Chin strap sensor for triggering control of walk-around characters

A character costume with output devices selectively operable by a performer wearing the character costume, comprising:

• a head band configured to support a head structure that is adapted for receiving a performer's head;
• a chin strap for engaging a performer's chin and retaining the head band on the performer's head;
• and
• a sensor assembly sensing movement of the performer's chin and, when the movement is sensed, outputting a sensor signal for triggering operation of the output devices,
• wherein the sensor assembly includes an elongate elastic member interconnecting the chin strap and the head band and
• wherein the sensor assembly includes a sensor sensing changes in a length of the elastic member and, in response, generating the sensor signal.

A walk-around costume system, comprising:

• a sound assembly;
• a costume head including a head band, a chin strap, and a deflection monitoring assembly monitoring movement of a jaw of a person wearing the costume head and, in response, outputting a sensor signal;
• and
• a controller processing the sensor signal and, based on the processing, generating a control signal to the sound assembly to trigger playing an audio track.

A method for controlling a walk-around costume including a head band and a chin strap for attaching the head band to a head of a performer, comprising:

• receiving a sensor signal corresponding to movement of the chin strap;
• processing the sensor signal based on a trigger definition stored in memory to identify a trigger event;
• when the trigger event is identified, generating a control signal;
• and
• in response to the control signal, playing an audio file with a sound system provided in the walk-around costume.