Head Or Head Part Movement Patents (Class 446/300)
  • Patent number: 11931183
    Abstract: A system of sensors integrated into toys for monitoring free play activity of a human subject wherein patterns in play activity automatically are weighted into a pattern for identification of behavioral milestones, developmental progress and/or behavioral disorders. Specifically, accelerometers detect movement of toys which determine: (1) if the toy is being played with; and (2) the intensity in which the toy is moved. Pressure sensors detect the level and location in which a child may hold a toy. Synchronized with an audiovisual record of the play therapy session and a computer-generated avatar representation of the physical object, this data is integrated to find peak levels of behavior giving clinicians more efficient analytical tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Dalena Dillman Taylor, Dave Edyburn
  • Patent number: 10864455
    Abstract: This non-provisional application is a continuation-in-part application that incorporates non-provisional application U.S. 16/253,286 in its entirety and that presents enhancements to this prior disclosure. The enhanced jumping toy comprises the puppet and the plurality of springs of the prior disclosure. The enhanced jumping toy further comprises a pedestal. The puppet of the prior disclosure further comprises an anchor post and a grip tab. The plurality of springs further comprises a plurality of end caps. The pedestal is a stand that forms an anchor point on which the puppet attaches for storage. The anchor post is a structure that attaches to the puppet of the prior disclosure. The anchor post attaches the puppet to the pedestal. The grip tab is a handle that attaches to the puppet. Each of the plurality of end caps is a protective structure that attaches to a spring selected from the plurality of springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventor: Johnathan Earvin
  • Patent number: 10602719
    Abstract: An animated squeaky pet toy provides an animated, chewable pet toy that emits a squeaky sound when compressed from multiple directions and pressures due to an alternating pattern of accordion and bulbous sections. An elongated compressible inner chamber provides a generally elongated body portion having an alternating pattern of at least one accordion section and at least one bulbous section. The accordion section includes multiple folds that produce air flow when pulled or compressed laterally. The bulbous section increases the diameter of the body portion, and can be compressed axially and diagonally to produce air flow. The compressible inner chamber includes a pair of ends having an aperture. A reed passes through each aperture. The reed vibrates to produce a squeaky sound when air flow passes through either aperture. An animated outer chamber encapsulates the compressible inner chamber to transfer compressive forces to the body portion of compressible inner chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Inventor: Jennifer Yiruo Cao
  • Patent number: 10427061
    Abstract: A plush toy system comprises a foam inner, formed into a character shape, made with a compressible foam. A flexible outer covering surrounds the foam inner and has an inner surface for contacting the foam inner. The foam inner and the flexible outer covering combine to form a plush toy. The system may include a package having at least one open side through which the plush toy traversed when compressed to fill an interior space of the package. In use, when the plush toy is compressed and contained within the package, upon opening of the at least one open side the plush toy at least partially expands out of the at least one open side of the package. When removed completely from the package the plush toy expands to the natural size of the plush toy, preferably three times its size or more when compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: GENNCOMM, LLC
    Inventor: Jeremy Brian Medwed
  • Publication number: 20130237122
    Abstract: A novelty deer head includes a simulated deer head; a base adapted to mount to a structure that retains the deer head; an activator that activates the device; and a sound generator that, when the device is activated, simulates sounds made by deer. The sounds may include a deer snorting or a deer's antlers rattling. The sounds may be produced by a speaker or from antlers that actually rattle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventor: Donald Nystrom
  • Patent number: 8430798
    Abstract: A MEMS pressure sensing module is respectively applied in a boxing target and compressible toy both having an output circuit for coupling with a terminal electronic device. The MEMS pressure sensing module is configured for sensing a pressure applied thereon, converting the pressure values into electronic signals, and calculating a value of the pressure according to the electronic signals. The MEMS pressure sensing module is connected with the output circuit such that a user is able to obtain the pressure value from the terminal electronic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hai Lan, Ga-Lane Chen
  • Patent number: 8033901
