Actuatable toy animal

Abstract

Children can love, nurture, and feed their toy puppy and then monitor the appearance of growth. After feeding, the toy puppy can defecate. Educational efforts have been taken to teach children of the interconnection of separate biological and/or chemical processes without the need for employing the same. The toy animal can employ sound effects based upon the biological and/or chemical processes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for emulating growth of a toy animal comprising:
 sensing one or more solid objects representing food have been inserted into a mouth of the toy animal;   in response to sensing the one or more solid objects have been inserted into the mouth, extending portions of the toy animal in an outward direction along at least two different axes to give an appearance of growth; and   allowing the solid object to pass through and eventually exit the toy animal;   wherein after exiting the toy animal, the one or more solid objects can be reinserted into the mouth and the method repeated.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising powering electromechanical components of the toy animal with a battery. 
     
     
         3 . The method of any one of  claims 1-2  further comprising controlling with a remote control limbs of the toy animal to allow for walking the toy animal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of any one of  claims 1-3  further comprising emitting sound effects selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a noise emulating a distinct sound associated with an animal an appearance of the toy animal is based upon, said distinct sound said optionally selected from the group consisting of: a growl, a groan, a scream, a call, a laugh, a cry, a bark, a woof, a howl, a roar, a snarl, a meow, a purr, a neigh, a whinny, a nicker, a hee-haw, an oink, a snort, a moo, a bellow, a bleat, a baa, a chortle, a trumpet, a squeak, a click, a chirp, a chatter, a squawk, a hoot, a caw, a crow, a quack, a cluck, a gobble, a warble, a honk, a screech, a buzz, a croak, a hiss, and a rattle; and 
 (b) a noise emulating an occurrence of or a response to a biological process, such as a cough or a sneeze. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein selection, a noise level, and/or pitch of the sound effects produced are based upon which step of the method is being performed and/or the appearance of the toy animal. 
     
     
         6 . The method of any one of  claims 1-5  further comprising inserting a bottle into the mouth. 
     
     
         7 . The method of any one of  claims 1-6  further comprising placing an article of clothing onto the toy animal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of any one of  claims 1-7  further comprising instructing a user how to perform the method. 
     
     
         9 . The method of any one of  claims 1-8  further comprising mechanically and/or electrically actuating the solid object through the toy animal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of any one of  claims 1-9  further comprising automatically tracking the appearance of growth over a period of time. 
     
     
         11 . A toy animal comprising:
 a sensor   an internal conduit including an automatic mechanism which allows solid objects to enter the toy animal at one end and exit the toy animal at the other;   actuators which allow for extension of external portions to give appearance of growth; and   a speaker for emitting sound effects.   
     
     
         12 . The toy animal of  claim 11  wherein the toy animal is able to balance on a flat surface when three of at least four extremities contact a substantially horizontal plane, such as the ground. 
     
     
         13 . The toy animal of  claim 12  further comprising a muzzle and a tail. 
     
     
         14 . The toy animal of any one of  claims 12-13  wherein the internal conduit is cylindrical and is positioned a longitudinal axis of the toy animal when three of at least four extremities contact a substantially horizontal plane, such as the ground. 
     
     
         15 . The toy animal of any one of  claims 11-13  wherein the internal conduit winds similar to intestines. 
     
     
         16 . The toy animal of any one of  claims 11-15  wherein the automatic mechanism is driven, at least in part, by an electrical switch, an actuator, a motor, a solenoid, or pneumatic or hydraulic means. 
     
     
         17 . The toy animal of any one  claims 11-16  wherein the automatic mechanism includes a manual back up mechanism, said manual back up mechanism optionally comprising a rotatable handle. 
     
     
         18 . The toy animal of any one of  claims 11-17  wherein progression of the appearance of growth (i) is linearly proportional, (ii) exponentially decreases, or (iii) is predetermined, from a first, minimum apparent size of the toy animal to a second, maximum apparent size of the toy animal, based on how many of the one or more solid objects are sensed. 
     
     
         19 . A computerized system for tracking and displaying growth progression of a toy animal comprising:
 the toy animal of claim  18 ; and   a non-transitory computer readable medium capable of receiving data related to said progression and transmitting the same for display.   
     
     
         20 . The computerized system of  claim 19  further comprising a software application which can be executed by the non-transitory computer readable medium and allows for a user to store in a memory aspects related to said progression. 
     
     
         21 . The computerized system of  claim 20  wherein said progression can be transmitted from the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium to another which employs a similar software application. 
     
     
         22 . The computerized system of any one of  claims 20-21  wherein the software application allows the user to broadcast play with the toy animal and/or results related to said progression on social media. 
     
     
         23 . A kit comprising:
 the toy animal of  claim 11 ;   a storage device for storing one or more solid objects representing food.   
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 23  wherein the storage device is a zipper storage bag. 
     
     
         25 . The kit of any one of  claims 23-24  further comprising an instruction manual which includes how to operate the toy animal. 
     
     
         26 . The kit of any one of  claims 23-25  further comprising product packaging for initially marketing the toy animal to children. 
     
     
         27 . The kit of any one of  claims 23-26  further comprising a dish for holding the one or more solid objects during play. 
     
     
         28 . The kit of any one of  claims 23-27  further comprising a bottle. 
     
     
         29 . The kit of any one of  claims 23-28  further comprising a bandana, a bow, and/or a reversible combination of a bandana and a bow. 
     
     
         30 . The kit of any one of  claims 23-29  wherein the one or more solid objects include therein an object which facilitates sensing, such as a magnet, a radio transponder/receiver/transmitter.