Figurine with Selectable Audio and Visual Perception

• US 20110003527A1
• Filed: 09/15/2010
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B-Unique LLC
• Original Assignee: Furn Roberts
• Inventors: Roberts, Furn
• Granted Patent: US 7,946,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/297
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds
• 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 3/48 Mounting of parts within dolls, e.g. automatic eyes or parts for animation self-moving A63H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/50 Frames, stands, or wheels for dolls or toy animals

Abstract

A figurine and method of use is having selectable personalization includes a doll having a head and torso, also a base disposed adjacent to the head, the base including a surrounding sidewall extending from a bottom portion to an opening defining a first interior that receives a first selected indicia. Further, a transparent cover including an outer periphery that is removably engaged from the sidewall opening. The cover having a first side and second side forming a concave profile to define a second interior portion, with the second side adjacent to the base when the cover and base are engaged, wherein the first and second interior portions form a chamber for the first indicia to be protectively and securely displayed. The base and cover engagement prevents unauthorized removal of the first indicia from the chamber by requiring a tool to separate the base and the cover.

Claims

1. A figurine that is capable of selectable secure personalization, said figurine is adapted to lockably retain and protect a displayed substantially planar selected indicia relative to said figurine thereby to protect against unauthorized removal of the displayed selected indicia therefrom, comprising:

(a) a doll including a head portion and a torso portion;

(b) a rigid base that is attached to said head portion, said base including a bottom portion, said base also including a surrounding sidewall extending from said bottom portion to an opening that is positioned opposite of said head portion attachment, said base bottom portion and said surrounding sidewall including a base outside diameter and said surrounding sidewall also including a surrounding sidewall inner diameter opening, said bottom portion and said surrounding sidewall inner diameter opening defining a first interior portion of said rigid base that is sized and configured to receive the substantially planar selected indicia; and

(c) a rigid transparent cover that is about a longitudinal axis, said cover including an outer peripheral portion having a cover outside diameter that has an interference fit with said surrounding sidewall inner diameter, wherein said interference fit is removably engagable, said interference fit is created by said cover outside diameter being about two-tenths (0.2) percent greater diameter than said surrounding sidewall inner diameter resulting in a contact pressure of about one-hundred thirteen (113) pounds per square inch at said interference fit when said cover outside diameter is forcibly pressed into said surrounding sidewall inner diameter resulting in a secure assembly of said base and cover in an assembled and locked state, said cover having a first side and a second side, said second side forming a substantially concave profile defined by a concave inner diameter that is at a concave depth to define a second interior portion, with said second side adjacent to said bottom portion when said cover outside diameter has said interference fit with said surrounding sidewall inner diameter in said assembled and locked state, wherein said first interior portion and said second interior portion form a rigid chamber for the first planar selected indicia to be substantially protectively and securely displayed within said rigid chamber, said substantially rigid chamber is sized and configured such that the first selected indicia does not have to be attached to said base or said cover to help prevent damage to the selected indicia, said cover also includes a key slot, wherein said key slot is disposed within said outer peripheral portion, said key slot has a key slot interior defined by a key slot width terminating outwardly at said cover outside diameter, a key slot radially inward depth that terminates in a tangential radius spanning said key slot width, said key slot having a depth along said longitudinal axis that equals a cover thickness, wherein said tangential radius has a radial axis that is parallel to said longitudinal axis, said tangential radius also includes a receiving recess with an indentation depth positioned about midway upon said cover thickness, said key slot interior is separate and independent from said first interior portion and said second interior portion; and

(d) a key including a key longitudinal axis, said key having a key length that is at least equal to two times said key slot radial depth and said key having a key width that is no more than ninety-five (95) percent of said key slot width, said key also has an end portion sized and configured to be received in said receiving recess at said indentation depth, wherein operationally said key is inserted into said key slot such that said end portion is positioned within said receiving recess and said key is positioned against a pivot point located on said base surrounding sidewall, wherein a force is applied on said key opposite of said receiving recess end toward said surrounding sidewall to overcome said contact pressure of said interference fit, wherein said force is in the range of about five (5) pounds resulting in said cover separating from said base into a disassembled unlocked state to remove or replace the first selected indicia to further enhance security of said assembled state by requiring said key being utilized in said key slot.

2. A figurine that is capable of selectable secure personalization according to claim 1 wherein said base and said cover are constructed of the same material.

3. A figurine that is capable of selectable secure personalization according to claim 2 wherein said base and said cover are constructed of materials selected from the group consisting essentially of Acrylics (polymethlamathacrylates), Butyrates (cellulose acetate butyrates), Lexans (polycarbonates), PETGs (glycol modified polyethylene terphthalates), and PVC (polyvinyl chloride).

