US3293795A

US3293795A - Animated speaking figure toy

Info

Publication number: US3293795A
Application number: US505812A
Authority: US
Inventors: John W Ryan
Original assignee: Mattel Inc
Current assignee: Mattel Inc
Priority date: 1963-02-08
Filing date: 1965-11-01
Publication date: 1966-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 1983-12-27

Description

Dec. 27, 1966 Original Filed Feb. 8, 1963 J. w. RYAN 3,293,795

ANIMATED SPEAKING FIGURE TOY 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 im 71W/ Dec. 27, 1966 J. W. RYAN ANIMATED SPEAKING FIGURE TOY Original Filed Feb, 8, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z0 40 60 60 l0()` lZO |40 \6O 1&0 200 ZZO 240 260 ZBO 500 520 540 560 INVENTOR. J//N W @K4/V @en 5A.

ATTOZA/EY Dec. 27, 1966 J. W. RYAN ANIMATED SPEAKING FIGURE TOY 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Feb. 8, 1963 @en JZ.

Dec. 27, 1966 J. W. RYAN 3,293,795

ANIMATED SPEAKING FIGURE TOY Original Filed Feb. 8, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. J//V W @K4/V ai WW' Armen/5y Dec. 27, 1966 J. w. RYAN 3,293,795

ANIMATED SPEAKING FIGURE TOY Original Filed Feb. 8. 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. g/H/V PV. PVA/V Dec. 27, 1966 J. w. RYAN ANIMATED SPEAKING FIGURE TOY Original Filed Feb. 8. 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 IIIII lIIIl IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIII -lll AZZ INVENTOR JA//V W ,@V /V Dec. 27, 1966 J. W. RYAN 3,293,795

ANIMATED SPEAKING FIGURE TOY Original Filed Feb. 8, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 United States Patent O 3,293,795 ANIMATED SPEAKING FIGURE TOY John W. Ryan, Bel-Air, Calif., assignor to Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif., a corporation of California Original application Feb. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 257,123, now

Patent No. 3,230,665, dated Jan. 25, 1966. Divided and this application Nov. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 505,812

7 Claims. (Cl. 46-118) This application is adivisional application which was divided from copending application Serial No. 257,123, filed February 8, 1963, and which issued as Patent No. 3,230,665. This invention relates to an improved toy which is an animated speaking figure toy such as a doll or other figure which might be a plush toy, for example.

The toy of the invention which in a preferred form is embodied in a doll has a manually actuatable phonograph or voice unit in it and the doll has animated or movable lips and eyes. The phonograph or voice unit may be of the type disclosed in Patent No. 3,017,187 of lohn W. Ryan. The phonograph device, as stated, is manually operated and preferably has a random characteristic in that in response to actuating manipulations it can produce a variety of distinctive sounds or sentences or the like at random so that what the doll says in effect is unexpected or unanticipated.

The lips and eyes of the doll or other ligure are movable having improved animated characteristics. A particular feature of the invention is that the phonograph or voice unit has combined with it a novel power take-olf whereby the lips and eyes are moved in synchronism with or in relation to the operation of the phonograph and the sounds emanating therefrom so that the doll simulates lifelike characteristics, both from the standpoint of sounds and also from the standpoint of the movements or animation of the lips and eyes. The power take-olf is constructed to provide particular coordination between the movements of the lips and eyes and the phonograph operation.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved gure toy capable of simulating speaking or making sounds which are coordinated with movable or animated lips and eyes.

Another object is to provide a toy as in the foregoing, including a phonograph device and a combined power take-olf whereby the phonograph device drives the movable or animated lips and eyes.

' Another object is to provide improved and more lifelike animated or movable lips and eyes in a ligure toy.

