Interactive talking dolls

• US 9,067,148 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2014
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Letronix Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Letronix Incorporated
• Inventors: Fong, Peter Sui Lun, Mak, Chi Fai
• Primary Examiner(s): HARPER, TRAMAR YONG
• Application Number:
  US14/179,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20140179196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 446/175
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A set of interactive toys that perform a sequence of actions in response to one another without external activation other than an initial actuation to begin the sequence of actions. Preferably, each toy has an activation switch and/or a receiver for a wireless signal such as an infrared signal which activates the toy. Upon activation, the toy performs a desired action, such as the enunciation of a speech pattern, and signals another toy to perform a responsive action. Preferably, the toy are capable of performing several different action sequences, such as the enunciation of different conversations, the performance of different A movements, etc. Additionally, the toys are programmable by a remote control device. The remote control device either functions as an activation switch, initiating a random or predetermined (yet not user determined) sequence of interactions, or as an interaction selector, such that a desired sequence of actions may be selected.

Claims

1. Wireless interactive toy devices, comprising:

a first action performing toy device that selectively produces a cognizable output;

a second action performing toy device that selectively produces a cognizable output;

a first signal generator associated with the first action performing toy device, wherein the first signal generator outputs a first signal comprising at least one of an optical signal, a radio signal, and a sound signal in response to a deactivation of a busy signal output from the first action performing toy device after completing the producing of the cognizable output;

a first signal transmitter associated with the first signal generator that transmits the first signal;

a first signal receiver associated with the second action performing toy device, the first signal receiver being receptive to the first signal from the first signal transmitter to facilitate the production of the cognizable output from the second action performing toy device;

a second signal generator associated with the second action performing toy device, wherein the second signal generator outputs a second signal comprising at least one of an optical signal, a radio signal, and a sound signal upon the activation of the second action performing toy device;

a second signal transmitter associated with the second signal generator that transmits the second signal; and

a second signal receiver associated with the first action performing toy device, the second signal receiver being receptive to the second signal from the second signal transmitter to facilitate the production of the cognizable output the first action performing toy device.

2. The interactive toy devices of claim 1 wherein the first and second action performing toy devices are each selected from the group consisting of:

a sound producing element;

a mechanical animation device;

a visual display element; and

combinations thereof.

3. The interactive toy devices of claim 2 wherein the sound producing element is a musical instrument.

4. The interactive toy devices of claim 2 wherein the first and second action performing toy devices each include a sound producing element, and the cognizable output produced by the sound producing element of each of the first and second action performing toy devices is at least one of an audible tone, a voice message, and a musical piece.

5. The interactive toy devices of claim 1 wherein the first and second signals generated by respective ones of the first and second signal generators are sound signals selected from the group consisting of aural sounds and ultrasonic signals.

6. The interactive toy devices of claim 1 wherein the first and second signals generated by respective ones of the first and second signal generators are optical signals selected from the group consisting of infrared and visible light.

7. The interactive toy devices of claim 1 wherein the first and second signals generated by respective ones of the first and second signal generators are radio signals selected from the group consisting of RF, 2.4 GHz RF, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

8. A set of wireless interactive toy devices, comprising:

a first action performing toy device that selectively produces a cognizable output and comprises;

a signal generator that outputs a signal comprising at least one of an optical signal, a radio signal, and a sound signal in response to a deactivation of a busy signal output from the first action performing toy device after completing the producing of the cognizable output;

a signal transmitter associated with the signal generator that transmits the signal; and

a signal receiver;

a second action performing toy device that selectively produces a cognizable output and comprises;

a signal generator that outputs a signal comprising at least one of an optical signal, a radio signal, and a sound signal;

a signal transmitter associated with the signal generator that transmits the signal; and

a signal receiver;

the signal receiver of the second action performing toy device being receptive to the signal from the signal transmitter of the first action performing toy device to facilitate the production of the cognizable output from the second action performing toy device and the generation of the signal by the signal generator of the second action performing toy device which is transmitted from the signal transmitter thereof; and

the signal receiver of the first action performing toy device being receptive to the signal from the signal transmitter of the second action performing toy device to facilitate the production of the cognizable output from the first action performing toy device.

9. The interactive toy devices of claim 8 wherein the first and second action performing toy devices are each selected from the group consisting of:

a sound producing element;

a mechanical animation device;

a visual display element; and

combinations thereof.

10. The interactive toy devices of claim 9 wherein the sound producing element is a musical instrument.

11. The interactive toy devices of claim 9 wherein the first and second action performing toy devices each include a sound producing element, and the cognizable output produced by the sound producing element of each of the first and second action performing toy devices is at least one of an audible tone, a voice message, and a musical piece.

12. The interactive toy devices of claim 8 wherein the signals generated by the signal generators of respective ones of the first and second action performing toy devices are sound signals selected from the group consisting of aural sounds and ultrasonic signals.

13. The interactive toy devices of claim 8 wherein the signals generated by the signal generators of respective ones of the first and second action performing toy devices are optical signals selected from the group consisting of infrared and visible light.

14. The interactive toy devices of claim 8 wherein the signals generated by the signal generators of respective ones of the first and second action performing toy devices are radio signals selected from the group consisting of RF, 2.4 GHz RF, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

15. A set of wireless interactive toy devices, comprising:

a first action performing toy device that selectively produces a cognizable output and comprises;

a signal generator that outputs a first signal comprising at least one of an optical signal, a radio signal, and a sound signal in response to a deactivation of a first busy signal output from the first action performing toy device after completing the producing of the cognizable output;

a signal transmitter associated with the signal generator that transmits the first signal; and

a signal receiver;

at least two second action performing toy devices, each of which selectively produces a cognizable output, and comprises;

a signal generator that outputs a second signal comprising at least one of an optical signal, a radio signal, and a sound signal in response to a deactivation of a second busy signal output from a corresponding one of the second action performing toy devices after completing the producing of the cognizable output;

a signal transmitter associated with the signal generator that transmits the second signal; and

a signal receiver;

the signal receiver of each of the second action performing toy devices being independently receptive to the first signal from the signal transmitter of the first action performing toy device to facilitate the production of the cognizable output from the corresponding one of the second action performing toy devices and the output of the signal by the signal generator of the corresponding one of the second action performing toy devices; and

the signal receiver of the first action performing toy device being receptive to the second signal from the signal transmitter of each of the second action performing toy devices to facilitate the production of the cognizable output from the first action performing toy device.