Selectable and Recordable Laughing Doll

Abstract

An electronic toy for users comprising a plurality of keys, each one of the keys corresponding to a prerecorded or downloadable audio signal such as a laugh which is played through a speaker within the toy when selected. The toy also comprises means for recording the audio input of a user to memory microchip or other electronic storage device housed within the toy. A subset of the plurality of keys corresponds to a like number of permanent non-erasable audio signals that are played through the speaker whenever one of that subset is selected. Another subset of the plurality of keys corresponds to a number of temporary re-recordable audio inputs that are provided by the user. The toy also comprises an effect dial which a user may use to alter the frequencies or other characteristic of the audio signal reproduced through the speaker.

1 . An audio toy comprising:
 a housing;   a programmable audio circuit disposed within the housing for storing and reproducing a plurality of audio signals;   an effect dial disposed in or on the housing and coupled to the programmable audio circuit;   a speaker disposed within or on the housing and coupled to the programmable audio circuit; and   a plurality of keys disposed on or in the housing and coupled to the programmable audio circuit, each key for activating a selected audio signal stored in the programmable audio circuit, the effect dial for providing a control input to the programmable audio circuit for modification of the reproduction of the selected stored audio signal.   
     
     
         2 . The toy of  claim 1  where the plurality of keys coupled to the programmable audio circuit comprises a plurality laugh keys which when activated select and cause a stored audio signal in the programmable audio circuit to be reproduced and at least one custom key which when activated select and cause a audio signal which is created by a user and stored by the user in the programmable audio circuit to be reproduced. 
     
     
         3 . The toy of  claim 1  where the effect dial comprises means for modifying the frequencies of the audio signal corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of laugh keys as it is being played through the speaker. 
     
     
         4 . The toy of  claim 1  further comprising means for providing an audio signal audibly created by a user and storing the user created audio signal in the programmable audio circuit. 
     
     
         5 . The toy of  claim 4  where the means for providing an audio signal audibly created by a user and storing the user created audio signal in the programmable audio circuit comprises a record key and a play key coupled to the programmable audio circuit. 
     
     
         6 . The toy of  claim 5  where the plurality of custom keys comprise means for selecting a corresponding slot or pre-allocated space within the programmable audio circuit and where the record key comprises means for initiating the storage of the audio input of the user to that corresponding slot or pre-allocated space within the programmable audio circuit. 
     
     
         7 . The toy of  claim 6  where the play key comprises means for initiating reproduction of the recorded audio input of the user stored in the corresponding slot or pre-allocated space within the programmable audio circuit selected by activation of the corresponding one of the plurality of custom keys. 
     
     
         8 . The toy of  claim 6  where the record key further comprises means for storing a new audio input of the user over the previously stored audio input of the user in the same corresponding slot or pre-allocated space within the programmable audio circuit. 
     
     
         9 . The toy of  claim 1  further comprising an audio headphone jack disposed within or on the housing and coupled to the programmable audio circuit. 
     
     
         10 . The toy of  claim 1  further comprising a universal serial bus (USB) port disposed within or on the housing and coupled to the programmable audio circuit wherein selected externally stored audio signals may be stored into the programmable audio circuit or a selected data stream of audio signals may be reproduced by the toy. 
     
     
         11 . The toy of  claim 1  where the effect dial comprises means for initiating at least one kind of modification of the reproduction of a selected audio signal stored in the programmable audio circuit. 
     
     
         12 . The toy of  claim 1  where the effect dial comprises means for initiating a selected one of a plurality of kinds of modification of the reproduction of a selected audio signal stored in the programmable audio circuit. 
     
     
         13 . The toy of  claim 1  where the effect dial comprises means for modifying the reproduction of a selected audio signal stored in the programmable audio circuit to create an echo effect of the selected audio signal. 
     
     
         14 . The toy of  claim 1  where the effect dial comprises means for modifying the reproduction of a selected audio signal stored in the programmable audio circuit to create modulation of a musical instrument or base sound by the selected audio signal. 
     
     
         15 . An electronic laughing toy comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 a torso portion; 
 a pair of arms coupled to the torso portion; 
 a record key disposed in one of the pair of arms; 
 a play key disposed in the opposing one of the pair of arms; 
 a head portion coupled to the torso portion; 
 a speaker disposed within the torso portion; and 
 a plurality of laugh keys disposed around the speaker on the outside of the torso portion; and 
   a programmable audio circuit disposed within the housing for storing and reproducing a plurality of audio signals, the programmable audio circuit being coupled to the record key, the play key, the speaker and the plurality of laugh keys.   
     
     
         16 . The toy of  claim 15  further comprising an effect dial coupled to the programmable audio circuit, where the effect dial comprises means for initiating at least one kind of modification of the reproduction of a selected audio signal stored in the programmable audio circuit. 
     
     
         17 . The toy of  claim 15  where the effect dial comprises means for initiating a selected one of a plurality of kinds of modification of the reproduction of a selected audio signal stored in the programmable audio circuit. 
     
     
         18 . The toy of  claim 15  where the effect dial comprises means for modifying the reproduction of a selected audio signal stored in the programmable audio circuit to create an echo effect of the selected audio signal. 
     
     
         19 . The toy of  claim 15  where the effect dial comprises means for modifying the reproduction of a selected audio signal stored in the programmable audio circuit to create modulation of a musical instrument or base sound by the selected audio signal. 
     
     
         20 . The toy of  claim 15  where at least twenty of the plurality of laugh keys each correspond to a corresponding permanent non-erasable audio signal and where at least four of the plurality of laugh keys correspond to a temporary re-recordable audio input provided by a user.