Instant message toy phone

• US 20060079147A1
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Wong, Andrew, Park, Cassidy, Asbaghi, Ahmad A., Demas, Catherine
• Granted Patent: US 7,798,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/142
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/3016 Telephones

Abstract

A wireless toy phone system that may be used with toy figures, such as dolls. The system may include doll sized phones and child sized phones. The child sized phone may have a display screen and input buttons. A child can compose a message with a phone keypad on the child'"'"'s phone and send the message to another child sized phone, which will display the message. The phone may also receive messages from other child sized phones. The child may also be able to send a message to a doll sized phone associated with a doll or other figure, and the doll sized phone may respond with lights or sounds or both. The child sized phone may then compose a response that is displayed on the child sized phone simulating a return message from the doll.

Claims

1. A toy messaging system comprising:

a user phone including an emitter for sending a signal;

a receiver including;

a pocket with receiver contacts which are exposed;

a logic circuit for receiving the signal and energizing the receiver contacts when the signal is received; and

a doll phone sized to fit in the pocket including;

phone contacts which are exposed and sized to mate with the receiver contacts; and

an indicator light operatively connected to the phone contacts;

wherein the indicator light in the doll phone may be activated by the logic circuit, through the receiver contacts and phone contacts.

2. The toy messaging system of claim 1 wherein:

the emitter includes an infrared LED; and

the receiver includes an infrared detector.

3. The toy messaging system of claim 1 wherein:

the emitter transmits visible light; and

the receiver includes an visible light detector.

4. The toy messaging system of claim 1 wherein the receiver is removably contained in a shoulder bag for a doll.

5. The toy messaging system of claim 4 wherein:

the doll phone is at least partially visible when the receiver is contained in the shoulder bag and the doll phone is mated with the receiver.

6. The toy messaging system of claim 1 wherein the doll phone is at least partially visible when the doll phone is mated with the receiver.

7. A simulative communication system comprising:

a receiver including;

an output; and

a doll phone;

wherein the receiver and the doll phone simulate reception of a message on receiving a signal, by activating the output; and

a transceiver in the shape of a cell phone including a screen;

wherein;

the transceiver transmits the signal; and

the transceiver displays on the screen a simulative response message after transmitting the signal.

8. The simulative communication system of claim 7 wherein the transceiver includes an infrared emitter and the receiver includes an infrared detector.

9. The simulative communication system of claim 7 wherein the transceiver includes a visible light emitter and the receiver includes a visible light detector.

10. The simulative communication system of claim 7 wherein:

the transceiver includes memory; and

the simulative response message is stored on the memory.

11. The simulative communication system of claim 7, further comprising:

an additional transceiver that transmits messages;

wherein the transceiver receives and displays the messages transmitted by the additional transceiver.

12. The simulative communication system of claim 11, wherein the transceiver transmits messages.

13. The simulative communication system of claim 7 wherein;

the doll phone output includes an LED; and

activating the output includes emitting light from the LED.

14. The simulative communication system of claim 7 wherein;

the receiver output includes a speaker, and

activating the output includes emitting sound from the speaker.

15. A receiver to be used in a messaging communication system with a transceiver, the receiver comprising:

a doll phone;

a detector for receiving a wireless signal;

a speaker; and

a carry bag sized for attachment to a doll;

wherein;

the doll phone is connected to the receiver;

the receiver is enclosed in the carry bag; and

the doll phone is at least partially exposed when the receiver is in the carry bag and the doll phone is connected to the receiver.

16. The receiver of claim 15 wherein the detector responds to infrared light.

17. The receiver of claim 15 wherein the detector responds to visible light.

18. The receiver of claim 15 wherein the receiver responds to a signal received at the detector by emitting sound.

19. The receiver of claim 15 wherein the doll phone includes exposed contacts configured to connect with exposed contacts on the receiver.

20. The receiver of claim 15 wherein the doll phone responds to the receiver by emitting light.

21. A method of simulating two-way communication comprising the steps of:

composing a first message on a transceiver;

selecting a receiver;

transmitting a signal to the receiver;

selecting automatically at the transceiver a response message;

waiting a preset time; and

displaying the response message on the transceiver.

22. The communication method of claim 21 wherein the response message is selected based on the content of the first message.

23. The communication method of claim 21 wherein the first message is composed from words and symbols stored in memory in the transceiver.

24. A method of communication between a user and a doll comprising the steps of:

composing a message on a transceiver;

selecting a receiver;

transmitting a signal to the receiver; and

emitting a light from a separable doll phone at the receiver on detecting the signal.

25. The communication method of claim 24 wherein the message is composed from words and symbols stored in memory in the transceiver.

26. The communication method of claim 24 further comprising the step of emitting sound from the receiver on detecting the signal.