US2799971A - Means for mounting eyes in stuffed toys - Google Patents

Description

July 23, 1957 H. BRUDNEY MEANS FOR MOUNTING EYES IN STUFFED TOYS Filed Feb.' 8, 1954 F/G., z.

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United States Patent MEANS FOR MOUN EYES IN STUFFED Harry Brudney, New York, N. Y.

Application February 8, 1954, Serial No. 408,787 2 Claims. (Cl. 46-165) The invention relates to dolls eyes and more particularly to eyes for mounting in stuffed toys.

It is an object of my invention to provide a simple construction of means for holding eyes in stuffed toys.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a structure for securing eyes in stuffed toys or dolls having a fairly thin face material.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide such structures as may be cheaply manufactured and readily applied with a simple tool.

Other objects and features of my invention will be apparent from the description hereinafter given.

In the present invention, the outer shell of the eye assembly is modified to the extent of stamping protuberances which extend slightly therefrom to coact with an additional shell, or other gripping means, in such a manner that the material of the doll face is clamped between the two shells. In one form of my invention I use a split resilient wire ring instead of a second shell, this particular form being suitable where the doll face is of thin material such as plastic, Celluloid, etc.

A detailed description of my invention will now be given in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a section through an eye mount taken longitudinally and showing a doll eye secured to the fabric of a stufied toy;

Fig. 2 is an exterior view showing the doll eye mounted on the material of a stuffed toy, a portion of the material being removed to better illustrate the construction;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the fabric in which the doll eye is to be mounted, showing an aperture and radiating slits, formed therein prior to insertion of the eye mounting structure;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a tool for applying an eye to the face material of a stuffed toy in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of my invention in longitudinal cross section wherein the mount is applied to a doll face of thin material such as plastic or Celluloid, and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a locking ring as used in the assembly of the form shown in Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, my invention comprises a conventional doll eye assembly 10 of the general type now popular and having an eye portion and related parts, including an outer cylindrical shell 12. The outer shell is provided with two or more dimples or protuberances, such as 16, which protrude outwardly as shown. An additional cylindrical shell 20 is provided having apertures 22 registerable with respective dimples 16. The textile material of the face 26 is folded inwardly so as to be clamped between the two shells, wherein a portion of the inwardly folded material is securely wedged as shown at 28 between the interlocking dimples and apertures. Thus, the material is deformed to follow the contour of the dimples and is forcibly pressed into the corresponding apertures whereby a secure gripping and locking effect is achieved.

In order to assure accurate disposition of the assembly on the face fabric and also to further augment the grip ping thereof, the shell 12 is provided with a flange 32 while the shell 20 is provided with a'fiange 34. Thus, as shown on Fig. 1, the marginal area of the fabric surrounding the eye is pressed securely between the two flanges.

In order to facilitate assembly of the structure the shell 12 is provided with an aperture 38Whi1e the shell 20 is provided with an aperture 40. Further, the fabric 26, as shown in Fig. 3, is initially provided with an aperture 42 from which aperture radiate slits such as 46. While three such slits are shown, it will be understood that more or less may be used as circumstances require.

Referring now to Fig. 4 a tool is disclosed for assembling the eye structure 10 to the fabric 26.

This tool comprises essentially a ram element 59, a collar 52, and a bed 58. The bed 58 has a socket 60 provided therein to receive shell 20. Socket 60 connects with a bore 62 in which is slidably carried a plunger 66 upwardly biased by a spring 68 wherein the spring member is retained by a cap 70. The diameter of the plunger 66 is such as to fit smoothly through the bore 40 in shell 20, and surmonnting the plunger is a button 74 which fits smoothly within the bore 38 of shell 12. Springs such as 76 are utilized for maintaining ram 50 in proper position prior to a downward stroke.

In operation of the tool, the ram 50 and collar 52 are first removed sufficiently from bed 58 so as to center eye aperture 42 of the fabric 26 around the uppermost portion of plunger 66, the shell 26 having been previously placed in the socket 60. Shell 12 may then be placed in position so that button 74 centers it with respect to shell 20 by virtue of engagement with aperture 38, it being understood that the eye structure 10 is at that time integral with shell 12. The ram 5% may then be brought down to bear against flange 32, thus forcing the eye structure into shell 20 and simultaneously folding the fabric portions between slits 46 into clinching engagement intermediate shells 12 and 20.

It will be understood that suitable aligning structure (not shown) will be utilized so that the shells will be properly oriented to insure registry of dimples 16 with apertures 22. Further, the lowermost rim 80 of recess 82 of ram 50 may be suitably magnetized so as to hold flange 32 of shell 12 to facilitate convenient handling of the ram, collar, and eye structure in placing it in position over bed 58.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, a simplified mode of assembly to a plastic or Celluloid face is illustrated wherein the shell of the eye structure 92 is provided with dimples 94 spaced from outer flange 96, the spacing depending upon the thickness of the material 96 and that of a resilient split ring 98 which wedges between the under surface of the face material and the dimples 94. The ring 98 may be readily snapped into place, either with the fingers or with a simple tool which thrusts the ring past the dimples and may be made of any suitable material such as metal or plastic.

While this latter form of the invention is contemplated for use with doll faces of semi-rigid material, it will be understood that it is not restricted thereto but could, in fact, be utilized where the doll face is of rigid material or even of very limp material such as fabric. In the latter case, the spacing between the dimples and flange 96 would be close enough to effect substantial compression of the fabric by the ring so as to provide secure gripping engagement.

Having thus described my invention, I am aware that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. Accordingly, I do not wish to be limited to the precise illustration herein given except as set forth in the appended 'claims.

I claim: I 1. In an eye mount for a stufied toy doll head, a doll face of pliable material and havinga n aperture,'a dolls feye having a tubular eye shell Within said aperture, said shell having a radial flange engaging the exterior margin doll face and having a radial flange engaging the inner margin of said aperture, the material of said face being folded inwardly at said aperture so as to bev frictionally 'Of said aperture,-a tubular retaining shell'surrounding j said eye shell and disposed on the interior side of said 2. In a mount as set forth in claim 1, one of said shells having a radial dimple, the other of said shells having a registering aperture, a portion of the material between said shells being wedged by said dimple into said aperture.

7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,205,046 Snyder Nov. 14, 1 916 1,933,633 Luce Nov. 7, 1933 2,373,963 Kallus Apr. 17, 1945 2,548,004 Duefiene Apr. 10, 1951 V FOREIGN PATENTS r 634,614 Great Britain Mar. 22,

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