MXPA00011050A - Speaking toy having plural messages and animated character face - Google Patents

Abstract

A generally circular flat housing (10) supports a handle (12), a pivotable lever (21), and a base portion (13). At the circular portion of the housing, a ring of character segments (31) each having a visually depicted character (41) thereon are supported. A pointer (60) is rotatably supportable upon the housing and is movable to point to a selected one of the characters. A character image (63) is supported on a circular plate (62) at the center of the housing and includes apparatus for moving face components (64, 66) to simulate the speaking action of the image character. An electronic sound module of conventional design is supported within the interior of the housing and is provided with speech or phrase selections by a rotating multiple segment contact pad set together with a pair of contact brushes. When the pivotally mounted handle is pulled down, a gear drive mechanism is configured for operation and energy is stored in a return spring. When the handle is released, the energy within the stored spring draws the handle upwardly in a slow travel which further drives the gear mechanism for animating the character face and which triggers the production of sound from the sound module.

Description

PLATTER TOY THAT HAS MULTIPLE MESSAGES AND A FACE OF ANIMATED CHARACTER SPECIFICATION Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to talking toys and particularly to those having a plurality of selectable messages. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A popular talking toy that has enjoyed popularity for a long time is manufactured and distributed on the market by Mattel, Inc, which is located in El Segundo, California. This line of products under the brand "See ~ N Say "has been provided in various aesthetic matters over the years The basic talking toy provided uses a roughly circular, generally flat housing having a handle pivotally supported on the side of the housing The housing further supports an outer ring divided into a plurality of segments, each @of which contains a character or legend. A multi-track phonograph recording is rotatably held within the housing and is coupled to a stylus and amplifier horn cone, to reproduce the select of the multiple audio messages recorded in the recording. The plurality of tracks recorded in the recording are spirally helical to allow reproduce any recorded message by placing the stylus at the point of departure in the recording. The housing further supports a rotating pointer that engages the stylet placement apparatus, to allow the tip of the pointer to align with any of the character segments to select the corresponding message to reproduce. In a later version of this product, the system is supplemented by a character face supported within the interior of the character segment ring that is mechanically coupled to the pivoting lever, to cause articulation of the facial elements during reproduction. Other similar products have been used for various speech exercises and training applications. For example, the patent of the U.S.A. No. 3.38, 11 given to Ryan with the title "TEACHING DEVICE" that has a generally circular housing that supports a rotating effect pointer and an annular segmented outer ring that has multiple segments, each containing one associated letter and image. In this way, for example, the segment labeled A has the image of an apple while the segment labeled B has a baseball bat and so on. A multi-track phono recording mechanism is operated according to the position of the pointer to articulate information regarding the segment. The U.S. Patent No. 3,711,964 issued to Folson et al, entitled "ASK AND ANS ER TOY" (TOY OF ANSWER AND ANSWER) having a phonographic apparatus supported inside a housing together with a pointing wheel that is rotatable to indicate a plurality of images arranged in relation to the pointer in a generally radial arrangement. A pull-pull mechanism that is operative along with a speed governor to store energy in the spring of the traction speed mechanism, as the string is pulled and uses the spring force to rotate the recording and phonographic reproduction of a given message . The patent jie the US. No. 5,382,188 awarded to Tomellini with the title "AUDIO PLAYBACK DEVICE" (AUDIO REPRODUCTION DEVICE) formed in the configuration of a conventional telephone. The device includes an image plate having a plurality of images and an integrated circuit structure having a preprogrammed memory with a plurality of sound tracks corresponding to the image. The circuit structure further includes an output unit for outputting sound tracks in a switching structure to drive the output. A rotatable selector controls the selection of messages by pointing to an image correspondent . The U.S. Patent No. 3,871,112 awarded to Licitis entitled "COORDINATED VISUAL AND AUDIO REPRODUCING APPARATUS" (A COORDINATED VISUAL AND AUDIO PLAYING SYSTEM) that provides a story-telling device that allows the selection of a number of recorded message segments to be reproduced in a plurality of different combinations. Each message segment is attributed to a particular visual image in a series of visual images. The U.S. Patent No. 4,150,831 awarded to atanabe with title "TOY RECORD PLAYER" (RECORDER OF TOY) that has a recording turntable to receive a recording that has a plurality of selectable tracks. The U.S. Patent No. 4, 33,40 awarded to Watanabe with title "VARIETY PLAYING SOUND REPRODUCING DEVICE" (VARIETY REPRODUCTION SOUND PLAYER DEVICE) that has a rotating turntable displaced by a combination of motor and constant torque spring. The U.S. Patent No.4, 510, 590 granted to Girton and collaborators, with the title "PULL STRING INERTIAL VOICE UNIT "(INERTIAL VOICE UNIT WITH TRACTION ROPE) that has a rotational energy source wound with i * spring-powered pull cord, which is attached to a turntable that contains a recording. A stylus is mobile within the unit to facilitate tracking the sound slots recorded in the recording, as the spring energy rotates the turntable. The U.S. Patent No.5,054,012 granted to Koike and collaborators with title "SOUND REPRODUCING DEVICE FOR PLAYING A RECORD DISK HAVING A PLURALITY OF RECORDED GROOVES "(SOUND PLAYER DEVICE FOR PLAYING A RECORDING RECORD WHICH HAS A PLURALITY OF GROOVES RECORDED) which uses a rotating disk operating under the spring energy to rotate while a stylus is placed in coupling with a multi-track recording. A pointer is rotatable on the unit and it is operative to select between the various tracks and messages when placing the stylus on the terminal for the selected track. The Patents of the U.S.A. DES. 359,521 granted to Kino and DES. 320,419 granted to Wohl, establish aesthetic designs for talking toys. While the prior art devices described above have improved technique and in some cases enjoyed commercial success, there remains a continuing need in the specialty for increasingly improved, entertaining and effective toys.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a general objective of the present invention is to provide an improved talking toy. A more particular object of the present invention is to provide an improved talking toy with multiple messages and an associated animated character. In accordance with the present invention, a talking toy is provided comprising: a housing having a generally circular face or face portion supporting an annular ring with a plurality of segments, each segment supporting an image, a lever slidably held within of the housing having a return spring and having an end portion extending outward from the housing, the end portion has a handle, a character image held within the annular ring, having a face and face elements movable, gear drive means, coupled to the lever having a central arrow, to rotate the central arrow as the lever moves against the return spring and frees to move under the force of the return spring, a sound module which has a plurality of stored speech messages, a pointer ring, rotatably held in the housing within the annul ring r that has a pointer, the pointer ring has a mobile gear, a selector of messages having a selector gear that couples the ring gear coupled to the sound module to select a speech message from among the plurality of facial movement means coupled to the gear shift means, to move the face elements, moveable as the central arrow rotates, and switching means operadqs by movement of the lever, causing activation of the sound module to reproduce a message selected by the pointer and the message selector. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The characteristics of the present invention that are considered novel, are established with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, can be better understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and in which: Figure 1 provides a front view of a talking toy constructed in accordance with present invention; Figure 2 establishes a front sectional view of the talking toy of the present invention; Figure 3 establishes a partial front view of the animated character in the present invention, which shows the underlying apparatus to animate the face of the character; Figure 4 establishes a perspective view of the eccentric cam mechanism used in the movement of the animated character face of the present invention; Figure 5 establishes a perspective view of the rear part of a movable mouth member of the toy of the present invention employed in the animated character; Figure 6 establishes a rear view of the animated face of the talking toy of the present invention; and Figure 7 establishes a front view of the support plate apparatus of the talking toy of the present invention holding the animated character. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Figure 1 establishes a front view of a talking toy constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by the number 10. The talking toy 10 includes a generally circular housing 11 having a handle 12 and a base 13 formed there. The base 13 defines an opening 15 that supports an oppression button 16. The toy 10 further includes a pivotable lever 20 having a handle 21. By means set forth below in Figure 2, the lever 20 is pivotable with respect to the housing 11 in the address indicated by the arrow 22. The housing 11 further supports an annular ring 30 having a plurality of generally equal segments 31 or 40 on which a corresponding plurality of images 41 to 50 are formed. The toy 10 also includes a rotating pointer 60 supported by a pointer ring 61 in the manner a set forth in Figure 2 below. It is sufficient to note here that the pointer 60 is rotatable to alignment positions with selected of the images 41 to 50 supported within the segments 31 to 40. The base 13 further defines a speaker grill 14 which allows the sound produced by the horn 85 (seen in Figure 2) to sleep outwardly from the base. The toy 10 further includes a character plate 72, the structure of which is set forth below in Figures 3 and 7 in greater detail. It is sufficient to note here that the character plate 62 is held on and within the pointer ring 61 and further supports a character image 63. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and as set forth below in Figure 3 with greater In detail, the character image 63 is preferably formed of a relief to simulate three-dimensional quality. However, a two-dimensional image can be used, if desired. The image of s characters 63 includes a thread 64 having an opening mouth 150 through dl which a movable closing plate 151 is held and moved in the directions indicated by the arrows 65. Also, by means best seen in Figures 3 to 7 and as described below, the image of character 63 is caused to simultaneously provide the appearance of an open and closed mouth 64, while also oscillating in both of the directions indicated by arrows 6β during activation of talking toy 10. In operation, talking toy 10 is prepared for an operating cycle by the pointer rotation by the user 60, to a desired segment on the annular ring 30 which in turn points to a selected image among the images 41 to 50. Once the pointer 60 has been placed, the apparatus within the housing 11 set forth below in Figure 2, operates to select a corresponding message to be reproduced through the horn 85 and by a sound module 123 (seen in Figure 2). Subsequently, the user pivots the handle 21 and the lever 0 is based on the direction indicated by the arrow 22 on the right-hand side of the housing 11. By means set forth below in Figure 2, the pivotable movement 70 and the lever 20 and the handle 21 simultaneously store energy within a pulse spring supported in the housing 11 and energize the module of electronic sound. At the end of the descending race, the handle 21 is released, and