Patent US5141464A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5141464A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Touch responsive animated toy figure
Assignee: Mattel Inc
•
Filing: 1991-01-23
•
Granted: 1992-08-25
•
Expires: 2011-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A touch responsive animated toy figure is fabricated of a soft or plush material and supports an internal housing formed of a rigid plastic material or the like. A rigid head chassis is supported within the head portion of the plush figure and is pivotally secured to a neck extension of the internal body housing. A motor driven operative mechanism produces a pivotal motion of the figure's head for a predetermined time interval each time the motor is energized. A reciprocating tongue motion is provided in response to head motion to cause a tongue to be successively extended and withdrawn from the head portion of the figure during head motion. A sensor located on the outer portion of the plush figure is operatively coupled to the motor control causing the initiation of an operative cycle for a predetermined interval each time the sensor is touched or manipulated.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard R. Stern
- 👤 Ronald MacBain
- 👤 Ben Guerrero
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:37
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H13/00; A63H13/02; A63H3/00; A63H3/36; A63H3/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A toy figure comprising: a body portion having an outer surface and an interior body cavity therein; a head portion having an interior head cavity therein; a housing supported within said interior body cavity; a head chassis supported within said interior head cavity; pivot means pivotally supporting said head chassis with respect to said housing; a sensor supported proximate said outer surface of said body portion; a tongue supported in a fixed attachment to said housing held angularly deflectable with respect to said housing within said head chassis; and motion means for causing pivotal motion of said head chassis with respect to said housing when said sensor is operated between a first position in which said tongue is generally enclosed within said head portion and a second position in which a portion of said tongue extends generally from said head portion as said tongue angularly deflects with said pivotal motion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A toy figure comprising: a body portion having an outer surface and an interior body cavity therein; a head portion having an interior head cavity therein; a housing supported within said interior body cavity; a head chassis supported within said interior head cavity; pivot means pivotally supporting said head chassis with respect to said housing; a sensor supported proximate said outer surface of said body portion; a tongue supported in a fixed attachment to said housing held angularly deflectable with respect to said housing within said head chassis; and motion means for causing pivotal motion of said head chassis with respect to said housing when said sensor is operated between a first position in which said tongue is generally enclosed within said head portion and a second position in which a portion of said tongue extends generally from said head portion as said tongue angularly deflects with said pivotal motion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A toy figure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a head support extending from said body portion to said head portion and wherein said pivot means include a pivotal attachment between said head support and said head chassis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A toy figure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said head portion defines a mouth aperture and wherein said tongue defines a first end secured to said head support and a second end extending through said mouth aperture during head motion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A toy figure as set forth in claim 3 wherein said head support includes a fixed arm fixedly secured to said head support and wherein said first end of said tongue is coupled to said fixed arm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A toy figure as set forth in claim 4 wherein said head chassis includes a tongue guide receiving and slidably supporting said second end of said tongue.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A toy figure as set forth in claim 5 wherein said tongue includes a rigid tongue link having a first end pivotally secured to said fixed arm and a second end attached to said first end of said tongue.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A toy figure as set forth in claim 6 wherein said motion means includes a motor producing rotational motion, crank means converting said rotational motion to reciprocating motion, and a connecting link coupled between said crank means and said head chassis to pivot said head portion through a limited angle of motion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A toy figure as set forth in claim 7 wherein said motion means includes a motor and a motor controller responsive to said sensor to energize said motor for a predetermined time interval.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A toy figure as set forth in claim 8 wherein said connecting link includes a coil spring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A toy figure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said motion means includes a flexible drive link coupled to said head chassis, said flexible drive link flexing when said head chassis is forced toward pivotal motion by an external force*.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US985746A
Cited
US1486101A
Cited
US2802301A
Cited
CH579409A5
Cited
GB2040705A
Cited
US4224759A
Cited
US4244139A
Cited
US4669997A
Cited
US4561854A
Cited
US4689033A
Cited
GB2199761A
Cited
US4778433A
Cited
US4820236A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-08-25 | 1996-02-24 | 1996-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-25 | 2000-02-24 | 2000-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-25 | 2004-02-24 | 2004-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |