US2932917A - Toy doll - Google Patents

Description

A. J. PATANE April 19, 1960 TOY DOLL Filed June 6, 1957 ANTHONY .J. PATANE HIS ATTORNEY United StatesPat nl :If

TOY DOLL Anthony J. Patane, Rome, N.Y. Application June 6, 1957, Serial No. 663,922 Claims. or. 46-228) This invention relates to toys and more particularly to that class of toys comprising dolls and images or representations of animals for children in the age groups of a few months to a few years.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device of this character that is attractive to small children, that is amusing to them and is of durable and simple construction. It is another object of the present invention to provide a doll having translucent features that can be made to selectively light up in a pleasing and attractive manner upon squeezing of the doll by even the youngest infant. it is another object of the present invention to provide a lighhup doll that may be actuated by squeezing on substantially any portion of the dolls body. It is. a further object of the present invention to provide a light-up doll wherein the operative parts are readily removable and extremely rugged. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a light-up toy doll that is simple and economical to manufacture and which can be actuated by the smallest child with a maximum of pleasure and amusement. These and other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out as the specification proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a doll according to the present invention showing the face in the lighted condition;

Figure 2 is a partial cutaway view showing the lighting mechanism of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a detailed cross-section of the light mechanism of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 of another embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a still further embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to Figures 1-3 the doll of the present invention is of a generally hollow configuration and made of a soft pliable rubber or synthetic material that is sanitary, easily washed, and readily compressed even by the smallest youngster. The doll may be made with or without separate arms and legs and in the embodiment shown is generally of the small kewpie doll type in which there are no separate appendages except for the head. As can be clearly seen the face 14 and particularly the eye portions 16 of the. doll are of a thinner, more translucent material than the rest of the body.

Positioned Within the doll body 12 is a light assembly 18 which comprises a light 20, a battery source 22, and associated lighting circuitry. As may be seen in Figure 3 the battery and light are mounted in a small tube 24 of insulating material with the light connected to one end of one terminal of the battery. The outer base of the light bulb is then connected to an outer'eonductive coating 26 on the battery tube 24- which covers substantially the entire outer surface thereof. The other or bottom terminal of the battery is then connected to the spring fingers 28 which in their normal position extend outwardly from the tube 24. The entire light assembly 18 is positioned within the hollow cavity of the doll body 12 by any suitable means. Advantageously this mechanism is mounted on a plug 30-which is adapted to be fitted in the bottom or foot of the doll in a hole 32 such that assembly 18 extends upwardly into the body cavity.

To light up the dolls face the body is squeezed in substantially any portion thereof until one of the spring fingers 28 is brought into contact with the conductive coating 26 on the battery tube 24. This as may be readily seen completes the circuit to the bulb through the battery causing it to light. The bulb then lights up the interior of the doll and shines out of the thinner face portion 14 and the eyes 16 giving a very pleasing appearance to the doll and an amusing and attractive characteristic for young children. As will be seen the spring fingers 28 extend throughout substantially the entire length of the body cavity 12 such that pressure or squeez ing by the child on any portion of the doll will cause the face to light. This is particularly important for very young children as they have difliculty in grasping an object and particularly would have difficulty actuating a small switch in some selected portion of the doll body. Release of pressure on the doll body will then allow the spring fingers 28 to return to their normal position breaking the circuit and turning off the light.

As may be readily understood should the bulb or battery become imparied or inoperative the whole assembly 18 can be readily removed from the doll and the necessary new part placed therein;

Referring now to Figure 5 there is shown another em bodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment the doll body 12 is essentially the same in outer configuration. However on the inner surface thereof has been placed a conductive coating 34 which may be either on the surface of the doll material or integrally formedas a part thereof. The light assembly 18' then consists only of the light 20', battery 22 and tube 24' with its outer conductive coating 26'. The body coating 34 is then connected to the other terminal of the battery and a circuit to light the light 18, is completed by squeezing of the body until a portion thereof comes in contact with the conductive coating 26'. Again pressure on almost any portion of the body will result in a circuit being com pleted to light the light and cause the pleasing and amusing effect of lighting the face and eyes of the doll for the child.

Referring now to Figure 4 there is shown another em bodiment of the present invention. The spring fingers 28 of the embodiment of Figure 1 are replaced by a spiral spring element 36 which has been found desirable for certain configurations. Here again squeezing of the doll body causes the spring element 36 to contact the conductive coating 26" to complete the circuit to the light 20" which produces the same results as in the above embodiment.

It will thus be seen that I have provided in. a simple and economical form a very delightful, amusing toy for young children.

While there are given above certain specific examples of this invention and its application in practical use, it should be understood that they are not intended to be exhaustive or to be limiting of the invention. On the contrary, these illustrations and explanations herein are given in order to acquaint others skilled in the art with this invention and the principles thereof and a suitable manner of its application in practical use, so that others skilled in the art may be enabled to modify the invention and to adapt and apply it in numerous forms each as may be best suited to the requirement of a particular use.

I claim:

1. A toy doll of the so-called squeeze type comprising in combination a hollow, flexible and resilient body portion having opaque but thin, flexible and resilient walls, a hollow head portion of generally opaque material affixed to said body portion and having therein a lighter, somewhat translucent portion adapted to represent a face, a light and switch assembly positioned in the hollow body and head portions so that light therefrom will illuminate said face portion, battery means for energizing said light assembly positioned in said hollow body, said switch assembly including a resilient contact member operatively connected to said light and mounted within said body cavity and extending throughout the major portion thereof, said contact member being positioned so as not to energize said light assembly in the normal position and configuration of said doll body and head portions and having the capability of being easilydisplaced to complete the energizing circuit therefor by simple squeezing of substantially any part of said (1011 body cavity.

2. A toy doll of the squeezable plastic or rubber type which comprises a hollow body portion, a hollow head portion communicating therewith, the wall portion of said body and head portion having a generally opaque characteristic and being resilient and flexible, at least one translucent area for transmission of light therethrough in said head portion, a light assembly including a light, switch and battery means mounted within said hollow body and head portions, said switch being operatively connected between said light and battery means and comprising at least one readily displaceable contact member extending throughout substantially the entire body portion of said doll, said contact member being positioned within said body cavity so as to normally de-energize said light and to energize said light upon inward movement of substantially any portion of said body wall where- 4 by upon squeezing of substantially any portion oftsaid doll said light is actuated and transmitted through said translucent portion.

3. A device as described in claim 2 wherein said translucent portion comprises a representation of a doll face and eyes and wherein said switch means comprises a conductive coating on the outer surface of said light assembly and a plurality of spring fingers normally extending away from said assembly but adapted to be brought int-o contact therewith by pressure upon said conductive coating on the outer surface of said light v assembly connected to the other terminal thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 458,343 Richards Aug. 25, 1891 1,454,799 Usher May 8, 1923 2,019,884 Beaumont Nov. 5, 19.35 2,696,382 Gelai'din Dec. 7, 1954 2,781,611 Bills et a1. Feb. 19, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 104,781 Austria June 15, 1926 18,781/34 Australia Nov. 4, 1935

Images