Apparatus and method of use for sound-generating finger puppet

• US 6,394,874 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Inventors: Lustgarten, Todd Miller, Kubo, Takao
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US09/497,951
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 446/321,327,328,391,394,100
• US Class Current: 446/327
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/14 into which the fingers of the hand can be inserted, e.g. hand-puppets
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds

Abstract

A sound-generating finger puppet wherein more than one such puppet can be supported and activated with a single hand. Also provided is a sound-generating finger puppet wherein such puppet can be supported and primarily activated with a single finger. Also provided is a method for producing electronic sound generation in a puppet supportable on a single finger.

Claims

1. A finger puppet having electronic sound-generation capability, said finger puppet comprising:

a finger puppet body defining a hole for accommodating an inserted finger therein;

an electronic sound chip for generating an electronic signal upon activation thereof;

an activation switch in electronic communication with said sound chip for activating said sound chip;

a speaker in electronic communication with said sound chip for receiving said electronic signal from said sound chip and producing a sound corresponding to said signal; and

further comprising a base portion pivotally attached to said puppet body wherein pivoting of said base portion relative to said body opens and closes access to said hole.

2. A finger puppet in accordance with claim 1 wherein said speaker is disposed in said body and said body defines a plurality of speaker holes therein such that sound produced by said speaker can more easily be heard.

3. A finger puppet in accordance with claim 2 wherein said activation switch includes a button disposed within said hole such that depressing said button with said finger activates said electronic sound chip, thereby producing sound from said speaker.

4. A finger puppet in accordance with claim 1 wherein said activation switch includes a button disposed within said hole such that depressing said button with said finger activates said electronic sound chip, thereby producing sound from said speaker.

5. A finger puppet is accordance with claim 1 wherein said base portion houses said sound chip and said speaker.

6. A finger puppet in accordance with claim 1 wherein said activation switch includes a button disposed on said base portion.

7. A finger puppet in accordance with claim 6 wherein said activation switch includes both a button disposed on said base portion and a button disposed within said hole such that depressing either button activates said electronic sound chip, thereby producing sound from said speaker.

8. A method for activating electronic sound generation in a finger puppet, said finger puppet including a body defining a hole therein for accommodating an inserted finger from a user'"'"'s hand, said puppet body further including an electronic sound chip disposed therein for generating an electronic signal upon activation thereof, said puppet body further including a speaker for receiving said electronic signal from said sound chip and producing a sound corresponding to said signal, and said puppet body further including a button for activating said electronic sound chip, said button being disposed on a side of said hole, said method comprising the following steps:

inserting a finger into said hole such that a portion of said finger is adjacent said button and said finger puppet is supported on said finger;

bending said finger until said finger portion contacts said button and said finger puppet body rotates into contact with a portion of said user'"'"'s hand other than said finger portion contacting said button; and

depressing said button with said finger portion relative to said finger puppet body to activate said electronic sound chip, thereby producing sound from said speaker, wherein said depressing is enabled by said contact between said finger puppet body and said portion of said user'"'"'s hand supporting said body against pressure exerted against said button by said finger portion.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said finger puppet further includes a base portion pivotally attached to said puppet body to open and close access to said hole and said method includes the additional step, conducted prior to the inserting step, of pivoting said base portion relative to said puppet body to open access to said hole.