Expression mechanism for a toy, such as a doll, having fixed or movable eyes

• US 20070254554A1
• Filed: 07/10/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fredric Ellman, Julius Ellman, Lawrence Mass, Steven Ellman
• Original Assignee: Fredric Ellman, Julius Ellman, Lawrence Mass, Steven Ellman
• Inventors: Mass, Lawrence, Ellman, Julius, Ellman, Steven, Ellman, Fredric
• Application Number:
  US11/822,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20070254554A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/337
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 13/005 with self-moving head or facial features with a choice of features A63H3/365; movable eyes A63H3/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/365 allowing a choice of facial features, e.g. to change the facial expression change of expression through animation A63H3/48, self-moving A63H13/005; movable eyes A63H3/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/40 movable
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/48 Mounting of parts within dolls, e.g. automatic eyes or parts for animation self-moving A63H13/00

Abstract

An expression mechanism for a toy having a lower lip, a cheek and an eye, includes a support frame, a lip lever pivotally connected to the support frame for engaging the lower lip of a toy, a cheek lever pivotally connected to the support frame for engaging a cheek of the toy, an eye linkage for opening or closing the eye of the toy, and a motor for actuating one of the lip and cheek levers to cause the toy to simulate a facial expression. The lip and cheek levers are interconnected in a manner that when the cheek lever pivots in one direction, the lip lever pivots in a generally opposite direction. The expression mechanism causes the toy to assume various facial expressions, including, but not limited to, smile, frown, and neutral.

Claims

1. An interactive play method, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a toy comprising an expression mechanism;

b) actuating the toy to an on position wherein the toy assumes a coo or baby-talk mode;

c) providing a first tactile stimulus to cause the toy to simulate at least one expression selected from the group consisting of smile, laugh, giggle, frown, and a combination thereof;

d) placing the toy in a lying position to cause the toy to assume a yawn mode;

e) providing a second tactile stimulus to cause the toy to assume a sleep mode; and

f) lifting the toy upright to cause the toy to assume a wake-up mode.

2. The play method of claim 1, wherein:

the toy in step f) assumes a crying or frown mode.

3. The play method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

g) providing a third tactile stimulus to switch the toy from the crying or frown mode to the coo or baby-talk mode.

4. The play method of claim 3, wherein:

one of the first, second, and third tactile stimuli comprises rubbing or tickling the chest or belly of the toy.

5. The play method of claim 1, wherein:

the toy blinks its eyes at predetermined intervals in the coo or baby-talk mode.

6. The play method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

g) engaging a nipple with the toy'"'"'s mouth in steps b), c), d) or f) to cause the toy to simulate a sucking expression.

7. The play method of claim 6, wherein:

the toy simulates a burping expression upon removal of the nipple and switches back to the coo or baby-talk mode.

8. The play method of claim 1, wherein:

the toy simulates a breathing expression in the sleep mode.

9. The play method of claim 1, wherein:

the toy in step f) assumes the coo or baby-talk mode.

10. An interactive play method, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a toy comprising an expression mechanism;

b) actuating the toy to an on position wherein the toy assumes a coo or baby-talk mode; and

c) providing a first external stimulus to cause the toy to simulate at least one expression selected from the group consisting of smile, laugh, giggle, frown, and a combination thereof.

11. The play method of claim 10, wherein:

the first external stimulus comprises a magnetic or audio stimulus.

12. The play method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

d) placing the toy in a lying position to cause the toy to assume a yawn mode; and

e) providing a second external stimulus to cause the toy to assume a sleep mode.

13. The play method of claim 12, wherein:

one of the first and second stimuli comprises an audio stimulus.

14. The play method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

f) providing a third external stimulus to cause the toy to assume a wake-up mode.

15. The play method of claim 14, wherein:

the toy in step f) assumes a cranky or frown mode.

16. The play method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

g) lifting the toy upright to cause the toy to assume a crying mode.

17. The play method of claim 16, comprising the step of:

h) providing a fourth external stimulus to cause the toy to switch to the coo or baby-talk mode.

18. The play method of claim 17, wherein:

one of the first, second, third and fourth stimuli comprises an audible stimulus.

19. The play method of claim 18, wherein:

the fourth stimulus comprises a tactile stimulus.

20. The play method of claim 16, wherein:

the toy switches to the coo or baby-talk mode after a predetermined time has elapsed.

21. The play method of claim 14, wherein:

the toy in step f) assumes the coo or baby-talk mode.