Two part toy figurine and a toy system

A multi-part figurine comprising:

• a figurine head;
• a figurine body configured for cooperating with the figure head;
• a switch system comprising:
• an array of switches formed in the figurine head,
• an array of contact pegs in the figurine body configured for alignment with the array of switches, the quantity of contact pegs equating to the quantity of switches, the array of contact pegs including at least one peg with a cut-off profile such that when the figurine head and body are connected to each other, the peg with the cut-off profile fails to contact a switch;
• at least one electronic output component;
• a sensor for detecting movement of the toy figurine;
• a processor comprising a memory in which a number of character behaviour patterns are stored, the processor electronically connected to the at least one electronic output component, the sensor, and to the array of switches, the processor, depending on which switches are contacted by the contact pegs and in response to movement of the multi-part figurine being sensed by the sensor, configured to select a character behaviour pattern and configured for using the character behaviour pattern to provide sound or visual outputs via the at least one electronic output component;
• a reader coupled to the figurine body and in communication with the processor;
• and
• a playscape including a starter marker, a plurality of intermediate markers, and a finish marker, each marker configured to be read by the reader,
• wherein:
• the starter marker being read creates an active play mode of the multi-part figurine indicating a play activity matched to the selected character behaviour pattern;
• and the plurality of intermediate markers being read creates a progression level stored in the memory.

An interactive toy system comprising:

• an upper body part having three switches for generating a switch pattern signal;
• a first lower body part representing a first character and configured to couple with the upper body part so that the upper body part and the first lower body part form a first figurine, the first lower body part having at least one protrusion configured to selectively activate at least one of the three switches;
• a sensor coupled to one of the upper body part or the first lower body part for generating a sensor signal;
• an output element coupled to one of the upper body part or the first lower body part;
• a control module in the upper body part, the control module including:
• memory storing an instruction set and data related to a plurality of behavioral patterns;
• and a processor for running the instruction set, the processor being in communication with the three switches, the sensor, the output element and the memory, wherein the processor runs the instruction set to be operative to select one of the behavioral patterns matching the first character for controlling the output element based upon:
• the switch pattern signal created from interaction between the at least one protrusion and the three switches when the upper body part and the first lower body part are coupled together;
• and the sensor signal created from interaction between the first figurine and a user;
• a reader coupled to the upper body part and in communication with the processor;
• and
• a playscape including a starter marker, a plurality of intermediate markers, and a finish marker, each marker configured to be read by the reader,
• wherein:
• the starter marker being read creates an active play mode of the first figurine indicating a play activity matched to the selected one of the behavior patterns;
• and the plurality of intermediate markers being read creates a progression level stored in the memory.