GB2609204A - Ornamental device - Google Patents

Abstract

An ornamental device, such as a doll depicting a person, comprises a body and a head. The head comprises a convex transparent cover and a back 1, the back 1 being separatable from the cover to provide a slot or recess (56, figure 7); wherein the slot or recess is adapted to receive a photograph 16. The head may be substantially spherical.

Description

ORNAMENTAL DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an ornamental device, in particular a device for providing a doll depicting a person; more particularly but not exclusively in a humorous form.

Background

Many people enjoy giving novelty and celebratory gifts to others, often including representations or depictions of people.

Additionally or alternatively some people may want reminders of lost or distant people, 15 for example in a physical and/or three dimensional form. These may act as therapeutic as well as amusing objects.

Prior Art

JP 2003 284 872 (MORIKUBO) discloses a doll being the doll body is constituted of a doll main body having at least a head part, a face member which is fitted on the head part, the face sheet which is pasted on the face member, and a hair member which is fitted on the head part on which the face member is fitted. The head part is formed by integral moulding with a synthetic resin, and a fitting part for the face member is provided by the moulding on the front part of the head part.

US 5 676 584 (PERRYMAN) discloses a series of interchangeable faces incorporated into a child's doll includes a plane and nondescript head portion extending from the main body of the doll and series of head slip covers, with each head slip cover including a distinct facial expression. Each head slip cover includes a back, crown, neck, and face panel, with the distinct facial expression formed on the face panel. The back panel includes an elongated slit to allow the head to be quickly and easily inserted into the head slip cover.

US 2003 0 236 050 (LANDRY) discloses a psychotherapeutic aid in the form of a doll, comprising of a non-gender, non-racially specific soft plush body, head, arms, and legs, which are assembled by sewing all pattern pieces into a one piece, hooded jump suit with mitten style hands, and booty style feet along with a photographic reproduction of a human face, of any age, gender, race, and the photographic reproduction of a human face is integrally assembled as the doll's face, is disclosed.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided an ornamental device comprising a body and a head, the head comprises a convex transparent cover and a back, the back separated from the cover to provide a slot, wherein the slot is adapted to receive a photograph.

The photograph may be envisaged to be a photograph of a person's face. It may be for example be envisaged that the photograph may be substituted with another planar material, such as a printed piece of paper.

In this way the device of the present invention enables a user to place a photograph of themselves or another person into the slot.

The photograph is thereby magnified, and may be distorted or exaggerated, so as to provide a comical or cartoon effect to the photograph, and thereby provide a 25 recognisable or comedy depiction of a person within the device, or more particularly head.

In some embodiments the head is capable of separation so as to replace the photograph. For example the head may comprise two parts, which parts may be the back and the cover. The cover or the back may be permanently attached to the body for example. In other embodiments the slot may include a lid, which lid may be displaced to access the slot. In other embodiments the head may be formed in retail or manufacture with the photograph.

In some embodiments the head comprises a cap attachment mechanism. Such mechanism may form a closure for the head, for example wherein the mechanism comprise a plug or clip, which clips parts together.

In some embodiments the cap attachment mechanism is reversible. In other embodiments the mechanism may be unidirectional, for example formed or operated in retail or manufacture.

In some embodiments the mechanism is arranged to allow a user to clip a hat or lid onto the head with an interference, tolerance or friction fit.

In this way the device may be rendered capable of customisation in relation to hats 10 replicating hairstyles or headgear.

In some embodiments the body comprises a basal part and one or more displaceable covering sections. In this way it may be envisaged that the body may be rendered customisable, for example so as to replicate the person's clothing, body or torso in 15 particular.

Such sections may include arms in such embodiments, for example such that the sections may be define the body shape. The basal pad may be envisaged to provide a simple form, wherein the sections provide definition or depiction of body shape, arms 20 and other depictable features.

In some embodiments the body comprises two covering sections so as to provide customisable clothing for the body, or so as to fully define a body shape from more angles.

It may be envisaged for example that the two sections may clip together around the body basal portion, and may be envisaged to connect to each other, rather than the body, allowing a greater selection of sections, shapes, clothing or body shapes.

It may be envisaged for example that the body basal portion may be shaped so as to allow easy clipping around by the sections. For example the basal portion may be ovaloid, or otherwise enlarged centrally.

In some embodiments the covering sections are arranged to clip onto the basal portion 35 with an interference, tolerance fit.

In some embodiments the back is convex. In this way it may be envisaged that the in some embodiments the head is substantially spherical. In this way an opaque material may provide an appearance of the back of a head and/or be the same colour as the body. The material of the device may be unitary and/or may be envisaged to be a plastics such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, In other embodiments the head or a part thereof may be plastic, glass or rubber. For example it may be envisaged that the back may additionally be provided in a convex transparent or translucent material, such that the head may depict the person from behind also, for example with addition of a further photograph.

The device may further include feet, and/or legs. Such embodiments may include 10 displaceable and/or replaceable feet or legs so as to further allow for depiction.

In other embodiments the device may comprise a surface attachment means, for example a ferromagnetic means or suction cup means, clamp or clip means.

In other embodiments the device may include an energy source. For example the energy source may be a battery, which may be rechargeable and/or displaceable. The energy source may enable the device to provide a light source, for example so as to light illuminate the head, photograph, body or surroundings. The energy source may additionally or alternatively allow for an audio production means, for example wherein the device may have a memory, loudspeaker and may have a means of uploading sounds or audio, for example so as to aid in depiction of the person or other purpose.

In other embodiments the cover may include a fluid filling, for example so as to provide a further means of altering or distorting the photograph. In such embodiments the fluid may be filled with particles or glitter.

In other embodiments the device may take a different form. For example through body, head and/or hair parts, or added parts, it may be envisaged that the device may comprise various animals, hobbies, sports, lion manes, golfer hats, diver's masks, space helmets and suits, religious attire etc. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a first embodiment of the device according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention; Figure 6 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in 20 Figure 5; and Figures 8 show isometric views of a third embodiment of the device according to the 25 present invention.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures the figures shown embodiments of an ornamental device 30 99, 199, 299 generally comprising a body 11 and a head 10, wherein the head comprises a convex transparent cover and a back 1, the back separated from the cover to provide a slot 56, wherein the slot is adapted to receive a photograph 16.

In particular reference to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the embodiment 35 comprises a substantially spherical head 10 and a body 11 comprised of a monolithic basal portion 15 and a bipartite covering section 4, 5, which section comprises two covering sections which clip together at the side of the body.

The covering sections together define arms at the sides of the basal portion. The arms 5 comprise substantially semi-circular plates which have mating male and female connectors on opposing plates on opposing sections.

The basal portion is circular in lateral section and arranged to swell centrally, to a waistline. The basal portion narrows in section towards a neck.

The waistline comprises a crotch which is shown as covered by underpants. Two short leg pillars 7 depend below the underpants and have flat ends.

The head is substantially spherical with a slot in the top of the sphere, to access a substantially circular internal slot space.

The embodiment has a slot that is the width of the internal slot so as to define a semicircular open face to the internal slot, and a semi-circular basal edge to the internal slot, which edge is formed by a receiving socket 12 on the back 1 mating with a projecting lip on the cover. This may be displaceable or permanent according to embodiment.

The pictured embodiment includes a clip on lid 3, which comprises a top face providing a continuation of the outer surface of the head when in place thereon, and a lower face with depending resilient clip arms 31 with end barbs. The clip arms are arranged to clip into an entrance 13 in the back, behind the internal slot, and the barbs are clipped irreversibly in place in the head. The head parts, the cover and the back, are permanently joined together, and there is a reduced diameter outer surface in a top segment 14 of the sphere, so as to allow the lid 3 to emplace thereon.

The cover and back are both formed in transparent plastics such as polyethylene, and the body is formed in coloured, printed or painted plastics such as acrylonitrile butadiene (ABS).

The second embodiment comprises the first embodiment permanently or displaceably secured on a square plinth 100, wherein the legs fit a socket 101.

The third embodiment comprises an alien themed doll, with a fixed body 33 having two sets of two arms, and a lid 32 with a projecting antenna.

In still further embodiments the device may be provided with ears, that may form a part of the head or the lid.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing 10 from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims (10)

1. Claims 1. An ornamental device comprising a body and a head, the head comprises a convex transparent cover and a back, the back separated from the cover to provide a slot, wherein the slot is adapted to receive a photograph.
2. 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the back of the device is convex.
3. 3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the head is adapted to separate in order to receive the photograph.
4. 4. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the head comprises a cap attachment mechanism.
5. 5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the cap attachment mechanism is reversible.
6. 6. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the mechanism is arranged to receive a user clip, a hat or a lid on the head with an interference fit.
7. 7. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the body comprises a basal part and one or more displaceable cover sections.
8. 8. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the body comprises two covering sections so as to provide customisable clothing for the body.
9. 9. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the covering sections are arranged to clip onto the basal portion with an interference fit.
10. 10. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the head is substantially spherical.