Abstract: A toy is configured to closely resemble a live animal and to respond to stimuli in a realistic manner that is consistent with the way in which a real animal would respond. For example, when the toy is designed to resemble a dog or a cat, the toy may be configured to move in a manner consistent with the movements of a dog or a cat. This realistic movement, in conjunction with a realistic fur coat coupled to and covering inner mechanical components, may be used to provide a strikingly realistic toy.

Abstract: An apparatus for a moving a toy appendage includes a moveable device within a toy appendage that is attached to a body of a toy and an actuator connected to the moveable device. The actuator is configured to rotate the moveable device about a drive axis that is fixed relative to the body of the toy. The actuator is configured to rotate at least a first portion of the moveable device relative to at least a second portion of the moveable device about a device axis that is fixed relative to the moveable device.

Abstract: A toy includes a body, a motor within the body, an appendage coupled to the body of the toy, a tail device coupled to the body of the toy, and a neck device coupled to the body of the toy. The appendage is actuated by the motor to move along a first path. The tail device is actuated by the motor to move along a second path. The neck device is actuated by the motor to move along a third path.

Abstract: An artificial eye for use in animated plush toys has a one-piece eyeball and lid that are integrally molded. The eye further includes a shaped member and a retaining post. A crossplate of the shaped member is preferably curved to correspond to the curvature of the eye, and is operative to animate a portion of plush contiguous to the eye. The portion of plush to be animated has an attached elongated flap which includes a forked free end wherein each branch of the forked end includes a hole. The elongated flap is inserted into the doll's body or head cavity, and each branch is tucked under the curved crossplate of the shaped member. The retaining post engages the holes near the ends of each branch, thereby fixedly retaining the flap to the eye. When the eye is rotated the plush portion also moves thereby simulating movement of an eyelid.

Abstract: A realistic electromechanical toy that can replicate lifelike resting and active positions and movements of animals and other creatures while they are supported on a surface as well as when they are picked up by a user by coordinating the positioning and movement of specific body parts. To this end it is regarded that through observation of real live animals, the animals are seen to drop down or droop their legs when they are picked up off a supporting surface. Cats in particular can easily be shown to drop down or droop their legs in what looks like a relaxed and non-flexing position when they are picked up from a supporting surface. An upper limb portion facilitates extension of an intermediate limb portion when the upper limb portion is in its extended position, and retracts the intermediate limb portion when the upper limb portion is in its resting position with a biased joint positioning the intermediate limb portion to its extended position when the body is elevated away from a supporting surface.

Abstract: An artificial eye for use in animated plush toys has a one-piece eyeball and lid that are integrally molded. The eye further includes a shaped member and a retaining post. A crossplate of the shaped member is preferably curved to correspond to the curvature of the eye, and is operative to animate a portion of plush contiguous to the eye. The portion of plush to be animated has an attached elongated flap which includes a forked free end wherein each branch of the forked end includes a hole. The elongated flap is inserted into the doll's body or head cavity, and each branch is tucked under the curved crossplate of the shaped member. The retaining post engages the holes near the ends of each branch, thereby fixedly retaining the flap to the eye. When the eye is rotated the plush portion also moves thereby simulating movement of an eyelid.

Abstract: A very compact interactive animated character is provided that provides highly life-like and intelligent seeming interaction with the user thereof. The animated character can take the form of a small animal-like creature having a variety of moving body parts including a smile/emotion assembly which are coordinated to exhibit life-like emotional states by precisely controlling and synchronizing their movements in response to external sensed conditions. The animated character also includes sound generating circuitry to generate speech sounds as well as sounds associated with various emotional states, which are coordinated with a lip sync assembly simulating speech mouth movement. The drive system utilizes first and second reversible motors which are able to power and precisely coordinate the lip sync assembly producing speech mouth movement, with the movable parts and the smile/emotion assembly to produce life-like interactions and emotional expressions.

Abstract: A toy is configured to closely resemble a live animal and to respond to stimuli in a realistic manner that is consistent with the way in which a real animal would respond. For example, when the toy is designed to resemble a dog or a cat, the toy may be configured to move in a manner consistent with the movements of a dog or a cat. This realistic movement, in conjunction with a realistic fur coat coupled to and covering inner mechanical components, may be used to provide a strikingly realistic toy.

Abstract: A toy includes a body and an appendage system at a side of the body. The appendage system includes an arm and a linkage. The arm includes a first end fixed to rotate in a circular path and a second unfixed end. The arm defines a slot extending between the first and second ends. The linkage includes a linkage rod that is engaged with the slot. The linkage is positionable about a linkage shaft coupled to the body. Rotation of the first end of the arm causes the second unfixed end of the arm to move in a non-circular path that varies depending on the position of the linkage about the linkage shaft.

Abstract: An artificial eye suitable for realistic use in dolls that replicate human beings, animals, and other creatures such as dinosaurs, aliens, monsters, and the like. The artificial eyes, according to some embodiments of the present invention, have a one-piece eyeball and lid that are integrally molded. The integrally molded eye and lid of the present invention reduces the part count of the eye when compared to conventional two-piece eye/lid combinations, which lowers the cost of production by eliminating high cost, labor intensive secondary operations. Furthermore, the process used to create these high-quality artificial eyeballs is a high volume, low cost operation. Each embodiment of the present invention has one or more of the following elements: a bowl-shaped member, an eyelid integrally molded with the bowl-shaped member, a pupil visible through the bowl-shaped member, an iris-like member visible through the bowl-shaped member, and an attachment member to attach the artificial eye.

Abstract: An artificial eye for use in animated plush toys has a one-piece eyeball and lid that are integrally molded. The eye further includes a shaped member and a retaining post. A crossplate of the shaped member is preferably curved to correspond to the curvature of the eye, and is operative to animate a portion of plush contiguous to the eye. The portion of plush to be animated has an attached elongated flap which includes a forked free end wherein each branch of the forked end includes a hole. The elongated flap is inserted into the doll's body or head cavity, and each branch is tucked under the curved crossplate of the shaped member. The retaining post engages the holes near the ends of each branch, thereby fixedly retaining the flap to the eye. When the eye is rotated the plush portion also moves thereby simulating movement of an eyelid.

Abstract: An apparatus for a moving a toy appendage includes a moveable device within a toy appendage that is attached to a body of a toy and an actuator connected to the moveable device. The actuator is configured to rotate the moveable device about a drive axis that is fixed relative to the body of the toy. The actuator is configured to rotate at least a first portion of the moveable device relative to at least a second portion of the moveable device about a device axis that is fixed relative to the moveable device.

Abstract: An artificial eye suitable for realistic use in dolls that replicate human beings, animals, and other creatures such as dinosaurs, aliens, monsters, and the like. The artificial eyes, according to some embodiments of the present invention, have a one-piece eyeball and lid that are integrally molded. The integrally molded eye and lid of the present invention reduces the part count of the eye when compared to conventional two-piece eye/lid combinations, which lowers the cost of production by eliminating high cost, labor intensive secondary operations. Furthermore, the process used to create these high-quality artificial eyeballs is a high volume, low cost operation. Each embodiment of the present invention has one or more of the following elements: a bowl-shaped member, an eyelid integrally molded with the bowl-shaped member, a pupil visible through the bowl-shaped member, an iris-like member visible through the bowl-shaped member, and an attachment member to attach the artificial eye.

Abstract: A toy includes a body that has a fixed part, a movable part secured to the fixed part, and a flexible elastomer skin. The flexible elastomer skin covers at least a portion of the fixed part and couples to the movable part. The flexible skin moves in response to movement of the movable part.