Keying toy vehicle accessories

Abstract

A toy vehicle includes a plug to recognize a keyed accessory of the toy vehicle, circuitry connected to the plug and operable to select a functional feature in response to recognition of the keyed accessory, and a feature generator to produce the selected functional feature.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A toy vehicle comprising: 
 a plug to recognize a keyed accessory attached to the toy vehicle;    circuitry connected to the plug and operable to select a functional feature in response to recognition of the keyed accessory; and    a feature generator to produce the selected functional feature.    
     
     
         2 . The toy vehicle of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the feature generator comprises a speaker; and  
 the functional feature is a sound.  
 
     
     
         3 . The toy vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the selected functional feature generally resembles a functional feature of a real accessory of a real vehicle.  
     
     
         4 . The toy vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the plug comprises an electronic switch.  
     
     
         5 . The toy vehicle of  claim 1  further comprising a mount to mount the keyed accessory to the toy vehicle.  
     
     
         6 . The toy vehicle of  claim 5  wherein the mount is shaped to establish an interference fit with the keyed accessory.  
     
     
         7 . The toy vehicle of  claim 5  wherein the mount comprises an alignment guide to ensure alignment of the keyed accessory.  
     
     
         8 . The toy vehicle of  claim 7  wherein the alignment guide comprises an asymmetric opening in the mount.  
     
     
         9 . The toy vehicle of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the toy vehicle comprise a toy combat vehicle; and  
 the keyed accessory comprises a keyed weapon.  
 
     
     
         10 . The toy vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the keyed accessory is interchangeable with a second keyed accessory for recognition by the plug.  
     
     
         11 . The toy vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the plug comprises a pressure responsive surface.  
     
     
         12 . The toy vehicle of  claim 11  wherein the plug comprises multiple pressure responsive surfaces.  
     
     
         13 . The toy vehicle of  claim 1  further comprising the keyed accessory.  
     
     
         14 . A combat toy comprising: 
 a plug to recognize a keyed weapon;    circuitry connected to the plug and operable to select a functional feature in response to recognition of the keyed weapon; and    a feature generator to produce the selected functional feature.    
     
     
         15 . The combat toy of  claim 14  wherein the combat toy comprises a toy combat vehicle.  
     
     
         16 . The combat toy of  claim 15  wherein the toy combat vehicle comprises a toy combat helicopter.  
     
     
         17 . The combat toy of  claim 14  further comprising the keyed weapon.  
     
     
         18 . The combat toy of  claim 14  wherein: 
 the feature generator comprises a speaker; and  
 the functional feature is a sound.  
 
     
     
         19 . The combat toy of  claim 14  wherein the selected functional feature generally resembles a functional feature of a real weapon.  
     
     
         20 . The combat toy of  claim 14  wherein the circuitry is operable to select a unique functional feature in response to recognition of each keyed weapon.  
     
     
         21 . The combat toy of  claim 14  further comprising a mount to mount the keyed weapon.  
     
     
         22 . The toy vehicle of  claim 14  wherein the keyed weapon is interchangeable with a second keyed weapon for recognition by the plug.  
     
     
         23 . A method for entertaining a child comprising: 
 recognizing a keyed accessory of a toy vehicle;    selecting a finctional feature in response to the recognition of the keyed accessory; and    producing the selected functional feature.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein producing the selected functional feature comprising emitting a sound feature.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein selecting the functional feature comprises selecting a unique functional feature in response to recognition of each keyed accessory.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein recognizing the keyed accessory comprises closing an electrical switch.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising mounting the keyed accessory to the toy vehicle.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein mounting the keyed accessory comprises guiding the keyed accessory into a mount on the toy vehicle.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising interchangeably recognizing a second keyed accessory of the toy vehicle.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23  wherein recognizing the keyed accessory comprises recognizing a keyed weapon of a toy combat vehicle.