the lever 20 returns to the position shown in Figure 1, in a relatively slow motion. The energy stored within the return spring causes the animation of the character image 63 such as the mouth 64 to move in the direction indicated by the arrow 65 and as the whole character image moves or oscillates in the manner indicated by the arrow 66. The sound output, selected by the position of the pointer 60, comprises a message or other audio information and entertains, entertains and in some cases educates the child user. In addition to the operation of the talking toy 10, using the lever 20 and the pointer 60, the button 16 is held within the opening 15 to provide a pressure motor by means set forth below in greater detail, operate to cause the internal sound module of the toy 10 to produce so-called "special effects" signals. These signals are pre-stored within the sound module and for example can include sounds of horns or horns, sounds of trains, sounds associated with explosions, etc. As a result, the minor user is able to operate the talking toy 10 in a normal way using the handle 21 and the lever 20, while highlighting the message that reproduces with sound effects produced by pressing the button 16. In its preferred form, the housing 11 is made of a molded plastic material suitable for mass production of high volume, low cost. Similarly, character plate 62 and character 63 are also preferably formed from a standard low cost molded plastic material. As also apparent in the descriptions of Figures 2 to 7 below, the remaining components used to manufacture the talking toy 10 are also suitable for the manufacture of relatively inexpensive injection molded plastic materials. However, other materials may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Figure 2 establishes a sectional view of the talking toy 10 ep & where the housing 11 is shown sectioned to display the apparatus relating to the lever 20, horn 35 and character image 63 (seen in Figure 1). More specifically, the housing 11 defines a handle 12, a base 30 and an elongated curved slot 17. A lever 20 supports a handle 21 on its exterior and an arcuate guide 24 having a curvature that allows the arcuate guide 24 to move slidably within of the curvature of the housing 11 adjacent the slot 17. The guide arched 4 further defines a pair of curved slots 25 and 26 on each side of the lever 20 within which is fastened to a pair of guide posts 27 and 28. The resulting structure in the posts 27 and 28 within the curved slots 25 and 26 allows the combined structure of the lever 20, the handle 21 and the arcuate guide 24 to move slidably in an arcuate path within the housing 11. The positions of the posts 27 and 28 form limit stops for the sliding travel of the arched guide 24 in each division. A lever gear 70 having a gear segment 71 on its inner edge is positioned in proximity to the arcuate guide 24 of the lever 20. The lever gear 70 further defines a curved slot 72 within which a post 78 is provided. It forms in the housing 11 which extends upwards through and which is captured within the slot 72. The guide lever 70 further defines a spring tab 74 which receives an end of a delay spring 76. spring 76 posts are formed 75 formed inside the housing 11. Also formed within the housing 11 and associated with the lever gear 70 is a stop block 63 which limits the travel of the lever gear 70. In addition, the lever gear 70 defines an upper edge 77 contacting a lower edge 29 of the arched guide 20. this way, the movement of the handle 21 and the lever 20 in the direction of the arrow 3 serves to transport the lever gear 70 in a corresponding curved movement. A pulse coupling with pawls 9 includes a gear 91 which engages in the gear 71 and a gear 93. The coupling between the gear 91 and the gear 93 is a coupling in a single direction where the pawl 92 engages in one direction (arrow 102) and the opposite direction emerges (arrow 101). This difference of gear couplings in the rest of the apparatus shown in Figure 2, the ratchet 92 couples the rotational energy of the gear 91 to the gear 93, only in response to rotation of the gear 91 in the direction of the arrow 102. In the opposite direction, the angular front teeth shown in the ratchet 92 slide as the gear 91 rotates. The gear 93 engages in the gear 103 which is attached to a larger diameter gear 104. The gear 104 engages a gear 108 which is integrally formed with a pulley 109. The pulley 109 supports one end of a belt 110 which in turn receives on a pulley 111. An opening 105 formed in the gear 104 allows a hexagonal arrow 106 coupled to the gear 103, to extend up past the gear 104 and finally to drive the plate eccentric 160 and cam 162 (see in Figure 4). As mentioned above, a pointer 60 is rotatably held within the housing 11 by a pointer ring 91. The pointer ring 91 is held by conventional means (not shown) which center the rotation of the pointer ring 61 to the center of the arrow 106. The pointer ring 61 includes an outer ring gear 115 that rotates in direct correspondence to the rotary movement of the pointer ring 70. A sound module 123 that can be manufactured completely in accordance with conventional manufacturing techniques, is held on a circuit board printed 146 and held within the housing 11 by a pair of conventional fasteners. The sound producing circuit employed e? the sound module 123 is entirely conventional in manufacturing and provides a sound producing circuit that includes a conventional sound and memory signal apparatus, which responds to power signals to select from a plurality of stored messages to be audible or reproduced through the horn 85. Of importance with respect to the present invention is to further provide on the sound module 123 a pair of electric contact brushes 121 and 122 together with a plurality of radially placed contact pads 131 to 140 enclosing a connector common core 130. The combined structures of the contact brushes 1? 1 and 122 are rotatably supported by an arrow 124 extending through the center of the contact pad assembly 131 to 140. Below the printed circuit board 146, the remaining end on the arrow 124 engages a gear 120 which engages the ring gear 115 of the pointer ring 61. In this way, as the pointer ring 61 rotates in either direction, the gear 120 is rotated correspondingly moving in this manner the positions of the contact brushes 121 and 122 with respect to the cushions 131 to 140.

In the position shown in Figure 2, the contact brush 121 maintains its electrical connection with the common connected cushion 130 while the contact brush 122 is illustrated contacting the cushion 134. The connection of the contact brushes 121 and 122 does not it is illustrated in Figure 2, but according to conventional manufacturing techniques, the contact brushes are connected by wires and printed circuit board cushions, to supply a signal feed to the sound module 123. The housing 11 also supports a battery chamber 90 having a plurality of stored batteries, including batteries 96, 97 and 98. For purposes of avoiding undue confusion of the drawing, all of the The wiring system of toy 10 is not illustrated in detail. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the electrical elements of the toy system 10 are operatively coupled according to conventional manufacturing techniques. As a result, the horn 85 is operatively coupled to the sound module 23 and the batteries within the battery chamber 90.

In addition, a clamp 81 placed inside the housing 11 holds a switch 83 having an angular front oppression button 84 together with a switch 82. The switch 82 supports the button 16 which, as seen in FIG.

Figure 1, form the special effect button for the toy . It is sufficient to note here that the button 116 provides fi actuating on the switch 82, while the button 84 when depressed drives the switch 83. The means not shown, but according to conventional manufacturing techniques, the switch 83 is coupled to the module Sound 123 to activate the sound module. In operation, and initially considering that the lever 102 and the handle 21 have been relaxed to their rest position are illustrated in Figure 2, the operating cycle of the toy 10 is initiated by the user when moving the pointer 60 fi to align the pointer with a selected image in the manner illustrated in Figure 1. As the pointer 60 is rotated in any direction as indicated by the arrows 87, the coupling of the ring gear 115 and the gear 120 produces the previously described rotation in the gear 1 0 and the structure or assembly of the contact brushes 121 and 122 in corresponding directions as indicated by the arrows 141. According to the pointer 70 it moves between the two positions or their segments of the images, the gear 115 and the gear 120 cooperate to move correspondingly the positions of the contact brushes 121 and 122 to provide electrical connection to the set of contact cushions corresponding to that selected image. Once the desired position on the pointer 60 has been established, the user then pulls the handle 21 and the lever 20 in a downwardly curved path in the direction indicated by the arrow 23 lifts the lever 20 in contact with the end of the slot 17. The downward movement O of the handle 21 and the lever 20 produces a corresponding downward curved movement of the arcuate guide 24. The engagement of the edge 29 of the guide 24 with the edge 77 of the lever gear 70 leads to the gear of lever 70 in a corresponding ratchet movement which overcomes the force of spring 77 and stores energy within the spring As the lever gear 70 moves downward, its gear segment 71 engaging gear 91 rotates the gear fi 91 of the direction indicated by the arrow 101. As mentioned above, the rotation of the gear 91 in the direction of the arrow 101 is in the direction of "sliding" for the pawl 92. Accordingly, while the gear 91 rotates as the gear 71 moves in an arcuate path, grouping is not imparted to the gear 93 and the remaining gear pulse components are generally immovable. As the lever 0 approaches the bottom end of the slot 17, an angled facet end portion 79 of the arcuate guide 4fise bears against the angled facet of the button 74. The button position 84 held by the bracket 81 is chosen to allow contacting the angled facet 79 to press the buttons 34 and operate the switch 83. As a result, the switch 73 is closed and the sound module 123 begins its operation. In addition, the switch 8 is wired by conventional manufacturing means to the sound module 1 3 to trigger a sound effect feed condition, causing * the sound module 123 to produce sound effects such as those described above each time the button 16 is pressed. Once the lever 20 and the handle 21 have been pulled down to their maximum position, the spring 76 has been stretched to store a spring force substantial In this way, in the fully down position, the spring 76 is fully stretched and the switch 83 is actuated. Subsequently, the user simply releases the handle 1 allowing the return force of the spring 36 to actuate the lever gear 70 and the guide arched 24 upwards to return to the position shown in Figure 2. As the lever gear 60 is directed upwards, the gear 91 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 102 which is the mating direction of the pawl 9. As a result, the rotation of the gear 91 in the direction of the arrow 102 produces a corresponding rotation of the gear 93 in the direction indicated by the arrow 95. As mentioned above, the gear 93 engages the gear 101 which is attached to the gear 104. In this way, as the gear 93 rotates, the gear 103 rotates, which in turn rotates the arrow 106. The rotation of the arrow 106 operates the mechanism for mouth movement of the present invention shown in Figures 3 to 7 and described then. Simultaneously, with the upward travel of the arcuate guide 24 releasing the button 84, the speech module 123 initiates an audible message corresponding to the selector pad 134 which is reproduced through the horn 85. Due to the substantial gear mechanism coupled to the gear lever 70, the ascending path of the lever gear 70 and lever 20 brakes substantially prolonging the operative stroke during which sound module 1 3 is operative together with movement of image 63 (as seen in Figure 3). As a result, the handle 21 and the lever 20 can move downward in a relatively short stroke and when they are released, they return upward in a slower stroke of longer duration, which prolongs the operative period of the toy. Each cycle of the toy 10 is carried forward in the same way that the child user repeatedly moves the pointer 60 to the desired character from images 41 to 50 (as seen in Figure 1) and subsequently directs the lever 20 and the handle 21 down and then release the lever. In addition to the selection of previously stored messages that is achieved by contacting the brushes 121 ^ 122, pressing the button 16 at any time will operate the switch 82 by injecting a previously stored sound effect that is processed by the sound module 123 to energize the horn 85. Figure 3 establishes a front view of the character plate 62. The character plate 62 supports an image 63, which, as mentioned above, is preferably fabricated as a relief to provide three-dimensional image quality . Image 63 define a mouth opening 150 together with a generally planar closure plate 151 (better seen in Figure 5). The closure plate 151 is slidably movable behind the mouth opening 150 and supports selected visual images such as the lip image 161, whereby vertical movement of the closure plate 151 provides a visual effect of the opening and closing of the closure plate 151. mouth for image 73, As also seen in Figure 6, a back surface of the character plate 6 includes a pair of generally parallel guide ribs 154 and 155. The closure plate 151 is slidably supported between the guides 154 and 155 and is movable at the directions indicated by arrow 165 and 166. As best seen in Figure 5, closure plate 151 further includes a horizontally extending cam follower 160, which extends substantially the width of closure plate 151 Also shown in Figure 3 is the position of the arrow 106 which engages a cam 162 (seen in Figure 4) defining cam lobes 163 and 164. The cam 162 is illustrated generally elliptical. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of cam shapes can be employed to impart a corresponding variety of mouth-movement profiles without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. invention. In operation, as the arrow 106 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 167 through the driving apparatus described below in Figure 2, a spring 175 (seen in Figure 6) exerts a bypass force on the plate. closing 151 by moving it against the cam 162. In this way, as the cam 106 rotates the cam 162, the position of the closing plate 151 within the guides 154 and 155 moves vertically. When either of the lobes 166, 164 are pressed against the rib 160, the closure plate 151 moves maximally in the downward direction indicated by the arrow 165. On the contrary, when the smaller diameters of the cam 162 are forced against the rib 160, the closure plate 151 moves to its maximum upward position as indicated by the arrow 166. As a result, the rotation of the cam 162 moves the closure plate 151 up and down within this range of movement. The use of images on the closure plate 151 such as the lip image 161 gives the appearance of mouth movement to the image 63. This mouth movement continues as long as the cam 162 is turned by the arrow 106. Figure 4 establishes a perspective view of the cam 162 supported on the end of the arrow 106. As described above, the cam 162 includes cam lobes 163 and 164. Also shown in Figure 4 is illustrated an eccentric plate 170 having a generally circular shape attached to the arrow 106 below the cam 162 in a displaced or eccentric connection. This displacement of the eccentric plate 170 operates to provide the second animation dimension for the image 63 (as seen in Figure 3) which is described below in Figure 7. s Figure 5 establishes a perspective view of the plate of closure 151 which, as described above, includes a cam follower rib 180 and a bottom edge 53. The closure plate 151 further includes a spring clip 156. The view of the closure plate 151 illustrated in Figure 5 is a rear view in the sense that the assembly of the closure plate 151 after the image 63 as illustrated in Figure 3, places the follower cam cam 160 inward and exposes the opposite ß of the closure plate 151, which as mentioned above it supports one or more images of mouth type. Figure 6 establishes a rear view of the image 63 having the closure plate 151 assembled. The image 63 is attached to the character plate 72 (seen in Figure 7) by a plurality of posts 171, 172 and 173 using conventional fasteners (not shown). As described above, the rear surface of the image 63 supports a pair of generally parallel, fi-spaced guides 154 and 155. Between the guides 154 and 155 are slidably received to a closure plate 151. The image 63 further supports a post spring 174 on which a spring 175 is held. Spring 175 includes one end 176 that is held within the spring clip 156 of the closure plate 151. The spring 175 includes an end 177 which is placed against a post 178 formed on the underside of the closure plate 151. The spring 175 produces a spring force coupled to the closure plate 151 fi by displacing the post 178 and the closure plate 151 upwards in the direction indicated by the arrow 179. It will be remembered by the description that accompanies in Figure 3, that this spring force maintains the contact of the cam follower rib 170 against the cam 16 (both seen in Figure 3). The image 63 further defines a pair of curved slots 179 and gone receiving posts 171 and 173, respectively. According to the operation set forth below in Figure 7, the rotation of the cam 162 is accompanied by the rotation of the eccentric plate 170 (seen in Figure 4) to cause the image 63 to oscillate in both directions indicated by the arrows 185 and 188. The operation of the eccentric plate 170 is set out below in Figure 7 in more detail. It is sufficient to note here that, however, that the simultaneous rotation of the cam 162 and the eccentric plate 180 produces an eye movement by the closure plate 151 and side-to-side movement or oscillation of the image 63. The fi Present movement of the image 63 is provided by a pivotal movement of the image which is confined by the posts 171 and 173 within the slots 179 and 180. In this way, as the image 63 is pivoted in the direction indicated by the arrow 189 , the opposite side of the image 63 moves upwards in the direction indicated by the arrow 190. On the contrary, the movement of the slot 180 in the direction indicated by the arrow 186 results in rising from the opposite side of the image 63 in the direction fi indicated by the arrow 187. Figure 7 establishes a front view of the character plate 62 wherein the profile of the image 63 It is illustrated for reference purposes. It will be apparent that the image 63 is inverted from the position shown in Figure 6 and attached to the front surface of the character plate 62 to occupy the position indicated in the dotted line representation in Figure 7. As described above, the The back fi surface of the image 63 supports a pair of guides 154 and 155 within which a plate is slidably held.

