Abstract:
A plush toy figure includes a motor-driven apparatus supported within the figure head for wiggling a pair of ear paddles which in turn causes the figure&#39;s ears to wiggle. A second motor drive unit supported within the figure&#39;s torso is operatively coupled to a pair of toe paddles which are oscillated to cause the figure&#39;s toes to wiggle. The figure&#39;s legs are pivotable between a standing and sitting position and the toes are operative in either posture. A switch positioned within the figure&#39;s mouth is actuated by the pressure of an item pressed against the figure&#39;s mouth to actuate the upper and lower drive mechanisms thereby causing the ears and toes to wiggle. The supporting paddles of the ears and toes include a spring-biased hinge to prevent damage to the drive mechanism due to misuse or excessive force applied to the ears or toes.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to plush toys and particularly to those utilizing movement features to enhance play value. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Plush toys have been a well known and popular type of doll and toy figure for many years. Such plush toys vary in appearance, however, all generally include a body formed of a soft resilient padded material upon which an outer skin or covering has been applied. Such plush toys have, for example, been provided in human-like appearances as well as animal-like appearances and fanciful cartoon like characters or the like. Not surprisingly, practitioners in the art have endeavored through a great variety of features to enhance the play value and amusement value of plush toys. While substantial effort has been directed to the external appearance of such plush toys to make them more interesting and attractive, other enhancements have been more substantial and have involved features of the toy itself. One popular enhancement which has enjoyed long term success is the introduction and addition of sound-producing mechanisms within the plush toy. Early sound-producing mechanisms were largely mechanical, often resembling simplified miniaturized phonograph players. Subsequently developed sound-producing systems exhibited greater sophistication utilizing recently developed electronic sound-producing circuits. Another enhancement often provided to improve plush toy appeal has been the inclusion of movement apparatus. Typically, such movement apparatus involved the use of relatively rigid skeletal members within the plush figure coupled to some source of power. While many such plush toys utilize spring-powered wind-up sources of power, most modern plush toys employ a battery-powered electric motor combination to move skeletal component within the soft plush body. 
     Unfortunately, while such features have improved and enhanced the appeal of plush toys, they are often subject to limitations in performance. One limitation which has arisen is the tendency for movement mechanisms to restrict or limit the posture changing capability of the toy. In addition, the movement mechanisms utilized in plush toys have often exhibited a fragile character and are easily broken when handled roughly or mishandled by child users. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,514 issued to Lacombe, et al. sets forth a GIFT WITH PERSONALIZED AUDIO MESSAGE formed of a stuffed teddy bear housing a control system which enables the playing of a prerecorded message. A microphone is coupled to the main control system and provides a recording as well as play feature for the toy. A plurality of switches are supported within the toy body which actuate the control mechanism when squeezed by the user. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,647 issued to Shaw sets forth a SOFT TOY CONTAINING SOUNDING DEVICE which may, for example, resemble an animal such as a teddy bear or the like and which includes a plurality of electric contacts disposed in spaced apart regions of the toy exterior. An electrically operated device for producing a sound is supported within the toy and operatively coupled to the contact pairs. The contact pairs when touched by the user enable the sound-producing apparatus. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,236 issued to Berliner, et al. sets forth a DOLL WITH SENSING SWITCH having a soft plush body within which a flexible sensor is captured. Pressure applied to the soft body actuates the flexible sensor and enables a responsive device within the toy body to respond. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,726 issued to Fujimaki sets forth ANIMAL TOYS capable of electrically producing sound and/or body movements. The toys are switched on and off by a pair of spaced apart electrical contacts disposed on a body surface of the toy. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,449 issued to Handy, et al. sets forth an APPENDAGE MOTION RESPONSIVE DOLL having a body including a torso within which a sound-producing apparatus is supported. An arm appendage supports an elongated flexible bend sensor which is operatively coupled to the sound-producing unit and which activates the sound-producing unit when the arm appendage is stressed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,464 issued to Stern, et al. sets forth a TOUCH-RESPONSIVE ANIMATED TOY FIGURE having a rigid internal skeleton supporting a head and mouth upon which a padded plush body is secured. A motor drive mechanism articulates the head and mouth of the toy. A touch-responsive switch is positioned in the body of the animal figure and actuates the motor mechanism when touched by the user. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,886 issued to Wood, et al. sets forth a MULTIPLE ACTION PLUSH TOY having a four-legged plush toy body within which a sound-producing apparatus is disposed. A light producing mechanism is supported within one of the front appendages of the toy body and is actuated by squeezing the appendage. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,231 issued to Leyser sets forth a TACTILE AUDIO STUFFED ANIMAL FIGURINE resembling a teddy bear within which an audio recorder and player is supported. The device includes a plurality of different materials with each material corresponding to a particular portion of the body to allow dressing and undressing of the figure for learning purposes. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,726 issued to Cohen sets forth an ANIMATED SITTING AND STANDING SANTA CHARACTER having a base supporting a chair upon which a movable figure resembling Santa Claus is supported. The figure is provided with an operative mechanism which facilitates sitting or standing by the Santa figure. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,871 issued to Noto sets forth a TOY FOR CONVEYING PERSONALIZED MESSAGE between a sender and a recipient. The toy includes a plush body within which a battery-powered cassette recorder and player is supported. The sender records a personalized message and thereafter transfers the toy to the recipient who then plays the recorded message. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,428 issued to Curran sets forth an INTERACTIVE TALKING TOY having a doll body within which a sound recording and play mechanism is operated. The recording mechanism includes a plurality of predetermined responses which are utilized by the sound system to simulate a responsive interactive conversation within the child user. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,653 issued to McKeefery sets forth a SPEAKING TOY DOLL which responds with spoken words and/or sentences to the touching of selected portions of the doll by the child user. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,225 issued to Satoh, et al. sets forth an INTERACTIVE TOY FIGURE WITH SOUND-ACTIVATED AND PRESSURE-ACTIVATED SWITCHES having a body generally resembling a kitten within which a movement mechanism operates the kitten&#39;s tail in response to sound or pressure upon the kitten&#39;s body. 
     While the foregoing described prior art devices have to some extent improved the art and in some instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for evermore improved, interesting and amusing plush toys. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provided an improved plush toy. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a plush toy having ear and foot movement which resists damage when mishandled or handled roughly. It is a still more particular object of the present invention to provide a damage-resistant plush toy having ear and foot movement which tolerates changes of the plush toy posture. 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a plush toy comprising: a plush toy body having torso, head, mouth, ears, arms, legs and feet, a pressure responsive switch in the nose; a sound circuit in the torso; a motor controller supported within the torso; a pair of toe movement mechanisms in the legs, feet and toes; a pair of ear movement mechanisms in the ears and head; a first motor in the head coupled to the pair of ear movement mechanisms operative to wiggle the ears; and a second motor in the torso coupled to the pair of toe movement mechanisms operative to wiggle the toes, the motor controller being activated by the pressure responsive switch to activate the first and second motors and the sound circuit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which: 
     FIG. 1 sets forth a front perspective view of a plush toy constructed in accordance with the present invention in a typical play pattern; 
     FIG. 2 sets forth a front section view of the present invention plush toy operative mechanism; 
     FIG. 3 sets forth a partial section side view of the present invention plush toy; 
     FIG. 4 sets forth a partial section view of the ear moving mechanism of the present invention plush toy; and 
     FIG. 5 sets forth a top view of the ear movement mechanism of the present invention toy. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 sets forth a front perspective view of a plush toy constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral  10 . Toy  10  includes a plush body  11  having a head  12  supporting a mouth  13  and a pair of ears  14  and  15 . Body  11  further includes a pair of legs  16  and  17  supporting respective toes  18  and  19 . In accordance with the anticipated play pattern of the present invention, a cup  20  is held by a child user in a typical play fashion and, in accordance with the present invention, is pressed against mouth  13  of toy  10 . By means set forth below in greater detail, the pressure of cup  20  against mouth  13  causes the internal operative mechanism of the present invention toy to wiggle ears  14  and  15  and to wiggle toes  18  and  19 . 
