GB2077117A

GB2077117A - Doll head movement

Info

Publication number: GB2077117A
Application number: GB8103095A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SHIBA CO Ltd
Current assignee: SHIBA CO Ltd
Priority date: 1980-06-07
Filing date: 1981-02-02
Publication date: 1981-12-16
Also published as: JPS575287U

Abstract

A doll has a head part 2 and a body part 3 with a reduction gear mechanism 5 disposed inside it. An eccentric cam 6 pivotably secured to a gear chamber 13 housing the reduction gear mechanism and a crank 7 is mounted on the eccentric cam. A head mounting part 4 of the doll is connected to one end of the crank. A reed switch 9 is disposed inside the head part of the doll, and a mouth inserting unit 11 with a magnet 12 is detachable from the mouth 10 of the doll. The doll is capable of swinging its head part, for example vertically, and at the same time effecting movements resembling drinking milk, blowing a whistle and so on upon inserting the mouth inserting unit in the mouth of the doll. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to a doll The present invention relates to a doll whose head part can swing when a member is introduced into the vicinity of, or into, a mouth of the doll.

Dolls which move their heads, or arms and legs utilizing power from batteries, spiral springs and so on are known. However, these dolls have been defective in that they only move their heads, or arms and legs, and fail to provide variety in their facial expression or movements, and to maintain the interest of an observer.

Thus, only dolls which move heads, or arms and legs or which walk have been available, and dolls which imitate the playing movements of infants have not been available in practice. Accordingly, dolls which, for example, move their mouths while sucking a thumb or which move heads or faces and produce sounds while drinking milk have been desired.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a doll having a head part mounted on a body part, wherein a switch is disposed in the head part of the doll, such that the introduction of an actuating unit into the vicinity of, or into a mouth of the doll, causes said switch to render operative means to swing the head part of the doll.

Thus the present invention enables the provision of a doll which does not have the defects described above or at least mitigates the same and which is capable of attracting the attention of infants.

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a doll which imitates the playing movements of an infant, in which the operation of the doll provides variety and interest, and which is realistic, and which is capable of generating various sounds and imitation sounds in correspondence with various operations of the doll.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a head part of the doll is mounted on a body part of the doll, a reduction gear mechanism driven by a motor is disposed in the body part of the doll, an eccentric cam is pivotably secured on a shaft comprising the reduction gear mechanism, a crank is mounted to the eccentric cam, one end of the crank is axially mounted to a head mounting part of the doll, a reed switch is disposed in the vicinity of the mouth of the head part of the doll, a detachable mouth inserting unit with a magnet is included, and the reed switch is rendered operative when the mouth inserting unit with a magnet is inserted in the mouth of the doll so that the reduction gear mechanism and the crank are driven by the motor to swing vertically the head part of the doil.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a cross sectional side view of a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2A shows an enlarged side view of the main part of the driving mechanism shown in Fig. 1; and Figure 2B is a perspective view of the crank thereof; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a second embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the embodiment of Fig. 3. Referring to the drawings, a doll main body 1 which is moulded from a soft or hard synthetic resin comprises a head part 2 and a body part 3 of the doll. The head part 2 and the body part 3 of the doll are hollow.A head mounting part 4 of substantially elliptical shape when viewed from the top is mounted to the lower end opening of the head part 2 of the doll. Protrusions 4a are formed at the peripheries of the top and under surfaces of the head mounting part 4. A mounting part 2a at the lower end of the head part 2 is securely mounted in a recess 4b defined by the protrusions 4a at the circumferential surface of the head mounting part 4. A reduction gear mechanism 5 constitutes a driving means of the doll and is disposed inside the body part 3 of the doll. The mechanism 5 comprises a motor M and a group of reduction gears 51, 52, 53 and 54.The gear 51 engages with the motor shaft S of the motor M, and with the gear 52 through a pinion 51 a: the gear 52 engages with the gear 53 through a pinion 52a; and the gear 53 engages with the gear 54 through the pinions 53a. An eccentric cam 6 is pivotably secured to a shaft 54b of the gear 54. A crank 7 is axially mounted at one end to the front side of the head mounting part 4. The eccentric cam 6 is rotatably connected to a crank 71 at the other end of the crank 7. A rod 8 stands upright at the front side of the head mounting part 4 within the head part 4. A reed switch 9 is disposed in the vicinity of a mouth 10 of the doll. The reed switch 9 is mounted to the rod 8. An actuating unit 11 is in the form of a baby bottle with a magnet 1 2 mounted in the nipple which is insertable into the mouth 10 of the doll.

A gear chamber 1 3 encases the reduction gear mechanism 5 and a battery housing 14 is formed in the lower part of the chamber 1 3. Urethane resin 1 5 surrounds the gear chamber 1 3 to protect the reduction gear mechanism 5. An outer skin 1 6 covers the outside of the urethane resin 1 5 to form the body part 3. Although not shown in the drawings, hands the legs are sewn to the body part 3 to complete the doll. Wiring is disposed between the motor M, the lead switch 9 and the battery as required.

The operation of the doll shown in Figs. 1 and 2 will now be described. The nipple of the actuating unit 11 is inserted in the mouth 10 of the doll. The reed switch is then turned on by the magnetic force of the magnet 12, and the circuit with the motor M is closed to drive the motor M. When the motor M is driven, the reduction gears 51, 52, 53 and 54 are rotated. By the rotational movement of the eccentric cam 6, the crank 7 is operated and the head mounting part 4 is swung, with the rear side thereof being the fulcrum. Thus, as the head part 3 mounted to the head mounting part 4 swings, the doll operates to swing the head part 3 vertically while the doll pretends to drink milk. Thus, an operation corresponding to the movements of a baby drinking milk is imitated.

When the actuating unit 11 with a magnet is detached from the mouth 10, the reed switch 9 is turned off by being released from the magnetic force of the magnet. The motor M then stops its operation, and the head part 3 of the doll stops swinging.

Figures 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a whistling sound is produced as the head part of the doll swings.

In the second embodiment, the doll main body, the mounting structure of the head part, the driving mechanism and so on are the same as in the first embodiment, except that a support column 1 7 extending through the head mounting part 4 stands upright on the gear chamber 13, and an inverted L-shaped rod 81 stands upright at the front side of the head mounting part 4 in opposition to the support column 1 7. A bellows air chamber 1 9 with a whistle 1 8 mounted thereon is mounted in a space between the support column 17 and the inverted L-shaped rod 81.

One side surface of the bellows air chamber 1 9 is secured to the inverted L-shaped rod 81. A mounting bar 1 9a protruding from its other side surface securely fits with the support column 17. The reed switch 9 is disposed in the vicinity of the mouth 10 of the doll, and this reed switch 9 is mounted on the inverted L-shaped rod 81. Numeral 20 denotes a bearing for supporting the support column 1 7 on the head mounting part 4.

In this embodiment, the actuating unit 11 comprises a simulated mu'sical instrument such as a whistle incorporating a magnet.

Thus when the actuating unit 11 (in the form of a simulated whistle and with a magnet) is inserted in the mouth 10, the head mounting part 4 swings with the supporting part of the support column 1 7 as a fulcrum, and the bellows air chamber 1 9 shrinks and stretches.

With the reciprocal movement of the head part 2, the whistle 1 8 produces sounds. Thus, the doll is capable of simulating moving to play with a whistle and of producing a whistle sound at the same time.

By generating with a whistle a sound imitating a baby drinking milk, and using the actuating unit in the form of a baby bottle, the imitation sound of drinking milk may be simultaneously produced with the reciprocal movement for drinking milk of the head part of the doll.

In summary, since a swinging motion and the interruption of such a motion may be effected by attaching and detaching the actuating unit containing a magnet, the movements of the doll closely resemble those of a playing infant. Thus, a doll capable of providing variety and interest can be provided, which has been heretofore impossible.

Claims

1. A doll having a head part mounted on a body part, wherein a switch is disposed in the head part of the doll, such that the introduction of an actuating unit into the vicinity of, or into, a mouth of the doll, causes said switch to render operative means to swing the head part of the doll.

2. A doll according to claim 1, wherein the swing means is disposed in the body part of the doll and comprises a reduction gear mechanism which is drivable by a motor, an eccentric cam which is pivotably secured on a shaft of the reduction gear mechanism, and a crank which is mounted to the eccentric cam, the other end of which crank is axially mounted to a head mounting part of the doll.

3. A doll according to Claim 2, wherein a gear chamber encasing the reduction gear mechanism is disposed inside the body part of the doll.

4. A doll according to Claim 3, wherein the body part of the doll contains urethane resin which surrounds the gear chamber.

5. A doll according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the switch comprises a reed switch.

6. A doll according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a rod element for mounting the switch stands upright from a head mounting part.

7. A doll according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating unit comprises a magnet.

8. A doll according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating unit comprises a baby bottle with a magnet mounted in the nipple thereof.

9. A doll according to any one of the preceding claims, which further comprises a bellows air chamber and sound producing means associated with the bellows air chamber such that the swinging motion of the head part serves to operate the bellows so that a sound is produced.

10. A doll according to claim 9, wherein the bellows air chamber is provided in the head part.

11. A doll, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A doll, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

1 3. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.