EP0533461A1

EP0533461A1 - A doll

Info

Publication number: EP0533461A1
Application number: EP92308442A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Raymond Mark Estrin
Original assignee: Grant & Bowman Ltd
Current assignee: Grant & Bowman Ltd
Priority date: 1991-09-16
Filing date: 1992-09-16
Publication date: 1993-03-24
Also published as: GB2259457A; GB9119729D0

Abstract

A doll (1) has a head (2) with a mouth (3). When the lips (3a, 3b) are touched, pressure or contact sensors (4a, 4b, 12) behind the lips (3a, 3b) cause an integrated circuit (6) to output a signal which causes a kissing sound to be emitted by a loudspeaker (8).

Description

This invention relates to a doll. More particularly, it relates to a doll which makes a kissing sound.
A child will frequently kiss a doll, for example to say "goodnight" to the doll. There is, however, no doll known in the prior art which is able to "kiss" a child. Whilst there are known many dolls which make sounds, there is not known a doll which makes a kissing sound when the lips of the doll are touched.
It is an object of the invention to provide a doll which can "kiss" a child. That is to say, when the lips of the doll touch the child, the doll makes a kissing sound.
According to the present invention there is provided a doll having a mouth with lips and adapted to make a kissing sound when pressure is applied to, or contact made with, at least one of said lips.
Preferably, the doll comprises:- a mouth with pliable lips; one or more pressure or contact sensors associated with said lips; electric circuit means connected directly or indirectly to said one or more sensors so as to be responsive thereto; a loudspeaker electrically connected to said circuit means; and power supply means; said loudspeaker, said circuit means and said power supply means being disposed within said doll,
whereby, when said pliable lips of said doll are touched at least one of said one or more pressure or contact sensors is actuated and outputs a first signal to said circuit means whereupon a second, stored, electrical signal is output from said circuit means to said loudspeaker, thereby causing said loudspeaker to emit a "kissing" sound.
Preferably, when no pressure is applied to the lips the lips are in a first position, and wherein when pressure is applied to said lips said lips move inwards from said first position to a second position and thereby actuate said at least one pressure or contact sensor.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a head of a doll;
Figure 2 is a cross-section through the head of the doll.illustrating a first embodiment of the invention;
Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-section through the lips of the doll of Figure 2; and
Figure 4 is a cross-section through the head of the doll illustrating a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a head 2 of a doll 1comprises a mouth 3, including an upper lip 3a and a lower lip 3b. The lips 3a, 3b are made from a pliable material such as vinyl. A foam backing 5 is provided behind the lips 3a, 3b. A first pressure sensor 4a is provided behind the upper lip 3a, between the upper lip and the foam backing, and a second pressure sensor 4b is similarly provided behind the lower lip 3b. The foam backing 5 is provided to ensure that, when the lips 3a, 3b are touched, the applied pressure is reliably transmitted from the lips to the sensors 4a, 4b.
The pressure sensors 3a, 3b may be any suitable conventional pressure sensors, for example piezo-electric sensors.
Within the head 2 of the doll there is provided an integrated circuit 6 mounted on a printed circuit board 7, a loudspeaker 8 and a battery 9. The pressure sensors 4a, 4b, the loudspeaker 8 and the battery 9 are all electrically connected to the integrated circuit 6. The loudspeaker 8 may be placed directly behind the mouth 3, or it may be placed elsewhere in the head 2. The integrated circuit 6 includes a memory, such as a PROM (a programmable read-only memory) in which is stored the required output signal for producing a kissing sound from the loudspeaker 8 when required.
Access means (not shown) are provided to allow the battery 9 to be replaced when necessary.
When at least one of the lips 3a, 3b of the doll are touched the resultant pressure is detected by at least one sensor 4a, 4b, and a first electrical signal is output from said at least one sensor to the integrated circuit 6. When this signal is received by the integrated circuit 6, a second electrical signal (that is, the stored signal) is output from the integrated circuit 6 to the loudspeaker 8. When this signal is received at the loudspeaker 8, the loudspeaker 8 emits a "kissing" sound.
Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the head 2 of the doll has a rigid or semi-rigid inner skull 10 and a flexible outer covering 11. The outer covering 11 is disposed over the inner skull 10. The inner skull 10 supports the outer covering 11, and maintains the the shape of the head 2. The lips 3a, 3b are provided on the outer covering.
The rigid or semi-rigid skull 10 does not directly support the lips 3a, 3b of the doll. Therefore, if pressure is applied to the lips of the doll, the lips will move inwards.
A pressure switch 12 is provided inside the doll. In addition, the doll is provided with an integrated circuit 6, a printed circuit board 7, a loudspeaker 8 and a battery 9. The integrated circuit 6, printed circuit board 7, loudspeaker 8 and battery 9 (which are not shown in Figure 4) are arranged as in the embodiment shown in Figure 2.
When the lips 3a, 3b are moved inwards the pressure switch 12 is actuated, and an electrical signal is output to the integrated circuit 6. This causes the loudspeaker 8 to emit a kissing sound, as described above.
The pressure switch is provided with a spring 13. When the pressure on the lips is removed, the spring 13 returns the pressure switch 12 to the 'off position'.
It will apparent to the skilled man that many variations can be made to the embodiments described above. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the embodiments described in detail above.
For example, the battery, the printed circuit board and the loudspeaker could be placed in the body of the doll rather than in the head of the doll. In addition, the lips could be made of a material other than vinyl, and/or the foam backing behind the lips could be omitted.
Furthermore it would be possible to include additional features in the doll which are operated by the integrated circuit at the same time as the loudspeaker is actuated. For example, the eyes of the doll could be closed, by means of a motor (not shown), when the doll makes a kissing sound.

Claims

A doll (1) having a mouth (3) with lips (3a, 3b) and adapted to make a kissing sound when pressure is applied to, or contact made with, at least one of said lips (3a, 3b).
A doll according to claim 1 and comprising:- a mouth (2) with pliable lips (3a, 3b); one or more pressure or contact sensors (4a, 4b, 12) associated with said lips (3a, 3b); electric circuit means (6) connected directly or indirectly to said one or more sensors (4a, 4b, 12) so as to be responsive thereto; a loudspeaker (8) electrically connected to said circuit means (6); and power supply means (9); said loudspeaker (8), said circuit means (6) and said power supply means (9) being disposed within said doll (1),
whereby, when said pliable lips (3a, 3b) of said doll are touched at least one of said one or more pressure or contact sensors (4a, 4b, 12) is actuated and outputs a first signal to said circuit means (6) whereupon a second, stored, electrical signal is output from said circuit means (6) to said loudspeaker (8), thereby causing said loudspeaker (8) to emit a "kissing" sound.
A doll according to claim 2, wherein when no pressure is applied to said lips (3a, 3b) said lips (3a, 3b) are in a first position, and wherein when pressure is applied to said lips (3a, 3b) said lips (3a, 3b) move inwards from said first position to a second position and thereby actuate said at least one pressure or contact sensor (4a, 4b, 12).
A doll according to any preceding claim, wherein a head (2) of said doll comprises a rigid or semi-rigid inner skull (10) and a flexible outer covering (11), said lips (3a, 3b) being provided on said outer covering (10), said outer covering (11) being disposed over said inner skull (10) and being supported by said inner skull (10); and wherein said inner skull (10) does not directly support said lips (3a, 3b).
A doll according to any preceding claim characterised in that said doll is humanoid in shape.
A doll according to any preceding claim characterised in that said lips (3a, 3b) are made from vinyl.
A doll according to any preceding claim characterised in that a foam backing is provided between said lips (3a, 3b) and said one or more pressure or contact sensors (4a, 4b).
A doll according to any preceding claim characterised in that said circuit means (6) comprises an integrated circuit.
A doll according to any preceding claim and further comprising means whereby the eyes of said doll are closed at the same time as the doll makes a kissing sound.