A leg actuator mechanism, a method of manufacturing the leg actuator mechanism, and a doll implementing a leg actuator mechanism is provided. The leg actuator includes an upper leg mechanism comprising a hip end and an opposing knee end. The leg actuator also includes a lower leg mechanism comprising a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end of the lower leg portion is operably coupled to the knee end of the upper leg portion. The leg actuator further includes a follower mechanism. The follower mechanism includes a mounting defining a follower pathway configured to receive a follower joint. The follower mechanism also includes an upper follower connector and a lower follower connector. The follower mechanism moves at least one of the upper leg mechanism or the lower leg mechanism when activated.

A leg actuator mechanism, a method of manufacturing the leg actuator mechanism, and a doll implementing a leg actuator mechanism is provided. The leg actuator includes an upper leg mechanism comprising a hip end and an opposing knee end. The leg actuator also includes a lower leg mechanism comprising a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end of the lower leg portion is operably coupled to the knee end of the upper leg portion. The leg actuator further includes a follower mechanism. The follower mechanism includes a mounting defining a follower pathway configured to receive a follower joint. The follower mechanism also includes an upper follower connector and a lower follower connector. The follower mechanism moves at least one of the upper leg mechanism or the lower leg mechanism when activated.

A leg actuator mechanism, a method of manufacturing the leg actuator mechanism, and a doll implementing a leg actuator mechanism is provided. The leg actuator includes an upper leg mechanism comprising a hip end and an opposing knee end. The leg actuator also includes a lower leg mechanism comprising a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end of the lower leg portion is operably coupled to the knee end of the upper leg portion. The leg actuator further includes a follower mechanism. The follower mechanism includes a mounting defining a follower pathway configured to receive a follower joint. The follower mechanism also includes an upper follower connector and a lower follower connector. The follower mechanism moves at least one of the upper leg mechanism or the lower leg mechanism when activated.

A leg actuator mechanism, a method of manufacturing the leg actuator mechanism, and a doll implementing a leg actuator mechanism is provided. The leg actuator includes an upper leg mechanism comprising a hip end and an opposing knee end. The leg actuator also includes a lower leg mechanism comprising a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end of the lower leg portion is operably coupled to the knee end of the upper leg portion. The leg actuator further includes a follower mechanism. The follower mechanism includes a mounting defining a follower pathway configured to receive a follower joint. The follower mechanism also includes an upper follower connector and a lower follower connector. The follower mechanism moves at least one of the upper leg mechanism or the lower leg mechanism when activated.

An animatronic toy includes a motor, a compound geneva gear assembly, and a plurality of moving parts. The compound geneva gear assembly has a plurality of geneva drivers driven by the motor and a plurality of geneva followers. Each of the geneva followers are positioned to be driven by one of the geneva drivers. The geneva drivers are rotationally coupled to each other. Each of the geneva drivers includes at least one set of teeth and at least one stop. Each of the geneva followers includes at least one set of teeth and at least one cutout. The plurality of moving parts are driven by the geneva followers. The geneva drivers may form a compound geneva driver with an axis of rotation, a plurality of sets of teeth extending radially and a plurality of stops disposed in an alternating pattern along the axis of rotation.

An animatronic toy includes a motor, a compound geneva gear assembly, and a plurality of moving parts. The compound geneva gear assembly has a plurality of geneva drivers driven by the motor and a plurality of geneva followers. Each of the geneva followers are positioned to be driven by one of the geneva drivers. The geneva drivers are rotationally coupled to each other. Each of the geneva drivers includes at least one set of teeth and at least one stop. Each of the geneva followers includes at least one set of teeth and at least one cutout. The plurality of moving parts are driven by the geneva followers. The geneva drivers may form a compound geneva driver with an axis of rotation, a plurality of sets of teeth extending radially and a plurality of stops disposed in an alternating pattern along the axis of rotation.

A hand puppet in the form of a character has a mouth defined in part by top and bottom surfaces movable by the fingers of the user between a position in which the surfaces are in contact and a position wherein the surfaces are remote from each other. A microcontroller is provided with a memory which stores musical sounds. A touch sensor is associated with one of the mouth surfaces. Each time the mouth surfaces are in contact, the touch sensor generates a pulse output signal to the microcontroller input. A sound generator, connected to the microcontroller output, is adapted to play back the stored musical sounds at a speed which is a function of the number of pulses in a given time interval in the output signal. The puppet may take the form of a character. The musical sounds may be associated with the character.

A hand puppet in the form of a character has a mouth defined in part by top and bottom surfaces movable by the fingers of the user between a position in which the surfaces are in contact and a position wherein the surfaces are remote from each other. A microcontroller is provided with a memory which stores musical sounds. A touch sensor is associated with one of the mouth surfaces. Each time the mouth surfaces are in contact, the touch sensor generates a pulse output signal to the microcontroller input. A sound generator, connected to the microcontroller output, is adapted to play back the stored musical sounds at a speed which is a function of the number of pulses in a given time interval in the output signal. The puppet may take the form of a character. The musical sounds may be associated with the character.

A manipulable multi-piece toy having a spherical body that is removably captured between a base and an attachment member is provided. The base and the attachment member are configured to have portions of a coupling element associated therewith. The base also has a depression with curvature for receiving and securely retaining a first portion of the spherical body in its assembled configuration. In some configurations, the depression comprises a seat with geometry that mates with geometry of the spherical body. By one approach, the base includes a vehicular or figure body. In another aspect, the attachment member includes, for example, a helmet, a hat, a headdress, hair, horns, ears, and/or a mask.

A manipulable multi-piece toy having a spherical body that is removably captured between a base and an attachment member is provided. The base and the attachment member are configured to have portions of a coupling element associated therewith. The base also has a depression with curvature for receiving and securely retaining a first portion of the spherical body in its assembled configuration. In some configurations, the depression comprises a seat with geometry that mates with geometry of the spherical body. By one approach, the base includes a vehicular or figure body. In another aspect, the attachment member includes, for example, a helmet, a hat, a headdress, hair, horns, ears, and/or a mask.