Further objects and additional advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a View of a doll having the invention embodied therein;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view of a doll embodying a preferred form of the invention;

Patented Dec. 27, 1966 FIGURE 9 is an exploded view of the movable eye assemblies;

FIGURE 10 is a rear viewof one of the eye sockets;

FIGURE 11 is a sectional View of one of the eye sockets;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view of one of the eyeball members;

FIGURE 13 is a view of the actuating mechanism for the movable lips;

FIGURE 14 is a view of a plush toy in the form of a figure of a lion;

FIGURE 15 is a view of the head of the toy of FIG- URE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a sectional view of the head of FIG- URE 15;

FIGURE 17 is a sectional view taken along the line 17-17 of FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 18 is a View like FIGURE 16 with the parts in a different position;

FIGURE 19 is a detail view of a part of the toy of FIGURES 15 to 18;

FIGURE 20 is a plan view of the phonograph device used in the toy of FIGURE 15 FIGURE 2l is a sectional view taken along the line 21-21 of FIGURE 20;

FIGURE 22 is a View taken along the line 22-22 of FIGURE 21;

FIGURE 23 is a sectional view taken along the line 23-23 of FIGURE 21;

FIGURE 24 is a view taken along the line 24-24 of FIGURE 21 and FIGURE 25 is a view showing the installation of the phonograph device in the body of a toy.

The major components of the assembly will be described in order and then the overall operation will be summarized.

Phonograph and power take-0]?t The phonograph device is shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 and the power take-off device is shown in these figures and in FIGURES 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Numeral 10 in FIGURE l designates a toy doll gure which may have a body made of plastic or other suitable material and may have articulated legs and arms and a head, as shown. In this form of the invention, the phonol graph device is embodied in the torso of the doll with the speaker cone 11 in a position as shown in the figures. The ange 13 of the speaker cone engages against an annular rib 16 extending inwardly from the body of the doll and this part of the doll is perforated as shown at 17 to allow the sound to come out.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line Preferably, the body of the doll is formed in halves or sections as designated at 19 and 20, The sections forni a circular neck part 22 having a flange 23. The head 25 may be made of a suitable material, preferably having a flexible flanged neck opening, as shown at 27, which can be fitted over the flange 23 on the neck part 22 of the body, as shown.

The parts of the phonograph device generally are supported from posts or bosses extending inwardly from the part or half 20 of the body and are held in position by an overlying frame structure. The phonograph has a turntable 30 which has pheripheral flanges as shown at 31 and 32 and is peripherally toothed. Passing around the turntable is a toothed belt 34 which drives a toothed pulley 35 by means of which a governor, as designated at 37, is driven as will be described. The turntable has an extending stem 40 received in an opening in a post 41 extending from the doll part 20. The stem 40 extends inwardly and mounted on it is a spool 43 for drawstring 44. The stem 40 has an extending end part 46 journaled in a part 47 of a frame 49 on which some of the partsv are mounted and which holds certain parts in position, as will be described. Between the spool 43 and the turntable 30 is a clock type spring 51 which is wound or energized when the drawstring 44 is pulled by pulling the ring 52. The spool 43 is provided with a one way clutch, not shown, so that when the drawstring 44 is pulled the spring is Wound or energized without the turntable being driven and when the drawstring is released, the spring can drive or rotate the turntable.

The turntable carries a record 54 which may preferably be a record of the type disclosed in prior Patent No. 3,017,187 having interleaved spiral grooves each having a distinctive group of words or sounds recorded thereon. The end of the spring 51 is held between

posts

55, 56 and 57 extending from the part 20 of the body, as shown in FIGURE 3.

The trarne 49 has a domed part 56 and an extending circular boss 57 within which is mounted the centrifugal governor 37. This governor may preferably be of a type shown in Patent No. 3,017,187. The governor has a rotor 59 which carries the toothed wheel 35 and which has an extending stem 61 which extends into an opening in a post 62 which extends from the part 20 of the doll. The rotor has an extending stem 63 at the other end which is journaled in an opening in a boss 64 extending from one side of the domed part 56 of the frame 49. The governor is of the fly ball type having arcuate weighted members, one of which is designated at 65 having extending arms 66 and 67 journaled on a pin or stern 69 having on it a torsion spring 71. The weights or ily ball members have friction surfaces, as shown at 73, which frictionally engage against the interior of the circular boss 57 to regulate the speed of rotation, the outward movement being against the force of the torsion springs, as designated at 71.

