Abstract: Greeting devices are described herein. In some embodiments, the greeting device can include an elongate body having a first end portion defining a chamber, and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. A message module can be positioned at least partially within the chamber. The greeting device can further include a first arm pivotably coupled to a first side of the body, and a second arm pivotably coupled to a second side of the body opposite the first side. An actuation mechanism can be operably coupled to the body. When actuated, the actuation mechanism can be configured to: (i) pivot the first and second arms relative to the body in a first direction toward the message module; and (ii) move the message module in a first direction from the chamber to extend at least partially beyond the body.

Abstract: A toy doll with a movable portion is a toy doll with a first portion and a second portion that is movably coupled to the first portion and movable between a first configuration and a second configuration. The first portion includes a trigger that may actuate at least one of an engagement assembly and a hinge assembly. The engagement assembly may retain the second portion in the first configuration until the trigger is actuated while the hinge assembly may move the second portion of the toy doll to the second configuration.

Abstract: A walk-around character assembly or system with enhanced control functionality to provide a performer of a walk-around character the ability to silently and non-visibly trigger audio, animation, and/or special effects. A deflection monitoring (or chin movement) sensor is provided in the head portion of the character costume to detect predefined chin movements, e.g., a performer opening their mouth once or twice within a time period to limit false negatives/triggers. For example, a potentiometer or force sensor may be provided in the chin strap of a character head. The performer is able to trigger an audio response or to animate the mouth of the character head with relatively small movements of their jaw as a controller processes the sensor signals to determine when to generate control signals to operate sound equipment on the character costume.

Abstract: A roping practice apparatus for realistically simulating motion of the head of an animal to train a roper in roping skill. The roping practice apparatus includes: a steering unit drivable and rotatable by a power source; a transmission section rotatable in response to the rotation of the steering unit, the transmission section having a first end mounted on the steering unit and a second end; a universal actuator to which the second end of the transmission section is pivotally connected; and a driven section mounted on the universal actuator and rotatable in response to the rotation of the transmission section. A head model is connected with the driven section and drivable by the driven section to swing back and forth and left and right within a range of 360°.

Abstract: A toy includes a sensor that senses a condition, a movable region, and an actuator coupled to the movable region to move the movable region in a direction relative to the sensed condition. The movable region is coupled to a body that houses electromechanical components for sensing conditions and for moving the movable region in response to the detected conditions.

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.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides an animated plush doll such as a newborn dog or cat. The doll includes a plush covering over a housing comprising a head portion and a body portion. Disposed within the body portion is a drive mechanism including a motor and a plurality of gears. An electronic control circuit is linked to the drive mechanism for controlling the motor and producing pre-recorded songs among other things. One or more actuatable switches or sensors provide inputs to the electronic control circuit for effecting various movements of the toy. The head portion is movably coupled to the body portion and includes movable eye members. The drive mechanism is operative to move the eye members in a coordinated manner with the head portion so that the toy simulates the movements of a newborn animal such as awakening and falling asleep.

Abstract: A wobbling toy having a wobbling part which wobbles centering around a predetermined shaft; a solar battery power source; an integrated circuit for a watch powered by the solar battery; a magnet coil excited by a voltage pulse from the integrated circuit and switching polarity; and a magnetic body provided on the wobbling part, and subjected to an action of an electromagnetic force from the magnet coil.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is a device by means of which simulation of the lengthening of shortening of, for example, a limb is obtaining by construction of a telescoping structure, the mutual sliding of which, and therefore the lengthening or shortening is controlled by means of threads that are rolled or unrolled from a disk shaped like one or more side-by-side pulleys. Thanks also to the action of a counteracting spring. The movement of the spools is controlled by a circuit that registers shaking and therefore playing with the toy according to the equation, more playing=more growth (that is, more shaking more growth).

Abstract: A transmission mechanism for a doll is arranged on a top stage of the doll and comprises a motor fixed to the top stage, a pulley set linked to the motor, a gear set having a plurality of gears and linked to the pulley set, a link having one end eccentrically connected to one gear in the gear set, and a swing rod pivotally arranged on the top stage by a center part thereof. The link has another end connected to the swing rod and the swing rod has two limbs on two opposite ends thereof. The limbs have alternative swing motion due to a seesaw motion of the swing rod. Therefore, the arms of the doll can be swung lively by the limbs.

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.

Abstract: An animated toy animal includes a hollow shell having a body part and a head part. The head part has an upper mandible and a lower mandible movable relative to the upper mandible. A neckerchief extends downward from the head part to conceal a seam between the parts. A device is arranged in the body part for wagging the head part side to side relative to the body part, and another device is arranged in the head part for moving the lower mandible upward and downward relative to the upper mandible.

Abstract: A movable mechanical doll has a seat. A shoulder-arm part and a head part (40) are mounted on the seat. A hollow body covers the seat and the shoulder-arm part (20). A headpiece (60) covers the head part (40) and has a mouth. When motors of the doll are actuated, the doll can swing the shoulders and the arms, turn the head and open/close the mouth.

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.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a motion expressible toy featuring an animal character, and more particularly to a motion expressible toy which is capable of expressing emotion or intention by taking the various kinds of body gesture characterized by the independent and the combined mechanism of a mouth, a head, arms and a main body as a whole body, and to thereby characterize a real gesture as a really living character such as a gesture of approval, denial or hesitation related to the communication circumstance, to thereby provide familiarity and curiosity to the children.

Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses an expandable doll or the like having a central, manually operated air pump 22 which takes air in through a one-way valve 14 located in the doll's naval and is then distributed proportionally to all the extremities through a semi-rigid, plastic air tube 24 distribution system. The expansion takes place through the action of a system of bellows 26 that connect each of the separate bodily elements at their normal junctures 16, 18 and 20. The doll is covered with a realistic, elastic skin 32 which complies with the stretching action of the bellows 26 at each expanding juncture. Each bellows 26 is custom designed for a particular body element in order to be able to expand to the extent and at a rate appropriate for that particular element at each incremental stage of development from a baby to a toddler.

Abstract: A toy figure includes a body, a pair of wings, a pair of legs, a tail, and a head converted to generally resemble a bird or other flying creature. The legs and wings are pivotally mounted to the body using a mechanism by which the pivotal movement of the legs in response to the user squeezing and releasing them repeatedly produces a corresponding wing-flapping action. A spring urges the wings to a raised position and urges the legs to a spread position. The head is pivotally supported by the body and a cam follower and cam arrangement couples the head to the wing movement apparatus such that the head moves side-to-side simultaneous with the wing-flapping movement.

Abstract: A doll includes a torso supporting a pair of legs each having a simulated skate supported of the lower end thereof. The torso further supports a head which is coupled to a neck portion of the doll by a freely pivoting coupler. A housing within the doll torso supports a pivoting yoke coupled to a gear and rack drive mechanism. The gear rack is coupled to a depressible push button which the user actuates by squeezing the doll torso. A pair of arms are pivotally supported upon the torso and coupled to a gear drive mechanism responsive to the push button to move the arms back-and-forth in opposite pivotal directions as the push button repetitively squeezed and released.

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.

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.

Abstract: The doll has the peculiarity that the movement towards the right or towards the left of one of its arms carries with it the same movement of the head and also of the eyes. Likewise, the movement upwards or downwards of the arm carries with it the movement upwards and downwards of the head. Both movements can be made in combination, whereby any object (dummy, feeding bottle or similar) held in the hand of the driven arm, is carried towards the upper-front part, in such a way that if it is a feeding bottle this one is applied to the mouth of the doll and a miction of the doll is produced. Such movements are achieved as a consequence that the driven arm and the head are assembled on the body of the doll, through both ball joints, through a series of levers, axles and forks as so as to allow of transmission of the movements of a main lever associated to the ball joint of the arm, up to the ball joint itself of the head. FIG. 1.

Abstract: A toy has a changing facial expression and includes a hollow toy body with a torso section and a head section on the torso section. The head section has a front side formed with a face opening. The torso section is provided with a pair of forwardly extending arms that are mounted pivotally on two sides thereof. The arms have distal ends that hold a shielding member therebetween, and are pivotable on the torso section between a lowered position, where the shielding member uncovers the face opening, and a raised position, where the shielding member extends across the face opening to cover the face opening. A face member is disposed rotatably in the head section of the toy body and is formed with at least two face sections. The face member can be rotated to move a previous one of the face sections from alignment with the face opening and register another one of the face sections with the face opening when the arms are in the raised position.

Abstract: A toy animal is provided with an electrically powered motor which drives a curled tongue through a generally orbital motion that realistically resembles a licking motion. A switch for actuating the motor may be pressure responsive and may be disposed at a location on the body and/or the head of the animal that may be petted or squeezed. The toy animal may further include a sound chip for generating an appropriate noise when the switch is actuated. Portions of the head near the tongue are formed from a soft deformable material to achieve facial movement simultaneously with the licking motion.

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.

Abstract: A doll including a torso, a pair of arms rotatably joined to the torso, a pair of legs rotatably fixed to the torso, a pair of feet rotatably fixed to the legs, apparatus within each of the legs for raising the feet, and apparatus actuated by movement of the arms for actuating the apparatus within each of the legs for raising the feet.

Abstract: A touch responsive animated toy figure is fabricated of a soft or plush material and supports an internal housing formed of a rigid plastic material or the like. A rigid head chassis is supported within the head portion of the plush figure and is pivotally secured to a neck extension of the internal body housing. A motor driven operative mechanism produces a pivotal motion of the figure's head for a predetermined time interval each time the motor is energized. A reciprocating tongue motion is provided in response to head motion to cause a tongue to be successively extended and withdrawn from the head portion of the figure during head motion. A sensor located on the outer portion of the plush figure is operatively coupled to the motor control causing the initiation of an operative cycle for a predetermined interval each time the sensor is touched or manipulated.

Abstract: A movable decoration capable of being moved to exhibit unexpected motion or variation in configuration while maintaining a conventional ornamental effect in a stationary state, resulting in a viewer taking much interest and exhibiting lots of imaginative power. The movable decoration includes a power supply, to which a sensor switch is connected. Also, the decoration includes a motor connected through the sensor switch to the power supply, a drive mechanism connected to the motor so as to be actuated thereby, and a core in the form of a wire operatively connected to the drive mechanism so as to be rotated depending on actuation of the drive mechanism. On the core is loosely fitted a hollow element such as a artificial plant, a doll or the like so that it may be meanderingly moved depending on and separate from rotation of the core.

Abstract: A doll with articulated legs that are motor driven to pivot in an alternating, out-of-phase, motion to simulate walking has switch controls actuatable by user manipulation of an arm and hand of the doll. Rotation of the arm energizes the motor while squeezing a depressible portion of the hand selectively increases the power to the motor and hence the walking speed of the doll.

Abstract: A toy doll having a kiss activated play feature includes a doll having a torso, arm and leg appendages, and a head pivotally secured by a neck extension to the torso. A plurality of sparkle elements are supported on the doll exterior and an electronic energizing circuit for the sparkle elements is supported within a cavity located in the doll torso. The head is supported by a neck extension in a pivotal attachment in which a switch supported within the torso is actuated by backward motion or tilting of the doll head with respect to the torso. A return spring is provided which urges the head to a vertical position and which resists the backward tilting of the head. The child actuates the flashing of the sparkle elements by kissing or caressing the face or frontal area of the doll head with sufficient force to overcome the spring and tilt the head back a sufficient distance to actuate the flashing switch.

Abstract: An animated toy figure includes an upper and lower torso pivotally joined near the figure's waist portion. A head is pivotally secured to the neck portion of the upper torso. Arm and leg members are pivotally secured to the upper and lower torso portions respectively. A gear drive and drive shaft mechanism is supported within the upper torso and is coupled between the lower torso and the head to provide rotation of the head in response to rotation of the lower torso.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the recording and playback of animation control signals, including voice, are disclosed. In accordance with the method, a dual track cassette recording is made, one track consisting of a voice channel and the other track consisting of a plurality of control signals for the control of animation, and in some instances for control of the speaker or speakers through which the voice channel will be played back, whereby two or more animated characters may appear to speak to each other or speak or sing in unison are disclosed. The control signals are pulse width modulated signals to provide, in general, proportional control signals to provide proportional control, through appropriate servo motors and the like, of the animated elements such as mouth, eyes, etc. of the animated character.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a mouth for a puppet capable of being hand operated and the method for forming the same. A pair of identical semi-rigid pieces having a lip region periphery have separate layers of fabric sewn to the pieces adjacent the lip periphery and one of the fabric layers is slit and pulled over the periphery to enclose the edge. The pieces are sewn together to define a hinge, and the assembly is mounted upon plates within a puppet mouth opening.

Abstract: A string pickup game apparatus includes a pair of supporters each of which has a pair of pinchers which are manipulated by a trigger such that two players using the two supporters can pick up string objects and place them in corresponding holding areas. The object of the game is to remove as many string objects as possible from a central holding area, and also from an opponents holding area, and deposit them in the player's own holding area.

Abstract: An animated figure toy (10) includes an upper torso (14) provided with a neck opening (28) in which an elongated neck-and-head assembly (18) is reciprocably mounted for reciprocation by a twisted blade (52) affixed to a lower torso (16) and riding in a slot (54) provided in the lower end of neck-and-head assembly (18).

Abstract: A movable toy animal wherein an electric motor is set on a frame in a head and electrically connected to a battery in a trunk, gearing is operatively connected to the electric motor, an axially-movable change-over gear is meshed with a first output gear in the gearing and adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from a nose-driving gear, which is adapted to move a nose forward and backward and mounted fixedly on a crankshaft, a driving shaft having an input gear is meshed with a second output gear in the gearing, a cam disc is mounted fixedly on the driving shaft, the cam disc having on its inner side surface a projection adapted to urge a pressure-receiving portion of a slide shaft, on which the change-over gear is fixedly mounted, first and second cam plates of different shapes is mounted fixedly on both end portions of the driving shaft and connected operatively to operating members, which are adapted to move ears up and down, and a switch unit is provided in a rear portion of a head so as to constitute a