EP1237636B1 - Figure de jouet animee reposant sur le moniteur d'un ordinateur et repondant a ce dernier - Google Patents

Figure de jouet animee reposant sur le moniteur d'un ordinateur et repondant a ce dernier Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1237636B1
EP1237636B1 EP01909053A EP01909053A EP1237636B1 EP 1237636 B1 EP1237636 B1 EP 1237636B1 EP 01909053 A EP01909053 A EP 01909053A EP 01909053 A EP01909053 A EP 01909053A EP 1237636 B1 EP1237636 B1 EP 1237636B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
animated
motor
toy
computer
light
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP01909053A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1237636A4 (fr
EP1237636A1 (fr
Inventor
Mark Trageser
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.)
Mattel Inc
Original Assignee
Mattel Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mattel Inc filed Critical Mattel Inc
Publication of EP1237636A1 publication Critical patent/EP1237636A1/fr
Publication of EP1237636A4 publication Critical patent/EP1237636A4/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1237636B1 publication Critical patent/EP1237636B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • A63H3/36—Details; Accessories
    • A63H3/38—Dolls' eyes
    • A63H3/40—Dolls' eyes movable
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H2200/00—Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to animated toy figures and particularly to those responsive to light energy.
  • U.S. Patent 5,746,602 issued to Kikinis sets forth a PC PERIPHERAL INTERACTIVE DOLL having a microphone, a speaker and control circuit to facilitate bidirectional communication with a personal computer.
  • Scripted data stored at the computer directs doll activity and verbal articulation and utilizes responses from the child through the doll to the computer in directing output to the doll.
  • US-A-5 636 994 shows a system in which the eyes of an animated doll move in response to signals generated by a computer.
  • a light-responsive toy figure for use with a computer monitor having a light-emitting display screen, the toy comprising: a housing constructed to rest upon a computer monitor having an aperture and a downwardly extending portion; a faceplate supported on the housing and defining eye apertures; a movable eye plate having eye images thereon slidably supported within the housing behind the aperture; a motor having gear means for moving the eye plate to move the eye images behind the eye apertures; a light sensor supported in the downwardly extending portion; a motor controller responsive to the light sensor to energize the motor.
  • Figure 1 sets forth a front perspective view of an animated toy figure constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral 10.
  • Animated figure 10 is shown resting upon a conventional monitor 31 operative with a conventional computer generally referenced by numeral 30.
  • Computer 30 is fabricated entirely in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques and utilizes a keyboard 34 and a mouse 35 operatively coupled to computer 30.
  • Monitor 31 of computer 30 is also fabricated in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques and includes an upper surface 33 upon which figure 10 rests and a monitor screen 32.
  • Monitor screen 32 provides light output as images are formed by computer 30 in conventional computer operation.
  • animate figure 10 is supported upon upper surface 33 of monitor 31 by simple placement and rests there without the need for permanent attachment.
  • animated figure 10 supports a faceplate 11 which in the example of Figure 1 resembles an animal head and face.
  • faceplate 11 defines a pair of eye apertures 12 and 13 through which a pair of movable eyes 14 and 15 may be seen.
  • Faceplate 11 further defines a downwardly extending portion 16 extends upon and partially overlies an upper portion of screen 32.
  • a photosensor operative behind extending portion 16 of faceplate 11 receives light energy from the image changes on screen 32 and triggers the operation of an internal battery-powered motor 42 (seen in Figure 3).
  • the triggering of the photosensor within animated toy figure 10 causes energizing of the internal motor drive operative upon eyes 14 and 15 to cause eyes 14 and 15 to move back and forth behind apertures 12 and 13 in the directions indicated by arrows 17.
  • this operation is accompanied by predetermined sounds stored within the control unit of toy figure 10.
  • toy figure 10 periodically provides a slight interaction in response to a predetermined level change of image upon screen 32 to emit sound and move eyes 14 and 15 back and forth. It has been found that this slight distraction occurring randomly in the view of the computer user provides the desired periodic distractions to alleviate the onset of fatigue or boredom.
  • FIG 2 sets forth a front view of animated toy figure 10 having faceplate 11 removed.
  • Toy 10 includes a housing 20 having a front surface 22, a downwardly extending portion 23 and an elongated aperture 21.
  • figure 10 further includes a movable eyeplate 24 positioned behind aperture 21 and supporting a pair of eye images 14 and 15.
  • housing 20 is fabricated of a molded plastic material or the like.
  • Figure 3 sets forth a section view of animated toy figure 10 taken along section lines 3-3 in Figure 2.
  • a computer monitor 31 includes an upper surface 33 and a display screen 32.
  • animated toy figure 10 rests upon upper surface 33 and extends downwardly overlapping a portion of display screen 32.
  • toy 10 includes a housing 20 defining an interior cavity 40 and a rearwardly extending plate 26. The latter is received upon surface 33. Toy figure 10 rests upon monitor 31 without attachment and is freely movable upon surface 33. Housing 20 further defines a downwardly extending portion 23 which in turn supports a light sensor housing 50 forming a passage 51 therein. In accordance with the present invention, a light sensor 52 is supported at the upper end of passage 51.
  • faceplate 11 is shown in phantom line depiction secured to surface 22 of housing 20 using conventional attachment such as adhesive attachment or the like.
  • Front surface 22 defines an elongated aperture 21.
  • a plurality of conventional batteries 41 are supported within interior 40 and interconnected by conventional electrical connecting apparatus (not shown).
  • a bidirectional motor 42 having an output gear 43 is supported within interior cavity 40 by conventional means.
  • an elongated movable eyeplate 24 defines a gear rack 25 upon its upper edge which engages gear 43.
  • Eyeplate 24 is slidably supported within a channel 28 formed within housing 20 and engages gear 43.
  • rotation of motor 42 rotates gear 43 and engages gear rack 25 moving eyeplate 24 back and forth within housing 20.
  • a sound and control circuit 55 includes conventional motor operative circuitry which moves motor 42 back and forth for a predetermined interval and provides output sound signals which are operative to drive speaker 44 (seen in Figure 4).
  • a plurality of conventional electric circuit components such as component 56 are supported upon control circuit 55.
  • control circuit 55 In operation, as light changes upon screen 32, sensor 52 responds to a predetermined level of light change and couples a signal to control circuit 55.
  • Control circuit 55 triggers the operation of motor 42 through a predetermined cycle which in turn causes eyeplate 24 to be moved back and forth.
  • control circuit 55 outputs a predetermined sound signal which is utilized by speaker 44.
  • control circuit 55 responds to light energy of a predetermined level to energize motor 42 for a predetermined time and thereafter turn it off.
  • FIG 4 sets forth a partial section top view of animated toy figure 10 taken along section lines 4-4 in Figure 2.
  • toy figure 10 includes a housing 20 having an interior cavity 40 and a rearwardly extending plate 26. Housing 20 further defines a front surface 22 having an elongated aperture 21 formed therein.
  • a plurality of batteries 41 and a motor 42 are further supported within interior cavity 40.
  • Motor 42 includes a gear 43.
  • a movable eyeplate 24 having eye images 14 and 15 formed thereon is slidably supported within channel 28 (seen in Figure 3) of housing 20 and is thus movable in the directions indicated by arrows 27.
  • the upper edge of eyeplate 24 defines a gear rack 25 which is engaged by gear 43 to facilitate movement of eyeplate 24 when motor 42 is energized.
  • a sound and control circuit 55 is operatively coupled to motor 42 by conventional wiring means (not shown) and includes a plurality of electronic components such as component 58. Circuit 55 is further coupled by a plurality of wires 45 to a speaker 44.
  • the animated toy figure which is structured to rest upon the upper portion of a conventional computer monitor.
  • the animated toy figure responds periodically to light produced by the monitor screen to provide animated movement or action and to provide sound.

Claims (1)

  1. Figure de jouet sensible à la lumière (10) pour utilisation avec un moniteur d'ordinateur (31) ayant un écran d'affichage à émission de lumière (32), le dit jouet comprenant :
    un boítier (20) construit pour reposer sur un moniteur d'ordinateur (31) et comportant une ouverture (21) et une partie qui s'étend vers le bas (23) ;
    une plaque de face (11) supportée sur le dit boítier et définissant une ouverture (21) pour les yeux ;
    une plaque d'yeux mobile (24) portant des images d'yeux (14, 15), supportée de façon coulissante à l'intérieur du dit boítier derrière la dite ouverture (21) ;
    un moteur (42) comportant un moyen de transmission (25) pour déplacer la dite plaque d'yeux (24), afin de déplacer les dites images d'yeux (14, 15) derrière la dite ouverture (21) pour les yeux ;
    un capteur de lumière (52) supporté dans la dite partie s'étendant vers le bas (23) ; et
    une unité de commande de moteur qui répond au dit capteur de lumière (52) pour exciter le dit moteur (42).
EP01909053A 2000-02-11 2001-02-08 Figure de jouet animee reposant sur le moniteur d'un ordinateur et repondant a ce dernier Expired - Lifetime EP1237636B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US50260400A 2000-02-11 2000-02-11
US502604 2000-02-11
PCT/US2001/004268 WO2001058553A1 (fr) 2000-02-11 2001-02-08 Figure de jouet animee reposant sur le moniteur d'un ordinateur et repondant a ce dernier

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1237636A1 EP1237636A1 (fr) 2002-09-11
EP1237636A4 EP1237636A4 (fr) 2003-06-11
EP1237636B1 true EP1237636B1 (fr) 2004-06-23

Family

ID=23998564

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01909053A Expired - Lifetime EP1237636B1 (fr) 2000-02-11 2001-02-08 Figure de jouet animee reposant sur le moniteur d'un ordinateur et repondant a ce dernier

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1237636B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE269751T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU769057B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2392441C (fr)
DE (1) DE60103972T2 (fr)
MX (1) MXPA02005048A (fr)
WO (1) WO2001058553A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015003186A2 (fr) * 2013-07-05 2015-01-08 Retoy, LLC Système et procédé pour jeu mobile interactif
US8955750B2 (en) 2013-07-05 2015-02-17 Retoy, LLC System and method for interactive mobile gaming

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS61156405A (ja) * 1984-12-28 1986-07-16 Nintendo Co Ltd 光感応制御装置
US4807031A (en) * 1987-10-20 1989-02-21 Interactive Systems, Incorporated Interactive video method and apparatus
US5072998A (en) * 1989-08-08 1991-12-17 Del Cerro Investment Group, Inc. Stuffed anatomical members
US5267886A (en) * 1992-02-07 1993-12-07 Mattel, Inc. Multiple action plush toy
US5464214A (en) * 1994-05-06 1995-11-07 Griffin; Tom Device for enhancing the appeal of a video terminal
US5501627A (en) * 1994-11-08 1996-03-26 Ekstein; Penny Children's toy with peek-a-boo activation
US5636994A (en) * 1995-11-09 1997-06-10 Tong; Vincent M. K. Interactive computer controlled doll
US5855502A (en) * 1997-02-18 1999-01-05 Pragmatic Designs Inc. Animated characters utilizing face unit mechanism and control system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1237636A4 (fr) 2003-06-11
CA2392441C (fr) 2010-07-13
AU769057B2 (en) 2004-01-15
DE60103972T2 (de) 2005-07-07
EP1237636A1 (fr) 2002-09-11
AU3684601A (en) 2001-08-20
WO2001058553A1 (fr) 2001-08-16
MXPA02005048A (es) 2004-08-23
CA2392441A1 (fr) 2001-08-16
ATE269751T1 (de) 2004-07-15
DE60103972D1 (de) 2004-07-29

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