CA1169251A

CA1169251A - Model figures, particularly dolls

Info

Publication number: CA1169251A
Application number: CA000389497A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Kenneth Ting
Original assignee: KADER INDUSTRIAL Co Ltd
Current assignee: KADER INDUSTRIAL Co Ltd
Priority date: 1980-11-05
Filing date: 1981-11-05
Publication date: 1984-06-19
Also published as: IT8124884A0; SG37484G; HK64584A; AU543247B2; FR2493168A1; IT1140266B; FR2493168B1; AU7711881A; JPS57157398U

Abstract

A B S T R A C T

The limbs, for example the legs of a model figure, comprise an insert 1 of sheet metal material around which is moulded a plastics material to form the legs 12, 13. The upper and lower parts of each leg are respectively formed into a channel strength to give relative rigidity while the planar joint between the two, representing the knee, is capable of being bent to represent flexing of the knee, The link 3 between the head of the two legs is likewise planar to allow relative movement of the legs to allow the creation of various natural positions. The link 7 is present during manufacture, but is removed after moulding.

Description

1~69~51 This invention relates to model fiyures, particularly dolls, and is directed towards an improved construction of the limbs or torso of such figures to enable life-like movement of the body to take place.
The model figure of this invention may be generally defined as comprising an insert formed Erom sheet material having first portions and second portions between said first portions; and an exterior form having a shape at least a portion of which has the appearance of at least two limbs of a doll, formed of a plastics material surrounding said insert. The said insert is bent at said first portions to form relatively rigid U-channel sections, said second portions being substantially planar, whereby said second portions correspond to joints of said doll and said model figure is more easily bent about axes parallel to the plane of each of said second portions at said second portions than at said first portions.
This invention may be applied to the limbs - arms and legs - o model figures of both human and animal form, and may also, in certain circumstances be used to manufacture the torso -body, head and neck portion - of such a figure. In an embodiment of the invention pairs of limbs are formed about a single insert to enable that part of the insert joining the two limbs to be rela*ively weakened to act as a joint between the limbs.
Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in ~hich:-Figures 1 and 2 show front and edge views respectively - 1 ~ sj~' of a first em~odiment of an insert for use in the present invention;
Figures 3 and 4 are vîews similar to Figures 1 and 2 respectively of a second embodiment of an insert for use in the nventlon;

- la -~9~5 -- 2 ~
Flg-lres 5 and 6 ~r~ sectional vie~ls ~long the lines V~V ~ncl VI-VI respeoti.~ely of F:,gure 3;
Figures~ 7 and 8 a~e front and side views respecti~ely of ~ pair o legs ,o~ ~ doll made us~ng the S insert of ~igures 3 to 6; and Figures 9 to 12 sho~7 various positions whi.ch rnay be taken up by the legs shown in Figures 7 and ~.
Referring to Figure 5 1 and 2, the insert ooroprises a flat sheet o~ metal ~hich is stamped out to the shape shown in Figure 1. The parti.c~ r insert sho~
is intended for use in fabricating the lecs and feet of : a doll and comprises two elongate portions 1, 2 corres-ponding to the legs of the doll ~hich are joined at their upper ends ~y a relatively narrow link portion 3. It will be seen that the width of the respecti~e leg po*tions : : 1, 2 varies ~:long their length, being relatively wide a 1 ong the 1 ines 4-4 and 5-5 and significantl.y narrower along the line 6-6. If an attempt is made to bend the : insert out of the plane of the paper, the tendency will 20 be for the bending to take pla~e ~t this narrowed~portion :~
which:may thus ~onstitute th knee Joint of the doll .
- For convenieIIce ~n manufacturing, the ~ottom ends of the leg portions 1,2 are lik wise joined, by a link 7, but this latter link may be remove~ after manufacture to enable the ~eet to be moved apart. To this end, the link 7 is j oined to the portion 1, 2 by narrow portions 8 w~lich m~y easily be broken.
In order to form the feet o ~he do~l, a narr~w lug 9 i8 ~ormed at the bottom of each o the leg portions ~djaoent the outside edges of the link 7, these links bein~ bent to the position shown in Figure 2 16~51 to enahle ti;iefee~ ~o be forrned.
~ lring manufacture of a pair of doll's legs using the .in3ert of Figures 1 and ~, the insert is :Located in a moul~ ~not shown) by means of the links 3 and 7 and a s~itable soft plastics material lntroduced into the mould~ During moulding, pla~stics material enters the ~pertures 10 in the rnetal sheet to thereby ensure that t:he insert i.s securely held within the plastics moulding.
Referring now to Figures 3 to 6 there is shown a second insert in which the strength of the leg port~on~ 1, 2 is varie~ along t~leir length by bending certain parts of the le~ portion~ (those tha~ are ~o remain rigid) to form a channel section, shown in detail in Figures 5 and 6 under reference 11. The line 6~5 once more eorresponds to the kn&e join~ since ~his part remains planar and thus~relatively weak. Other parts : ~re the same as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
.
:Figures 7 and~8 are views~oorrespoDding to Figures 3 and 4 respectively:showing the outline of~:the ~20 finished pair of legs. Altbough in practice both legs : wi~l be moulded simultaneously, they are in fact sep~rate, the left leg being shown under reference 12 and the right leg under reference 13. The legs are 30ined ~y li~ks 3 : ~nd 7, ~he latter of which, as has already been mentioned, is removed a~ter manufacture. The link 3, however remains ~s the only l~n~ between the legs, and enables a variety of realistic leg posltions to be taken up, as will become clear~
Figures 9 ko 12 illustrate a variety of basic po~itions which the legs and feet of Figures 3 and 4 may take up~ Twisting of the link 3 enables the legs ~ 4 ~

to be ~ent into a ~?alking position (Fi~ure ~). Also, both the ].eft cind ri&ht legs can move forwards and back wards to simulate the action of walkin~. The legs c,~n also be rnoYed apart as shown in Figure ll. Fi~ure lO
shows the ~ovement of the fee~ by bending th2 lug 9 ~ackwards and forwards. Figure l2 shows bending of th~
knee About the line of weakness ~-5. It will be appreci-ated that combinatiolls of these vari3us mo~Jements and pOsitiolls will enable the doll to take up a wide varl~ty of realistic positions which can be changed at wîll many times over.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A model figure, comprising an insert formed from sheet material having first portions and second portions between said first portions; and an exterior form having a shape at least a portion of which has the appearance of at least two limbs of a doll, formed of a plastics material surrounding said insert; said insert being bent at said first portions to form relatively rigid U-channel sections, said second portions being substantially planar, whereby said second portions correspond to joints of said doll and said model figure is more easily bent about axes parallel to the plane of each of said second portions at said second portions than at said first portions.

2. A model figure as in claim 1, wherein said second portions are substantially narrower than said first portions.

3. A model figure as in claim 1, wherein said plastics material is moulded around said insert.

4. A model figure as in claim 1, wherein said form includes a pair of limbs joined at the corresponding ends thereof by one of said second portions so as to permit relative pivotal movement of said two limbs about an axis through said corresponding ends.

5. A model figure as in claim 4, wherein said limbs comprise a pair of legs, said one of said second portions joining the top ends of said legs.

6. A model figure as in claim 5, wherein said lags comprise feet, said feet being bridged by another one of said second portions which can be broken away and discarded.

7. A model figure as in claim 2, wherein said form includes a pair of limbs joined at the corresponding ends thereof by one of said second portions so as to permit relative pivotal movement of said two limbs about an axis through said corresponding ends.

8. A model figure as in claim 7, wherein said limbs comprise a pair of legs, said one of said second portions joining the top ends of said legs.

9. A model figure as in claim 8, wherein said legs comprise feet, said feet being bridged by another one of said second portions which can be broken away and discarded.

10. A model figure as in claim 1, wherein said limbs comprise two legs and one of said second portions comprises a web joining the upper ends of said legs, enabling relative movement of said legs by twisting of said web.