US3641703A

US3641703A - Animated doll responsive to mouth-inserted element

Info

Publication number: US3641703A
Application number: US22740A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sidney Tepper; Hyman P Boydman
Original assignee: TOPPER CORP
Current assignee: TOPPER CORP
Priority date: 1970-03-09
Filing date: 1970-03-09
Publication date: 1972-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-15
Also published as: GB1279596A

Abstract

The doll has electrical circuit means including one or more loads, e.g., an electric motor and/or light source, and a switch operable by an element, e.g., a nursing bottle nipple or a simulated pill, inserted into the doll''s mouth. With more than one load, a separate parallel circuit is provided for each load, and the switch, which has several positions, completes no more than one of the parallel circuits in any of its positions. The switch may be operated by a ratchet and pawl mechanism.

Description

United States Patent Tepper et al.

[45] Feb.15,1972

[54] ANIMATED DOLL RESPONSIVE TO 3,239,961 3/1966 Forkner ..46/228 MOUTH-INSERTED ELEMENT 3,136,089 6/ 1964 Gardel et al. ..46/ 141 [72] Inventors: lslgeys' dMlllllngf; gman P' Boyd' Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene p Assistant Examiner-LO. Lever [73] Assignee: Topper Corporation Aitorney-Breitenfeld & Levine 2 F'l d: Mar. 9 1970 [2 1 e [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 22,740

The doll has electrical circuit means including one or more loads, e.g., an electric motor and/or light source, and a switch U.S. Operable an element c g. a nursing nipple or a simu- [5 l] Int. Cl. A63h 33/26 lated pill inserted imo the dous mouth with more than one [58] Field 0f Search 228, 247, 141 load, a Separate circuit is provided for each load and the switch, which has several positions, completes no more [56] References cned than one of the parallel circuits in any of its positions. The

UNITED STATES PATENTS switch may be operated by a ratchet and pawl mechanism.

3,514,899 6/1970 Bonanno et a1 ..46/232 16 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures il f'w l 5 I A, 7a d? ji d) E I l'ck 9i \\l y la'a f s k:

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/0/ l T *w I 7/ 30 5 4 5 3 3l es \/5 @s 7H" ,I /00 t g4 f 1" d JZ PAIENTEDFEB 15 |912 3,641,703

y snm 1 or a INVENTORSJ SIDNEY PEPPER HYMAN F. BOYDMAN BY i ATTORNEYS PAIENTEDFEBIS 1912 3,641,703

SHEET 2 of 4 INVENTORS: SIDNEY TE PPER YMAN P. BOYDMAN ATTORNEYS PATENIEUFEB 15 |972 3,641,703

SHEET 3 UF 4 INVENTORS.' SIDNEY TEPPER HYMAN P BOYDMAN BY TToRNEYs PATENTEFEB 1S 1972 SHEET 0F 4 BNVENTORS: SIDNEY TEPPER HYMAN P BOYDMA ANIMATED DOLL RESPONSIVE TO MOUTH-INSERTED ELEMENT This invention relates to animated dolls of the type including electrical activating means.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a doll capable of simulating certain human characteristics in response to manipulation by the child playing with the doll.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a doll which exhibits symptoms of illness and which a child can nurse back to health by causing the symptoms to disappear.

However, although the invention will be described in terms ofa doll which exhibits some of the symptoms ofa sick infant, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these particular reactions, or to reactions simulating illness rather than some other human condition.

In its preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a motor in the dolls body, a light source in the dolls head, and a multipostion switch operable by a pawl and ratchet responsive to insertions of an element into the dolls mouth. Thus, insertion of a nursing bottle nipple in the mouth, followed by withdrawal, moves the switch to a position in which the motor is energized. The motor operates a crying mechanism and causes the dolls hands to rub its stomach, simulating a stomach ache. The circuit for energizing the motor includes a norm ally closed switch behind a hole in the stomach region of the doll body. A simulated hot water bottle having a stem is provided, and placing the hot water bottle on the stomach with the stem in the hole opens the normally closed switch and terminates the crying and rubbing.

Another insertion of the nipple into the mouth moves the multipostion switch to its next position in which the light source is energized, simulated a fever. The motor is also again energized causing the dolls hands to rub its forehead. Pushing a simulated pill into the dolls mouth moves the switch to its next position in which the motor and light are deenergized, resulting in the dolls recovery." Eventually, by additional insertions of the bottle nipple, the multipostion switch is returned to its first position and the simulated stomach ache reoccurs.

Additional objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a doll incorporating the present invention, the figure also showing simulated pills, hot water bottle, and nursing bottle;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the doll, partially in cross section, with the front half of the doll body removed;

FIG. 3 is a generally vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 6-8 are fragmentary vertical cross-sectional views through the dolls head, showing a switch responsive to mouth-inserted elements, and a light source; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuits for operating the doll.

The doll chosen to illustrate the present invention, and shown in the drawings, comprises generally a hollow body, including a head portion 10 and a torso portion 11, arms 12 movably connected to the torso, and legs 13 mounted on the torso in any conventional way.

Housed within the torso and head portions, 11 and l0, is an electrical activating means including, in the present example, an arm moving mechanism 14 (FIGS. 2-4) and below it a crying mechanism 15. Both mechanisms are actuated by a single electric motor 16, constituting one of the loads of the electrical activating means. Another load is a light source 17 (FIGS. 6-8) located within the head 10. Mounted against the inner surface of the torso front wall, in the stomach region of the doll, is a switch means (FIGS. 3 and 5), and below the crying mechanism 15 are two batteries 21 constituting a power source for energizing the motor 16 and light source 17. Within the head l0 is a multipostion switch means 22 (FIGS. 6-8), and suitable wiring is provided for interconnecting the switch means 20 and 22, the batteries 21, the motor 16, and the light source 17, in a special circuit relationship (FIG. 9).

A number of doll accessories are provided. Among these is a simulated nursing bottle 25 (FIGS. 1, 7 and 8) having a relatively rigid nipple 26 adapted to be inserted into a hole 27 in the mouth of the doll. A number of simulated pills 28 (e.g., aspirin tablets) are also included, each being a piece of rigid material having its largest diameter at its center and tapering toward its ends. The pills are adapted to be pushed into and through hole 27. Switch means 22 is located behind hole 27 and is actuated in a manner to be described each time nipple 26 or a pill 28 is pushed through the hole. A simulated hot water bottle 29 is also furnished. Projecting perpendicularly from one face of bottle 29 is a flat pin 30 adapted to be inserted into a correspondingly shaped slot 31 (FIGS. 1 and 3) in the front wall of torso l1. Hole 31 is located directly in front of switch means 20, and insertion of pin 30 serves to open the switch, which is otherwise closed, as will be described in more detail below.

Before proceeding further with this description, it is believed that the readers understanding of the invention will be enhanced by a recital, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 9, of the manner in which the illustrative doll is used. By way of preparation, it should be mentioned that switch means 20 includes two resilient contacts 34 (FIGS. 3, 5, and 9) which normally engage each other. Switch means 22 includes three

stationary contacts

35 and 36, and a movable contact 37 permanently connected at its center to batteries 21. Movable contact 37 rotates through 45 with each withdrawal of nipple 26 from hole 27 and each time a pill 28 is pushed through hole 27.

Two parallel electrical circuits are connected to the batteries 2l, one circuit including contact 35, a wire 38 connecting that Contact with one of the contacts 34 of switch 20, a wire 39 connecting the other contact 34 with motor 16, and a wire 40 connecting motor 16 to batteries 21. The other circuit includes one of the contacts 36, a wire 4I connecting that contact to light source 17, and a wire 42 connecting the light source to the batteries. Common to both parallel circuits are batteries 21 and movable contact 37. An additional circuit is also provided including the other contact 36 and a wire 43 connecting that contact to the side of motor 16 opposite the side connected to the batteries.