The frame 49 has an extending part 74 from which a pin extends into an opening in a post 76 extending from the part 20 of the doll or gure. FIGURE 3 which is a sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 1 shows the conguration of the frame member 49. The frame 49 has extended

portions

80 and 81 around the circular skirt 57 and an extending portion 82 and

diagonal ribs

83 and 84. Numeral 86 designates a portion of the frame of channel shaped cross section which eX- tends upwardly with an inwardly extended portion, as designated at 90. The frame has the tone arm mounted on it and it provides an eyelet for guiding the drawstring 44 in passing to the spool 43. The tone arm is designated at 92, it having a cross section including

side ribs

93 and 94 and an intermediate diagonal web 95. At the end of the tone arm 92 is a bushing 98 which is journaled on a -pivot pin r stern 100 having a head 101. The pin 100 is mounted as stated in a part 86 of t-he frame 49 one of the side ribs of the frame part 86 being interrupted to provide for movement of the tone arm. The tone arm carries the needle 103 which overlies the record surface. The end of the tone arm isV shaped as shown at 105 in the gures having a transverse eyelet 106 through which the drawstring 4 4 passes, the drawstring having frictional engagement with the eyelet. The tone arm 92 also has a transverse rib 107 which provides for sliding engagement between t-he tone arm and the connection or coupling to the speaker cone 11. The drawstring 44 also passes through an eyelet 110 provided in a side rib of the lpart 90 of the frame 49. The drawstring also passes through an eyelet 111 in an actuating member 112 for the movable eyes of the doll, which will be described in detail presently. The actuating member 112 has a cutout, as shown at 113 in FIGURE 2, providing a hinge. The end part of the member 112 is attaohed to a boss 114 on the half or part 20 by a rivet 115.

The coupling to the speaker cone includes a sleeve element 116 telescoped into a cylindrical member 117 attached to the lower part of the speaker cone. A silicone grease or similar material may be provided between these elements for the purpose of providing for sliding movement while still being capable of transmitting sonic frequencies as disclosed in the patent of John W. Ryan, No. 3,095,201. Within the sleeve 116 is a coil spring 119, the upper end of which engages the end of a group of radially extending gussets 121 which extend radially from a stem 122 centrally disposed with respect to the coupling. The ends of the gussets 121 engage a rib 124 extending diametrically across the circular annular rib formation 16, previously described. In operation, as will be described, a pull on the drawstring is able to lift the end of the tone arm so as to lift the needle off the record. When this happens the sleeve 116 is able to move relative to the cylinder 117 so that stress is not applied to the speaker cone so that it will not be caused to take a permanent set if left in storage with tension on the drawstring and the tone arm lifted. The coupling is nevertheless capable of transmitting the sonic vibrations.

FIGURE 4 shows the armho-les 126 and 127 in the doll body to which the arms can be attached in a manner known in the art.

The turntable of the phonograph device embodies a power take-off from which coordinated power is taken olf for actuating the movable lips, the movable eyes being actuated by the drawstring, as will be described in detail presently. FIGURE 5 shows lche underside of the turntable 30. It has in it a groove or slot of the shape as shown. The slot is not circular, but is shaped so that it provides a pathway having varying distances from the center established by the stem or arbor 40 about which the turntable rotates. Numeral 131 designates a roller carried by a slide plate 133 so that as the turntable rotates, the roller 131 and slide plate 133 are caused to move back and forth, as illustrated by the different positions of the slide plate 133 in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8. The slide plate is rectangular having a central or intermediate opening 135 to accommodate the post 41 which receives the stem or arbor of the turntable. The movement of the slide plate 133 is guided by

guide members

137 and 133 extending from the part 20 of the doll, these members having square guide shoulders at their upper edges. The slide plate 133 has sideor

corner ribs

140, 141, 142 and 143 which engage the shoulders at the end edges of the guide members 137 and 138 to provide for guided sliding movement of the slide plate 133. FIGURE 5 shows the relative positions of the parts, numeral 146 in this ligure designating an idler roller which keeps the toothed belt 34 in engagement with the toothed wheel 35 which drives the governor.

