US3754351A

US3754351A - Doll

Info

Publication number: US3754351A
Application number: US00119122A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Glass; B Meyer; D Nix
Original assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
Current assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
Priority date: 1971-02-26
Filing date: 1971-02-26
Publication date: 1973-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-28
Also published as: GB1366985A; CA956111A

Abstract

A doll and associated implements with the doll having a movable torso and related driving mechanism for driving the doll through stages of a functional mode of operation simulating the pouring of a beverage and serving food. In addition, the head and eyes of the doll are assocated with driving mechanism so that the head tilts down and the eyes gaze downwardly during certain stages of the pouring and serving function.

Description

United States Patent Glass et al. Aug. 28, 1973 [54] DOLL 3,648,405 3/1972 Tepper 46/120 2,639,547 5/1953 Adler [75] Inventors: Marvin 1. Glass, Chicago; Burton C. 3,010,253 11/1961 Osuander Meyer, Downers Grove; Donald 3,330,065 7/1967 Gardel et al. 46/120 Nix, Des Plaines, all of I11.

73 Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates, Chicago, Primary Emminer-L0uis G. Mancene 11] Assistant Examiner-J. Q. Lever Att -J F. C if t l. 22 Filed: Feb. 26, 1971 was W e a [21] Appl. No.: 119,122 [57] ABSTRACT A doll and associated implements with the doll having [52] U.S. Cl. 46/247, 46/120 a m l r o and related driving mechanism for [51] Int. Cl A6311 33/26 driving the ll hr gh ages f a functional mode of [58] Field of Search 46/247, 141, 161, Operation im l ing the pouring of a beverage and 46/120; 40/106,35 serving food. In addition, the head and eyes of the doll are assocated with driving mechanism so that the head [56] Reference Cit d tilts down and the eyes gaze downwardly during certain UNITED STATES PATENTS stages of the pouring and serving function.

11/1950 Nelson et a] 401106.35 8 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures 1B8 Si 190' 15 i 216 v v 58/ 214 s 66v 210 a 1951 raa 224 h L h a A if 1 6 r 22 160 Fatented Aug. 28, 1973 3,754,351

4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 28, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS DOLL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a doll capable of being utilized with associated implements to perform a simulated food serving function.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Young children frequently enjoy fantasizing with other children, pets or inanimate toys or dolls. There have been many forms of dolls or toy animals developed which have been designed to respond, or apparently respond, to the activities of a child or to otherwise appear to simulate animated action as a live being. Some such toys or dolls may appear to participate in a game with a child, while others may appear to walk, talk, grow hair and the like. In general, such dolls or toys are well received and it is the object of this invention to provide an improved doll of the type which appears to function in a limited capacity as a live being.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provisionof an improved, life-simulating doll and related accessories for performing the apparent function of serving beverages and food.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention includes the provision of a two part, relatively rotatable, doll torso, with swingable legs and arms and a pivotally connected head. The arms are connected by an arrangement which provides for holding the arms in an indexed functional position.

The interior of the torso includes a battery connected to a motor by circuitry with temporary circuit interruption means. The motor is associated with cam and gear means to rotate the doll responsive to actuation of the circuitry through limited clockwise movement and back to center; through limited counterclockwise movement; and back to center. The arms are associ ated with accessories so that the first movement results in a simulated beverage pouring action; the second movement is a simulated food offering action and, the third movement is a return to a nuetral position or withdrawal of food.

The head is also associated with the drive mechanism by linkage which maintains head against rotation during torso movement, but which tilts the head and drops the eyes during the pouring and food offering function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the doll of this invention seated adjacent a table having a cup thereon with the doll holding a tea pot in one stage of a beverage pouring function;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 showing the doll turned to a central position in another stage of the beverage pouring function;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section view through the head portion and torso of the doll of this invention illustrating the driving mechanism therefor;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section view through the head and torso of the doll of this invention in a plane transverse to the view shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken generally along the line S--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a section view taken generally along the line 66 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary exploded view of a portion of the torso of the doll of this invention showing portions of the drive system.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view showing the connection of the arm of the doll to the torso;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary section view illustrating the connection of the hand of the doll to the arm.

FIG. 9A is a section view showing the connection of the hand of the doll to the arm in greater detail;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating the circuitry for the doll of this invention;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary top plan view of the table associated with the doll of this invention;

FIG. 12 is a vertical section view of the table shown in FIG. Ill;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view illustrating the doll in one stage of operation;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view illustrating the doll in a second stage of operation; and

FIG. 15 is a top plan view illustrating the doll in a third stage of operation.

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 embodi ment 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 10 of this invention is intended for use with certain accessories 12 for performing a simulated lifelike function. In the illustrated embodiment, the accessories 12 include a table 14, a beverage serving vessel, such as a tea pot 16, having a handle 16a, a beverage receiving vessel, such as a cup 18 and, a food serving article such as a plate 20.

The table 14 includes a frame, generally indicated 22, with four depending legs 24 and a movable top 26. The top has a centrally oriented recess 28 for receiving the cup 18 therein. One side of the table has a dollreceiving frame 30 for holding the doll oriented relative to the table, particularly with respect to the cupreceiving recess 28.

The table further includes a doll actuating bar 32 which is movably positioned through

slots

34a and 34b in frame 22. The doll actuating bar includes a finger 36 which is positioned adjacent a resilient member, such as the spring 38. The opposite end of the doll actuating bar 32 has an offset portion 40 which terminates in a reduced tab 42 that extends through notch 44 in an L- shaped bar 46 which spans the frame 22. Bar 46 terminates in pin-like ends 48 for rotatably mounting the bar with respect to the frame 22. Adjacent the pin-like ends 48, the bar is provided with upright members 50 having an upper cam surface 52 abutting the underside of the table top 26.

The table top is provided with a plurality of depending posts 54 which extend through openings 56 in the frame for mounting the top for vertical movement with respect to the remainder of the table frame. In operation, as the table top is pushed downwardly, the bar 46 is rotated, imparting lateral motion to the doll actuating bar 32, causing it to move towards the doll-receiving frame 30.

The doll is provided with means defining a torso 58, including an upper torso portion 60 and a lower torso portion 62 with the

torso portions

60 and 62 being rotatable relative to each other. Each

torso portion

60 and 62 has a hollow interior for holding functional components of the doll of this invention. In addition, a head 64 is connected to the top of upper torso 60 above neck opening 65 for general nodding movement relative to the torso 58. Upper torso 60 has a bottom panel 66 enclosing the same, and a lower torso 62 has an upper panel 68 enclosing the lower torso adjacent the bottom panel 66.

Arm openings

70 and 72 are provided opposite each other in the upper end of upper torso 60 for movably receiving

arms

74 and 76, respectively. Each

arm

74 and 76 is provided with a

circumferential groove

78 and 80, thereby rotatably mounting the

arms

74 and 76 in the

arm openings

70 and 72 and holding the arms against axial withdrawal from said openings.

Means are provided for holding the

arms

74 and 76 in an indexed position for performing a functional operation. Included in this means is a spring member 86 which extends across the back wall of upper torso 60. Spring member 86 is provided with protruding fingers 88 at the opposite ends thereof adjacent the

flange portions

82 and 84 of each of the

arms

74 and 76, respectively. As best seen in FIG. 8, each

flange

82 and 84 is provided with a detent 90 of a size and shape to receive the spring finger 88. By this arrangement, the arms may be rotated to any position as desired by the user. However, the arms may be properly indexed and held in a functional position, as will be explained later, by rotating the arms until the finger 88 is engaged in the detents 90 in the

flanges

82 and 84.

