Expressive figurine having dynamic facial features & verbalization capability

Abstract

An expressive figurine having dynamic facial features and, optionally, verbalization capability. The figurine of this invention can have the appearance of a human, creature, or cartoon character, and more particularly to a figurine whose facial and body features are selected and applied to the figurine by a player. The facial and body features include lenticular image and lens composites that can readily interchanged from a selection of features provided with the figurine. The figurine of this invention is also preferably an interactive toy wherein the player imparts motion or force to the toy in the course of such play interaction. The figurine also may include a motion activated sound synthesizer to create the verbalization capability.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a figurine in the form of an interactive toy having visual characteristics and features corresponding to a character or personality that is attractive or repulsive to a player, wherein said figurine is further characterized by having asymmetry in distribution of its mass and/or weight so as to return the figurine to an erect position upon being displaced or tipped over, the improvement comprising: 
 said figurine having affixed thereto a lenticular image and lens assembly so as to permit player initiated changes of expression or appearance of said figurine without permanent alteration of said figurine.    
     
     
         2 . In a figurine in the form of an interactive toy having visual characteristics and features corresponding to a character or personality that is attractive or repulsive to a player, wherein said figurine is further characterized by having a head and a foot, and the asymmetry in distribution of its mass and/or weight so as to return the figurine to an erect position upon being displaced or tipped over, the improvement comprising: 
 said figurine having a first set of graphical facial and torso sticker composites which are interchangeable with one or more additional sets of graphical facial and torso sticker composites, said graphical facial and torso sticker composites comprising a lenticular image and lens assembly having releasable, fastening means permitting placement and removal thereof on said figurine, so as to permit player initiated changes of expression or appearance of said figurine, without permanent alteration of said figurine.    
     
     
         3 . A figurine as set forth in  claim 2 , having the form of a human.  
     
     
         4 . A figurine as set forth in  claim 2 , in which the figure has facial features including eyes, ears, a nose, a mouth and a patch of hair, and said features are color printed on respective stickers.  
     
     
         5 . A figurine as set forth in  claim 2 , in which the stickers applied to the figure are derived from a bank of stickers having a variety of features.  
     
     
         6 . A figurine as set forth in  claim 5 , in which the bank of stickers are derived from a CD ROM in which is digitally stored the graphics of a variety of features whereby a player can download a feature selected from the ROM into a computer which prints our the selected feature.  
     
     
         7 . A figurine as set forth in  claim 6 , further including a sound synthesizer which is activated by motion of said figurine.