     As is set forth below in FIG. 3 in greater detail and in accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, legs  16  and  17  are pivotable with respect to the remainder of plush body  11  to allow toy  10  to assume a seated or sitting position. In further accordance with the present invention and by the mechanism set forth below in greater detail, the reposturing of toy  10  does not diminish the operative capability by which toes  18  and  19  are wiggled. Plush body  11  may, but for the operative mechanism set forth below in accordance invention, be fabricated generally in accordance with conventional plush fabrication techniques. Thus, for example, plush body  11  may provide a soft padded body surrounding the operative mechanism therein which in turn is covered with an outer flexible and preferably soft to the touch fabric such as cloth or synthetic fur or the like. In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the operative mechanism by which ears  14  and  15  and by which toes  18  and  19  are wiggled is protected against rough treatment or even misuse by a novel spring support mechanism allowing ears  14  and  15  and toes  18  and  19  to “yield” when subjected to excessive stress or forces. Thus, plush toy  10  provides an amusing action in wiggling ears and toes while exhibiting a flexibility to permit sitting or standing postures and while enduring rough treatment or even misuse. 
     FIG. 2 sets forth a partially sectioned front view of the operative mechanism of plush toy  10 . For purposes of aiding in the understanding and description of the operative mechanisms within plush toy  10 , body  11 , head  12 , mouth  13 , ears  14  and  15 , legs  16  and  17  and toes  18  and  19  are shown in dashed-line fanthom representation. In the preferred fabrication of the present invention toy, the internal operative mechanisms are preferably formed for the most part by relatively low cost molded plastic components where possible. By way of overview, plush toy  10  includes an ear wiggling mechanism supported within a housing  30  which in turn is positioned within head  12  while toes  18  and  19  are manipulated by a mechanism supported largely within a lower housing  50 . Lower housing  50  is supported for the most part within the interior torso portion of body  11 . 
     More specifically, plush toy  10  includes an upper housing  30  having a switch  21  positioned behind mouth  13  which in turn supports a depressible button actuator  22 . Upper housing  30  defines a pair of outwardly and upwardly extending ear extensions  31  and  41 . Ear extension  31  supports a hinge  34  which in turn supports an ear paddle  33 . Hinge  34  further includes a spring  35  which, in accordance with the present invention, includes end portions  36  and  37  (end  37  seen in FIG.  4 ). Of particular importance with respect to the present invention, end portions  36  and  37  of spring  35  are positioned on opposed sides of ear paddle  33 . 
     Similarly, ear extension  41  supports a hinge  44  which in turn supports an ear paddle  43 . A spring  45  having ends  46  and  47  (end  47  seen in FIG. 4) is received upon hinge  44 . In similarity to spring  35  of ear paddle  33 , ends  46  and  47  of spring  45  are positioned on opposite sides of ear paddle  43 . By means set forth below in greater detail, ear paddles  33  and  43  are coupled to a respective pair of toggles  121  and  111  (seen in FIG. 4) which cause ear paddles  33  and  43  to oscillate or wiggle to move ears  14  and  15 . The provision of hinges  34  and  44  together with springs  35  and  45  provides a protection for the operative mechanism within upper housing  30  against misuse as a child user, for example, applies excessive force to ears  14  and  15 . In essence, springs  35  and  45  resiliently absorb such excessive force and prevent damage to the operative mechanism within upper housing  30 . 
     Plush toy  10  further includes a lower housing  50  preferably formed of a molded plastic material or the like and defining an interior cavity  51 . Lower housing  50  further defines a pair of leg apertures  79  and  89  within which a pair of hollow leg frames  80  and  82  are respectively secured in a pivotal attachment. Leg frames  80  and  82  are also preferably fabricated of a molded plastic material or the like. 
