US20090098798A1 - Human figure toy having a movable nose - Google Patents

Human figure toy having a movable nose Download PDF

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Publication number
US20090098798A1
US20090098798A1 US12/238,371 US23837108A US2009098798A1 US 20090098798 A1 US20090098798 A1 US 20090098798A1 US 23837108 A US23837108 A US 23837108A US 2009098798 A1 US2009098798 A1 US 2009098798A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
rod
attachment means
human
support member
toy
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.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/238,371
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Chuan-Hong Wang
Hsiao-Chung Chou
Tsu-Li Chiang
Kuan-Hong Hsieh
Han-Che Wang
Shin-Hong Chung
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.)
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd
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 Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd filed Critical Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd
Assigned to HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD. reassignment HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: CHUNG, SHIN-HONG, HSIEH, KUAN-HONG, WANG, HAN-CHE, CHIANG, TSU-LI, CHOU, HSIAO-CHUNG, WANG, CHUAN-HONG
Publication of US20090098798A1 publication Critical patent/US20090098798A1/en
Abandoned 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
    • A63H13/00—Toy figures with self-moving parts, with or without movement of the toy as a whole
    • A63H13/005—Toy figures with self-moving parts, with or without movement of the toy as a whole with self-moving head or facial features
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H11/00—Self-movable toy figures
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H3/00—Dolls
    • A63H3/36—Details; Accessories
    • A63H3/365—Details; Accessories allowing a choice of facial features, e.g. to change the facial expression

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a human figure toy, and more specifically, to a human figure toy having a movable nose.
  • toy figures and dolls have been created for entertainment purposes. Such toy figures and dolls have assumed shapes replicating humans, human infants, animals as well as a variety of fictional characters. In their efforts to increase the amusement and entertainment value of such toy figures and dolls, practitioners in the art have created a variety of toy figures and dolls having movable features and articulated bodies and limbs.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,951 issued to Saigo et al. sets forth a movable toy animal having a toy figure resembling a bunny or the like supporting a motor driven internal movement mechanism.
  • the movement mechanism is operatively coupled to a pair of movable ears and a movable nose. When operated, the ears and nose undergo a predetermined movement cycle.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,087 issued to Terzian et al. sets forth a SOFT STUFFED TOY WITH MANUALLY DRIVEN HEAD, EARS AND/OR TONGUE carried in a flexible sling with the head of the figure exposed.
  • the head includes animatable ears driven by rotation of the head relative to the body.
  • the protruding movable tongue is driven by an actuator that also provides rotation of the head relative to the body.
  • the disclosure relates to a human figure toy that has a moveable nose.
  • the toy includes a head with an aperture formed thereon.
  • a support member is placed within the head and a reversible motor is secured to the support member.
  • the motor includes a threaded motor shaft.
  • the toy also includes a nose assembly that is attached to the motor shaft.
  • the nose assembly includes a first rod, attachment means, a second rod, and shock absorbing means.
  • the first rod includes a threaded bore for engaging with the threaded motor shaft.
  • the second nose extends through the aperture on the head.
  • the attachment means is used for slidably attaching the second rod to the first rod.
  • the shock absorbing means is placed between the first rod and the second rod and biases the second rod to a furthest position relative to the first rod.
  • the toy also includes rotation stop means on the attachment means and the support member for limiting a rotation of the first rod.
  • the toy also includes a storage unit, a content recognition unit, and a controller.
  • the storage unit stores a plurality of media files for providing audio contents to a user.
  • the content recognition unit is used for detecting predetermined contents from the audio contents provided by the plurality of media files and generating corresponding signals.
  • the controller is used for controlling the reversible motor to rotate in response to a signal from the content recognition unit, driving the second rod to move back and forth.
  • FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a human figure toy in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a head of the human figure toy of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the head of FIG. 2 with certain parts omitted for clarity purpose.
  • FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a nose assembly attached to a support member, both of which are shown in FIG. 3 .
  • FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the nose assembly shown in FIG. 4 .
  • FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a first rod of the nose assembly shown in FIG. 5 .
  • FIG. 7 is an isometric view of attachment means of the nose assembly shown in FIG. 5 .
  • FIG. 8 is another isometric view of the attachment means of the nose assembly shown in FIG. 5 .
  • FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a second rod of the nose assembly shown in FIG. 5 .
  • FIG. 10 is a block diagram for controlling a motor of the human figure toy that is shown in FIG. 4 .
  • a human figure toy 100 includes a torso 200 and a head 300 attached to the torso 200 .
  • the human figure toy 100 also includes two legs and two arms that are attached to the torso 200 .
  • the head 300 includes a hollow housing 310 .
  • the housing 310 is formed to resemble a human face.
  • An aperture 311 is formed on the front side of the housing 310 .
  • the head 300 also includes a support member 320 secured within the housing 310 .
  • the support member 320 may be formed by plastic injection molding, in one exemplary fabrication process, and includes two posts 321 (one not shown) onto which a reversible motor 400 is secured.
  • the motor 400 includes a threaded motor shaft 401 .
  • Two guide grooves 322 are formed on the support member 320 and extend along a direction that is approximately parallel to the axis of the aperture 311 on the housing 310 .
  • the head 300 also includes a nose assembly 330 that is driven by the motor 400 .
  • the nose assembly 330 includes a first rod 340 , attachment means 350 , a spring 360 , and a second rod 370 .
  • a threaded bore 341 is formed at one end of the first rod 340 and extends longitudinally.
  • a flange 342 is formed near another end of the first rod 340 .
  • the first rod 340 also includes a pair of guide ribs 343 on an outer surface thereof. The guide ribs 343 are formed opposite to each other and extend all the way from the threaded bore end to a side surface 344 on the flange 342 .
  • the attachment means 350 is used for sidably attaching the second rod 370 to the first rod 340 .
  • the attachment means 350 is of a flanged cylindrical shape and includes a flange portion 351 and a cylindrical portion 352 .
  • a circular hole 353 is formed on the attachment means 350 and extends along the entire length of the attachment means 350 .
  • a pair of guide grooves 354 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the circular hole 353 .
