Interactive toy

Abstract

This invention relates to an interactive toy that simulates communication with a user and among other similar toys. The interactive toy interacts with the user and other similar toys. The interaction may be an auditory interaction, a physical interaction, an animated facial interaction, or other suitable interaction. The interactive toy includes a distinct personality interchangeable with a different distinct personality. The interactive toy includes a base module having a speaker, a microphone and a screen positioned within the base module. The interactive toy receives communications from the user and/or other like interactive toys and generates audible communications and/or displays graphics on the screen, which are responsive to the user and/or other like interactive toys. The interactive toy may further include lower and/or upper accessories removably attachable to the base module and creating an appearance of a human, an animal, a machine, a robot, a mythical creature, a cartoon character, a fish, or other simulateable character.

1 . An interactive toy comprising:
 a base module;   a speaker positioned within the base module and generating one or more audible speech patterns that are responsive to a user and additional like interactive toys;   a microphone positioned within the base module and receiving communications from the user and the additional like interactive toys;   a screen positioned within the base module and displaying responsive graphics to the user and the additional like interactive toys;   one or more lower accessories removably attachable to the base module; and   one or more upper accessories removably attachable to the base module.   
   
   
       2 . The interactive toy of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more lower accessories comprise a stand, shoes, clothes, legs, arms, personal accessories, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The interactive toy of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more upper accessories comprise a head, glasses, hair, hair accessories, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The interactive toy of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more upper accessories provide one of a visual access or a physical access to the screen. 
   
   
       5 . The interactive toy of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more input controls positioned within the base module. 
   
   
       6 . The interactive toy of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more upper accessories or the one or more lower accessories are arranged around the base module and allowing physical access to the one or more input controls. 
   
   
       7 . The interactive toy of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more upper accessories or the one or more lower accessories are arranged around the base module and allowing access to the microphone and the speaker. 
   
   
       8 . The interactive toy of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more lower accessories and the one or more upper accessories create an appearance of a human, an animal, a machine, a robot, a mythical creature, a cartoon character, a fish, or other simulateable character. 
   
   
       9 . The interactive toy of  claim 1 , further comprising a distinct personality 
   
   
       10 . The interactive toy of  claim 9 , wherein the distinct personality is synchronized with the one or more upper accessories and the one or more lower accessories. 
   
   
       11 . The interactive toy of  claim 9 , wherein the distinct personality is programmed into the one or more upper accessories and the one or more lower accessories. 
   
   
       12 . The interactive toy of  claim 11 , wherein the distinct personality is interchangeable with another different distinct personality by interchanging the one or more lower accessories or the one or more upper accessories. 
   
   
       13 . An interactive toy comprising:
 a base module;   a speaker positioned within the base module and generating one or more audible speech patterns that are responsive to a user and additional like interactive toys;   a microphone positioned within the base module and receiving communications from the user and the additional like interactive toys;   a screen positioned within the base module and displaying responsive graphics to the user and the additional like interactive toys;   one or more lower accessories removably attachable to the base module; and   one or more upper accessories removably attachable to the base module,   wherein the one or more lower accessories and the one or more upper accessories create a physical appearance of a human; and   wherein the interactive toy includes a distinct personality.   
   
   
       14 . The interactive toy of  claim 13 , wherein the distinct personality is interchangeable with a different distinct personality. 
   
   
       15 . The interactive toy of  claim 13 , wherein the distinct personality is programmed into the one or more upper accessories. 
   
   
       16 . The interactive toy of  claim 13 , wherein the distinct personality is programmed into the one or more lower accessories. 
   
   
       17 . The interactive toy of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more lower accessories are interchangeable with one or more different lower accessories. 
   
   
       18 . The interactive toy of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more upper accessories are interchangeable with one or more different upper accessories. 
   
   
       19 . The interactive toy of  claim 13 , wherein the distinct personality is interchangeable with a different distinct personality through wireless means, a memory device, a universal serial bus interface, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       20 . An interactive toy comprising:
 a base module;   a speaker positioned within the base module and generating one or more audible speech patterns that are responsive to a user and additional like interactive toys;   a microphone positioned within the base module and receiving communications from the user and the additional like interactive toys;   a screen positioned within the base module and displaying responsive graphics to the user and the additional like interactive toys;   one or more lower accessories interference fit with the base module; and   one or more upper accessories interference fit with the base module,   wherein the one or more lower accessories and the one or more upper accessories create a physical appearance of a human; and   wherein the interactive toy includes a distinct personality interchangeable with a different distinct personality.   
   
   
       21 . The interactive toy of  claim 20 , wherein the distinct personality is manifested through the one or more audible speech patterns. 
   
   
       22 . The interactive toy of  claim 20 , wherein the distinct personality is manifested through the responsive graphics.