ACTUATABLE TOY ANIMAL

Abstract

Children can love, nurture, and feed their toy puppy and then monitor the appearance of growth. After feeding, the toy puppy can defecate. Educational efforts have been taken to teach children of the interconnection of separate biological and/or chemical processes without the need for employing the same. The toy animal can employ sound effects based upon the biological and/or chemical processes.

Claims

1. A method for emulating growth of a toy animal comprising: sensing one or more solid objects representing food have been inserted into a mouth of the toy animal; in response to sensing the one or more solid objects have been inserted into the mouth, extending portions of the toy animal in an outward direction along at least two different axes to give an appearance of growth; and allowing the solid object to pass through and eventually exit the toy animal; wherein after exiting the toy animal, the one or more solid objects can be reinserted into the mouth and the method repeated.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising powering electromechanical components of the toy animal with a battery.

3. The method of any one of claims 1-2 further comprising controlling with a remote control limbs of the toy animal to allow for walking the toy animal.

4. The method of any one of claims 1-3 further comprising emitting sound effects selected from the group consisting of: (a) a noise emulating a distinct sound associated with an animal an appearance of the toy animal is based upon, said distinct sound said optionally selected from the group consisting of: a growl, a groan, a scream, a call, a laugh, a cry, a bark, a woof, a howl, a roar, a snarl, a meow, a purr, a neigh, a whinny, a nicker, a hee-haw, an oink, a snort, a moo, a bellow, a bleat, a baa, a chortle, a trumpet, a squeak, a click, a chirp, a chatter, a squawk, a hoot, a caw, a crow, a quack, a cluck, a gobble, a warble, a honk, a screech, a buzz, a croak, a hiss, and a rattle; and (b) a noise emulating an occurrence of or a response to a biological process, such as a cough or a sneeze.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein selection, a noise level, and/or pitch of the sound effects produced are based upon which step of the method is being performed and/or the appearance of the toy animal.

6. The method of any one of claims 1-5 further comprising inserting a bottle into the mouth.

7. The method of any one of claims 1-6 further comprising placing an article of clothing onto the toy animal.

8. The method of any one of claims 1-7 further comprising instructing a user how to perform the method.

9. The method of any one of claims 1-8 further comprising mechanically and/or electrically actuating the solid object through the toy animal.

10. The method of any one of claims 1-9 further comprising automatically tracking the appearance of growth over a period of time.

11. A toy animal comprising: a sensor an internal conduit including an automatic mechanism which allows solid objects to enter the toy animal at one end and exit the toy animal at the other; actuators which allow for extension of external portions to give appearance of growth; and a speaker for emitting sound effects.

12. The toy animal of claim 11 wherein the toy animal is able to balance on a flat surface when three of at least four extremities contact a substantially horizontal plane, such as the ground.

13. The toy animal of claim 12 further comprising a muzzle and a tail.

14. The toy animal of any one of claims 12-13 wherein the internal conduit is cylindrical and is positioned a longitudinal axis of the toy animal when three of at least four extremities contact a substantially horizontal plane, such as the ground.

15. The toy animal of any one of claims 11-13 wherein the internal conduit winds similar to intestines.

16. The toy animal of any one of claims 11-15 wherein the automatic mechanism is driven, at least in part, by an electrical switch, an actuator, a motor, a solenoid, or pneumatic or hydraulic means.

17. The toy animal of any one claims 11-16 wherein the automatic mechanism includes a manual back up mechanism, said manual back up mechanism optionally comprising a rotatable handle.

18. The toy animal of any one of claims 11-17 wherein progression of the appearance of growth (i) is linearly proportional, (ii) exponentially decreases, or (iii) is predetermined, from a first, minimum apparent size of the toy animal to a second, maximum apparent size of the toy animal, based on how many of the one or more solid objects are sensed.

19. A computerized system for tracking and displaying growth progression of a toy animal comprising: the toy animal of claim 18; and a non-transitory computer readable medium capable of receiving data related to said progression and transmitting the same for display.

