Amusement devices: toys – Construction toy – Figure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-13
2001-07-10
Muir, D. Neal (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Construction toy
Figure
C446S301000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257948
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to a talking toy, and more particulary to a talking toy in the form of an animated figure having a plurality of appendages for detachably combining with the toy body and that plays voice messages upon recognizing combinations of particular appendages with particular locations on the toy body.
Various types of toys with detachable appendages have been previously designed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,889 to Ejima discloses a toy in the form of a robotic humanoid that emits sounds and lights in response to the attachment/detachment of arms, legs, and a head to the toy body. As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 5
of Ejima, the toy body includes apertures each having pairs of magnetized contacts. Each of the appendages includes an electrically conductive ferromagnetic hemispherical contact that may be magnetically attached to the toy body via the magnetized contacts to complete a current path across the magnetized contacts. A microprocessor disposed within the toy body detects the presence of an electrical path across the contacts and generates signals in response to a current flow through the magnetized contacts so that the toy body emits entertaining sounds and lights for a user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed to a talking toy in the form of an animated figure having a plurality of appendages for detachably combining with the toy body and that plays voice messages upon recognizing combinations of particular appendages with particular locations on the toy body.
The toy may include a hollow portion containing a source of battery power, a speaker, and an electrical circuit. The body portion may be shaped to represent an animated figure and may have a plurality of apertures of substantially the same size therein. The apertures may be associated with a plurality of predetermined locations on the body. A plurality of appendages for detachably combining with the body may be provided, wherein the appendages have key portions protruding therefrom, and the key portions are of substantially the same size so that each of the key portions fits in at least two of the apertures. A first circuit portion may be disposed within the body portion and adapted to recognize the presence of particular appendages in particular locations on the body, and a second circuit portion may be disposed within the body portion and have a plurality of voice messages associated therewith. The second circuit portion may be adapted to play the voice messages based on the combinations of particular appendages and locations.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of operating a talking toy having a body portion and a plurality of apertures therein, wherein each of the apertures adapted to detachably receive one of at least two appendages selected from a plurality of appendages, includes the steps of recognizing the presence on the body of a particular one of the appendages, determining the particular one of the apertures associated with the particular appendage, and providing a response to a user such that the response is uniquely associated with the combination of the particular appendage and the particular aperture.
The features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.
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Hasbro Inc.
Marshall O'Toole Gerstein Murray & Borun
Muir D. Neal
LandOfFree
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