US1326790A

US1326790A - Joint for dolls

Info

Publication number: US1326790A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1919-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 1936-12-30

Description

' w., (a. SCHOENHUT.

- JOINT FOR DOLLS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18, 1919.

1,326,790. Patented Dec. 30,1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT WILLIAM G. SCI-IOENHUT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'TO THE A. SCI-IOENI-IUT COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

JOINT FOR DOLLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. :30, 1919.

Application filed September 18, 1919. Serial No. 324,343.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. Sononn- HUT, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Joints for Dolls, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to dolls; and the object of my invention is to provide that form of mechanical dolls known as walking dolls with a special form of joint for connecting the legs to the body which, while sufliciently stiff to insure either leg main taining the desired position or condition when the doll is operated to simulate walking, may be turned on its pivotal connection with the body so that the doll may be caused to assume a sitting posture.

As is well known, dolls of the so-called walking type are provided with spring tension means of some suitable character that will cause the legs to project forwardly a slight distance; the tension of such spring not being suificient to prevent one leg being held momentarily while the other is projected forward by the spring, andthese acts being carried out alternately, the walking effect is produced. In the former constructions, however, the joints between the legs and the body have been of such a character that the doll cannot be-placed in a sitting posture, and the essential object of my invention is to provide means that will permit this condition and at the same time provide a structure that may be operated as a walking doll. 7

These and other features of my invention are more fully described hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l, is a sideelevation showing a form of doll to which my invention has been applied.

Fig. 2, is a front elevation of sufficient of the dolls body and the legs thereof to illustrate the joint structure connecting these parts and forming the subject of my invention.

Fig. 3, is a side elevation, partlyin section, showing the'position of the joint structure in the so-called walking position, in full lines, and showing in dotted lines the position of the joint structure when the doll is in the sitting posture.

Fig.4, is a perspective view of the form of joint block shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 5, is an edge view of another form of joint block within the scope of my invention, and

Figs. 6 and 7, are sectionalviews of the joint member shown in Fi 5, taken on the lines "VI-VI and VII'%II, respectively.

In the drawings, 1 represents the body of the doll, and 2, the legs. These parts are shown in the present instance as connected by joint blocks 3; the latter having a pivotal connection with the body, and a pivotal connection with the legs; pins 4 and 5, respectively, being employed for this purpose.

The connection of these joint-blocks with the body should be quite tight, and to produce the desired friction and maintain a relatively stiff joint at this'point which will require some effort toeifect movement of the same with respect to the body,I may provide a structure such as illustrated in the accompanyin drawings.

The joint bloc 25 shown in Figs. 1, 2, ct. 86Q., may be of compressed fiber, hard rubber, or other suitable material, and comprises the part 3 which is in engagement with the body, and the part 3 engaging the leg; said part 3 being relatively larger than the part 3 and having very tight frictional engagement with the body, which is slotted at 1 to receive the same. The legs are slotted at 2 to receive the ends 8 of'the joint blocks. I

The opposite end of the joint block, indicated at 8* and pivotally connected to the leg by the pin 5, is provided with a slot or groove 6 for the reception of a spring member 7, which may be of wire and which is employed with the leg-joint to keep the leg or body projected forward with respect to each other, and the free movement of such part 3' with respect to the leg is only restrained by said spring. The position of the spring, which is a light afiair preferably of round wire, is clearly shown in Fig. 3; one end may be caught in the joint block as indicated, while the other end may hook over the back of the leg in the slot 2. The tension of the springs is such that it will not prevent movement of the doll on one leg against the force or power of the spring carried by the other leg, and then when the leg which has been first held is released,

the spring of the same will throw it forward to the eXtent of its movement with respect to the joint, and a repetition of these acts will simulate walking, when the doll is held by the hand and moved along, with the feet alternately contacting with the ground.

The smaller projection 3 of the joint block, therefore, while lying in the slot 2 at the upper end of the leg is not in frictional contact therewith, and is free to move to the extent permitted by the wall of the slot 2. The larger projection 3, however, is in definite frictional engagement with the walls of the slot 1 in the body; the frictional engagement being such that while no movement with respect thereto can take place while the doll is simulating walking, such joint block 3 can be moved upon its pivot pin t with respect to the body when it is desired to place the doll in a sitting posture.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, I have shown another form of joint block of the same shape as that shown in Figs. 1, 2, e25 869., which joint block may be of wood and may comprise the part 38 for engagement with the body, and the part 33 for engagement with the leg; said part 33* being relatively larger than the part 33 as in the other structure, and being provided with grooves 8 and 8", which may be essentially narrow saw kerfs. The abutments or end walls of these saw kerfs may lie at an angle with respect to each other, as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7, an arrangement which gives the block the desired compressibility and resiliency and avoids danger of the material, usually wood, splitting.

WVhile I have shown a joint structure involving a joint-block of solid material, one form being of wood, with saw kerfs therein. to provide the desired resiliency to insure proper frictional engagement with the walls of the recesses 1 formed the doll, I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown since any suitable means; a metal structure, solid or otherwise, or a combination structure including metal parts, having a portion or portions for engagement with the body and insuring the desired frictional engagement therewith may be employed, such modified forms of joint structures having in all instances means that will additionally provide the desired spring supported pivotal connection with the leg; the joint structure or joint block being so held to the body as to prevent movement with respect to the same until it is desired to place the doll in the sitting posture.

I claim:

1. In a joint for the legs of dolls, the combination with the body and a leg, of a member connecting the leg and body, meansproin the body of viding for frictional engagement of said member with the body to prevent movement of the same under normal conditions but permit movement under other conditions, and a pivotal connection for said member with the leg free to have limited movement with respect to the latter under all conditions.

In a joint for the legs of dolls, the combination with the body and a leg, of an in termediate joint member connecting the leg and body; said member having such; frictional engagement with the body as to prevent movement of the same under normal conditions and permit movement under other conditions and a pivotal connection with the leg free to have limited movement with respect to the latter under all conditions, and tension means between said joint member and the leg.

3. In a joint for the legs of dolls, the combination with the body and a leg, of an intermediate joint member, and pivotal connections between the same and the leg and body; said joint member tightly fitting the body whereby movement of the same under normal conditions is prevented while the pivotal connection of said joint member with the leg is free to have limited movement with respect to the latter under all conditions.

a. In a joint for the legs of dolls, the combination with the body and a leg, of an intermediate joint member comprising a block connecting the leg and body, and pivot pins securing said joint member to the leg and body; said block having such frictional engagement with the body as to prevent movement of the same under normal conditions but permit movement under other conditions; the pivotal connection of said joint member with the leg being free to have limited movement with respect to the latter under all conditions.

5. In a joint for the legs of walking dolls, the combination with a body and a leg thereof, of a joint section connecting the leg and body and pivotally attached to each of the same, means insuring close engagement of said joint section with thebody to maintain the leg of the doll in the walking position but permitting movement of the leg to a sitting posture; the pivotal connection of said joint section with the leg being relatively free to have limited movement with respect to the latter, and tension means be tween the joint section and leg. I

6. In a joint for the legs of walking dolls, the combination with a body and a leg there of, of a joint section connecting theleg and body and pivotally attached to each of the same; the body being slotted to receive the joint section and the latter being held in tight engagement with the body to maintain the leg in the walking position but permitting movement to a sitting posture with respect to the body, and the pivotal connection of said joint section with the leg bein relatively free for limited movement with respect to the latter, and a spring interposed between the joint section and the leg for effecting movement of the latter with respect to said joint section.

In a joint for the legs of walking dolls, the combination with a body and a leg thereor", of a block forming a joint section, pins connecting the leg and body thereto; the connection with the body being stiff and the connection with the leg being loose, and tension means at the connection between the joint section and the leg for eifecting move ment of said leg with respect to the joint section.

8. In a joint for the legs of walking dolls, the combination with a body and a leg thereof, of a block forming a joint section, pins connecting the leg and body thereto; the connection with the body being stiff and the connection with the leg being loose, and a spring interposed between the joint section and the leg for efi'ecting movement! of the latter with respect to said joint section.

9. In a joint for the limbs of dolls, the combination with the body and a limb, of a member mounted for movement with respect to the body and normally in tight frictional engagement therewith; said member having a pivotal connection with the limb free to have limited movement with respect to the latter under all conditions.

10. In a joint for the limbs of dolls, the combination with the body and a limb, of an intermediate joint block member mounted for movement with respect to the body and normally in tight frictional engagement therewith; said member having a pivotal connection with the limb free to have limited movement with respect to the latter under all conditions, and tension means between said joint member and the limb.

11. In a joint for the legs of walking dolls, the combination with a body and a leg thereof, of a block mounted for movement with respect to the body and leg and having tight engagement with the body; the 1 connection with the leg being relatively loose,-and tension means at the connection between the joint block and the leg for effecting movement of said leg with respect to the joint block.

12. In a joint for the legs of walking dolls, the combination with a body and a leg thereof, of a block mounted for movement with respect to the leg and body and having tight engagement with the body; the connection with the leg being relatively loose, and a spring interposed between the joint block and the leg for efiecting movement of the latter with respect to said joint block.

WM. G. SCHOENHUT.

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