BILATERAL STIMULATION DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/741,050, filed January 1, 2025, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to bilateral stimulation devices, specifically the disclosure is directed to toys configured to function as bilateral stimulation devices and associated systems and methods.

BACKGROUND

Bilateral stimulation (sometimes referred to as bilateral rhythmic stimulation) is a technique in which a user is exposed to a repeating sequence of stimuli that alternates from one side of the user’s body to the other. The stimuli may be delivered as tactile pulses (e.g., vibration) and, in some implementations, may additionally or alternatively be delivered as auditory and/or visual cues. Such bilateral stimulation techniques have been used in therapeutic settings and have also been applied in broader wellness contexts, such as relaxation and stress reduction, where a user may benefit from a predictable, alternating pattern that can be perceived as “left” and “right” and followed over time.

Bilateral stimulation devices are generally configured to generate alternating stimulation at two different locations sufficiently separated to be distinguished by the user, such as at opposite hands, wrists, feet, knees, or other spaced regions. In typical implementations, the stimulation may be controlled according to adjustable program parameters, including pulse intensity, pulse duration, repetition rate, and optional pauses between stimulation events. Some devices coordinate two stimulation modules so that the left-side stimulus and right-side stimulus alternate according to a defined sequence, and the devices may be configured to operate according to pre-set routines or user-selected settings.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments of the disclosure include a bilateral stimulation device. The bilateral stimulation device includes a toy. The toy includes a body. The toy further includes appendages extending from the body. The bilateral stimulation device further includes a first vibrating motor positioned in a first appendage of the appendages. The bilateral stimulation device also includes a second vibrating motor positioned in a second appendage of the appendages, where the first appendage extends from a first side of the body and the second appendage extends from a second side of the body opposite the first side of the body. The bilateral stimulation device further includes a controller operatively coupled to the first vibrating motor and the second vibrating motor.

Another embodiment of the disclosure includes a bilateral stimulation device. The bilateral stimulation device includes a toy. The toy includes a body. The bilateral stimulation device further includes at least two stimulation devices. The bilateral stimulation device also includes a controller operatively coupled to the at least two stimulation devices. The controller includes at least one processor. The controller also includes a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to activate a first stimulation device of the at least two stimulation devices for a first time period, the first stimulation device positioned on a first lateral side of the body, The instructions further cause the processor to stop the first stimulation device after the first time period expires. The instructions also cause the processor to activate a second stimulation device of the at least two stimulation devices for a second time period after stopping the first stimulation device, the second stimulation device positioned on a second lateral side of the body opposite the first side.

Other embodiments of the disclosure include a method of operating a bilateral stimulation device. The method includes activating a first vibrating motor in a first appendage extending from a first side of a body of a doll. The method further includes stopping the first vibrating motor after a first time period. The method also includes activating a second vibrating motor in a second appendage extending from a second opposite side of the body of the doll after the first time period. The method further includes stopping the second vibrating motor after a second time period.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a detailed understanding of the present disclosure, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements have generally been designated with like numerals, and wherein:

FIG. 1A illustrates a front view of a toy in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 1B illustrates a side view of the toy of FIG. 1A in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 1C illustrates a back side view of the toy of FIGS. 1A and 1B in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of the toy of FIGS. 1A-1C including a bilateral stimulation system in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a wiring schematic of the bilateral stimulation system of FIG. 2 in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure;

FIGS. 4-5B illustrate the toy of FIGS. 1A-2 in different stages of operation in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates a vibrating motor in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic view of a toy including a bilateral stimulation system in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates a wiring schematic of the bilateral stimulation system of FIG. 2 in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow chart representative of a method of operating a bilateral stimulation system in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The illustrations presented herein are not actual views of any particular material, component, structure, device, or system, or any component thereof, but are merely idealized representations, which are employed to describe embodiments of the invention.

As used herein, the singular forms following “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

As used herein, the term “may” with respect to a material, structure, feature, or method act indicates that such is contemplated for use in implementation of an embodiment of the disclosure.

As used herein, the term “and/or” means and includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

As used herein, any relational term, such as “first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “beneath,” “side,” “upward,” “downward,” etc., is used for clarity and convenience in understanding the disclosure and accompanying drawings, and does not connote or depend on any specific preference or order, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise. For example, if materials in the figures are inverted, elements described as “below” or “beneath” or “under” or “on bottom of” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” or “on top of” the other elements or features. Thus, the term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below, depending on the context in which the term is used, which will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art. The materials may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees, inverted, flipped) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

As used herein, the term “substantially” in reference to a given parameter, property, or condition means and includes to a degree that one skilled in the art would understand that the given parameter, property, or condition is met with a small degree of variance, such as within acceptable manufacturing tolerances. By way of example, depending on the particular parameter, property, or condition that is substantially met, the parameter, property, or condition may be at least 90.0% met, at least 95.0% met, at least 99.0% met, or even at least 99.9% met.

As used herein, the term “about” used in reference to a given parameter is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the given parameter, as well as variations resulting from manufacturing tolerances, etc.). For example, “about” or “approximately” in reference to a numerical value may include additional numerical values within a range of from 90.0 percent to 110.0 percent of the numerical value, such as within a range of from 95.0 percent to 105.0 percent of the numerical value, within a range of from 97.5 percent to 102.5 percent of the numerical value, within a range of from 99.0 percent to 101.0 percent of the numerical value, within a range of from 99.5 percent to 100.5 percent of the numerical value, or within a range of from 99.9 percent to 100.1 percent of the numerical value.

As used herein, the terms “vertical,” “longitudinal,” “horizontal,” and “lateral” are in reference to a major plane of a structure and are not necessarily defined by earth’s gravitational field. A “horizontal” or “lateral” direction is a direction that is substantially parallel to the major plane of the structure, while a “vertical” or “longitudinal” direction is a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the major plane of the structure. The major plane of the structure is defined by a surface of the structure having a relatively large area compared to other surfaces of the structure. With reference to the drawings, a “horizontal” or “lateral” direction may be perpendicular to an indicated “Z” axis, and may be parallel to an indicated “X” axis and/or parallel to an indicated “Y” axis; and a “vertical” or “longitudinal” direction may be parallel to an indicated “Z” axis, may be perpendicular to an indicated “X” axis, and may be perpendicular to an indicated “Y” axis.

In practice, bilateral stimulation systems have been incorporated into wearable and comfort-oriented devices to facilitate convenient use outside of clinical environments. Example platforms include paired wearable modules that provide vibration or other tactile output. Design considerations may include comfort during prolonged use, minimizing audible noise from vibratory elements, accommodating different user sensitivities, and enabling simple operation for users with limited dexterity or attention. These considerations can be particularly relevant when bilateral stimulation is intended for younger users or for use in familiar, reassuring housings that support consistent engagement.

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate different views of a toy 100 configured to operate as a bilateral stimulation device. The toy 100 may be a doll, such as a baby doll, a plush toy (e.g., stuffed animal, teddy bear, etc.), or an action figure. The toy 100 may be configured as a humanoid or character representation including a body 102, a head 104, and one or more appendages 106 (e.g., arms, legs, ears, etc.) extending from the body 102 and/or head 104. The toy 100 may include surface features 108 configured to convey facial characteristics (e.g., embroidered, printed, molded, or appliquéd features). The toy 100 may also include one or more of hair elements (e.g., yarn, fiber, synthetic strands), and clothing or accessory components removably or permanently coupled to the body 102, the head 104, and/or the appendage 106.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C, the toy 100 is a plush toy doll. The plush toy doll includes compliant textile materials and a compressible fill. The toy 100 may include a fabric shell (e.g., a knit, woven, fleece, velour, faux fur, or other textile material) defining an exterior surface, and a fill material disposed within an interior of the fabric shell to provide softness and resilience (e.g., polyester fiberfill, foam pieces, cotton, wool, or other batting and/or particulate fill). The fabric shell may be formed from multiple panels joined at seams (e.g., stitched, bonded, or welded seams), and the plush doll may include localized reinforcement regions (e.g., seam tape, backing fabrics) and/or internal liners which may control stretching, reduce wear, and improve dimensional stability.

The toy 100 may include one or more internal volumes (e.g., cavities, pockets, channels) sized and shaped to receive one or more additional components (e.g., controllers, bilateral stimulation components, motors, lights, switches, etc.) while maintaining the external appearance and tactile feel of the associated toy. The toy 100 includes a resealable opening 110 in a rear portion of the fabric shell of the body 102 to facilitate access to the one or more internal volumes. The resealable opening 110 may be configured to close through fastening structure 112 (e.g., hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, or zippers). In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1C, the resealable opening 110 is closed with a zipper.

