Interactive figure
An interactive toy aquatic animal is provided and includes a head, a tail and a bottom portion. The toy includes a flexible tail extending from the rear portion. A wheel rotatably attached to the bottom portion. A first motor mechanism operatively connected to the wheel, wherein when the first motor mechanism drives said wheel, the figure moves causing the tail to flex. A second motor mechanism is also provided and operatively connected to various other parts of the animal for movement thereof. For example, the second motor mechanism causing the blinking of eyelids, the flapping of side appendages, and/or the vibration of a tongue.
Latest Rehco, LLC Patents:
The present invention relates to a toy figure with various pre-recorded sounds and movements that are played upon the activation of one or more switches.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONToy figures have always been the mainstay as toys for young children. Included therewith, are figures that when activated by a user talk or sing in response thereto. For example, in some instances a switch may be placed within the figure that when pressed causes the toy figure to emit various sound bites or noises. The present invention is directed more towards aquatic animals or animals and figures that include tails, such as but not limited to, fish, mermaids, dragons, alligators, etc.
The prior art does include numerous mechanical aquatic animals. In their basic form, aquatic animals have been developed for many years for fish tanks and aquariums. Such aquatic animals may include mechanical moving parts that may be activated by pressure, floats, or springs to simulate movement in the water. More recent robotic aquatic animals include highly developed mechanics to actually move the robotic aquatic animals under water in a manner that simulates an actual fish swimming.
Nevertheless, there is always a continual need for improvements and novel features not found in the prior art. For example, the ability to provide an aquatic animal or other tailed creature (hereinafter referred to broadly as a “figure”) that does not require water and that still resembles the same movement. Such a figure includes multiple switches and a proximity sensor that when triggered, invokes various responses and movements. For example, if the figure was a fish, the responses and movements could include a moving tail and flippers. The fish may also include vibrations in the mouth to simulate nibbling and include the closing or blinking of an eye. Various sound responses may also be included such as music, voices, and sound effects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a toy figure, having a body defined with a front portion, a rear portion, and a bottom portion. The figure further includes a flexible tail extending from the rear portion. The tail being defined as having a flexible membrane with a plurality of sectional coverings separately secured to the flexible membrane. The flexible membrane is able to remain flexible in regions defined between the plurality of sectional coverings. The figure also includes a wheel rotatably attached to the body and extending from the bottom portion of the body. A first motor mechanism is housed in the body and is operatively connected to drive the wheel such that when the first motor mechanism is activated the wheel moves, which causes the freely flexible tail to move.
The figure may also include a head extending from the front portion of the body. The head has a pair of eyes and a pair of eye lids that are moveable in relation to the eyes and biased in an open position. A second motor mechanism is housed in the body and operatively connected to the eye lids such that when the second motor mechanism is activated, the eye lids are engaged to move to a closed position temporarily to provide an appearance the figure has blinked.
The figure may also include a mouth with a tongue pivotally connected therein. The second motor mechanism when operating is able to engage and move the tongue causing the tongue to vibrate. The vibration movement simulates the figure nibbling.
The figure may also include a pair of appendages separately extending from either side of the body of the figure. Each appendage is movably connected to the body of the figure. In addition, the second motor mechanism when operating is able to move the pair of appendages.
A circuit board having preprogrammed sounds and controls is further positioned in the figure. The preprogrammed controls are defined to control the motor mechanisms and thus control the movement of the figure. The circuit board has programming to replay the preprogrammed sounds and controls upon the triggering of a switch or possibly upon direction of a timing mechanism.
Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSA fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the invention and/or claims of the embodiments illustrated.
Referring now to
The
The responses may include mechanical movement of portions of the figure, including, movement of the tail 14 (
Turning now to
Housed within the body 28 of the
As mentioned, the circuit board 40 controls motor mechanisms to move the
Continuing to refer to
Similarly, a second one way clutch mechanism is employed to vibrate the tongue 23. The tongue gear train 76 when moving in a specific direction operates a gear cap 88 that moves a tongue flapper arm 100. The tongue flapper arm 100 comes in contact with a tongue flap 102 that is secured to a tongue 23. The tongue 23 is pivotally secured to the body 30 such that movement of the tongue flap 102 will cause the tongue to vibrate about its pivot 106. Moreover, the eye gear train 74 and the tongue gear train 76 are laid out such that when the second motor 70 is operating in a first direction, the eye flapper arm 90 moves and when the second motor 70 is operating in a direction opposite to the first direction, the tongue flapper arm 100 moves.
