Abstract: The present invention provides a toy doll for the amusement of a subject, that includes a torso, body, ahead and limbs, designed, sized and dimensioned for enabling the doll to be worn on the body of the subject in a position thereon sufficient for engaging in a “piggy back” and/or “horsey” style play. The child may engage the instant doll in such “piggy back” and/or “horse” style play, while in sitting, crawling and upright (or standing) play. The toy doll includes an electronic sound emanating module portions of which can be activated by releasably connecting one limb of the doll to another limb of the doll about the body of the subject. The doll includes a motion sensor including an averaging circuit for enabling substantially continuous sound such as galloping, while the doll is in motion. Optionally, the doll includes a tilt sensor for emanating a “neighing” sound when the longitudinal axis of the doll is tilted relative to the vertical axis.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for assisting a child to read a book having at least one visual indicia displayed adjacent one or more of the plurality of printed objects. Each of the at least one visual indicia is uniquely associated with the adjacent one of the plurality of printed objects. The device includes a user input device separate from the book having at least one touch-sensitive switch and at least one visual indicia displayed thereon for receiving a user command indicative of a user's selection of a visual indicia and for outputting a signal corresponding to the selected visual indicia. The device further includes a storage device for storing data representing speech associated with the printed objects adjacent the visual indicia. A controller receives the signal outputted from the user input device and selectively retrieves the data corresponding to the selected visual indicia. A sound generator then converts the retrieved data into speech.

Abstract: An amusement device for a helical coil spring toy that generates a response such as sound or light whenever the wave of the helical coil spring changes direction. The amusement device includes two end caps affixed to the two free ends of the coil spring. One of the two end caps is an active end cap which houses the mechanism for generating the response. When the helical coil spring is compressed at the active end cap end a trigger switch activates an integrated circuit thereby producing the desired response. When the wave of compressed coils travels to the passive end cap a second response is produced by a time delay circuit so that user selective alternating responses are produced each time the wave of coils travels from one end cap to the other.

Abstract: A decorative, action oriented ornament/display system is attained by providing an attention-attracting member which cooperates with a support platform or plate which is removably mounted to any limb or branch of a tree. By employing this construction, an ornament display system is realized which is quickly and easily mounted to a tree, whenever desired, or removed therefrom for display on any other surface. In the preferred embodiment, the ornament/display member incorporates interlock means formed on the support plate for removably affixing the ornament/display member to the support plate whenever desired. Furthermore, the ornament/display member also preferably incorporates a stowable hook or ring member cooperatively associated with the upper portion of the ornament/display member for enabling the ornament/display member to be affixed to a supporting branch or limb independently of the platform.

Abstract: A unique audible message or information delivery system particularly suited for toys is realized by providing each model or type of toy in a particular group or class with a unique identification code and also providing a message delivery and handling assembly which incorporates a plurality of independent messages, each of which are specifically related to one particular toy model and are constructed for being delivered by the message delivery assembly upon receipt of the particular identification code. In this way, whenever a toy model interfaces with the information/message delivery assembly, the unique, identifying code associated with the model is received by the information/message delivery assembly and is processed for activating the audible presentation of the specifically designated message associated with that particular model.

Abstract: An electronic simulated baby bottle toy generates human-like sounds and includes a cylindrically-shaped hollow housing portion with a nipple-shaped member mounted on one end of the housing portion to simulate a nurser bottle. Four microswitches within the toy can be individually activated by applying pressure to the nipple member or to a flexible cover on the side of the housing portion. The switches selectively activate a VLSI synthesizer chip which generates any of four signals. Each signal controls a sound transducer causing the transducer to generate a selected human-like sound.

Abstract: An inexpensive yet effective circuit for producing an irregular pulse train of variable frequency and duty cycle, particularly for generating simulated sounds, such as engine sounds for toy vehicles, is disclosed. The circuit comprises an integrated circuit including a plurality of Schmitt trigger inverters (U1A, U1B) configured for oscillation at different frequencies, and a resistance element (R3, R7) in series with one, and preferably both, of the power supply connections to the inverters, with the circuit output comprising the output of one of the Schmitt trigger inverters (U1B). In a preferred embodiment, a capacitance element (C4) is connected between the output of a Schmitt trigger inverter and its system voltage input for further modulating the circuit output.

Abstract: A light-sensitive device is placed so as to receive a portion of the ambient light energy present within the mouth of the operator. The amount of ambient light impinging upon the sensing device is then modulated by movement of the lips and teeth of the operator, controlling some external process.