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.

Abstract: A tearing eye doll having a pair of synthetic eyes, each formed by an eye-shaped porous block whose face simulates the white of a human eye, and an impermeable disc seated in a recess in the face and colored to simulate an iris and a pupil therein. Received in a cavity within the block behind the disc is a nozzle for injecting water into the block, the water passing through the pores and emerging from the face to form a water film thereon from which tears drop, thereby simulating tearing activity. The eye nozzle are coupled to a miniature water reservoir disposed within the doll. The reservoir is subjected to air pressure by a compressible pneumatic actuator enclosed in a flexible arm of the doll, such that when the arm is squeezed, water forced into the eye nozzles to produce a tearing action.

Abstract: An interactive talking book and audio player assembly, the back cover of the book having an ROM module attached to its end margin in which is stored digitally recorded spoken texts corresponding to texts printed on pages of the book. Printed on the end margin of each book page that carries a printed text is a page-identifying binary bar code formed by reflective and non-reflective elements. Associated with the book is an audio player having a base inlet adapted to receive the end margin of the back cover and to bring the terminals of the ROM module into engagement with inlet contacts connecting the module to a speech unit for converting the digitally-recorded texts into audio signals which are amplified and reproduced. When the pages of the book are turned, they overlie the base inlet of the player, the bar code on the open page being then exposed to ambient light.

Abstract: A stereoscopic viewer comprises a housing having an advancing plate for supporting and advancing a disc-shaped carrying card for stereo images which are viewed through a pair of eyepieces in the housing. A trigger oscillates the plate to incrementally rotate the card and position sequential pairs of images in the viewing axis of the eyepieces. The trigger includes a depressible actuator vertically projecting through a top surface of the viewer, as it is held for viewing. The trigger comprises a cylindrical actuator portion projecting through the top surface of the housing, and a leg depending from the actuator portion which engages the advancing plate to oscillate it as the trigger is depressed. As the plate oscillates in a forward direction, a flat front face of a pawl on the plate engages a radial slot on the disc to rotate it. The pawl is slightly inclined in the direction of advance of the card to help hold the card flat against the plate during incremental advancement.