Expression mechanism for a toy, such as a doll, having fixed or movable eyes

Abstract

An expression mechanism for a toy having a lower lip, a cheek and an eye, includes a support frame, a lip lever pivotally connected to the support frame for engaging the lower lip of a toy, a cheek lever pivotally connected to the support frame for engaging a cheek of the toy, an eye linkage for opening or closing the eye of the toy, and a motor for actuating one of the lip and cheek levers to cause the toy to simulate a facial expression. The lip and cheek levers are interconnected in a manner that when the cheek lever pivots in one direction, the lip lever pivots in a generally opposite direction. The expression mechanism causes the toy to assume various facial expressions, including, but not limited to, smile, frown, and neutral.

1 . An interactive play method, comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a toy comprising an expression mechanism;    b) actuating the toy to an on position wherein the toy assumes a coo or baby-talk mode;    c) providing a first tactile stimulus to cause the toy to simulate at least one expression selected from the group consisting of smile, laugh, giggle, frown, and a combination thereof;    d) placing the toy in a lying position to cause the toy to assume a yawn mode;    e) providing a second tactile stimulus to cause the toy to assume a sleep mode; and    f) lifting the toy upright to cause the toy to assume a wake-up mode.    
   
   
       2 . The play method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the toy in step f) assumes a crying or frown mode.    
   
   
       3 . The play method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of: 
 g) providing a third tactile stimulus to switch the toy from the crying or frown mode to the coo or baby-talk mode.    
   
   
       4 . The play method of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 one of the first, second, and third tactile stimuli comprises rubbing or tickling the chest or belly of the toy.    
   
   
       5 . The play method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the toy blinks its eyes at predetermined intervals in the coo or baby-talk mode.    
   
   
       6 . The play method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 g) engaging a nipple with the toy's mouth in steps b), c), d) or f) to cause the toy to simulate a sucking expression.    
   
   
       7 . The play method of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the toy simulates a burping expression upon removal of the nipple and switches back to the coo or baby-talk mode.    
   
   
       8 . The play method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the toy simulates a breathing expression in the sleep mode.    
   
   
       9 . The play method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the toy in step f) assumes the coo or baby-talk mode.    
   
   
       10 . An interactive play method, comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a toy comprising an expression mechanism;    b) actuating the toy to an on position wherein the toy assumes a coo or baby-talk mode; and    c) providing a first external stimulus to cause the toy to simulate at least one expression selected from the group consisting of smile, laugh, giggle, frown, and a combination thereof.    
   
   
       11 . The play method of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the first external stimulus comprises a magnetic or audio stimulus.    
   
   
       12 . The play method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of: 
 d) placing the toy in a lying position to cause the toy to assume a yawn mode; and    e) providing a second external stimulus to cause the toy to assume a sleep mode.    
   
   
       13 . The play method of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 one of the first and second stimuli comprises an audio stimulus.    
   
   
       14 . The play method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of: 
 f) providing a third external stimulus to cause the toy to assume a wake-up mode.    
   
   
       15 . The play method of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 the toy in step f) assumes a cranky or frown mode.    
   
   
       16 . The play method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of: 
 g) lifting the toy upright to cause the toy to assume a crying mode.    
   
   
       17 . The play method of  claim 16 , comprising the step of: 
 h) providing a fourth external stimulus to cause the toy to switch to the coo or baby-talk mode.    
   
   
       18 . The play method of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 one of the first, second, third and fourth stimuli comprises an audible stimulus.    
   
   
       19 . The play method of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 the fourth stimulus comprises a tactile stimulus.    
   
   
       20 . The play method of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the toy switches to the coo or baby-talk mode after a predetermined time has elapsed.    
   
   
       21 . The play method of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 the toy in step f) assumes the coo or baby-talk mode.