US3230665A

US3230665A - Animated speaking figure toy

Info

Publication number: US3230665A
Application number: US257123A
Authority: US
Inventors: John W Ryan
Original assignee: Mattel Inc
Current assignee: Mattel Inc
Priority date: 1963-02-08
Filing date: 1963-02-08
Publication date: 1966-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 1983-01-25

Description

Jan. 25, 1966 Filed Feb. 8, 1963 ANIMATED SPEAKING FIGURE TOY J. w. RYAN 3,230,665

Jan. 25, 1966 J. w. RYAN 3,230,665

ANIMATED SPEAKING FIGURE TOY Filed Feb. s, 196s s sheets-sheet z /U/ef. 5. O /0 INVENTOR. J//V W @K4/V ATTE/VEY Jan. 25, 1966 J. w. RYAN 3,230,665

ANIMATED SPEAKING FIGURE TOY Filed Feb. 8, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent O 3,230,665 ANIMATED SPEAKlNG FIGURE TUY John W. Ryan, Bel-Air, Calif., assigner t Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Fella 3, 1963, Ser. No. 257,123 l Claim. (Cl. t6- 118) This invention relates to an improved toy which is an animated speaking figure toy such as a doll or other ligure which might he a plush toy, for example.

The toy of the invention which in a preferred form is embodied in a doll has a manually actuatable phonograph or voice unit in it and the doll has animated or movable lips and eyes. The phonograph or voice unit may be of the type disclosed in Patent No. 3,017,187 of John W. Ryan. The )phonograph device, as stated, is manually operated and preferably has a random characteristic in that in response to actuating manipulations it can produce a variety of distinctive sounds or sentences er the like at random so that what the doll says in enect is unexpected or unanticipated.

The lips and eyes of the doll or other ligure are movable having improved animated characteristics. A particular feature of the invention is that the phonograph or voice unit has combined with it a novel power take-off whereby the lips and eyes are moved in synchronism with or in relation to the operation of the phonograph and the sounds emanating therefrom so that the doll simulates lifelike characteristics, both from the standpoint of sounds and also from the standpoint of the movements or animation of the lips and eyes. The power take-olf is constructed to provide particular coordination between the movements of the lips and eyes and the phonograph operation.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved ligure toy capable of simulating speaking or making sounds which are coordinated with movable or animated lips and eyes.

Another object is to provide a toy as in the foregoing, including a phonograph device and a combined power take-oli whereby the phonograph device drives the movable or animated lips and eyes.

Another object is to provide improved and more lifelike animated or movable lips and eyes in a figure toy.

Further objects and additional advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a View of a doll having the invention embodied therein;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view of a doll embodying a preferred form of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of the movable eye assemblies;

FIGURE 6 is a rear view of one of the eye sockets; FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of one ofthe eye sockets;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional View of one of the eyeball members; and

FIGURE 9 is a view of the actuating mechanism for the movable lips.

The major components of the assembly will be described in order and then the overall operation will be summarized.

The phonograph device is shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4.

Numeral 1t) in FIGURE 1 designates a toy doll figure which may have a body made of plastic or other suitable F material and may have articulated legs and arms and a 3,23%,655 Patented Jan. 25, 1966 ICC head, as shown. In this form of the invention, the phonograph device is embodied in the torso of the doll with the speaker cone Il in a position as shown in the figures. The liange 13 of the speaker cone engages against an annular rib I6 extending inwardly from the body of the doll and this part of the doll is perforated as shown at i7 to allow the sound to come out.

Preferably the body of the doll is formed in halves or sections asv designated at I9 and 2li. The sections form a circular neck part 22 having a flange 23. The head 25 may be made of a suitable material, preferably having a iiexible flanged neck opening, as shown at 27, which can be litted over the lange 23 on the neck part 22 of the body, as shown.

The parts of the phonograph device generally are supported from posts or bosses extending inwardly from the part or half 20 of the body and are held in position by an overlying frame structure. The phonograph has a turntable which has peripheral flanges as shown at 31 and 32 and is peripherally toothed. Passing around the turntable is a toothed belt 34 which drives a toothed pulley 35 by means of which a governor, as designated at 37, is driven as will be described. The turntable has an extending stem lll received in an opening in a post 41 extending from the doll part 2d. The stem 40 extends inwardly and mounted on it is a spool 43 for drawstring 44. The stem 4l) has an extending end part 46 journaled in a part 137 of a frame 49 on which some of the parts are mounted and which holds certain parts in position, as will be described. Between the spool 43 and the turntable 39 is a clock type spring 51 which is wound or energized when the drawstring 44 is pulled by pulling the ring 52. The spool 43 is provided with a one Way-clutch, not shown, so that when the drawstring ed is pulled the spring is wound or energized without the turntable being driven and when the drawstring is released, the spring can drive or rotate the turntable.

The turntable carries a record 54 which may preferably be a record of the type disclosed in prior Patent No. 3,017,187 having interleaved spiral grooveseach having a distinctive group of words or sounds recorded thereon.

The end of the spring `5l is held between

posts

55, 56 and 57 extending from the part Ztl of the body, as shown in FIGURE 3.

The frame 49 has a domed part 56 and an extending circular lboss 57 lwithin which is mounted the centrifugal governor 37. This governor may preferably be of a type shown in APatent No. 3,017,187. The governor has a rotor `59 which carries the toothed wheel 35 and which has an extending stem 61 which extends into an opening in a post 62 which extends from the part 29 of the doll. The rotor has Ian extending stem 63 at the other end which iS journaled in an opening in a boss 64 extending from one side of the domed part 56 of the frame 49. The governor is of the fly 'ball type having arcuate weighted members, one of which is designated at 65 having extending arms 66 and -67 journaled on a pin or stem 69 having on it a torsion spring 71. The weights or ily ball members have friction surfaces, as shown at 73, which frctionally engage against the interior of the circular boss 57 to regulate the speed of rot-ation, the outward movement being :against the Aforce of the torsion springs, as designated at 7l.

The frame 4g has an extending part 74 from Which a pin extends into an opening in a post 76 extending from the part 20 of the doll or ligure. FIGURE 3 which is a sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 1 shows the conliguration of the frame member 49. The frame 49 has extended portions il@ .and S1 around the circular skirt 57 and an extending portion S2 and

diagonal ribs

83 and 84. Numeral 86 designates a portion of the frame of channel shaped cross section which extends upwardly with an inwardly extended portion, Ias designated at 90. The `frame has the tone arm mounted on it and it provides an eyelet for guiding the drawstring 44 in passing to the spool 43. The tone'arm is designated at 92, it having a cross section including side ribs 93 and 94 -and :an intermediate diagonal web 95. At the end .of the tone arm 92 is a bushing .98 which is journaled on a pivot pin or stern lili? having ya head lill. The pin Miti is mounted as stated in a part 85 of the frame 49 one of the side ribs of the -f-rame part Sd being interrupted to provide for movement of the tone arm. The tone arm carries the needle w3 which overlies the record surface. The end of the tone arm is shaped as shownat lilo* in the gures having a transverse eyelet lila through which the drawstring 44 passes, the drawstring having frictional engage-v ment with the eyelet. The tone 92 also has a transverse r-ib lil? which provides for sliding engagement between the tone arm and the connection or coupling to the speaker cone 1l. The drawstring 44 also passes through an eyelet il@ provided in a side rib of the part llt) of the frame 49. The drawstring also passes through an eyelet lll in an actuating member i12 for the movable eyes of the doll, which will be described in detail presently. The actuating member H2 has a cutout, 3S, shown at M3 in FIGURE 2, providing a hinge. The end part of the memer i12 is attaehed Ito a boss 114 on the halt or part 2t) by a rivet lili.

The coupling to the speaker cone includes a sleeve element 11d telescoped into la cylindrical member ll a*- tached to the lower part of the speaker oone. A silicone grease or similar material may be provided 'between these elements forth@ purpose of providing for sliding movament While still being `capable of transmitting sonic freciueucics as disclosed in the patent of lohn W. Ryan, No. 3,095,201. Within ,the sleeve Alle is a coil spring 119, the upper end of which engages the end of a group of radially extending .gussets l2ll which extend radially from a stem 122 centrally disposed with ressent to the coupling The ends of the gussets 121 engage a rib 12e extending diametrically across .the circular annular rib formation i6, previously described. ln operation, as will be described, Aa pull ou the drawstring is able to lift the end of the tone arm so as to lift `the needle ott the record. When this Ihappens the sleeve llo is able to move relative to the cylinder 117 so that stress is not applied to the speaker cone lso that it will not be caused to take a permanent set if lett in storage with tension on the drawstring and the tone arm lifted. The coupling is nevertheless capable of transmitting the sonic vibrations.

FIGURE 4 shows the armholes Md and l2? in the doll body to which the arms can be attached in a manner known inthe art.

The turntable of the phonograph device embodies a power take-,od from which coordinated power is taken off for actuating the movable lips, the movable eyes being actu-ated by lthe drawstring, `as will be described in detail presently. The power take-oil includes a slide plate 133 which is rectangular and has a central or intermediate opening 13S to accommodate the post 4l. which receives the stem or arbor #itl of the turntable. The plate )V33 vreciprocates in a backend-forth movement and this movement is guided by .

guide members

137 and 133 extending from the part 20 of the doll, these members having square guide shoulders at their upper edges.

Extending from the slide plate 133 is a slotted tubular holder 150 for a ball 151011 the end of .a lexible actuating wire or filament l?. by which the lips are moved. This wire or iilament extends through a tube lSS to the lip .actuating mechanism which will be described presently. The tube 153 has a ange on the end of it `which is received in a slot d at the end of a mounting member extending from the part 2% of the doll as designated at 155. During operation 'of the phonograph, coordinated movement is taken ofi by the power take-oli through the lament 152 to impart coordinated movements to the movable lips.

One of the eyes is designated generally at 16@ in FIG- URE 2 and FIGURES 5 to 8 show the structure of the eye assembly in detail. Each eye comprises an eye socket, as shown at 161, an eyeball as designated at .L52 and a weight member as designated at 53. The eye sockets `are cylindrical, as shown, being dome Shilpd at the front with slots or openings as shown at lue. At the sides of the eye sockets on the inside are dimples 16S to receive trunuions as designated at 1?@ on the eyeball elements with a snap lit. The eyeballs are dome shaped at the front having i-rise-s as shown at ll and eyelashes, as shown at ll72. These members are cylindrical at the rear, being eut away at the upper pait as shown at 175. The sockets lol have guide ribs'i and Ms on the inside' to receive in sliding engagement the trunnions 179 on the eyeball members. T he extending :part 175 of the eyeball members has a slot as shown at ld. The weights as shown at lo?, have extending Webs, as shown at l?, and E83 with transverse members lil-i and 135 at the ends of these webs. The weights are mounted in the eyeball members so that if the eyeballs are tilted in one direction the weights will tilt them in the opposite direction. The weight as shown at 63 is tted into the eyeball member 162 by sliding the web 133 into the slot 1S@ with the transverse member on the other side of the part l'S of the eyeball member. The two eye assemblies are identical and, therefore, both need not be described in detail.

The actuating member M2 for the eyes is made of suit-1 able material such as a plastic material, and has a weakened part or strip i9@ forming a hinge between the member and an end part 193i.. This part is engageable with the transverse member 93 of a yoke 1% having extending legs ll and E96, which are turned outwardly at their ends, as shown at 197 and HS. The end parts, -as shown at 197 and Htl, are attached to the weights as designated at E63. The end 197 extends through a hole in web i823 and then is crimped over, as shown in FEGURE 6. Both eyeball members are actuated in a. similar member.