     Lower housing  50  further supports a conventional sound circuit  52  having a plurality of circuit components such as integrated circuit component  53  which operate in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques to energize a speaker  54 . Speaker  54 , when energized, produces audible sound in accordance with conventional speaker operation. 
     Lower housing  50  further includes an electric motor  60  operatively coupled to sound circuit  52  by a pair of wires  58 . Motor  60  is operatively coupled to a pulley  61  which in turn is coupled to a pulley  63  by a flexible belt  62 . Pulley  63  is joined to a pulley  64  which in turn is operatively coupled to a pulley  66  by a flexible belt  65 . A pair of clutch members  67  and  68  are interposed between pulley  66  and a drive member  69 . Drive member  69  captivates a clutch spring  70 . 
     Leg frame  80  supports a rotatable sleeve  75  which in turn supports a wheel  76  having an eccentric or off-center post  77  extending therefrom. Sleeve  75  receives and engages end  73  of a square cross-section drive shaft  71 . Shaft  71  extends through clutch member  69  and engages clutch member  69 . While not seen in FIG. 2, it will be understood that pulley  66  and clutch member  67  do not engage square cross-sectioned shaft  71  but rather are freely rotatable thereon. Shaft  71  further supports a sleeve  72 . 
     Similarly, leg frame  82  supports a sleeve  85  having end  74  of shaft  71  received therein and fitted in engagement therewith. Sleeve  85  further supports a wheel  86  having an off-center or eccentric post  87  extending therefrom. 
     Thus, the combined structure of sleeve  85 , wheel  76  and clutch member  69  together with clutch member  68 , sleeve  85  and wheel  86  are supported upon and engaged with shaft  71 . Conversely, the combination of pulley  66  and clutch member  67  are freely rotatable with respect to shaft  71 . As a result, power imparted to pulley  66  is coupled to shaft  71  solely through the clutch coupling between clutch members  67  and  68 . The clutch mechanism thus formed is substantially conventional in fabrication. 
     Leg frame  80  further supports a toe support  81  having a hinge  91  formed therein. Hinge  91  is supported by a lever  96  and a toe paddle  90 . A shaft  95  forms the rotational attachment for hinge  91  between lever  96  and toe paddle  90 . Hinge  91  further includes a spring  92  having an end  93  on one side of toe paddle  90  and an end  94  on the opposite side of toe paddle  90 . A link  78  is coupled to post  77  at its upper end and, by means set forth below in FIG. 3 in greater detail, is operatively coupled to lever  96 . 
     In a similar fashion, leg frame  82  includes a toe support  83  upon which a toe paddle  100  is supported in the same fashion as shown for toe paddle  90 . Thus, toe paddle  100  supports a hinge  101  having a spring  102  thereon. Hinge  101  is further coupled to a lever  106 . Spring  102  includes an end  103  on one side of paddle  100  and an end  104  on the opposite side of paddle  100 . In an identical fashion to the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 for link  78  and lever  96 , a link  88  is pivotally coupled to lever  106  within toe support  83 . The remaining end of link  88  is coupled to post  87  of wheel  86 . 
