Figurine toy in combination with a portable, removable wireless computer device having a visual display screen

Abstract

The combination of a figurine toy and a smartphone-type device, along with display-controlling software apps, the figurine toy having a receptacle, receiving pocket or mating area adapted and structured to temporarily receive and retain the smartphone-type device such that the visual display of the smartphone-type device presents animated facial features for the figurine toy, the smartphone-type device covering the static facial features of the figurine toy when received by the figurine toy.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A figurine toy comprising static facial features and a receptacle adapted to receive and retain a smartphone-type device having a visual display screen, said receptacle comprising a front opening positioned such that said static facial features are visible through said front opening, and further wherein said receptacle is structured such that said static facial features are obscured by said smartphone-type device and said visual display screen of said smartphone-type device is visible through said front opening when said smartphone-type device is retained within said receptacle. 
     
     
         2 . The figurine toy of  claim 1 , further comprising a retention member adapted to secure said smartphone-type device within said receptacle. 
     
     
         3 . The figurine toy of  claim 2 , wherein said retention member comprises a flap member secured by a releasable fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The figurine toy of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor mechanism positioned within said receptacle, said sensor mechanism adapted to communicate with said smartphone-type device upon insertion or removal of said smartphone-type device from said receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The combination of a figurine toy and a removable smartphone-type device;
 said smartphone-type device comprising a visual display screen and controlled by one or more software applications whereby animated facial features are presented on said visual display screen;   said figurine toy comprising static facial features and a receptacle adapted to receive and retain said smartphone-type device, said receptacle comprising a front opening positioned such that said static facial features are visible through said front opening when said smartphone-type device is removed from said receptacle, and further wherein said receptacle is structured such that said static facial features are obscured by said smartphone-type device and said visual display screen of said smartphone-type device is visible through said front opening when said smartphone-type device is retained within said receptacle;   whereby with said smartphone-type device positioned within said receptacle of said figurine toy, said animated facial features are presented in place of said static facial features.   
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 5 , wherein said one or more software applications provide a first mode presenting animated facial features on said visual display screen and a second mode presenting story telling or game playing displays on said visual display screen. 
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein said figurine toy further comprises a sensor mechanism positioned within said receptacle, said sensor mechanism adapted to communicate with said smartphone-type device upon insertion or removal of said smartphone-type device from said receptacle. 
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein upon insertion of said smartphone-type device into said receptacle, said one or more software applications automatically provides said first mode presenting animated facial features on said visual display screen, and further wherein upon removal of said smartphone-type device from said receptacle, said one or more software applications provides said second mode presenting story telling or game playing displays on said visual display screen. 
     
     
         9 . The figurine toy of  claim 5 , further comprising a retention member adapted to secure said smartphone-type device within said receptacle. 
     
     
         10 . The figurine toy of  claim 9 , wherein said retention member comprises a flap member secured by a releasable fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The combination of a figurine toy and a removable smartphone-type device;
 said smartphone-type device comprising a visual display screen and controlled by one or more software applications whereby animated facial features are presented on said visual display screen, wherein said smartphone-type device is chosen from the group of smartphone-type devices consisting of portable computer tablets, smartphones, gaming devices and music players, and wherein said one or more software applications provide a first mode presenting animated facial features on said visual display screen and a second mode presenting story telling or game playing displays on said visual display screen.;   said figurine toy comprising static facial features and a receptacle adapted to receive and retain said smartphone-type device, said receptacle comprising a front opening positioned such that said static facial features are visible through said front opening when said smartphone-type device is removed from said receptacle, and further wherein said receptacle is structured such that said static facial features are obscured by said smartphone-type device and said visual display screen of said smartphone-type device is visible through said front opening when said smartphone-type device is retained within said receptacle;   whereby with said smartphone-type device positioned within said receptacle of said figurine toy, said animated facial features are presented in place of said static facial features.   
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein said figurine toy further comprises a sensor mechanism positioned within said receptacle, said sensor mechanism adapted to communicate with said smartphone-type device upon insertion or removal of said smartphone-type device from said receptacle;
 wherein upon insertion of said smartphone-type device into said receptacle, said one or more software applications automatically provides said first mode presenting animated facial features on said visual display screen, and further wherein upon removal of said smartphone-type device from said receptacle, said one or more software applications provides said second mode presenting story telling or game playing displays on said visual display screen.   
     
     
         13 . The figurine toy of  claim 12 , further comprising a retention member adapted to secure said smartphone-type device within said receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . The figurine toy of  claim 13 , wherein said retention member comprises a flap member secured by a releasable fastener.