  • the guide grooves 354 are positioned opposite to each other and extend along the entire length of the circular hole 353 .
  • a chamber 355 is formed on the flange portion side, extending from a first end surface 356 of the flange portion 351 toward the cylindrical portion, which forms two openings 357 on a cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical portion 352 and a second surface 358 of the flange portion 351 .
  • the openings 357 are formed opposite to each other.
  • the attachment means 350 also includes a pair of guide posts 359 formed opposite to each other on an outer surface of the flange portion 351 .
  • the second rod 370 includes a chamber 374 (shown in FIG. 5 ) that extends longitudinally and receives the spring 360 therein.
  • a pair of long tabs 371 and a pair of short tabs 372 are formed at the open end of the second rod 370 .
  • the long tabs 371 are positioned opposite to each other and angled slightly away from each other.
  • Each of the long tabs 371 includes a hook portion 373 that extends outwardly at a distal end thereof.
  • the attachment means 350 is slidably attached to the first rod 340 . More specifically, the first rod 340 is received in the circular hole 353 of the attachment means 350 with the guide grooves 354 engaging with the guide ribs 343 , respectively. The first rod 340 is pushed against the attachment means 350 by the spring force of the spring 360 , and specifically, the side surface 344 of the flange 342 on the first rod 340 engages the first end surface 356 of the flange portion 351 of the attachment means 350 .
  • the second rod 370 is attached to the attachment means 350 with the two long tabs 371 in a first position and the two short tabs 373 in a second position. More specifically, in the first position, the two long tabs 371 are received in the two openings 357 respectively with the two hook portions 373 engaging the second end surface 358 of the flange portion 351 .
  • the long tabs 371 are slightly outwardly angled, the long tabs 371 are slightly deformed in the first position and a spring force that springs back the long tabs 371 to its original shape pushes the long tabs 371 tightly against edges of the openings 357 , threreby preventing the long tabs 371 from disengaging the openings 357 .
  • the short tabs 373 contact the surface of the attachment means 350 .
  • the movement of the attachment means 350 is thus limited by the long tabs 371 and the short tabs 373 , and as a result, the second rod 370 is held in position.
  • the spring 360 may be a coil spring and is slightly compressed in the second rod 370 .
  • One end of the spring 360 engages one end of the first rod 340 .
  • the second rod 370 is thus biased to a furthest position relative to the first rod 340 and can slide along the guide ribs 343 of the first rod 340 .
  • the spring 360 is compressed, which is used for absorbing shocks, such as shock generated when the toy 100 falls with the second rod 370 hitting the ground. As a result, significant damages to the toy 100 can be avoided.
  • the second rod 370 extends through the aperture 311 on the housing 310 .
  • the guide posts 359 on the attachment means 350 are received in the guide grooves 322 on the support member 320 , thereby limiting a rotation of the attachment means 350 .
  • the thread engagement of the motor shaft 400 and the threaded bore 341 , the engagement of the guide rib 343 and the guide groove 354 , and the engagement of the guide post 359 and the guide groove 322 cooperate to constitute a rotation/translation conversion mechanism. Therefore, a rotation of the motor shaft 401 is converted into translation movement of the nose assembly 330 and the second rod 370 can thus move back and forth.
  • the motor 400 is a stepper motor.
  • the toy 100 includes a storage unit 10 , a content playing unit 20 , and a content output unit 30 .
  • the toy also includes a motor control system that includes a content recognition unit 40 , a controller 50 , a motor drive circuit 60 , and a pulse counter 70 .
  • the storage unit 10 stores a plurality of media files that are used for providing audio contents to a user.
  • the audio contents can be digital recordings of stories, in one example.
  • the content playing unit 20 is used for playing one or more of the media files in response to a user's operation.
  • the content output unit 30 is used for outputting the one or more media files in response to signals from the content playing unit 20 .
  • the content recognition unit 40 is used for detecting predetermined contents in the audio contents provided by the content output unit 30 .
  • the content recognition unit 40 can be a voice recognition unit.
  • the predetermined contents can be sentences in the audio contents, such as “I am telling a lie, so my nose grows longer” or “Look, my magic nose becomes shorter” and the like.
  • the content recognition unit 40 When detecting the predetermined contents, the content recognition unit 40 generates signals corresponding to the predetermined contents and sends the signals to the controller 50 .
  • the controller 50 generates corresponding control signals in response to signals from the content recognition unit 40 .
  • the motor drive circuit 60 receives the control signals from the controller 50 and provides a series of motor drive pulses to the motor 400 .
  • the pulse counter 70 counts the number of the motor drive pulses generated by motor drive circuit 60 . When the number of the motor drive pulses reaches a preset value, the pulse counter 70 sends a signal to the controller 50 .
  • the controller 50 reverses the motor 400 according to the signal from the pulse counter 70 .
  • the nose assembly 330 which is driven by the motor 400 , can thus move back after reaching a limit position. In this embodiment, the motor 400 can continue running for a predetermined time after which the motor 400 stops running and awaits the next signal from the content recognition unit 40 .

