US3922813A

US3922813A - Doll with motorized legs driven in unison and arms driven in unison thereby

Info

Publication number: US3922813A
Application number: US265220A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rouben T Terzian; Marvin I Glass
Original assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
Current assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
Priority date: 1972-06-22
Filing date: 1972-06-22
Publication date: 1975-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-02
Also published as: JPS4951040A; DE2331554A1; CA988302A; GB1417894A

Abstract

An articulated driven doll including a torso with a motor means held within the torso and arms and legs movably associated with the torso with the motor means, including a driven output shaft for driving the legs of the doll and with the legs being connected to the arms for moving arms responsive to driving the legs. In addition, a head is movably mounted on the doll and associated with one of the arms for movement of the head as the arm is moved responsive to actuation from the leg.

Description

United States Patent Terzian et al. 1 1 Dec. 2, 1975 DOLL WITH MOTORIZED LEGS DRIVEN 3,283,855 11/1966 Kaplan 185/39 [N UNISON AND ARMS DRIVEN IN UNISON 3,464,154 9/1969 D1l .eva 46/120 X THEREBY 3,613,299 10/1971 Am1c1etal. 46/120 [75] Inventors: Rouben T. Terzian; Marvin I. Glass, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS both of Chicago, [IL 608,315 9/1948 United Kingdom 46/92 25059 191 1 United Kin dom 46/150 [73] Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates, g

Ch1cago, 111. Primary ExaminerF. Barry Shay [22] Filed: June 22, 1972 Attorney, Agent, or FirmCoffee & Sweeney [21] Appl. No.: 265,220

[57] ABSTRACT [52] U S Cl 46/ll9 46/l47 An articulated driven doll including a torso with a [51] 5 13/18 motor means held within the torso and arms and legs [58] Field 92 movably associated with the torso with the motor means, including a driven output shaft for driving the legs of the doll and with the legs being connected to the arms for moving arms responsive to driving the [56] References cued legs in addition. a head is movably mounted on the UNITED STATES PATENTS doll and associated with one of the arms for move- 129,622 7/1872 Tellner 46/150 ment of the head as the arm is moved responsive to 207,188 8/1878 Martin v 46/92 actuation from the [e 2,701,933 2/1955 Pearson 1 46/119 g 3,137,336 6/1964 Rassior 185/39 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,922,813

US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,922,813

ll (ii DOLL WITH MOTORIZED LEGS DRIVEN IN UNISON AND ARMS DRIVEN IN UNISON THEREBY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a doll, and more particularly to driven articulated dolls.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art The art is replete with dolls which simulate different moving functions. There are, for example, dolls that simulate walking, crawling, dancing, kicking, swimming and the like. Such dolls which go through the simulated human movements are fascinating to their possessors. Children readily identify with such movable dolls and may easily fantasize with respect to the func tions or movements being carried out by the doll.

Some such movable dolls are driven by a wind-up spring motor, others by a battery driven motor. Still others are operated by a pull string mechanism wherein a string is pulled to create stress in a return spring so that, as the return spring slowly rewinds, it drives an output shaft which may be connected to components of the doll. Examples of prior art dolls which are animated, or go throuogh articulated movements responsive to the drivingof a pull string motor are found in the Amici US. Pat. No. 3,613,299 and the Nutting US Pat. 3,603,029.

It is the object of this invention to meet the continuing need and desire in the art to provide an improved form of articulated doll which is operated by a pull string type of rewind motor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of a dool having a torso with limbs movably associated with the exterior of the torso and driven by an internal motor operated on a pull string principle.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention includes the provision of a doll having a torso or body portion within which a pull string motor is mounted. A pair of legs are pivotally secured to the exterior of the torso and are driven by an output shaft off the pull string motor. In addition, a pair of arms are pivotally connected to the exterior of the torso and are interconnected with the legs so as to be moved responsive to movement of the legs. Furthermore, the head is rotatably mounted on the torso and includes a linkage arrangement with respect to one of the arms so that the head is pivoted as the arm is rotated. The legs themselves are articulated in independent sections which move relative to each other to change the orientation of lower leg components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the toy doll of this invention; shown placed in use in an auxilliary implement, such as a rocking chair;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toy doll of this invention with the outer decorative garments thereof removed to illustrate the structure;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial section view of the structure of the toy doll of this invention;

FIG. 4 if a section view taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the drive components of the spring motor utilized with the doll of this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a section view taken generally along the line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The doll 110 of this invention includes a medial portion defining a torso 12 having a hollow interior 12a. A head 14 is movably mounted relative to the torso 12 as will be explained. The doll is normally oriented with a front and back and normally forwardly facing features such as the front face of the doll. A pair of

arms

16 and 18, terminating in

hands

16a and 18a, respectively, and a pair of

legs

20 and 22, are movably mounted relative to the torso 12. If desired, the doll 10 may be utilized with an auxilliary implement such as the rocking chair 24.

The torso 12 includes opposed generally

parallel side walls

26 and 28 and an upper shoulder cross piece 30. In addition, an outer sheet-like covering 32 spans the

side walls

26 and 28 and wraps therearound as well as the shoulder cross piece 30. The doll may be provided with decorative clothing 34 as shown in FIG. 1.

Means are provided in the interior of the torso 12 for driving components of the doll. In the preferred embodiment, this takes the form of a pull string motor continuously operable 40. The motor 40 is located within the interior 12a of the torso which affords interior walls for enclosing the components of the motor. Apertures S0 and 52, formed on a common axis, are provided in the

torso walls

26 and 28 and, in addition, an aperture 54 is also provided in wall 26 with these apertures serving to support shafts as will be identified. The motor 40 includes a spool 56 having a bore 58, including enlarged portion 58a and reduced portion 58b. The spool further includes a radial enlargement or flange 60 and another closely spaced apart flange 62. Spool 56 is slotted at 66 manually operable actuating means in the form of and a pull string 68 which terminates in a ring '70, is wound about the spool in the area between the flanges 60 and 62. String 68 extends outwardly of torso 12 through opening 73.

A torsion spring 72 is wound about the shaft 74 having an enlarged portion '76 to which the torsion spring 72 is connected. Enlarged portion 76 of shaft 74 is positioned within enlarged bore 58a of spool 56. One end of spring '72 is positioned in slot 75a of spool 56 so that spring 72 may function as a one way clutch. Shaft '74 is rotatably mounted in apertures 50 and S2 and supports a drive gear 78 and another drive gear 80 is also mounted on the shaft 74 with a pinion 82 interposed between the

drive gears

78 and 80.

Gears

78 and 80 are in meshing engagement with

pinions

84 and 86 positioned on either side of gear 88 mounted on vertically spaced shaft 90. Shaft 90 has one end which extends through aperture 54 in the torso wall 26. The other end of shaft 90 is connected to a spool 92 having a disc or flange portion 92a and a hub portion 92b. A

hollow sleeve 96 is positioned about hub portions 92 and serves as a bushing for negator spring 98.

Negator spring 98 includes a leader or tab portion 100 which is positioned within slot 66. Also mounted on hub portion 92b of shaft 90 is a spool 104 including a flange portion 106, which generally abuts flange 60 on spool 56, and a hollow sleeve portion 108 which is coaxially mounted over hub 92.

The pinion 84 has a hub extension 84a which is fixed to a governor 109 having a pair of arms 109a which may expand and retract relative to the generally cylindrical recess 110 in the torso enclosure. Thus, as the motor shafts are driven and the gears thereof rotated, the arms 109a of governor 109 will tend to expand outwardly, responsive to centrifugal force, and in so doing, will rub against the interior of the recess 110, thereby retarding the action of the motor gear train.

An arm crank 112 having a bore 112a and a downwardly opening socket 1 12b is rotatably mounted about a shoulder hub 114 of cross piece with the aid of the interposed bushing l 16. A suitable fastener, such as the screw 118, holds the arm crank, as well as an

arm

16 or 18, assembled to the remainder of the torso for movement together in unison with crank 1 12. One crank 112 also has an extension 120 which extends inwardly along the top of the torso l2 and terminates in a forked end 122.

The top of torso cross piece 30 supports an upstanding neck 124 having a reduced end 126. End 126 has a collar 128 connected thereto with the air of fastener 130. Collar 128 has a ball end 128a received in a socket 132 which is fixed in neck opening 132a of the head 14. In addition, the collar 128 includes a series of depending teeth 134, which are of a size and shape to be received in and embraced by, the forked end 122 of extension 120. Thus, as extension 120 moves to-and-fro in an arcuate path about a horizontal axis generally defined by the hub 114, this will cause rotational movement of head 14 about a vertical or upright axis by reason of the engagement between the forked end 122 and the depending teeth 134 of the head collar 128. The ball 128a and socket 132 connection of head 14 permits the head to be positioned at different angles of inclination.

Each

leg

20 and 22 is provided with three movable bar-

like sections

140, 142 and 144. Section 140 facially abuts

flat side walls

26 and 28 and is pivoted on stubs or pins 146, which extend outwardly from each side of the torso. Section 140 is rotatably connected to intermediate section 142 by a suitable fastener or rivet 148. In turn, intermediate section 142 is rotatably connected to bottom section 144, also by a suitable fastener or rivet 150. In addition, intermediate section 142 has an inwardly directed pin 152 and bottom section 144 terminates in an upper camlike surface having a shoulder 156 which abuts pin 152.

Each section 140 of each

leg

20 and 22 is provided with an elongate opening 160. Discs 162 are eccentrically mounted at each end of the shaft 74 and are rotatably driven thereby together in unison, thus moving both legs in unison to-and-fro in a front-to-rear direction. It is intended that the discs 162 would have a diameter generally equal to the distance between the sides of the elongate opening or slot 160. In addition, each disc 162 is provided with an annular groove 164 which receives a clamp ring 166 which overlies the sides of elongate opening 160.

The upper portion 140 of each leg is provided an upward extension 168 terminating in a ball or disc end 170, of a size and shape to be received in the depending socket opening 11212 of each arm crank 112.

In operation, the pull string 68 may be extended by grasping on the ring and pulling outwardly relative to the housing, which will cause the negator spring to be unwound or placed in a stressed condition. As soon as the string is released the spring will begin to exert its forces in attempting to rewind and thereby drive the gears of the system and the output shaft 74 which bears the discs 162. As the discs 162 rotate about their eccentric mounting with respect to the shaft 76, the upper portion 140 of each leg will pivot about its mounting 146 in a to-and-fro direction. This movement will also cause a to-and-fro swinging movement of the arms 16, in unison in a front-to-rear direction by virtue of the connection between the ball ends 170 and socket ends 112b of arm cranks 112. In addition, the head 14 will be rotated to-and-fro by reason of the connection of the arm crank extension with the head collar 128. The connection of the three

leg sections

140, 142, and 144 together is such that the

legs

20 and 22 will move as a unit, but that the orientation of the sections relative to each other may be changed. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the legs may be oriented with

sections

142 and 144 transverse to sections 140, so as to place the doll in a sitting position. If desired, section 144 could be bent downwardly. In the orientation, and with the doll in such an accessory as the rocking chair 24, when the motor is activited, the legs and arms will be will be driven to-and-fro, imparting a rocking motion to the rocking chair. Since the dolls legs and/or arms are positionable in abutment with portions of the rocking chair (e.g., the leg portions 142 in abutment with the seat portion of the rocking chair), the torso will move relative thereto shifting the center of gravity of the entire assembly in a to and fro manner to effect the rocking motion. It is contemplated that other accessories could be provided which would respond to the to-andfro motion of the arm and legs.

The bar-like configuration of the leg portions bear against the

parallel side walls

26 and 28 of the torso 12 and are held in a vertical plane by the clamping action exerted by the annular ring 166 so that rotation of the eccentrically mounted discs 162 in the elongate slot will result in to-and-fro movement of the leg portions 140 relative to generally horizontal axis. The same movement will be imparted to the arms except that as the leg portions 140 are swung forwardly, the

arms

16 and 18 will be swung rearwardly. This movement is resultant from the rotation of a single shaft 74 responsive to the driving forces imposed thereon through a gear train which is part of a pull string motor. The torso 12 which houses the motor can be a basic unit to which different driven limbs or accessories may be connected and driven off the shaft 74 and the eccentrically mounted discs 162.

The doll of this revision is particularly suited for use as a so called miniature or small doll. The structural arrangement of the articulated arms or legs and the driving mechanism therefor is of such basic simplicity so as to facilitate reduction in size of the components. It is envisioned that the basic doll housing and limbs could be enveloped within different outer garment arrangements so as to simulate persons of different nationalities or characteristics.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. An articulated movable doll having normally forwardly facing directional features, comprising:

means defining a doll torso having an interior;

a pair of simulated legs pivotally connected to said torso for rotation about a first axis extending generally side-to-side of said torso generally transverse to said forward direction;

a pair of simulated arms pivotally connected to said torso for rotation about a second axis extending side-to-side generally through the shoulder areas of the doll;

means connecting said arms to said legs so as to be driven thereby together in unison in a front-to-rear to-and-fro articulated motion relative to said torso generally transverse to said second axis;

motorized continuously operably drive means in said torso interior including an output shaft connected to said legs for driving said legs in unison in a frontto-rear to-and-fro plural cyclical articulated motion relative to said torso generally transverse to said first axis in response to actuation of said drive means so as to provide a continuous rocking motion between the doll torso and the arms and legs of the doll; and

manually operable actuating means to initiate operation of said motorized drive means to rockingly move said arms and legs relative to the torso continuously during operation of the motorized drive means.

2. The doll of claim 1 wherein the torso supports a head which is movably mounted thereon and wherein at least one of the arms has an extension which terminates adjacent to the head and wherein the head is further provided with an extension, with said head extension intersecting the path of travel of said one arm extension when the arm is moved, whereby when said shaft is driven to drive said leg which, in turn drives said one arm, said one arm also will impart movement to said head.

3. The doll of claim 1 wherein said arms and legs pivot generally about parallel axes.

4. The doll of claim 1 wherein each arm has a depending socket and each leg has an upstanding extension including a portion which resides in the arm socket for imparting movement to said arm responsive to movement of the respective leg.

5. The doll of claim 1 wherein the drive means comprises a spring motor including a pull string and one way clutch means for stressing the spring motor by pulling on the pull string,

6. The doll of claim 1 wherein said arms are connected to said legs so that said arms are driven by said legs in a to-and-fro articulated motion opposite the toand-fro articulated motion of said legs.

7. An articulated movable doll having normally forwardly facing directional features, comprising:

means defining a doll torso having an interior;

drive means in said torso interior;

a pair of simulated legs pivotally connected to said torso for rotation about a first axis extending generally side-to-side of said torso generally transverse to said forward direction, said legs being jointed so as to have upper and lower portions, the upper portions being pivotally connected to said torso and drivingly connected to said drive means, said lower portions being pivotally connected to the upper portions and thereby being capable of being pivoted forwardly relative to said torso and upper portions so that said doll may be placed on a supporting surface in a sitting orientation, whereby said torso is capable of moving in a front-to-rear to-andfro articulated motion when said leg portions are maintained stationary;

means connecting said arms to said legs so as to be driven thereby together in unison in a front-to-rear to-and-fro articulated motion relative to said torso generally transverse to said second axis; and

said drive means in said torso interior including an output shaft connected to said legs for driving said legs in unison in a front-to-rear to-and-fro plural cyclical articulated motion relative to said torso generally transverse to said first axis in response to actuation of said drive means so as to provide a continuous rocking motion between the doll torso and the arms and legs of the doll.

Claims

1. An articulated movable doll having normally forwardly facing directional features, comprising: means defining a doll torso having an interior; a pair of simulated legs pivotally connected to said torso for rotation about a first axis extending generally side-to-side of said torso generally transverse to said forward direction; a pair of simulated arms pivotally connected to said torso for rotation about a second axis extending side-to-side generally through the shoulder areas of the doll; means connecting said arms to said legs so as to be driven thereby together in unison in a front-to-rear to-and-fro articulated motion relative to said torso generally transverse to said second axis; motorized continuously operably drive means in said torso interior including an output shaft connected to said legs for driving said legs in unison in a front-to-rear to-and-fro plural cyclical articulated motion relative to said torso generally transverse to said first axis in response to actuation of said drive meAns so as to provide a continuous rocking motion between the doll torso and the arms and legs of the doll; and manually operable actuating means to initiate operation of said motorized drive means to rockingly move said arms and legs relative to the torso continuously during operation of the motorized drive means.

5. The doll of claim 1 wherein the drive means comprises a spring motor including a pull string and one way clutch means for stressing the spring motor by pulling on the pull string.

6. The doll of claim 1 wherein said arms are connected to said legs so that said arms are driven by said legs in a to-and-fro articulated motion opposite the to-and-fro articulated motion of said legs.

7. An articulated movable doll having normally forwardly facing directional features, comprising: means defining a doll torso having an interior; drive means in said torso interior; a pair of simulated legs pivotally connected to said torso for rotation about a first axis extending generally side-to-side of said torso generally transverse to said forward direction, said legs being jointed so as to have upper and lower portions, the upper portions being pivotally connected to said torso and drivingly connected to said drive means, said lower portions being pivotally connected to the upper portions and thereby being capable of being pivoted forwardly relative to said torso and upper portions so that said doll may be placed on a supporting surface in a sitting orientation, whereby said torso is capable of moving in a front-to-rear to-and-fro articulated motion when said leg portions are maintained stationary; a pair of simulated arms pivotally connected to said torso for rotation about a second axis extending side-to-side generally through the shoulder areas of the doll; means connecting said arms to said legs so as to be driven thereby together in unison in a front-to-rear to-and-fro articulated motion relative to said torso generally transverse to said second axis; and said drive means in said torso interior including an output shaft connected to said legs for driving said legs in unison in a front-to-rear to-and-fro plural cyclical articulated motion relative to said torso generally transverse to said first axis in response to actuation of said drive means so as to provide a continuous rocking motion between the doll torso and the arms and legs of the doll.