EP1228796B1 - Combinaison d'un jouet parlant électronique et d'une poupée ou figurine - Google Patents

Combinaison d'un jouet parlant électronique et d'une poupée ou figurine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1228796B1
EP1228796B1 EP20020001999 EP02001999A EP1228796B1 EP 1228796 B1 EP1228796 B1 EP 1228796B1 EP 20020001999 EP20020001999 EP 20020001999 EP 02001999 A EP02001999 A EP 02001999A EP 1228796 B1 EP1228796 B1 EP 1228796B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
toy
electronic toy
sounds
electronic
seat
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
EP20020001999
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1228796A3 (fr
EP1228796A2 (fr
Inventor
Albert Wai Tai Chan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Thinking Tech Inc
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Thinking Tech Inc
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Publication of EP1228796A2 publication Critical patent/EP1228796A2/fr
Publication of EP1228796A3 publication Critical patent/EP1228796A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1228796B1 publication Critical patent/EP1228796B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H3/00—Dolls
    • A63H3/28—Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H17/00—Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; ; Cranes, winches or the like; Accessories therefor
    • A63H17/26—Details; Accessories

Definitions

  • Said toy assembly comprises a plurality of switch assemblies for detecting the absence or presence of the accessories relative to the respective predetermined positions thereof, and a toy unit which is responsive to the switch assemblies for issuing the recorded sound effect, including voice messages.
  • a master controller is electrically connected to a dog and a fireman accessory food switch, respectively.
  • the master controller comprises a battery power supply, a conventional controller, including a microprocessor which is programmed by conventional programming techniques for performing the function set forth herein and a digital sound effect unit which is operative for reproducing prerecorded voice messages, including sound effects, in a conventional manner.
  • the electronic toy of US 5,389,031 comprises all the features set out in the preamble of claim 1.
  • each doll or action figure with control buttons and switches in order to initiate simulated human speech or other sounds from that particular doll or action figure. It would be an advantage, however, to be able to place any one of multiple dolls or action figures in the same toy, create simulated human speech or other sounds, and avoid the cost of having to place expensive electronic components into each doll or action figure. It would be a further advantage if the initiation of simulated speech from the doll or action figure could be somewhat mysterious to the user.
  • an electronic toy adapted to receive a toy figure comprises a source of electrical power, an integrated circuit chip programmed with pre-recorded sounds, sound reproduction means under the control of the integrated circuit chip, switch means adapted to open or close an electrical circuit to control the flow of electrical power from the source to the integrated circuit and sound production means, and trigger means adapted to activate the switch means, such that when the toy figure is placed into contact with the trigger means, the switch means is closed, electrical power flows, and sounds are created by the sound reproduction means under the control of the integrated circuit.
  • an electronic toy vehicle adapted to receive a doll comprises an electrical storage battery comprising a source of electrical power, an integrated circuit chip programmed with pre-recorded sounds, first and second audio speakers adapted to reproduce sounds based on signals from the integrated circuit chip, the first audio speaker being located proximate a vehicle seat adapted to receive the doll, and being dedicated to reproducing sounds corresponding to simulated speech of the doll, the second audio speaker being located remotely from the vehicle seat and being dedicated to reproducing sounds other than simulated speech of the doll, switch means adapted to open or close an electrical circuit to control the flow of electrical power from the source to the integrated circuit and the audio speakers, and trigger means adapted to activate the switch means, such that when the toy vehicle receives the doll, a portion of the doll contacts the trigger means to close the switch means and initiate production of sounds.