Extending from the slide plate 133 is a slotted tubular holder 150 for a ball 151 on the end of a exible actuating wire or lament 152 by which the lips are moved. This wire or lament extends through a tube 153 to the lip actuating mechanism which will be described presently. The tube 153 has a ange on the end of it which is received in a slot 154 at the end of a mounting member extending from the part 20 of the doll as designated at 155. During operation of the phonograph, coordinated movement is taken oi by the power take-off through the filament 152 to impart coordinated movements to the movable lips as will be described in detail presently. The eyes and lips themselves will be described and then the manner in which they are coordinated with the phonograph will be described.

Eye movement One of the eyes is designated generally at in FIG- URE 2 and FIGURES 9 to 12 show the structure of the eye assembly in detail. Each eye comprises an eye socket, as shown at 161, an eyeball as designated at 162 and a weight member as designated at 163. The eye sockets are cylindrical, as shown, being dome shaped at the front with slots or openings as shown at 166. At the sides of the eye sockets on the inside are dimples 168 to receive trunnions as designated at 170 on the eyeball elements with a snap tit. The eyeballs are dome shaped at the front having irises as shown at 171 and eyelashes, as shown at 172; These members are cylindrical at the rear, being cut away at the upper part as shown at 175. The sockets 161 have guide ribs 177 and 178 on the inside to receive in sliding engagement the trunnions 170 on the eyeball members. The extending part 175 of the eyeball members has a slot as shown at 180. The weights as shown at 163 have extending webs, as shown at 182 and 183 with transverse members 184 and 185 at the ends of these webs. The weights are mounted in the eyeball members so that if the eyeballs are tilted in one direction the Weights will tilt them in the opposite direction. The weight as shown at 163 is tted into the eyeball member 162 by sliding the web 183 into the slot 180 with the transverse member 185 on the other side of the part 175 of the eyeball member. The two eye assemblies are identical and, therefore, both need not be described in detail.

The actuating member 112 for the eyes is made of suitable material such as a plastic material, and has a weakened part or strip 190 forming a hinge between the member and an end part 191. This part is engageable with the transverse member 193 of a yoke 194 having extending

legs

195 and 196, which are turned outwardly at their ends, as shown at 197 and 198. The end parts, as shown at 197 and 198, are attached to the weights as designated at 163. The end 197 extends through a hole in web 182 and then is crimped over, as shown in FIG- URE 10. Both eyeball members are actuated in a similar member.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the actuation of the eyes of the doll. The ring 52 is pulled to wind the spring motor and then it is released while it operates. When the drawstring 44 is pulled7 the frictional engagement with the eyelet 111 moves the actuating member 112 into the dotted line position, as shown in FIGURE 2. The hinge part 191 engages the transverse member 193 of the yoke 194 and rotates it into the dotted line position as shown in FIG- URE 2. As the member 112 moves the hinge part 191 passes under the transverse member 193 so as to release it and the eyeballs then return to their original position under the inuence of the counterweights. In other words, the eyes perform the blinking act of closing and opening when the drawstring is pulled. When it is released they again perform a blinking act as the member 112 moves in the opposite direction with the hinge part 191 again moving past the transverse member 193.

Next will be described the movable lips and their actuation from the power take-off.

