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: A training method for the care and handling or newborn infants, comprising the steps of providing a doll in which the doll comprises a torso, providing a plurality of reference points printed on the surface of the doll at various locations, and providing instructions, such as a manual or video tape, which includes the same reference points as those printed on the surface of the doll.

Abstract: A doll including a body, the body being shaped to depict the body of a mermaid, a head, the body and head having generally hollow interiors, apparatus positioned within the body and the head for providing sound, and apparatus for activating the apparatus for providing sound.

Abstract: An interactive doll system incorporates both liquid handling elements for receiving liquid through the mouth of the doll when the doll is in a first range of positions, then dispensing that liquid through the eyes of the doll when the doll is in a second range of positions or through an anal opening of the doll when the doll is in a third range of positions. It also incorporates an electronic assembly for sensing the attitude and motion of the doll, as well as feeding of the doll, and for producing a range of sounds in response thereto, including sounds produced randomly at times in response to motion of the doll.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stuffed toy comprising a main switch turned on in response to a load applied externally, a vibrator activated when the main switch is turned on to vibrate at least a part of the body of the stuffed toy, and a sound generator generating a sound to the outside while the vibrator is vibrating.

Abstract: Stuffed animal apparatus includes one or more storage compartments in which visual and/or audio materials may be stored and/or displayed. The storage compartments are disposed in the stuffed animal body or in an appendage. An external storage compartment is shown secured to an appendage. The storage compartments may need flap coverings or they may be a pouch and they may be large or small, as desired.

Abstract: A toy vehicle having a sound system is releasably connected to a sound source such as a portable radio and/or tape player to play actual radio transmissions or prerecorded audio tapes. The toy vehicle will simulate the radio or tape player of an actual vehicle and will allow a child to select any type of music or recorded sounds to be reproduced on the vehicle sound system. The vehicle is provided with an audio mini-jack coupled to one or more small loudspeakers mounted in the vehicle. The portable radio and/or tape player can be clipped to the child's belt or clothing and the toy vehicle can be played with either as an ordinary toy vehicle or as a sound producing vehicle. The vehicle and sound system may be produced in connectable module form whereby the sound system module can be selectively connected to other vehicle components to produce vehicles of various configurations and designs.

Abstract: Improvements in figure toys, such as dolls which are configured, decorated, clothed and provided with toys and accessories to educate and entertain, to simulate growth and provide the appearance of the same living being or person at different stages of growth and development. In one form, a series of lifesize or scaled dolls or figure toys are each constructed and facially shaped to represent the same living being or person at a different age or stage in its development. In a particular form, baby dolls are designed and constructed to represent the same person shortly after birth, six months old, twelve months old, two and three years old. In such form, all dolls are manufactured and constructed approximately to scale if not full size. The facial features of one doll are substantially those of the other dolls at their respective simulated ages. Clothing and accessories for each doll are those which would normally be provided to dress a baby or child of a similar age.

Abstract: This invention relates to a violin musical toy and in particular to one having string-simulating plates similar to strings of a violin, a control circuit, an engaging member, two copper plates, several keys, a selecting switch, a musical switch and a bow. By drawing the bow on the string plates of the engaging member, like playing a violin, the engaging member will be forced to swing to the left and right side and two protuberances on two ends side of the engaging member will make the two copper plates touch each other continuously which triggers the control circuit to output preset music if the function selecting switch is placed at its, `AUTO` position. By switching the selecting switch to `MANUAL` position, the player may press any one of the keys to output a single tone or any two of the keys at the same time and the violin will output a chromatic scale.

Abstract: An ornament is supported and moved by an apparatus which also includes a cassette tape player for providing accompanying sound.

