DOLL HAVING SUPPORT BASE AND PLURAL RF CONTROLLERS

SPECIFICATION

Cross-Reference to Related Application

[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority under 35USC

119(e) of US Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 60/734,441 entitled Doll Having Support Base and Plural RF Controllers filed November 7, 2005 in the name of Mark Wittenberg, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the Invent ^' on

[0002] This invention relates generally to dolls and toy figures and particularly to display apparatus for supporting such dolls and toy figures. This invention also relates to articulated dolls and toy figures having movement mechanisms utilized therein.

Background of the Invention

[0003] Dolls and toy figures, collectively herein dolls, have been prevalent in the toy arts from the earliest recorded history. Initially, dolls were fabricated in a relatively rudimentary fashion to provide inert human child or human figures. As the toy arts and related technologies progressed, the sophistication of dolls increased dramatically. Thus, dolls have been provided which mimic most of human experience such as walking, talking, eating, crying, laughing, moving and the like. In many environments, dolls are situated upon a supporting base and are held upright in a display situation rather than a handheld play pattern. For example, US Patent 6,579,143 issued to Rehkemper et al. sets forth a TWISTING

AND DANCING FIGURE having a body supporting a head, a pair of arms and a lower leg section. A housing formed in the body contains a motor secured between a pair of horizontal plates. The plates are pivotally secured to the lower leg section. A combo gear is secured to the upper plate and is in communication with the motor. The combo gear is arranged to reciprocate against a bumper that is secured to the lower leg section. When the combo gear reciprocates against the bumper, the pair of plates pivot back and forth causing the twisting figure to move.

[0004] US Patent 6,261 , 148 issued to Robinson sets forth a TWISTING

ANIMATED FIGURE which provides a dancing doll having an interior containing a reciprocating motor. The motor moves a drive shaft through a short arc in a reciprocating motion. This drive is communicated to a hip form to produce a twisting motion of the doll figure.

[0005] US Patent 6,380,844 issued to Pelekis sets forth an INTERACTIVE

REMOTE CONTROL TOY having at least two wireless transmitters for generating control signals wherein each transmitter is positioned in a different room or location within the environment. The transmitters each generate unique infra red control signals in communicating with the remote control toy.

[0006] US Patent 6,309,275 issued to Fong et al. sets forth INTERACTIVE

TALKING DOLLS that perform a sequence of actions in response to one another without external activation other than an initial activation signal. Each toy has an activation switch and/or a receiver for a wireless signal such as an infra red signal which activates the toy. Once activated, the toy performs a desired action such as speaking which signals another toy to perform a responsive action.

[0007] US Patent 6,315,630 issued to Yamasaki sets forth a REMOTELY

CONTROLLED SKATEBOARD HAVING MOTION-RESPONSIVE DOLL RIDING THEREON in which the skateboard and a remote control unit cooperate to provide movement of the skateboard in response to user commands. A doll is

secured upon the upper surface of the skateboard. The doll includes an upper torso freely pivotable upon the doll's lower torso due to a pivotal attachment therebetween. The upper torso further supports a pair of freely pivotable arms. An offset weight is secured within the upper doll torso to cause doll movement in response to momentum changes.

[0008] US Patent 6,652,351 issued to Rehkemper et al. sets forth a

DANCING FIGURE having a body defined by a torso, a head, a pair of arms and a pair of legs pivotally attached to the torso at a hip region. Each leg includes at least an upper leg section pivotally attached to a lower leg section at a knee region. Each leg supports a pair of oversized feet adapted to provide support for the figure in a free standing posture. The oversized feet are separately and pivotally attached to the lower leg sections at an angle region. Each foot houses a mechanism for independently pivoting the lower leg sections forward and backward at the ankle.

[0009] US Patent 6,736,694 issued to Hornsby et al. sets forth an

AMUSEMENT DEVICE which is interactive and which performs actions communicated to the device by a remote wireless transmitter and at least one secondary robotic unit. The robotic unit interacts through wireless communication with the amusement device.

[0010] US Patent 6,663,393 issued to Ghaly sets forth an INTERACTIVE

PLAY DEVICE AND METHOD which includes means for generating a plurality of interactions, entry control means, means to store responses to interactions and control means to select the next interaction based on memorized responses. The invention provides an interactive play device which is founded on personalizing the play device such that its current functionality is based on past interactions with a player.

[0011] US Patent 6,732,015 issued to Maeda sets forth a ROBOT SYSTEM having a robot body formed of a plurality of joined interlinked segments. The

body further supports a plurality of drive units for actuating the joints and a controller for control of the drive units. The robot system further includes bladders filled with a fluid having a lower specific gravity than the outside environment. A center of buoyancy thus created differs from the center of gravity allowing the robot system to move within the environment.

[0012] US Patent 6,626,728 issued to Holt sets forth MOTION-

SEQUENCE ACTIVATED TOY WAND which is activated and controlled by a sequence of motions. When moved through a specific sequence of motions, the wand will produce and appealing display of lights whose purpose is to amuse and entertain the wand operator as well as others in the viewing area.

[0013] US Patent 6,572,431 issued to Maa sets forth a COMPUTER-

CONTROLLED TALKING FIGURE WITH ANIMATED FEATURES having a toy figure operatively coupled to a computer for control of a plurality of moveable elements within the toy figure. The movement of facial elements is controlled by the computer and is operative to provide different facial expressions.

[0014] US Patent 6,462,498 issued to FiIo sets forth a SELF-

STABILIZING WALKING APPARATUS THAT IS CAPABLE OF BEING REPROGRAMMED OR PUPPETEERED which is capable of achieving self stabilization while walking. The walking apparatus includes a pair of front and rear legs with each leg having three joints including a hip joint. Each joint is powered by a motor and is monitored by an encoder. The apparatus maintains its stability by itself without the need for additional information input and also includes animation apparatus which is capable of causing the walking apparatus to make non-ambulatory movement.

[0015] US Patent 6,839,612 issued to Sanchez et al. sets forth a

MICROWRIST SYSTEM FOR SURGICAL PROCEDURES which relates

generally to the present invention environment and which sets forth a medical robot system.

[0016] A number of published US Patent Applications set forth apparatus which is generally related to the environment of the present invention. These applications include US Published Patent Application 2001/00492248 filed on behalf of Choi; 2004/0259465 filed on behalf of Wright et al.; 2003/0162475 filed on behalf of Pratte et al.; 2002/0127945 filed on behalf of Cheng and 2002/0081937 filed on behalf of Yamada et al.

[0017] While the foregoing described prior art devices have to some extent improved the art and have in some instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for ever more improved, interesting and amusing dolls and toy figures.

Summary of the Invention

[0018] Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved doll toy. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved doll toy having a cooperating support base and apparatus for animating the doll in novel manner.

[0019] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a doll and support base having a combination in which a doll stands upon and is supported by a support base through an interlocking foot connection. A drive mechanism and battery-powered motor within the base are operative to rotate the foot connection mechanism and, as a result, rotate the entire doll upon the base when the motor is energized. The doll is fabricated to provide articulated arms and legs and includes an additional battery-powered motor drive apparatus within the doll body. The drive apparatus within the doll body includes a mechanism for

moving one of the doll's legs under motor drive and for moving one of the doll's arms under motor drive. The doll further includes a pair of motion sensing controllers each having radio frequency transmitting apparatus. One controller is secured to the doll's wrist and is referred to as a wrist controller while the other controller is secured to the doll's ankle and is referred to as an ankle controller. A radio frequency receiver supported within the base responds to the radio frequency signals from either the wrist controller or the ankle controller to activate the motor within the base or, alternatively, activate the motor within the figure. The motor within the figure is operative to drive the leg and arm drive mechanisms to provide movement of one doll leg and one doll arm. The motor within the base is operative when activated to drive the base drive apparatus which rotates the doll upon the base.

[0020] In another respect, the present invention provides a combination doll and support base comprising: a base having a base controller, a base drive and foot attachment means; a doll having a body, a pair of arms, an arm drive for moving one of the arms, a pair of legs, a leg drive for moving one of the legs, and means for securing the remaining leg to the foot attachment means; a wrist controller, secured to one of the doll arms, having means for producing arm position indicative signals; and an ankle controller, secured to one of the legs, having means for producing leg position indicative signals, the controller responding to the arm position signals and the leg position signals to rotate the doll and move the doll leg and the doll arm.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] 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:

[0022] Figure 1 sets forth a front view of a doll and base combination constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

[0023] Figure 2 sets forth a schematic diagram of the operative circuitry within the doll and base which provides communication and motor drive to animate the doll and rotate the doll upon the base.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

[0024] By way of overview, the present invention doll includes an articulated movable arm together with an arm driven by a battery-powered motor drive supported within the doll. The doll further includes a movable leg together with a leg drive mechanism within the doll operative to move the leg under battery power. A motion sensitive wrist controller includes means for responding to arm movement of the articulated arm of the toy figure. The wrist controller further includes a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting position indicative signals. The doll also includes an ankle controller supported upon the doll's ankle which includes a motion sensor which causes the ankle controller to output position signals as the leg is moved. A radio frequency receiver and controller is supported within the doll base and is operative to receive the radio frequency position signals from the wrist controller and the ankle controller and cause the doll to move an arm or leg or, alternatively, to rotate the doll upon the base.

[0025] More specifically, Figure 1 sets forth a front view of a doll constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral 10. Doll 10 includes a body 11 fabricated of a relatively rigid plastic material and having a movable leg 14 and a fixed leg 12. Doll body 11 further includes an articulated arm 20 and an arm 21 coupled to an internal arm drive mechanism 41. Movable leg 13 is coupled to a leg drive mechanism 42. Leg drive 42 and arm drive 41 are coupled to a battery-powered motor 40 all supported within the interior of doll body 11. An ankle controller 30 is secured

to ankle 14 of leg 13 and includes a motion sensor and radio frequency transmitter for producing radio frequency control signals indicative of the position or orientation of leg 13. Similarly, doll 10 includes a wrist controller 35 secured to wrist 21 of arm 20. Wrist controller 35 includes a motion sensor and radio frequency transmitter operative to provide position indicative signals.

[0026] Doll 10 further includes a base 16 which supports a base motor 50 and drive unit 51. Drive unit 51 is coupled to an output shaft 17 which in turn is coupled to a shoe 15 of doll 10. A radio frequency receiver and controller 52 is also supported within base 50.

[0027] hi operation, the user is able to provide activation signals to controller 52 by simply moving arm 20 causing wrist controller 35 to output a signal indicative of arm position. Thus, with the arm in the position shown in Figure 1, a first position signal is outputted. In the event arm 20 is rotated downwardly, a second different position signal is outputted. Finally, in the event that arm 20 is rotated upwardly alongside the doll's head, a third position indicative signal is produced. Controller 52 responds to the position signal provided by arm 20 and carries forward a predetermined movement or activity sequence. For example, controller 52 may respond to a particular position signal from wrist controller 20 to activate base motor 50 and, through drive 51, rotate shaft 17. The rotation of shaft 17 in turn rotates shoe 15 causing rotation of doll 10 upon base 16. By way of further alternative, controller 52 may respond to a position signal from wrist controller 35 to move arm 22 utilizing motor 40 and arm drive 41. By way of further alternative, controller 52 may respond to a given position signal to activate motor 40 and, through leg drive 42, pivot leg 13.

[0028] When leg 13 is moved, additional position signals are provided by the motion sensor and radio frequency transmitter within ankle controller 30. Thus, for example, controller 52 may at some point respond to a particular position signal from controller 30 and alter the sequence of operations of doll 10.

[0029] Thus, doll 10 is able to function through an entire sequence of movements and revolutions upon base 16 simply by virtue of a particular arm movement of arm 20 by the child user. The complexity and extent of movement is substantially flexible and is controlled by the programming within the controller 52. In the preferred fabrication of controller 52, a conventional microprocessor control and a stored instruction set is operative in response to the radio frequency signals received by the controller.

[0030] Figure 2 sets forth an operative block diagram of the system within doll 10 shown in Figure 1. A motor 40 is supported within doll 10 (seen in Figure 1) and is operatively coupled to an arm and leg drive mechanism 41 and 42. A motor 50 is supported within base 16 of doll 10 (seen in Figure 1) and is operatively coupled to a base drive 51. A motor control and radio frequency receiver 52 is operatively coupled to motors 40 and 50. A motion sensing wrist controller 35 is operatively coupled to a radio frequency transmitter 36. In response to motion sensed by motion sensor 35, radio frequency transmitter 36 produces position indicative signals which are transmitted to the RF receiver within motor control and RF receiver 52. An ankle controller 30 includes a motion sensor which produces position signals which are coupled to a radio frequency transmitter 31. Transmitter 31 transmits position indicative signals to the RF receiver within motor control and RF receiver 52.

[0031] In operation, movement of doll arm 20 (seen in Figure 1) causes motion sensor 35 to produce a position signal indicative of the position of arm 20. This position signal is coupled to radio frequency transmitter 36 which in turn outputs the correct position signal and transmits it to be received by receiver 52. Motor control and RF receiver 52 then decodes the position signal and energizes either or both of motors 40 or 50. Motors 40 or 50 when energized operate mechanically to move either arm 22 or leg 13 (seen in Figure 1) of doll 10 or, alternatively, move both simultaneously. Similarly, if motor 50 is energized, it is operative through base drive 51 to rotate shaft 17 (seen in Figure 1) which in turn rotates doll 10 upon base 16 (also seen in Figure 1).

[0032] In the event leg 13 of doll 10 (seen in Figure 1) is moved during the above-described process due to the action of arm and leg drive 41 and 42, ankle controller 30 senses the motion of leg 13 and produces corresponding position signals which are indicative of the position of leg 13 (seen in Figure 1). These position signals are coupled to radio frequency transmitter 31 which in turn transmits a position signal to motor control and radio frequency receiver 52. Within motor control and radio frequency receiver 52, the position signals received from transmitter 31 are decoded resulting in further communication to motors 40 and/or 50. Motors 40 or 50 operate as described above when activated to produce corresponding limb motion of doll 10.

[0033] What has been shown is a novel doll which is supported upon a base having a rotating mechanism supported therein. The doll is coupled to the rotating mechanism of the base allowing the drive unit within the base to rotate the entire doll. In addition, the doll shown includes a pair of motion sensing controllers supported upon the doll's wrist and one ankle. The doll also includes a movable arm coupled to a motor drive unit and a movable leg coupled to a motor drive unit. The motion sensors and controllers on the doll's wrist and ankle respond to movement of the doll's arm and leg to produce position signals which are transmitted by radio frequency signal. A controller supported within the base includes receiving circuitry which receives and decodes the position signals provided by the wrist and ankle controllers. In accordance with a stored instruction set within the controller, the combinations of position signals received and decoded cause activation of the motor drive units to move the entire doll in rotation upon the base and/or one or more of the doll's motor driven limbs. The result is a realistic dancing figure that operates in a variety of motion sequences to simulate a dancing figure.

[0034] 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.