One or more of the internal volumes defined in the toy 100 may correspond to output structures 114 on distal ends of the appendages 106. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C, the output structures 114 are positioned in a portion of the appendages 106 that may be associated with a hand or paw of the plush toy doll. As discussed in further detail below, the output structures 114 may be associated with bilateral stimulation, such as vibrating devices, sound emitting devices, or lights.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of the toy 100. The toy 100 includes a bilateral stimulation system 200 disposed within the internal volumes of the toy 100. The bilateral stimulation system 200 includes a controller 202. The controller 202 may be a processor (e.g., a microprocessor) or other integrated circuit or circuit board configured to control the other components of bilateral stimulation system 200 or receive and process inputs from the other components of the bilateral stimulation system 200. The controller 202 is operatively coupled to a first motor 204a and a second motor 204b. The motors 204a, 204b may be vibrating motors configured to generate local vibrations, such as through an un-balanced flywheel. The controller 202 is configured to control the supply of power to the motors 204a, 204b. In other embodiments, the motors 204a, 204b may be accompanied by or replaced by other stimulation components (e.g., tappers), such as lights, or sound generators (e.g., electronic tone generators or speakers).

The bilateral stimulation system 200 also includes a switch 206. In some embodiments, the switch 206 is configured to supply or remove power from the controller 202. In other embodiments, the switch 206 is a momentary switch configured to start a program within the controller 202. For example, the switch 206 may start a timer in the controller 202, such that the controller 202 may run a bilateral stimulation program alternating the motors 204a, 204b at predetermined intervals until the timer stops.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the controller 202 is positioned proximate the resealable opening 110. This may facilitate access to the controller 202, such as for changing batteries, charging batteries, removal, and/or maintenance. For example, the controller 202 may be configured to be removed, such as through electrical connectors configured to be decoupled from the controller 202, such that the controller 202 may be removed without removing the motors 204a, 204b and/or the switch 206. This may expose the toy 100 to conditions that may damage the controller 202, such as water or a washing machine for cleaning the toy 100. In other embodiments, the controller 202 may be sealed in a water tight housing, where the housing is configured to substantially protect the controller 202 from exposure to water during a cleaning process.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of the bilateral stimulation system 200. As discussed above, the bilateral stimulation system 200 includes the controller 202 operatively coupled to the motors 204a, 204b and the switch 206. The controller 202 may be coupled to the motors 204a, 204b and the switch 206 through a connector 302, which may be a removable connector configured to facilitate disconnecting the controller 202 from the motors 204a, 204b and the switch 206 and reconnecting the motors 204a, 204b and the switch 206 to the controller 202 through a single connection. The connector 302 may facilitate removing the controller 202 from the associated toy 100 (FIGS. 1A-1C), such as for maintenance or to clean the toy 100 (FIGS. 1A-1C), and reconnecting the controller 202 to the bilateral stimulation system 200 after the associated maintenance or cleaning without complex knowledge of the wiring of the bilateral stimulation system 200.

The bilateral stimulation system 200 may also include an internal power source 304, such as a battery or battery pack. In some embodiments, the power source 304 may be an external component connected to the controller 202. In other embodiments, the power source 304 may be housed within a same housing as the controller 202, such that the power source 304 is directly connected to the microprocessor or circuit of the controller 202. The controller 202 receives power from the power source 304 and is configured to control the distribution of the power from the power source 304 to the other components in the bilateral stimulation system 200, such as the motors 204a, 204b.

In some embodiments, the power source 304 is a rechargeable battery pack, such as a battery pack including one or more rechargeable electrochemical cells (e.g., lithium-ion, lithium-polymer, nickel-metal hydride). For example, the power source 304 may be a battery pack configured to be removed and charged in an external charging device. In other examples, the power source 304 may be configured to receive a charging plug from an external charging device, such that the battery pack may be recharged without removing the battery pack. In another embodiment, the power source 304 may be a battery pack configured to receive standard disposable batteries (e.g., alkaline, zinc-carbon, lithium primary) configured as replaceable power sources. The battery pack may be configured to receive standardized cell form factors (e.g., cylindrical or button/coin cells).

FIGS. 4-5B illustrate the toy 100 during operation. The toy 100 is configured to be held by a user 402, such that a first output structure 114a is in contact with a part of the user 402 on a first lateral side of the user 402 and a second output structure 114b is in contact with a part of the user 402 on a second opposite lateral side of the user 402. The parts of the user 402 in contact with the output structures 114 may be the hands of the user 402, the feet of the user 402, knees of the user 402, elbows of the user 402, etc. The toy 100 is configured to engage opposite sides of the user 402 (e.g., left side and right side of the user 402) through the output structures 114 to administer bilateral stimulation therapy.

Bilateral stimulation therapy (sometimes referred to as bilateral rhythmic stimulation) is generally understood as a therapeutic technique in which a subject is exposed to temporally patterned stimuli that alternate between left and right sides of the body or sensory field. The output structures 114 are configured to deliver stimulation, such as through the vibrating motors 204a, 204b (FIG. 2) with sufficient lateral separation and temporal regularity such that the user 402 perceives a left-right cadence. The alternating cadence engages bilateral neural processing. Bilateral stimulation is commonly applied in a manner intended to promote relaxation, reduce acute stress responses, and facilitate emotional regulation.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the alternating cadence is delivered by activating the first output structure 114a for a time period as illustrated in FIG. 5A, and after the first output structure 114a has stopped, the process continues by activating the second output structure 114b as illustrated in FIG. 5B for a time period. The process may continue by alternating between activating the first output structure 114a and activating the second output structure 114b, such that only one of the output structures 114 is activated at any one time and they alternate at a regular interval.

By holding the toy 100 with a left portion of the body of the user 402 contacting the first output structure 114a and a right portion of the body of the user 402 contacting the second output structure 114b, the toy 100 may be configured to facilitate bilateral stimulation of the user 402, generating the identified physiological and psychological benefits in the user 402. The position of the output structures 114 in the distal ends of the appendages 106 of the toy 100 may facilitate the output structures 114 contacting opposite sides of the user 402 without the user 402 physically holding the exact positions in the appendages 106 that correspond to the output structures 114. For example, a child grasping the toy 100 around the body 102 of the toy may be contacted by the output structures 114 on opposite sides of the child’s body (e.g., left and right shoulders, left and right sides of the torso, etc.) due to the natural positioning of the appendages 106 of the toy 100. Thus, a small child with reduced motor skills and/or understanding may easily receive the benefits of the bilateral stimulation.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the vibrating motor 600, such as for use as the motors 204a, 204b (FIG. 2) discussed above, to generate a vibrating stimulation in the output structures 114. The vibrating motor 600 includes an electric motor 602. As discussed above, the electric motor 602 may receive electrical power from the controller 202 at the time intervals determined by the processor in the controller 202. When the electric motor 602 receives power, the electric motor 602 rotates an output shaft 604. The output shaft 604 is operatively coupled to a flywheel 606. The flywheel 606 includes a weight 608 on one side of the flywheel 606, such that the flywheel 606 is unbalanced. When the flywheel 606 rotates, the flywheel 606 will generate a vibration due to the unbalanced weight 608 on the flywheel 606. This vibration may be felt and/or heard by the user 402 (FIGS. 4-5B).

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a toy 700 configured to operate as a bilateral stimulation device. The toy 700 is configured as a doll having a humanoid or character representation including a body 702, a head 704, and one or more appendages 706 extending from the body 702 and/or head 704. The toy 100 may include surface features configured to convey facial characteristics, and may further include hair elements and clothing or accessory components removably or permanently coupled to the body 702, the head 704, and/or the appendages 706.

The toy 700 may define one or more internal volumes sized and shaped to receive one or more additional components—such as a controller, and one or more bilateral stimulation components, motors, lights, and/or switches—while maintaining an external appearance and tactile feel consistent with the toy 700. Access to the internal volume(s) may be provided via a resealable opening 710 in a rear portion of the body 702 of the toy 700. One or more of the internal volumes may correspond to output structures 712, 714, 716 disposed at distal ends of the appendages 706, such as in regions corresponding to hands or paws, to support bilateral stimulation by selectively producing tactile, auditory, and/or visual outputs (e.g., vibration, sound emission, and/or light output) at spaced locations of the toy.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the toy 700 includes first output structures 712, second output structures 714, and third output structures 716 that provide different types of outputs. The first output structures 712 may be vibrating outputs, such as vibrating motors (e.g., the vibrating motors 600 (FIG. 6)). The toy 700 may include two first output structures 712 positioned in appendages 706 on opposite sides of the toy 700. Thus, the toy 700 includes one first output structure 712 in an appendage 706 on a first lateral side of the toy 700 and a second first output structure 712 in an appendage 706 on a second opposite lateral side of the toy 700.

The second output structures 714 may be audio outputs, such as electronic tone generators or speakers. The toy 700 may include two second output structures 714 positioned in appendages 706 on opposite sides of the toy 700. Thus, the toy 700 includes one second output structure 714 in the appendage 706 on the first lateral side of the toy 700 and a second output structure 714 in the appendage 706 on the second lateral side of the toy 700. In another example, the second output structures 714 may be positioned in another part of the toy 700, such as on opposite lateral sides of the head 704 of the toy 700 or in appendages 706 extending from opposite lateral sides of the head 704 of the toy 700.

