U.S. patent application number 13/724892 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-26 for toy apparatus with simulated lcd screen face.
The applicant listed for this patent is Dyana BRADLEY. Invention is credited to Dyana BRADLEY.
Application Number | 20140179197 13/724892 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50975144 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140179197 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BRADLEY; Dyana |
June 26, 2014 |
TOY APPARATUS WITH SIMULATED LCD SCREEN FACE
Abstract
The invention comprises a toy or toy vehicle with an electronic
device, including a small portable electronic device, capable of
playing audio-visual images to simulate a face, and integrated into
the toy or toy vehicle. The electronic device has or is connected
to an LCD screen that serves as the face of a toy or toy vehicle so
as to simulate the appearance of being alive. Images of live,
recorded or pre-recorded talking faces stored on software would
play on the LCD screen. The toy can be a simulated head, simulated
toy vehicle, doll, toy vehicle, or computer monitor with fasteners
for accessories to make the toy look like a person, animal, cartoon
character, insect, dinosaur, robot, plant, or thing with living
characteristics, such as a clock with hands and feet. The toy
vehicle can be a plane, train, automobile, flying saucer, bicycle,
tricycle, wagon, bus, truck, etc.
Inventors: |
BRADLEY; Dyana; (Thousand
Oaks, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BRADLEY; Dyana |
Thousand Oaks |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50975144 |
Appl. No.: |
13/724892 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/297 ;
446/397; 446/404 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 2200/00 20130101;
A63H 3/28 20130101; A63H 33/26 20130101; A63H 3/48 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/297 ;
446/397; 446/404 |
International
Class: |
A63H 33/26 20060101
A63H033/26; A63H 17/26 20060101 A63H017/26; A63H 3/36 20060101
A63H003/36 |
Claims
1. A toy or toy vehicle, with at least one indentation in at least
one head of said toy or in at least one location of said toy
vehicle, for insertion of at least one electronic device, wherein
the toy resembles a person, animal, cartoon character, insect,
dinosaur, plant, or any other living thing, with or without a body;
said toy further comprises permanently or detachably attached
accessories resembling physical characteristics of a head including
ears, earrings, hair, antennas, beard, goatee, headwear, a mane,
horns, or a halo; the toy vehicle includes a plane, train,
automobile, flying saucer, bicycle, tricycle, wagon, bus, or truck;
said toy vehicle further comprising permanently attached or
detachably attached accessories resembling physical characteristics
of a toy vehicle, including sirens, flashing lights, decals,
landing gear, or antennas; and the at least one electronic device
is capable of playing audio-visual images and comprises, or is
connected to, an LCD screen and computer software for storing,
recording, and playing audio-visual images of live, recorded or
pre-recorded faces, including faces of persons, animals, and
cartoon characters.
2. The toy or toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one
electronic device is a small portable electronic device removable
from the toy or toy vehicle.
3. The toy or toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one
electronic device further comprises a frame to assist in attaching
said at least one electronic device to said toy or toy vehicle.
4. The toy or toy vehicle of claim 3, wherein said frame depicts
artwork resembling physical characteristics of a head, head
accessories, or physical characteristics of a toy vehicle.
5. The toy or toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein said toy is a
simulated head or simulated toy vehicle supported by a display
stand, with fasteners for said accessories resembling physical
characteristics of a head or physical characteristics of a toy
vehicle.
6. The toy or toy vehicle of claim 5, wherein said simulated head
or simulated toy vehicle supported by a stand further comprises a
frame depicting artwork resembling said physical characteristics of
a head or physical characteristics of a toy vehicle.
7. The toy or toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein said toy is a doll,
stuffed animal, machine, rock, plant, or any object that can embody
a face which a child can play with, or a combination of both, or
combination of toy and toy vehicle.
8. The toy or toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein said toy or toy
vehicle is a computer monitor with fasteners for attaching the
accessories resembling physical characteristics of a head or the
accessories resembling physical characteristics of a toy
vehicle.
9. The toy or toy vehicle of claim 8, wherein the computer monitor
further comprises a frame depicting artwork resembling said
physical characteristics of a head or physical characteristics of a
toy vehicle.
10. The toy or toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one
indentation is disposed in a front side of said toy vehicle.
11. The toy or toy vehicle of claim 1 further comprising electronic
components housed within said toy or toy vehicle for operation of
said electronic device.
12. The toy or toy vehicle of claim 11, wherein said electronic
components includes a video card, printed circuits, wires,
batteries, a wireless connectivity device or a USB port.
13. The toy or toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein said toy or toy
vehicle is connected to at least one other toy or toy vehicle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation in part application of
patent application Ser. No. 13/252,970 filed on Oct. 4, 2011, the
earliest filing date claimed is Oct. 4, 2010. This application also
claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61/578,782
filed on Dec. 21, 2011.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0002] Not Applicable
SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM
[0003] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL
[0004] Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain
material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of
the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the
Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves
all copyright rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND
[0005] The present invention relates to an entertainment or
educational device, and particularly to a combination of realistic
art and electronic video. The invention comprises a toy or toy
vehicle with an electronic device capable of playing audio-visual
images to simulate a face, with the electronic device integrated
into the toy or toy vehicle. The electronic device comprises an LCD
screen or is connected to an LCD screen, wherein the LCD screen is
disposed in the head of a toy, with or without a body, or in a
location of a toy vehicle, normally the front, so as to simulate
the appearance that the toy or toy vehicle is alive. Images of
live, recorded or pre-recorded talking faces would play on the LCD
screen. The head, and/or body, of the toy can be that of a person,
animal, cartoon character, insect, dinosaur, robot, plant, or thing
with living characteristics. The toy vehicle can be a plane, train,
automobile, flying saucer, bicycle, tricycle, wagon, bus, truck,
etc.
[0006] One embodiment is a simulated head or a simulated toy
vehicle on a stand. The simulated head or simulated toy vehicle
acts as a housing for the electronic device with the LCD screen.
The simulated head or simulated toy vehicle would have an
indentation for the LCD screen to serve as a face, and the LCD
screen would display images of a face of a person, animal, cartoon
character, insect, dinosaur, plant, or any other living thing. The
images of a face are controlled by software for storing, recording,
and playing audio-visual images of live, recorded or pre-recorded
faces. The electronic device can be a small portable electronic
device detachably attached or permanently attached to the simulated
head or simulated toy vehicle. A second embodiment would be a
computer monitor resembling a head of a living thing with fasteners
for attaching various physical accessories of a head of a living
thing, such as a wig, hat, goatee, horns, fins, petals, jewelry,
etc, or a computer monitor resembling a vehicle with fasteners for
attaching physical accessories of a vehicle, such as decals,
sirens, flashing lights, antennas, etc. A third embodiment would be
a doll, including a stuffed animal, with an LCD screen permanently
attached or detachably attached to a head of a doll, or a toy
vehicle with an LCD screen permanently attached or detachably
attached to the front of the toy vehicle.
[0007] Small portable electronic devices that play video and audio
are known. These include digital picture frames, mp3 players,
clocks, cell phones, etc. There exist various electronic devices
that attempt to personalize the electronic device. For example, US
Publication No. US 2008/0167099 A1 in the name of Liu is a mobile
device having a skin with an enameled metal structure that creates
a China-chic beauty and feel. Also, U.S. Publication No.
2009/0322982 A 1 by Finnegan transforms an LCD display into a
digital picture frame in which an LCD display screen having various
stored images is encased in a plastic or wooden frame made to
resemble a printed picture frame. Thus, whether or not small
portable devices contain stored or internet-based content, attempts
have been made to personalize these devices.
[0008] Also known are artificial talking subjects, including dolls
and robots, computer generated images of people or animals,
cartoons, etc. However, these talking subjects are limited to the
physical dimensions with which they were constructed, or are
confined to a display screen. None of these artificial talking
subjects incorporate both the physical dimensions of a talking
subject with a display screen. In particular, none of these
incorporate a display screen with an audio-visual playback of a
face onto the head of the toy or the front of a toy vehicle so as
to create the appearance that the toy or toy vehicle is alive.
