Human Figure Having Movably Attached Arm Or Leg Portion Moved By Motive Power Means Patents (Class 446/354)
  • Patent number: 9586153
    Abstract: A toy appendage assembly includes an elongated member, an offset shaft having a first end coupled to a coupling end of the elongated member, and a wheel coupled to a second end of the offset shaft. The offset shaft is coupled to the wheel at a location away from the center of the wheel. The coupling end of the elongated member is at least partially spherical in shape and is capable of rotating within a support structure. The elongated member has a first axis, and the offset shaft has a second axis, where the first axis is angularly offset from the second axis. The coupling end serves as a pivot point for the elongated member and the offset shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Alan Saunders
  • Patent number: 9248380
    Abstract: A programmable dancing figurine visually representative of a religious or biblical figure, and a method of conducting a dance routine with the programmable dancing figurine are presented herein. The method includes selecting a song or biblical verse and defining a dance portion of the song, which may begin on the first lyric and end on the last lyric of the song. Utilizing a remote control disposed in a communicative relation with the figurine, the user will pre-program one or more dance routes by consecutively selecting a particular button mode and a button corresponding to a dance maneuver. During the performance, the user must synchronize or time the execution of the dance routine with the dance portion of the song, wherein the collective time it takes to perform the pre-programmed dance routine(s) must be substantially equal to the time of the dance portion of the song.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Inventor: Lana Long
  • Publication number: 20140315468
    Abstract: Character-based electronic devices, systems, and methods of using the same are described. More particularly, character-based electronic devices having an actuator are described. An exemplary character-based electronic device comprises a housing, an actuator, a communication bus (e.g., USB hub), a component, and a light source. The component is attached to the communication bus and the actuator such that movement of the actuator relative to the housing alters a condition of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventor: Tito Vasquez
  • Patent number: 8784154
    Abstract: A toy figure includes a body, an arm movably coupled to the body, and a drive mechanism coupled to the arm. The drive mechanism moves the arm along a first path of motion between a first position and a second position during a first segment of a movement cycle, and the drive mechanism moves the arm along a second path of motion between the second position and a third position during a second segment of the movement cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Chuang
  • Patent number: 8535111
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a core body, a rotational spring motor and several flexible limbs. One of the flexible limbs is the, “the drive arm” and connects to the motor inside the body. The drive arm has a connection point at the other end (hand) that allows it to connect to other like toys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventor: Karl Wudtke
  • Patent number: 8500512
    Abstract: A motorized doll includes an upper body portion and a lower body portion. The upper body portion may include a torso and a pair of arms. The lower body portion may include a pelvis connected to the torso at a universal joint, a pair of legs, and a pair of feet rotatable with respect to the legs. The doll is actuated to walk by a torso motor which drives the torso to tilt and rotate about the universal joint, which causes the doll to shift from foot to foot and repeatedly rotate forwards in a realistic walking motion. The doll includes a shoulder motor for rotating the pair of arms and a pelvis motor for driving the legs between a standing position and one of a crawling position or sitting position depending on the position of the pair of arms when the doll is tipped forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Bang Zoom Design, Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael G. Hoeting
  • Patent number: 7905760
    Abstract: A robot toy including: a first block including a servo; a second block connected to the first block by fitting an output shaft of the servo into a boss; and a servo control section. The servo is provided with, a first disk to rotate with the output shaft; a second disk provided facing the first rotating disk to rotate relatively to the first rotating disk in a plane parallel to the first rotating disk according to user operation; and an angle detection section to detect a relative angle between predetermined reference lines on the first and second disks. The servo control section includes a center position control section to rotate the output shaft and the first rotating disk, and to control the servo while a position of the servo, when the relative angle is 0, is at a center position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Tomy Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosuke Yoneda, Kimitaka Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7862398
    Abstract: A robot toy including one block to which a servo is installed, another block joined to the one block by fitting an output shaft of the servo to a shaft hole, and a shaft hole diameter adjustment member to change a diameter of the shaft hole so as to be in a condition where the shaft hole is loosely fitted to the output shaft or a condition where the shaft hole is tightly fitted to the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Tomy Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosuke Yoneda, Kimitaka Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20100216370
    Abstract: A motorized doll includes an upper body portion and a lower body portion. The upper body portion may include a torso and a pair of arms. The lower body portion may include a pelvis connected to the torso at a universal joint, a pair of legs, and a pair of feet rotatable with respect to the legs. The doll is actuated to walk by a torso motor which drives the torso to tilt and rotate about the universal joint, which causes the doll to shift from foot to foot and repeatedly rotate forwards in a realistic walking motion. The doll includes a shoulder motor for rotating the pair of arms and a pelvis motor for driving the legs between a standing position and one of a crawling position or sitting position depending on the position of the pair of arms when the doll is tipped forward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: BANG ZOOM design, Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael G. Hoeting
  • Patent number: 7731560
    Abstract: The present invention provides for an interactive figure with a head, body and waist cavities, arms, legs and two motorized wheelbases. The body and waist cavities include a gear mechanism. The motorized wheelbases control the movements of the interactive figure via a relationship between the gear mechanism and motors housed within the motorized wheelbases by distributing power to the motors based on a user's input or a preprogrammed response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Rehco, LLC
    Inventor: Ryan Kratz
  • Publication number: 20100009595
    Abstract: A gaming device for enhancing sporting event on television including an assembled unit loaded with a number of pins/flags and a remote control through which the unit receives radio/infrared signals in order to actuate the device. A right arm of the figurine is connected to a stepper motor and can be placed on top of the assembled unit. When the user depresses the button on the remote control the stepper motor makes one revolution and the hand portion of the arm makes contact with the pin/flag and ejects the pin/flag out of the assembled unit in order to signal rule infractions associated with a game. The device simply gives users the satisfaction of calling their own penalties, and or counts the number of actual penalties in the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventor: Anthony R. Lovato
  • Patent number: 7455296
    Abstract: A toy figure in the form of a golf player with a body including a head, torso, arms and legs. A recess is provided in the body. The arms and the connected hands have a receptacle for the golf club. The golf club is swivelable through actuation of an operating handle or pin. In order to improve the function and the appearance of a toy figure, the recess defines a plane, which extends through the body downward and parallel to the operating handle or pin and the arms. A toothed disc is fixed in the recess and rotatably connected with the arms. The toothed disc is coupled with the operating handle or pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Inventor: Oliver Johannson
  • Patent number: 7416468
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Felice, Richard Maddocks
  • Patent number: 6953379
    Abstract: A transmission assembly for a doll includes a first driving device having a rotation sleeve adapted to be rotatably received in the top base and a twist driving element connected to the rotation sleeve to drive the rotation sleeve to twist to the right and to the left and a second driving device including a first motor, a first gear box operably connected to the first motor via a first transmission element, a first eccentric roller in connection with the first gear box and having an axle extending out of the first eccentric roller to be rotatably received in the rotation sleeve so as to drive the top base and the casing up and down and a second eccentric roller having a first linkage extending out of the second eccentric roller to drive the top base and the casing back and forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Inventor: Sheng-Chien Wang
  • Patent number: 6918964
    Abstract: An automated car wash system is provided comprising an anthropomorphic robot that serves to spray and clean cars prior to their entering into, or within, an automated car wash so as to remove surface dirt from the car, using a high-pressure spray gun. The robot is controlled by an interconnected network of pneumatic or hydraulic pumps and hoses, electronic relays and mechanical linkages so as to simulate the movements of a human. A sensor is used to detect the presence of an automobile in the field of operation of the robot, which sensor also serves to activate the robot and keep it operational as long as the automobile is in a given location. The robot is configured to resemble the shape and size of a human such that it may be dressed in a variety of costumes or outfits so as to maximize both its entertainment value and its utilitarian function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Shullman, Thomas Mayhew
  • Patent number: 6790121
    Abstract: This comprises a mechanical system (1) and a pneumatic system (3) that are interconnected to perform three phases. In the first one a walking mechanism is activated consisting of an oscillating plate (77) connected to the doll's legs. The second phase takes place when the doll is supplied with air and water through the mouth (43), connected by tubes (44) to a pneumatic accumulator (24) and an output valve (45) capable of being manually placed in an opened or closed position. During this phase, the doll repeatedly moves its hand towards its crotch, while it changes from walking to a restless movement, accomplished thanks to the alternating axial movement from a moveable toothed crown (12) and to the dissipation of energy in an arm clutch (29). The third phase consists in the ejection through the output valve (45) of a squirt of pressurized water, previously stored in the pneumatic accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Onilco Innovacion, S.A.
    Inventor: Jaime Ferri Llorens
  • Patent number: 6773327
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Felice, Richard Maddocks
  • Patent number: 6736693
    Abstract: A doll that includes a pair legs pivotally attached to a torso. The torso having a front side and backside. A pair of motor mechanisms separately attached to each leg for pivoting the legs forwards and backwards in accordance to a set of pre-programmed positions that moves the doll from a first orientation to a second orientation. The movement may be defined as rolling the doll from its front side to its backside and vice versa, as well as moving the doll to a standing position and walking the doll while it is standing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Lund and Company
    Inventors: Bruce D. Lund, Krishnan Srirangam, Michael Starrick, Sunil Moothedath
  • Patent number: 6699096
    Abstract: An action figure includes an upper body having robotic features and a lower body interconnected with the upper body. The upper body includes a head and arms connected to a torso that connects to the lower body. The lower body includes construction tools, a chassis and front and rear wheels attached to the chassis. The action figure has a sound generation system that generates a sound such as a whistle or a phrase by actuation of sound activating switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl A. Christopherson, Paul T. Franer, Gregory L. Gerold, Joseph J. Khan
  • Patent number: 6682391
    Abstract: A transmission mechanism for a doll is arranged on a top stage of the doll and comprises a motor fixed to the top stage, a pulley set linked to the motor, a gear set having a plurality of gears and linked to the pulley set, a link having one end eccentrically connected to one gear in the gear set, and a swing rod pivotally arranged on the top stage by a center part thereof. The link has another end connected to the swing rod and the swing rod has two limbs on two opposite ends thereof. The limbs have alternative swing motion due to a seesaw motion of the swing rod. Therefore, the arms of the doll can be swung lively by the limbs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventor: Jui Hsia Yu
  • Patent number: 6652351
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a dancing figure that includes a body defined by a torso, a head, and a pair of arms, and a pair of legs pivotally attached to the torso at a hip region. Each leg includes at least an upper leg section pivotally attached to a lower leg section at a knee region. Also included therewith is a pair of oversized feet adapted to provide support such that the figure is free-standing. The pair of oversized feet is separately and pivotally attached to one of the lower leg sections at an ankle region. Each foot houses a foot mechanism for independently pivoting the lower leg sections forwards and backwards at said ankle region, wherein the pivoting at said ankle regions causes pivoting motion at the knee regions and hip region to simulate animated movement in the figure. In addition thereto the foot mechanism may independently twist the foot to the left and right.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Rehco, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Rehkemper, Bret Gould, Peter Greenley, Michael Kass, Jackson Wilson
  • Patent number: 6645035
    Abstract: A movable mechanical doll has a bottom seat and two legs upright formed on the bottom seat. A shoulder-arm part is mounted at tops of the legs, and has two arms respectively mounted at two sides of the shoulder-arm part. A housing covering the shoulder-arm part is pivotally mounted on the shoulder-arm part by a pivot pin. A driving assembly with a first motor is mounted in the housing to drive the housing to swing about the pivot pin. At the same time, the arms can be swung forwards and backwards. By this means, the movable mechanical doll can achieve an action of moving shoulders and arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Inventor: Chih-Cheng Tsai
  • Patent number: 6645036
    Abstract: The present invention includes a toy figure having a torso connected to a first leg and a second leg. A first motor is secured in the torso and is in communication with a first gear train, which is meshed to a fastener in the first leg, such that when the figure is in a standing position, the first motor causes the torso to move in relation to the first leg. A second motor is secured in the second leg and is in communication with a second gear train, which is rotatably attached to the torso such that when the figure is in the standing position, the second motor causes the second leg to move in relation to the first leg along the axis. A circuit board has pre-programmed instructions that when the figure is in the standing position controls the motors such that the figure walks across the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Lund and Company Invention, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bruce D. Lund, Michael Starrick, Krishnan Srirangam, Sunil William Moothedath
  • Patent number: 6623327