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
US12/238,371 2007-10-12 2008-09-25 Human figure toy having a movable nose Abandoned US20090098798A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN200710123916.6 2007-10-12
CNA2007101239166A CN101406760A (zh) 2007-10-12 2007-10-12 人形互动玩具

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20090098798A1 true US20090098798A1 (en) 2009-04-16

Family

ID=40534704

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/238,371 Abandoned US20090098798A1 (en) 2007-10-12 2008-09-25 Human figure toy having a movable nose

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US20090098798A1 (zh)
CN (1) CN101406760A (zh)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090098791A1 (en) * 2007-10-12 2009-04-16 Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. Human figure toy having a movable nose
US20090098795A1 (en) * 2007-10-12 2009-04-16 Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. Human figure toy having a movable nose
US20190046890A1 (en) * 2018-03-27 2019-02-14 Intel Corporation Visually distinguishable robots and methods to manufacture the same

Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4582499A (en) * 1982-12-09 1986-04-15 Iwaya Corporation Motion toy
US4682970A (en) * 1986-02-06 1987-07-28 Coleco Industries, Inc. Figure toy with extensible head portion
US4778433A (en) * 1987-03-12 1988-10-18 Up-Trend Design Toy creature having a tongue for capturing prey
US4828526A (en) * 1987-07-16 1989-05-09 Those Characters From Cleveland Animated toy figurine
US5141464A (en) * 1991-01-23 1992-08-25 Mattel, Inc. Touch responsive animated toy figure
US6394872B1 (en) * 1999-06-30 2002-05-28 Inter Robot Inc. Embodied voice responsive toy
US6592423B1 (en) * 2002-09-25 2003-07-15 S.R. Mickelberg Company Rotating holographic toy
US6684127B2 (en) * 2000-02-14 2004-01-27 Sony Corporation Method of controlling behaviors of pet robots
US6695673B1 (en) * 1999-02-04 2004-02-24 Andreas Stadbauer Mechanical animal reproduction
US6782308B2 (en) * 2001-10-04 2004-08-24 Yamaha Corporation Robot performing dance along music
US6800014B2 (en) * 2000-07-31 2004-10-05 Carlo Maria Dominici Device to obtain lengthening of the limbs and/or other parts of the body of a puppet, such as for example a doll and other similar toys such as small animals, soft toys and similar
US7364489B1 (en) * 2003-04-30 2008-04-29 Hasbro, Inc. Electromechanical toy

Patent Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4582499A (en) * 1982-12-09 1986-04-15 Iwaya Corporation Motion toy
US4682970A (en) * 1986-02-06 1987-07-28 Coleco Industries, Inc. Figure toy with extensible head portion
US4778433A (en) * 1987-03-12 1988-10-18 Up-Trend Design Toy creature having a tongue for capturing prey
US4828526A (en) * 1987-07-16 1989-05-09 Those Characters From Cleveland Animated toy figurine
US5141464A (en) * 1991-01-23 1992-08-25 Mattel, Inc. Touch responsive animated toy figure
US6695673B1 (en) * 1999-02-04 2004-02-24 Andreas Stadbauer Mechanical animal reproduction
US6394872B1 (en) * 1999-06-30 2002-05-28 Inter Robot Inc. Embodied voice responsive toy
US6684127B2 (en) * 2000-02-14 2004-01-27 Sony Corporation Method of controlling behaviors of pet robots
US6800014B2 (en) * 2000-07-31 2004-10-05 Carlo Maria Dominici Device to obtain lengthening of the limbs and/or other parts of the body of a puppet, such as for example a doll and other similar toys such as small animals, soft toys and similar
US6782308B2 (en) * 2001-10-04 2004-08-24 Yamaha Corporation Robot performing dance along music
US6592423B1 (en) * 2002-09-25 2003-07-15 S.R. Mickelberg Company Rotating holographic toy
US7364489B1 (en) * 2003-04-30 2008-04-29 Hasbro, Inc. Electromechanical toy

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090098791A1 (en) * 2007-10-12 2009-04-16 Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. Human figure toy having a movable nose
US20090098795A1 (en) * 2007-10-12 2009-04-16 Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. Human figure toy having a movable nose
US20190046890A1 (en) * 2018-03-27 2019-02-14 Intel Corporation Visually distinguishable robots and methods to manufacture the same
US11731059B2 (en) * 2018-03-27 2023-08-22 Intel Corporation Visually distinguishable robots and methods to manufacture the same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN101406760A (zh) 2009-04-15

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., TAIWAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:WANG, CHUAN-HONG;CHOU, HSIAO-CHUNG;CHIANG, TSU-LI;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:021588/0714;SIGNING DATES FROM 20080912 TO 20080922

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION