I had received this email earlier this year (via toys@thundercatslair.org address) and wondered if anyone had replied to it?
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Hello Group,
I am the Inventor of Tongue a saurus, a fabulous toy that I designed & prototype while working at a toy studio in Wooddale IL. US Patent # 4,778,433, and I have discovered that I currently have one sales sample, one boxed unit and a prototype tongue. After my son sent me an ebay listing for $1,800 last night (4/15/09).
The original prototype that was demonstrated to LJN had moveable articulated legs mounted on out of center cams. The one fabulous accessory that they removed
besides the legs was a reservoir for “Slime”. The slime would ooze from the canines and engulf the tongue. The picture on the box is pretty much the visuals of how
the “Slime” interacted with the tongue. Sickening… but I loved it! LJN rejected this accessory as “Slime” was a product of Mattel, and utilizing it would have been paying a licensing fee.
The original prototype utilized a cheap articulate plastic snake, and reacted quickly, with excellent extension, steering and retraction. Again this was an existing toy
and LJN didn’t want to pay any royalties. The final molded polyurethane tongue is cool looking, but clumsy by comparison. To repair the control “Wire” it’s weed whacker line held in
place in the inside by a brass rivet, and 5 minute epoxy at the tip. Red finger nail polish will conceal the epoxy. Sculpting of the head & body was done in polyester foam, covered with plaster, sanded & primed. Then a silicone prototype mold pulled from the plaster. It’s one of my many interactive toys that I invented over 15 years.
Robert McLennan
rsmconcepts@earthlink.net
R&D Made Easy[/B][/I]
If nobody has responded, I’ll shoot off a reply! 
Never saw that post and guess I should have done a forum search :eek: