Figurine with Selectable Audio and Visual Perception

Abstract

A figurine and method of use is having selectable personalization includes a doll having a head and torso, also a base disposed adjacent to the head, the base including a surrounding sidewall extending from a bottom portion to an opening defining a first interior that receives a first selected indicia. Further, a transparent cover including an outer periphery that is removably engaged from the sidewall opening. The cover having a first side and second side forming a concave profile to define a second interior portion, with the second side adjacent to the base when the cover and base are engaged, wherein the first and second interior portions form a chamber for the first indicia to be protectively and securely displayed. The base and cover engagement prevents unauthorized removal of the first indicia from the chamber by requiring a tool to separate the base and the cover.

1 . A figurine that is capable of selectable personalization, comprising:
 (a) a doll including a head portion and a torso portion;   (b) a substantially rigid base that is disposed adjacent to said head portion, said base including a surrounding sidewall extending from a bottom portion to an opening, said bottom portion and sidewall defining a first interior portion of said base that is sized and configured to receive a first substantially planar selected indicia; and   (c) a substantially rigid transparent cover including an outer peripheral portion that is adapted to be removably engaged from said sidewall opening, said cover having a first side and a second side, said second side forming a substantially concave profile to define a second interior portion, with said second side adjacent to said base when said outer peripheral portion and said opening are manually engaged forming an assembled and locked state for said base and cover, wherein said first interior portion and said second interior portion form a substantially rigid chamber for the first planar selected indicia to be substantially protectively and securely displayed within said substantially rigid chamber, said substantially rigid chamber is sized and configured such that the first selected indicia does not have to be attached to said base or said cover to help prevent damage to the selected indicia, as said removable engagement between said base opening and said cover peripheral portion is operational to prevent unauthorized removal of the selected first indicia from said substantially rigid chamber by requiring an independent tool to separate said base and said cover into a disassembled unlocked state to remove or replace the first selected indicia to further enhance security of said assembled state.   
   
   
       2 . A figurine that is capable of selectable personalization according to  claim 1  wherein said removable engagement is an interference fit wherein said base opening has a periphery size that is less than a cover outer periphery size when both said base opening and said cover outer periphery are in said disassembled unlocked state. 
   
   
       3 . A figurine that is capable of selectable personalization according to  claim 1  wherein said cover outer peripheral portion further includes a key slot that is sized and configured to receive said tool, said key slot is operational to facilitate said tool disengaging said removable engagement to place said base and said cover into said disassembled unlocked state. 
   
   
       4 . A figurine that is capable of selectable personalization according to  claim 1  wherein said base being disposed adjacent to said head portion is accomplished by a plurality of apertures in said base that are stitched therethrough to said head portion. 
   
   
       5 . A figurine that is capable of selectable personalization according to  claim 1  wherein said substantially rigid chamber is also sized and configured such that selected first indicia is a selected photograph that is positioned to be displayed through said cover. 
   
   
       6 . A figurine that is capable of selectable personalization according to  claim 1  further comprising a means for a selectable audio recording and playback to further enhance the personalization effect of said figurine. 
   
   
       7 . A figurine that is capable of selectable personalization according to  claim 6  wherein said means for a selectable audio recording and playback is constructed of an electronic audio module that is disposed within said torso portion. 
   
   
       8 . A figurine that is capable of selectable personalization according to  claim 7  wherein said electronic audio module is sized and configured such that an actuation/de-actuation control is operable exterior to said torso portion by merely squeezing said torso portion for the purpose of audio playback operation. 
   
   
       9 . A figurine that is capable of selectable personalization according to  claim 8  wherein said electronic audio module is sized and configured such that an erase control and a record control are only operable by removing said torso portion from said audio module to further prevent inadvertent erase and re-record of prior said selected audio recording. 
   
   
       10 . A figurine that is capable of selectable personalization according to  claim 9  wherein said electronic audio module is constructed of circuitry that includes a programmable integrated circuit chip, said actuation/de-actuation, erase, and record controls, a microphone, a speaker, and a power supply all contained within a common housing. 
   
   
       11 . A figurine that is capable of selectable personalization according to  claim 10  wherein said programmable integrated circuit chip is capable of at least two hundred and forty (240) seconds selected audio record time. 
   
   
       12 . A figurine that is capable of selectable personalization according to  claim 1  further comprising a selected second indicia that is disposed adjacent to said torso portion to further enhance the personalization effect of said figurine. 
   
   
       13 . A figurine that is capable of selectable personalization according to  claim 12  wherein said selected second indicia is in the form of specific astrological indications. 
   
