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Holiday displays having active figurinesRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Toys, Figure Toy Or Accessory Therefor, Having Sounding Means, And Internal Mechanism To Move Figure PortionHoliday displays having active figurines description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070190894, Holiday displays having active figurines. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority from application Ser. No. 60/760,502 which is incorporated herein by reference FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to holiday displays; it relates more particularly to figurines for Halloween and most particularly as a topper for carved pumpkins or other similar objects. BACKGROUND [0003] A popular activity around Halloween is carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns. Generally, this involves carving a hole, usually in the top, in a pumpkin, extracting the insides, and carving a design, such as a scary face, on at least one side surface of the pumpkin. Normally, a candle or other light source is placed inside the carved pumpkin so that the design is illuminated, and the removed portion becomes the lid for display of the newly created jack-o-lantern. [0004] This type of jack-o-lantern suffers from disadvantages. Candles may not burn brightly or at all because of weather elements or from lack of oxygen when the lid is placed over the hole. Even if they burn brightly, the candles usually do not burn for a long time and are potential safety hazards. Other methods of illumination, such as "glow sticks", lights, etc., may not present these problems, but they usually provide illumination for only a relatively short period of time or lack the desired effect. Moreover, the appeal for a jack-o-lantern is dependent on the carved portion and, therefore, the display is limited by the carver's talent or the shape of the pumpkin. [0005] There remains a need for a creative display that is not dependent on the carver or the available surface and provides a better illumination option as a means of providing holiday entertainment. SUMMARY [0006] The present invention provides a display figurine comprising a base, a sculpture or figurine coupled to the base and means for producing light, animation or sound in response to activity in proximity to the display piece. In one embodiment, a light and a speaker are coupled with an amplifier and a sound generator so that activity causes sudden lighting along with the playing of scary sounds and possibly animation. The figurine may be various animated figures such as a spider, haunted house, skeleton, witch, etc. or it could be tombstones and the like which appear to come to life. The figurines may be animated mechanically through a motor driven line or by air from a fan. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective of a display figure in accordance with the present invention. [0008] FIG. 2A illustrates another figure in accordance with the present invention. [0009] FIG. 2B illustrates another figure in accordance with the present invention. [0010] FIG. 3A illustrates the lower surface of a base for the figure in accordance with the present invention. [0011] FIG. 3B is an exploded view of the base of FIG. 3A in accordance with the present invention. [0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic of the preferred configuration of an activation system for the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0013] FIGS. 1 through 2B illustrate various embodiments of figurines suitable for use in the present invention. The specific examples are present by way of explanation and are not to be considered as a limitation of the specific shape or appearance of a figurine. [0014] With reference to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a display 2 having a base 4 and a gargoyle 6. The base includes a motion detector 8 and a touch activator 10. The motion detector 8 acts in the known manner of responding to activity within its sensing range and the touch activator allows for selective activation of the display independently of whether the motion detector 8 is active. In this embodiment the gargoyle 6 may be of rigid material, such as a plastic, or of flexible material, such as fabric which incorporates a skeletal frame to retain a general shape. The differences in the use of these constructions will be explained more fully below. In either configuration, it is preferred to have movable illuminated eyes 12 to add to the animation of the figurine. [0015] With reference to FIG. 2A, there is illustrated another figurine usable with the present invention. In this example, it can be seen that the base 4 has a lens 18 for a light, such as a led, that provides illuminate for use in a carved object, such as a pumpkin, upon which the display is perched. The base 4 also includes legs 20 which can serve duel functions. When used in a carved pumpkin, the base 4 replaces the removed top portion and the legs 20 steady the display within the aperture. If the display is used separately, such as a center piece in a pile of candy, the legs 20 will support the display. In the figures, lens 18 is illustrated as longer than legs 20, but there is no requirement that it extend beyond the legs; however, there may be applications, such as in large pumpkin, where the ability to locate the light source deeper in the object will be desirable. [0016] Still with reference to FIG. 2A, the base 4 defines a chamber 22 which includes the working for the activation of the figurine. In chamber 22, there is a motor 24 that winds a line 25, that may be of monofilament or light metal, connected to a shaft 26 that extends through the base 4 to the fingers 27. When motion is detected or activation is selected, the motor will wind for a predetermined distance to activate the line 25 and move the finger 27, which are mounted for articulation, as show by A-B. A spring 28 is provide to reposition the fingers, however, a double acting or reversible motor could be provided if the additional expense is acceptable for the application. With respect to the figurine, the neck 28 is provided as a billow so that the figurine can move in the direction show as X-Y. The jaw 30 is hinged for movement and the top of the skull 34 may be separated from the portion 32. Movement of the skull features may be line activated as with the fingers or the motor 25 could power a fan with which to inflate the pliable skull such as is know with holiday displays. [0017] With reference to FIG. 2B, there is illustrated another figurine usable with the present invention. This figure illustrates a spider that permits a view of the stem 36 that provides a support for the figurine and the light source. The spider body 38 is supported by shaft 36 and the legs 40 are articulated for movement when the motor 25 is activated to wind the line 24. Although it is presently preferred to have the light depend from the shaft 36, it is not necessary and the light may be carried by the base 14, see FIG. 3A. [0018] With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the base includes a power switch 43 that can be selective operated to select sound, light or animation. The battery recess is electrically connected to the switch 42, for providing power to the light source 19 for downward illumination, a light source for illumination of the eyes 12, and the circuit board 50 so that features may be selected. Continue reading about Holiday displays having active figurines... Full patent description for Holiday displays having active figurines Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Holiday displays having active figurines patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Holiday displays having active figurines or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Water-discoloring drawing toy and water-discoloring drawing toy set including the same Next Patent Application: Toy vehicle Industry Class: Amusement devices: toys ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Holiday displays having active figurines patent info. 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