US2896373A - Dolls' heads provided with sleeping eyes - Google Patents

Description

July 28, 1959 D. COHN DOLLS HEADS PROVIDED WITH SLEEPING EYES Filed Jan. 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

DAVID N BY {its} ATTORNEY FIG.2

July 28, 1959 D. COHN 2,896,373 DOLLS HEADS PROVIDED WITH SLEEPING EYES Filed Jan. 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

DAVI D COHN "ATTORNEY :arm to support a counterweight, and with an integral rearwardly extending conical iris por- .tion from which extends a cylindrical pupil portion, with ;a ferrule fitted over and cemented ;a nd having a portion .tion.

.ing the back of the shaft to z'iri a doll construction of abridge which may be made 1thetic plastic parts that can be readily cemented together zto assure accurate relationship of the r and at the same time anchor and contacting shoulders on inexpensive to manufacture,

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DOLLS HEADS PROVIDED WITH SLEEPING EYES David (John, New York, N.Y., assignor to Model Plastic Corp., White Plains, N .Y., a corporation of New York This invention relates to dolls heads provided with sleeping eyes.

An object of this invention is to provide a doll construction of the character described, comprising a pair of dolls eyes rotatably mounted on a shaft about the axis of the dolls eyes, and highly improved means. being provided to stop rotation of the dolls eyes in both open and closed position of the eyes, highly improved means being further provided to resiliently press the shaft forwardly whereby to resiliently press the dolls eyes toward the eye sockets or eye openings, whereby to facilitate free rotation of the eyes.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a doll construction of the character described, highly improved dolls eyes made of molded synthetic plastic materialv and comprising a hollow, substantially hemispherical eyeball portion formed with an upwardly and .a downwardly extending tab to contact stop pins in the dolls head for limiting rotation of the eyeball, and being further provided with arearwardly extending integral being further formed to the pupil portion backing up the rear of the iris por- Yet another object of this invention is to provide in :a doll construction of the character described, a dolls .head formed at the outer sides of the eyes with horivzontal rearwardly extending slots to receive the ends of .a shaft carrying dolls eyes .openings of the dolls head, and a bridge fixed to the in- ;ner side of the dolls head and closing said slots, said .bridge having a downwardly extending arm housing a :spring anchored to .arm being formed with slots through which the shaft projecting through the eye the lower end of the arm, and said passes, and said spring being formed with fingers engagpress the latter forwardly. this invention is to provide the character described, a of interfitting molded syn- Yet a further object of parts of the bridge,

said bridge being further formed with means adapted to be received in the slots which receive the outer ends house the spring, and

States Patent )filice 2,895,373 Patented July 28, 1959 Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the appended claims.

. In the accompanying drawings in which is shown various illustrative embodiments of this invention;

Fig. 1 is a rear view of the front portion of a dolls head provided with sleeping dolls eyes and embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial inside view of the dolls head with the dolls eye assembly removed;

i Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. l;

- Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 1; 1

6 is a partial inside view of the front of the dolls head showi g the shaft and dolls parts positioned within the head before attachment of the bridge to the head; i

Fig. 7 is an inside view of the bridge before it is asi sembled with the dolls head;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 99 of- Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the spring removed from the bridge;

. Fig. 11 is an enlarged inside View of one of the dolls eyes; and

. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a doll construction embodying the invention and comprising a dolls head 11, and doll eye mechanism 12 located therein. The dolls head 11 comprises a front head member 13 to which is attached a rear head member 14, the two parts being assembled together along a split 15 in the usual. well known manner. The front member 13 comprises side portions 17, a top portion 18, and is provided at the bottom with a neck opening 19.

At the front of member 13 is the face Wall 20 which is formed with the usual nose 21, mouth 22a and chin 23'.

On opposite sides of the bridge of the nose, the front L wall 20 is formed with a. pair of eye sockets or eye of the shaft, said bridge being provided with portions the head, to accurately position the bridge with relation to the dolls head when the bridge is cemented in fixed position within the head.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a highly improved, rugged and durable doll construction of the character described, which shall be relatively which shall be easy to assemble, which shall be smooth and positive in operation,

in which the parts are accurately interfitted, and which 7 shall yet be practical andefiic-ient to a high degree.

openings 22 of usual construction. The head is provided at the outer sides of the eye openings 22 with thickened boss portions 25 formed with horizontal parallel slots 26 extending in a front to rear direction. The slots 26; are located substantially midway between the upper and lower edges of the eye openings 22. The thickened portions 25 have rear aligned, vertical, flat shoulder surfaces 27, said slots 26 extending to said verti'cal surfaces.

The front wall 20' is furthermore formed centrally below each of the eye openings 22 with a rearwardly extending s'top pin 28 and centrally above each of the openings 22 with a rearwardly extending stop pin 29. The lower stop pins 28 extend rearwardly further than the-upper stop pins 29, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing.

Slideably received in the slots 26 are the ends 31 of a horizontal metal shaft 32. The shaft 32 is formed 0 a pair of thickened collar portions 33 spaced equal- 1y from the center of Mounted for rotation on the shaft 32, on opposite sides of the stop collars 33, are eye members 35. The eye members 35 are identical and only one of them will be described. Each eye member 35 comprises a member 36 which may be made of molded, relatively rigid synthetic plastic material. Member 36 comprises an eyeball portion 37 of hemispherical shape, but provided with a skirted portion 38 extended rearwardly. of a vertical plane passing through the center of the eyeball portion. The eyeball portion is formed at opposite sides thereof with through openings 39 concentric with a horizontal transverse axis passing through the center of the eyeball.

At the rear end of the skirted portion 38 is an annular edge 40. The hemispherical portion 37 is furthermore formed with an arcuate slot 41 through which pass eye lashes 41a adhered within the slot. Extending upwardly from the upper side of the rear edge 40, is a vertical lug 42, and extending downwardly from the lower end of the rear edge 40 is a vertical lug 43. The purpose of these lugs will be explained hereinafter.

The lugs are vertically aligned and spaced somewhat rearwardly of a vertical plane passing through the axis of the hemispherical portion 37. Extending rearwardly from the lower end of the skirted portion 38 is an arm 45 about the rear end of which is wrapped a lead counterweight 46 secured to the outer end of said arm.

Extending rearwardly from the front portion of the eyeball 37 is a frusto-conical iris portion 47 terminating in a cylindrical eye pupil portion 48. The axis of the iris portion 47 and pupil portion 48 is inclined some- What upwardly and rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 12. The iris portion 47 is located somewhat below the hori-' zontal mid-portion of the eyeball.

The rear surface 48a of the pupil portion 48 may be painted blue. The inner surface of eye portions 37, 38, may be painted with white paint, or enamel.

It will now be understood that the eyes 35 are received in the eye openings 22, and rotate about the shaft 32. Movement of the eyeballs toward each other is limited by the collars 33 which are located at the inner sides of the eyes 35. The eyes project into the eye openings 22, and the lashes 41a pass through said eye openings.

Means is provided to resiliently press the shaft 32 forwardly so as to retain the outer ends 31 thereof against the forward ends of the slots (the forward ends of the slots 26 are so located that when the shaft is pressed forwardly as far as it will go, the eyes 35 will freely rotate within the eye openings 22 without jamming or frictional contact). To this end, there is provided a bridge member 60. The bridge member 60 comprises a horizontal transverse cross member which may be in the form of molded, rigid, synthetic plastic material. The cross member may be formed at its rear or inner side with a longitudinal strengthening rib 63. At its outer ends, it is formed with forwardly extending arms 64 from which extend forwardly, fingers 65. At the forward ends of the arms 64 are shoulders 66. The fingers 65 are received in the rear ends of the slots 26. The shoulders 66 contact the shoulders or faces 27 of the thickened portions or bosses 25 of the head. Thus, the fingers 65 close the rear ends of the slots. The fingers 65 and the surfaces 66 are cemented within the slots 26. and to the shoulders 27 by means of any suit able solvent cement, or by the use of any other suitable adherent. Said cross member is formed in the front facev 67 thereof and at the center thereof, with a slot 70 extending upwardly from its lower edge. At the bottom of the slot 70 is a pin hole 71.

Attached to the front face 67 of the cross member is a vertical arm or casing 75. Said casing 75 may also be made of rigid synthetic plastic material and comprises a rear wall 76 from which extend forwardly, side walls 77. The front edge 78 of said side walls is somewhat inclined forwardly and upwardly. Adjacent the upper edges 76 of the side walls 77, are formed aligned notches 80, adapted to receive the central portion of the shaft 32 between the collars 33. Extending rear wardly from the rear wall 76 of member 75, 1s a projection 82 received in the slot or recess of sa1d transverse cross member. Extending from the projection 82 is a pin 84 received in the pin hole 71. The casing may be fixed to the cross solvent type cement, or any other suitable adherent.

The slot and lug connections 80, 70, and pin hole connections 84, 71 assure a correct and exact relationship between the casing 75 and the cross member.

At the lower end of arm 76 is a thickened portion having a front surface 86 spaced forwardly of the inner surface 87 of the rear wall 76. The side walls 77 are interconnected by a bottom wall 88.

Fitted within the casing is a leaf spring 99, the purpose of which is to press the shaft 32 forwardly. V The spring 90 comprises a portion 91 which contacts the surface 86. Extending from the portion 91 is a finger 92 which contacts the inner surface 88a of portion 88.

Extending upwardly and forwardly at an inclination from the portion 91, is a portion 95. The upper end of the portion 95 is bifurcated to form a pair of spring fingers 96. The spring 95 is housed between the side walls 77. The outer tips of the fingers 86 contact a pair of inwardly extending, rigid fingers 98, formed at the forward upper corners of the side walls 77.

