Expression mechanism for a toy, such as a doll, having fixed or moveable eyes
First Claim
1. An expression mechanism for a toy having a lower lip, a cheek and an eye, comprising:
- a) a first member for engaging the lower lip of a toy;
b) a second member in pivotable engagement with said first member for engaging a cheek of the toy;
c) a third member for opening or closing the eye of the toy;
d) said first member comprising a lip lever including first and second end portions;
e) said second member comprising a cheek lever including first and second end portions;
f) a motor for actuating one of said first and second members to cause the toy to simulate a facial expression;
g) a cam assembly operable by said motor;
h) said cam assembly including an output arm;
i) said output arm being in operable engagement with said cheek lever; and
j) one of said first and second end portions of said cheek lever including a cam for engaging said output arm.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
62 Claims
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1. An expression mechanism for a toy having a lower lip, a cheek and an eye, comprising:
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a) a first member for engaging the lower lip of a toy; b) a second member in pivotable engagement with said first member for engaging a cheek of the toy; c) a third member for opening or closing the eye of the toy; d) said first member comprising a lip lever including first and second end portions; e) said second member comprising a cheek lever including first and second end portions; f) a motor for actuating one of said first and second members to cause the toy to simulate a facial expression; g) a cam assembly operable by said motor; h) said cam assembly including an output arm; i) said output arm being in operable engagement with said cheek lever; and j) one of said first and second end portions of said cheek lever including a cam for engaging said output arm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An expression mechanism for a toy having a lower lip, a cheek and an eye, comprising:
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a) a support frame; b) a lip lever pivotally connected to said support frame for engaging the lower lip of a toy; c) a cheek lever pivotally connected to said support frame for engaging a cheek of the toy; d) an eye linkage for opening or closing the eye of the toy; e) a motor for actuating one of said lip and cheek levers to cause the toy to simulate a facial expression; and f) said lip and cheek levers being interconnected in a manner that when said cheek lever pivots in one direction said lip lever pivots in a generally opposite directions. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An expression mechanism for a toy having a lower lip and a cheek, comprising:
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a) a lip lever for engaging the lower lip of a toy; b) a cheek lever for engaging a cheek of the toy; c) a motor for actuating one of said lip and cheek levers to cause the toy to simulate a facial expression; and d) said lip and cheek levers being interconnected in a manner to move in generally opposite directions. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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42. A toy for simulating a facial expression including upper and lower lips, left and right cheeks and eyes, comprising:
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a) a support inside the toy; b) a lip lever pivotally connected to support and including front and rear end portions; c) said front end portion of said lip lever being in operable engagement with the lower lip of the toy; d) a cheek lever pivotally connected to said support and including front and rear end portions; e) said cheek lever being in operable engagement with the left and right cheeks of the toy; f) said rear end portion of said lip lever being in pivotable engagement with said front end portion of said cheek lever; g) an eye linkage for opening or closing of the eyes; h) a motor for actuating one of said lip and cheek levers; and i) said lip and cheek levers being interconnected in a manner that when said front end of said cheek lever moves upwardly, said front end of said lip lever moves downwardly. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method of causing a toy having a lower lip, a cheek and an eye, to simulate a facial expression, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing an expression mechanism, comprising; i) a first member for engaging the lower lip of a toy; ii) a second member in pivotable engagement with the first member for engaging a cheek of the toy; iii) a third member for opening or closing the eye of the toy; iv) the first member comprising a lip lever including first and second end portions; v) the second member comprising a cheek lever including first and second end portions; vi) a motor for actuating one of the first and second members to cause the toy to simulate a facial expression; vii) a cam assembly operable by the motor; viii) the cam assembly including an output arm; ix) the output arm being in operable engagement with the cheek lever; and x) one of the first and second end portions of the cheek lever including a cam for engaging the output arm; b) actuating one of the first and second members to move the cheek and the lower lip to cause the toy to simulate a facial expression. - View Dependent Claims (51)
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52. An expression mechanism for a toy having a lower lip, a cheek and an eye, comprising:
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a) a first member for engaging the lower lip of a toy; b) a second member in pivotable engagement with said first member for engaging a cheek of the toy; c) a third member for opening or closing the eye of the toy; d) said first member comprising a lip lever including first and second end portions; e) said second member comprising a cheek lever including first and second end portions; f) a motor for actuating one of said first and second members to cause the toy to simulate a facial expression, and for actuating said third member; g) a cam assembly operable by said motor; h) said cam assembly including an output arm; i) said output arm being in operable engagement with said cheek lever; j) said third member comprising an eye linkage; k) said cam assembly comprising a cam; and l) said eye linkage comprising an eye arm for engaging said cam. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification