GB2215224A - Manipulable doll - Google Patents

Abstract

A toy figure includes body portions (e.g. arms 19 and 21) through which a cord 18 passes, the cord also passing through diametrically-opposed holes in a cylinder 15 and through a diametric hole in a rod 12. The cylinder and rod can be grasped at 16 and 17 and either relatively rotated (C) or relatively axially shifted (A-B). Both actions effectively tighten the cord and articulate the arms to horizontal positions. <IMAGE>

Description

MANIPULABLE DOLL Field of the Invention The invention relates to dolls, and the term "doll" is intended to include reproductions of animals as well as humans.

Review of Art known to the applicant For many years, dolls have been manufactured with limbs and body portions held together by cord members in such a way that, when the cord or cords are pulled tight, the doll portions are effectively locked in rigid relative relationship; and when the cord or cords are released, the doll immediately and spectacularly "collapses".

The invention is primarily concerned with dolls of this generally known kind.

Summary of the Invention The invention is defined in the numbered claims at the end of this specification.

Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings In the drawings: Figure 1 shows in partly "ghosted" perspective one form of doll embodying the invention; and Figures 2, 3 and 4 are respective sketches (each drawn to the same, enlarged when compared with Figure 1, scale) showing diagramatically the way in which the doll can be used.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment The doll shown reproduces a human figure. A spheroid head 11 is mounted atop a rod 12 which is linear, elongate and of substantially constant diameter. Woollen "hair" 13 clothes the head 11 and a bead 14 is fixed to the head to form the centrepiece of a face which is painted into the surface of the sphere 11.

A hollow circular-cylindrical open-ended tube 15 of substantially constant internal diameter is an easy sliding fit on the rod 12. A felt finger-band 16 clothes part of the length of the tube 15, and a similarly constituted finger-band 17 caps the foot end region of the rod 12.

A cord 18 connects two tubular circular-cylindrical linear elongate arms 19, 21 to each opposite-diameter side region of the tube 15. Balls 22, 23 prevent each opposite end of the cord 18 from pulling out of the arms 19, 21; but although the balls are fixed to the cord ends, they are not fixed to either of the arms 19 and 21.

The cord 18 passes through holes 24, 25 piercing the wall of the tube 15 and through a similarly-sized hole 26 running through the rod 12. The hole 26 runs along a diameter of the rod 12, and the holes 24 and 25 similarly pierce the wall of the tube 15 about a diameter of that tube.

With the holes 24, 25 and 26 aligned (as illustrated in Figure 1), the arms 19 and 21 hang limply alongside the tube 15.

But when a user of the doll grasps the band 16 in one hand and the band 17 in the other hand, and pushes the band ' 7 towards the band 16 as illustrated by arrow A in Figure 1, hole 26 is moved relative to the two holes 24 and 25 and the arms 19 and 21 spring upwards to lock rigidly in a position in which they project substantially each at right angles to the tube 15 and at 1800 to one another. Figure 2 illustrates this.

Similarly, if the user moves finger-band 17 away from band 16 in the direction of arrow B in Figure 1, assuming him to start from the Figure 1 position where the arms hang down, then the same thing will happen; as illustrated in Figure 3.

Finally, and again assuming the Figure 1 position initially, if the user rotates rod 12 in either available direction (as indicated by arrow C in Figure 1) then the two arms 19 and 21 will spring out at right angles to the tube 15, and at 180" to each other; as Figure 4 shows.

In the embodiment illustrated, a cone 27 of fabric surrounding tube 15 simulates a dress for the human figure represented.

The narrow end of the fabric cone 27 is glued at 28 to the tube 15. The arms 19 and 21 project through cut-outs in the cone 27; alternatively or additionally, the arms could remain beneath a fabric "cape" of material.

Lace "cuffs" 29, 31 are glued around the projecting end regions of each of the arms 19 and 21 respectively; and a lace "collar" 32 is glued around rod 12 below the spheroidal head 11 of the doll. The collar 32 could incorporate a sufficient thickness of resilient material to cushion any approach of the end of tube 15 to the underside of head 11 when using the doll in that particular mode of operation.

Claims (2)

1. A doll, of the kind with body portions which are articulable relative to one another and through which passes one or more cord members so anchored that the body portions articulate in one direction when the or each cord member is tightened by a user of the doll and in a generally opposite direction when the or each cord member is slackened; characterised by the features that the mechanism for tightening and slackening the cord member or members comprises a tube slideable along and rotatable about a rod; that the tube and the rod constitute body portions, of the doll, into which a cord member passes; and that the passage and anchorage of the cord member, and its interaction with the tube, the rod, and at least one other body portion, are such that either a sliding movement or a rotational movement of the tube relative to the rod will articulate the said one other body portion.

2. A doll operating substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.