20. The computerized system of claim 19 further comprising a software application which can be executed by the non-transitory computer readable medium and allows for a user to store in a memory aspects related to said progression.

21. The computerized system of claim 20 wherein said progression can be transmitted from the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium to another which employs a similar software application.

22. The computerized system of any one of claims 20-21 wherein the software application allows the user to broadcast play with the toy animal and/or results related to said progression on social media.

23. A kit comprising: the toy animal of claim 11; a storage device for storing one or more solid objects representing food.

24. The kit of claim 23 wherein the storage device is a zipper storage bag.

25. The kit of any one of claims 23-24 further comprising an instruction manual which includes how to operate the toy animal.

26. The kit of any one of claims 23-25 further comprising product packaging for initially marketing the toy animal to children.

27. The kit of any one of claims 23-26 further comprising a dish for holding the one or more solid objects during play.

28. The kit of any one of claims 23-27 further comprising a bottle.

29. The kit of any one of claims 23-28 further comprising a bandana, a bow, and/or a reversible combination of a bandana and a bow.

30. The kit of any one of claims 23-29 wherein the one or more solid objects include therein an object which facilitates sensing, such as a magnet, a radio transponder/receiver/transmitter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Several embodiments in which the present invention can be practiced are illustrated and described in detail, wherein like reference characters represent like components throughout the several views. The drawings are presented for exemplary purposes and may not be to scale unless otherwise indicated.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a toy animal that emulates growth upon being fed.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a method step emulating the care of the toy puppy of FIG. 1.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a method step emulating the feeding of the toy puppy of FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a method step emulating the excretion of food fed through the toy puppy of FIG. 1.

[0030] FIG. 5 shows a method step emulating the growth of the toy puppy of FIG. 1.

[0031] An artisan of ordinary skill need not view, within isolated figure(s), the near infinite number of distinct permutations of features described in the following detailed description to facilitate an understanding of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The present disclosure is not to be limited to that described herein. Mechanical, electrical, chemical, procedural, and/or other changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. No features shown or described are essential to permit basic operation of the present invention unless otherwise indicated.

[0033] Referring now to the figures, a toy animal 100 capable of emulating growth and/or other biological processes through non-biological and/or chemical means is shown in FIGS. 1-5.

[0034] The toy animal 100 can be made and/or filled with any suitable materials. For example, external portions which get actuated may be made from plastic to retain some rigidity for actuation but may be coated with fur-like materials after the fact to enhance the play experience of the child.

[0035] The toy animal 100 can include those aspects which help give the appearance of a real animal, such a body 101, head 102, limbs 104, muzzle 106, mouth 108, eye 110, ear 112, intestines 114, a tail 124, and an exit 126.

[0036] Tokens and/or other solid objects may represent food 114 and may thus take any suitable shape to do so (e.g., dogbones). A botte 118 may be provided so as to provide children the opportunity to milk the puppy.

[0037] While only a bandana 136 and bow 138 are shown in FIG. 1, any suitable or desirable apparel may be included. The combination 140 shown in FIG. 1 is particularly advantageous in that it can be rotated so as to be distinctly displayed, for example when the toy animal 100 has a minimally sized appearance 130 or maximally sized appearance 132.

[0038] The actuatable external portions 142 of the toy animal which can be actuated along exemplary axes 142 need not always be the same. Said portions 142 can comprise anywhere from the entirety of a limb or head to only a small external plate or component of the toy animal 100. The actuatable external portions 142 in some embodiments will include locking means (e.g. fasteners to prevent movement) so as to be more easily transported during periods of non-play. The actuatable external portions 142 may employ telescoping components.

[0039] Product packaging 90 can also be included with the kit 150 disclosed herein. Such product packaging 90 may be useful for shipping kits to children in a compact manner prior to first play. The product packaging 90 may completely subsume the toy animal 100 and all of the components therein or may only encompass a portion thereof. The product packaging 90 will typically include plastics, thermoplastics, glass, wood, wood wool, paper, paperboard, corrugated cardboard, other biodegradable or recyclable materials, and/or the like. Optionally, the product packaging 90 can include a product and/or source identifier 91, such as a word or trade mark, on the packaging 90; a viewing window 92 for viewing at least one component and/or the entirety of the toy system or kit on or near the product packaging 90; instructions 93 for play, assembly, and/or configuring (e.g. resetting) the toy animal 100 in connection with the emulated biological processes described herein: a hang tab 94 from which the packaging can hang from shelves in public stores; and/or perforations, folds, pull strings, and/or other predefined points of failure 95 which facilitate ripping, cutting, and/or opening the product packaging 90. The product packaging 90 should be selectively placed on shelves and/or in store locations such that the kit is best marketed to/for children.

[0040] A person may be broadcasted by way of an electronic recording device 202 on a social media platform playing with the toy animal 100. Alternatively, said persons may broadcast data (historic or real-time) associated with growth or other emulated biological processes of the toy animal 100, data related from other sensed characteristics, analyses (tables, charts, graphs, etc.) of said data, and/or the like. For example, children can compare results of play and/or growth of their toy animal 100, which may potentially lead to the children inquiring about the best methods for facilitating growth. Said sharing may occur via any suitable wireless/wired electronic network and/or social media platforms 204.

[0041] From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present disclosure accomplishes at least all of the stated objectives.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0042] The following table of reference characters and descriptors are not exhaustive, nor limiting, and include reasonable equivalents. If possible, elements identified by a reference character below and/or those elements which are near ubiquitous within the art can replace or supplement any element identified by another reference character.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 List of Reference Characters 90 packaging 91 product/source identifier 92 viewing window 93 instructions 94 hang tab 95 predefined points of failure (e.g. perforations) 100 toy animal 101 body 102 head 104 limbs 106 muzzle 108 mouth 110 eye 112 ear 114 object representing food 116 hand of user 118 bottle 120 internal conduit (e.g., intestines) 122 transit mechanism (e.g., auger) 124 tail 126 exit 128 direction of food travel 130 minimally sized appearance 132 maximally sized appearance 134 dish 136 bandana 138 bow 140 reversible, rotatable apparel 142 axes of extension 144 actuatable external portions of toy animal 150 kit

Glossary

[0043] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used above have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which embodiments of the present invention pertain.

[0044] The terms a, an, and the include both singular and plural referents.

[0045] The term or is synonymous with and/or and means any one member or combination of members of a particular list.

[0046] The terms invention or present invention are not intended to refer to any single embodiment of the particular invention but encompass all possible embodiments as described in the specification and the claims.

[0047] The term about as used herein refer to slight variations in numerical quantities with respect to any quantifiable variable. Inadvertent error can occur, for example, through use of typical measuring techniques or equipment or from differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of components.

[0048] The term substantially refers to a great or significant extent. Substantially can thus refer to a plurality, majority, and/or a supermajority of said quantifiable variable, given proper context.

[0049] The term generally encompasses both about and substantially.

[0050] The term configured describes structure capable of performing a task or adopting a particular configuration. The term configured can be used interchangeably with other similar phrases, such as constructed, arranged, adapted, manufactured, and the like.

[0051] Terms characterizing sequential order, a position, and/or an orientation are not limiting and are only referenced according to the views presented.

[0052] The term play can be used herein as an adjective, a verb, a noun, or any other suitable part of speech given proper context. As an adjective, play means relating to an activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children. As a verb, to play means to engage in a game or activity for enjoyment or recreation. As a noun, play means an activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation.

[0053] The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The scope of the invention is further qualified as including any possible modification to any of the aspects and/or embodiments disclosed herein which would result in other embodiments, combinations, subcombinations, or the like that would be obvious to those skilled in the art.