Each of the

arms

74 and 76 is provided with a portion which is movable with respect to the remainder of the arm. In particular, each arm has a

hand assembly

92 and 94 which is rotatable relative to the axis of the remainder of each

arm

74 and 76, respectively. The mounting arrangement of the hand assembly to the remainder of the arm is best seen in FIGS. 9 and 9A. As shown therein, and illustrated with respect to the hand 92, each hand has a rearwardly projecting stub 96, which is received in an opening 98 in the end of the arm 74. The stub is connected to a radially extending pin 100, which is mounted for limited rotational movement within arcuate slot 102 in the end of the arm 74. By this arrangement, each hand assembly may be rotated through a limited degree of travel with respect to the remainder of eac arm. In the preferred embodiment, as will be explained later, it is intended that the rotational mounting of the hand 94 with respect to the arm 76, will offer greater frictional resistance than the rotational mounting of the hand 92 with respect to the arm 74. This can be accomplished, for example, by means of slight differences in the the tolerances between the stub 96 and opening 98.

Preferably, the right hand 92 of the doll is configured in a semi-clenched fist mode so that the hand will fit about the handle 16a of tea pct 16 and grasp the pot during a functional serving mode to be described. The left hand is preferably configured in an open mode and may be turned so that the palm faces upwardly so that the hand may grasp and support a serving plate or platter as shown in FIG. 2. To facilitate this function, the fingers and thumb of the left hand may be movable so that the plate or platter may be securely grasped.

The lower torso portion 62 is provided with two leg openings 104 and 106 for rotatably mounting

legs

108 and 110, respectively, to the lower torso 62. As best seen in FIG. 4, each

leg

108 and 110 is provided with a

circumferential recess

112 and 114 of a size and shape to be received in the openings 104 and 106, respectively, and terminates in

enlarged flanges

116 and 118, respectively, for holding the legs in the opening against withdrawal therefrom.

The doll 10 of this invention is provided with means for providing a source of power. In the illustrated embodiment, this means takes the form of a battery 120, held in a battery clip 122, at the lower portion of lower torso 62. The battery mounting includes a forward contact member 124 and a rear contact member 126 with

lead wires

128 and 130 leading from each of the

contacts

124 and 126, respectively. The rear portion of lower torso 62 is provided with an access panel 132 for gaining access to the interior of the lower torso portion 62 for removal and replacement of the battery 120.

The lower torso 62 also includes a forward opening 134, through which button portion 136 protrudes. Button portion 136 is part of actuating arm 138 which is pivoted to lower torso 62 on pivot rod 140 which spans mounting

webs

140a and 140b that depend from top panel 68 of the lower torso 62. Arm 138 has an upturned end 142 which protrudes through slot 144 in top panel 68 for selective intermittent intrusion into the interior of upper torso portion 60 responsive to depression of button portion 136, relative to opening 134. in the illustrated embodiment, this may be accomplished by digital pressure, or, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, by the action of depressing the table top 26, as previously explained, so that lateral movement of doll actuating bar 32 will depress button portion 136 when the doll is oriented in the receiving frame 30. Other means for accomplishing this function could be provided and both the button portion 136 and related components could be oriented in other areas of the lower or upper torso, with the understanding that the function of the button 136 and related components is to provide a means for external actuation of interior components of the doll.

Top panel 68 is also provided with an opening 146 for receiving rod 148. In the illustrated embodiment, both the rod 148 and the opening 146 are shown as being rectangular in configuration While the precise configuration of the opening and the rod is not material, it is significant that the rod and opening be related to each other so as to affix the rod with respect to the opening against radial or rotational movement.

The top panel 68 is also provided with an arcuate opening 158 for feeding the

lead wires

128 and 130 therethrough and an elongate opening 160 which provides part of a pin and slot driving mechanism for moving one torso portion relative to the other, as will be explained. The underside of top panel 68 has a depending hub 150 with a central opening 152 which receives a depending post 154 from the underside of bottom panel 66 of upper torso 60 for rotatably mounting the upper torso 60 with respect to the lower torso 62. A lock washer 156 at the bottom of the post 154 holds the upper torso against axial withdrawal from the lower torso. A plurality of small depending stubs 157 are provided on the underside of bottom panel 66 of upper torso 60. These stubs rest on the top panel 68 of lower torso 62 to hold the two torso components spaced from each other.

in the interior of upper torso 60, there is provided a motor 162 held in a cylindrical sheath 164. Sheath 164 has laterlly protruding mounting stubs 166. The motor and its sheath are received in an upright U-shaped bracket 168 mounted on the panel 66. Bracket 168 has oppositely arranged slots 170 for receiving the stubs 166 of sheath 164 to mount the motor therein. A biasing means, here shown in the form of a leaf spring 172, is positioned in the middle of the U-shaped bracket to bias against the motor sheath 164.

The motor has an output shaft 174 which is in peripheral engagement with the periphery 176 of drive member 178. Spring 172 biases the motor 162 in such a direction as to maintain a constant peripheral engagement between output shaft 174 and periphery 176. Drive member 178 has a toothed stub 180, which is in meshing engagement with the toothed periphery 182 of gear 184. Gear 184, in turn, has a toothed stub 186 in peripheral engagement with the toothed periphery 188 of cam member 190. The aforementioned output shaft 174, drive member 178, gear 184 and cam 190, provide a drive train for transmitting driving force from the motor 162 to the cam 190.

Cam 190 has a centrally depending stub 192 with a radial arm 194 extending from the lower end thereof and a pin 196 which depends from the extremity of arm 194. Pin 196 extends through hole 198 in panel 66 and into slot 166 of panel 68 of the lower torso 62. The arm 194 and pin 196 provide a crank arm arrangement for cooperating with the slot 160 for rotating the upper torso portion 60 relative to the lower torso portion 62 as cam 190 is driven through the aforementioned drive train.

The underside of cam 190 is provided with spaced

notches

200, 202, and 204. A switch member 206 generally underlies the cam 190 and includes a mounting block 208 from which the lower switch arm 210 extends, having an upturned end 212, and upper switch arm 214, having a triangular offset portion 216. The offset portion 216 in upper switch arm 214 is generally of a size, and shape to be matingly received in the preferably triangular shaped

notches

200, 202 and 204 in the underside of cam 190. Panel 66 has an opening 218 under the end portion 212 of lower switch arm 210, through which the upturned end 142 of button arm 138 may protrude. Thus, when the button portion 136 is depressed relative to the opening 134, to cause the arm 138 to pivot about its mounting, this will raise the upturned end 142 through the opening 144 in panel 68 and permit intrusion thereof through opening 218 into the interior of upper torso 60. Such intrusion will cause the upturned end 212 of lower switch arm 210 to contact the underside of upper switch arm 214 and thereby complete a circuit between battery 120 and motor 164.

In particular, lead wire 128 leads from battery 120 to lower switch arm 210, while lead wire 220 leads from upper switch arm 214 to motor 162, with lead wire 130 leading directly from battery 120 to motor 162. The wires extend from the lower torso portion through the opening 158 therein and through another arcuate opening 222 in panel 66. Thus, when the button 136 is pushed or depressed, and the end 142 forces the upturned end 212 of lower switch arm 210 against upper switch arm 214, the circuit is closed, thereby actuating the motor, which, through the aforementioned drive train, causes rotation of the cam 190. initial rotation of the cam 190 causes the triangular offset 216 in upper switch arm 214 to be overridden out of one of the notches in which it is located, with such overriding causing the underside of cam 190 to continue to bear against the upper switch arm 214 and maintain the circuit closed by way of contact between the upturned end 212 and the underside of upper switch arm 214. This contact continues until such time as the cam rotates to a position where the next circumferentially spaced notch is disposed over the triangular offset 216 in upper switch arm 214. At this time, the upper switch arm 214 will be allowed to spring upwardly away from the lower switch arm 210 and to interrupt the circuit and stop the actuation of motor 162 and therefore terminate the drive of cam 190 and associated crank arm 194-196.

The

notches

200, 202 and 204, are spaced apart about the underside of the cam a distance corresponding to the length of cyclic operation for a function to be perfonned. As will be explained later, during the beverage serving function, the doll returns towards the left and back to center, whereas, during the other two functions the doll only turns in one direction. Therefore, the notches are arranged preferably so that the second and third notches are spaced approximately apart with spacing between the first and second notches.

The upper torso portion also includes an arcuate slot 224 in bottom panel 66, through which the rod 148 extends. A neck insert member 226 is rotatably mounted in neck opening 65. Neck insert 226 has an elongate central opening 228 and also has an opening 230 for receiving rectangular rod 148. As is the case with opening 146, the opening 230 is related to rod 148 so as to hold the rod against movement relative to the insert panel 226. As previously mentioned, in the illustrated embodiment, both the rod and the opening are shown as being rectangular. By this arrangement, and with the relative rotatable mounting of the neck insert 226 with respect to the opening 65, as the upper torso 60 is rotated, the neck insert 226 is maintained relatively stationary with respect to the lower torso portion 62 while the upper torso may rotate responsive to being driven by the drive train and crank arm elements.

The head 64 is provided with a box-like insert portion 232 at the lower end thereof. Spaced

uprights

234 and 236 extend upwardly from neck insert 226 on either side of the elongate central opening 228 of insert panel 226. In addition, one upright, such as 236, has a portion 236a which extends through an opening 238 in the insert member 232.

A lever arm 2411 is pivoted at 242 between the

uprights

234 and 236. Lever arm 240 has an upper portion 240a, which is generally of a shape to mate with the lateral cross-section of head insert 232 so as to fix arm 240 with respect to insert 232. Lever arm 240 also has a lower portion 2411b which extends through the elongate opening 228 in insert panel 226 and into the interior of upper torso portion 60.

The interior of upper torso portion 60 also includes a gate-like lever member 244 which is connected to upright post 246. Post 246 is rotatably mounted in cliplike mounting members 248 for swinging movement of the gate-like lever relative to its mounting. Pins or stubs 250 project upwardly from the upper surface of cam adjacent the gate-like lever 244. Thus, as cam 190 rotates responsive to being driven through the aforementioned drive train, the pins 250 will abut the lever 244, causing the lever 244 to swing through a limited path of arcuate movement. This displacement of gatelike lever 244 causes pivotal movement of the lever arm 240 about its pivotal mounting 242, such pivotal movement being within a vertical plane. Because the upper end 240a of lever am 240 is fixed within the head recess 232, such pivotal movement of the lever 240 is translated into a tilting to-and-fro movement of the head 64, which simulates a nodding action. The pins 250 are positioned, relative to the

notches

200, 202, and 204, so that such simulated nodding action takes place at specific intervals of the functional operation of the doll 10.

The head 64 has a generally U-shaped bracket 252 therein, to which a plate 256 is pivotally mounted, by means of pivot pin 258. The U-shaped bracket also mounts a pair of eye assemblies 260 therein. Preferably, these eye assemblies are of the commercially available Margon No. 22 type. Such eye assemblies includes a socket 262 in which a simulated eyeball 264 is received within the adjacent eye openings 265 in the dolls head 64. The eye assemblies 260 further include a rearwardly extending tubular member 266 which is fixed in the bracket 252, in which a plunger 268 is movably mounted. In the operation of such eye assemblies, as the plunger 268 is depressed relative to the tubular portion 266, the eye undergoes a simulated blinking function.

In the present embodiment, the plunger 268 is depressed to perform this blinking function concurrently with the tilting or nodding of the head 64. As the head tilts, the portion 236a of upright 236 remains stationary. This causes pivotal movement of the plate 256 against which the portion 236a bears, and such pivotal movement causes the plate 256 to bear against, and depress, the plunger 268. Thus, the simulated blinking function is performed with the tilting of the head 64 as the doll is actuated to perform a functional operation.

