Interactive figure

Abstract

An interactive toy aquatic animal is provided and includes a head, a tail and a bottom portion. The toy includes a flexible tail extending from the rear portion. A wheel rotatably attached to the bottom portion. A first motor mechanism operatively connected to the wheel, wherein when the first motor mechanism drives said wheel, the figure moves causing the tail to flex. A second motor mechanism is also provided and operatively connected to various other parts of the animal for movement thereof. For example, the second motor mechanism causing the blinking of eyelids, the flapping of side appendages, and/or the vibration of a tongue.

1 . A toy figure having a body defined with a front portion, a rear portion, and a bottom portion, the figure further comprising: 
 a flexible tail extending from the rear portion, the tail being defined as having a flexible membrane with a plurality of sectional coverings separately secured to the flexible membrane, wherein the flexible membrane remains flexible in regions defined between the plurality of sectional coverings;    a wheel rotatably attached to the body and extending from the bottom portion of the body; and    a motor mechanism housed in the body and operatively driving said wheel, wherein when the motor mechanism drives said wheel across a surface, the figure moves further causing the tail to flex.    
   
   
       2 . The figure of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a head extending from the front portion, the head having a pair of eyes and a pair of eye lids moveable in relation to said eyes, each eye lid being biased in an open position; and    a second motor mechanism housed in the body and operatively connected to said eye lids such that when the second motor mechanism is activated, the eye lids are engaged to move to a closed position temporarily to blink the eye lids.    
   
   
       3 . The figure of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 each eye lid, of the eye lids, has an eye flap extending within the body of the figure, the eye lids capable of moving to a closed position when the eye flaps are engaged and the eye lids being biased to the open position return thereto when the eye flaps are not engaged; and    the second motor mechanism drives an eye gear train, the eye gear train engages a gear cap when the motor mechanism is operating in a first direction, the gear cap includes a flapper arm that rotates around the gear cap such that the flapper arm engages and moves the eye flaps to a closed position once every revolution of the gear cap,    whereby operation of the second motor mechanism in the first direction causes the eye lids to blink.    
   
   
       4 . The figure of  claim 3  further comprising: 
 a mouth positioned on the head of the figure, the mouth having a tongue pivotally connected therein, the tongue including a tongue flap that when engaged moves the tongue about its pivotal connection; and    the second motor mechanism when operating in a direction opposite of said first direction engages a tongue gear train that engages and moves a second gear cap, the second gear cap includes a second flapper arm that rotates around the second gear cap such that the second flapper arm engages and moves the tongue flap once every revolution of the second gear cap;    whereby the second motor mechanism when operating in the second direction causes the second flapper arm to engage and move the tongue flap once every revolution of the gear cap such that the tongue vibrates about its pivotal connection.    
   
   
       5 . The figure of  claim 4  further comprising: 
 a pair of appendages separately extending from either side of the body of the figure, each appendage movably connected to the body of the figure; and    the second motor mechanism when operating in the first and second directions drives an appendage gear train that engages and moves the pair of appendages.    
   
   
       6 . The figure of  claim 5  further comprising a circuit board having preprogrammed sounds and controls, the preprogrammed controls defined to control the motor mechanisms and thus control the movement of the figure, the circuit board replaying said preprogrammed sounds and controls upon the triggering of a switch positioned about the figure.  
   
   
       7 . The figure of  claim 6  further comprising a first switch positioned within the mouth of the figure, the first switch being triggered upon insertion of an object in said mouth of the figure, and when the first switch is triggered, the circuit board activates the second motor mechanism in the second direction causing the tongue to vibrate and the pair of appendages to move.  
   
   
       8 . The figure of  claim 6  further comprising a second switch positioned on a top portion of the figure, the second switch when triggered causes the circuit board to activate the second motor mechanism in the first direction to cause the eye lids to blink and the pair of appendages to move.  
   
   
       9 . The figure of  claim 6  further comprising a speaker to emit the playback of preprogrammed sounds.  
   
   
       10 . An interactive toy aquatic animal having a body defined with a head and a bottom portion, the toy further comprising: 
 a freely flexible tail extending from the rear portion;    a wheel rotatably attached to the body and extending from the bottom portion of the body;    a first motor mechanism housed in the body and operatively driving said wheel, wherein when the motor mechanism drives said wheel the figure moves and such movement of the figure causes the freely flexible tail to wag;    a second motor mechanism housed in the body and driven in a first direction and in a second direction;    a pair of eyes defined on the head, each eye having an eye lid moveable in relation to said eyes, the eye lids biased in an open position and controllable to blink close when the second motor mechanism is driven in the first direction;    a mouth positioned in the head, the mouth having a tongue pivotally connected therein, the tongue controllable to vibrate when the second motor mechanism is driven in the second direction; and    a pair of appendages separately extending from either side of the body, each appendage movably connected to the body and controllable to move when the second motor mechanism is driven in the first and second direction.    
   
   
       11 . The toy of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 a switch positioned about the toy; and    a circuit board having a memory portion to store preprogrammed controls, and having programming that plays the controls upon the triggering of said switch, the preprogrammed controls defined to control the first and second motor mechanisms and thus control the movement of the toy.    
   
   
       12 . The toy of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a fin pivotally connected the body; and    a first switch positioned below the fin and which is triggered when the fin is pushed towards the body,    whereby upon triggering said first switch, the circuit board plays a preprogrammed control to move the toy.    
   
   
       13 . The toy of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 a second switch positioned within the mouth and which is triggered upon the insertion of an object into the mouth,    whereby upon triggering said second switch, the circuit board plays a preprogrammed control to vibrate the tongue.    
   
   
       14 . The toy of  claim 10  wherein the tail is defined as having a flexible membrane with a plurality of sectional coverings separately secured to the flexible membrane, wherein the flexible membrane remains flexible in regions defined between the plurality of sectional coverings.  
   
   
       15 . A toy figure having a body defined with a front portion, a rear portion, and a bottom portion, the figure further including a flexible tail extending from the rear portion capable of moving when said body moves, a motor housed in the body, a wheel rotatably attached to the body and the drive mechanism connecting said motor to the wheel, wherein when the motor is activated the body will be moved and the flexible tail will flex in response thereto.  
   
   
       16 . The toy of  claim 15  wherein the flexible tail is defined as having a flexible membrane with a plurality of sectional coverings separately secured to the flexible membrane, wherein the flexible membrane remains flexible in regions defined between the plurality of sectional coverings.  
   
   
       17 . The toy of  claim 15  further comprising a circuit board housed in the body and a receiver secured to the body and operatively connected to the circuit board, the circuit board further having programming to control the motor in response to a signal received by said receiver.  
   
   
       18 . The toy of  claim 15  further comprising a motor mechanism housed in the body and driven in a first direction and in a second direction and a pair of eyes defined on the head, each eye having an eye lid moveable in relation to said eyes, the eye lids biased in an open position and having a means to blink close when the second motor mechanism is driven in the first direction.  
   
   
       19 . The toy of  claim 16  further comprising a mouth positioned in the head, the mouth having a tongue pivotally connected therein, the tongue having a means to vibrate when the second motor mechanism is driven in the second direction.  
   
   
       20 . The toy of  claim 16  further comprising a pair of appendages separately extending from either side of the body, each appendage having a means to move when the second motor mechanism is driven in the first and second directions.