     In operation as the child user presses an object such as cup  20  against mouth  13  in the manner shown in FIG. 1, button  22  is pressed inwardly and switch  21  is actuated. In response to the actuation of switch  21 , sound circuit  52  produces audible sounds by energizing speaker  54 . In addition, sound circuit  52  couples operative battery power from an internal battery power source within body  11  (not shown) to motor  60  via wires  58  and to the operative mechanism within upper housing  30  via wires  24 . The energizing of motor  60  rotates pulley  61  which in turn rotates pulleys  62  and  64  via belt  62 . Rotation of pulley  64  in turn rotates pulley  66  via belt  65 . As pulley  66  is rotated, clutch member  67  and clutch member  68  are rotated. The engagement of clutch member  67  with clutch member  68  causes clutch member  69  to rotate. The rotation of clutch member  69  rotates shaft  71 . As a result of the engagement between ends  73  and  74  of shaft  71  with sleeves  75  and  85  of leg frames  80  and  82  respectively, wheels  76  and  86  are rotated. The rotation of wheel  76  imparts a vertical oscillatory motion to link  78  due to the offset coupling of post  77 . This vertical oscillatory motion is indicated by arrows  98 . Similarly, the rotation of sleeve  85  rotates wheel  86  causing link  88  to be vertically oscillated in the directions indicated by arrows  108  due to the offset coupling of post  87 . The operation of link  78  upon toe paddle  90  is set forth below in FIG. 3 in greater detail. Suffice it to note here that toe paddle  90  is oscillated about toe support  81  as link  78  is moved vertically in an oscillating motion. This in turn causes toe  18  to wiggle. Similarly, the oscillatory motion of link  88  in the directions indicated by arrows  108  causes toe paddle  100  to undergo a similar oscillating movement which in turn wiggles toe  19 . 
     The operative mechanism coupled to ear paddles  33  and  43  within upper housing  30  is set forth below in FIGS. 4 and 5 in greater detail. However, suffice it to note here that the application of battery power to wires  24  energizes the operative mechanism within upper housing  30  causing ear paddles  33  and  43  to move back and forth which in turn wiggles ears  14  and  15 . 
     FIG. 3 sets forth a partial section view of the operative mechanism of leg frame  80  and toe paddle  90 . For purposes of illustration, body  11  of toy  10  and leg  16  are shown in dashed-line representation. 
     As described above, leg frame  80  is rotatably supported upon housing  50  to facilitate moving leg  16  between the standing position shown in dashed-line representation and the forwardly extending seated position shown also in dashed-line representation. As described above, leg frame  80  supports a rotatable wheel  76  having an offset post  77 . It will be recalled that wheel  76  is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow  99  in response to the operative power coupled from motor  60  in the manner shown in FIG.  2 . Leg frame  80  supports a link  88  having its upper end coupled to post  77 . Leg frame  80  further includes a toe support  81  within which a toe paddle  90  and a lever  96  are pivotally supported by a shaft  95 . Lever  96  includes a shaft  97  coupled to the lower end of link  78 . Lever  96  and toe paddle  90  are joined by a hinge  91 . Hinge  91  further supports a spring  92  having opposed ends  93  and  94  on opposite sides of toe paddle  90 . The combination of hinge  91  and spring  92  provides a flexing attachment between lever  96  and toe paddle  90 . Thus, in the event excessive force is applied to toe  18  by the user, toe paddle  90  is able to pivot in the directions indicated by arrows  109  and  110  with respect to lever  96  as spring  92  flexes. In this manner, excessive force which would otherwise damage lever  96  or link  78  or the operative mechanism driving wheel  76  is absorbed by spring  92  preventing damage. 
     In operation as wheel  76  is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow  99 , the offset position of post  77  causes link  78  to oscillate in the manner indicated by arrows  98 . The oscillatory motion of link  78  in turn moves toe paddle  90  upwardly in the direction indicated by arrow  109  and downwardly in the direction indicated by arrow  110  in an oscillating fashion. As a result, toe  18  is caused to “wiggle”. 
     In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, it will be noted that the use of wheel  76  and post  77  to oscillate link  78  in the support structure shown in FIG. 2 places the rotation of leg frame  80  and wheel  76  along a common axis. This in turn allows the operative mechanism within leg frame  80  to function equally well regardless of the angular position of leg  16 . Thus, in the seated legs forward extension position shown in dashed-line representation in FIG. 3, the above-described toe wiggling motion is obtained in the same manner as is provided in the leg position shown for standing posture. 
     FIG. 4 sets forth a partially sectioned rear view of upper housing  30  supporting ear paddles  33  and  43 . Upper housing  30  is preferably formed of a molded plastic material or the like and defines an interior cavity  42  together with a pair of upwardly and outwardly angled ear extensions  31  and  41 . Ear extension  31  defines a pair of notches  124  and  125 . A toggle  121  includes a pair of posts  122  and  123  received within notches  124  and  125  respectively to pivotally secure toggle  121 . Toggle  121  further includes a lobe  126  extending inwardly. An ear paddle  33  is joined to toggle  121  at a hinge  34 . Hinge  34  includes a shaft  38  together with a spring  35 . Spring  35  includes ends  36  and  37  positioned against opposite sides of ear paddle  33 . 
     In a similar fabrication, ear extension  41  includes notches  114  and  115 . A toggle  111  includes posts  112  and  113  received within notches  114  and  115  to pivotally support toggle  111  within ear extension  41 . Toggle  111  includes a lobe  116  extending inwardly. An ear paddle  43  is joined to toggle  111  by a hinge  44 . Hinge  44  includes a shaft  48  together with a spring  45 . Spring  45  includes ends  46  and  47  positioned against opposite sides of ear paddle  43 . 
     Upper housing  30  further supports a motor  140  having an output pulley  141  coupled to a pulley  143  by a belt  142 . Pulley  143  is further coupled to a pulley  144  which in turn is coupled to a pulley  146  by a belt  145 . Pulley  146  further supports a gear  147  which is coupled in engagement with a gear  148 . Gear  148  in turn supports a shaft  149  which is joined to a wheel  136 . As is better seen in FIG. 5, wheel  136  further includes an offset upwardly extending post  137 . 
     A pivot member  130  is pivotally supported within upper housing  30  by a post  131 . Pivot  130  further includes a pair of upwardly extending posts  132  and  133  which as is better seen in FIG. 5 are received within elongated slots formed in lobes  116  and  126  of toggles  111  and  121 . The operation of motor  140  in moving ear paddles  33  and  43  in the manner indicated by arrows  55  and  56  is set forth below in connection with FIG. 5 in greater detail. However, suffice it to note here that motor  140  drives gear  147  through pulleys  141 ,  143 ,  144  and  146  using belts  142  and  145 . Further, the rotation of gear  147  causes gear  148  to rotate which in turn rotates wheel  136 . As wheel  136  rotates, pivot  130  is caused to oscillate which in turn imparts pivotal movement to lobes  116  and  126  to wiggle ear paddles  33  and  43 . 
     FIG. 5 sets forth a partial top view of the ear moving mechanism operative within upper housing  30 . As described above, a toggle  111  having a post  112  and a post  113  (seen in FIG. 4) is pivotally supported within ear extension  41  of upper housing  30  (also seen in FIG.  4 ). Toggle  111  is coupled to ear paddle  43  by a hinge  44 . Hinge  44  includes a shaft  48  and a spring  45  having ends  46  and  47 . Toggle  111  further includes a lobe  116  having a slot  117  formed therein. 
     Similarly, a toggle  121  is pivotally supported within ear extension  31  of upper housing  30  (seen in FIG. 4) by a pair of posts  122  and  123  (also seen in FIG.  4 ). Toggle  121  is joined to an ear paddle  33  by a hinge  34 . Hinge  34  includes a shaft  38  and a spring  35  having ends  36  and  37 . 
     A pivot  130  is pivotally supported within upper housing  30  (seen in FIG. 4) by a post  31  and includes a lobe  134  having a slot  135  formed therein. Slot  135  receives post  137  of wheel  136 . Pivot  130  further supports a post  132  received within slot  117  of lobe  116  and a post  133  received within slot  127  of lobe  126 . 
     In operation, as wheel  136  is rotated in the manner set forth above in FIG.  4  through the power of motor  140 , the cooperation of offset post  137  and slot  135  causes lobe  134  to oscillate in the manner indicated by arrows  150  and  151 . The pivoting oscillation of pivot  130  in turn pivots toggles  111  and  121  through the engagement of posts  132  and  133  with slots  117  and  127 . As a result, as pivot  130  is oscillated back and forth, ear paddles  33  and  43  are pivotally moved in an oscillatory fashion as indicated by arrows  152  through  155 . 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.