US3466795A - Activating means combination for a doll - Google Patents

Description

p 6, 1969 A. FRIEDMAN 3,466,795

ACTIVATING MEANS CbMBINATION FOR A DOLL Filed March 21, 1967 FIG. 2

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M 4 ke /4M /.'/0M44/ United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 46239 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is concerned with a novel activating means combination for a doll. Briefly, the invention contemplates providing a first activating means outside of the doll and separate therefrom, which first activating means will actuate second activating means contained inside the doll, thereby causing the doll to talk or move the legs, or arms, or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates generally to action toys. More particularly, the invention relates to a doll adapted to be caused to act by magnetic coupling means.

Description of the prior art It is of course known to provide dolls that will Walk, or talk, or move their arms and legs, or the like. Generally this is accomplished by a battery driven power means located within the body cavity of the doll which activates a talking means, a walking means, or means for performing some other doll function, combined therewith as a unit and located within the dolls body cavity. It must be emphasized that combined means, i.e., power and action, are disposed within the dolls body creating numerous disadvantages. For instance, the batteries to operate the power must be frequently replaced and this poses a problem since they are often quite inaccessible and the doll must be dismantled in order to get at them. Another disadvantage is that a doll provided with a power unit and talking unit, such as a recording in a voice box, becomes quite heavy for a small child to manipulate. A still further disadvantage is that when the doll is broken by the childs rough handling, and must be thrown away, both of the activating means being located within the doll and a part thereof must also be thrown away. This becomes a rather expensive proposition. Still further, if a doll is adapted to both walk and talk, then there must be provided two separate power means for the different action means, making the doll still heavier an dmore cumbersome as well as expensive), with all of the attendant disadvantages hereinabove mentioned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It would therefore be a tremendous advantage to provide a novel combination of activating means in which a first activating means, for actuating second activating means located within the doll, is disposed outside of the doll and entirely separate therefrom, and it is among one of the principal objectives of this invention to so provide such novel means.

In accordance with the present invention there is now provided a novel activating means combination for a doll comprising a first activating means outside of the doll and separate therefrom, said first activating means adapted to actuate second activating means located within the doll, said second activating means being adapted to cause the doll to talk or move its legs, or to perform any other function.

The first activating means comprises a power unit in which is provided a motor and a battery to energize the same. Connected to the motor is a rotary drive shaft, at whose other end is provided a suitable magnet. Cooperating therewith is the second activating means which comprise another magnet connected to the end of a rotary drive shaft which is adapted to cause a recording in a voice box to play or to cause the arms or legs to move or perform some other function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the inventive combination, partially in cross-section, in the operating environment thereof, with the doll partially cut-away, and shows the embodiment in combination with a voice box for a talking doll;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGURE 1 with the power unit in mag netic coupling engagement with the drive unit;

FIGURE 3 is a front view of an annular magnet used in conjunction with the invention and shows the four poles of the magnet;

FIGURE 4 is a rear view of a doll, partially cutaway and partially in cross-section showing the invention in connection with a doll having moving legs, i.e. drive means for moving the legs.

FIGURE 5 is a view partially in cross-section taken along line 5-5 in the direction of the arrows immediately to the left of the numbers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the figures of the drawing, the power unit, i.e., first activating means, is generally identified by the numeral 10 and comprises a generally rectangularshaped casing 12 having a rear wall 14 and a front wall 16, parallel thereto, said front wall 16 is slightly longer in length than said rear wall 14 (for reasons to be hereinafter discussed) projecting at its ends 18 and 20 from opposing parallel end walls 22 and 24, respectively. Within casing 12 is provided a motor M and a battery B connected thereto for energizing said motor. Connected to said motor M is a rotary shaft 26, said rotary shaft passing through said magnet 28 at its central bore 30 and being secured thereto in smooth end relation. A switch 32 is provided with contact means 34 to the motor M and 36 to the battery B. It is understood that the switch 32, battery B and motor M are all conventionally connected so that when the switch is closed the motor operates to turn the annular magnet 28 in a rotary fashion by means of the rotary shaft 26.

Cooperating magnetically with said power unit 10, referring now specifically to FIGURES 1 and 2, is a second activating means or drive unit 40. Said drive unit is contained partially in a generally U shaped casing 42, whose upper ends of the U has right angular flanges 44 and 46, respectively, integrally extending therefrom, said casing 42 being secured to the doll 48 at the inside or internal cavity 49 of the doll at its back 50, at flanges 44 and 46. While said drive unit 40 is shown in the back of the doll, it is also clear that it can be located inside the front, as Well, although this is less desirable. Located within said casing 42 is another annular shaped magnet 52 secured to another rotary shaft 54 which emerges from said casing 42 by its narrow end 56 through a bore 58, in the bottom wall, centrally located therein. Said end 56 has connected thereto a pulley 60 which cooperates with another pulley 62 by means of pulley belt 64, said pulley 62 operating a recording (not shown) in a voice box located within the doll cavity, said voice box being aflixed also to the back 50 of doll 48 by suitable means. Such suitable means, located above the drive unit 40, shown as another U shaped member 66 having flanges 6-8 and 70 extending at generally less than 90 angles integrally with the ends of said U, said flanges 68 and 70 being secured to said dolls back, and said voice box being secured to the bottom of said U shaped member 66.

The power unit 10 and drive means 40 are defined as magnetically coupled, so that when the switch 32 of the power unit is closed, this activates the motor M which drives the annular magnet 28 in rotary fashion, rotating with the rotary shaft 26, and when as in a first embodiment, as shown by FIGURE 1, the rotating magnet 28 of power unit 10 is disposed in outside detached registry with magnet 52 of drive unit 40, this in turn causes the magnet 52 to rotate with its own drive shaft in rotating cooperation with said rotating magnet 28. Rotating magnet 52 thus drives the pulley 60 in circular fashion, which pulley 60 then drives pulley 62 by means of the belt 64, said pulley .64 thereby rotating and activating the recording in the voice box, by conventional means (not shown). Thus, the doll is caused to talk.

The power unit 10 is adapted to be held by the childs hand so that the voice mechanism may be star-ted by merely bringing the power unit into juxtaposition with the drive unit so as to establish magnetic coupling therebetween, as shown in FIGURE 2. By simply taking the power unit away, as shown in FIGURE 1 the power unit and consequently the drive unit is turned off as may be seen in FIGURE 1. It is readily seen thereby that the power unit is a separate unit entirely apart from the doll and controllable by the child at will.

As may be seen from FIGURE 2, the bosses 72 and 74 are provided projecting from the outer wall of the dolls back 50. Boss 74 is approximately in the center portion of the said back and boss 72 is approximately in the waist portion of said back (these locations are not critical). In detachably engageable association therewith are provided bores 76 and 78 passing through flanges and 18, respectively. Thus by bringing forward the power unit 10, in the direction of the arrow underneath it in FIGURE 1, the bosses 72 and 74 are caused to detachably engage in bores 76 and 78 respectively, when the power unit 10 smoothly abuts the back 50. Furthermore, when the power unit 10 is brought into such abutting relationship, this in turn closes switch 32, causing the doll to commence talking, as described above. It can easily be seen from this embodiment that the magnets of the respective units are thus accurately located in proper registry for maximum magnetic coupling and that the child need not hold the power unit 10 in the hand, because if the child becomes tired of holding the said power unit, it need only be detachably engaged as described, and be easily picked up in the hand again when desired.

The doll 48 may be comprised of any material such as plastic or cloth, or the like, the only limitation being that the body be made of a material which will not interfere with the magnetic attraction between magnets 28 and 52. Of course if this becomes the case or if closer proximity between the magnets is desired, then a suitable aperture may be put into the dolls back or the power unit casing, to expose the magnet within. The annular shaped magnets 28 and 52 are generally conventional ceramic magnets and are polarized with two sets of magnetic poles, as illustrated, for example, by FIGURE 3.