The third output structures 716 may be visual outputs, such as LED lights, LED light panels, moving components, etc. The toy 700 may include two third output structures 716 positioned in appendages 706 on opposite sides of head 704 of the toy 700. Thus, the toy 700 includes one third output structure 716 in an appendage 706 on a first lateral side of the head 704 of the toy 700 and a second third output structure 716 in an appendage 706 on a second opposite lateral side of the head 704 of the toy 700. In another example, the third output structures 716 may be positioned in the same appendages 706 as the first output structures 712 and the second output structures 714. In another example, the third output structures 716 may be positioned within the head 704, such as in a position of the eye. For example, the eyes of the toy 700 may blink at regular intervals providing visual stimulation on opposite sides of the head 704 of the toy 700. In another embodiment, the eyes of the toy 700 may light up at regular intervals providing the visual stimulation on opposite sides of the head 704 of the toy 700. In yet another example, the appendages 706 extending from the head 704 of the toy 700 may move at regular intervals providing the visual stimulation on opposite sides of the head 704 of the toy 700.

FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic view of a bilateral stimulation system 800 associated with the toy 700. The bilateral stimulation system 800 includes the controller 708 operatively coupled to motors 802a, 802b, audio outputs 806a, 806b, visual outputs 808a, 808b, and a switch 804. As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 8, the motors 802a, 802b are associated with the first output structures 712, the audio outputs 806a, 806b are associated with the second output structures 714, and the visual outputs 808a, 808b are associated with the third output structures 716.

The controller 708 may be coupled to the motors 802a, 802b, the audio outputs 806a, 806b, the visual outputs 808a, 808b, and the switch 804 through a connector (e.g., the connector 302 (FIG. 3)), which may be a removable connector configured to facilitate disconnecting the controller 708 from the motors 802a, 802b, the audio outputs 806a, 806b, the visual outputs 808a, 808b, and the switch 804 and reconnecting the motors 802a, 802b, the audio outputs 806a, 806b, the visual outputs 808a, 808b, and the switch 804 to the controller 708 through a single connection. The connector may facilitate removing the controller 708 from the associated toy 700 (FIG. 7), such as for maintenance or to clean the toy 700 (FIG. 7), and reconnecting the controller 708 to the bilateral stimulation system 800 after the associated maintenance or cleaning without complex knowledge of the wiring of the bilateral stimulation system 800.

The bilateral stimulation system 800 may also include an internal power source 810, such as a battery or battery pack. In some embodiments, the power source 810 may be an external component connected to the controller 708. In other embodiments, the power source 810 may be housed within a same housing as the controller 708, such that the power source 810 is directly connected to the microprocessor or circuit of the controller 708. The controller 708 receives power from the power source 810 and is configured to control the distribution of the power from the power source 810 to the other components in the bilateral stimulation system 800, such as the motors 802a, 802b, the audio outputs 806a, 806b, and the visual outputs 808a, 808b.

Now referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 together. When controlling the power output to the motors 802a, 802b, the audio outputs 806a, 806b, and the visual outputs 808a, 808b, the controller 708 is configured to activate the motors 802a, 802b, the audio outputs 806a, 806b, and the visual outputs 808a, 808b on a same lateral side of the toy 700 during the same time interval. For example, the bilateral stimulation system 800 may activate a first motor 802a, a first audio output 806a, and a first visual output 808a during a first time period. The first motor 802a, the first audio output 806a, and the first visual output 808a may each be positioned on a same lateral side of the toy 700, such as within a same appendage 706 of the toy 700 or within separate appendages 106 on the same lateral side of the toy 700. After the first time period, the controller 708 may turn off the first motor 802a, the first audio output 806a, and the first visual output 808a and activate the second motor 802b, the second audio output 806b, and the second visual output 808b. The second motor 802b, the second audio output 806b, and the second visual output 808b may each be positioned on a second opposite lateral side of the toy 700 from the first motor 802a, the first audio output 806a, and the first visual output 808a. For example, the second motor 802b, the second audio output 806b, and the second visual output 808b may be positioned within a same appendage 706 of the toy 700 or within separate appendages 106 on the same lateral side of the toy 700.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow chart representative of a method 900 of operating a bilateral stimulation system (e.g., bilateral stimulation system 200, 800 (FIGS. 2, 3, and 8)) in a toy (e.g., toy 100, 700 (FIGS. 1A-8)). The method 900 may be stored as instructions in a controller (e.g., controller 202, 708 (FIGS. 2, 3, 7, and 8)). For example, the controller may include a memory device and a processor. The memory may store the instructions and the instructions may cause the processor to perform the actions associated with the instructions. As discussed above, the method 900 may be started by a signal to the controller sent by a switch (e.g., switch 206, 804 (FIGS. 2, 3, and 8)).