Closing 191. As also described above, an arrow 106 supports a cam 162 (seen in Figure 4) together with a generally circular eccentric plate 170. The plate 170 and the cam 162 are rotatable with the arrow 106. The plate 162 character 162 defines a pair of curved descending slots 179 and 180 that receive a post 171 and 173 respectively. ' A pair of washers 181 and 182 are fastened in the upper tube of posts 133 and 131, respectively. In operation, the rotation of the arrow 106 by the drive means set forth below in Figure 2 rotates correspondingly to the eccentric plate 170 between the posts 171 and 173 which, as mentioned above are fastened to the lower surface of the 63. In this way, as the eccentric plate 170 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow 157, the maximum extension of the eccentric plate 180 is forced against the pole 173 by moving the image 63 in the direction indicated by the arrow 195 corresponding to the direction 185 of Figure 6. On the contrary, as the maximum extension or displacement of the eccentric plate 170 rotates in contact with the post 171, the image 63 moves opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow 196 that corresponds to the direction indicated by arrow 188 in Figure 6. In this manner, according to the eccentric plate 170 -fc ,. rotates, its eccentric displacement causes image 63 to oscillate in both directions between the positions shown in Figure 1. ** What has been shown is a talking toy that has multiple messages and an animated character face where a sound module it is controlled by a multi-segment selector mechanism and where additional sounds and special effects can be introduced into the normal game. The animation of the character face is carried forward by putting a gear coupling mechanism together with a cam and an eccentric plate that follows the movable portions of the character face. While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim of the appended claims is to cover all these changes and modifications that fall within the spirit and actual scope of the invention. ís

Claims (11)

1. CLAIMS 1.- A talking toy, characterized in that it comprises: a housing having a generally circular face portion supporting an annular ring, having a plurality of segments, each segment supporting an image; a lever slidably supported with the housing having a return spring and an end portion extending outwardly from the housing, the end portion having a handle; a character image held within the annular ring, which has a face and moving face elements; gear drive means, coupled to the lever having a central arrow, for rotating the central arrow, for rotation of the central arrow as the lever moves against the return spring s and free to move under the force of the return spring; a sound module having a plurality of stored speech messages, a pointer ring, rotatably held in the housing within the annular ring having a pointer, the pointer ring has a movable gear therewith; a message selector having a selector gear that couples the ring gear coupled to the sound module, to select a speech message between the plurality; means for face movement coupled to the gear drive means, to move the moving face elements
2. as the central arrow rotates; switching means operated by movement of the lever causing activation of the sound module, to reproduce a message selected by the pointer and a message selector. . - The talking toy according to claim 1, characterized in that the face of the character image includes a mouth opening and wherein the moving face elements include a closure plate supported behind the mouth opening.
3. 3. The talking toy according to claim 2, characterized in that the closing plate includes guiding means and a cam follower, and wherein the gear drive means includes a cam displaced by the central arrow against the follower. cam.
4. 4. - The talking toy according to claim 3, characterized in that the character image defines a pair of slots and a pair of received poles to allow the character image to be? mobile side-by-side.
5. 5. - The talking toy according to claim 4, characterized in that the gear drive means include an eccentric plate, coupled to the arrow and the character image to cause its side-to-side movement.
6. 6. - The talking toy in accordance with the

   claim 1, characterized in that the message selector includes a plurality of connection pads each corresponding to one of the stored messages and a pair of brush contacts, for contacting a connection pad in response to the pointer position.
7. 7. The talking toy according to claim 6, characterized in that the sound module includes a plurality of non-speech sound effects and a sustained effect switch in the housing to cause the sound module to reproduce an effect. of sound that is not speech.
8. 8. The talking toy according to claim 7, characterized in that the face of the character image includes a mouth opening and wherein the movable face elements, include a closure plate supported behind the mouth opening.
9. 9. The talking toy according to claim 8, characterized in that the closing plate includes guiding means and one followed by cam and wherein the gear drive means includes a cam displaced by the central arrow against the cam follower,
10. 10. The talking toy according to claim 9, characterized in that the character image defines a pair of slots and a pair of received poles to allow the character image to be

    • & ?? «.s-Safcr

    mobile side-by-side.
11. 11. The talking toy according to claim 10, characterized in that the gear drive means includes an eccentric plate, coupled to the arrow and the character image to cause its side-to-side movement.