.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of: 
 deactivating said pressurizing mechanism after a predetermined time interval.