Abstract: A writing doll having a body portion, a head mounted on top of the body portion, a pair of legs protruding from the bottom of the body portion, and a pair of arms connected to the body portion. The arms include a pair of hands with one hand formed to hold a stylus. The writing doll includes a forearm motion control system mounted in at least one of the arms near the stylus hand for moving the stylus hand along an axis in a X direction. A shoulder motion control system mounted in at least one of the arms near the body portion for moving the stylus hand along an axis in a Z direction, and an elbow motion control system mounted in at least one of the arms between the forearm and shoulder motion control systems for moving the stylus along an axis in a Y direction. The doll also has a control means connected to each motion control system for providing control signals to control the movement of the motion control systems in each of the axis directions.

Abstract: A doll containing an endless loop tape deck having multiple tracks speaking in a normal tone and volume when a switch in its hand is closed and in a whisper tone and volume when a switch in its chest is closed. Certain tracks of the tape are for whispered message. Other tracks are for normal voice messages. Each of the multiple message segments recorded on the tape may vary in length between segments and between the tracks in a segment. A buffer zone between segments allows all tracks in each segment to que up regardless of the varying length of the messages on each track within the previous segment. A low frequency signal of 40 Hz equalizes the length of the messages on each track within each segment. The low frequency signal overlays the signals on the whisper track. The system will shut off whenever there is more than a short duration of blank space on the track. The 40-Hz signal keeps the tape mechanism active during vocal phrases and during reproduction of the whisper segments.

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: A musical adapter for use with a nursing bottle comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, which two portions being detachably joined together to form a single body. An electronic muscial device of integrated circuits is disposed in the interior space of the lower portion and is capable of producing a melodious tune upon the bottle being lifted or tipped up.

Abstract: A method of preparing and conveying a personalized message from a sender to a recipient utilizes a toy having a cavity containing a cassette player, a battery holder, a switch and circuit elements interconnecting the player, the holder and the switch. The method includes the following steps which are performed by the sender: personally taping the personalized message on a cassette; inserting the cassette in the player; and giving the toy to the recipient with the cassette therein. The toy is cuddly and may be in the general likeness of the sender or may be a stuffed animal, in either case having a flap that is movable between a closed position in which the flap covers the cavity and an open position in which the cavity is exposed. The switch is of the push button type and the push buttons produce bulges in the flap when the latter is closed, so that the switch can be operated without moving the flap to its open position.

Abstract: A three-dimensional play character provided with translucent eye and mouth elements, the character having fixedly mounted within its body a pre-recorded microcassette which is accessible through a body opening, the recorded sounds being appropriate to the personality of the character. Within the body are light guides that run from an optical inlet on the wall of the opening to the eye and mouth elements. Insertable through the opening to occupy an operative position with respect to the microcassette is a battery-powered playback module that serves to drive the microcassette, the module including a pick-up heat coupled to an audio amplifier whose audio signals are applied both to a loudspeaker which reproduces the recording and to a light bulb that is modulated by the signals to produce light pulses in synchronism with the reproduced sounds.

Abstract: A pair of photoconductive elements are provided on an inner surface of a light transmitting outer skin of a doll. When the amount of light impinging on either one of the pair of photoconductive elements differs from the other as a result of interruption of the light impinging on the one of the photoconductive elements, a sound generating device is actuated to generate a sound.

Abstract: A hand held speaker designed for use with a puppet and an ordinary cassette player, to give any puppet a voice.The device comprises a speaker uniquely enclosed in a fabric cover and attached to a four component telephone cable assembly. This assembly has an in-line, rotary off-on switch and both a speaker plug and a remote control plug.It is separate from, and can be used with, any puppet. It is to be held in the user's palm, inside the puppet, as the puppet is manipulated. The in-line, rotary on-off switch allows the puppet voice to be stopped or started at will, to allow the user to speak.The device is particularly designed for use by an unskilled person or child, for the purpose of presenting a puppet performance easily and in a natural manner.