    Abstract: An animated children's toy including a gear system for providing intermittent and reciprocal motion. The gear system includes a drive gear and a driven gear. The gear system is adapted to have a non-rotating configuration and an engaged configuration. In the non-rotating configuration the driven gear is prevented from rotating, and a corresponding portion of the animated children's toy is not moving. In the engaged configuration the driven gear rotates and a corresponding portion of the animated children's toy moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon C. Marine, Ivan Chan, Sam Tsui
  • Patent number: 6620020
    Abstract: An interactive, animated, robotic doll including a body, a processor, terminals linked to the processor, and a removable attachment. The terminals are connected to metal snaps on the body and the removable attachment includes complimentary snaps that secure the garment to the doll body. An electric circuit is completed when the attachment is secured by the snaps to the doll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Jon C. Marine
  • Patent number: 6589095
    Abstract: A movable mechanical doll has a seat. A shoulder-arm part and a head part (40) are mounted on the seat. A hollow body covers the seat and the shoulder-arm part (20). A headpiece (60) covers the head part (40) and has a mouth. When motors of the doll are actuated, the doll can swing the shoulders and the arms, turn the head and open/close the mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Inventor: Chih-Cheng Tsai
  • Patent number: 6579143
    Abstract: There is provided in one embodiment a twisting figure that includes a head and body having a pair of arms and a lower leg section separately extending therefrom. A housing formed in the body contains a motor secured between a pair of horizontal plates. The plates are pivotally secured to the lower leg section. A combo gear is secured to the upper plate and in communication with the motor. The combo gear is arranged to reciprocate against a bumper that is secured to the lower leg section. When the combo gear reciprocates against the bumper, the pair of plates pivots back and forth causing the twisting figure to move therewith. The figure may also include a worm gear in communication with the motor and the pair of arms, such that when the motor rotates the pair of arms move upwardly or downwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Rehco, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Rehkemper, Dennis O'Patka, Peter Greenley, Scott May
  • Patent number: 6547632
    Abstract: An interactive, animated, and robotic doll having movable appendages, such as a head, arms, and legs. The doll includes motors, gears and other linkages to actuate the movement of these appendages. A lockout mechanism is operatively incorporated into the doll for preventing conflicting forces from occurring. The lockout mechanism may include a shuttlecock interposed two independent linkages that drive motion in a single appendage. The shuttlecock slides between two positions, each of which limits the movement of a corresponding one of the two linkages when the other of the two linkages is actuating motion in the appendage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon C. Marine, Simon Chow
  • Patent number: 6520828
    Abstract: A combination including a toy and a removable element inserted therein includes the toy having a generator and an actuator therewith. The actuator enables the generator to generate a sound or movement. An improvement of this combination includes the removable element being operably connected to the generator such that the removable element enables the generator to generate a first volume of the sound and removal of the removable element enables the sound generator to generate a second volume of the sound which is different from the first volume of the sound. Instead of or in addition to the removal of the removable element enabling the toy to generate a different volume of the sound, the removal of the removable element can enable the toy to emit a second duration of sound different from a first duration of sound and/or produce a second duration of a movement different from a first duration of a movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert J. Ferrigno
  • Patent number: 6500044
    Abstract: A running toy capable of running stably regardless of a state of a floor, a road or the like. The running toy comprises: right and left leg parts provided so as to rotate forward and backward on a first horizontal axis; right and left rotating members provided so as to rotate on a second horizontal axis; a motor for driving the rotating members, wherein the leg parts engage with the rotating members at eccentric positions respectively, phases at the eccentric positions are different from each other, and the leg parts rotate forward and backward according as the rotating members rotate; and right and left grips provided at soles of the leg parts respectively, so as to be projected from and retracted in the soles respectively, and so as to be projected from the soles when the leg parts rotate from forward positions to backward positions respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Tomy Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Sasuga, Shigeru Kanauchi
  • Patent number: 6500043
    Abstract: An animated toy comprising a toy body which itself includes at least one shoulder member and a pair of waist members, the upper ends of which are pivotally connected to the shoulder member. The toy body further includes a pair of leg members having upper ends which are pivotally connected to the lower ends of respective ones of the leg members. The lower ends of the leg members are pivotally connected to respective ones of a pair of foot members. Rotatably connected to a shoulder member is a pair of arm members of the toy body which is mechanically coupled to the upper ends of respective ones of the waist members so as to be alternately moveable in different directions thereby. In addition to the toy body, the animated toy comprises a drive unit mounted to the toy body and including a reversible motor which is mechanically coupled to the leg members and operative to reciprocally tilt the leg members in first and second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventor: Peter Sui Lun Fong
  • Patent number: 6450855
    Abstract: An angel doll for displaying on a table or mounted on a Christmas tree in Christmas season or such occasion includes a slow transmission device inside a base. The transmission includes a main shaft that drives a palette, two rotating cylinders and two rotating rods, so the palette rotates slowly, and colorful rays can be projected from the lamp inside the base, through the two rotating cylinders, to the margins of the optical fiber wing units. The swinging movement activated by the two rotating cylinders and the two rotating rods through the connecting rods and the side shaft in linkage, causes the wing units and the arm units to swing reciprocally, creating an active and lively atmosphere to the angel doll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventor: Tai-Ning Tang
  • Patent number: 6416380
    Abstract: A motion toy includes a body member and a head member mounted on the body member. A head drive system is operable to rotate the head member simultaneously up-and-down and side-to-side relative to the body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Blue Ridge Designs Inc.
    Inventor: Chi Li-Wen
  • Patent number: 6386943
    Abstract: A puppet mechanism for moving two legs of a puppet includes an output shaft rotatably extending from a gear box and engaged with a gear reduction device in the gear box. Two disks are respectively connected two ends of the output shaft and each disk has an eccentric protrusion extending therefrom. Two swing members are pivotally connected to two sides of the gear box and each swing member has a slot in which the eccentric protrusion is movably engaged. The swing members are inserted in the two legs of the puppet and are swung when the disks rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Inventor: Chao-Tsung Chang
  • Publication number: 20020049022
    Abstract: An interactive, animated, and robotic doll having movable appendages, such as a head, arms, and legs. The doll includes motors, gears and other linkages to actuate the movement of these appendages. A lockout mechanism is operatively incorporated into the doll for preventing conflicting forces from occurring. The lockout mechanism may include a shuttlecock interposed two independent linkages that drive motion in a single appendage. The shuttlecock slides between two positions, each of which limits the movement of a corresponding one of the two linkages when the other of the two linkages is actuating motion in the appendage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventors: Jon C. Marine, Simon Chow
  • Patent number: 6371827
    Abstract: An automated doll with Christmas light bulbs, particularly an automated doll using an axle and a gear mechanism to enlarge the effective space of an upper section inside the doll body. A base and the body are coupled together to accommodate the loading block and the optical fiber. Light-emitting components and a color disk disposed inside the base of the body to attain the effect of bright light emission at the top portion of the automated doll, and to achieve a large angle of rotation for the automated doll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventor: I-Hsiung Chou
  • Patent number: 6244925
    Abstract: A motion toy, which includes a toy body, and a power drive unit, the toy body having a front body shell and a rear body shell fastened together, two arms coupled to the body shells at two opposite lateral sides, a head pivotably mounted in the body shells at a top side by a pivot and coupled to the arms, two feet, and two legs coupled between the body shells and the feet, wherein two elongated links are coupled between the arms and a rocker, which is turned back and forth about a pivot between the body shells by a center gear of the power drive unit, for enabling the arms to be synchronously turned back and forth when the legs are moved back and forth by the center gear of the power drive unit relative to the feet, and two Z-shaped links are coupled between the arms and a bottom coupling rod at the head for enabling the head to be oscillated upon the motion of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Jin-Long Chou
  • Patent number: 6149491
    Abstract: A doll includes a body and a head, two legs and two arms, each movably attached to the body. The doll includes a mechanism connected with the head, with each of the legs, and with the arms. The mechanism is configured to displace the legs frontwardly with respect to the body in alternating succession and to displace the head in lateral directions with respect to the body such that the head moves toward one lateral side of the body as one of the legs displaces frontwardly from the opposite lateral side of the body. Movement of the legs displaces the body of the doll in either a walking or a crawling mode. Further, a motor is connected with the mechanism to drive the mechanism to displace the legs, arms and head with respect to the body. An electrical circuit is connected with the motor and has a microphone. The circuit is configured to drive the motor when the microphone receives sound, particularly a user-generated command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Marvel Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Abraham A. Arad, Janos Beny
  • Patent number: 6093078
    Abstract: A doll includes a torso supporting a pair of legs each having a simulated skate supported of the lower end thereof. The torso further supports a head which is coupled to a neck portion of the doll by a freely pivoting coupler. A housing within the doll torso supports a pivoting yoke coupled to a gear and rack drive mechanism. The gear rack is coupled to a depressible push button which the user actuates by squeezing the doll torso. A pair of arms are pivotally supported upon the torso and coupled to a gear drive mechanism responsive to the push button to move the arms back-and-forth in opposite pivotal directions as the push button repetitively squeezed and released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Robynn M. Cook
  • Patent number: 6071170
    Abstract: A dancing toy device has a trunk, a head portion connected to the trunk, and a base portion connected to the trunk. An outer casing covers the trunk. The base portion has a base panel, two pivot joint devices connected to the trunk, and two connection limbs connected to the pivot joint devices. The connection limbs are disposed on the base panel. A drive mechanism is disposed in a center portion of the trunk. The drive mechanism has a power device, a rotating plate, a displacement plate, a fixed plate, a drive plate, and a driven plate. A first vibration device is disposed in a lower portion of the trunk. A second vibration device is disposed in an upper portion of the trunk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Inventor: Chin-Jung How
  • Patent number: 5989094
    Abstract: A boxing game machine in which a pair of boxer dummies are opposed to each other, each boxer dummy having at least one extensible arm, includes: an extender which drives the extension of the arm; a rotary unit which is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and carries at least one of the boxer dummies; and an operative member which is connected with the rotary unit and provided with a switch for switching over the drive of the extender, the operative member being operable to rotate the rotary unit about the horizontal axis. By rotating the operative member about the substantially horizontal axis together with the rotary unit while gripping the operative member, the boxer dummy connected with the rotary unit rotates about the same axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Tamura
  • Patent number: 5947788
    Abstract: A radio controlled surfing toy is provided comprising a multi-jointed, moveable figurine pivotally attached to a jet-propelled surfboard. The surfing toy surfs similar to a real life surfing professional in waves ranging from 3" to 5' in height. The surfing toy is capable of fielding and catching waves on its own and riding a left or right breaking wave into the shore operating on a synchronized 4-way steering system controlling the figurine's body to move from one side of the board to the other and allowing dramatic realism and high performance surf stunts. A balloon recovery system is employed to right the surfboard after a wipe-out in conjunction with a righting mechanisms built-in to the surfboard's design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Steven J. Derrah
  • Patent number: 5846115
    Abstract: An animated stuffed toy whose automatic movements resemble sleepiness or drowsiness. A power source is activated by voice or touch. The power source drives a motor to effect the motion of the toy and to emit sounds, including music, from a speaker. When the music is finished, the power source is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventor: Pan-Chang Pao Feng
  • Patent number: 5833513
    Abstract: Crawling and movement simulating doll that makes waking up and falling asleep gestures, comprising a mechanism located inside a body make of resilient material which incorporates a doll's head and is provided with mechanisms acting on the eyes and mouth, the internal mechanism generating a plurality of movement and sound stages as a result of the direct action of a battery-powered motor on the mechanism, thereby causing a rhythmic action of said mechanism for moving the head and arms and for providing the crawling action, acting according to specified stages through internal contactors in cooperation with the parts comprised in the mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Onilco Innovacion S.A.
    Inventor: Jaime Ferri Llorens
  • Patent number: 5820441
    Abstract: An animated doll having a head, torso, and limbs is provided with an animation mechanism for moving the limbs. The animation mechanism is housed in the torso and includes an electric motor, a cam wheel rotated by the motor, and a plurality of lever arms engaged with the cam wheel and pivotal as the wheel rotates. A plurality of pivotal members are provided, each extending into a respective limb. Each lever arm is engaged with a respective pivotal member to produce movement of the limbs in response to operation of the motor. The plane of rotation of the cam wheel and the plane of pivoting movement of the lever arms is parallel to the plane which passes through the torso and limbs. A switch may be provided to provide electric power to the motor. The switch may be a magnetically actuated switch located at the mouth of the doll; and a magnet to actuate the switch may be provided on a simulated feeding bottle or on clothing of a user. The doll may produce sounds such as crying, sucking, or a heart beat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Inntoy Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Victor Manuel Pracas
  • Patent number: 5735726
    Abstract: An animated character such as a Santa figure which is capable of moving repeatedly from a sitting to a standing position, and also producing vocal speaking or singing sounds synchronized with movements of the character. The character includes a body having a torso casing containing an electric motor and multiple gears, a head-piece capable of making side-to-side nodding motions, and multiple lever members provided on opposite sides of the casing and pivotably connected together so as to produce the repeated standing motions of the character from a sitting position. Operation of the character is controlled by an electric circuit which is operated either manually or from a light-sensitive switch which can sense motion of any nearby moving object or person and activate movements of the character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Telco Creations, Inc.
    Inventor: Seymour Cohen
  • Patent number: 5727981
    Abstract: A climbing toy includes an upper line, a lower line and an upper reel mechanism from which the upper line depends and which selectively winds in the upper line. An action figure is connected to a lower end of the upper line. A lower reel mechanism is disposed in the action figure, and the lower line depends from the lower reel mechanism, which is biased to reel in the lower line. A fixing mechanism holds a lower end of the lower line. A switch is operably connected to the upper reel mechanism and is switchable between (i) an active state, in which the upper reel mechanism is activated to wind in the upper line, and (ii) an inactive state, in which the upper reel mechanism is not activated to wind in the upper line and allows the upper line to be unwound therefrom. In the active state, the action figure is pulled toward the upper reel and the lower line is unwound from the lower reel mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Mr. Christmas, Inc.
    Inventor: Huang Meng-Suen
  • Patent number: 5695382
    Abstract: A transmission mechanism of a motion toy including two reversed rotary members turned by a motor through a transmission gear train via a transmission shaft, each rotary member having a triangular eccentric block and a circular eccentric block, two actuating members alternately reciprocated in horizontal direction by the triangular eccentric blocks of the rotary member to turn two lower legs up and down, two reciprocating members alternately reciprocated by the circular eccentric blocks of the rotary members in vertical direction to turn two arms up and down and to oscillate a head member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventor: Chung-Mei Lin
  • Patent number: 5690330
    Abstract: A toy basketball game having a court floor, a stand attached to the floor for a backboard ring and net, an articulated player and a movable base for the player. The player contains a compressible spring in one leg which is held compressed by a lever on the player's leg, which lever releases the spring to cause the player to jump and to raise its arm having in its hand a releasable ball, which ball releases when the player's arm contacts the ring of the basketball basket. The base has a rotatable wedge-shaped plate for changing the angle of jump of the player so as to cause the player to be projected toward the ring from any location of its stand on the court. If desired, the ring and the arm of the player may be provided with adhering roughened surfaces so that the player can hang on the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: The Ohio Art Company
    Inventor: Isamu Ozawa
  • Patent number: 5603177
    Abstract: An animated display comprises a frame (16), arms (46) pivotted to an upper part of the frame and articulated legs (36, 54, 55) pivotted to a lower part of the frame. The arms and legs are pivotted and articulated by a common drive which includes a rocker bar 26 driven by an electric motor (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Inventor: Darren G. Saunders