Assuming that, at the beginning of play, movable contact 37 is in the broken line position in FIG. 9, none of the circuits described above is complete, and hence the doll is at rest. Assume also that the arms 12 are in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The child then inserts bottle nipple 26 into the hole 27, to simulate feeding the doll, and thereafter withdraws the nipple. In response to withdrawal of the nipple, movable contact 37 rotates 45 in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 9, and comes into engagement with contact 3S. A circuit is thereby completed from batteries 21, through

contacts

37 and 35, wire 38, switch 20, wire 39, motor 16, and wire 40 back to batteries 21, whereupon motor 16 is energized. As a result, the doll cries and its arms move toward and away from each other making it appear that its hands are rubbing its stomach. The child can relieve the dolls stomach ache by placing hot water bottle 29 on the dolls stomach, at this time pushing pin 30 through slot 31. Pin 30, which is made of insulator material, moves between contacts 34 and opens switch 20, thereby opening the circuit energizing motor 16. Consequently, the doll stops crying and rubbing its stomach.

The child may then feed the doll again, i.e., insert nipple 26 into and withdraw the nipple from, hole 27. This causes rotation of contact 37 through another 45 movement bringing it into engagement with contacts 36. A circuit is thereby completed from batteries 21, through contact 37, one of the contacts 36, wire 41, light source 17, and wire 42 back to batteries 21. As a result, the light source is energized faintly illuminating the dolls head 10, which is formed of a slightly translucent material, thus simulating a fever.

Simultaneously, a circuit is completed from batteries 2l, through contact 37, the other contact 36, wire 43, motor 16, and wire 40 back to batteries 21, whereupon motor 16 is energized. As a result, the doll cries and its arms move toward and away from each other. lf the child has swung the arms to the position shown in FIG. 1, this arm movement will make it appear that the doll is rubbing its forehead with the back of its hands.

The child may treat the dolls illness by inserting a pill 28 into and through hole 27, causing contact 37 to rotate to a horizontal position in FIG. 9. As a result, all circuits are opened, whereupon the light source is extinguished and the motor is deenergized, simulating recovery by the doll. The child may then play with the doll by feeding it again with the bottle 25, causing contact 37 to return to the broken line position in FIG. 9, but there is no reaction by the doll since no circuits are completed in this position. However, after the next feed, Contact 37 moves into engagement with contact 35, resulting in the reaction described above, assuming hot water bottle 29 has been removed from the dolls stomach.

The various components of the illustrated embodiment will now be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 2-8. The torso portion 11 of the doll body is formed of front and back portions 11a and 11b, respectively, of rigid material joined by screws (not shown). The head portion l may be of flexible material, and is joined to the torso l1 by an outwardly projecting flange 50 (FIG. 3) at the upper end of the neck.

The arm moving mechanism 14 and crying mechanism l5 are carried by a generally U-shaped bracket having a rear central portion 51 (FIGS. 24) and two forwardly projecting parallel arms 52. Bracket portion l is formed with a depending elongated plate 53, and screws 54 passing through holes in the plate and into posts 55 integral with the back portion 1 1b of the torso secure the bracket to the back torso portion.

Motor 16 is held between the lower ends ofbracket arms 52 with its shaft 58 projecting through a hole in one of the arms, the motor shaft carrying a pulley 59 outwardly of the bracket. A pin 60 passing through holes in the bracket arms carries at one end, outwardly of the bracket, another pulley 61. A belt 62 is trained about pulleys 59 and 61 to establish a driving relationship between them. Fixed to the outer face of pulley 61 is a pinion 63 meshing with a gear 64 fixed to one end of a shaft 65, the latter being mounted for rotation by passing through holes in the bracket arms 52. Fixed to shaft 65, between arms 52 is a pinion 66 meshing with a gear 67 carried by a shaft 68 having a square cross-sectional shape. Gear 67 is rotatable with respect to shaft 68, and the latter is rotatable with respect to bracket arms 52 which support it. A cam 69 projects from each side of gear 67 and rotates with the gear. In the present example, each cam 69 has a circular cross-sectional shape but is arranged eccentrically with respect to shaft 68 about which it rotates. Thus, when motor 16 is energized, pulley 59 on the motor shaft causes rotation of pulley 61, via belt 62, which in turn causes rotation of pinion 63, gear 64, pinion 66, gear 67, and cams 69.

The arrangement just described forms part of both the arm moving mechanism 14 and the crying mechanism 15. The arms 12 of the doll are mounted on the ends of shaft 68 for rotation with that'shaft. Each arm is provided, near its upper end, with a reduced diameter groove 73, the groove being loosely accommodated within a hole 74 in the shoulder region of torso 11. The sidewalls 75 of groove 73 diverge from two diametrically opposed points of minimum spacing (FIG. 2), to two diametrically opposed points of maximum spacing, to permit pivotal movement of arms l2 in the direction of the arrows A.

The connection between each arm 12 and shaft 68 is effected by a generally cylindrical sleeve 78 (FIGS. 2 and 3) adapted to be nonrotatably received in the hollow upper end ofthe arm. Extending axially through the center of each sleeve 78 is a bore having a rectangular cross-sectional shape. Two opposite walls 79 (FIG. 3) of the bore are parallel and spaced apart a distance equal to the corresponding dimension of shaft 68. The other pair of opposed walls 80 (FIG. 2) include a neck 81 tightly gripping shaft 68 and defining a pivot axis between the shaft and sleeve 78. From neck 81, walls 80 diverge outwardly in both directions thus providing the room required to permit pivotal movement of the arms l2, in the direction A, with respect to shaft 68.

A bar or follower 82, fixed to sleeve 78, and hence to arm 12, projects inwardly from the sleeve and through an arcuate opening 83 in bracket arm 52. The free inner end of follower 82 engages the surface of cam 69, the follower being maintained in engagement with cam 69 by a resilient band 84 surrounding the follower and a guide 85 mounted on shaft 68. Consequently, when motor 16 is energized, causing rotation of cams 69, the inner ends of followers 82 move up and down, as viewed in FIG. 2, due to the eccentricity of the cams, thereby causing the arms 12 to pivot about points 81 in the direction of the arrows A. lf the arms are in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the doll will appear to rub its stomach. lf the child swings the arms to the position shown in FIG. l, this movement being permitted by the rotatable mounting of shaft 68 and the arcuate openings 83 in the bracket arms through which followers 82 pass, then rotation of cams 69 will cause the doll to rub its forehead.

The remainder of the crying mechanism 1S (FIGS. 2 4) includes a bellows 89 having a conventional air-actuated noise maker 90 at one end, mounted on the lower end of plate 53. The opposite end of the bellows 89 carries a tab 91 accommodated within the yoke-shaped lower end 92 of a lever 93, a pin 94 extending through aligned holes in the yoke and tab to pivotally connect the lever to the bellows. Lever 93 is pivotally supported on shaft 65, and above the shaft a protuberance 95 carried by lever 93 engages one of the cams 69. A tension spring 96 connecting the upper end of lever 93 to the bracket portion 51 maintains protuberance 95 in engagement with the cam. Thus, when motor 16 is energized, causing rotation of cams 69, the lower end 94 of lever 93 moves back and forth in a generally horizontal direction, in FIG. 3, causing repeated movements of air through noise maker 90 thereby simulating a crying sound.

The doll of the present example accommodates two flashlight batteries 21 (FIGS. 2 and 3) within a housing 99 formed integral with the back portion 11b of the torso and projecting forwardly therefrom. The open rear end of housing 99, through which the batteries are inserted, is closed by a removable cover 100. For the sake of simplicity of illustration, all the wires and other components ofthe circuit of FIG. 9 are not shown in FIGS. 2-8; however all these components are within the doll.

