I am the Inventor of Tongue a saurus, a fabulous toy that I designed & prototype while working at a toy studio in Wood Dale IL. US Patent # 4,778,433, and I have discovered that I currently have one sales sample, one boxed unit, a prototype tongue, and two original. 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.
First of all a big welcome from all of us a Thundercats Lair and for taking the time to send us this amazing piece of info. Thanks so much…I have sent you an email regarding the Tongue-a-Saurus. Never expected for this type of info to come out
If I may ask…do you know anything about the Mad Bubbler, any patent information, etc.
can we see pics of any of this? actual pics not the ones from the old catalogs.
Who originally designed the Tongue-A-Saurus? 
Robert S. McKay (rsmconcepts)
Dennis R. Dahm
Robert S. McLennan
Welcome Mr. McKay (or is it Mr. McLennan ? both have the initials RSM)… it’s cool to have some one who was part of the designing team of the Thundercats toys.. now on the TCL boards :).
Thanks for sharing that information. Maybe someday Manny and the TCL Team could arrange some kind of interview with you, to share more behind the scenes process and experience of making these beloved toys.
i need some pics! i’m hungry for pics!
Question for Mr. McKay
I wonder if you’re the same Robert McKay who invented the board game “Clone?”