US3296736A

US3296736A - Walking and talking doll

Info

Publication number: US3296736A
Application number: US472831A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kaplan Ruth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-06-27
Filing date: 1965-07-19
Publication date: 1967-01-10
Anticipated expiration: 1984-01-10

Description

Jan. 10, 1967 R. KAPLAN 3,296,736

WALKING AND TALKING DOLL Original Filed June 27, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.2

www

R. KAPLAN 3,296,736

Jan. 10, 1967 WALKING AND TALKING DOLL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 27. 1961 INVENTOR.

United States Patent f 3,296,736 WALKING AND TALKING DOLL Ruth Kaplan, New York, N .Y.

(230-41 131st Ave., Laurelton, N.Y. 10049) Original application June 27, 1961, Ser. No. 119,873, new

Patent No. 3,228,143, dated Jan. 11, 1966. Divided and this application Ilnly 19, 1965', Ser. No. 472,831

Claims. (Cl. 46-118) The present invention relates to a doll or the like figurine, and particularly to a walking and talking doll, and especially to a combined walking and talking mechanism for a doll, or the like, and is a division of my application, Serial No. 119,873, filed June 27, 1961, now Patent No. 3,228,143.

Walking dolls of the type to which the present invention relates simulate walking movement when the torso of the doll is moved forward, alternately on each of its legs, while in substantially upright position, with one of the legs resting on a surface. Generally, in such dolls, the walking mechanism operates by interengaging the two legs, directly or indirectly, to move the one leg, which is free of the supporting surface, forwardly of the torso, as the torso is moved, to dispose the surface-contacting leg to the rear thereof.

Talking dolls, of the type to which the present invention relates, have their talking or sound-producing mechanism independent of any walking mechanism with which the doll may be provided. Generally, such sound-producing mechanism is set into operation by either changing the position of the doll, as from upright to horizontal, or vice-versa, or by manual operation,

The present invention is directed to a walking doll having a sound-producing or talking mechanism which is actuated by the walking mechanism that interconnects the two legs to dispose them in opposed direction relative to the torso in walking-simulating movement.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a combined walking and talking mechanism for dolls which is assembled into one unit that may be mounted on the doll as a unit, to thereby attain economies of construction and assembly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a combined walking and talking unit for a doll which operates smoothly and efficiently to perform both of its functions without interference with one another.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the doll Walking mechanism of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, and from the description following. It is to be understood, however, that such embodiment is shown by way of illustration only, to make the principles and practices of the invention more readily comprehensi' ble, and without any intent of limiting the invention to the specific details shown therein.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partly sectional and partly elevational view of the lower torso portion and upper leg portions of a doll having a walking mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the legmoving mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional View, on a reduced scale taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, showing, on an enlarged scale, the walking mechanism combined with a sound-producing mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4; with parts thereof shown in elevation; and

FIG. 6 is a view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

, 3,296,736 Patented Jan. 10, 1967 Referring now, in greater detail, to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the same show a hollow torso, 10, of a doll, which may be either rigid or semi-rigid, and of conventional construction, and is provided, at its lower portion, with circular leg openings, 12, each lying in a plane that is downwardly convergent toward the other and are separated, at the bottom of the torso, by a crotch portion, 14; all in the conventional manner.

The doll is also provided with a pair of legs, 16R and 16L, preferably of the hollow type and having an upper end surface, that may be defined by an inwardly offset flange, 18, and is set at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the leg; such surface sloping downwardly in the direction of the instep of the foot of the leg, as is conventional. The upper end portion of each of the

legs

16R and 16L is of a diameter larger than a leg opening 12 and each of the legs is provided with a circular groove, 2'9, adjacent and parallel to its upper end surface, whose bottom is of a circumference less than the circumference of a leg opening 12, so that the upper end portion of the leg may be force-fitted through a leg opening 12 and the marginal edge portion of such leg opening engaged within such groove 2%), whereby the leg may be rotatably retained in place in the conventional manner, as practiced in the walking doll art.

Each of the

legs

16R and 16L preferably is shown as having secured across its end face, as to flange 18, in any desired manner, a metallic plate, 22, and as having fixedly secured to such metallic plate a substantially U-shaped metallic bracket, 24R and 24L, respectively. Each of the

metallic brackets

24R and 24L is shown to comprise a web portion, 26, which is secured in vertical position on the plate 22, and a pair of spaced upper and lower arms, 28 and 30, respectively, connected to the web 26; such arms extending substantially horizontally inwardly into the torso 10 when the legs are mounted in the opening 12. The

bracket arms

28 and 3% are shown as being of different lengths, with the lower arm 39 being shorter than the upper arm 28. The

arms

28 and 30 are of substantial width and each is disposed with its width along a plane substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the torso and parallel to the other of the arms. Each of the

arms

28 and 30 of the brackets 24R and 241. is formed with a slot, 34, extending from its outer edge inwardly thereinto.

Supported on the crotch 14 is a U-shaped bracket generally designated as 36, including a web portion, 38, and a pair of spaced relatively wide parallel arms, 40R and 46L, respectively. The bracket 36 is secured in its place with its web 38 extending transversely of the crotch .14 and its arms 4%} extending upwardly each opposite one of the openings 12. To that end, bracket 36 may be secured by its web 38 to a supporting base, 42, of any desired type, which may be secured on the crotch in any desired manner, as by rivets, 44.

Rotataibly supported between upright arms 40R and 49L, in meshing relation, are a pair of preferably cylindrical pinions, 46 and 48, each of which is provided with a shaft extension at each end; namely, 50R and 50L on

pinion

46, and 52R and 521. on pinion 48, respectively.

Pinion 46 is rotatably supported by its shaft extensi-

ons

50R and 50L in suitable bearing openings provided for the purpose in the bracket arrns 40R and 401. and has its shaft extension 50R secured to a rod, 56, intermediate the ends of the latter, in substantially normal relation thereto; the end rods 56 engaging in slots 34 of the arms of the bracket 24R that is secured to the leg 16R.

Similarly, pinion 48 is rotatably supported by its

shaft extensions

52R and 52L, respectively, in suitable bearing openings provided for the purpose in the bracket arms 3 40R and 40L and has its shaft extension 52L secured to a rod, 56L, intermediate the ends of the latter; the ends of rod 56L engaging in the slots 34 of the arms of the bracket 24L.

Preferably, the

pinions

46 and 48 are disposed with their shaft extensions alined in the plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the torso 10, and, for the purpose of efficiency, the shaft extension of. the forward of the pinions, 50R, is secured to the rearWardly-facing side of its associated rod 56R and shaft extension 52L of the pinion 48, the rear-most of the pinions, is secured by its shaft extensions 52L to the forwardly-facing side of the rod 56L.

In assembling the walking mechanism of the present invention with a doll, brackets 24R and ML are secured each to a plate 22 and the plate 22 each secured to the flange 18 of

legs

16R and 16L, respectively. The plates 22 are preferably arranged in place so that the

bracket

24R and 24L secured thereto has its web 26 disposed thereon in vertically-extending position, or, in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg. The bracket 36 is pre-assernbled with pinions 46 and 4-8 and secured by its base 4-2 on the crotch 14- of the torso the base, bracket arms, and the bearing openings in such bracket arms being preferably so formed that the shaft extensions of the pinions are disposed approximately opposite the center of the leg openings 12 of the torso. By this arrangement, when the

legs

16R and 16L are pressed into their respective receiving openings 12, the ends of rods 56R and 56L will register with and be received into slots 34 in the arms of the brackets 24R and 241., respectively, which slots may be for-med off center of the arms 28, if necessary.

The operation of the doll walking mechanism of the present invention will be readily apparent from the foregoing description thereof. It will be clear that as the doll is rested, for instance, on its leg 16R, in slightly tilted position so that its other leg is clear of the supporting surface, and the torso then moved forward, the leg 16R will rotate in its opening 12 so that the upper arm 23 of its bracket 24R will move forward with the torso, whereas the lower bracket arm will move rearwardly, with the leg. This will cause the rod 56R, which will be turned by the brackets 24R, to turn the forward pinions 46 in the same direction as the rod 56R. Pinion 46 will cause the rotation of pinion 48 in hte opposed direction and the latter will correspondingly rotate rod 56L in the direction opposite to that of rod 56R and the latter cause leg 16L to rotate in the direction opposite to leg 16R, namely, in the direction forwardly of the torso. This procedure will be repeated in the reverse order when the doll is thereafer rested on leg 16L and the torso again moved forward.

FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate the combination, in operative relation, of the Walking mechanism described above with a sound-producing mechanism.