  • an electronic toy vehicle adapted to receive a doll comprises an electrical storage battery comprising a source of electrical power, an integrated circuit chip programmed with pre-recorded sounds, first and second audio speakers adapted to reproduce sounds based on signals from the integrated circuit chip, the first audio speaker being located remote from a vehicle seat adapted to receive the doll, and being dedicated to reproducing sounds corresponding to simulated speech of the doll, the second audio speaker being located proximate the vehicle seat and being dedicated to reproducing sounds other than simulated speech of the doll, switch means adapted to open or close an electrical circuit to control the flow of electrical power from the source to the integrated circuit and the audio speakers, and trigger means adapted to activate the switch means, such that when the toy vehicle receives the doll, a portion of the doll contacts the trigger means to close the switch means and initiate production of sounds.
  • the electronic toy adapted to receive a toy figure of the invention may be manifested in a variety of forms.
  • the toy may be a vehicle such as a car adapted to receive a doll or other action figure.
  • the doll appears to speak about activities relevant to riding in a car or destinations to be reached by car. Simulated cell phone conversations from the car, radio selection and music, background noises appropriate to the car driving through certain areas or to certain locations, and other sounds may all be reproduced.
  • the toy vehicle can be made to vibrate, turn, or move backwards or forwards, for example.
  • These motions can be programmed to correspond with sounds emanating from the speakers corresponding to either simulated speech of the doll or action figure, or to other sounds as described above.
  • various lights can be made to go on and off under control of the integrated circuits.
  • a desk and chair set could receive a doll, and the sounds and motions generated by the toy would be appropriate to some desk activity.
  • a makeup table or vanity could receive a variety of dolls and generate sounds and motions, or control lights, in an appropriate manner.
  • the electronic toy could be a pet house and the toy figure could be a pet.
  • the pet is a dog
  • a speaker located close to where the dog is placed can generate barking sounds or even simulated human speech if the dog is to have human-like characteristics. Similar principles could be applied to create simulated "speech" for other creatures.
  • a toy vehicle (1) comprises at least one seat (2) adapted to receive a doll or other toy figure (3) such as an action figure.
  • an audio speaker (9A) adapted to reproduce sounds which appear to emanate from the doll or action figure (3) when the device is in operation.
  • a second speaker (9B) is mounted somewhere on or in the vehicle remote from the first speaker (9A) so that sounds emanating from the second speaker (9B) do not appear to emanate from the toy figure. In certain cases the location of these figures may be varied.
  • a speaker located near the front of the vehicle will be more appropriate for sounds supposedly generated by the toy figure, while a speaker located in the vicinity of the vehicle seat and controls to generate sounds perhaps including those of simulated radio, telephone and other accessories, or even engine sounds, will be more appropriate.
  • the principle is the same; speakers located at a distance from each other can generate sounds to give the impression that the sounds are emanating from different places.
  • the triggering mechanism (13) is spring-loaded and adapted to react under compression when the toy figure (3) is placed into the toy vehicle (1).
  • the doll's knees or feet, or some other parts of the doll, can be used to press against a trigger plate in the trigger means (13) in order to place the spring into compression. If the trigger means are hidden from the user's view, and the toy appears to begin its activity merely because the doll or action figure has been placed into the toy, this will add to the mystery and "magic" of the toy.
  • the trigger means forces a first contact (17) of a switch (12) into engagement with a second contact (18) of the switch.
  • This completes an electrical circuit allowing power to flow from one or more electrical storage batteries (5) located within the toy vehicle (1) in order to initiate activities of the toy.
  • Pre-recorded on the integrated circuit chip or chips are a variety of "clips" of human speech which may be appropriate to various segments of conversation which the doll or action figure might utter when placed in the context of the toy vehicle.
  • Signals from the integrated circuit chip (8) corresponding to such speech are routed to the first speaker (9A) located in vicinity of the seat of the vehicle, or otherwise located proximate the doll or action figure when it is placed in the vehicle, or in any suitable location on or in the vehicle.
  • the sound can be made to appear to emanate from the doll or action figure rather than from somewhere else in the vehicle.
  • pre-recorded sounds such as a running motor, traffic sounds, radio programming, cell-phone conversations, more distant overheard conversations or speech, or the sounds of a pet in the vehicle, are routed to one or more second speakers (9B) located on or in the vehicle at a distance remote enough from the first speaker so that these second sets of sounds do not appear to emanate from the doll or action figure.
