Playset having removable drive/audio module

Abstract

A playset for use with a play figure includes a base having a receiving area, at least one turntable rotatably mounted to the base, a drive train operatively coupled to the turntable and having a drive input, a module including a first electrical circuit and a second electrical circuit both arranged for connection to a power source, the first electrical circuit operatively coupled to a sound generator, the second electrical circuit including a drive motor operatively coupled to a drive output, and an actuator arranged to activate both the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit. The module is shiflable between a first position in which the module is separated from the receiving area and a second position in which the module is disposed in the receiving area, the drive output of the module operatively engaging the drive input of the drive train when the module is disposed in the second position.

1 . A playset for use with a play figure and comprising: 
 a base having a receiving area;    at least one turntable rotatably mounted to the base;    a drive train operatively coupled to the turntable and having a drive input;    a module, the module including a first electrical circuit and a second electrical circuit, the first and second electrical circuits arranged for connection to a power source, the first electrical circuit operatively coupled to a sound generator, the second electrical circuit including a drive motor operatively coupled to a drive output;    an actuator arranged to activate both the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit; and    wherein the module is shiftable between a first position in which the module is separated from the receiving area and a second position in which the module is disposed in the receiving area, the drive output of the module operatively engaging the drive input of the drive train when the module is disposed in the second position.    
   
   
       2 . The playset of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a plurality of turntables, and wherein the drive train operatively connects each of the plurality of turntables to the drive input.  
   
   
       3 . The playset of  claim 1 , wherein the drive input is connected to the turntable by a drive belt.  
   
   
       4 . The playset of  claim 2 , wherein each of the turntables is connected to an adjacent one of the turntables by a drive belt.  
   
   
       5 . The playset of  claim 1 , including a play structure mounted to the base, the play structure including a figure mounted on a pivot and having a leg, the leg sized to engage a lever, the lever positioned on the base to respond to rotation of the turntable, whereby rotation of the turntable causes the figure to rotate on the pivot.  
   
   
       6 . The playset of  claim 1 , wherein the drive output comprises a first driving load, and wherein the drive input, the drivetrain and the turntable comprise a second driving load, the second driving load greater than the first driving load.  
   
   
       7 . The playset of  claim 6 , including a battery power source removably disposed in the module, the battery power source having a first battery life when exposed to the first driving load, the battery source having a second battery life when exposed to the second driving load.  
   
   
       8 . The playset of  claim 1 , wherein the module is secured to the base by a releasable snap fit connection.  
   
   
       9 . The playset of  claim 5 , wherein the play structure is secured to the base by a releasable snap fit connection.  
   
   
       10 . The playset of  claim 1 , including a play structure releasably mounted to the base by a snap fit connection, and including an auxiliary structure releasably attached to both the base and the play structure by snap fit connections.  
   
   
       11 . The playset of  claim 1 , wherein the sound generator is arranged to produce a plurality of sound modes in response to operation of the actuator.  
   
   
       12 . The playset of  claim 1 , wherein the module includes a pair of actuators arranged to activate both the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit, and wherein the base includes a button operatively coupled to a first one of the actuators by a linkage, whereby the first actuator is responsive to actuation of the button.  
   
   
       13 . The playset of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a link rod and a button, a first end of the link rod engaging the button such that a second end of the link rod activates the actuator of the module in response to movement of the button.  
   
   
       14 . A playset for use with a play figure and comprising: 
 a base having a receiving area;    at least one turntable rotatably mounted to the base;    at least one drive belt operatively coupled to the turntable and having a drive input;    a module, the module including a first electrical circuit and a second electrical circuit, the first and second electrical circuits arranged for connection to a power source, the first electrical circuit operatively coupled to a sound generator, the second electrical circuit including a drive motor operatively coupled to a drive output;    an actuator operatively associated with the module and arranged to activate both the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit;    wherein the movement of only the drive output comprises a first load, and wherein movement of the drive output, the drive input, the drivetrain and the turntable together comprise a second driving load, the second driving load greater than the first driving load; and    the module shiftable between a first position in which the module is separated from the receiving area and a second position in which the module is disposed in the receiving area, the drive output of the module operatively engaging the drive input of the drive train when the module is disposed in the second position.    
   
   
       15 . The playset of  claim 14 , wherein the drive train comprises at least one drive belt operatively coupled to the drive input.  
   