When the second motor 70 is operating in either direction, the second motor 70 engages the fin gear train 78. The fin gear train 78 includes a pair of fin gears 110 secured on an axle. The fin gears 110 are diametrically opposed on either side of the
Various switches in the
A second switch 132 may be positioned within the mouth 22. The second switch 132 is activated when a user places an object within the mouth, such as a finger (
Referring now to
Referring now to
The present invention may therefore be described as a motorized interactive audio animatronics toy aquatic animal having semi-realistic styling, motorized moving eyes and mouth as well as a multi-segmented body and tail. The tail has pivoting means for simulating the action of swimming in place when an electronically controlled motorized transverse wheel located beneath the front end of the animal causes the front end of the animal to oscillate. The same motorized wheel can cause the animal to rotate 360° in either direction. The animal is equipped with switches and sensors in various locations to detect petting and feeding and sounds from a person interacting with the fish and further includes a speaker and electronic voice for responding to and/or prompting interaction from a person. The animal may include other sound effects such as bubbling or splashing and/or other human sounds such as burping.
In another embodiment, the present invention may be a motorized interactive audio animatronics toy animal having robotic styling, as well as a multi-segmented body and tail. The tail having pivoting means for simulating the action of swimming in place when an electronically controlled motorized transverse wheel causes the animal to rotate in either direction and/or perform electronically controlled moves in response to pre-programmed sounds or music. The animal is equipped switches, sensors or lights and a speaker that when combined with its motorized movements can convey a mood of the animal. To increase the quality of play with the animal. The animal can further have electronic circuits programmed to help compose music to convey its mood.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the present invention may be controlled through a remote controller unit. The remote controller unit may send signals received by receivers in the animal. The circuit board may have programming to control the movement of the animal to follow the signals or move the animal in response to such signals.
From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it is observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the embodiments illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is intended to cover, by the appended claims, all such modifications within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A toy figure having a body defined with a front portion, a rear portion, and a bottom portion, the figure further comprising:
- a flexible tail extending from the rear portion, the tail being defined as having a flexible membrane with a plurality of sectional coverings separately secured to the flexible membrane, wherein the flexible membrane remains flexible in regions defined between the plurality of sectional coverings;
- a wheel rotatably attached to the body and extending from the bottom portion of the body; and
- a motor mechanism housed in the body and operatively driving said wheel, wherein when the motor mechanism drives said wheel across a surface, the figure moves further causing the tail to flex.
2. The figure of claim 1 further comprising:
- a head extending from the front portion, the head having a pair of eyes and a pair of eye lids moveable in relation to said eyes, each eye lid being biased in an open position; and
- a second motor mechanism housed in the body and operatively connected to said eye lids such that when the second motor mechanism is activated, the eye lids are engaged to move to a closed position temporarily to blink the eye lids.
3. The figure of claim 2, wherein:
- each eye lid, of the eye lids, has an eye flap extending within the body of the figure, the eye lids capable of moving to a closed position when the eye flaps are engaged and the eye lids being biased to the open position return thereto when the eye flaps are not engaged; and
- the second motor mechanism drives an eye gear train, the eye gear train engages a gear cap when the motor mechanism is operating in a first direction, the gear cap includes a flapper arm that rotates around the gear cap such that the flapper arm engages and moves the eye flaps to a closed position once every revolution of the gear cap,
- whereby operation of the second motor mechanism in the first direction causes the eye lids to blink.
4. The figure of claim 3 further comprising:
- a mouth positioned on the head of the figure, the mouth having a tongue pivotally connected therein, the tongue including a tongue flap that when engaged moves the tongue about its pivotal connection; and
- the second motor mechanism when operating in a direction opposite of said first direction engages a tongue gear train that engages and moves a second gear cap, the second gear cap includes a second flapper arm that rotates around the second gear cap such that the second flapper arm engages and moves the tongue flap once every revolution of the second gear cap;
- whereby the second motor mechanism when operating in the second direction causes the second flapper arm to engage and move the tongue flap once every revolution of the gear cap such that the tongue vibrates about its pivotal connection.
5. The figure of claim 4 further comprising:
- a pair of appendages separately extending from either side of the body of the figure, each appendage movably connected to the body of the figure; and
- the second motor mechanism when operating in the first and second directions drives an appendage gear train that engages and moves the pair of appendages.
6. The figure of claim 5 further comprising a circuit board having preprogrammed sounds and controls, the preprogrammed controls defined to control the motor mechanisms and thus control the movement of the figure, the circuit board replaying said preprogrammed sounds and controls upon the triggering of a switch positioned about the figure.