    Abstract: An electronic game system is provided. The system may include a base station operable to communicate with an electronic system and one or more character units operable to communicate with the base station. The one or more character units store data associated with one or more characters. The data are utilized to play a game using the electronic system. The character units may have substantially similar appearances to characters in the game. The base station also may have a character appearance. The character units may be removably attachable to the base station, alone or simultaneously, at an exterior or interior portion of a body part of the character appearance such as a head, a limb and a torso.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Ethan Wood
  • Patent number: 7988522
    Abstract: An exemplary electronic dinosaur toy includes a body, a neck, four legs, a tail, a head, four first actuators, and four pressure sensors. The neck, the legs and the tail are connected to the body. The head is connected to a distal end of the neck. The four first actuators are arranged inside the respective legs and configured for driving the corresponding leg to move. The four pressure sensors are arranged at distal ends of the respective legs, and configured for sensing a variation of a pressure applied to the leg and outputting a feedback signal. Thereby, the first actuator adjusts a movement of the leg based on the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ga-Lane Chen
  • Publication number: 20110021109
    Abstract: A toy and software application accessory extends the distinguishing play experience of a particular toy to a digital play experience on personal digital assistant, personal navigation device, or other electronic device like an iPod or iphone with an accelerometer, speaker, and a touch-sensitive display screen. The software application accessory creates a digital play experience or video game on the electronic device that presents avatars, dialog, and backgrounds that convincingly accessorize the physical toy. Wireless connectivity to a PC and the Internet allows the toy or the electronic device to download updates, modifications, and enhancements to its basic program. New personalities can be downloaded that change the toy play experience, and extend the play life of the toy by introducing new and creative play experiences. A personality accessory kit includes the new personalities, clothes, props, and other matching accessories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Khanh M. Le, David M. Holmes, Paul P. Campbell, Melinda C. Campbell, Ling Kun L. Cheng
  • Publication number: 20090098795
    Abstract: A human figure toy is provided. The toy includes a storage unit and two pressure sensors. The storage unit stores a plurality of media files for providing audio questions and alternative answer options for each of the audio questions. Each of the two pressure sensors is associated with one of the alternative answer options respectively. The toy also includes a head portion with an aperture formed thereon. A reversible motor is secured within the head portion. A nose assembly that is driven by the reversible motor extends through the aperture. A controller controls the reversible motor to rotate in response to signals from one of the two pressure sensors, driving the nose assembly to move back and forth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: CHUAN-HONG WANG, HSIAO-CHUNG CHOU, TSU-LI CHIANG, XIN ZHAO, SAN-ZHONG LU, HAN-CHE WANG
  • Publication number: 20090098796
    Abstract: A human figure toy is provided. The toy includes a storage unit and two pressure sensors. The storage unit stores media files for providing audio questions and storing alternative answer options to each of the audio questions. Each of the two pressure sensors is associated with one of the alternative answer options to an audio question. The toy includes a head with an aperture that includes a light conductive portion. A motor and a light source are secured within the head. A nose assembly driven by the motor extends through the aperture. A processor controls the light source to emit light after a media file finishes playing, prompting a user to respond to the audio question by initiating one pressure sensor. The processor also controls the reversible motor to rotate in response to signals from one of the two pressure sensors, driving the nose assembly to move back and forth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: CHUAN-HONG WANG, HSIAO-CHUNG CHOU, TSU-LI CHIANG, KUAN-HONG HSIEH, WEN-SHENG TSAI, HAN-CHE WANG
  • Patent number: 7217171
    Abstract: A toy with a moving head has a seat, a front and a rear support respectively mounted on the seat, and a gear box provided between the front and rear supports. A series of gears and a series of actuating wheels are rotatably mounted in the gearbox. A first motor is connected to the gearbox and a head is connected to the gearbox. When the motor drives the gearbox, the head is raised and lowered by a set of actuating wheels and the head is shaken by a second set of actuating wheels. The jaw of the head also opens and closes to present a dynamic effect to attract people.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Gemmy Industries Corporation
    Inventor: Sheng-Hung Hsu
  • Patent number: 6953379
    Abstract: A transmission assembly for a doll includes a first driving device having a rotation sleeve adapted to be rotatably received in the top base and a twist driving element connected to the rotation sleeve to drive the rotation sleeve to twist to the right and to the left and a second driving device including a first motor, a first gear box operably connected to the first motor via a first transmission element, a first eccentric roller in connection with the first gear box and having an axle extending out of the first eccentric roller to be rotatably received in the rotation sleeve so as to drive the top base and the casing up and down and a second eccentric roller having a first linkage extending out of the second eccentric roller to drive the top base and the casing back and forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Inventor: Sheng-Chien Wang
  • Patent number: 6926580
    Abstract: A robotic toy has a pedestal, a first casing assembly, a first transmission device, a mounting shaft assembly and a toy assembly. The pedestal has a speaker and a battery container. The first casing assembly is trunk-like and is mounted on the pedestal. The first transmission device and the mounting shaft assembly are mounted in-to the first casing assembly and cooperate with each other to provide a rotating function. The toy assembly is mounted rotatably on the mounting shaft assembly and has movable wings. The bird-like toy assembly can flap its wings, shake its toy head and open its lower beak and coordinate with the speaker producing music or bird song to perform in a natural and charming manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Gemmy Industries Corporation
    Inventor: Sheng-Chien Wang
  • Patent number: 6776681
    Abstract: An animated doll having an enlarged head and enlarged feet relative to its body, and including a combination of independent, interactive features. The interactive features include a head position assembly, which controls rotation of the head, and an eye assembly mechanism, which drives and controls the opening and closing of eyelids on the doll. The doll may also include a communication port to receive removable external components, which are associated with a pre-recorded response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: William Willett
  • Patent number: 6733359
    Abstract: An action figure having synchronized speech and facial expressions comprises a body defining an internal cavity, a head attached to the body and being deformable into a plurality of facial expressions, and an electrical circuit disposed within the cavity and operatively coupled to a sound generator. The electrical circuit and the sound generator output an audible first speech mode and an audible second speech mode. An actuator operatively coupled to both the head and the electrical circuit is arranged to synchronize the first speech mode with a first facial expression and to synchronize the second speech mode with a second facial expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventor: Warren Leigh Jacobs
  • Patent number: 6672934
    Abstract: An amusement device is disclosed having an animal body portion and a remote control portion. The animal body portion may be a lizard having horns and a tail. A user may use the remote control to cause the animal to move. The animal body has at least one motor operably connected to the animal's head, legs, and tail. The motor causes the animal to walk forward, walk backward, or dance in place at the selection of the user, and causes the tail to move and the mouth of the animal's head to move. An extendable tongue protrudes from the mouth. The tongue may have a magnetic tip for connecting with a magnetic or metallic object. The device may also contain a speaker that plays music and/or words as selected by the user through the remote control. In one embodiment, the lizard dances while playing music.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Trendmasters, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Daniel J. Beckman, Marcellus R. Benson, William H. Bronson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6652350
    Abstract: A toy for attachment to a motor vehicle seat. The toy comprising a head pivotally or fixedly mounted onto a base platform that is attached to a vehicle seat or headrest. There is an internal air actuate mechanism that, when actuated, forces the pivotally mounted head to turn in a predetermined direction. Additionally, the mouth moves and eyes illuminate as the head turns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: Charles Phillips
  • Patent number: 6645035
    Abstract: A movable mechanical doll has a bottom seat and two legs upright formed on the bottom seat. A shoulder-arm part is mounted at tops of the legs, and has two arms respectively mounted at two sides of the shoulder-arm part. A housing covering the shoulder-arm part is pivotally mounted on the shoulder-arm part by a pivot pin. A driving assembly with a first motor is mounted in the housing to drive the housing to swing about the pivot pin. At the same time, the arms can be swung forwards and backwards. By this means, the movable mechanical doll can achieve an action of moving shoulders and arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Inventor: Chih-Cheng Tsai
  • Publication number: 20030181127
    Abstract: A motion toy is constructed to include a base, a body supported on the base, a swivel head coupled to the body at a top side, the head having a beak pivoted thereto, a power drive mounted inside the body and adapted to rotate the swivel head alternatively forwards and backwards and to turn the beak alternatively up and down, and sensor means installed in the base and controlled to drive the power drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: Chain Fong Toys Co.,Ltd.
    Inventor: Li-Wen Chi
  • Patent number: 6599166
    Abstract: A device for causing a toy to simulate a yawn or sleep condition, includes an actuator mounted in the toy which is pivotable between first and second positions when a stimulus is applied to the toy. A sensor is provided for detecting one of the first and second positions of the actuator. A microprocessor is operably connected to the sensor for receiving and storing signals from the actuator. The microprocessor counts the total number of signals and transmits an activation signal to the toy to simulate a yawn or sleep condition when the total number of signals detected by the sensor reaches a preset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Inventors: Steven Ellman, Lawrence Mass, Fredric Ellman, Julius Ellman
  • Patent number: 6565407
    Abstract: A doll includes a plush doll body having a movable head. A body housing within the doll body supports a control and sound circuit which is operatively coupled to a bidirectional motor drive system operative to move the head from side-to-side. A mouth moving mechanism is independently provided within the doll head. The body housing supports a pair of outwardly facing microphones on the right and left side of the housing to detect sound from either side. The control and sound circuit compares the sound energy received by the right side and left side microphones and determines the appropriate direction to pivot or rotate the head to simulate a “listening” attention by the doll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: John Woolington, Virgil Wulff
  • Patent number: 6547632
    Abstract: An interactive, animated, and robotic doll having movable appendages, such as a head, arms, and legs. The doll includes motors, gears and other linkages to actuate the movement of these appendages. A lockout mechanism is operatively incorporated into the doll for preventing conflicting forces from occurring. The lockout mechanism may include a shuttlecock interposed two independent linkages that drive motion in a single appendage. The shuttlecock slides between two positions, each of which limits the movement of a corresponding one of the two linkages when the other of the two linkages is actuating motion in the appendage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon C. Marine, Simon Chow
  • Patent number: 6537127
    Abstract: In one embodiment the kisses that the doll may perform are “raspberry kisses”, “eskimo kisses” and regular kisses. To simulate a raspberry kiss a motor mechanism in the mouth of the doll causes the lips to vibrate, which causes a child to feel a tingling sensation when the child presses against the vibrating lips. To simulate an eskimo kiss the motor mechanism alternatively causes the head of the doll to move side-to-side, which when a child places their nose up against the doll's nose causes a rubbing feeling. The doll also includes a speaker to emit various sounds that coincide with the kisses. The doll will also give regular kisses that do not use the motor mechanism and are simply a kissing sound that emanates from the speaker. Various sensors or mechanical switches are used to activate the various kisses and sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: LUND and Company
    Inventors: Bruce D. Lund, Krishnan Srirangam, Michael Starrick
  • Patent number: 6461217
    Abstract: A toy figure includes a generally spherical torso supporting a pair of outwardly extending sleeves which in turn receive a pair of slidably supported arms. A second pair of sleeves supported on the torso receive a pair of slidably supported legs. An additional sleeve is positioned upon the toy figure head and receives a slidably supported shaft having a ball member at its outer end. A plurality of switches are positioned within the toy figure and are actuated as the arms, legs and head shaft are moved inwardly and outwardly. A sound circuit is supported within the toy figure and is responsive to actuation of the various switches therein to produce audible message or sound effects. The toy figure head further supports a pair of ears slidably movable in a lateral direction within the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Danutcha Pestonji
  • Patent number: 6394872
    Abstract: There is provided a robot or a picture on display, which is an embodied voice responsive toy for facilitating empathy. The toy is constructed by a voice input-output portion, a voice responsive pseudo-person, and a pseudo-person control portion, the voice input-output portion serves to input voice from the outside or output voice to the outside, and the pseudo-person control portion determines an action of the voice responsive pseudo-person from the voice passing through the voice input-output portion and actuates the voice responsive pseudo-person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Inter Robot Inc.
    Inventors: Tomio Watanabe, Hiroki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6371826
    Abstract: A plush toy animal figure defines a shape corresponding to a fanciful four-legged animal having a pair of elongated ears and a large head and nose. A movement mechanism supported within the plush animal figure includes a battery-powered motor drive and gear apparatus which is operatively coupled to a pair of elongated rigid ear paddles within each of the figures ears. A third paddle is supported within the head and nose of the figure and is operatively coupled to the gear drive. A pair of cams are moved by the drive mechanism and are used to actuate a pair of reversing switches. The reversing switches produce a reversal of drive motor direction each time they are actuated. The cams are positioned such that they alternate the actuation of their respective reversing switches. As a result, the motor is reversed when the ears and nose of the figure reach their upper and lower points of pivotal movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Danny Pestonji
  • Patent number: 6322420
    Abstract: A plush toy figure includes a motor-driven apparatus supported within the figure head for wiggling a pair of ear paddles which in turn causes the figure's ears to wiggle. A second motor drive unit supported within the figure's torso is operatively coupled to a pair of toe paddles which are oscillated to cause the figure's toes to wiggle. The figure's legs are pivotable between a standing and sitting position and the toes are operative in either posture. A switch positioned within the figure's mouth is actuated by the pressure of an item pressed against the figure's mouth to actuate the upper and lower drive mechanisms thereby causing the ears and toes to wiggle. The supporting paddles of the ears and toes include a spring-biased hinge to prevent damage to the drive mechanism due to misuse or excessive force applied to the ears or toes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Mattel Inc.
    Inventor: Armen Daniellian
  • Publication number: 20010029147
    Abstract: The present invention provides an interactive amusement device and system encompassing a primary robotic unit which performs actions communicated by a remote wireless transmitter and at least one secondary robotic unit which interacts through wireless communication with the primary robotic unit. In some embodiments, the primary and secondary robotic units interact with each other and the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: James R. Hornsby, Marcellus R. Benson, Joseph L. McGowan, Arne A. Schmidt, William H. Bronson
  • Patent number: 6071169
    Abstract: A doll includes a sound and movement unit within the torso thereof operative to simultaneously raise and lower the doll's head to mimic a hiccupping motion. A sound circuit within the sound and movement unit is operative to provide accompanying hiccup sounds. The movement and sound unit includes an inertia switch and a mouth switch both of which cooperate to allow the user to attempt appropriate action to terminate the doll's hiccupping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Robynn M. Cook
  • Patent number: 6053798
    Abstract: A structural improvement of toy Christmas tree, involving mainly a foundation unit that is installed on top of a base to accommodate the entire mechanism of the invention, on the side of the lower part of the foundation unit is installed a motor which intermittent off-and-on rotation is controlled by a control circuit board installed in the base, the motor being linked with a reduction gear and a spring to drive a toy lower jaw part at the lower part of the foundation unit, and a driving rod to activate a toy eyebrow part that is located at the upper part of the foundation unit, thereby, once the power of the invention is switched on, the control circuit board will play happy music and flash LED light (the lamps being installed in the eyeball part), while the motor will drive the eyebrows and mouth of the Christmas tree to flip up and down and open and close, to create a fun image, meanwhile, its construction more simplified than conventional models will enable effective reduction of costs and enhancement of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventor: Tai-Ning Tang
  • Patent number: 6017261
    Abstract: An animated mechanized figure which can be dressed as a tiger Santa character and is electrically-operated to provide vertical movements of the body and arms, forward and backward tilting of the head and vertical movements from the lower lip, together with vocal sounds emitted from a speaker provided in the body. The body member is movably supported from a central vertical post mounted on a base. A gear box is fixedly attached on the vertical post central portion within the body member, and contains a first electric drive motor and a driven rotor having an eccentric pin which contacts the body member rear part and moves the body and arms upward and downward, and also tilts the head forward and backward. The head member contains a second electric drive motor and driven rotor which is associated with a torsion spring unit and connected to a linkage which pivots the lower lip flap upward and downward in synchronism with vocal sounds emitted from the speaker mounted in the front part of the body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Telco Creations, Inc.
    Inventor: Marc Wachtel
  • Patent number: 5584741
    Abstract: A Halloween toy comprises an image member received within a frame. A mechanism is provided for moving the member into and out of the frame so as to achieve a scary effect. The image member may represent a face and movement of the member may be accompanied by light and sound effects. The image member may be covered by a sheet of material such that it is not readily visible when received within the frame but becomes visible when it it projects out of the frame. The mechanism for moving the image member is designed so as to occupy only a minimum of space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Seven Seas Plastic Fty Ltd.
    Inventor: Chik-Ting Cheung
  • Patent number: 5312287
    Abstract: A simulation toy includes an electromagnet received in a slot on the body of the toy and attached with a permanent magnet mounted flush with the toy, a control circuit controlled by a snap switch reciprocates a reciprocating rod through the electromagnet in pushing the permanent magnet out of the slot for showing a red colored area simulating a wound and simultaneously activate a speaker for making a sound simulating the crying of a child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Inventor: Gary Chuang
  • Patent number: 5236385
    Abstract: An animated toy doll which simulates a baby falling asleep is provided. Initially, the doll sits upright. A mechanical internal mechanism is provided for tilting or nodding the head forward, and then tilting the entire torso rearward to a final reclined sleeping position. The motions of the doll are triggered by squeezing one of the feet of the doll. Motion of the internal mechanism is dampened by a thick silicone gel to ensure slow and smooth movement of the mechanism to achieve a realistic, graceful animation of the doll. No electrical device or motor is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: California R&D Center, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard L. May
  • Patent number: 5108341
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a mechanism for synchronizing movement of a portion of a bird or other toy character with an audio source. In one form, a tape deck is included within the body of the bird. The tape deck plays cassettes which are prerecorded to provide audio on one channel and data on another channel. The audio is amplified and delivered to a speaker in the bird so that the bird can speak or sing as desired. Typically, the bird includes more than one movable part. The data is decoded and, in response to the data, drive mechanisms are operated to move desired parts of the bird. The data channel also carries address information in the event one or more optional satellite characters are used. Movement of the satellite characters is synchronized to the audio and to the master character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: View-Master Ideal Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric DeSmet
  • Patent number: 5030161
    Abstract: A crawling doll normally in an all-fours position, having inside it a battery-operated mechanism, which, by operation of a cam-connecting rod combination, makes the doll advance on the ground and, with each rotation of the cam, temporarily extends its hands frontwards in a head-down falling attitude, at the same time as it energizes a sound mechanism that reproduces a baby's weeping, subsequently moving the arms back to the initial all-fours position in order to develop the complete cycle of the mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Irwin Toy Limited
    Inventor: Vicente N. Pastor
  • Patent number: 4976376
    Abstract: A dispensing machine (100) is divided into three compartments (110, 112, 114). An animal-like figure including the body and head of an elephant (118) is located in a central compartment (112) and the head (118) can be rotated on the body by a drive mechanism (134) in the upper compartment (114). A number of non-prize containing packages (130) are provided in the central compartment (112) and prize-containing packages are located in the upper compartment (114). In operation, upon insertion of coins into the coin mechanism (154) the drive mechanism (134) is operated and causes the head (118) to turn through 360.degree. passing through the non-prize containing packages (130). Upon each cycle, one prize-containing package from the upper compartment (114) is released from the upper compartment and passes into the passage (112) in the head (118). The prize-containing package is discharged from the trunk of the head through opened bottomed bucket (128) into a prize-receiving receptacle (166).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Topline Leisure Ltd.
    Inventor: Geoffrey A. Williams
  • Patent number: 4913676
    Abstract: A moving animal toy wherein when a motor is started upper and lower beaks are pivoted up and down simultaneously to widely open and close its beaks, and at the same time a head is slowly rotated twisting its head sideways. When a voice is uttered against the toy, it is received through a microphone by a voice recording and reproducing device and after a specified recording time elapses, the voice is reproduced by the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Iwaya Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Koguchi, Takashi Furuya
  • Patent number: 4911676
    Abstract: A music doll driving mechanism which includes a music box in the body with a driving gear mounted thereon as disclosed. The driving gear includes a top cover and a bottom cover to form a container for the component parts which includes a revolving disk, a cam link mounted on the revolving disk to drive a rocking plate thereon to make reciprocal movements so as to further drive two rocker arms which are connected to both ends of the rocking plate and are driven to displace one arm of the doll separately or both, concomitantly according to the preferred design. A vertical axle is mounted on the revolving disk at the bottom, its extension axle mounted in the eccentric hole of the revolving disk, with the top end being inserted into the bottom of the doll's head portion. By this arrangement, the head and extremities of the music doll are simultaneously driven while the music box is driven to provide music.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Inventor: Te-An Fan
  • Patent number: 4810226
    Abstract: A calling device and a motion toy for using the calling device are disclosed. The motion toy comprises a body frame having a machine frame inside thereof. Foreleg frames, hind leg frames, and a tail frame are rotataly mounted on the body frame. A nose frame is mounted for back and forth movement on the main frame. A first driving gear is rotatably mounted in the machine frame to actuate the foreleg and hind leg frames. A second driving gear is rotatably mounted in the machine frame to actuate the tail and nose frames. A changeover gear is mounted on the machine for rotation about an axis and sliding movement along the axis for alternate engagement with either the first or the second driving gear. A motor is operatively connected to drive the changeover gear. The calling device of the motion toy includes a calling gear having teeth thereon rotatably mounted on the machine frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Iwaya Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime Takahashi, Masahiro Toda
  • Patent number: 4802878
    Abstract: A doll has bendable arms that are movable from a position generally alongside the doll's torso up toward the doll's head. Each arm has a hand attached for rotation about the wrist. When an arm is bent and moved up, the attached hand rotates. Movement of each arm is effected by a cable extending through a hollow, bendable conduit. One end of each cable is connected to a respective hand and at the other end to a common control knob. The hands are biased to rotate in one direction and rotate in the opposite direction when the respective cable is tightened. Side to side turning of the doll's head is also effected by movement of the control knob. In addition, a "crying" sound is effected through the control knob by turning over a sound drum when the arm and head motions are made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventors: Rouben T. Terzian, Walter J. Wozniak
  • Patent number: 4778432
    Abstract: A doll of a person with a drum who alternately appears to be beating the drum with his left and right hands while his head rotates left and right and a melody is playing. The doll includes a head portion, a torso portion, a limbs portion, a drum portion, a base portion, means to alternately raise and lower the hands in sequence and to alternately rotate the head left and right, and a melody module. The head portion includes a head which resembles a human and a drive pin. The torso portion is hollow and resembles the body of a human. The limbs portion resembles a human and includes a right arm, a right hand, a left arm, a left hand, a right leg, and a left leg. The drum portion includes a drum with a seat at its rear. The base portion includes a housing with feet on its bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Michael & Park's Trading and Sales, Inc.
    Inventor: Nam J. Yeu
  • Patent number: 4629439
    Abstract: A music box toy comprises a casing (1), a music box (7) housed therein, a stationary toy member (1a) provided on a front surface of the casing, a converting mechanism provided in the casing for converting a rotational driving force derived from a power spring of the music box (7) into a vertical reciprocating driving force, a movable toy member including a head member (4) and a trunk member (3), the trunk member being operatively connected to the converting means to perform a reciprocating movement during an operation of the music box, the head member being rotatably supported by the trunk member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sankyo Seiki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Yoshio Kitamura