   
       16 . The playset of  claim 14 , including a first play structure removably mountable to the base and securable by a snap fit connection and a second play structure removably mountable to each of the base and the first play structure by a snap fit connection, at least one of the first and second play structures including a figure mounted on a pivot and having a leg positioned to respond to movement of the at least one turntable, whereby rotation of the at least one turntable causes the figure to move.  
   
   
       17 . The playset of  claim 14 , including a battery power source removably disposed in the module, the battery power source having a first battery life when exposed to the first load, the battery source having a second battery life when exposed to the second load, and wherein the base includes a link rod and a button, a first end of the link rod engaging the button such that a second end of the link rod moves in response to movement of the button, and wherein the module includes a recessed actuator positioned for contact by the second end of the link rod when the module is in the receiving area.  
   
   
       18 . The playset of  claim 14 , wherein the sound generator is arranged to produce a plurality of sound modes in response to operation of the actuator.  
   
   
       19 . The playset of  claim 14 , including a second turntable rotatably mounted to the base, and wherein the module includes a rotating turntable, and further including an intermediate drive belt interconnecting the at least one of the turntable of the base with the second turntable of the base.  
   
   
       20 . A playset for use with a play figure and comprising: 
 a base having a receiving area;    at least one movable component mounted on the base;    a drive input operatively coupled to the at least one movable component;    a module, the module including a first electrical circuit and a second electrical circuit, the first and second electrical circuits arranged for connection to a power source, the first electrical circuit operatively coupled to a sound generator, the second electrical circuit including a drive motor operatively coupled to a drive output;    an actuator for actuating the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit;    the movement of only the drive output in conjunction with activation of the sound generator comprising a first load, and the movement of the drive output, the drive input, and the turntable together with the activation of the sound generator comprising a second load, the second load greater than the first load; and    the module shiftable between a first position in which the module is separated from the receiving area and a second position in which the module is disposed in the receiving area, the drive output of the module operatively engaging the drive input when the module is disposed in the second position.    
   
   
       21 . The playset of  claim 20 , wherein the module includes a movable component arranged to receive a play figure when the module is in the first position, and wherein movement of the movable component of the module and the play figure are added to the first drive load.  
   
   
       22 . The playset of  claim 21 , wherein the actuator is accessible when the module is in the first position, and wherein the first position and the first drive mode together comprise a try me mode.  
   
   
       23 . A playset comprising: 
 a base;    a first movable component mounted to the base;    a drive input operatively coupled to the first movable component by a drive system;    a module, the module including a first electrical circuit and a second electrical circuit, the first and second electrical circuits arranged for connection to at least one power source, the first electrical circuit operatively coupled to a sound generator, the second electrical circuit including at least one drive motor operatively coupled to a drive output, the drive output of the module engageable with the drive input;    at least one actuator operatively associated with the module and arranged to selectively activate the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit, and the activation of the first electrical circuit comprising a first power load, the activation of the second electrical circuit comprising a second power load greater than the first power load.    
   
   
       24 . A playset comprising: 
 a base;    a first movable component mounted to the base;    a drive input operatively coupled to the first movable component by a drive system;    a module, the module including a first electrical circuit and a second electrical circuit, the first and second electrical circuits arranged for connection to at least one power source, the first electrical circuit operatively coupled to a sound generator, the second electrical circuit including at least one drive motor operatively coupled to a drive output, the drive output of the module engageable with the drive input;    at least one actuator mounted to the module and arranged to selectively activate the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit;    wherein the activation of the first electrical circuit comprises a first power load, and wherein the activation of the second electrical circuit comprises a second power load greater than the first power load; and    the module arranged such that the module is exposed to the second power load in response to actions by an end user.    
   
   
       25 . A playset packaged for display and comprising: 
 a box having a window and a first receiving support disposed adjacent the window;    a playset having a module, the module including a first electrical circuit and a second electrical circuit, the first and second electrical circuits arranged for connection to at least one power source, the first electrical circuit operatively coupled to at least one of a sound generator and a drive motor having a drive output, the second electrical circuit including at least one of a drive motor operatively coupled to a drive output and a sound generator, and    first and second actuators operatively coupled to the module, the first actuator arranged to activate the first electrical circuit and the second actuator arranged to activate the second electrical circuit, at least one of the first and second actuators accessible though the window.    
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the first electrical circuit is arranged to operate for a first run time in the second electrical circuit is arranged to operate for a second run time different than the first run time.  
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 25 , including a transparent shield sized for placement over at least a portion of the module when the module is disposed on the receiving support inside the box.