Electromechanical toy

• US 7,901,265 B1
• Filed: 08/28/2007
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Inventors: Poirier, Mark A., Maddocks, Richard J., Cameron, Don
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYLINSKI, ALYSSA MARIE
• Application Number:
  US11/846,458
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 446/330, 446352-356, 446/376, 446/484
• US Class Current: 446/330
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 13/02 imitating natural actions, e.g. catching a mouse by a cat, the kicking of an animal
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/46 Connections for limbs

Abstract

A toy drive mechanism having extensions such as leg and neck members covered with a plush covering. The drive mechanism is operative to move the leg, back, and head members in coordinated movements imitating an animal tugging or pulling on a rope. The realistic movement is provided by a series of rotating devices, some on differing axes relative to the drive shaft, and an information processor activated by one or more switches located throughout the body. One switch in particular, located between the neck and head and motivated by a user pulling on the rope in the toy'"'"'s mouth, will cause the toy to exert a pulling motion accompanied by sound effects.

Claims

1. A toy comprising:

a head;

a body that can directly contact a horizontal support surface;

a neck connecting the head to the body;

a pair of front feet connected to the body, said feet having a surface that partly contacts the horizontal support surface;

an information processor; and

a switch located at the connection of the head and the neck between the neck and the head and operable responsive to activation of said switch by movement of the head relative to the neck with the information processor for activating said feet to raise and lower the body with the surface of said feet that partly contacts the horizontal support surface.

2. A toy as recited in claim 1, wherein said switch is operable with the information processor for activating said feet to raise and lower the body exhibiting a tugging motion by raising and lowering of the body in coordination with the switch.

3. A toy as recited in claim 1, wherein the activating of said feet with the switch between the neck and the head results in the toy exhibiting a tugging motion by raising and lowering of the body in coordination with the switch.

4. A toy as recited in claim 3, comprising an audio system providing sound effects in coordination with the switch.