Sound-generating toys are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a sound-generating toy includes a squeezable body defining an internal chamber. A sound-generating module is positioned within the chamber. The module can include a housing containing (i) an airflow sensor configured to detect a pressure change in the chamber, (ii) a speaker configured to generate an audio output, and (iii) programmable circuitry operably coupled to the airflow sensor and the speaker. In operation, the airflow sensor can detect a pressure change in the chamber caused by a user squeezing the body of the toy, and can output a signal to the programmable circuitry indicating the pressure change. After receiving the signal indicating the pressure change, the programmable circuitry can drive the speaker to generate the audio output.

A toy vehicle control mechanism for performing stunts includes a rod permitting a user to selectively manipulate a toy vehicle. The rod includes a rod-tip and a shaft, and a connection piece is secured to a toy vehicle as an interface for the rod-tip. The rod-tip is formed to include an opening having a shape and a size so that the connection piece can travel around within the opening and a notch at a tip edge of the rod-tip such that the toy vehicle can be manipulated by selectively engaging the notch with various portions of the connection piece, the notch having a shape and a size permitting a selected portion of the connection piece to enter into the notch without the selected portion of the connection piece penetrating into the opening.

A toy vehicle control mechanism for performing stunts includes a rod permitting a user to selectively manipulate a toy vehicle. The rod includes a rod-tip and a shaft, and a connection piece is secured to a toy vehicle as an interface for the rod-tip. The rod-tip is formed to include an opening having a shape and a size so that the connection piece can travel around within the opening and a notch at a tip edge of the rod-tip such that the toy vehicle can be manipulated by selectively engaging the notch with various portions of the connection piece, the notch having a shape and a size permitting a selected portion of the connection piece to enter into the notch without the selected portion of the connection piece penetrating into the opening.

An embodiment of an interactive play apparatus may include a camera to capture a projected image, an image recognizer communicatively coupled to the camera to recognize the captured projection image, and a projection responder communicatively coupled to the image recognizer to respond to the recognized projection image. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

An embodiment of an interactive play apparatus may include a camera to capture a projected image, an image recognizer communicatively coupled to the camera to recognize the captured projection image, and a projection responder communicatively coupled to the image recognizer to respond to the recognized projection image. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

A computer-controlled toy vehicle that provides two distinct modes of play: 1) a roll-around play mode where a child pushes the vehicle around which causes the wheels to slowly rotate and may receive audio/visual feedback related to manual the manipulation of the vehicle in a mode/operation appropriate for the roll-around play mode, and 2) a race play mode where the child pushes the vehicle quickly/vigorously (an increased velocity and/or acceleration) causing the wheels to roll or accelerate more quickly/vigorously. An ON/OFF or grip detector may gate determination of sequencing state and output results.

A computer-controlled toy vehicle that provides two distinct modes of play: 1) a roll-around play mode where a child pushes the vehicle around which causes the wheels to slowly rotate and may receive audio/visual feedback related to manual the manipulation of the vehicle in a mode/operation appropriate for the roll-around play mode, and 2) a race play mode where the child pushes the vehicle quickly/vigorously (an increased velocity and/or acceleration) causing the wheels to roll or accelerate more quickly/vigorously. An ON/OFF or grip detector may gate determination of sequencing state and output results.

A vehicle configured to move through a network of interconnected tubes includes a body, a motor, a motorized wheel, a biasing assembly, and a first element. The motorized wheel directly engages an inner surface of the tubes. The biasing assembly causes the motorized wheel to maintain continuous contact with the inner surface of the tubes during operation. A waist of the vehicle is constrained by an inner diameter (D) of the curved tube, a radius of curvature (R) of the curved tube, and a length (L) of the wheelbase of the vehicle. The waist of the body is sized such that the vehicle can freely move within any of the tubes without getting stuck therein.

A vehicle configured to move through a network of interconnected tubes includes a body, a motor, a motorized wheel, a biasing assembly, and a first element. The motorized wheel directly engages an inner surface of the tubes. The biasing assembly causes the motorized wheel to maintain continuous contact with the inner surface of the tubes during operation. A waist of the vehicle is constrained by an inner diameter (D) of the curved tube, a radius of curvature (R) of the curved tube, and a length (L) of the wheelbase of the vehicle. The waist of the body is sized such that the vehicle can freely move within any of the tubes without getting stuck therein.

An interactive play device, method and apparatus, is disclosed that includes means for generating a plurality of interactions, input control mechanisms, means for storing responses to interactions, and control means to select the next interaction based on memorized responses. This invention provides a new class of interactive play devices, which is founded on personalizing a play device so that its current functionality is based on how the player has interacted with it in prior playing sessions. The invention also discloses a doll device and a car device, which operate in a plurality of states that mimic human behavior. Further, the specification describes a game during which the player is challenged to transform a play device from an initial state to a desired state by providing appropriate responses to interactions initiated by the device.