GB2163059A

GB2163059A - Walking doll

Info

Publication number: GB2163059A
Application number: GB08519953A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vicente Berenguer Fuentes
Original assignee: Berenguer Hermanos SA
Current assignee: Berenguer Hermanos SA
Priority date: 1984-08-08
Filing date: 1985-08-08
Publication date: 1986-02-19
Also published as: ES8600069A2; IT8454041V0; PT80009B; ES534980A0; GB8519953D0; DE3519400A1; FR2568786A2; PT80009A

Abstract

A battery-operated electric motor for moving the legs (7) of a walking doll is controlled by a switch (not shown) mounted in the head (9) of the doll and operable to close the motor circuit when the arm (8) of the doll is raised and is operable by a gravity responsive counterweight to open the circuit when the doll falls or takes up a supine position. The motor drive is through reduction gears to two offset eccentrics, which act through links to pivot the legs about a horizontal transverse axis, Figures 1 and 2 (not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Walking Doll This invention relates to mechanism for moving the extremities of a doll and is concerned with providing improved mechanism which will effect movement of the lower limbs of the doll as if the doll were actually walking.

For better understanding of the invention and solely by way of example, one embodiment thereof will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure lisa plan view of mechanism in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows the mechanism of Figure 1 in side elevation; and Figure 3 is a side view, with parts broken away, of a doll incorporating the mechanism according to the invention.

As shown in the drawing, a rigid housing 1 incorporates a battery holder la housed in the rear part of the housing and forms the shoulders of the doll.

The housing contains a reduction unit 2 comprising an electric motor operating a train of gears to step down the revolutions of the motor and increase the torque to meet any needs which may arise. The output shaft of the reduction unit 2 projects from both sides thereof and carries, coupled to its opposite ends, two cams 3 offset through 1800 with respect to each other.

The cams are received in apertures in connecting rods 4 and on rotation impart to these latter a thrust in the longitudinal direction of the housing 1. The connecting rods 4 are pivotally connected at 5a to levers 5 pivotally mounted on shafts which project from the housing and carry arms 8 and their other ends are pivotally connected to slotted levers 6 pivotally mounted in the housing.

On rotation of the cams the connecting rods 4 move up and down and their ends opposite to the pivotal connections 5a impart thrust to the slotted levers 6 causing them to rotate about their pivots.

Each lever 6 is extended beyond its pivotal axis to provide a reduced section 6a, which fulfills a safety function against possible breakage of the internal levers of the mechanism. This extension 6a is of reduced section and is made from a flexible and resilient material, the flexion point of which is greater than the resistance to movement of the doll but less than the rupture strength of any component of the mechanism, safety being afforded against breakage of the doll due to external application to the legs of a force which is greater than that which they are capable of withstanding.

At the lower end of each reduced section 6a there is a stepped frustoconical section 6b of greater width which is a force fit in a bore in the upper part of a leg 7 which is secured to the flexible body shell 10 of the doll.

The head 9 of the doll contains a counter-balanced rotary switch (not shown) which is connected to the shafts carrying the arms 8 and opens and closes a circuit to the motor when the doll is in a vertical and a horizontal position respectively.

When the doll has been assembled and is in an upright position, pulling upon the arms 8 of the doll operates the switch to close the circuit to the motor and produce the action of walking. Throughout this action the doll must be held because it is not capable of maintaining its own balance.

If the doll falls or lies down, the rotary switch opens the circuit due to its counterweight acting under the laws of gravity and the mechanism is immobilised.

1. A doll having legs movable by a power unit to simulate walking, said power unit being mounted in a rigid housing within the body of the doll and comprising a battery-operated electric motor and a reduction geartrain, the output shaft of which projects on opposite sides of the unit and is coupled at its ends to a pair of cams offset through 1800 relative to one another and each received in an aperture in one of a pair of connecting rods reciprocable longitudinally in the housing in response to rotation of the cams and having their upper ends pivotally mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and their lower ends connected to slotted levers rotatable about a fixed horizontal axis in the housing and provided with reduced width portions of flexible, resilient material which project through the lower end of the housing and are there provided with enlarged stepped portions of frustoconical form which fit bores in the legs of the doll, characterised by the provision of a rotary counterbalanced switch mounted inside the head of the doll and adapted to open and close a circuit from the battery through the motor when the doll is lying down and when the doll is standing respectively.

2. A doll according to claim 1, wherein the switch is operatively connected to the arms of the doll in such a manner that when said arms are raised the switch is operated to close said circuit.

3. A doll according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the switch is provided with a counterweight which acts under gravity when the doll falls or lies down to operate the switch to open said circuit.

4. A doll having power operated means for moving its legs, substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Walking Doll This invention relates to mechanism for moving the extremities of a doll and is concerned with providing improved mechanism which will effect movement of the lower limbs of the doll as if the doll were actually walking. For better understanding of the invention and solely by way of example, one embodiment thereof will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure lisa plan view of mechanism in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows the mechanism of Figure 1 in side elevation; and Figure 3 is a side view, with parts broken away, of a doll incorporating the mechanism according to the invention. As shown in the drawing, a rigid housing 1 incorporates a battery holder la housed in the rear part of the housing and forms the shoulders of the doll. The housing contains a reduction unit 2 comprising an electric motor operating a train of gears to step down the revolutions of the motor and increase the torque to meet any needs which may arise. The output shaft of the reduction unit 2 projects from both sides thereof and carries, coupled to its opposite ends, two cams 3 offset through 1800 with respect to each other. The cams are received in apertures in connecting rods 4 and on rotation impart to these latter a thrust in the longitudinal direction of the housing 1. The connecting rods 4 are pivotally connected at 5a to levers 5 pivotally mounted on shafts which project from the housing and carry arms 8 and their other ends are pivotally connected to slotted levers 6 pivotally mounted in the housing. On rotation of the cams the connecting rods 4 move up and down and their ends opposite to the pivotal connections 5a impart thrust to the slotted levers 6 causing them to rotate about their pivots. Each lever 6 is extended beyond its pivotal axis to provide a reduced section 6a, which fulfills a safety function against possible breakage of the internal levers of the mechanism. This extension 6a is of reduced section and is made from a flexible and resilient material, the flexion point of which is greater than the resistance to movement of the doll but less than the rupture strength of any component of the mechanism, safety being afforded against breakage of the doll due to external application to the legs of a force which is greater than that which they are capable of withstanding. At the lower end of each reduced section 6a there is a stepped frustoconical section 6b of greater width which is a force fit in a bore in the upper part of a leg 7 which is secured to the flexible body shell 10 of the doll. The head 9 of the doll contains a counter-balanced rotary switch (not shown) which is connected to the shafts carrying the arms 8 and opens and closes a circuit to the motor when the doll is in a vertical and a horizontal position respectively. When the doll has been assembled and is in an upright position, pulling upon the arms 8 of the doll operates the switch to close the circuit to the motor and produce the action of walking. Throughout this action the doll must be held because it is not capable of maintaining its own balance. If the doll falls or lies down, the rotary switch opens the circuit due to its counterweight acting under the laws of gravity and the mechanism is immobilised. CLAIMS