US5073140A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toy action figures and speech and sound effects accessory therefor
Assignee: Jakks Pacific Inc
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Filing: 1990-10-22
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Granted: 1991-12-17
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Expires: 2010-10-22
Abstract
Abstract Toy action figures and detachable accessories therefor incorporating audio generating apparatus are disclosed. The audio generating apparatus is entirely contained within the accessory and generates both speed and sound effects. The detachable accessories have a configuration and visual appearance coordinated with the configuration and visual appearance of the toy action figure. For example, the accessory may be a backpack configured and having a visual appearance to coordinate with a soldier, spaceman or policeman action figure. The audio generating apparatus includes separate controls for causing the audio generating apparatus to independently generate speech and sound effects. The accessories in configuration, appearance and sound content are made to be attachable and applicable to different types of action figures.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven Lebensfeld
- 👤 Harvey Goldberg
- 👤 David C. K. Kwan
- 👤 Ma H. Wai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:49
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H3/00; A63H3/28; H; H01; H01M; H01M50/00; H01M50/20; H01M50/204; H01M50/207; H01M50/216; A63H3/36; A63H3/52; A63H5/00; A63H5/04; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A toy comprising, in combination: at least one toy action figure having a given configuration and visual appearance; and at least one accessory having a configuration and visual appearance which is coordinated with the configuration and visual appearance of said toy action figure; said toy action figure and said accessory having cooperating means for removably attaching said accessory to said toy action figure; said accessory including audio generating apparatus for generating speech and sound effects, said audio generating apparatus comprising at least one selectively actuable control for causing said audio generating apparatus to generate said speech and sound effects, said generating apparatus being carried entirely by said accessory.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A toy comprising, in combination: at least one toy action figure having a given configuration and visual appearance; and at least one accessory having a configuration and visual appearance which is coordinated with the configuration and visual appearance of said toy action figure; said toy action figure and said accessory having cooperating means for removably attaching said accessory to said toy action figure; said accessory including audio generating apparatus for generating speech and sound effects, said audio generating apparatus comprising at least one selectively actuable control for causing said audio generating apparatus to generate said speech and sound effects, said generating apparatus being carried entirely by said accessory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
The toy of claim 1 wherein said audio generating apparatus comprises a plurality of selectively actuable controls, at least one said control being coupled to cause said audio generating apparatus to generate at least one speech pattern, and at least one said control being coupled to cause said audio generating apparatus to generate at least one sound effects pattern, said audio generating apparatus generating said speech and sound effects patterns independently of each other in response to actuation of the respective control.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The toy of claim 1 wherein said cooperating means comprises structure on said toy action figure and on said accessory for snap-fitting said accessory to said toy action figure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The toy of claim 1 wherein said cooperating means comprises structure on said toy action figure and on said accessory defining a bayonet-type connection for positively but releasably attaching said accessory to said toy action figure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The toy of claim 1 wherein said control comprises a manually actuable switch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The toy of claim 1 wherein said control comprises a gravity sensitive switch actuable by movement of said accessory.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The toy of claim 1 wherein said audio generating apparatus further comprises a sound synthesizer and a speaker.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The toy of claim 7 wherein said sound synthesizer comprises ROM programmed to generate said at least one speech pattern and said at least one sound effects pattern.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The toy of claim 8 wherein said sound synthesizer consists of a single integrated circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
The toy of claim 8 wherein said ROM is partitioned and configured so as to store said at least one speech pattern and said at least one sound effects pattern to be independently readable, said at least one control being operable to cause said audio generating apparatus to independently generate said at least one speech pattern and said at least one sound effects pattern stored in said ROM.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The toy of claim 1 wherein said accessory is configured and has a visual appearance coordinated with those of a plurality of different action figures.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The toy of claim 11 wherein said plurality of action figures include at least two different figures configured as and having the visual appearance of a military figure, police figure or space figure, and the accessory is coordinated with both of said at least two figures.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The toy of claim 12 wherein said accessory is configured and has the visual appearance of a backpack or a weapon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
123 words
An accessory for a toy action figure which generates at least one speech pattern and at least one sound effects pattern, said accessory having: a configuration and visual appearance which is coordinated with the configuration and visual appearance of said toy action figure; and means cooperating with means on said toy action figure for removably attaching said accessory to said toy action figure; said accessory including audio generating apparatus for generating said at least one speech pattern and said at least one sound effects pattern, said audio generating apparatus comprising at least one selectively actuable control for causing said audio-generating apparatus to generate a said speech pattern and a said sound effects pattern, said audio generating apparatus being carried entirely by said accessory.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
123 words
An accessory for a toy action figure which generates at least one speech pattern and at least one sound effects pattern, said accessory having: a configuration and visual appearance which is coordinated with the configuration and visual appearance of said toy action figure; and means cooperating with means on said toy action figure for removably attaching said accessory to said toy action figure; said accessory including audio generating apparatus for generating said at least one speech pattern and said at least one sound effects pattern, said audio generating apparatus comprising at least one selectively actuable control for causing said audio-generating apparatus to generate a said speech pattern and a said sound effects pattern, said audio generating apparatus being carried entirely by said accessory.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
84 words
The accessory of claim 14 wherein said audio generating apparatus comprises a plurality of selectively actuable controls, at least one said control being coupled to cause said audio generating apparatus to generate said at least one speech pattern, and at least one said control being coupled to cause said audio generating apparatus to generate said at least one sound effects pattern, said audio generating apparatus generating said speech and sound effects patterns independently of each other in response to actuation of the respective control.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The accessory of claim 14 wherein said control comprises a manually actuable switch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The accessory of claim 14 wherein said control comprises a gravity sensitive switch actuable by movement of said accessory.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The accessory of claim 14 wherein said audio generating apparatus further comprises a sound synthesizer and a speaker.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The accessory of claim 18 wherein said sound synthesizer comprises ROM programmed to generate said at least one speech pattern, and said at least one sound effects patterns.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The toy of claim 19 wherein said sound synthesizer consists of a single integrated circuit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
64 words
The toy of claim 19 wherein said ROM is partitioned and configured so as to store said at least one speech pattern, and said at least one sound effects pattern, said at least one control being operable to cause said audio generating apparatus to independently generate said at least one speech pattern and said at least one sound effects pattern stored in said ROM.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
126 words
A toy comprising, in combination: a plurality of toy action figures each having a different given configuration and visual appearance; and a plurality of accessories each having a configuration and visual appearance which is coordinated with the configuration and visual appearance of at least two of said toy action figures; each of said toy action figures and each of said accessory having cooperating means for removably attaching any of said accessories to any of said toy action figures; each of said accessories including audio generating apparatus for generating speech and sound effects, said audio generating apparatus comprising at least one selectively actuable control for causing said audio generating apparatus to generate said speech and sound effects, said audio generating apparatus being carried entirely by said accessory.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
126 words
A toy comprising, in combination: a plurality of toy action figures each having a different given configuration and visual appearance; and a plurality of accessories each having a configuration and visual appearance which is coordinated with the configuration and visual appearance of at least two of said toy action figures; each of said toy action figures and each of said accessory having cooperating means for removably attaching any of said accessories to any of said toy action figures; each of said accessories including audio generating apparatus for generating speech and sound effects, said audio generating apparatus comprising at least one selectively actuable control for causing said audio generating apparatus to generate said speech and sound effects, said audio generating apparatus being carried entirely by said accessory.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
82 words
The toy of claim 22 wherein said audio generating apparatus comprises a plurality of selectively actuable controls, at least one said control being coupled to cause said audio generating apparatus to generate at least one speech pattern, and at least one said control being coupled to cause said audio generating apparatus to generate at least one sound effects pattern, said audio generating apparatus generating said speech and sound effects patterns independently of each other in response to actuation of the respective control.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The toy of claim 22 wherein said audio generating apparatus further comprises a sound synthesizer and a speaker.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The toy of claim 24 wherein said sound synthesizer comprises ROM programmed to generate said at least one speech pattern, and said at least one sound effects pattern.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The toy of claim 25 wherein said sound synthesizer consists of a single integrated circuit.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
64 words
The toy of claim 25 wherein said ROM is partitioned and configured so as to store said at least one speech pattern and said at least one sound effects pattern, said at least one control being operable to cause said audio generating apparatus to independently generate said at least one speech pattern and said at least one sound effects pattern stored in said ROM.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
48 words
The toy of claim 22 wherein said plurality of action figures include at least two different figures configured as and having the visual appearance of a military figure, police figure or space figure, and each of said accessories is coordinated with both of said at least two figures.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The toy of claim 28 wherein said accessory is configured and has the visual appearance of a backpack or a weapon.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
46 words
The toy of claim 1 wherein a first said control is coupled to said audio generating apparatus, and said audio generating apparatus is configured, so as to generate at least one speech pattern and at least one sound effects pattern upon activation of said first control.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
72 words
The toy of claim 8 wherein said ROM is partitioned and configured so as to store said at least one speech pattern and said at least one sound effects pattern to be independently readable, and wherein said audio generating apparatus is configured so that at least one speech pattern and at least one sound effects pattern may be sounded in at least one desired sequence by activation of at least one control.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
62 words
The toy of claim 31 wherein a first said control is coupled to said audio generating apparatus, and said audio generating apparatus is configured, so as to generate at least one speech pattern from a first partitioned part of said ROM and at least one sound effects pattern from a second partitioned part of said ROM upon activation of said first control.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
46 words
The accessory of claim 14 wherein a first said control is coupled to said audio generating apparatus, and said audio generating apparatus is configured, so as to generate at least one speech pattern and at least one sound effects pattern upon activation of said first control.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
72 words
The accessory of claim 19 wherein said ROM is partitioned and configured so as to store said at least one speech pattern and said at least one sound effects pattern to be independently readable, and wherein said audio generating apparatus is configured so that at least one speech pattern and at least one sound effects pattern may be sounded in at least one desired sequence by activation of at least one control.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
62 words
The accessory of claim 34 wherein a first said control is coupled to said audio generating apparatus, and said audio generating apparatus is configured, so as to generate at least one speech pattern from a first partitioned part of said ROM and at least one sound effects pattern from a second partitioned part of said ROM upon activation of said first control.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
46 words
The toy of claim 22 wherein a first said control is coupled to said audio generating apparatus, and said audio generating apparatus is configured, so as to generate at least one speech pattern and at least one sound effects pattern upon activation of said first control.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
72 words
The toy of claim 25 wherein said ROM is partitioned and configured so as to store said at least one speech pattern and said at least one sound effects pattern to be independently readable, and wherein said audio generating apparatus is configured so that at least one speech pattern and at least one sound effects pattern may be sounded in at least one desired sequence by activation of at least one control.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
62 words
The toy of claim 37 wherein a first said control is coupled to said audio generating apparatus, and said audio generating apparatus is configured, so as to generate at least one speech pattern from a first partitioned part of said ROM and at least one sound effects pattern from a second partitioned part of said ROM upon activation of said first control.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-12-16 | 1995-06-17 | 1995-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-16 | 1999-06-17 | 1999-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-16 | 2003-06-17 | 2003-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |