GB2279885A

GB2279885A - Sucking action doll

Info

Publication number: GB2279885A
Application number: GB9414102A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yoshizo Nagasaka
Original assignee: Tomy Co Ltd
Current assignee: Tomy Co Ltd
Priority date: 1993-07-16
Filing date: 1994-07-13
Publication date: 1995-01-18
Also published as: JPH079398U; GB9414102D0; JP2550925Y2

Abstract

A doll constructed such that its head (4) freely moves, wherein a magnet (6) is incorporated in at least one of the mouth (5) and objects, a thumb or a pacifier (2, 3) of sucking that can be moved away from the mouth (5), while a magnet (25, 28 Fig. 9) or a magnetic material is incorporated in the others so as to produce magnetic attraction effect between the mouth (5) and the objects (2, 3) of sucking, whereby a sucking action is performed by virtue of the magnetic attraction effect. A sucking sound may be produced by a sound generator (37, Figs. 5 and 7) when the mouth and object of sucking make contact. The doll may also include a locking mechanism for holding the object of sucking a distance from the mouth, and an unlocking mechanism to allow said object to move to said mouth. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION SUCKING ACTION DOLL The present device relates to a sucking action doll which represents a sucking action of, for instance, a baby.

A conventional doll of this type is constructed such that its head is independently moved in an artificial manner and such that an object of sucking such as a toy pacifier and a nipple of a toy feeding bottle is simply artificially inserted in the open mouth of the baby doll so as to be held therein.

In a conventional doll of this type, since the user only forces an object of sucking into the open mouth of the doll, it is not possible to express the expression of the baby. In addition, even if the head in a conventional doll is designed to be moved, it is simply moved by the hand of the user, and on the whole the sucking action of a conventional doll is far from a sucking action that an actual baby performs.

It is an object of the present device to solve the above problem by providing a sucking action doll that is able to represent in a real fashion a natural action of a baby, especially, an action it performs when it does sucking.

The sucking action doll preferably includes a head that is constructed so as to freely shake, wherein a magnet is incorporated in at least one of a mouth or objects of sucking which can be moved away from the mouth, while a magnet or a magnetic material is incorporated in the other so as to produce a magnetic attraction effect between the mouth and the objects of sucking, whereby a sucking action is simulated by virtue of the magnetic attraction effect.

In addition, in this case, at least one of the objects of sucking is a finger of the hand, and it is preferable that the doll comprises a lock mechanism for locking the objects of sucking at a moved-away position, an unlocking mechanism for disengaging the lock, and a transferring means for transferring the object of sucking from the moved-away position to a sucking position when the lock is disengaged.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the doll comprises a voice generating means for generating a sucking sound simultaneously with the abutment of the object of sucking with the mouth or at any time independently from such an abutment. According to the present device, the sucking action doll represents a sucking action of a baby in a natural and real, and moreover heartwarming fashion.

The doll will now be further described and explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an external view of a sucking action doll to which the present device is applied.

Fig. 2 is a cut-away side view of a head shaking mechanism applied to the sucking action doll described in an embodiment of the present device.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the head shaking mechanism described in the embodiment.

Fig. 4 is an external perspective view of a mechanical box incorporated in the torso of the doll of the embodiment.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the interior of the mechanical box according to the embodiment.

Figs. 6a and 6b include a schematic front view (a) and a schematic side view (b) of a transferring mechanism and a lock mechanism, respectively, according to the embodiment.

Figs. 7a and 7b include a schematic front view (a) and a schematic side view (b) both showing a sound generating mechanism according to the embodiment.

Figs. 8a and 8b are drawings showing a lock-unlock arm and an interlocking arm positioned at, respectively, a moved-away position (a) and a sucking position (b) according to the embodiment.

Figs. 9a-9c are explanatory views explaining the movements of the sucking action doll according to the embodiment.

A preferred embodiment of the present device will be described in detail below.

Fig. 1 shows a sucking action toy baby doll. The doll has a sucking finger (thumb which is an object of sucking; hereinafter, referred as a thumb) 2. Also shown in the same figure is a pacifier (an object of sucking) 3. This sucking action doll (hereinafter, referred to as a doll) 1 is constructed such that its head 4 freely shakes and that the thumb 2 of its left hand 8 incorporating therein a magnet 25 (Fig. 9) can be moved closer to and/or away from its mouth 5. In addition, this doll 1 has as an external component a toy pacifier incorporating therein a magnet 28 (Fig. 9).

With this doll 1, when the pacifier 3 is moved closer to the head 4 of the doll 1, the head 4 rockingly moves so as to direct the mouth 5 thereof toward the pacifier 3, and thus the doll performs an action which appears to be longing for the pacifier 3.

When the pacifier 3 continues to be moved much closer to the mouth 5, the pacifier 3 is then attracted to the mouth 5 so as to be adhered thereto. At this moment, it is possible to generate a sucking sound (chu") from the doll 1 by pressing the upper abdomen of its torso 7. Moreover, when the lower abdomen of the torso 7 is pressed without using the pacifier, the left hand 8 starts to slowly move toward the head 4, and when the thumb 2 of the left hand 8 approaches the head 4, the head 4 rocks such that the mouth 5 of the doll 1 is directed toward the thumb 2 of the left hand 8, and the thumb 2 of the left hand 8 is eventually attracted to the mouth 5 so as to be adhered thereto. At this moment, a sucking sound is automatically generated from the doll 1. The left hand 8 can be returned to the initial position in an artificial fashion.

In addition, a sucking sound can be generated at any time independently from the movement of the left hand 8 by pressing the upper abdomen of the doll 1.

The configuration of the doll 1 will next be described in detail.

The doll 1 is constructed as a baby doll and it wears a baby dress. This doll 1 comprises a torso 7, a head 4, arms 26 and legs 27, and a head 4 which is constructed so as to freely shake relative to the torso 7 and the tip of the left hand 8 is constructed so as to be moved closer to and/or away from the head 4.

As shown in Fig. 2, the head 4 incorporates the magnet 6 at the mouth and a head shaking mechanism 9 in the lower portion thereof. Of these two members, the head shaking mechanism 9 comprises, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a supporting frame 10 for supporting the head shaking mechanism 9 in the head 4, an overlapping ring 11 mounted on the supporting frame 10, a pivot shaft 12 penetrating through the center of the supporting frame 10, a rocking base 13 fitted over the exterior of the pivot shaft 12, a supporting frame cover 14 for covering the upper end of the supporting frame 10, a pivot tip receiver 15 disposed in the upper portion of the supporting frame cover 14, a coil spring 16 provided above the pivot tip receiver 15, and a protection cap 17 for holding down the coil spring 16 from above, and a locking ring 21a is mounted at the distal end of the pivot shaft 12 for preventing the head 4 from coming off the torso 7. Although in reality the head rocks relative to the pivot shaft 12, in Fig. 2, as a matter of convenience, the pivot shaft 12 is illustrated as moving relative to the head 4.

The supporting frame 10 is formed into something like a bowl and a circular opening l0a is formed in the bottom thereof. An outward flange 18a is formed around the exterior of a circular rim 18 defining that circular opening lOa, and the supporting frame 10 is secured to the head 4 when this flange portion is brought into engagement with the head 4. The internal surface of the circular rim 18 is brought into abutment with the outer circumference of the pivot shaft 12 when the head 4 rocks to thereby restrict the rocking range of the head 4. In addition, the internal surface of the supporting frame 10 is configured so as to have a predetermined curvature, and the rocking base 13 is designed to be seated thereon.

The overlapping ring 11 is formed into a ring-like shape and is mounted on the exterior of the supporting frame 10. This overlapping ring 11 functions to stabilize the head 4. However, in a case where the supporting frame 10 is formed of a heavy material such as die casting, this overlapping ring 11 is omitted.

The distal end of the pivot shaft 12 is formed into a pointed cone shape, with a spherical surface 19 formed at the distal end thereof. The pivot shaft 12 is secured at its lower end in the torso 7, while it is fitted in the pivot tip receiver 15 at the distal end thereof.

The rocking base 13 is formed into something like a cup, and a cylindrical boss 20 is provided at the center of the bottom thereof in such a manner as to erect therefrom. A through hole 21 is formed through the center of this cylindrical boss 20 along the axis thereof. The pivot shaft 12 is put through this through hole 21, and the rocking base 13 is mounted on the pivot shaft 12 by means of the locking ring 21a that is post mounted at the distal end of the pivot shaft 12. Furthermore, the rocking base 13 is sized such that it is completely received in the supporting frame 10, and the external surface of the rocking base 13 has the same curvature as that of the internal surface of the supporting frame 10. As a result of this, as the head 4 rocks, the supporting frame 10 slidingly moves relative to the external surface of the rocking base 13.

The supporting frame cover 14 is formed into something like a lid for a bowl so that it can cover the upper end of the supporting frame 10, and a cylindrical accommodating portion 22 for incorporating therein the pivot tip receiver 15 is provided at the center of the upper side of the supporting frame cover 14. An inward flange 22a is formed around a through hole of the accommodating portion 22, and the pivot tip receiver 15 is designed to be seated on this inward flange 22a.

The pivot tip receiver 15 is formed substantially into a circular column, and provided at the center of the upper side thereof in such a manner as to upwardly protrude therefrom in a small raised portion 23 on which the coil spring 16 is retained at one end thereof. A conical recessed portion 15a converging toward the upper end is formed inside the pivot tip receiver 15. The spherical surface 19 of the pivot shaft 12 is brought into contact with the bottom of this recessed portion 15a.

The coil spring 16 is interposed between the protection cap 17 and the pivot tip receiver 15 and functions to protect the distal end of the pivot shaft 12 by absorbing an impact or bending stress produced when an excessive force is applied from above or from the side.

The protection cap 17 is formed into a hollow truncated cone and fitted over the external surface of the cylindrical accommodating portion 22 of the supporting frame cover 14.

Provided at the upper end inside the protection cap 17 in such a manner as to downwardly protrude therefrom is a small raised portion 24 on which the coil spring 16 is retained at the other end thereof. The protection cap 17 holds down the coil spring 16 from above and biases the pivot tip receiver 15 downward via the coil spring 16.

The doll incorporates the magnet 25 (Fig. 9) located in the thumb 2 of the left hand 8, and a mechanical box 31 in the abdomen 30. Of these two members, as shown in Fig. 4, a sound generating button 32 and an unlock button 33, for activating the movement of the left hand 8, are vertically provided in that order on the front side of the mechanical box 31, the pivot shaft 12 is provided in such a manner as to protrude from a central position on the upper side of the mechanical box 31, and the proximal end 34 of the left hand of the doll 1 is mounted on the upper portion of the righthand side surface thereof.

As shown in Fig. 5, disposed in the mechanical box 31 are a left hand moving mechanism (transferring means) 35 for moving the left hand from the moved-away position to the sucking position, a lock/unlock mechanism 36 (the lock mechanism and the unlock mechanism are made as an integral body) for temporarily locking and unlocking the left hand moving mechanism 35 at the moved-away position and a sound generating mechanism (a voice generating means) 37 for generating a sound when the sucking position is reached.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the left hand moving mechanism 35 is disposed in the upper portion of the mechanical box 31 and comprises a rotating coil spring 43 for moving a rotating shaft 38 connected to the proximal end 34 of the left hand at one end thereof and a speed governor means 41 for governing the moving speed of the rotating shaft. Of these members, the rotating coil spring 43 is wound around the circumference of a disc 42 secured to the rotating shaft 38, and is caught on a boss 42a on the disc 42 at one end thereof and on a fixed portion (not shown) in the mechanical box 31 at the other.With this rotating coil spring 43, a restoring force is charged by moving the left hand 8 in a direction in which it moves away from the sucking position and the rotating coil shaft functions to bias the left hand 8 toward the sucking position, while the speed governor means 41 is connected to the aforesaid rotating shaft 38 via two large and small speed reduction gears 44, 45. This speed government means 41 comprises a governor mechanism 46.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the lock/unlock mechanism 36 comprises a disc cam 40 coaxially mounted on the above rotating shaft 38, a lock/unlock arm 48 supported on a shaft at an intermediate position along the vertical length of the mechanical box 31, a tension coil spring 49, and the unlocking button 33. A cam groove 47 is formed in the disc cam 40 along a half of She circumferential length thereof. The disc cam 40 is designed to rotate by virtue of the restoring force of the rotating coil spring 43 between the moved-away position and the sucking position. The lock/unlock arm 48 is formed into a U-shape, and the unlocking button 33 for the activation of the movement of the left hand is provided on the upper side of the base portion in such a manner as to protrude therefrom.Four rotating shafts 50, 50, 50, 50 are provided at an intermediate position along the vertical length of the lock/unlock arm 48 in such a manner as to protrude sideways. In addition, a spring catching projection 51 and a lock pawl 52 are provided, respectively, on one arm 48a of the lock/unlock arm 48 and the other arm 48b. The lock pawl 52 is always biased about the rotating shaft 50 as a fulcrum by means of the tension coil spring 49 caught on the spring catching projection 51 so as to be brought into tight contact with a circumference 53 of the disc cam 40, and when it comes to face one end of the cam groove 47 of the disc cam 40, it is designed to fall in it.

In a case where the left hand 8 is locked at the moved-away position, it is lowered against the rotating coil spring 43, and the above lock pawl 52 faces the one end of the cam groove 47 by rotating the disc cam 40 in a direction designated by an arrow A in Fig. 5 so that it falls in the groove to thereby effect locking.

In contrast, in a case where the lock is released, the unlocking button 33 is pressed so as to make the lock pawl 52 leap up by using the principle of leverage to thereby release the lock pawl 52 out of the cam groove 47, unlocking the lock.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 7, the sound generating mechanisms 37 comprises a bellows whistle 54, a sound generating button 32, a link arm 55 and the disc cam 40 used in the aforesaid lock/unlock mechanism 36.

The bellows whistle 54 is disposed in the lower portion of the mechanical box 31, and when pressed at the front side, it is constructed such that a sucking sound of "chu" is generated from a whistle body incorporated therein. The sound generating button 32 is disposed at the center of the mechanical box 31 in such a manner as to be held between the both arms 48a, 48b of the aforesaid Ushaped lock/unlock arm 48. This sound generating button 32 has a cylindrical main body 56, a pressing projection 57 extending to the front side of the bellows whistle 54 and a shaft 58 provided on the back side of the main body 56, and is biased forward by means of a push coil spring 59. When this sound generating button 32 is pressed, the pressing projection 57 presses the front side of the bellows whistle 54 so as to generate a sucking sound.In addition, this sound generating button 32 is designed to automatically return to the initial position by means of the push coil spring 59 when the pressing stops.

The link arm 55 is formed as an integral member comprising a sound generating lever 61 extending in a curved fashion from a rotating shaft 60 to the front side of the bellows whistle 54, and an interlocking lever 62 extending from the rotating shaft 60 to the back side of the disc cam 40, and provided at the distal end of the interlocking lever 62 is an interlocking sound generating pawl 63 that is formed from a gently curved surface. This interlocking sound generating pawl 63 is biased by means of a tension coil spring 64 in such a manner as to be brought into tight contact with the circumferential surface of the disc cam 40 as in the case with the above-mentioned lock pawl 52 of the lock/unlock arm 48, and the interlocking sound generating pawl 63 is disposed such that the disc cam 40 is interposed between the lock pawl 52 and itself.As shown in Fig. 8, when the lock pawl 52 falls in the cam groove 47 and stays at the moved-away position, the interlocking sound generating pawl 63 is designed to be released from the cam groove 47 (Fig. 8(a)), while when the lock pawl 52 is released from the cam groove 47 and stays at the sucking position, the interlocking sound generating pawl 63 is designed to fall in the cam groove 47 (Fig. 8(b)).

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, when the unlocking button 33 is pressed so that the lock pawl 52 of the lock/unlock arm 48 is released from the cam groove 47 of the disc cam 40 to thereby unlock the lock, the disc cam 40 rotates in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by arrow A in Fig. 5 due to the restoring force of the rotating coil spring 43, and the left hand 8 rotates upwardly (in a direction indicated by an arrow B in Fig. 5) and the thumb 2 of the left hand 8 is attracted to the mouth 5 so as to adhere thereto. At the moment when the thumb 2 of the left hand 8 reaches the sucking position, the interlocking sound generating pawl 63 falls in the other end of the cam groove 47 of the disc cam 40, and the sound generating lever 61 is caused to press the front side of the bellows whistle 54, whereby a sucking sound of "chu" is designed to be generated.

The action of the sucking action doll 1 will now be described while referring to Fig. 9.

As shown in Fig. 9(a), in a normal state, the doll 1 rocks the head 4 due to the head shaking mechanism 9 which is in action due to external movements.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 9(b), when the pacifier 3 as an external component is moved closer to the mouth 5, the doll 1 rocks its head 4 toward a position where the strongest magnetic force is available due to the magnetic attraction effect being generated between the magnets 6, 28 incorporated, respectively, in the head 4 and the pacifier 3. As the pacifier continues to be moved much closer to the mouth, it is attracted to the mouth so as to adhere thereto. In other words, the doll 1 can react against the pacifier 3, rockingly move its head 4, and appear to be longing for the pacifier 3 in a natural fashion. Once the pacifier is put into the mouth 5, the doll 1 performs a sucking action. In addition, at this moment if the sound generating button 32 is pressed, it is possible to generate a sucking sound of "chu".

Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 9(c), when the unlocking button 33 is pressed, the doll 1 directs the thumb 2 of the left hand 8, incorporating therein the magnet 25, toward the head 4. Moreover, when the thumb 2 approaches a predetermined position, the doll 1 rocks its head 4 so as to direct the mouth 5 toward the thumb 2 due to the magnetic attraction effect being generated between the magnets 6 and 26 which are incorporated in the mouth 5 and the thumb 2, respectively. When the thumb 2 continues to approach the mouth 5, the doll 1 moves the mouth 5 toward a position where the strongest magnetic force is available and causes the thumb 2 to be attracted by the mouth 5 so as to eventually adhere thereto. In addition, at the same time as the thumb 2 adheres to the mouth 5, the bellows whistle 54 is pressed, and a sucking sound of "chu" is produced.This doll 1 can make the thumb 2 of the left hand 8 approach the mouth 5, appear to long for a pacifier in a natural way, put the thumb 2 of the left hand 8 in the mouth while producing a sucking sound - of "chu", and appear to perform a sucking action in a natural and real fashion.

While the sucking action according to the present device has been described in connection with a baby of human being, it is possible to apply this, for instance, to baby animals. In addition, in this embodiment, although a combination of a magnet and a magnet is employed with a view of producing the magnetic attraction effect between the mouth of the doll and an object of sucking, for instance, other arbitrary combinations such as of a magnet and a magnetic material may be employed. In this case, when taking a factor of cost into consideration, since there are a number of objects of sucking, it is desirable that a magnet is incorporated in the mouth of the doll, while a magnetic material, which is less expensive than the former, is incorporated in the objects of sucking.Furthermore, in this embodiment, although the left hand moving mechanism is a mechanically operated mechanism, instead of the mechanical mechanism, for instance, a mechanism may be employed in which pneumatic pressure is used to move the left hand. In addition, instead of the mechanical mechanism, a mechanism may be also employed in which the left hand is held by the user so as to carry the thumb of the left hand to the mouth in an artificial manner. Although a sucking action that a baby likes to perform is represented by using the attraction effect by a magnetic force, it is possible by additionally preparing "something like what it does not like" in addition to the objects of sucking, to represent a "no, no" action performed when the baby shakes its head against "what it does not like" through the repulsion effect between magnets. The present device may be used for arbitrary applications with similar functions being exhibited to meet respective applications. Moreover, suitable modifications may be made to the configurations of the detailed portions without departing from the spirit of the present device.

Claims

1. A doll comprising: a neck unit; a head configured to freely move upon the neck unit; a mouth on said head; and an object of sucking; wherein said object of sucking and said mouth are attracted to one another.

2. A sucking action doll as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a lock mechanism for retaining said object of sucking at a distance from said mouth; and an unlocking mechanism for unlocking said lock mechanism to allow the object of sucking to move to said mouth.

3. A sucking action doll as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising: transport means, for transporting said object of sucking from a distance from said mouth to said mouth.

4. A sucking action doll as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising: an arm mechanism which moves to said mouth; and a thumb located at the distal end of said arm, wherein said thumb serves as the object of sucking.

5. A sucking action doll as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising: a pacifier, wherein said pacifier serves as the object of sucking.

6. A sucking action doll as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein: said mouth includes a magnet and said object of sucking includes a magnetic material.

7. A sucking action doll as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein: said mouth includes a magnetic material and said object of sucking includes a magnet.

8. A sucking action doll as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein: said mouth includes a magnet and said object of sucking includes a magnet.

9. A sucking action doll as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein: said mouth includes a magnet and said object of sucking includes a magnet positioned such that the magnets repel one another.

10. A sucking action doll as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising: sound generating means for generating a sucking sound when said mouth and said object of sucking make contact.

11. A doll substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.