Abstract: A therapeutic doll figure having a doll body with at least a head section and a torso section. A transport, such as a tape transport, with a recordable medium, such as a tape cassette is located within the doll body and is capable of having a message recorded thereon and which message may also be reproduced therefrom. A speaker is located within the doll and preferably at a representation of a mouth portion on the head section of the doll for generating the reproduced message. A microphone can be located on the doll and preferably in the ear of the doll and connected to the tape transport for recording a message on the tape cassette. Further, a manually actuable switch can be located behind a representation of a heart on the doll in order to start or stop the tape transport. In another aspect of the invention, the facial expression of the doll can be changed in order to represent known or unknown human persons.

Abstract: A simplified sound reproducing device having external output shafts disposed beneath the plane of rotation of a record disc and at positions corresponding to the starting point of sound reproduction of each record groove. Each of the external output shafts actuates predetermined external components for action corresponding to the content of the recorded item in the record groove. A transmission is provided for connecting a center pin to each of the external output shafts. The transmission includes a driving wheel fixed around the center pin, a revolvable bearing frame member which is journally connected for rotation with the center pin when under engagement with a coupling member, a planetary shaft carried by the revolvable bearing frame member, a planetary gear wheel supported by the planetary shaft capable of movement in an axial direction and rotated by meshing with the driving wheel.

Abstract: A simplified sound reproducing device having external output shafts disposed beneath the plane of rotation of the record disc at positions corresponding to the end point of sound reproduction of each record groove and which actuate predetermined external components corresponding to the record groove's recorded content previously reproduced. A transmission selectively connects a center pin to each of the external output shafts.

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus of small size, small weight, and suitable for incorporation into a child's toy or the like. A magnetic disc is supported on a shaft, the latter being driven rotationally by a wind-up spring. A governor is provided for controlling the releasing force of the spring to thereby cause the disc to be rotated at a constant speed. A magnetic head is moved linearly and radially along the disc in synchronism with the rotation of the disc supporting shaft and in sliding contact with the disc. A spring-biased mode changeover member is provided for selecting between the recording and reproducing modes, the mode changeover member being normally urged to the reproducing mode position.

Abstract: An animated display in the form of a representation of a face, is controlled by an associated audio tape player and a microprocessor-controlled liquid crystal display. The facial features are variable responsively to the audio signals of the tape player as controlled by the microprocessor.

Abstract: A user interface device for interfacing with a microprocessor driving a video display. The device is particularly adapted for the use of small children in interfacing with a microprocessor operating to drive a video game or a personal computer. The device comprises a hand puppet adapted to be worn on the user's hand. Pressure-sensitive switches, a light pen, a motion detector, and a speaker are included within the puppet's head and body to allow input by the user through the devices within the puppet and output by the microprocessor at the puppet over the speaker.

Abstract: In a simplified sound-reproducing device, a motor is coupled by a transmission to a record disc for driving the record disc and an external output shaft extending outside from the casing of the device.Transmission consists of a driving wheel fixed to an extension of a center shaft and a follower wheel fixed to the output shaft which is disposed parallel to the center shaft. The driving wheel and the follower wheel are arranged to either mesh or not mesh with each other depending on their relative relationship in the axial direction by caused axial shifting of the center shaft.Virtue of the construction as mentioned above, the device can drive, by relying on the driving motor alone, another device or attachment subsequent to or concurrent with sound reproduction.

Abstract: A player for a pre-recorded sound magnetic tape package in a cartridge or a cassette format in which each package is united with a three-dimensional character thematically related to the recording and animated thereby. The character is provided with eye and mouth openings covered by translucent elements. Housed in the character are light guides extending from the eye and mouth elements to a common optical inlet. When the package is inserted in the player to effect actuation thereof, the character is then at an erect position thereabove and the optical inlet is then in registration with a light outlet on the player behind which is a light bulb connected to the audio output thereof. As the recorded sound is reproduced, the light emitted by the bulb is modulated in accordance therewith. The resultant light pulses are conveyed by the guides to the eye and mouth elements to impart animation to the character in synchronism with the reproduced sound.