Animated motile figurine

Abstract

A system and method for an entertainment system for a young child that includes a motile figurine with self-centering anti-tumbling design that produces an intentionally non-simulation of animal motion that is comical and cartoonish.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
         1 . A motile figurine, comprising:
 a motile framework including a plurality of segments, each said segment including at least one section and a spring coupler wherein said motile framework defines a set of legs, each leg including a foot, collectively defining an angle of attack with respect to a play surface supporting the motile framework, said angle of attack configured to resist tipping of the motile framework as it moves over the play surface; and   a façade surrounding said motile framework;   wherein motion of said motile framework over said play surface selectively engages and disengages said feet with said play surface inducing a bouncing, anti-tipping motion and vibration in non-foot sections of the motile framework.   
     
     
         2 . A method for animating a motile figurine, comprising:
 a) pulling a motile framework over a play surface, said motile framework including a plurality of segments, each said segment including at least one section and a spring coupler wherein said motile framework defines a set of legs, each leg including a foot, collectively defining an angle of attack with respect to a play surface supporting the motile framework, said angle of attack configured to resist tipping of the motile framework as it is pulled over said play surface;   b) engaging and disengaging chaotically, in response to said pulling step a) one or more of said feet with respect to said play surface inducing both an anti-tumbling, anti-tip bounce in said motile framework and a vibration in one or more components of said motile framework.   
     
     
         3 . A motile figurine, comprising:
 a motile framework including a plurality of segments, each said segment including at least one section and a spring coupler wherein said motile framework defines a set of legs, each particular leg of said set of legs including a foot and a spring coupling said foot to said particular leg, said set of legs collectively defining an angle of attack for said motile framework with respect to a play surface supporting the motile figurine, said angle of attack configured to resist tipping of the motile framework as it moves over the play surface.   
     
     
         4 . The motile figurine of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a façade surrounding said motile framework; 
 wherein motion of said motile framework over said play surface selectively engages and disengages said feet with said play surface inducing a bouncing, anti-tipping motion and vibration in non-foot sections of the motile framework. 
 
     
     
         5 . The motile figurine of  claim 3  wherein said plurality of segments includes:
 a forward segment having a first body member including a first shoulder including a first pair of arms and a rearward facing core spine coupler, a first pair of feet, and a first pair of springs coupling said first pair of feet to said first pair of arms; 
 a rearward segment having a second body member including a second shoulder including a second pair of arms and a forward facing core spine coupler, a second pair of feet, and a second pair of springs coupling said second pair of feet to said second pair of arms; and 
 a core spine spring coupling said rearward facing core spine coupler to said forward facing core spine coupler. 
 
     
     
         6 . The motile figurine of  claim 5  wherein said first pair of arms and spring coupled feet define a first pair of tilted legs, each particular leg of said first pair of tilted legs tilted forward a first forward angle relative to said rearward facing core spine coupler, and each particular leg of said first pair of tilted legs tilted outward a first outward angle relative to said rearward facing core spine coupler, and wherein said second pair of arms and spring coupled feet define a second pair of tilted legs, each particular leg of said second pair of tilted legs tilted forward a second forward angle relative to said rearward facing core spine coupler, and each particular leg of said second pair of tilted legs tilted outward a second outward angle relative to said rearward facing core spine coupler. 
     
     
         7 . The motile figurine of  claim 6  wherein outward angles are equal and wherein said forward angles are different from said outward angles. 
     
     
         8 . The motile figurine of  claim 7  wherein said outward angles are about 60 degrees, wherein said first forward angle is about 60 degrees, and wherein said second forward angle is about 75 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The motile figurine of  claim 5  wherein each said arm of said first shoulder includes a V-shaped arm portion coupled to said rearward facing core spine and wherein each said arm of said second shoulder includes a V-shaped arm portion coupled to said forward facing core spine. 
     
     
         10 . The motile figurine of  claim 6  wherein each said arm of said first shoulder includes a V-shaped arm portion coupled to said rearward facing core spine and wherein each said arm of said second shoulder includes a V-shaped arm portion coupled to said forward facing core spine. 
     
     
         11 . The motile figurine of  claim 7  wherein each said arm of said first shoulder includes a V-shaped arm portion coupled to said rearward facing core spine and wherein each said arm of said second shoulder includes a V-shaped arm portion coupled to said forward facing core spine. 
     
     
         12 . The motile figurine of  claim 8  wherein each said arm of said first shoulder includes a V-shaped arm portion coupled to said rearward facing core spine and wherein each said arm of said second shoulder includes a V-shaped arm portion coupled to said forward facing core spine. 
     
     
         13 . The motile figurine of  claim 5  wherein said first pair of arms have a first breadth and wherein said second pair of arms have a second breadth greater than said first breadth. 
     
     
         14 . The motile figurine of  claim 6  wherein said first pair of arms have a first breadth and wherein said second pair of arms have a second breadth greater than said first breadth. 
     
     
         15 . The motile figurine of  claim 12  wherein said first pair of arms have a first breadth and wherein said second pair of arms have a second breadth greater than said first breadth.