7. The figure of claim 6 further comprising a first switch positioned within the mouth of the figure, the first switch being triggered upon insertion of an object in said mouth of the figure, and when the first switch is triggered, the circuit board activates the second motor mechanism in the second direction causing the tongue to vibrate and the pair of appendages to move.
8. The figure of claim 6 further comprising a second switch positioned on a top portion of the figure, the second switch when triggered causes the circuit board to activate the second motor mechanism in the first direction to cause the eye lids to blink and the pair of appendages to move.
9. The figure of claim 6 further comprising a speaker to emit the playback of preprogrammed sounds.
10. An interactive toy aquatic animal having a body defined with a head and a bottom portion, the toy further comprising:
- a freely flexible tail extending from the rear portion;
- a wheel rotatably attached to the body and extending from the bottom portion of the body;
- a first motor mechanism housed in the body and operatively driving said wheel, wherein when the motor mechanism drives said wheel the figure moves and such movement of the figure causes the freely flexible tail to wag;
- a second motor mechanism housed in the body and driven in a first direction and in a second direction;
- a pair of eyes defined on the head, each eye having an eye lid moveable in relation to said eyes, the eye lids biased in an open position and controllable to blink close when the second motor mechanism is driven in the first direction;
- a mouth positioned in the head, the mouth having a tongue pivotally connected therein, the tongue controllable to vibrate when the second motor mechanism is driven in the second direction; and
- a pair of appendages separately extending from either side of the body, each appendage movably connected to the body and controllable to move when the second motor mechanism is driven in the first and second direction.
11. The toy of claim 10 further comprising:
- a switch positioned about the toy; and
- a circuit board having a memory portion to store preprogrammed controls, and having programming that plays the controls upon the triggering of said switch, the preprogrammed controls defined to control the first and second motor mechanisms and thus control the movement of the toy.
12. The toy of claim 11 further comprising:
- a fin pivotally connected the body; and
- a first switch positioned below the fin and which is triggered when the fin is pushed towards the body,
- whereby upon triggering said first switch, the circuit board plays a preprogrammed control to move the toy.
13. The toy of claim 12 further comprising:
- a second switch positioned within the mouth and which is triggered upon the insertion of an object into the mouth,
- whereby upon triggering said second switch, the circuit board plays a preprogrammed control to vibrate the tongue.
14. The toy of claim 10 wherein the tail is defined as having a flexible membrane with a plurality of sectional coverings separately secured to the flexible membrane, wherein the flexible membrane remains flexible in regions defined between the plurality of sectional coverings.
15. A toy figure having a body defined with a front portion, a rear portion, and a bottom portion, the figure further including a flexible tail extending from the rear portion capable of moving when said body moves, a motor housed in the body, a wheel rotatably attached to the body and the drive mechanism connecting said motor to the wheel, wherein when the motor is activated the body will be moved and the flexible tail will flex in response thereto.
16. The toy of claim 15 wherein the flexible tail is defined as having a flexible membrane with a plurality of sectional coverings separately secured to the flexible membrane, wherein the flexible membrane remains flexible in regions defined between the plurality of sectional coverings.
17. The toy of claim 15 further comprising a circuit board housed in the body and a receiver secured to the body and operatively connected to the circuit board, the circuit board further having programming to control the motor in response to a signal received by said receiver.
18. The toy of claim 15 further comprising a motor mechanism housed in the body and driven in a first direction and in a second direction and a pair of eyes defined on the head, each eye having an eye lid moveable in relation to said eyes, the eye lids biased in an open position and having a means to blink close when the second motor mechanism is driven in the first direction.
19. The toy of claim 16 further comprising a mouth positioned in the head, the mouth having a tongue pivotally connected therein, the tongue having a means to vibrate when the second motor mechanism is driven in the second direction.
20. The toy of claim 16 further comprising a pair of appendages separately extending from either side of the body, each appendage having a means to move when the second motor mechanism is driven in the first and second directions.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 12, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 12, 2006
Applicant: Rehco, LLC (Chicago, IL)
Inventors: Jeffrey Rehkemper (Chicago, IL), Steven Rehkemper (Chicago, IL), Ryan Kratz (Oak Park, IL), Jackson Wilson (Evanston, IL)
Application Number: 11/105,039
International Classification: A63H 17/00 (20060101); A63H 3/20 (20060101); A63H 11/00 (20060101);