4. A method of using a figurine that is capable of selectable secure personalization, said figurine is adapted to lockably retain and protect a displayed substantially planar selected indicia relative to said figurine thereby to protect against unauthorized removal of the displayed selected indicia therefrom, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a figurine that includes a doll having a head portion and a torso portion, also a rigid base that is attached to said head portion, said base including a bottom portion, said base also including a surrounding sidewall extending from said bottom portion to an opening that is positioned opposite of said head portion attachment, said base bottom portion and said surrounding sidewall including a base outside diameter and said surrounding sidewall including a surrounding sidewall inner diameter opening, said bottom portion and said surrounding sidewall inner diameter opening defining a first interior portion of said rigid base that is sized and configured to receive the substantially planar selected indicia, further included is a rigid transparent cover that is about a longitudinal axis, said cover including an outer peripheral portion having a cover outside diameter that has an interference fit with said surrounding sidewall inner diameter, wherein said interference fit is removably engagable, said interference fit is created by said cover outside diameter being about two-tenths (0.2) percent greater diameter than said surrounding sidewall inner diameter resulting in a contact pressure of about one-hundred thirteen (113) pounds per square inch at said interference fit when said cover outside diameter is forcibly pressed into said surrounding sidewall inner diameter resulting in a secure assembly of said base and cover in an assembled and locked state, said cover having a first side and a second side, said second side forming a substantially concave profile defined by a concave inner diameter that is at a concave depth to define a second interior portion, with said second side adjacent to said bottom portion when said cover outside diameter has said interference fit with said surrounding sidewall inner diameter in said assembled and locked state, wherein said first interior portion and said second interior portion form a rigid chamber for the first planar selected indicia to be substantially protectively and securely displayed within said rigid chamber, said substantially rigid chamber is sized and configured such that the first selected indicia does not have to be attached to said base or said cover to help prevent damage to the selected indicia, said cover also includes a key slot, wherein said key slot is disposed within said outer peripheral portion, said key slot has a key slot interior defined by a key slot width terminating outwardly at said cover outside diameter, a key slot radially inward depth that terminates in a tangential radius spanning said key slot width, said key slot having a depth along said longitudinal axis that equals a cover thickness, wherein said tangential radius has a radial axis that is parallel to said longitudinal axis, said tangential radius also includes a receiving recess with an indentation depth positioned about midway upon said cover thickness, said key slot interior is separate and independent from said first interior portion and said second interior portion, further included is a key including a key longitudinal axis, said key having a key length that is at least equal to two times said key slot radial depth and said key having a key width that is no more than ninety-five (95) percent of said key slot width, said key also has an end portion sized and configured to be received in said receiving recess at said indentation depth, wherein operationally said key is inserted into said key slot such that said end portion is positioned within said receiving recess and said key is positioned against a pivot point located on said base surrounding sidewall, wherein a force is applied on said key opposite of said receiving recess end toward said surrounding sidewall to overcome said contact pressure of said interference fit, wherein said force is in the range of about five (5) pounds resulting in said cover separating from said base into a disassembled unlocked state to remove or replace the first selected indicia to further enhance security of said assembled state by requiring said key being utilized in said key slot, said figurine also includes an electronic audio module that is disposed within said torso portion, said electronic audio module is sized and configured such that an actuation/de-actuation control is operable exterior to said torso portion by merely squeezing said torso portion for the purpose of audio playback operation, wherein an erase control and a record control are only operable by removing said torso portion from said audio module to further prevent inadvertent erase and re-record of prior said selected audio recording, said electronic audio module is constructed of circuitry that includes a programmable integrated circuit chip, said actuation/de-actuation, erase, and record controls, a microphone, a speaker, and a power supply all contained within a common housing, wherein said programmable integrated circuit chip is capable of at least two hundred and forty (240) seconds selected audio record time, said doll further includes a selected second indicia that is disposed adjacent to said torso portion to further enhance the personalization effect of said figurine, a pattern sheet adapted to indicate a position of said selected second indicia relative to said torso portion, and operating instructions for use of said key and said electronic audio module;

(b) grasping said key;

(c) inserting said key into said key slot wherein said key end portion that is sized and configured to be received into said receiving recess is inserted firstly into said key slot and further into said receiving recess and moving said key to be positioned against said pivot point wherein said key longitudinal axis is to be at an obtuse angle in relation to said cover first side, wherein said key is operational for placing said cover and base into said disassembled unlocked state;

(d) pushing said key with said force applied on said key opposite of said receiving recess end toward said surrounding sidewall to overcome said contact pressure of said interference fit resulting in said cover separating from said base into said disassembled unlocked state;

(e) selecting a photo;

(f) placing the photo into said first interior portion image side up;

(g) grasping said cover;

(h) positioning said cover second side to face the photo image side;

(i) pressing said cover manually toward said base such that said cover outer peripheral portion outside diameter engages said base opening inner diameter forming an assembled and locked state for said base and said cover, resulting in the selected photo being operationally protectively and securely displayed through said cover;

(j) removing said torso portion from around electronic audio module for access to said actuation/de-actuation, record, and erase controls;

(k) moving said erase control to off, said record control to record, actuating said actuation control; and

(l) speaking into said microphone to make an audio recording for up to about two hundred and forty (240) seconds and then de-actuating said actuation/de-actuation control and moving said record control to a play position.

5. A method for using a figurine that is capable of selectable personalization according to claim 4 further comprising a step of sizing the selected photo to be received in said first interior portion by using said cover inner diameter at concave diameter as a template, wherein the photo is sized at said cover inner diameter at concave diameter or less.

6. A method for using a figurine that is capable of selectable personalization according to claim 4 wherein steps b through i are sequentially repeated to replace the selected photo with another selected photo.