Entertainment device with soft goods play implements and housing

Abstract

A reconfigurable entertainment device is disclosed, wherein the device includes a housing having an opening leading to a play implement receiving region. The entertainment device also includes at least one play implement for being retrieved from the play implement receiving region through the opening. The housing also includes an attachment member used to selectively secure the device to a child receiving device such a crib, stroller, car seat, swing, bassinet, bouncer, etc. The entertainment device of the present invention is configurable in at least first and second modes of use. In a first mode of use, the attachment member is used to connect the housing to a child receiving device such that the opening of the housing, and thus the play implements, are exposed to a child in the child receiving device. In a second mode of use, the entertainment device is supported in a freestanding manner by a supporting surface (e.g., a floor, blanket, mattress, play-mat, etc.). A child on the supporting surface within reach of the entertainment device can reach through the opening of the housing and retrieve play implements from the play implement receiving region. The child can then enjoy interacting with the housing or the play implements during floor play.

1 . An entertainment device comprising: 
 a housing, said housing including a play implement receiving region and an attachment mechanism, said housing formed at least partially from a soft goods material; and    at least one play implement, said at least one play implement operable to be removeably received in said play implement receiving region of said housing, said at least one play implement formed at least partially from a soft goods material, wherein said attachment mechanism is operable to attach said housing to a child receiving device.    
   
   
       2 . The entertainment device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing is freestanding and is operable to sit on a supporting surface and receive said at least one play implement to provide for a floor-play mode of use.  
   
   
       3 . The entertainment device of  claim 2 , wherein said attachment mechanism of said housing comprises at least one flexible member attached to said housing for securing said housing to said child receiving device.  
   
   
       4 . The entertainment device of  claim 1 , wherein said child receiving device is a crib, said crib including crib rails, and said attachment mechanism is operable to attach said housing to said crib rails.  
   
   
       5 . The entertainment device of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one flexible member further comprises first and second straps, wherein said first strap includes a first fastener and said second strap includes a second fastener, wherein said first fastener and said second fastener are attachable to each other to attach said housing to said child receiving device.  
   
   
       6 . The entertainment device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one play implement is in the form of a volumetric geometric shape.  
   
   
       7 . The entertainment device of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one play implement comprises a plurality of play implements.  
   
   
       8 . The entertainment device of  claim 6 , wherein said volumetric geometric shape is one of the group comprising a square, a triangle, a circle, and a rectangle.  
   
   
       9 . The entertainment device of  claim 7 , wherein said play implement receiving region of said housing is complementarily shaped to receive said plurality of play implements.  
   
   
       10 . The entertainment device of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of said plurality of play implements is a cube with six sides and wherein each of said sides includes one of a visual indicia and a tactile stimulating region.  
   
   
       11 . The entertainment device of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said plurality of play implements includes a sound generating device housed therein to generate audible output.  
   
   
       12 . The entertainment device of  claim 10 , wherein one of said six sides is formed from a contoured fabric pattern to provide said tactile stimulating region.  
   
   
       13 . The entertainment device of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of said plurality of play implements includes a vibration producing mechanism.  
   
   
       14 . The entertainment device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing further includes at least one of a visual indicia and a tactile stimulating region.  
   
   
       15 . The entertainment device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a stiffener member to provide structural rigidity to said housing.  
   
   
       16 . The entertainment device of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of play implements are configured to be stacked.  
   
   
       17 . A method of using an entertainment device in a child receiving device mode and a floor-play mode, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a housing including a play implement receiving region and an attachment mechanism, the housing formed at least partially from a soft goods material;    providing at least one play implement, the at least one play implement operable to be removeably received in the play implement receiving region of said housing, the at least one play implement formed at least partially from a soft goods material;    utilizing the attachment mechanism to attach said housing and said at least one play implement received in said play implement receiving region to a child receiving device;    removing the housing from the child receiving device; and    placing the housing and the at least one play implement received in the play implement receiving region in a freestanding position on a supporting surface for a floor-play mode of use.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one play implement is a cube with six sides.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the child receiving device is a crib, the crib including crib rails, and the step of utilizing the attachment mechanism to attach said housing and the at least one play implement received in the play implement receiving region to a child receiving device includes the further step of utilizing the attachment mechanism to attach the housing to the crib rails.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one play implement comprises a plurality of play implements, the plurality of play implements being configured to be stacked, the method further comprising the step of removing the plurality of play implements from the play implement receiving region of the housing and stacking the plurality of play implements on each other.