Lip movement As described, the head of the doll 25 is made of a flexible material, The lips are designated at 210 and 211 and are attached to the head by weakened portions forming hinges, as shown at 213 and 214 to allow simulated natural movements of the lips. There is a cavity simulating the mouth between the lips and a septum or membrance 216 on the inside of which is a bowed metal plate 220 shown in greater detail in FIGURE 13. Mounted on the end of the tube 153 is a bracket 222 having a slotted foot 223 which engages the end of the tube 153. At the upper end of the bracket 222 is a yoke 224 having extending

lugs

225 and 226 having holes in which are journaled the ends of a member 228 forming a pivot for extending lever member 230 to which it is connected by a neck 231. The lever 230 extends through a slot in the plate 220, its end part having a configuration as shown at 234, having pointed lateral extensions as shown at 235 and 236. The end part of the lever 230 is embedded in the upper lip 210 in order to move it.

The end of the wire or lament 152 extends through an opening in a lever 240 and is flattened to hold it in place. The lever 240 extends through a slot in the plate 220 and has an end part 241 having a conguration as shown in FIGURE 13 with

lateral extending points

243 and 244 at the end of it which are embedded in the lower lip 211 for moving it. When the wire 152 moves axially, it moves the lever 240, as illustrated in FIGURE 2 so as to move the lower lip to simulate speaking. This movement can ex the flexible material of the membrane or septum 216 sufliciently to also impart movement to the upper lip 210 by movement of lever 230 about its pivot. The elfect is to closely simulate human lip movement.

In operation of the phonograph, due to the irregular shape of the slot in the turntable, the slide plate 133 and wire 152 are moved in accordance with the diagram of FIGURE 3A which shows lip displacement in inches relative to angular position of the turntable. Preferably the slot 130 is shaped so that in a revolution of the turntable the mouth opens twice, once to full opening and a second time to about two-thirds of a full opening. These movements are coordinated with the sound on the record by way of the shape of the slot 130 so that the animated lip movements simulate the words or music that are being reproduced by the phonograph.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the phonograph is operated by the pull ring 52 and drawstring 44 and that the lip and eye movements, as described, are coordinated with the sound being reproduced.

From the foregoing description of the construction and operation of the present embodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention provides a most unusual and fascinating toy in that the doll or other iigure in effect has a personality of its own from the standpoint of the sounds that are produced and more particularly from the standpoint of the coordinattion of the lip and eye movements with the sounds. The result is achieved in a novel and effective way since the drawstring movements are utilized to actuate the eyes and the power take-olf from the phonograph actuates the lips.

FIGURES 14 to 25 show another embodiment of the invention wherein the phonograph device is embodied in a plush toy which is illustrated in the form of a ligure of a lion having movable lips or a movable snout.

In FIGURE 14, numeral 250 designates the plush toy which is a figure of a lion having the phonograph device therein. The phonograph device is designated at 251 in FIGURE 25. The plush toy is made in sections, as designated at 252 and 253 having a cavity 254 to receive the phonograph device. i

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged view of the face or snout of the lion as designated at 259.

FIGURES 16 and 18 are sectional views of the snout showing the manner in which it is constructed. The upper and lower lips or

snout parts

261 and 262 are formed to simulate the snout of a lion in shape and they may be made of a suitable exible material such as plastisol. The snout is mounted to the body of the lion by way of a relatively rigid frame plate 265 mounted at the front part of the body of the gure. This plate has a shape as shown in outline in FIGURE 17. It has extending

ribs

267 and 268 which have extending

end pin parts

270 and 271. The upper lip or snout part 261 has an opening which is received on the pin 270 to hold it in position. The lower lip or snout part has an opening received on pin 271 to hold it in position. The upper lip or snout part has a weakened place 273 adjacent the pin 270 forming a hinge allowing movement of the lip part. The lower lip part 262 has a weakened place 274 to allow movement of this lip part simulating lifelike movement.

The ligure toy is covered with a fabric material 277 and may have fur or fuzzon the outside of it as desiglnated at 278. The fabric extends partly over the upper and

lower snout parts

261 and 262.

The upper and

lower snout parts

261, 262 include an inward fold configuration 281, as shown, and attached to this fold by a rivet 282 is the end of the wire or filament 152 which is operated by the phonograph device. T he` pin or rivet 282 is slotted, as shown in FIGURE 19 and the end of the wire 152 extends into the slot which is then crimped closed.