Turning now to FIGURES 4 and 5, these show the invention when utilized in connection with a drive mechanism suitable to cause the legs of the doll to move in pivotal fashion. Therein is shown a gear shaft 80 rotatably supported by means not shown, having offset arms 82 and 84 integral therewith and extending from each end of said shaft 80. A Worm gear 86 is centrally penetrated by the horizontal portion of said gear shaft 80, said Worm gear being in turn preferably centrally secured along the horizontal length of said shaft 80. Arms 82 and 84 are disposed in recesses 88 and 90 supplied in legs 92 and 94, respectively. Acting in turning relation there with is a worm 96 provided on a shaft 98 at its one end, and at the other end of said shaft there being a suitable annular shaped magnet 100. As indicated by the FIGURES 4 and 5 the entire drive mechanism is disposed within the interior cavity 49 of the doll, in the vicinity of the hips, and suitably supported, by means not shown, on the inner wall of back 50. When, as described in the embodiment of FIGURES l and 2, the rotating magnet 28 is brought in registry with magnet 100 (FIGURE 5) this causes the magnet 100 to turn in cooperation therewith, thereby turning the worm 96 on the other end of shaft 98. The worm 96 in meshing relation with gear 86 causes the gear 86 to rotate about its axis with the shaft 80 to which it is centrally secured by means of a suitable central bore, and in turn this causes the shaft 80 to rotate, thereby inducing the legs 92 and 94 to move by means of pivotal joints 102 and 104 in association with arms 82 and 84 in enlarged recesses 88 and 90, respectively, pivotal joints 102 and 104 being located in legs 92 and 94, respectively, and anchored to the doll body immediately opposite thereto.

The power unit 10 may also be aflixed to the back of a doll chair, so that when the doll is seated thereon it will be caused to perform some act that it has been programmed to perform, as it were. Similarly the power unit 10 may be fastened by suitable means to a dolls bed. It will also be noted that the rear wall 14 of power unit 10 removably overlies end walls 22 and 24 by means of short right angle flanges 14A and 14B, so that the battery B may be easily replaced.

The arrangement permits the operation of a wide variety of doll mechanisms by means of the external power unit, the ones described being for purposes of illustration only. It will also be understood that although battery operation is desirable, the motor may be activated by means of any source of electrical supply. If desired, a rechargeable battery may be employed so that the battery may be recharged during periods of nonuse of the power unit under control of an adult. It will also be understood that the power unit may be provided with manually operable switch means for activating the same.

I claim:

1. In a doll, in combination, activating means therefor comprising a first activating means and a second activating means, said first activating means being disposed outwardly of said doll and separate therefrom, said first activating means being adapted to actuate said second activating means, said second activating means being disposed within the interior of said doll, said second activating means being adapted to cause said doll to act in the manner for which it has been programmed, and wherein said first activating means comprises a power unit provided with power drive means and a source of energy therefor, a magnet being connected to said power drive means in rotary relation therewith, the energization of said power drive means causing said magnet to rotate, said energization being caused by energizing means, and wherein said power drive means comprises a motor provided with a rotary drive shaft, said magnet being secured to the end of said drive shaft, and said source of energy comprises a battery, and wherein said power drive means are energized through a switch therefor, said switch being provided with contact means to said motor and battery, the closing of said switch activating said motor, said doll being provided with means for detachably engaging said power unit, the engagement of said power unit with said doll means in detachable relation, causing said switch to be closed, said motor being resultingly activated thereby.

2. In a doll, in combination, activating means therefor comprising a first activating means and a second activating means, said first activating means vbeing disposed outwardly of said doll and separate therefrom, said first activating means being adapted to actuate said second activating means, said second activating means being disposed within the interior of said doll, said second activating means being adapted to cause said doll to act in the manner for which it has been programmed, said first activating means comprising a power unit provided with power drive means and a source of energy therefor, a magnet being connected to said power drive means in rotary relation therewith, the energization of said power drive means causing said magnet to rotate, said energization being caused by energizing means, said second activating means comprising a magnet connected to driving means, said driving means being in turn connected to programming means, said magnet connected to driving means being so disposed at a location within the interior of said doll that when said rotating magnet of said power drive means is brought to bear in magnetically coupling relation therewith, said magnet connected to driving means within said doll commences to rotate in rotating relationship therewith, thereby activating said driving means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,010,255 11/1961 Gordon 46-243 3,128,575 4/1964 Stanetzki 46-120 F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner ROBERT F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1.X.R.

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