  • the second speaker (9B) may be mounted in or near the dashboard of the vehicle to create the appropriate impression. It can also be mounted under or in the hood or near the wheels, or elsewhere as appropriate. Any suitable location is acceptable.
  • Speaker openings (10A, 10B, 10C) are appropriately located in the vicinity of the speakers (9A, 9B) to produce the volume, location and quality of sound desired.
  • the trigger means (13) such as the illustrated trigger plate (16) moves under the action of the spring (14), thus breaking the electrical contact at the switch (12) and ending, or initiating the ending, of the sound generation from the vehicle and other electrically-driven activities.
  • certain sounds may continue to emanate from the vehicle after the doll or action figure is removed, it would be inappropriate for further sounds to come from the first speaker (9A) dedicated to toy figure sounds. This feature further contributes to maintaining the mystery and "magic" of the toy.
  • an electrical motor (15), shown schematically in Figure 6, under the control of an integrated circuit chip (8) can be connected to one or more moveable components (not shown) of the vehicle (1) in order to generate motion.
  • motion may be timed to correspond with the generation of sounds to enhance the effect. For example, vibration of the vehicle could be initiated when the engine sound is generated.
  • a seat-belt (6) can be provided.
  • the integrated circuit chip When the toy figure (3) is placed in the seat (2), the integrated circuit chip will be enabled to perform a number of features appropriate to having the toy figure present in the vehicle. Placing the toy figure in the vehicle may, for example, generate a sound segment apparently emanating from the toy figure requesting that the seat-belt be fastened.
  • a further electrical switch (not shown) is tripped. The integrated circuit chip will then permit all of the accessories of the vehicle to operate.
  • Initiation switch (33) generates a series of sound segments appearing to emanate from the toy figure or from other components of the car, such as the engine. As previously discussed, these sounds will be produced at the speakers (9A, 9B) located at a distance from each other to simulate sounds coming from different areas of the toy figure or the vehicle. Prior to placement of the toy figure in the vehicle, and the triggering of the switch (12), pressure on the initiation switch (33) may generate only a vehicle sound indicating that the seat-belt (6) must be fastened.
  • a second seat-belt (6B) for a passenger may be provided, however, the placing of the end of seat-belt (6B) into corresponding socket (7B) does not generate any activity in the embodiment of the invention described herein. Normally, no passenger will be present in the passenger seat. Instead, various accessories may be placed in or near the passenger seat.
  • a shopping bag (29) may be provided with a protrusion (29A) adapted to fit into socket (28). When protrusion (29A) is inserted into socket (28), a switch (not shown) is triggered to initiate the generation of sound segments from the action figure appropriate to the placement of the shopping bag (29) in the vehicle.
  • pet cage (27) can be placed in pet cage socket (30) to trigger a switch (not shown) to generate appropriate sound segments.
  • a switch not shown
  • comments appropriate to the placement of both of the accessories (29, 27) can be generated.
  • the toy figure could comment on the presence of the shopping bag (29) in the vicinity of the pet cage (27).
  • horn switch (35) can generate the sound of a horn from either of speaker (9A) or (9B), as appropriate, along with the flashing of headlights (37).
  • pressure on horn pushbutton (35) could also initiate a comment from the other speaker, ostensibly from the toy figure, relating to operation of the horn and lights.
  • Pushbutton (39) may initiate generation of pre-recorded radio programming sounds in a similar fashion.
  • Pushbutton (31) may initiate the placing or receiving of a cell-phone call, along with an appropriate simulated conversation between the toy figure and another person over that cell-phone.
  • the toy cell-phone comprises the entire pushbutton (31).
  • Figure 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention with a table or vanity (19) comprising trigger means (13) and speaker openings (10A, 10B).
  • trigger means (13) When a chair (21) and a toy figure (3) are pushed under the table (19), trigger means (13) are activated to initiate a series of activities similar to those described in relation to the toy vehicle.
  • Figure 8 illustrates a further alternative embodiment of the invention in which a pet house (23) comprises trigger means (13) and speaker openings (10A, 10B).
  • a pet toy (25) is placed into contact with trigger means (13), a similar series of activities can be generated.