The phonograph device that is used in the figure toy of this embodiment is similar to that of the previous embodiment, but is modified slightly to adapt it to use in a plush toy. Preferably, it has a case having a configuration as shown at 295 in FIGURE 20. Parts of the phonograph device of this embodiment, which are identical with or substantially the same as corresponding parts of the previous embodiment will be similarly numbered in order to avoid duplication of description. The outline of the case of the unit is such as to adapt it for mounting in a plush toy in the manner illustrated in FIGURE l5. The case 295 has an extending cylindrical part 296 having an opening 297 through which the drawstring 44 extends to the exterior to the ring 52. The unit is attached to the fabric 277 by a snap member having a male part 300 and a female part 301, this snap being of conventional construction. The configuration of the case 295 in longitudinal and transverse cross section is illustrated in FIGURES 2l and 22. The arrangement of parts of the phonograph is very similar to that of the previous embodiment as will be apparent from the figures. The case 295 has an upstanding circular rib 310 over which ts a conical cap 311 having a rim which fits over the rib 310. The cap 311 is over the speaker cone 11 and has openings 312 to allow the sound to come out. The case is made in upper and lower sections as designated at 31S and 316 and a lower rectangular insert as designated at 318 as best seen in FIGURES 22 and 23. The upper part of the case has an extending boss 321 having an opening which receives the end 63 of the stem or arbor of the governor 37, which is like that of the previous embodiment. Extending inwardly from the upper part 315 of the case is the skirt 322 within which the governor operates. The upper part 315 of the case has a cylindrical part 324 providing an opening in which is journaled the extending end 46 of the spindle or arbor of the spool or pulley 43 and the turntable.

Extending from the inside of the other part 316 of the case is a member 326 having in it an eyelet 327 through which the drawstring 44 passes in going to the exterior of the toy.

The turntable is like that of the previous embodiment and the slide plate 133 is similar. The rectangular insert 318, as may be seen in FIGURES 22 and 23, has upstanding guide members 330 and 331 having square shoulders on the inside of their ends in which the slide plate 133 is guided. The guide plate 133 itself is like that of the previous embodiment and need not be described again in detail. The rectangular insert 318 has an embossment 334 having a channel in it to receive the tube 153 which extends. in a direction as shown in FIGURE 21. The wire or filament 152 is attached to the slite plate in the same manner as in the previous embodiment. The tube 153 and wire 152 extend from the casing 295, as shown in FIGURE 21, and they extend through the'frame member 265 shown in FIGURES 16 and 17 for attachment of the wire 152 to the snout as described in the foregoing. On the outside of the rectangular insert 318 is a snap-on plate 339.

In the present embodiment the tone arm 92 has an end part 98 which is journaled on a pin 341 extending from a post 342 on the inside of the lower part 316 of the casing. This pin extends into an opening in a post 344 extending fromI the inside of the other part 315 of .the casing. As will be observed, the entire structure is designed to facilitate easy manufacture and production of parts and fabrication. The parts are held in position and held together in the manner described in detail and which provides for a strong, sturdy construction not easily susceptible to breakage. The sections of the casing in both embodiments are held together in such a way as to allow for some deformation as a result of dropping or the like without breaking. Attention is called to the construction of FIGURE 2 wherein a cylindrical inward extension is provided as designated at 346 which is spaced from the dome 56 over the governor. This construction allows deformation of the body or torso of the doll in an inward direction, which is limited by engagement of the part 346 with the dome 56. This provides a deformation tolerance without breakage.

From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art will readily understand the operation of the present embodiment which is similar to that of the previous embodiment. The power take-off provides for movements related to the movement of the phonograph turntable which are transmitted to the lips or snout parts of the lion so that this animation is coordinated with whatever sounds are reproduced by the phonograph device. The plush toy of this embodiment may, of course, have animated eyes as in the previous embodiment.