Switch means 20, shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, comprises a pair of L-shaped resilient contacts 34 screwed to a pair of spacedapart blocks 101 integral with the front torso portion 11a and arranged one on each side of slot 31. One arm of each contact 34 extends into the spacing between the blocks and due to their inherent resilience they engage each other. However, when pin 30 is pushed through slot 31, it moves between the Contact arms and opens the switch.

Switch means 22 in the head 10 of the doll (FIGS. 6-8) includes a rigid housing 97 secured to the rear of head 10 by bracket 98. The front end of the housing is connected to the front of the head 10 directly behind hole 27. Light source 17 is carried on the exterior of the housing. Within housing 97 is contact 37 mounted for rotation with a ratchet wheel 102 having eight teeth equidistantly spaced around its periphery; thus each two successive teeth are angularly spaced apart by 45. A pawl 103 carried on the inner end of a lever 104 is adapted to engage the teeth of rachet 102. Lever 104 is pivotally mounted on a pin 105, and a compression spring 106 constantly urges lever 104 in a counterclockwise direction in FIGS. 6-8.

FIG. 6 shows contact 37 in a position engaging contact 35, and pawl 103 engaging ratchet tooth 107. ln FIG. 7, bottle nipple 26 has been inserted into hole 27 wherein it engages the front end 108 of lever 104. As a result, lever 104 is pivoted in a clockwise direction, against the force of spring 106, to the position shown in FIG. 7. Note that pawl 103 has moved away from tooth 107, and into engagement with the next successive ratchet tooth 109, This causes no movement of ratchet wheel 102, and hence contact 37 remains in engagement with contact 35. However, upon removal of nipple 26 from hole 27 (FIG, 8) spring 106 pivots lever 104 in a counterclockwise direction until the upper edge of the lever strikes abutment 110. Due to the engagement of of pawl 103 with tooth 109, ratchet wheel 102 and contact 37, are rotated through 45, brining Contact 37 into engagement with contacts 36.

Pushing a pill 28 through hole 27 has the same effect as just described. The front end 108 of lever 104 is first moved upwardly, shifting pawl 103 from one tooth to the next successive tooth of ratchet 102. After the pill passes the front end 108, lever 104 is moved in a counterclockwise direction by spring 106, causing rotation of ratchet 102 and contact 37 through 45. The pill falls through a tubular extension 111 (FlG. 3). depending from housing 97, and from there through a flexible tube 112 connected at its upper end to the lower end of extension 111. At its lower end, tube 112 is connected to a hollow boss 113 projecting inwardly from rear torso potion 11b and surrounding a hole 114 in the rear torso potion. A plug 115 fits frictionally into hole 114 to close the latter. The pills accumulate within the lower end of tube 112, and may be obtained by removing plug 1 15,

The invention has been shown and described in preferred form only, and by way of example, and many variations may be made in the invention which will still be comprised within its spirit, lt is understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment except insofar as such limitations are included in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A doll comprising:

a. a body,

b. a head on said body formed with a mouth,

c. electrical activating means carried by said body, said means including:

l. an electrical load,

lI. an electrical circuit for energizing said load, arid lll. switch means forming part of said circuit, said switch means having at least two positions, said circuit being completed and said load energized when said switch means is in at least one of its positions and said circuit being open and incapable of completion, and said load deenergized, when said switch means is in at least another of its positions,

d. means responsive to successive insertions of simulated pill means into said mouth for moving said switch means to successive ones of its positions,

e. means through which simulated pill means move from said mouth into said body, and

f. an opening in said doll body through which the pill means can be recovered and reinserted into said mouth.

2. A doll as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrical activating means includes at least two separate electrical loads, and at least two parallel electrical circuits, one of said loads being in each of said circuits, and wherein said switch means in any one of its positions completes no more than one of said parallel circuits to energize its respective load.

3. A doll as defined in claim l wherein said load is an electric light source.

4. A doll as defined in claim 3 wherein said light source is located within said head to simulate a fever when said light source is energized.

5. A doll as defined in claim l wherein said load is an electric motor.

6. A doll as defined in claim 5 including a crying mechanism carried by said body, and means responsive to energization of said motor for activating said mechanism to simulate crying.

7, A doll as define in claim 6 wherein said responsive means includes a cam rotatable in response to energization of said motor, and a follower engaging said cam and operatively connected to said crying mechanism for operating the latter when said cam rotates.

8. A doll as defined in claim 5 including a limb movably connected to said body, and a mechanism carried by said body and responsive to energization of said motor for moving said limb.

9. A doll as defined in claim 7 wherein said mechanism includes a cam rotatable in response to energization of said motor, and including a follower engaging said cam and operatively connected to said limb for moving the latter when said cam rotates.

10. A doll as defined in claim 8 including a crying mechanism carried by said body, and another follower engaging said cam and operatively connected to said crying mechanism for operating the latter when said cam rotates.

l1. A doll as defined in claim 1 wherein said switch means includes a movable switch contact, and said means (d) includes a ratchet movable with said contact, a movable pawl for engaging and moving said ratchet and hence said contact, and means located in the mouth region of the doll for moving said pawl in response to insertion of an element into said mouth.

12. A doll as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for moving said pawl includes a pivotally mounted lever carrying said pawl, a portion of said lever being located immediately inside said mouth for engagement by an element inserted into said mouth, such insertion causing pivotal movement of said lever.

13. A doll as defined in claim 12 including a spring urging said lever in a direction causing said pawl to move said ratchet, said lever being moved against the force of said spring upon insertion of an element in said mouth.

14. A doll as defined in claim 1 including conduit means for guiding pill means inserted into said mouth to said opening.

l5. A doll as defined in claim 1 including an opening in said doll body, and a normally closed switch forming part of said circuit arranged within said body at said opening, said normally closed switch being operable to open said circuit upon insertion of ari element through said opening.

16. A doll as defined in claim 2 wherein said switch means has at least three positions, said switch completing one of said parallel circuits when in one of its positions, said switch completing a different one of said parallel circuits when in another of its positions, and all of said parallel circuits being incapable of completion when said switch is in a third position.

* k alt

Claims

1. A doll comprising: a. a body, b. a head on said body formed with a mouth, c. electrical activating means carried by said body, said means including: I. an electrical load, II. an electrical circuit for energizing said load, and III. switch means forming part of said circuit, said switch means having at least two positions, said circuit being completed and said load energized when said switch means is in at least one of its positions and said circuit being open and incapable of completion, and said load deenergized, when said switch means is in at least another of its positions, d. means responsive to successive insertions of simulated pill means into said mouth for moving said switch means to successive ones of its positions, e. means through which simulated pill means move from said mouth into said body, and f. an opening in said doll body through which the pill means can be recovered and reinserted into said mouth.

3. A doll as defined in claim 1 wherein said load is an electric light source.

5. A doll as defined in claim 1 wherein said load is an electric motor.

7. A doll as defined in claim 6 wherein said responsive means includes a cam rotatable in response to energization of said motor, and a follower engaging said cam and operatively connected to said crying mechanism for operating the latter when said cam rotates.

11. A doll as defined in claim 1 wherein said switch means includes a movable switch contact, and said means (d) includes a ratchet movable with said contact, a movable pawl for engaging and moving said ratchet and hence said contact, and means located in the mouth region of the doll for moving said pawl in response to insertion of an element into said mouth.

15. A doll as defined in claim 1 including an opening in said doll body, and a nOrmally closed switch forming part of said circuit arranged within said body at said opening, said normally closed switch being operable to open said circuit upon insertion of an element through said opening.