Adapting circuits, qualifications needed

Thread Starter

Franky89

Joined Jan 16, 2022
1
Hi All.

Hopefully someone could point me in the right direction.

I have adapting my son's toys who is disabled, so that he has an accessible switch to be able to press to operate the toy.

I've been adapted sound buttons to just a simple momentary switch with a mono cable and male jack. And on the toy side I have adapted the toy with a female mono jack.

There's a lot of use for these toys with children with disabilities.

I would like to make extra to help other children and also make a few pound for time, and I would like to make them for sensory play groups.

All toys will be battery powered only.

My main concern is what qualifications I would need to obtain before selling adapted toys and switches to be able to be certified for insurance.

Would anybody know what qualifications I would need (in UK) I'm happy to pay for courses as it would be beneficial, and also is there any regulations on adding switches to battery powered toys

I've attached a photo to show what where the wire will be connected to. I have striped the circuit down to use just the switch, just incase it looks a bit odd.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.
 

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MisterBill2

Joined Jan 23, 2018
18,179
The great thing about battery powered toys is no contact with the mains and all of that power. Bigger buttons and switches is usually not a real deign change, and since your work is starting with the original product there can be no claim of infringement. Folks have to start with the original thing, not your copy. You might eve get support from the toy makers for increasing their market size.
 

Alec_t

Joined Sep 17, 2013
14,280
There are a couple of possible issues:
1) The manufacturer's warranty on the toy will likely be void if you modify the toy.
2) Safety might be compromised if the toy involves, for example, moving parts which could cause injury.
 

k1ng 1337

Joined Sep 11, 2020
940
I suggest you look into passive physics / engineering toys such as Cartesian diver, balance bird and bobbing bird. These toys have little to no moving parts and can be a good way to teach youngsters mechanics who might otherwise have difficulty recognizing these effects in the real world. Given all the junk that sells at toy stores, I wish there was more based on very simple concepts such as a spinning top.
 

MisterBill2

Joined Jan 23, 2018
18,179
There are a couple of possible issues:
1) The manufacturer's warranty on the toy will likely be void if you modify the toy.
2) Safety might be compromised if the toy involves, for example, moving parts which could cause injury.
For starters, what I have seen of warranties on toys, the coverage ends when the box is opened. So unless there is some alternate declaration, there is no warranty to be voided by modifying the toy.
Certainly the added modifications need to be at least as durable as the original construction, or else your reputation will suffer.
As for the "moving parts" liability concern, there will always be those who see possible harm in every product, but if it is only the controls access that is modified the defense should be obvious.

In reference to post #5, it is not likely that it is possible to add more accessible controls to the class of toys referenced. There may be alternate versions more usable but that seems distant from the process of improving the access to the powered toys.

As for marketing such toys, I see two possibilities, and a caution that if some version becomes a big hit your production system may be stressed fulfilling the orders. That might happen if you get a distribution agreement with a larger toy store chain.
The main challenge may be showing that there is a market for such items.
A second possibility might be working with the manufacturer of toys, although there is the risk of them adapting your concepts and you getting not much more than a "Thanks for the tip" in return.
 

Ian0

Joined Aug 7, 2020
9,679
No qualifications required, you just declare yourself to be a “competent person”. Get some good business insurance, and make sure it include product liability, not just public liability, and make sure that it includes manufacturing.
Direct line were much cheaper than anyone else.
In Britain you will have plenty of competition.
https://www.rompa.com/
https://www.senteq.co.uk/sensory-ro...OJ62Hgnd-GQGkv938dUmywOabgWFYF2RoC_sIQAvD_BwE
https://www.spacekraft.co.uk/multi-sensory-rooms.html
to name but three.
 

MisterBill2

Joined Jan 23, 2018
18,179
No qualifications required, you just declare yourself to be a “competent person”. Get some good business insurance, and make sure it include product liability, not just public liability, and make sure that it includes manufacturing.
Direct line were much cheaper than anyone else.
In Britain you will have plenty of competition.
https://www.rompa.com/
https://www.senteq.co.uk/sensory-ro...OJ62Hgnd-GQGkv938dUmywOabgWFYF2RoC_sIQAvD_BwE
https://www.spacekraft.co.uk/multi-sensory-rooms.html
to name but three.
Depending on exactly what the TS is offering there may, or not, be competition. And again, possibly no competition at a particular quality level. So that is another consideration.
 
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