[0009] Also, known are video dolls with a video camera including a
display screen, or a video camera in the shape of a doll. Included
in these are nanny cams comprised of a hidden video camera in
stuffed animals. Also included are video cameras in the shape of
dolls having LCD display screens. For example, US 2009/0197504 A1
filed by Hsu teaches a doll with an LCD screen in the body of the
doll while a Barbie doll exists with an LCD screen in the back of
the Barbie doll. See http://www.barbie.com/videogirl/ (attached).
However, these inventions are limited in that the doll's faces do
not change. This is because the images that appear on the LCD
screen were not intended to depict talking faces in such a manner
that it would appear that the talking face is that of the doll or
mechanical/electrical device or model thereof.
[0010] Also known are static train toy sets. Toy trains currently
are mechanical and/or electrical devices which serve as static
working models of real trains with no face or personality. Some toy
trains have an audio system but not an LCD face.
[0011] Thus, the personality of the doll or toy vehicle does not
change, nor can a user pretend that they are holding a doll or toy
vehicle of the person or personality appearing on the LCD screen.
With the present invention, a child left alone at home can pretend
that her mother is with her by playing a live, or recorded
audio-video image of her mother's face on the face of her doll or
toy vehicle.
[0012] Finally, a computerized system for designing a pattern to be
applied to a doll or toy is known. See US 2006/0286512 A1 to
Cogliano. Here, while the clothing patterns may change, the
personality of the doll remains the same because the face or voice
does not change. Having the LCD screen built into the face of the
doll, as well as having an array of pre-recorded or live faces to
choose from, including cartoon characters, provides a lot more
versatility with a doll because the doll can take on any
personality that appears on the screen.
[0013] Thus, the objective of the present invention is to merge an
electronic audio-video playback device, such as a small portable
electronic device, wherein an LCD display is integrated within a
head of a toy, with or without a body, or in a location of a toy
vehicle, such as the front, in order to more personalize electronic
devices, as well as to add more versatility and fun to toys and toy
vehicles. The combination thereof of an integrated electronic
video-audio face in a toy or toy vehicle offers a myriad of
opportunities for entertainment or education in a far more
realistic and engrossing manner than utilization of a doll or an
LCD screen individually.
[0014] While the invention contemplates a toy with a head or a toy
vehicle, it is conceivable that the toy can be a clock, washing
machine, laundry machine, agricultural machine, and other inanimate
objects. The new invention will have numerous advantageous uses
whether as a clock, toy, information device, comedy device,
personal toy, educational device, entertainment device or celebrity
simulation device, including interactive capability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The invention comprises a toy or toy vehicle with an
electronic device, such as a small portable electronic device,
capable of playing audio-visual images to simulate a face, with the
electronic device integrated into the toy or toy vehicle. The
electronic device comprises an LCD screen or is connected to an LCD
screen, wherein the LCD screen is disposed in the head of a toy, or
in a location of a toy vehicle, normally the front, so as to
simulate the appearance that the toy or toy vehicle is alive.
Images of live, recorded or pre-recorded talking faces would play
on the LCD screen. The head, and/or body, of the toy can be that of
a person, animal, cartoon character, insect, dinosaur, robot,
plant, or thing with living characteristics, such as a clock with
hands and feet. The toy vehicle can be a plane, train, automobile,
flying saucer, bicycle, tricycle, wagon, bus, truck, etc.
[0016] One embodiment is a simulated head or a simulated toy
vehicle on a stand. The simulated head or simulated toy vehicle
acts as a housing for the electronic device with the LCD screen.
The simulated head or simulated toy vehicle would have an
indentation for the LCD screen to serve as a face, and the LCD
screen would display images of a face of a person, animal, cartoon
character, insect, dinosaur, plant, robot, or other thing with
living characteristics. The images of a face are controlled by
software for storing, recording, and playing audio-visual images of
live, recorded or pre-recorded faces. The electronic device can be
a small portable electronic device detachably attached or
permanently attached to the simulated head or simulated toy
vehicle.
[0017] A second embodiment would be a computer monitor resembling a
head of a living thing with fasteners for attaching various
physical accessories of a head of a living thing, such as a wig,
hat, goatee, horns, fins, petals, jewelry, etc, Alternatively, the
computer monitor may resemble a vehicle with fasteners for
attaching physical accessories of a vehicle, such as decals,
sirens, flashing lights, antennas, landing gear, etc.
[0018] A third embodiment would be a doll, including a stuffed
animal, with an LCD screen permanently attached or detachably
attached to a head of a doll, or a toy vehicle with an LCD screen
permanently attached or detachably attached to the front of the toy
vehicle.
[0019] In all three embodiments, a user may select from a variety
of facial images using software for recording, storing, and
displaying live, recorded and pre-recorded images of faces. Also,
in all three embodiments, permanently attached or detachably
attached accessories resembling physical characteristics of a
living thing or of a vehicle are available to the user to more
personalize the simulated head apparatus. Toys may be construed
broadly to include toy clocks, washing machine, laundry machine,
agricultural machine, and other inanimate objects
DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a simulated head of the first embodiment showing a
portable electronic device inserted into a simulated head apparatus
atop a display stand.
[0021] FIG. 2A shows the simulated head with ears and an
indentation where a face would normally appear. FIG. 2B shows a
portable electronic device with an LCD display that inserts into
the simulated head, and a frame with artwork showing earrings. FIG.
2C shows the simulated head with a wig accessory.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows an example of software that operates to allow a
user to upload, select, and play audio-visual images of faces of
individuals, animals, or cartoons on an electronic device with an
LCD screen. Internet capability including wireless capability is
also feasible.
[0023] FIG. 4A shows a doll with an indentation in the head of the
doll, but no portable electronic device inserted. FIG. 4B shows the
doll with the portable electronic device inserted.
[0024] FIGS. 5A and 5B shows a doll and stuffed animal connected
together, each having an indentation in the head of the doll and
stuffed animal, for insertion of two portable electronic devices
featuring different faces.
[0025] FIG. 6 shows a toy plane vehicle with an electronic device
having an LCD display inserted in the front of the plane and
showing a cartoon face.
[0026] FIGS. 7A and 7B shows the toy plane with a detachable
portable electronic device inserted into an indentation in the
front of the toy plane vehicle.
[0027] FIGS. 8A and 8B shows a toy car with an electronic device
having an LCD display showing a cartoon face, as well as
accessories for a car, namely, flashing lights and a decal.
[0028] FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C shows a toy train vehicle with decals
on the side and back, and an electronic device with a frame with
artwork featuring earrings.
[0029] FIG. 10 shows a computer monitor in the shape of a head with
fasteners for attaching physical characteristics of a living thing,
with hat, earrings, and goatee accessories.
[0030] FIG. 11 is diagram of a doll showing an LCD screen
integrated into the head of the doll and electronic components
embedded in the body.
[0031] FIG. 12 is a diagram of a toy train showing electronic
components embedded in the toy train. The LCD screen is not
shown.
REFERENCES
[0032] 100 inventive apparatus 200 simulated head or simulated toy
vehicle 300 electronic device 350 LCD screen 400 toy doll 450 toy
vehicle 500 accessory 600 indentation 700 frame 800 artwork 900
display stand 1000 front 1100 computer monitor 1200 electronic
components
DESCRIPTION
[0033] FIG. 1 shows the first embodiment of the inventive apparatus
100 which is a toy comprised of a simulated head 200 with ears and
a portable electronic device 300 inserted into the head so that the
LCD screen 350 appears where the face of the simulated head 200
would appear. The simulated head is supported by a display stand
400. FIG. 1 shows an accessory 500 in the form of a wig attached to
the simulated head 200. The simulated head can be that of a person,
doll, toy figure, or anything with living characteristics. The
simulated head may also take the form of a toy vehicle wherein
wings would appear in the place of ears. It may also take the shape
of a clock with hands and feet. For the purposes of disclosing the
best embodiment of the invention, examples of a toy doll or toy
vehicle are used, but "toy" may be construed to include anything
that a child can play with that could conceivably have a face
(e.g., washing machine, microwave oven, agricultural machinery,
etc.).
[0034] FIG. 2A shows the simulated head 200 with an accessory 500
in the form of an ear, wherein the portable electronic device 300
(FIG. 2B) is detached and an indentation 600 in the simulated head
is visible. The indentations should comprise dimensions sufficient
to accommodate an electronic device, especially a small portable
electronic device, for playing audio-visual images. The ears may
permanently form part of the simulated head or may be an accessory
500 that is attachable and detachable. If FIG. 2A showed a
simulated toy vehicle, the ears may be wings instead. FIG. 2B shows
a portable electronic device 300 within a frame 700 to assist in
attaching the portable electronic device 300 to the simulated head
200. The frame may contain artwork 800 in the form of ears and
earrings, scales, fur, headlights, antennas, and other accessories.
FIG. 2C shows the simulated head with a wig accessory 500.
[0035] FIG. 3 is an example of a software screen which a user may
use to select a face to display on the LCD screen 250. An image of
a live, recorded or pre-recorded face appears on the LCD display
screen of the portable electronic device 300. The live, recorded or
pre-recorded face can be taken from a video recorded by a user
and/or downloaded from software containing video files of different
subjects, including persons, animals, and cartoons. The software is
capable of storing, recording, and displaying video files of
different subjects, including persons, animals, and cartoons.
[0036] FIGS. 4A to 9C shows a second embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 4A and 4B shows a toy in the form of a large toy doll 400.
FIGS. 4A and 4B show accessories 500 in the form of a hat and wig.
Other accessories 500 can include ears, hair, antennas, beard,
goatee, headwear, protective headwear, a mane, horns, halo, gills,
fins, neck frills, or earrings and jewelry.
[0037] FIGS. 5A and 5B show a toy doll 400 comprised of a horse and
girl connected together. In this case, two faces appear for the
girl and the horse, wherein two indentations 600 must be present
and two portable electronic devices 300 with LCD screens 350 are
required.
[0038] FIG. 6 shows a toy vehicle 450 in the form of a plane with
an electronic device 300 having an LCD display 350 inserted in the
front of the plane and showing a cartoon face. Accessories 500 such
as different types of landing gear or wings are either permanently
attached or detachably attached. The electronic device 300 may also
be permanently attached or detachably attached.
[0039] FIGS. 7A and 7B shows the toy vehicle 450 in the form of a
plane with a detachable portable electronic device 300 inserted
into an indentation in the front of the toy vehicle 450.
[0040] FIGS. 8A and 8B shows a toy vehicle 450 in the form of a car
with an electronic device 300 having an LCD screen 350 showing a
cartoon face, as well as accessories 500 for a car, namely,
flashing lights and a decal. The front 1000 of the toy vehicle is
where the LCD screen 350 or electronic device 300 with LCD screen
350 would normally appear.
[0041] FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C shows a toy vehicle 450 in the form of
a train with accessories 500 in the form of decals on the side and
back, and an electronic device 300 with a frame 700 for attaching
the electronic device 300 to the toy vehicle 450. The frame 700
also depicts artwork 800 featuring earrings.
[0042] FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of the inventive apparatus
100 in the form of a computer monitor 1100 with fasteners for
attaching various accessories 500. The fasteners (not shown) may be
hook and loop type fasteners. The accessories 500 depicted include
a hat and a goatee. A detachable and attachable frame 700 is used
to depict different types of ears or jewelry accessories. The stand
900 naturally depicts a neck.
[0043] FIG. 11 shows how electronic components 1200 may be housed
in a toy doll 400. The LCD screen 350 is disposed in the head of
the doll where the face would normally appear, while the electronic
components, including a video card, printed circuits, wires, and
batteries, are integrated into the body of the doll. The electronic
components may include a wireless connectivity device or a USB port
in the body of the doll which allows a user to download various
images of faces stored in software capable of storing, recording,
and displaying video images of different subjects, including
persons, animals, and cartoons.
[0044] FIG. 12 shows how electronic components 1200 may be housed
in a toy vehicle 450.
* * * * *
References