   
       14 . A kit for a figurine that is capable of selectable personalization, comprising:
 (a) a doll including a head portion and a torso portion;   (b) a substantially rigid base that is disposed adjacent to said head portion, said base including a surrounding sidewall extending from a bottom portion to an opening, said bottom portion and sidewall of said base defining a first interior portion that is sized and configured to receive a first substantially planar selected indicia;   (c) a substantially rigid transparent cover including an outer peripheral portion that is adapted to be removably engaged from said sidewall opening, said cover outer peripheral portion includes a key slot, said cover having a first side and a second side, said second side forming a substantially concave profile to define a second interior portion, with said second side adjacent to said base when said outer peripheral portion and said opening are manually engaged forming an assembled and locked state for said base and cover, wherein said first interior portion and said second interior portion form a substantially rigid chamber for the first planar selected indicia to be substantially protectively and securely displayed within said substantially rigid chamber, said substantially rigid chamber is sized and configured such that the first selected indicia does not have to be attached to said base or said cover to help prevent damage to the selected indicia, as said removable engagement between said base opening and said cover peripheral portion is operational to prevent unauthorized removal of the selected first indicia from said substantially rigid chamber by requiring an independent tool to separate said base and said cover into a disassembled unlocked state to remove or replace the first selected indicia to further enhance security of said assembled state;   (d) an electronic audio module that is disposed within said torso portion, said electronic audio module is sized and configured such that an actuation/de-actuation control is operable exterior to said torso portion by merely squeezing said torso portion for the purpose of audio playback operation, wherein an erase control and a record control are only operable by removing said torso portion from said audio module to further prevent inadvertent erase and re-record of prior said selected audio recording, said electronic audio module is constructed of circuitry that includes a programmable integrated circuit chip, said actuation/de-actuation, erase, and record controls, a microphone, a speaker, and a power supply all contained within a common housing, wherein said programmable integrated circuit chip is capable of at least two hundred and forty (240) seconds selected audio record time;   (e) a selected second indicia that is disposed adjacent to said torso portion to further enhance the personalization effect of said figurine;   (f) a pattern sheet adapted to indicate a position of said selected second indicia relative to said torso portion;   (g) a tool that is received in said key slot and is operational for placing said cover and base into said disassembled unlocked state; and   (h) a set of operating instructions for use of said tool and said electronic audio module.   
   
   
       15 . A method for using a figurine that is capable of selectable personalization, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a doll including a head portion and a torso portion, said doll also includes a substantially rigid base that is disposed adjacent to said head portion, said base including a surrounding sidewall extending from a bottom portion to an opening, said bottom portion and sidewall of said base defining a first interior portion that is sized and configured to receive a first substantially planar selected indicia, said doll also includes a substantially rigid transparent cover including an outer peripheral portion that is adapted to be removably engaged from said sidewall opening, said cover outer peripheral portion includes a key slot, said cover having a first side and a second side, said second side forming a substantially concave profile to define a second interior portion, with said second side adjacent to said base when said outer peripheral portion and said opening are manually engaged forming an assembled and locked state for said base and cover, wherein said first interior portion and said second interior portion form a substantially rigid chamber for the first planar selected indicia to be substantially protectively and securely displayed within said substantially rigid chamber, said substantially rigid chamber is sized and configured such that the first selected indicia does not have to be attached to said base or said cover to help prevent damage to the selected indicia, as said removable engagement between said base opening and said cover peripheral portion is operational to prevent unauthorized removal of the selected first indicia from said substantially rigid chamber by requiring an independent tool to separate said base and said cover into a disassembled unlocked state to remove or replace the first selected indicia to further enhance security of said assembled state, said doll also includes an electronic audio module that is disposed within said torso portion, said electronic audio module is sized and configured such that an actuation/de-actuation control is operable exterior to said torso portion by merely squeezing said torso portion for the purpose of audio playback operation, wherein an erase control and a record control are only operable by removing said torso portion from said audio module to further prevent inadvertent erase and re-record of prior said selected audio recording, said electronic audio module is constructed of circuitry that includes a programmable integrated circuit chip, said actuation/de-actuation, erase, and record controls, a microphone, a speaker, and a power supply all contained within a common housing, wherein said programmable integrated circuit chip is capable of at least two hundred and forty (240) seconds selected audio record time, said doll further includes a selected second indicia that is disposed adjacent to said torso portion to further enhance the personalization effect of said figurine, a pattern sheet adapted to indicate a position of said selected second indicia relative to said torso portion, a tool for placing said cover and base into said disassembled unlocked state and operating instructions for use of said tool and said electronic audio module;   (b) grasping said tool;   (c) inserting said tool into said key slot and moving said tool to be at an obtuse angle in relation to said cover first side, wherein said tool is operational for placing said cover and base into said disassembled unlocked state; and   (d) selecting a photo;   (e) placing the photo into said first interior portion image side up;   (f) grasping said cover;   (g) positioning said cover second side to face the photo image side;   (h) pressing said cover manually toward said base such that said cover outer peripheral portion engages said base opening forming an assembled and locked state for said base and said cover, resulting in the selected photo being operationally protectively and securely displayed through said cover;   (i) removing said torso portion from around electronic audio module for access to said actuation/de-actuation, record, and erase controls;   (j) moving said erase control to off, said record control to record, actuating said actuation control; and   (k) speaking into said microphone to make an audio recording for up to about two hundred and forty (240) seconds and then de-actuating said actuation/de-actuation control and moving said record control to a play position.   
   
   
       16 . A method for using a figurine that is capable of selectable personalization according to  claim 15  further comprising a step of sizing the selected photo to be received in said first interior portion by using said cover outer peripheral portion as a template, wherein the photo is sized at about a one-eighth (⅛) inch less that said outer periphery. 
   
   
       17 . A method for using a figurine that is capable of selectable personalization according to  claim 15  wherein steps b through h are sequentially repeated to replace the selected photo with another selected photo. 
   
   
       18 . A method for using a figurine that is capable of selectable personalization according to  claim 15  further comprising a step of confirming said audio recording by actuating said actuation/de-actuation control and listening to said audio recording playback through said speaker. 
   
   
       19 . A method for using a figurine that is capable of selectable personalization according to  claim 18  further comprising steps of moving said erase control to on and actuating said actuation/de-actuation control and then sequentially repeating said steps I through k to record a new selected audio recording.