Interactive pet toy with pliable mounting apparatus

Abstract

The interactive toy has a body and means for attaching the body to an object including a part of the user's body, clothing or the like. The body includes a rigid hollow plastic shell with a variety of external touch sensors. The shell contains and protects the electronic components, including a micro-controller connected to the sensors, and to a speaker, vibrator and LED light sources. A fabric layer covers the shell. The attaching means takes the form of a tail. The tail includes a pliable wire encased in a fabric layer. One end of the wire is fixed to the shell such that the tail extends from the back of the body and can be configured to engage an object to support the toy. The toy generates various sounds and lights in response to the sensor outputs.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An interactive toy comprising a body and means for attaching said body to an object including a part of the user's body, clothing or the like, said body comprising a hollow plastic shell having external touch sensors adapted to enclose the electronic components of the toy, and a fabric layer covering said shell, said attaching means comprising a tail, said tail comprising a pliable wire encased in a fabric layer, said wire having an end fixed to said shell such that said tail extends from said body and can be configured to engage an object to support the toy. 
     
     
         2 . The toy of  claim 1  wherein said touch sensors comprise a nose tack switch. 
     
     
         3 . The toy of  claim 1  wherein said body has a simulated eye including a light source actuated by depressing one of said touch sensors. 
     
     
         4 . The toy of  claim 2  wherein said light source is a LED. 
     
     
         5 . The toy of  claim 4  wherein said eye comprises a pupil surround by a translucent rim which is illuminated by said light source when said light source is actuated. 
     
     
         6 . The toy of  claim 5  wherein said translucent rim comprises glitter. 
     
     
         7 . The toy of  claim 1  further comprising a sound generator actuated by depressing one of said touch sensors. 
     
     
         8 . The toy of  claim 7  wherein said sound generator creates meowing, singing and/or purring sounds when actuated. 
     
     
         9 . The toy of  claim 1  wherein said body has a simulated ear and said touch sensors comprise a pressure sensitive switch proximate said ear. 
     
     
         10 . The toy of  claim 1  wherein said body has a back and said touch sensors comprise a pressure sensitive switch on said back. 
     
     
         11 . The toy of  claim 1  wherein said body has a simulated eye including a light source and a sound generator actuated by depressing one of said touch sensors. 
     
     
         12 . The toy of  claim 1  wherein said electronics include a motion sensor actuated by motion of said toy. 
     
     
         13 . The toy of  claim 12  further comprising a sound generator is actuated by said motion sensor to create a sound. 
     
     
         14 . The toy of  claim 1  wherein said electronics include a vibration motor. 
     
     
         15 . The toy of  claim 14  wherein said vibration motor is actuated by depressing one of said touch sensors. 
     
     
         16 . An interactive toy comprising a body and means for attaching said body to an object including a part of the user's body, clothing or the like, said body comprising a hollow plastic shell having external touch sensors adapted to enclose the electronic components of the toy, and a fabric layer covering said shell, said attaching means comprising a tail, said tail comprising a pliable wire encased in a fabric layer, said wire having an end fixed to said shell such that said tail extends from said body and can be configured to engage an object to support the toy, wherein said touch sensors comprise a nose tack switch, wherein said body has a simulated eye including a LED light source and a sound generator simultaneously actuated by depressing said nose tack switch, wherein said eye comprises a pupil surround by a translucent rim with glitter which is illuminated by said light source when said light source is actuated and said sound generator creates meowing, singing and/or purring sounds when actuated. 
     
     
         17 . The toy of  claim 16  further comprising a simulated ear, wherein said touch sensors comprise a pressure sensitive switch proximate said ear. 
     
     
         18 . The toy of  claim 16  wherein said body has a back, wherein said touch sensors comprise a pressure sensitive switch on said back of said body. 
     
     
         19 . The toy of  claim 16  wherein said electronics include a motion sensor actuated by motion of said toy, wherein said a sound generator is actuated by said motion sensor to create a sound. 
     
     
         20 . The toy of  claim 16  wherein said electronics include a vibration motor actuated by depressing one of said touch sensors.