Plush toy having ear and foot movement

• US 6,322,420 B1
• Filed: 02/03/2000
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Daniellian, Armen
• Primary Examiner(s): Ricci, John A.
• Application Number:
  US09/497,604
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 446/297, 446/298, 446/300, 446/303, 446/330, 446/337, 446/353, 446/370, 446/371, 446/376, 446/390
• US Class Current: 446/300
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/36 Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/48 Mounting of parts within dolls, e.g. automatic eyes or parts for animation self-moving A63H13/00

Abstract

A plush toy figure includes a motor-driven apparatus supported within the figure head for wiggling a pair of ear paddles which in turn causes the figure'"'"'s ears to wiggle. A second motor drive unit supported within the figure'"'"'s torso is operatively coupled to a pair of toe paddles which are oscillated to cause the figure'"'"'s toes to wiggle. The figure'"'"'s legs are pivotable between a standing and sitting position and the toes are operative in either posture. A switch positioned within the figure'"'"'s mouth is actuated by the pressure of an item pressed against the figure'"'"'s mouth to actuate the upper and lower drive mechanisms thereby causing the ears and toes to wiggle. The supporting paddles of the ears and toes include a spring-biased hinge to prevent damage to the drive mechanism due to misuse or excessive force applied to the ears or toes.

Claims

1. A plush toy comprising:

a plush toy body having torso, head, mouth, nose, ears, arms, legs, feet and toes;

a pressure responsive switch in said nose;

a sound circuit in said torso;

a motor controller supported within said torso;

a pair of toe movement mechanisms in said legs, feet and toes;

a pair of ear movement mechanisms in said head and ears;

a first motor in said head coupled to said pair of ear movement mechanisms operative to wiggle said ears; and

a second motor in said torso coupled to said pair of toe movement mechanisms operative to wiggle said toes,

said motor controller being activated by said pressure responsive switch to activate said first and second motors and said sound circuit.

2. The plush toy set forth in claim 1 wherein said pair of toe movement mechanisms include:

a shaft extending between said legs having a wheel at each end within said legs;

a pair of links and eccentrics each coupled to one of said wheels, said links each passing downwardly through one of said legs and having a lower end;

a pair of toe paddles within each of said toes; and

a pair of levers each coupled between one of said toe paddles and one of said lower ends.

3. The plush toy set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said levers is pivotally supported in each of said legs.

4. The plush toy set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said toe paddles includes a spring coupling said one toe paddle to said one lever.

5. The plush toy set forth in claim 1 wherein said pair of ear movement mechanisms include:

a pair of ear paddles within said ears;

a pair of toggles coupled to said ear paddles each having an inwardly extending end lobe;

a pivot coupled to said end lobes; and

an eccentric drive coupled between said pivot and said first motor for oscillating said pivot and said end lobes.

6. The plush toy set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said ear paddles is pivotally supported in said head.

7. The plush toy set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said ear paddles includes a spring coupling to one of said toggles.