The controller activates a first stimulation device in act 902. The first stimulation device may be one or more of a vibrating motor (e.g., motors 204b, 204b, 600, 802a, 802b (FIGS. 2, 3, 6, and 8)), an audio output (e.g., audio output 806a, 806b (FIG. 8)), or a visual output (e.g., visual output 808a, 808b (FIG. 8)). The first stimulation device is positioned on a first lateral side of the associated toy. In embodiments, where the first stimulation device includes more than one device, such as a vibrating motor and an audio output, or a vibrating motor, an audio output, and a visual output, each of the associated devices are positioned in the same lateral side of the associated toy. For example, a vibrating motor and an audio output may each be positioned in a same appendage extending from the first lateral side of the toy. In another example, the vibrating motor and the audio output may be positioned in separate appendages positioned on the same first lateral side of the toy. Thus, all stimulation devices activated by the controller as first stimulation devices are positioned on the same side of the toy.

The first stimulation device(s) are activated by the controller for a first time period. The first time period may be in a range from about 10 seconds to about 1 minute, such as in a range from about 10 seconds to about 30 seconds. After the first time period expires the controller stops the first stimulations device(s) in act 904.

After the first stimulation device(s) are stopped, the controller activates a second stimulation device in act 906. The second stimulation device may be one or more of a vibrating motor (e.g., motors 204b, 204b, 600, 802a, 802b (FIGS. 2, 3, 6, and 8)), an audio output (e.g., audio output 806a, 806b (FIG. 8)), or a visual output (e.g., visual output 808a, 808b (FIG. 8)). The second stimulation device is positioned on a second lateral side of the associated toy opposite the first lateral side. In embodiments, where the second stimulation device includes more than one device, such as a vibrating motor and an audio output, or a vibrating motor, an audio output, and a visual output, each of the associated devices are positioned in the same lateral side of the associated toy. Thus, all stimulation devices activated by the controller as second stimulation devices are positioned on the same side of the toy.

The second stimulation device(s) are activated by the controller for a second time period. After the second time period expires the controller stops the second stimulations device(s) in act 908. The second time period may be about the same as the first time period, such that the second stimulation device(s) run for about the same amount of time as the first stimulation device(s).

After the second stimulation device(s) are stopped, the process repeats. Thus, the first stimulation device(s) are activated for the first time period in act 902 and the first stimulation device(s) are stopped after the first time period in act 904. After the first stimulation device(s) are stopped in act 904, the second stimulation device(s) are activated in act 906 for the second time period and the second device(s) are stopped after the second time period in act 908. The process continues to repeat for a total time period 910. After the total time period 910 expires, the method 900 stops until it is started again by another user input, such as another signal from the switch.

The total time period 910 may be a user-set parameter or a pre-set parameter. For example, the total time period 910 may be a parameter programmed into the controller that cannot be changed. In another example, the controller may include a user interface (e.g., buttons, screen, dial, knob, etc.) configured to facilitate adjustments to the total time period 910 by the user. The total time period 910 may be in a range from about 1 minute to about 1 hour, such as from about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes.

Embodiments of the disclosure may result in a toy configured to be handled by a child, where the toy is configured to generate bilateral stimulation in the child without requiring specific positioning of components or exposed wiring. The toy is configured to stimulate opposing lateral sides of a user’s body while being held in multiple different positions, such that the benefits of bilateral stimulation therapy may be experienced by the user with minimal positioning effort. The reduced positioning effort may facilitate a user experiencing the benefits of the bilateral stimulation therapy without making a conscious effort to position the toy in a beneficial position. Thus, the toy may provide the bilateral stimulation while the user is falling asleep. Similarly, the toy may provide the bilateral stimulation to young children with little to no assistance from an adult.

The embodiments of the disclosure described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings do not limit the scope of the disclosure, which is encompassed by the scope of the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Any equivalent embodiments are within the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, various modifications of the disclosure, in addition to those shown and described herein, such as alternate useful combinations of the elements described, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. Such modifications and embodiments also fall within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents.