GB2045095A

GB2045095A - Fastening, dolls' eyes

Info

Publication number: GB2045095A
Application number: GB7909745A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Myers & Parsons Ltd
Current assignee: Myers & Parsons Ltd
Priority date: 1979-03-20
Filing date: 1979-03-20
Publication date: 1980-10-29

Abstract

A "sleeping eye" for a soft toy comprises a housing (1) containing a pivoted eyeball (1A). The housing (7) is held in recessed relationship to the surface of the toy by means of a socket element (3) which encloses the housing (1) together with the surrounding fabric (5) of the toy from the rear. The housing (1) and socket (3) are held in interengagement by a fastener (4) engaging a shank (2) of the housing (1) which passes through an aperture in the base of the socket (3). In this manner the fabric (5) is clamped between the housing (1) and socket (3) and the front surface of the eyeball (1A) is maintained flush with the outer surface of the toy. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to fastenings, more especially for dolls' eyes This invention concerns improvements in and relating to fastenings, more especially for dolls' eyes.

Eyes of the kind which are intended to be fastened to the fabric of a soft toy, such as a teddy bear, generally comprise a moulded element of synthetic plastics material comprising a head portion arranged to lie against the outer surface of the fabric of the toy, and a shank portion which extends through an aperture in the fabric and is secured at the rear by means of a washer and a fastener, for example a so-called star lock fastener secured over the shank from the rear of the fabric. Such a construction has proved satisfactory for animal eyes of the kind having a generally flat head portion simulating the appearance of an open eye.A socalled "sleeping eye", of the kind provided in dolls, on the other hand, comprises a housing surrounding the pivoted and counter-weighted eyeball, and is therefore of substantial depth and must be accomodated in a socket, for example in a doll's head which is relatively rigid and may be formed of synthetic plastics material. Recently, a demand has arisen for the incorporation of "sleeping eyes" in soft toys such as teddy bears, and the fastening of an eye of such a construction into the fabric of a soft toy has posed considerable problems. Attempts have been made to cement the outer casing of a sleeping eye to the fabric of a soft toy, but such an arrangement is not only unreliable, but also increases the labour involved in the construction of the toy.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide fastening means which is suitable for securing an element such as a so-called "sleeping eye" to the fabric of a soft toy.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided an eye assembly for a soft toy, comprising a socket element arranged to engage the rear surface of the fabric of the toy, and an eye element arranged on the front surface of the fabric, the said socket element and eye element being arranged for interengagement in such a manner that the fabric of the toy is clamped between the eye element and the socket element, and that the socket element serves to hold the eye element in recessed relationship to the outer surface of the toy.

Advantageously, the eye element comprises a head portion and a shank portion, and the socket element comprises a cup member having a base aperture for engagement over the said shank portion, fastening means being provided for engagemenu with said shank portion in order to retain the cup member in place thereon.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an eye assembly in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 is a part sectional side elevation of the eye assembly of Figure 1, shown in the assembled condition.

Referring to the drawings, an eye assembly for incorporation in a soft toy comprises a head portion 1, which may be a so-called "sleeping eye" of conventional construction and having a pivoted, counterweighted eyeball 1A, and a rearwardly extending shank portion 2. The eye assembly further comprises a socket member 3 and a fastening member 4, for example a so-called star lock fastener.

For attachment of the eye assembly to the fabric 5 of a soft toy such as a teddy bear, an aperture 5A, which may be simply a slit in the fabric, is formed to receive the shank 2. The shank 2 is now passed through the aperture 5A from one side of the fabric, and the socket member 3 is engaged over the head portion 1, from the other side. The shank 2 passes through an aperture in the base of the socket 3 and is secured in place by means of the fastener 4.

As shown more clearly in Figure 2, the fabric 5 is gripped between the head portion 1 and the socket 3 and by virtue of the interengagement of the head portion 1 and the socket 3 the eye assembly is held in recessed relationship to the outer surface of the soft toy defined by the fabric 5.

The eye element including the head 1 and the shank 2 may be conveniently formed from injection moulded synthetic plastics material, and the socket element 3 may be formed from thin-walled synthetic plastics material, for example by deep-drawing from a sheet of appropriate plastics material. Advantageously, the socket 3 may incorporate internally directed axial ribs 3Awhich serve to enhance the rigidity of the socket 3 and also to promote frictional gripping engagement with the fabric 5.

As will be seen from the above disclosure, the present invention provides an improved construction of eye suitable for incoporation in a soft toy in a simple manner without the requirement for gluing or other laborious assembly procedures, and which enables the mechanism of a sleeping eye to be secured conveniently in recessed relationship to the fabric surface of a soft toy.

1. An eye assembly for a soft toy, comprising an eye element of the kind providing a so-called "sleeping eye", and comprising a pivoted and counterweighted eyeball within an external housing, and a cup-shaped socket element adapted to enclose the rear portion of the housing of said eye element, the arrangement being such that with the said eye element located against the front surface of the fabric of a soft toy and the said socket element located against the rear surface the two elements can interengage in such a mannerthatthe fabric of the soft toy is clamped between the eye element and the socket element, and that the socket element serves to hold the eye element in recessed relationship to the outer surface of the toy so that the front surface of the pivoted eyeball is substantially flush with the outer surface of the toy.

2. An eye assembly as claimed in Claim 1, in which said eye element comprises a shank projecting rearwardly from said housing and said socket element has a base aperture for engagement over the said shank portion, fastening means being

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to fastenings, more especially for dolls' eyes This invention concerns improvements in and relating to fastenings, more especially for dolls' eyes. Eyes of the kind which are intended to be fastened to the fabric of a soft toy, such as a teddy bear, generally comprise a moulded element of synthetic plastics material comprising a head portion arranged to lie against the outer surface of the fabric of the toy, and a shank portion which extends through an aperture in the fabric and is secured at the rear by means of a washer and a fastener, for example a so-called star lock fastener secured over the shank from the rear of the fabric. Such a construction has proved satisfactory for animal eyes of the kind having a generally flat head portion simulating the appearance of an open eye.A socalled "sleeping eye", of the kind provided in dolls, on the other hand, comprises a housing surrounding the pivoted and counter-weighted eyeball, and is therefore of substantial depth and must be accomodated in a socket, for example in a doll's head which is relatively rigid and may be formed of synthetic plastics material. Recently, a demand has arisen for the incorporation of "sleeping eyes" in soft toys such as teddy bears, and the fastening of an eye of such a construction into the fabric of a soft toy has posed considerable problems. Attempts have been made to cement the outer casing of a sleeping eye to the fabric of a soft toy, but such an arrangement is not only unreliable, but also increases the labour involved in the construction of the toy. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide fastening means which is suitable for securing an element such as a so-called "sleeping eye" to the fabric of a soft toy. In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided an eye assembly for a soft toy, comprising a socket element arranged to engage the rear surface of the fabric of the toy, and an eye element arranged on the front surface of the fabric, the said socket element and eye element being arranged for interengagement in such a manner that the fabric of the toy is clamped between the eye element and the socket element, and that the socket element serves to hold the eye element in recessed relationship to the outer surface of the toy. Advantageously, the eye element comprises a head portion and a shank portion, and the socket element comprises a cup member having a base aperture for engagement over the said shank portion, fastening means being provided for engagemenu with said shank portion in order to retain the cup member in place thereon. The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an eye assembly in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 is a part sectional side elevation of the eye assembly of Figure 1, shown in the assembled condition. Referring to the drawings, an eye assembly for incorporation in a soft toy comprises a head portion 1, which may be a so-called "sleeping eye" of conventional construction and having a pivoted, counterweighted eyeball 1A, and a rearwardly extending shank portion 2. The eye assembly further comprises a socket member 3 and a fastening member 4, for example a so-called star lock fastener. For attachment of the eye assembly to the fabric 5 of a soft toy such as a teddy bear, an aperture 5A, which may be simply a slit in the fabric, is formed to receive the shank 2. The shank 2 is now passed through the aperture 5A from one side of the fabric, and the socket member 3 is engaged over the head portion 1, from the other side. The shank 2 passes through an aperture in the base of the socket 3 and is secured in place by means of the fastener 4. As shown more clearly in Figure 2, the fabric 5 is gripped between the head portion 1 and the socket 3 and by virtue of the interengagement of the head portion 1 and the socket 3 the eye assembly is held in recessed relationship to the outer surface of the soft toy defined by the fabric 5. The eye element including the head 1 and the shank 2 may be conveniently formed from injection moulded synthetic plastics material, and the socket element 3 may be formed from thin-walled synthetic plastics material, for example by deep-drawing from a sheet of appropriate plastics material. Advantageously, the socket 3 may incorporate internally directed axial ribs 3Awhich serve to enhance the rigidity of the socket 3 and also to promote frictional gripping engagement with the fabric 5. As will be seen from the above disclosure, the present invention provides an improved construction of eye suitable for incoporation in a soft toy in a simple manner without the requirement for gluing or other laborious assembly procedures, and which enables the mechanism of a sleeping eye to be secured conveniently in recessed relationship to the fabric surface of a soft toy. CLAIMS

2. An eye assembly as claimed in Claim 1, in which said eye element comprises a shank projecting rearwardly from said housing and said socket element has a base aperture for engagement over the said shank portion, fastening means being provided for engagement with said shank portion in order to retain the cup member in place thereon.

3. An eye assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the said socket element comprises a generally cylindrical sidewall having internally projecting axial corrugations for frictional engagement with the fabric of a soft toy in order to clamp said fabric around the circumference of said eye element.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 25.4.80 Superseded claims N.A.

New or amended claims:

4. An eye assembly for a soft toy, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. The features as herein described, or their equivalents, in any novel selection.