Patent ID: 6848965

Claim:
An animated entertainment device comprising: an animation actuator mounted on a back face of a panel, said actuator comprising a first movable element mounted for movement thereon, said first movable element being connected for movement through an aperture in the panel to a second movable element mounted on a front face of the panel for relative movement therewith, the actuator further including a SMA wire which is: (i) affixed at one end to the back face of the panel and affixed at another other end by the first movable element to an elastic return affixed to the back face of the panel (ii) disposed for movement on, and in electrical contact with, electrical conductors comprising at least a first electrical conductor and a terminal electrical conductor, wherein said first and terminal electrical conductors are affixed to the back face of the panel, and said terminal electrical conductor is positioned between said first electrical conductor and said elastic return, and (iii) in electrical connection through the first and terminal electrical conductors to a source of pulsed electrical current, wherein, upon application of pulsed electric current to the SMA wire, the SMA wire contracts and moves along said electrical conductors in a direction away from said terminal electrical conductor, thereby exerting tension upon said elastic return and moving said first movable element, which in turn moves said second movable element.