US20100041301A1

US20100041301A1 - Clip fashion for a doll

Info

Publication number: US20100041301A1
Application number: US12/541,598
Authority: US
Inventors: Kerry Phillips
Original assignee: Rehco LLC
Current assignee: Rehco LLC
Priority date: 2008-08-15
Filing date: 2009-08-14
Publication date: 2010-02-18

Abstract

An article of doll clothing is provided having two sections. Each section has a back portion and a front portion, the front portions having a lateral edge and the back portions being joined together about a clasp region. The clasp region includes a spring mechanism pivotally attaching the two sections and is normally biased by the spring mechanism such that the two sections are in a closed position. Compressing and releasing the clasp region separates and closes the two sections about the lateral edges such that the article of clothing may easily be applied or removed from a doll. The two sections may have various sizes, shapes and styling to provide varying types of clothing for dolls that can easily be applied and/or removed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/089,083 entitled “Clip Fashion for a Doll” filed on Aug. 15, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to dolls and clothing for dolls and more particularly to clothing for dolls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dolls have always been the mainstay as a toy for young children. There have been numerous varieties of dolls from no interaction to fully interactive dolls. There exist dolls that speak, cry, sing and laugh in response to a child touching or squeezing various parts of the doll, as well as dolls that walk and crawl. Separate and apart from the doll itself, clothing is an integral part of the doll. The ability to provide an easy means for dressing and changing the clothing of a doll has shown little improvement. The requirement in undressing a doll still takes the fashion sense of realistic clothing, including simple slip on clothing and clothing with zippers, Velcro™, buttons, or snaps.
The continual need for improvements of the above prior art, provides for new and improved arrangements which improve or change the play and interaction between the child and the doll.
Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof and from the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one or more embodiments of the present invention an article of doll clothing is provided having two sections. Each section has a back portion and a front portion, the front portions having a lateral edge and the back portions being joined together about a clasp region. The clasp region includes a spring mechanism pivotally attaching the two sections and is normally biased by the spring mechanism such that the two sections are in a closed position. The closed position is defined by the substantial touching of the lateral edges of the front portions. Compressing the clasp region separates the two sections about the lateral edges such that the two sections open to receive a doll. When the clasp region is released the spring mechanism brings the two sections together to secure the article of doll clothing around a doll. Further, the two sections may have various sizes, shapes and styling. For example, there may be provided two sections with the clasp region styled as a set of wings extending outwardly. In this embodiment, the article of doll clothing appears to have two wings when the article is secured around a doll. The article of doll clothing appears as a butterfly clip for a user's hair when the article is removed from the doll.
Based thereon other aspects of the invention and other embodiments can be disclosed. For example, there may be provided an article having two sections with a back portion and front portion. A clasp region secures the back portions of the two sections to one another where the clasp region is normally biased by a spring mechanism such that the front portions of the two sections are in a closed position. The clasp region further has a pair of gripping members used to move the two sections from a closed position to an opened position when a force is applied against the spring mechanism. As above, the two sections may have various sizes, shapes and styling.
Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from claims, and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a front view illustrating a doll in an undressed position;

FIG. 1B is a front view illustrating a doll in a dressed position;

FIG. 1C is a partial side profile of a doll in an undressed position;

FIG. 2A is a side perspective view of clothing for use with an embodiment of the present invention and showing the clothing in a partial opened position;

FIG. 2B is a front view of clothing for use with an embodiment of the present invention and showing the clothing in an opened position;

FIG. 3A is a top view of clothing for use with an embodiment of the present invention and showing the clothing in a closed position;

FIG. 3B is a top view of clothing for use with an embodiment of the present invention and showing the clothing in an opened position;

FIG. 4A is a back view of clothing for use with an embodiment of the present invention and showing the clothing in a closed position; and

FIG. 4B is a back view of clothing for use with an embodiment of the present invention and showing the clothing in an opened position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the invention and/or embodiments illustrated.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, there is illustrated a doll 100 in an undressed position 105 and in a dressed position 110. In the dressed position 110, the doll 100 includes clothing 115. It is understood that the clothing and features of the doll could be easily changed to meet any desired type and design without deviating from the general concept and protection of the present invention.
Referring now to FIG. 1 c, the undressed position 105 of the doll 100 is illustrated again next to the clothing 115 which is illustrated from a front perspective view (FIG. 2 a) and a front opened view (FIG. 2 b).
The clothing 115 is made up of two halves 120 and 125 that are opened and closed in the front 130 by squeezing together a clasp region 135 that is positioned in the back 132 of the clothing 115. As illustrated the clasp region 135 may form into other shapes such as wings 138 or may be a smaller shape that may or may not be viewing from a front view. By squeezing the clasp region 135 together, the halves 120 and 125 pivot open along a split seam 140. This is also illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B.
Referring no to FIG. 4 a and FIG. 4 b, the clasp region 135 is normally biased such that the two halves 120 and 125 are in the closed position by a spring mechanism 150.
In use the user playing with the doll can dress and undress the doll quickly and easily by simply pushing together the clasp region 135 such that the two halves of the clothing open at its split seam 140. While the seam is shown in the front, it may be easily moved to a side or along the back. In addition, while the disclosure mentions that the clothing separates into two halves it is further contemplated that the two halves are simple two sections that may be disproportionate such that one section of the clothing is more of a wrap around section. When in the opened position the doll can easily fit in or out of the clothing. And when the doll is placed in the clothing and the clasp released, the clothing fits snuggly around the doll such that it does not fall off. Further, a user may also removeably attach clothing to a user's hair as a decorative hair clip.
In another embodiment of the present invention it is determined that for the clothing to function for use is the disclosed opening and closing manner, the clothing is preferably made out of a more rigid material, such as plastic or hard rubber. The clothing may further include a soft or other material placed other the rigid material to make it more pleasing to play with. Similarly, the clothing may include an internal rigid metal or wire frame under the soft material, such that the rigid metal or wire frame will still open and close as explained above.
From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific methods and/or apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.

Claims

1. An article of doll clothing comprising:

two sections, each section having a back portion and a front portion, the front portions having a lateral edge, the back portions being joined together about a clasp region,

said clasp region including a spring mechanism pivotally attaching the two sections, said clasp region being normally biased by the spring mechanism such that the two sections are in a closed position defined by the substantial touching of the lateral edges of the front portions and wherein compressing the clasp region separates the two sections about the lateral edges such that the two sections open to receive a doll, and whereby when the clasp region is released the spring mechanism brings the two sections together to secure the article of doll clothing around a doll.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the two sections are different sizes.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein the two sections are the same size

4. The article of claim 1, wherein each section of the two sections includes a wing extending outwardly from the back portion.

5. The article of claim 1, wherein each section of the two sections includes a wing such that the article of doll clothing appears to have two wings when said article is secured around a doll, and such that the article of doll clothing appears as a butterfly clip when said article is removed from a doll.

6. An article comprising:

two sections each having a back portion and a front portion;

a clasp region securing the back portions of the two sections to each other, said clasp region including a spring mechanism pivotally attaching the two sections, said clasp region being normally biased by the spring mechanism such that the front portions of the two sections are in a closed position, and the clasp region including a pair of gripping members used move the two section from a closed position to an opened position defined by the applying a force against the spring mechanism.

7. The article of claim 6, wherein the two sections are different sizes.

8. The article of claim 6, wherein the two sections are the same size.

9. The article of claim 6, wherein the gripping members have a wing shape.