Claims (18)

  1. Jouet électronique adapté à recevoir un personnage-jouet (3, 25) comprenant :
    (a) une batterie de stockage électrique (5) comprenant une source de puissance électrique ;
    (b) une puce à circuits intégrés (8) programmée avec des sons préenregistrés ;
    (c) des moyens de reproduction sonore (9A, 9B) adaptés à reproduire des sons en se basant sur des signaux provenant de la puce à circuits intégrés (8) ;
    (d) des moyens de commutation (12) adaptés à ouvrir ou fermer un circuit électrique pour commander l'écoulement de puissance électrique depuis la source (5) vers le circuit intégré (8) et vers les moyens de reproduction sonore (9A, 9B) ;
    (e) des moyens de déclenchement (13) adaptés à activer les moyens de commutation (12) ;
    caractérisé en ce que :
    lesdits moyens de reproduction sonore (9A, 9B) sont un premier et un second haut-parleur audio ;
    ledit premier haut-parleur audio (9A) est situé à un premier emplacement du jouet électronique, et est consacré à reproduire des sons correspondant à une élocution simulée du personnage-jouet (3, 25) ; et
    ledit second haut-parleur audio (9B) est situé à un second emplacement du jouet électronique, et est consacré à reproduire des sons autres qu'une élocution simulée du personnage-jouet (3, 25) ;
    de telle sorte que lorsque que le jouet électronique reçoit le personnage-jouet (3, 25) en utilisation, une portion du personnage-jouet (3, 25) vient en contact avec les moyens de déclenchement (13) pour fermer les moyens de commutation (12) et démarrer la production de sons.
  2. Jouet électronique selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le premier emplacement est situé à proximité d'un siège (2) adapté à recevoir le personnage-jouet (3, 25), et le second emplacement est situé à distance dudit siège (2).
  3. Jouet électronique selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le premier emplacement est situé à distance d'un siège (2) adapté à recevoir le personnage-jouet (3, 25), et le second emplacement est situé à proximité dudit siège (2).
  4. Jouet électronique selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel le jouet électronique comprend un véhicule-jouet (1).
  5. Jouet électronique selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel le jouet électronique comprend un nécessaire de toilette-jeu (19) et un siège (21).
  6. Jouet électronique selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel le jouet électronique comprend une table (19) et une chaise (21).
  7. Jouet électronique selon l'une des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel le personnage-jouet comprend une poupée (3).
  8. Jouet électronique selon l'une des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel le personnage-jouet comprend un personnage actif (25).
  9. Jouet électronique selon l'une des revendications 1 à 8, dans lequel ladite élocution simulée comprend une élocution humaine.
  10. Jouet électronique selon l'une des revendications 1 à 9, dans lequel ledit second haut-parleur audio (9B) est adapté à reproduire des sons correspondant à la nature et au fonctionnement du jouet électronique.
  11. Jouet électronique selon l'une des revendications 1 à 9, dans lequel ledit second haut-parleur audio (9B) est adapté à reproduire des sons correspondant à des bruits d'arrière-plan pour des activités de jeu.
  12. Jouet électronique selon l'une des revendications 1 à 9, dans lequel ledit second haut-parleur audio (9B) est adapté à reproduire des sons musicaux.
  13. Jouet électronique selon l'une des revendications 1 à 4, comprenant en outre un moteur électrique (15) adapté à engendrer un mouvement.
  14. Jouet électronique selon la revendication 13, dans lequel ledit moteur (15) est commandé par une puce à circuit intégré (8) comprenant des instructions de mouvement préprogrammées appropriées pour le jouet électronique.
  15. Jouet électronique selon la revendication 14, dans lequel ledit mouvement est temporisé de manière à correspondre avec la production de sons appropriés.
  16. Jouet électronique selon la revendication 1, adapté en outre à recevoir un accessoire (6, 27, 29) pour déclencher la génération d'une séquence sonore appropriée à l'accessoire (6, 27, 29).
  17. Jouet électronique selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre un commutateur à bouton-poussoir (31, 35) pour déclencher la génération de séquences sonores.
  18. Jouet électronique selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre une pluralité de commutateurs à boutons-poussoirs (31, 35), chaque commutateur à bouton-poussoir (31, 35) étant adapté à engendrer des séquences sonores spécifiques à ce commutateur à bouton-poussoir (31, 35).
EP20020001999 2001-02-05 2002-02-05 Combinaison d'un jouet parlant électronique et d'une poupée ou figurine Expired - Fee Related EP1228796B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US26589801P 2001-02-05 2001-02-05
US265898P 2001-02-05

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1228796A2 EP1228796A2 (fr) 2002-08-07
EP1228796A3 EP1228796A3 (fr) 2002-09-18
EP1228796B1 true EP1228796B1 (fr) 2004-07-28

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Family Applications (1)

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EP20020001999 Expired - Fee Related EP1228796B1 (fr) 2001-02-05 2002-02-05 Combinaison d'un jouet parlant électronique et d'une poupée ou figurine

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1228796B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2002239255A (fr)
CA (1) CA2370352A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9672668B2 (en) 2012-09-28 2017-06-06 Mattel, Inc. Keyed memory device to record input user signals and output recorded user signals

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IL81146A (en) * 1986-01-26 1990-04-29 Avish Jacob Weiner Sound-producing amusement or educational devices
US5147237A (en) * 1990-10-22 1992-09-15 Toymax Inc. Toy audio device
US5389031A (en) * 1993-10-05 1995-02-14 Sharpe, Iii; Henry D. Toy assembly
US5636994A (en) * 1995-11-09 1997-06-10 Tong; Vincent M. K. Interactive computer controlled doll

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9672668B2 (en) 2012-09-28 2017-06-06 Mattel, Inc. Keyed memory device to record input user signals and output recorded user signals

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1228796A3 (fr) 2002-09-18
JP2002239255A (ja) 2002-08-27
EP1228796A2 (fr) 2002-08-07
CA2370352A1 (fr) 2002-08-05

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