EP0534032B1

EP0534032B1 - Doll producing motions and sounds

Info

Publication number: EP0534032B1
Application number: EP91500150A
Authority: EP
Inventors: José Manuel Poligono Industrial Rodriguez Ferre
Original assignee: Creatividad y Diseno SA
Current assignee: Creatividad y Diseno SA
Priority date: 1991-08-22
Filing date: 1991-12-30
Publication date: 1996-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 2011-12-30
Also published as: ATE134896T1; EP0534032A1; ES1018424U; DE69117755D1; ES1018424Y; DE69117755T2; GR3020111T3; HK151696A; DK0534032T3

Abstract

The present invention designed a doll toy (1) of the type externally adopting a configuration of a young boy or girl comporising a trunk of preferably hard material and preferably soft extremities and the head piece (-3-) of specially flexible and soft material are associated thereon, with the purpose of providing its deformation and subsequent retrieval with the operations performed from the outside and allowing in this way the operation of the incorporated sensors (-5-) via the deformable wall(-7-) without resorting to the wall perforation and also allowing the motions of the face features and rotation of the head(-3-) relative to the neck promoted by the organs (-4-,-12-) of an internal electromechanical unit (-2-) connected to an electronic circuit, these motions being coordinated with the release of sounds generated by the electronic circuit, these sounds being then collected and reproduced by an acoustic arrangement.The electronic circuit is connected to an on-off switch operated by a command located at the doll's back.

Description

The invention refers to a doll producing motions and sound.
From US-A-4,249,338 a doll comprising a crying sound generator within the doll body is known comprising first switch means for actuating the crying sound generator and an additional switch means which may be operated by inserting the nipple of a bottle into the doll's mouth. In the play sequence the child actuates the first mentioned switch means to produce crying sounds then attempts to stop the crying by inserting the nipple of the bottle into the doll's mouth, thereby actuating the additional switch means provided there. This doll does not comprise means for providing motion to any of its components.
From US-A-4,582,499 a doll is known comprising a toy body and a power feeder. The toy body contains a driving mechanism for driving a movement mechanism. The driving mechanism is located within the head of a body, and a terminal arranged within the mouth of the toy. The power feeder is shaped like a feeding bottle and contains batteries, and the connection terminal thereof is shaped like the nipple of the feeding bottle. Upon insertion of the nipple into the mouth of the doll the driving mechanism inside the head is powered by the batteries and provides motion to the ears of the toy so that the toy flaps its ears. The motion sequence then continues by moving the toy's nose so as to expand and contract it. The toy moves its nose as if it were breathing in and drinking milk. Sounds may be generated by the toy. There are no means for moving the head of the toy with respect to the body. Further, the toy is unable to effect any automatic movement as soon as the bottle is removed from the toy's mouth.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a doll providing motion and also sound.
The object is attained by the features of claim 1. A preferred embodiment of the invention is set forth in the dependent claim.
The present invention provides a doll toy of the type adopting the appearance of a young boy or girl and comprises a trunk of preferably hard material to which preferably soft extremities are associated. The head is made of a special flexible and soft material so that it may be deformed in operations exerted from outside, so that an incorporated sensor may be activated through the deformable wall without resulting in perforation of the wall. A pivotal movement of the head relative to the neck is allowed and promoted by an internal electric motor connected to an electronic circuit, with the motions created thereby being coordinated with the release of a sound generated by the electronic circuit, these sounds being reproduced by an acoustic arrangment.
When the doll is switched on, a typical cry is heard. Upon pressing the doll's mouth with a feeding bottle, the sensor located behind the mouth is activated and the electric motor driving a supporting arm of said sensor is then also connected, the motions of said arm are thereby transmitted to the doll's mouth, pretending fuctions like that of chewing. Concurrently therewith a sound associated with this function is generated and reproduced. With the removal of the feeding bottle from the doll's mouth and release of the pressure of the sensor thereby, the driving mechanism operates a second arm promoting a forward pivotal movement of the doll's head and a sudden return towards its usual position, and concurrently therewith a sound is generated similar to a hiccup until with some pats on the doll's back a circuit contact is activated effecting the generation and reproduction of some other sounds pretending to be a belch and laughter.
In the following, the invention is further explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings which show a preferred but not limiting embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic front view of the doll, with the internal electromechanical mechanism illustrated therein.
Figures 2 and 3 show respective elevation side views of the doll's head illustrated as resting and forwardly tilted positions, respectively.

The doll 1 externally adopting the shape of a little child includes an electromechanical unit mounted in a frame 2 associated to the neck of the head 3.
The frame mounts an electric motor the shaft of which drives a conventional reduction mechanism for operating a first rocking arm by pushing the free end of said arm with the purpose that a clutch is set up between said arm 4 and the mechanism. At said end of the arm 4, a sensor 5 is provided which can be activated by said pushing action made by suitable means, for instance, by a feeding bottle toy pushing onto the non-perforated flexible wall 7 which configurates the doll's mouth. The arm 4 while being pressed is getting a rocking motion which is transmitted to the flexible material of the doll's mouth, and a motion is produced pretending to be a chewing fuction which is synchronized with a sound associated to said function and generated by an electronic circuit 6 and reproduced by an acoustic arrangement 8.
Upon releasing the pressure on arm 4, a second arm 9 is operated by the driving mechanism. Said second arm 9 is forwardly pivoted and displaces head 3 in the same sense. A mechanism releasing arrangement combined with a return spring 10 is biasing arm 9, and upon release of the mechanism, said return string 10 quickly returns head 3 in its resting position, synchronized with the generation of a sound initiated by the operation of a flexible contact 11 located at the end of second arm 9. The other, upper end of second arm 9 is connected to a cross-member 12 which forms a pusher for head 3.
The doll includes a sensor which is operated by striking the doll's back. By means of the latter sensor the motor is disconnected and new sound are generated, like belching and laughter.

Claims

Doll producing motions and sound, including in its body an electronic circuit (6) connected to an on-off switch driven from a command located at the doll's back external side, a battery set powering the circuit (6) and disposed in a casing provided in the doll's body, said casing being accessible through an opening also located at the doll's back, said opening being closed by an adjustable cover, a sensor (5) connected to said electronic circuit (6) and located in the background of the doll's mouth (7) at a position ready for a pressing operation from the outside due to the flexibility of the material of said mouth (7) without the doll being perforated, said sensor (5) being affixed at the free end of a pivotable arm (4) which is mechanically clutchable to a driving mechanism providing motion to said arm (4) by actuation of said sensor (5), said motion pretending to be a chewing function being transmitted to the flexible area of the doll's mouth (7) in synchronism with the reproduction of sound associated to this function, these sounds being generated by the electronic circuit (6) and reproduced by an acoustic device (8), said driving mechanism comprising an electric motor and a reduction mechanism mounted in a frame (2) mounting a second pivotal arm (9) which is automatically clutched to the driving mechanism when the external pressure on said sensor (5) is released and said first arm (4) declutched from the driving mechanism, this second arm (9) is rocking on an eccentric shaft associating the arm (9) to said frame (2) and said arm (9) having at its longer, upper leg an arcuated portion curved towards the doll's face and joined to the center of a convex cross member (12) curved towards the doll's face, the end of the shorter, lower leg of said arm (9) being provided with a flexible contact (11) operatively arranged to be activated by a fixed abutment of the frame (2), with the arm's pivoting motion being transmitted to the doll's head (3) which performs the forward pivotal movement, suddenly returns rearwardly due to the provision of releasing mechanism and a return spring in synchronism with the reproduction of a sound similar to a hiccup generated by the electronic circuit (6) and reproduced by the acoustic device (8).
Doll according to claim 1, comprising a sensor at the doll's back operating by striking and setting up a connection with the electronic circuit (6) through which the reproduction of certain sounds such as belching and laughter are initiated.