Method and Apparatus for Manipulation of a Toy Marionette

Abstract

A marionette toy kit is provided where the container forms a portion of a performing stage that is easily assembled by the player and where the marionette is supported by a near-invisible tether. The kit may be further configured to integrate consumer electronics that permit the player to incorporate programmed special effects or electronic media into their play in an interactive fashion, and/or to integrate personalized items with at least one component of the toy kit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A marionette toy kit comprising:
 a box, at least two posts, a marionette, a backdrop, and a tether;   wherein the box and the posts are configured to allow rigid and releasable coupling of the posts to box, and releasable coupling of the posts to the tether;   wherein the backdrop is configured to allow coupling of the backdrop to at least one of the box and the posts;   wherein the marionette is configured to allow fixed coupling of the marionette to the tether; and   wherein the posts, the marionette, the backdrop, and the tether are configured to allow storage of the marionette, the backdrop, and the tether in the box.   
     
     
         2 . The marionette toy kit of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the box, the marionette, the posts, and the backdrop comprise a personalized surface. 
     
     
         3 . The marionette toy kit of  claim 1  wherein the personalized surface comprises an adhesive material upon which a user representation is printed. 
     
     
         4 . The marionette toy kit of  claim 1  wherein the box is configured to receivingly engage a smart phone or tablet computer such that a display surface of the smart phone or tablet computer forms part of a stage. 
     
     
         5 . The marionette toy kit of  claim 1  further comprising a light. 
     
     
         6 . The marionette toy kit of  claim 1  further comprising an electronic sound source. 
     
     
         7 . The marionette toy kit of  claim 1  wherein the box, the at least two posts, the marionette, and the backdrop are fabricated from cardboard or paper. 
     
     
         8 . The marionette toy kit of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the box, the backdrop, and the posts include a reflective surface. 
     
     
         9 . The marionette toy kit of  claim 8  wherein the reflective surface is a mirror surface. 
     
     
         10 . The marionette toy of  claim 8  wherein the reflective surface is holographic material. 
     
     
         11 . The marionette toy kit of  claim 1  wherein the tether is a near-invisible tether. 
     
     
         12 . The marionette toy kit of  claim 11  wherein the near-invisible tether has a diameter of less than about 500 microns. 
     
     
         13 . The marionette toy kit of  claim 11  wherein the near-invisible tether has a diameter of less than about 100 microns. 
     
     
         14 . The marionette toy kit of  claim 11  wherein the near-invisible tether is comprised of a para-amid synthetic fiber. 
     
     
         15 . A method of personalizing a marionette toy kit according to  claim 1  comprising:
 providing image or alphabetical information to a computer, and using the computer to generate a printout suitable for coupling to at least one of the posts, the box, the marionette, and the backdrop; and 
 coupling the printout to the at least one of the posts, the box, the marionette, and the backdrop. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the printout is generated on a printer of the user. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the printout is generated on an adhesive material. 
     
     
         18 . A method of personalizing a marionette toy kit according to  claim 1  comprising:
 providing a portable display device; 
 affixing the portable display device to the at least one of the posts, the box, and the backdrop; and 
 displaying an image on said portable display device, such that the image is visible to a user of the marionette toy kit. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the portable display device is a smart phone. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the portable display device is a tablet computer.