FiGURE 2 illustrates the actuation oi the eyes o the; doll. The ring 52 is pulled to' wind the spring motor andl then it is released while it operates. When the draw-- string to is pulled, the frictional engagement with the eyelet lll moves the actuating member i12 into the' dotted line position, as shown in FlGURE 2. The hinge part lt engages the transverse member 193 `of the yoke 194 and rotates it into the dotted line position as shown in FIGURE 2. As the member M2 moves, the hinge part Hl passes under the transverse member M3 so as to release it and the eyeballs thenreturn to their original position under the influence of the counterweights. In other words, the eyes perform the blinking act of closing and opening when the drawstring is pulled. When it is released they again perform a blinking act as the member XE2 moves in the opposite direction with the hinge part 191 again moving past the transverse member E93.

As described, the head of the doll 25 is made of a flexible material. The lips are designated at 2l@ and 2li and are attached to the bead by weakened portions forming hinges, as shown at 23 and 214 to allow simulated natural movements of the lips. There is a cavity simulating the mouth between the lips and a septum or membrane 21d on the inside of which is a bowed metal plate 220 shown in greater detail in FlGURE 9. Mounted on the end of the tube 153 is abracket 222 having a slotted foot 223 which engages the end of the tube T153. At the upper end of the bracket 222 is a yoke 224i having ex tending lugs 225 and 22o having holes in which are jour-- naled the ends of a member 228 forming a pivot for ex-A tending lever member 230 to which it is connected by a: neck 231. The lever 23u extends through a slot in theplate 22?, its end part having a configuration as shownv at 234, having pointed lateral extension-s as shown, at. 235

and 236. The end part of the lever 230 is embedded in the upper lip 210 in order to move it.

The end of the wire or filament 152 extends through an opening in a lever 240 and is flattened to hold it in place. The lever 240 extends through a slot in the plate 220 and has an end part 241 having a configuration as shown in FIGURE 9 with

lateral extending points

243 and 244 at the end of it which are embedded in the lower lip 211 for moving it. When the wire 152 moves axially, it move the lever 240, as illustrated in FIGURE 2 so as to move the lower lip to simulate speaking. This movement can ex the flexible material of the membrane or septum 216 suiciently to also impart movement to the upper lip 210 by movement of lever 230 about its pivot. The effect is to closely simulat'human lip movement.

In operation of the phonograph, the slide plate 133 and wire 152 are moved so that, in a revolution of the turntable, the mouth opens twice, once to full opening and a second time to about two-thirds of a full opening. These movements are coordinated with the sound on the record so that the animated lip movements simulate the words or music that are being reproduced by the phonograph.

Attention is called to the construction of FIGURE 2 wherein a cylindrical inward extension is provided as designated at 346 which is spaced from the dome 56 over the governor. This construction allows deformation of the body or torso of the doll in an inward direction, which is limited by engagement of the part 346 with the dome 56. This provides a deformation tolerance without breakage.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the phonograph is operated by the pull ring 52 and drawstring 44 and that the lip and eye movements, as described, are coordinated with the sound being reproduced.

From the foregoing description of the construction and operation of the present embodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention provides a most unusual and fascinating toy in that the doll or other ligure in effect has a personality of its own from the standpoint of the sounds that are produced and more particularly from the standpoint of the coordination of the lip and eye movements with the sounds. The result is achieved in a novel and effective way since the drawstring movements are utilized to actuate the eyes and the power take-olf from the phonograph actuates the lips.

The foregoing disclosure is representative of a preferred form of the invention and is to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense, the invention to be accorded the full scope of the claim appended hereto.

I claim:

A ligure toy having a phonograph device therein, said figure toy having movable eye members mounted to tilt about a pivot, means comprising a movable drawstring for operating the phonograph device, finger means extending from each of said movable eye members, an actuating lever movable into engagement with said iinger means and being in slidable frictional engagement with the drawstring to be actuated thereby upon movement of said drawstring whereby to engage and move said linger means to cause movement of the eye members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,555,800 6/1951 Levine 46--118 3,017,187 l/1962. Ryan 46-118 X 3,024,535 3/ 1962 Von Rabenau 46--119 X FOREIGN PATENTS 701,036 12/ 1953 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.