WO1992021416A1 - Skating doll having linear wheeled skates - Google Patents

Abstract

A skating doll (10) includes a torso (11) supporting a pivotal head (13) and a pair of pivotal arms (14, 15). The doll further includes a pair of legs pivotally secured to the doll torso and having articulated knee joints (19, 22) defined therein. A pair of linear wheeled skates (30, 40) are supported upon the doll's feet (18, 23) in a pivotal attachment. Each skate is spring-biased (162, 192) to an outward tilt in the absence of weight upon the skate. A parallelogram coupling arrangement (157/151/150/154, 180/173/170/200) extends from the motor driven leg crank mechanisms to the articulated knee joints to maintain the horizontal orientation of the linear skates throughout leg motion.

Description

SKATING DOLL HAVING LINEAR WHEELED SKATES

SPECIFICATION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to skating dolls and particularly to those powered by electric motor drives.

Background of the Invention

Through the years a virtually endless variety of dolls replicating human infants or human characters have been created by practitioners in the art. Such dolls have varied in complexity from simple passive dolls to dolls which are animated and include a plurality of articulated limbs and other body parts. Among animated dolls, the structures provided have included animated dolls which are powered by internal spring powered or "wind-up" power sources. In addition, animated dolls having internally supported battery power sources and electric motor drives have been provided to increase the realism and operative character of animated dolls.

In providing animated dolls either wind-up or battery electric powered, practitioners in the art have provided dolls which undergo a wide variety of motions and activities. The activities provided have included dolls which provide simple motion such as kicking or moving their arms to dolls having more complex motions such as crawling, walking, skating and the like. The mechanisms provided for walking dolls have been required to meet substantial challenges in that the doll motion must include the provision of appropriate balance maintenance as the figure or doll attempts to remain upright during the walking activity.

Perhaps the most challenging of the animated dolls are those which provide a roller skating action. Dolls providing roller skating action are subject to all of the critical motion and balance criteria of walking dolls together with the additional complexities involved in the roller skating activity. Since practical limitations of cost restrict the complexity of such skating dolls, practitioners have been challenged to provide skating actions which do not require the extremely complex and delicately controlled balancing actions which a human utilizes to carry forward the skating activity. Thus, in addition to the functional requirements imposed upon roller skating dolls and the like, an additional challenge is found in providing a skating doll in which the skating motion is realistic in appearance. This involves the provision of leg motion which moves the doll forward upon the roller skates as well as coordinated arm and head motions which impart realistic appearance to the skating doll action.

For many years, virtually all roller skates popularly used comprised a skating shoe having a supporting undersurface to which a quartet of rolling wheels were arranged in a rectangular configuration. Correspondingly, skating dolls utilized a similar roller skate structure which provided a stable platform for each leg to support the doll's weight during the skating action. In recent years, however, a different roller skate has emerged in the marketplace in which a plurality of rolling wheels are arranged along a common line or linear arrangement. These linear wheeled roller skates do not provide the stable platform available in the conventional roller skate structure and thus their use in skating dolls presents an increased challenge for practitioners in the art seeking to provide a roller skating doll which utilizes such linear wheeled skates.

U.S. Patent 4,507,098 issued to Terzian, et al. sets forth a SKATING DOLL WITH LEGS HAVING ANGLED PIVOT AXES in which a doll includes a torso upon which a head is pivotally mounted and a pair of legs are pivotally coupled thereto. The axis of rotation of one leg is angled with respect to the axis of rotation of the other leg such that each leg swings with respect to the torso from a rearward outward position to a forward inward position. The legs include outwardly turned feet supported atop rollers oriented to move in a forward direction in response to the inwardly and forwardly directed force provided by the other leg. Each leg moves out of synchronism with the other leg and the head is powered for side to side movement such that the weight is positioned upon the forwardly moving leg. An internal spring driven wind-up motor is supported within the doll torso and is operative through gear coupling and cam mechanisms to provide leg and head motions for the doll.

While the prior art devices have provided some success in achieving skating dolls, there remains a continuing need in the art for evermore active and realistic appearing skating dolls.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved skating doll. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved skating doll which includes an internal battery powered drive mechanism and which provides precise balance control and realistic motion. It is a still more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved skating doll which accommodates roller skates having linearly arranged wheel sets.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a skating doll comprising: a torso having an interior cavity therein; a neck support pivotally secured to said torso; a pair of arms pivotally secured to said torso; a pair of legs pivotally secured to said torso defining articulated knee joints and feet; a pair of linear wheeled skates secured to said feet; parallelogram coupling means coupled to said knee joint maintaining a generally horizontal position of said skates during leg motion; and motor drive means within said interior cavity for moving said legs to alternately raise and lower said skates to propel said doll forwardly.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which:

Figure 1 sets forth a front view of a skating doll constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 sets forth a partially sectioned view of a skating doll constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 sets forth a side section view of a skating doll constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 4 sets forth an exploded view of the present invention skating doll.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Figure 1 sets forth a front view of a skating doll constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral 10. Skating doll 10 includes a torso 11 defining a neck 12 which supports a head 13. A pair of arms 14 and 15 are pivotally secured to torso 11 by means set forth below in greater detail. Doll 10 further includes a thigh 16 pivotally secured to torso 11 by means set forth below and a shin 17 supporting a foot 18 coupled to thigh 16 at a knee joint 19. A linear skate 30 is coupled to foot 18 and includes an outer skate frame 31 and an inner skate frame 32 arranged in a parallel arrangement. A plurality of rolling wheels 35, 36, 37 and 38 (better seen in Figure 4) are coupled to and supported by skate frames 30 and 31 in a linear arrangement. Skating doll 10 further includes a thigh 20 pivotally coupled to torso 11 by means set forth below in greater detail and a shin 21 which supports a foot 23 and which is coupled to thigh 20 at a knee joint 22. A linear skate 40 is secured to the underside of foot 23 and includes an outer skate frame 41 and inner skate frame 42 in a parallel arrangement. A plurality of wheels 45, 46, 47 and 48 (better seen in Figure 4) are secured to skate frames 41 and 42 in a linear arrangement.

In operation and by means set forth below in greater detail, skating doll 10 is operated in response to an internal power supply and electric motor drive by which thighs 16 and 20 are sequentially moved to raise and lower knees 19 and 22 to produce a skating motion. Concurrently, by means also set forth below in greater detail, arms 14 and 15 as well as head 13 are moved in response to the internal electric motor drive to provide coordinated skating motions. In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention described below in greater detail, knees 19 and 22 are coupled to shins 17 and 21 respectively in a manner which provides a raising and lowering motion for feet 18 and 23 and linear skates 30 and 40 respectively in which the horizontal arrangement of skates 30 and 40 is generally maintained despite the motion of thighs 16 and 20 and shins 17 and 21. Thus, in its intended operation, skating doll 10 alternates a raising and lowering motion of thighs 16 and 20 and bending of knees 19 and 22 to alternatively advance skates 30 and 40 in an alternating forwardly moving arrangement. Concurrently, head 13 is moved to provide a coordinated motion with arms 14 and 15 which enhances the realistic appearance of the action of skating doll 10.

In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention set forth below in greater detail, linear skates 30 and 40 are pivotally secured to feet 18 and 23 respectively and are spring-biased to tilt outwardly when raised from contact with the skating surface. Thus, as foot 18 is raised due to the pivotal motion of thigh 16, linear skate 30 pivots outwardly with respect to foot 18. When foot 18 is returned to the skating surface and the weight of doll 10 is transferred to foot 18, linear skate 30 pivots inwardly to the position shown in Figure 1. Similarly, as foot 23 is raised from the skating surface, linear skate 40 pivots outwardly with respect to foot 23 until skate 40 is returned from contact with the skating surface and the weight of doll 10 is transferred to foot 23. Upon the weight transferred to foot 23, linear skate 40 pivots inwardly and returns to the position shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to Figures 2, 3 and 4 concurrently, skating doll 10 includes a front torso half 73 and a rear torso half 72 which are mated to form torso 11 (seen in Figure 1) . Rear torso half 72 defines a battery compartment 100 having a battery door 101 attachable thereto. A pair of connectors 74 and 75 are received within and secured to battery compartment 100 and provide electrical connections for conventional batteries received within compartment 100 and used to power skating doll 10. A neck support 50 formed of a metal or other rigid material defines a pair of support bosses 43 and 54 and a switch bracket 52. Neck support 50 further defines a pin 51. By conventional attachment means, neck support 50 is secured to rear torso half 72 by conventional fasteners passed through bosses 53 and 54. Neck crank 60 formed of a metal or other rigid material defines an elongated planar member having a pair of forwardly extending notches 62 and 63 at either end thereof. Neck crank 60 further includes a boss 61 which is coupled to neck support 50 in alignment with pin 51. Neck crank 60 further defines an aperture 55 adjacent notch 63. Front neck housing 71 and rear neck housing 70 form half portions and are mateable to form a neck housing. Neck housings 70 and 71 are secured to neck support 50 in a pivotal attachment and are pivotable about aperture 56 in neck support 50 by a pin 86. A second pin 85 passes through front neck housing 71 and is received within aperture 57 in neck crank 60. An elongated head driver 80 defines an aperture 81 which is secured to aperture 55 of neck crank 60 by a pin 82. Head driver 80 extends downwardly in a general vertical direction and defines a slot 84 and a pin 83 at its other end. A pair of arm housings 90 and 94 define generally cylindrical members which are received within and secured in the shoulder portions of torso halves 72 and 73. Housings 90 and 94 define a pair of inwardly extending pins 92 and 95 which are received within notches 63 and 62 of neck crank 60 respectively. Arm 14 defines an aperture 91 which is received upon arm housing 90 while arm 15 defines an aperture 93 which is received upon arm housing 94. Thus, arms 14 and 15 are pivotally coupled to torso halves 72 and 73 and are operatively coupled to neck crank 60 by pins 92 and 95.

A rear motor housing 110 and a front motor housing 111 provide half portions of a motor housing which are received within torso halves 72 and 73 in accordance with a conventional attachment fabrication. The motor housing formed by rear housing 110 and front housing 111 defines a pair of internal channels 114 and 115 and a pair of outwardly extending pins 112 and 113. An electric motor 131 is supported within the interior of motor housings 110 and 111 in a general vertical orientation by a pair of support members 132 and 133. A worm gear 134 is coupled to motor 131 and rotatable therewith. A driven gear 135 and a pair of gear clusters 136 and 138 are operatively supported within housings 110 and 111 by a pair of shafts 137 and 130. Driven gear 135 is directly coupled to worm gear 134 and to shaft 130 by gear 136 and gear 138. A right leg crank 120 defines an aperture 122 which is received upon and secured to one end of shaft 130 and which defines an outwardly extending crank pin 121. A left leg crank 125 defines a center aperture 127 which is received upon and secured to shaft 130. Crank 125 further defines an internal cam 128 and an outwardly extending pin 126. Slot 84 of head driver 80 is received upon shaft 130 and pin 83 of head driver 80 is received within left leg crank 125 and is coupled to cam 128. Thus, rotation of motor 131 in accordance with conventional motor operation rotates worm gear 134 which is coupled by gear 135 to gears 136 and 138 to rotate shaft 130. The rotation of shaft 130 rotates leg cranks 120 and 125. The rotation of leg crank 125 in turn causes head driver 80 to reciprocate in a vertical motion which in turn pivots neck crank 60 causing neck housings 70 and 71 to pivot back and forth. In addition, the pivotal motion of neck crank 60 is coupled to arms 14 and 15 by notches 63 and 62 together with pins 92 and 95 of arm housings 90 and 94 respectively.

Outer thigh 150 and inner thigh 151 form mateable thigh portions which, when combined, form thigh 16. Inner thigh 151 defines a rectangular aperture 152 and a curved slot 153. A thigh driver 154 defines a rectangular box member 155 which is received within aperture 152 of inner thigh 151. Driver 154 further defines an upwardly extending slot arm 156 which is coupled to pin 121 of right leg crank 120. A shin driver 157 forms an elongated arm member having apertures 158 and 159 at each end thereof. Aperture 158 is received upon pin 112 of rear motor housing 110. Inner thigh 151 and outer thigh 150 are coupled to motor housings 110 and 111 such that spotted arm 156 receives pin 121 of leg crank 120 and pin 112 extends through curved slot 153 of inner thigh 151.

Outer shin portions 160 and 161 form mateable members which together comprise shin 17. Inner shin 161 defines an inwardly extending pin 165 which is received within aperture 159 of shin driver 157. A pin 149 is coupled to inner thigh 151 at a raised boss 144 and to a similar boss defined in outer thigh 150 (not shown) . Shaft 149 passes through apertures 145 and 146 of inner shin 161 and outer shin 160 to complete a pivotal attachment therebetween. A linear skate 30 includes a pair of elongated skate frames 31 and 32 which support a plurality of wheels 35 through 38 in a linear arrangement. Skate frame 31 defines an upwardly extending flange 163 which captivates a spring 162 within motor shin 160. A slot 165 defined in the bottom surface of inner shin 161 facilitates the pivotal motion of linear skate 30 described above. Thus, in accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, linear skate 30 is pivotally secured to foot 18 within outer shin 160 and inner shin 161 and is biased by spring 162 acting against flange 163 to tilt linear skate 30 outwardly in the absence of the placing of weight upon foot 18 (seen in Figure 1) . In a similar manner, thigh 20 is formed by the combination of outer thigh 200 and inner thigh 170. Inner thigh 170 defines a rectangular aperture 171 in a curved slot 172. Thigh driver 173 is supported within aperture 171 such that slotted arm 175 is received upon pin 126 of left leg crank 125. Inner thigh 170 and outer thigh 120 are secured to motor housing 110 such that pin 113 extends through curve slot 172. A shin driver 180 having an aperture 181 at one end and an aperture 182 at the other end is received within outer thigh 200 and inner thigh 170 such that aperture 181 is received upon pin 113. Inner shin 190 and outer shin 191 combine to form shin 121 and foot 23 (seen in Figure 1) and enclose and support a linear skate 40. Outer thigh 200 defines an aperture 201 while inner thigh 170 defines a similar aperture (not shown) . Outer shin 191 and inner shin 190 define apertures 202 and 204 which receive shaft 203 and provide pivotal attachment between shin 21 and thigh 20. Linear skate 40 includes an outer skate frame 41 and an inner skate frame 42. Outer skate frame 41 defines an upwardly extending flange 193 which captivates a spring 192 within outer shin 191.. A plurality of wheels 45 through 48 are received between and supported by skate frames 41 and 42 in a linear arrangement. As described above, linear skate 40 is pivotally secured to foot 23 and is biased by spring 192 such that skate 40 tilts outwardly in the absence of weight upon foot 23.

In operation, as motor 131 turns worm gear 134, driven gear 135 and gears 136 and 138 to rotate leg cranks 120 and 125, slot arms 156 and 175 of thigh drivers 154 and 173 cooperate therewith to provide pivotal motion of thigh drivers 154 and 173 with respect to motor housings 110 and 111. This pivotal motion is coupled to inner thighs 151 and 170 respectively causing thighs 16 and 20 of doll 10 to undergo corresponding pivotal motions. As described above, as thigh 16 is pivoted upwardly with respect to torso 11 (seen in Figure 1) , shin 17 formed by outer shin 160 and inner shin 161 is raised upwardly which in turn lifts linear skate 30 away from the support surface upon which doll 10 is resting. The coupling mechanism provided by shin driver 157, inner thigh 151, outer thigh 150 and thigh driver 154 forms a parallelogram coupling mechanism which maintains the general vertical position of inner shin 161 and outer shin 160. Correspondingly, skate 30 is maintained in a general horizontal orientation as leg crank 120 pivots thigh 16 with respect to torso 11 to sequentially lift and lower shin 17 and skate 30 with respect to torso 11. Concurrently, as weight is removed from skate 30, spring 162 acts upon flange 163 to tilt skate 30 outwardly. As thigh 16 pivots downwardly returning skate 30 to contact with the support surface, skate 30 pivots inwardly to a generally vertical position overcoming the force of spring 162.

In a similar manner, the rotation of left leg crank 125 causes thigh 20 formed by outer thigh 200 and inner thigh 170 to pivot with respect to torso 11 causing shin 21 formed by outer shin 191 and inner shin 190 to be lifted from the support surface upon which doll 10 is resting. Shin driver 180, thigh driver 173, inner thigh 170 and outer thigh 200 form a similar parallelogram coupling which maintains the generally vertical orientation of inner and outer shins 190 and 191 described above. Correspondingly, linear skate 40 is maintained in a generally horizontal orientation as thigh 20 is pivoted raising and lowering shin 21. As is also described above, each time the weight of doll 10 is removed from skate 40 by the pivotal motion of thigh 20, spring 192 tilts skate 40 outwardly until weight is again returned to foot 23 overcoming the force of spring 192 and returning skate 40 to the generally vertical position shown in Figure 1.

Thus, the leg actions of skating doll 10 are carried forward under the power of motor 131 causing thighs 16 and 20 to be sequentially raised and lowered which in turn sequentially raises and lowers shins 17 and 21. In accordance with the above-described parallelogram couplings at knees 19 and 22, shins 17 and 21 remain generally vertical during leg motion which in turn maintains skates 30 and 40 in a generally horizontal orientation through the leg motion of skating doll 10.

What has been shown is an improved skating doll which accommodates linear wheeled skates and which utilizes articulated knees and complex leg motion to maintain the skating doll's balance and propel the skating doll forwardly under the power of an internal battery-powered electric motor drive. The arms and head of the skating doll are moved in the proper sequence under electric motor power to provide realistic arm and head motion and further enhance realism.

Claims

THAT WHICH IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A skating doll comprising:

a torso having an interior cavity therein;

a neck support pivotally secured to said torso;

a pair of arms pivotally secured to said torso;

a pair of legs pivotally secured to said torso defining articulated knee joints and feet;

a pair of linear wheeled skates secured to said feet;

parallelogram coupling means coupled to said knee joint maintaining a generally horizontal position of said skates during leg motion; and

motor drive means within said interior cavity for moving said legs to alternately raise and lower said skates to propel said doll forwardly.