Means is provided to fix the portions 91, 92 of the spring, rigidly within the casing 75. To this end there is fitted on to the lower end of the arm 75, a cap 100. The cap overlies the lower ends of the side walls 77, and an interconnecting portion 88. Said cap 100 is formed with a rearwardly extending thickened portion 101 projecting into the casing and pressing portion 91 of the spring against the surface 86, and pressing the finger 92 against the inner surface of the portion 88 of the casing. The cap 100 may be cemented or otherwise firmly adhered to the casing for anchoring the lower end of the spring.

The upper ends of the fingers 96, thus press the central portion of the shaft forwardly. The shaft, however, cannot move out of the slots 80. While the eyes 35 may be pushed rearwardly, thus causing the shaft to be pushed rearwardly against the tension of the spring 95, nevertheless, the shaft cannot move up or down out of the slots 80. When the shaft 32 is pressed forwardly against the inner closed ends of the slots 26, the eyeballs nevertheless do not touch the edges of the eye openings so that they may freely rotate.

When the head is in vertical position, the weights 46 tend to rotate the eyes in a clockwise direction, looking at Fig. 2, and in a counterclockwise direction looking at Fig. 5, causing the lower projections 43 to contact the rear ends of the lower stop pins 28 for maintaining the eyes in correct open position and for holding the eye lashes 41a near the upper edges of the eye openings 22.

, In such position, the upper lugs 42 are spaced from the upper stop pins 29. When the doll is brought to horizontal position facing upwardly, the dolls eyes will have a tendency to rotate about the shaft 32 in a clockwise dire'ction, looking at Fig. 5, bringing the projections 42 against the upper pins 29. In such position, the eye lashes 41a will be near the lower edges of the eye openings 22 and the doll will appear to be sleeping.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

member by means of a.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a dolls head having a front face wall formed with eye openings, said head being formed at the outer sides of said eye openings and at the sides of the front face wall portion and on the inner surface thereof with thickened boss portions formed with horizontal rearwardly extending parallel slots, a transverse horizontal shaft having the ends thereof received in said slots, dolls eyes rotatably mounted on said shaft and projecting into the eye openings, a transverse horizontal bridge member in back of the shaft contacting the rear surfaces of said thickened portions, and having lugs received and secured in the rear ends of said slots whereby to limit rearward movement of the shaft in said slots, an arm fixed to the front of the bridge at the center thereof, and extending downwardly therefrom, said arm having side walls formed at their front edges with rearwardly extending notches through which the shaft passes, a leaf spring having its lower end anchored at the lower end of the arm, and having a free upper end engaging the back of the shaft and pressing the shaft forwardly to retain the dolls eyes within said eye openings.

2. The combination of claim 1, said eyes having upwardly and downwardly extending lugs, and stop pins extending rearwardly from the front face wall of said doll and engageable with said lugs to limit rotation of said eyes about the shaft.

3. The combination of claim 2, said eye lugs being disposed in a common plane and the lower of said stop pins extending rearwardly further than the upper stop pins.

4. In combination, a dolls head provided with a front face wall having eye openings, said head being formed at the inner surface thereof and at the outer sides of the eyes with thickened portions formed with horizontal rearwardly extending slots, a transverse shaft having the ends thereof slidably received in said slots, a transverse horizontal bridge having portions engaging the rear surfaces of said thickened portion, and being formed with lugs received within the rear ends of said slots and being fixed to the head to limit rearward movement of the shaft, said bridge being formed at the center thereof with a vertical slot, an arm having a rear wall formed at its upper end with a projection received in said vertical slot and attached thereto, said arm extending downwardly from said bridge having a rear vertical wall and side walls, said side Walls having at the upper ends thereof inwardly extending fingers, a leaf spring, means to anchor the lower end of the leaf spring to the lower end of the arm, the upper end of the leaf spring being biased forwardly into engagement with said fingers, said side walls being formed below said fingers with rearwardly extending notches receiving said shaft, whereby the free end of said spring presses the shaft forwardly.

5. The combination of claim 4, said head formed above and below said eyes with rearwardly extending stop pins, the lower stop pins extending rearwardly to a greater extent than the upper stop pins, said dolls eyes each being formed with upwardly and downwardly extending lugs adapted to alternately engage said stop pins, as the dolls head is moved from upright position to lying down position, said dolls eyes being formed with rearwardly extending arms at the lower ends thereof and counterweights on said arms.

6. The combination of claim 4, the means to anchor the spring to the arm comprising a cap fitted into the lower end of said arm and being secured thereto and contacting an end of said spring and pressing said end against said arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,976,370 Popovich Oct. 9, 1934 1,999,726 Grubrnan Apr. 30, 1935 2,206,545 Cesare July 2, 1940 2,618,100 Ippolito Nov. 18, 1952 2,627,701 Rose Feb. 10, 1953 2,653,414 Baggott Sept. 29, 1953 2,657,500 Samolewitz Nov. 3, 1953 2,662,340 Samuels et al. Dec. 15, 1953

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