EP0150690A2

EP0150690A2 - Head structure provided with movable eyes for application to dolls, puppets and the like

Info

Publication number: EP0150690A2
Application number: EP84830350A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stelio Ostuni
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-01-04
Filing date: 1984-12-20
Publication date: 1985-08-07
Also published as: IT8420419V0; EP0150690A3

Abstract

There is disclosed a head structure, provided with movable eyes for application to dolls, puppets and the like, comprising a shaped hollow body formed by two parts (1, 1') to be coupled to one another and provided, in its inside, with supporting disks (2, 2') supporting a spindle (6) bearing a small gear wheel (8) and two pins (9) supporting corresponding small balls (10) defining the eye balls, and formed with a perimetrical toothed portion meshing with the gear wheei.

Description

The present invention relates to a head structure, provided with movable eyes,to be applied to dolls, puppets and the like.
As it is known the puppets and the like are provided with heads therein the eyes are usually of fixed construction and,at most,are susceptible to include movable eyelids.
That fact,as it should be apparent,removes liveliness from the face of the puppet,with a consequent sensation of staticity and poor communicativennes.
Accordingly,the task of the present invention is to overcome the thereinabove mentioned drawback by providing a head structure for dolls,puppets and the like which is provided with movable eyes. Within the scope of the mentioned task,it is a main object of the present invention to provide such a head structure for dolls,puppets and the like therein the eyes are subjected to a coordinated movement,in a direction or in the opposite direction.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a head structure for dolls,puppets and the like,therein the movement of the eyes occurs upon a mutual rotation between the head and trunk of the doll or puppet.
According to one aspect of the present invention the above task and objects,as well as yet other objects which will become more apparent hereinafter are achieved by a head structure,for dolls, puppets and the like,characterized in that it comprises a shaped hollow body,formed by two or more parts to be coupled to one another,provided,in its inside, with supporting members supporting a spindle bearing a small gear wheel and two pins supporting corresponding small balls,like the eye balls,said balls having a perimetrical toothed portion meshing with said gear wheel.
Thus,by rotating the mentioned spindle in a given direction,the two eyes are simultaneously and coordinately rotated in the opposite direction.
More specifically,the free end portion of the spindle is affixed to the puppet trunk,thereby a rotation of the head,with respect to the puppet trunk,or viceversa,causes said eyes to oppositely rotate.
Further characteristics and advantages of of the head structure,for dolls,puppets and the like according to the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the head itself,being illustrated,by way of an indicative example,in the figures of the accompanying drawings, where:

figure 1 is a perspective exploded view illustrating the head structure according to the present invention;
figure 2 is a detail view illustrating the drive assembly for rotating the eye balls; and
figure 3 is an outline view of the head structure according to the invention.

With reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings,the head structure,for dolls, puppets and the like according to the present invention comprises an elongated hollow body,of substantially tubular shape,consisting of two portions 1 and 1', which may be mutually coupled at the longitudinal edges thereof.
The portion provided for forming the rear part of the puppet head, indicated at 1, is provided with supporting members,consisting of two disks 2 and 2', perpendicularly arranged with respect to the extension of said rear head portion and suitably machined or shaped.
The portion 1', on the other hand,provided for forming the front portion of the head structure, is so shaped as to reproduce a face as shown in the figures and is provided,at suitable positions,with two throughgoing openings or holes 3,the outline whereof may be assimilated to the lines which define corresponding eye cavities.
The mentioned disks 2 and 2',which are preferably welded to the head portion l',are provided with a first diametral slot 4,open at one end and having a suitable length,adjoining,on either sides,two further slots 5 and 5',which parallely'extend and are also of open configuration and smaller length.
In the above mentioned central slots there is housed a small shaft or spindle 6,provided with an enlarged portion 7 so sized as to restrain said spindle between the two disks 2 and 2' and supporting, at an intermediate position,a toothed ring member indicated at 8.
In the two slots 5 and 5',arranged near said central slots,there are engaged,through pin members 9,corresponding small balls 10 which,advantageously, may be provided with small perimetrical recesses 11, having a perpendicular axis to said pin members.
Into said recesses there is forcibly introduced the stem portion or a mushroom shaped body 12, the head 12' whereof is effective to define a pupil.
More specifically,the mentioned balls are provided at opposite positions to said recesses with a toothed portion 10',effective to engage with the gear wheel mounted on the spindle 6.
The two shaped tubular portions 1 and 1', as mutually coupled,are restrained by an upper or top frustum of cone shaped member 13,like a cap,and by a lower or bottom collar member 14.
Obviously the length of the mentioned spindle will be selected in such a way that its free end is able of suitably projecting from said bottom collar member,to be affixed to the trunk of the doll or puppet.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and illustrated,it should be apparent that it is susceptible to many modifications and variations all of which come within its scope.

Claims

1- A head structure,for dolls,puppets and the like, characterized in that it comprises a shaped hollow body formed by two or more parts(l,l') to be coupled to one another provided,in its inside,with supporting members (2,2') supporting a spindle (6) bearing a small gear wheel (8) and two pins (9) supporting corresponding small balls (10),like the eye balls,said balls having a perimetrical toothed portion meshing with said gear wheel.

2- A head structure,according to the preceding claim,characterized in that said shaped hollow body is of substantially tubular shape and is formed by two portions (1,1'), effective to be mutually coupled at.the longitudinal edges thereof,one of which (1) is provided for forming the rear part of the puppet head and the other of which (1') is provided for forming the fron part of the puppet head.

3- A head structure,according to claim l,characterized in that said supporting members(2,2') are restrained to the portion (1) forming the head rear part and consist of two disks perpendicularly arranged to said portion (1).

4- A head structure,according to claim 2,characterized in that the portion (1') provided for forming the front part of said head is so shaped as to reproduce the puppet face and is provided with two holes or openings (3) the outline whereof is effective to delimitate the eye cavities.

5- A head structure,according to claim 3,characterized in that said disks (2,2') are provided with a diametrical slot (4),open at one end,adjoining,on either side,further open parallely extending slots (5,5') having a length smaller than that of said diametral or central slots (4),in said diametrical slots there being housed said spindle (6),the latter being'provided with an enlarged portion (7) which is so sized as to restrain said spindle (6) between said disks (2,2') and bearing, at an intermediate position, a gear ring (8).

6- A head structure,according to claim 5,characterized in that,in the two slots adjoining said central slots,there are restrained,by means of pin members (9),corresponding ball members (10),which are provided with perimetrical recesses (11),having a perpendicular axis to said pins (9) and thereinto there is forcibly introduced the stem of a mushroom shaped body (12) the head whereof is effective to define a pupil (12').

7- A head structure,according to claim l,characterized in that said two tubular portions as mutually coupled are restrained by a frustum of cone shaped top member (13) and a bottom collar member (14).

8- A head structure,according to claim 1, characterized in that the length of said spindle (6) is so designed that its free end projects from said collar member (14) to be affixed to the trunk of said puppet.

9- A head structure for dolls,puppets and the like, according to the preceding claims and substantially as disclosed and illustrated for the intended objects.