The foregoing disclosure is representative of preferred forms of the invention and is to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense, the invention to be accorded the full scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. An animated figure toy, comprising:

a body portion;

a movable snout connected to said body portion, said snout including upper and lower snout parts con-v nected together by an inward fold extending inwardly toward said body portion and defining a mouth, said upper and lower snout parts being made of a fiexible material and said inward fold being of exible material free of stiffening means, whereby said snout parts will be drawn closer together when the inner end of said inward fold is moved inwardly of said mouth and will be released to spread apart when said inward fold is moved outwardly; and

actuating means connected directly to said inner end of said inward fold for moving the same inwardly and outwardly of said mouth.

2. A toy figure as stated in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes cam means for reciprocating said inward fold inwardly and outwardly on a predetermined cycle, wherein said upper and lower snout parts are moved to a fully spread-apart position, then to a closed position and then to a partially spread-apart position during cycle of operation of said actuating means.

3. A toy figure as stated in claim 2 including a phonograph device mounted in said figure for reproducing sounds and wherein said cam means is connected to said phonograph device for operation thereby when said phonograph device is actuated to produce said sounds.

4. An animated figure toy, comprising:

a body portion having a front part;

a plate attached to said front part of said body portion,

said plate having a first pin extending from an upper portion thereof and a second pin extending from a lower portion thereof;

a fiexible movable snout having an upper portion connected to said upper pin and a lower portion connected to said lower pin, said upper portion having a weakened portion forming a hinge adjacent said upper pin and said lower portion having a weakened portion forming a hinge adjacent said lower pin, said upper portion being connected to said lower portion by an inward fold extending inwardly toward said plate for forming a mouth portion movable from a substantially closed position to a substantially open position when said inward fold is reciprocated toward and away from said plate; and

9 10 actuating means connected to said inward fold for recip- 7. A toy as stated in claim 6 wherein said phonograph rocating it toward and away from Said Plate When includes records of the random-speech type for producing actuated, whereby said upper and lower snout parts said Sounds rand0m1y move relativelyto each other for animating said toy. 5. A toy as stated in claim 4 wherein said actuating 5 References Cited by the Examiner neans includes drive means mounted in said toy, .said UNITED STATES PATENTS rive means mcludmg cam means having a predetermined shape for reciprocating said inward fold on an irregular 1,260,159 3/1918 Di MariO 46-118 X cycle. 2,700,846 2/ 1955 Coe 46-135 X 6. A toy as stated in claim wherein said toy includes a 10 3,017,187 1/ 1962 Ryan 46-118 X phonograph mounted in said body for producing sounds 3,210,887 10/ 1965 Glass etal 46-171 X coordinated with the reciprocation of said inward fold and means for connecting said cam means to said phono- RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. graph for operation thereby, whereby said sounds are coordinated with the movement of said snout parts. 5 LOUIS J BOVASSO Exammer'

Claims

1. AN ANIMATED FIGURE TOY, COMPRISING: A BODY PORTION; A MOVABLE SNOUT CONNECTED TO SAID BODY PORTION SAID SNOUT INCLUDING UPPER AND LOWER SNOUT PARTS CONNECTED TOGETHER BY AN INWARD FOLD EXTENDING INWARDLY TOWARD SAID BODY PORTION AND DEFINING A MOUTH, SAID UPPER AND LOWER SNOUT PARTS BEING MADE OF A FLEXIBLE MATERIAL AND SAID INWARD FOLD BEING OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL FREE OF STIFFENING MEANS, WHEREBY SAID SNOUT PARTS WILL BE DRAWN CLOSER TOGETHER WHEN THE INNER END OF SAID INWARD FOLD IS MOVED INWARDLY OF SAID MOUTH AND WILL BE RELEASED TO SPREAD APART WHEN SAID INWARD FOLD IS MOVED OUTWARDLY; AND ACTUATING MEANS CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO SAID INNER END OF SAID INWARD FOLD FOR MOVING THE SAME INWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY OF SAID MOUTH.