In operation, as the button 136 is depressed to temporarily closed the circuit to initiate driving of the motor so that the cam may override the switch and continue to drive, the doll, in the starting position, is oriented as shown in FIG. 1 with the torso centered and the hand 92 clenched about the handle 16a of the tea pot. As the pin 196 moves through a counterclockwise path of travel in slot 160, the upper torso 60 is moved towards the left until the tea pot 16 engages the side of cup 18. This causes the tea pot to tilt, with such movement being accommodated by the swivel mounting of the hand 92 relative to the arm 74, resulting in a simulated pouring function. At the same time, the rotation of the cam 190 has caused the pins 250 to swing the gate lever 244, imparting movement to lever 240 to cause the head 64 to tilt and causing a blinking motion in the eyes 264. As previously mentioned, the head of the doll always faces straight ahead with the relative rotation of the upper torso portion accommodated by the rotatable mounting of the neck insert plate 264 and the arcuate slot 224 in panel 66. There is a pause in the movement of the doll at the center position during the simulated pouring function. This pause is occasioned by the dwell of the pin 196 at the far end of slot 160 during the rotational movement of the crank arm 194. As the pin returns towards the center of slot 160, the doll torso returns from its left orientation to center so that the tea pot is returned to the area of the table, spaced from the cup 18, and rotation of the torso is then terminated as the offset 216 springs into the next circumferentially spaced notch on the underside of cam 190, interrupting the drive.

with the next depression of button 136, the drive of the upper torso is again initiated, and the torso turns to the right so that the hands 94 may go through the simulated function of presenting an article. Preferably, the hand 194 is oriented with the palm facing upwardly and a platter-like element is grasped in the handso that in this cycle of operation the doll undergoes a simulated food-presenting function. This cycle of operation terminates with the doll torso turned to the right and the left arm 76 extended forwardly in the simulated foodpresented mode, at which time the offset 216 finds another notch in the underside of the cam and the drive is terminated. Again, the gate-lever 244 and lever 240 cooperate to cause the head 64 to undergo a nodding motion and also to cause the eyelids of eyes 264 to blink.

In the third functional mode of operation, as the button 136 is depressed, the dolls torso is rotated back to center again with the head being lifted upwardly and the eyes returned to a fully open mode, so that the left arm is turned away from the food-presenting function, simulating a withdrawal function.

Thus, it can be seen that with the doll of this invention, a child may participate in an imaginary foodserving game or the like. If desired, liquid may be placed in the pot 16 so that a fluid or beverage will actually be poured into the cup 18 which the child may take and consume. Also, actual articles of food may be placed on the platter held in the dolls hand, which the child may also take and consume. It is believed that the doll of this invention may afford many hours of fascination and pleasure for children fantisizing in a foodserving function or simulating a party or the like.

Each stage of the cyclic operation is initiated by merely depressing an actuating button which initiates the drive of the doll through its each functional foodserving mode and the length of time which the doll pauses in each mode is therefore controlled by the child. The head nodding function and simulated eye blinking function also add the realism to the simulated animation of the doll.

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

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A combination doll and serving implement, comprising: a doll having means defining a torso with arm and head means connected to said torso, table means including a frame having means defining a doll orienting area for receiving said doll and orienting the doll relative to the table means, a table top on said frame including a receiving vessel retaining area, at least one of the doll arms having a hand which is folded in a grasping mode, a serving vessel having a handle thereon and being of a size and shape to be grasped by said doll hand, said torso including first and second portions which are rotatably connected generally in the waist area of the doll for movement about a generally upright axis from a first position with said doll hand and grasped serving vessel spaced from said receiving vessel retaining area on said table top, through a path of travel away therefrom, to a second serving position with the serving vessel adjacent to said receiving vessel in serving relationship, and for return of said hand and serving vessel back to said first position, motor means in said torso, drive means associated with said motor means and said torso for driving said torso to move said hand and serving vessel through said path of travel responsive to actuation of said motor means, switch means including an actuating member extending to the exterior of the torso for actuation of said motor means, and means for tiltably mounting said doll head to said torso and operatively associated with said drive means to tilt the head downwardly in timed relation to the simulated serving function so that the doll appears to look downwardly at the serving and receiving vessels when adjacent to each other in said serving position.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said table includes a doll actuating bar movably mounted therein and having one end disposed adjacent the actuating member of the doll when the doll is positioned in the doll orienting area.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said hand for grasping said serving vessel is rotatably mounted on its respective arm and the receiving vessel retaining area is constructed and arranged to hold a receiving vessel thereat against movement responsive to engagement by a serving vessel so that when said doll moves to said serving position with the serving vessel grasped in the hand, the hand may rotate and permit the serving vessel to tilt responsive to engagement with the receiving vessel.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the doll is provided with a hand on the other arm constructed and arranged to receive a serving implement which may be presented during movement of said doll through said path of travel.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the head further includes closable eye assemblies and eye actuating means for closing said eyes, with said eye actuating means being associated with said tiltabie mounting of said head and said drive means for closing said eyes when said head is tilted downwardly.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the head is connected to the torso by means for maintaining the head in a forwardly oriented position as said torso rotates.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said drive means is arranged for driving said doll through separate segments of operation, starting with a central position, first movement away therefrom in one direction and terminating in return to center to simulate the grasping and carrying of a vessel; second movement away therefrom in a second direction and terminating away from said central position to simulate the presentation of a different implement; and third movement from said second terminated position back to central to simulate the withdrawal of said implement.

8. The combination of ciaim 1 wherein said doll is provided with a hand on the other arm constructed and arranged to receive a serving implement which may be presented during movement of said doll through said path of travel, said drive means being arranged for driving said doll through separate segments of operation, starting with a central position corresponding to said first position, first movement away therefrom in one direction to said second serving position, and terminating in return to said first center position to simulate the grasping and carrying of a serving vessel, second movement away from said first position in a direction opposite said one direction and terminating away from said first position to simulate the presentation of the serving implement by the dolls other arm and hand, and third movement from said presenting position back to said first central position to simulate a withdrawal of said serving implement.

Claims

1. A combination doll and serving implement, comprising: a doll having means defining a torso with arm and head means connected to said torso, table means including a frame having means defining a doll orienting area for receiving said doll and orienting the doll relative to the table means, a table top on said frame including a receiving vessel retaining area, at least one of the doll arms having a hand which is folded in a gRasping mode, a serving vessel having a handle thereon and being of a size and shape to be grasped by said doll hand, said torso including first and second portions which are rotatably connected generally in the waist area of the doll for movement about a generally upright axis from a first position with said doll hand and grasped serving vessel spaced from said receiving vessel retaining area on said table top, through a path of travel away therefrom, to a second serving position with the serving vessel adjacent to said receiving vessel in serving relationship, and for return of said hand and serving vessel back to said first position, motor means in said torso, drive means associated with said motor means and said torso for driving said torso to move said hand and serving vessel through said path of travel responsive to actuation of said motor means, switch means including an actuating member extending to the exterior of the torso for actuation of said motor means, and means for tiltably mounting said doll head to said torso and operatively associated with said drive means to tilt the head downwardly in timed relation to the simulated serving function so that the doll appears to look downwardly at the serving and receiving vessels when adjacent to each other in said serving position.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the head further includes closable eye assemblies and eye actuating means for closing said eyes, with said eye actuating means being associated with said tiltable mounting of said head and said drive means for closing said eyes when said head is tilted downwardly.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said doll is provided with a hand on the other arm constructed and arranged to receive a serving implement which may be presented during movement of said doll through said path of travel, said drive means being arranged for driving said doll through separate segments of operation, starting with a central position corresponding to said first position, first movement away therefrom in one direction to said second serving position, and terminating in return to said first center position to simulate the grasping and carrying of a serving vessel, second movement away from said first position in a direction opposite said one direction and terminating away from said first position to simulate the prEsentation of the serving implement by the doll''s other arm and hand, and third movement from said presenting position back to said first central position to simulate a withdrawal of said serving implement.