GB2196545A - Dolls - Google Patents

Abstract

A doll contains an electrical circuit including a normally open electrical switch 7 adapted to be closed under the action of a magnetic field. The doll body includes a recess provided with a magnetically permeable partition 9 positioned close to the switch. A permanent magnet 10 advantageously in the form of a heart is removably positionable in the recess to close the switch. The circuit can cause emission of sounds, tears, blushing or walking. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to dolls BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to dolls or other toys, such as fluffy animals, representing living creatures and capable of walking, gamboiing, emitting sounds, shedding tears, or more generally of coming to life in the manner of a true living creature.

To simplify matters, these toys will be designated in the following by the word "dolls", not used, of course, in any iimiting manner.

The invention relates more particularly, among these dolls, to those whose body contains an actuating electric circuit with a battery controlled by a general electrical switch.

In known embodiments of these dolls, the general electrical switch is accessible from the outside of the doll and is in the form of a knob or a two position lever (ON-OFF).

This switch has several drawbacks.

Certain of them are of a psychological nature: it is necessary for the child to switch on or switch off the doll mechanically. This destroys in part the mysterious effect sought with a live doll, which is to make it as life-like and "real" as possible.

Other drawbacks are of a purely mechanical nature: a switch jams, a lever breaks, the contacts are not closed if the switch is not pressed fully home. Often the child does not manage alone to operate the switch on account of friction brought into play and must call for the assistance of an adult to "make the doll work".

Finally, the presence of a switch accessible from the outside and controlling a contact inside the doll generally creates a rupture in the fluid tightness of the body of the latter which renders the internal mechanisms more vulnerable to dust and to moisture.

US patent 3,232,004 provides another type of switch not having these drawbacks: it is an electric switch with magnetically operable contact strips, normally open and placed inside the doll at the position of its heart. By applying externally against the heart of the doll, a "toy stethoscope" the head of which contains a permanent magnet, the switch is closed which triggers periodic emissions of sounds imitating heart beats.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention uses this type of electrical switch actuated magnetically, which permits the starting and stopping of the operation of a doll easily, without it being necessary to exert mechanical action. The risks of jamming are eliminated and the fluid tightness of the body of the doll is increased by the supression of external operation of the swich.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a more attractive and less fragile doll than those hitherto known for the children who play with it, particularly in that it permits the start-stop control of the operation of the doll almost "magically" by the child, who does not have the impression of starting up a little robot; the child sees on the contrary the coming to life of the doll as if by magic, whenever he or she so decides.

To this end, the switch is a switch with a contact normally open, adapted to be closed under the action of a magnetic field, and according to the invention, the body comprises a casing provided with a magnetically permeable partition placed closed to the switch, said casing being arranged so as to receive in easily removable manner, a permanent magnet adapted to actuate the closing of the contact of the switch through the magnetically permeable partition.

In preferred embodiments, recourse is had, in addition, to one and/or other of the following features: -the casing is situated in the region of the heart of the doll, -the magnet has the shape of a heart, -the inner surface of the casing is devoid of metallic parts, -this inner surface is covered with fabric.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows of a particular embodiment given by way of non-limiting example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This description refers to the accompanying drawings in which: -Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically an embodiment of a doll constructed according to the invention, and switched off.

-Fig. 2 shows diagramatically the same doll when switched on.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The doll 1 comprises, housed in its body 2, an electrical operating circuit shown diagramatically at 3.

This circuit 3 comprises an actuating device 4 for the doll and batteries 5 for the electrical supply.

In the case iliustrated in Fig. 2, the actuating device 4 ensures the emission of sounds 6 such as, for example, short phrases alternated with periods of silence. However, the operation of the doll may be quite otherwise.

In manner known in itself and without this being limiting, the device 4 may in particular permit the doll to move, to walk, to shed real tears, to blush, etc. the device 4 may besides, advantageously comprise elements of actuation interlocked with a particular factor such as, for example, light, heat or the relative movement of the child with respect to the doll.

The electrical actuating circuit 3 is controlled by a general switch 7 normally open, adapted to be closed under the effect of a magnetic field.

The doll comprises, in addition, a casing A provided with a magnetically permeable partition 9 placed near the switch 7.

The casing 8 is arranged so as to be able to receive a magnet 10 in easily removable manner.

There is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a casing provided with a closing cover 11 which ensures the holding in position of the magnet 10 previously inserted in the casing. This cover 11 has a shape identical with that of the corresponding portion of skin of the doll, so that the body of the doll has a normal aesthetic configuration after closing of this cover.

However other methods of holding the magnet are quite conceivable, such as a self wedging system, for example, in which the magnet is force fitted whilst being easily disengagable.

The casing A is devoid of metallic portion on its inner surfaces, so that its appearance is as far as possible from that of an electrical contact. It is preferably covered with fabric, for example velvet, but may be constituted simply of plastics material or the like, forming the body of the doll.

The general electrical switch is preferably placed in the region of the heart of the doll 1.

The magnet can then advantageously have the shape of a heart.

The operation of the doll is as follows: In switched off position the magnet 10, which can be attached to the doll by a thread or be kept aside by the child, is outside the casing 8.

When the child wishes to make its doll come to life, it introduces the magnet into the casing, which has the effect of closing the general switch 11. The device is then actuated by the electrical current coming from the batteries 5 and the doll comes to life.

To stop the operation of the doll it suffices to remove the magnet from the casing: in the absence of a magnetic field, the switch is opened by itself and the actuating device is no longer power supplied.

With a doll such as described, the child has the feeling of playing with a magic doll. It operates and stops without a mechanical switch, as if the introduction of the magnet communicated to the doll a fluid which brings it to life. In addition, when the magnet is in the shape of a heart the fact that it is the introduction of this heart into the doll which seems to give it "life", is in itself marvellous, psychologically and emotionally.

By battery must be understood any self contained means capable of providing the electricity necessary for the operation of the actuating device. It can particularly be an accumulator rechargable by solar energy or mains supply current.

As is self-evident and as results besides already from the foregoing, the invention is in no way limited to those of its types of application and embodiments which have been more especially envisaged; it encompasses on the contrary all modifications and particularly: -those where the magnet has a shape other than that of a heart, for example that of a cylinder, a cube, etc.

-those where the magnet is provided with a protuberance enabling it to be easily gripped.

-those where the magnet has the shape of a band or ring that the child can place on the finger.

-those where the switch and the casing are situated in a part of the doll other than the region of the heart.

Claims (7)

1. Doll whose body contains an electrical circuit actuated by a battery controlled by a general electrical switch with a normally open contact adapted to be closed under the action of a magnetic field, wherein the body comprises a casing provided with a magnetically permeable partition placed close to the switch, said casing being arranged so as to receive in easily removable manner a permanent magnet adapted to control the closing of the switch contact through said partition.

2. Doll according to claim 1 wherein the casing is situated in the region of the heart of the doll.

3. Doll according to claim 2, wherein the magnet has the shape of a heart.

4. Doll according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the casing is devoid of metallic part.

5. Doll according to claim 4 wherein the inner surface of the casing is covered with fabric.

6. A doll substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.