The talking mechanism may be of any type heretofore conventionally used with dolls, or any other suitable type, such as were operated either by altering the position of the doll, as from upright to lying down, or manually, and which are capable of or suitable for modification for mechanical operation, as :by the provisions of an operating element, such as a lever or plunger, that may be associated with the doll walking mechanism to be automatically moved thereby, or, more specifically, with one or both of the pinions of the doll walking mechanism.

In the illustrated embodiment, the sound-producing mechanism is of a generally conventional form, consisting of a hollow cylinder, 60, closed at its bottom by a wall, 62, in which cylinder there is disposed a relatively closely-fitting cylindrical block or weight, 64, as of a ceramic material, which is provided with a passageway, 66, extending in an axial direction therethrough, within which is supported a vibratory sound-producing element,

indicated at 68. The weight 64 is provided at its upper end with a washer, 70, having a central opening, and held in place by a similarly apertured metallic member, 71. The washer 70, whose peripheral edge portion overhangs the sides of the weight 64, forms an airtight fit with the wall of the cylinder 66. The open top of the cylinder 60 is provided with a grate or grille, 72, which retains the weight within the cylinder while permitting air to be dis- 1 placed therefrom.

Sound is produced by the mechanism by first moving the weight 64 toward the top of the cylinder 6t) and then releasing it for movement towards the bottom thereof. The close fit of the washer 70 within the cylinder, restricts the passage of air displaced by the weight 64 to the passage 66, in passing through which it sets the element 68 to vibrate.

In adapting such sound-producing device for the purpose of the present invention, the bottom wall 62 of the cylinder is provided with a central opening, 74, into which or around which is set a nipple, 76, having an axial passageway in register with the opening 74. A plunger, 78, is placed within the cylinder 60 below the weight 64, whose stem, 80, extends through the nipple 76 and projects downwardly therefrom.

The cylinder is supported within the doll torso 10, preferably on the walking mechanism supporting base 42 by means of a bracket, 82, extending upwardly from such base and having at its upper end a circular clamp, 84, that fits about and supports the cylinder 60, with the stem 80 extending to a point slightly below the level of the

pinions

46 and 48. One of the pinions, as 46, has se cured thereto, as to its shaft extension 50R, an arm, 88, which is curved or has an extension thereof arranged to underlie the end of the stem 80, to be in close proximity to such stem end when the doll legs are in upright position, in axial alinernent with the torso and to engage the end of stem 80 to move it upwardly and inwardly into the cylinder 66 and raise the weight 64 upon the displacement of the leg 16R into angular position relative to the torso axis as forwardly. It will be apparent that when such leg 16R is thereafter moved into the opposite direction, pressure on the stern. will be relieved and the weight 64 thereby allowed to drop within the cylinder, to produce a sound, in the manner described above. To ensure proper and certain operation of the sound-producing mechanism, an expansion spring, 90, may be interposed between the upper surface of the weight 64 and the inner surface of the grille 72, which will press the weight downwardly to insure displacement of air for sound production.

This completes the description of the construction, assembly and operation of one embodiment of a walking and talking mechanism of the present invention. It will be apparent that such mechanism is of highly simplified construction and mode of operation; that it may be easily and economically mounted and assembled with a doll and that it will simulate a natural walking movement which will be automatically accompanied by intermittent sound.

It will be further apparent that numerous modifications and variations in the doll walking and talking mechanismof the present invention may be made by anyone skilled in the art, in accordance with the principles of the inven-- tion hereinabove set forth and without the exercise of any inventive ingenuity. I desire, therefore, to be protected for any and all such modifications and variations that may be made within the spirit of the present invention and scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

1. A combined walking and talking mechanism for a doll having a hollow torso portion and a pair of limbs rotatably supported by one end on said torso portion on opposed sides thereof, comprising a pair of pinions, means within said hollow torso portion supporting said pinions in meshed relation for reciprocal axial rotation in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said torso, means operatively interengaging each of said pinions with one of said limbs for movement of said limb upon rotation of said pinion, a sound-producing device including a movable member for actuating said sound-producing device, means including a housing for said sounding device immovably supported on said torso fixedly supporting said sound-producing device within said torso with its movable operating member adjacent said pinion, a member secured to one of said pinions for rotation therewith engageable upon rotation of said pinion against said operating member for moving the same to actuate said device for sound production.

2. The combined walking and talking mechanism of claim 1, wherein said one pinion is formed with a shaft extension and said member rotatable with said one pinion is secured to said shaft extension of said one pinion.

3. The combined walking and talking mechanism of claim 1, wherein a common supporting base for said pinion-supporting means and said sound-producing device supporting means is mounted within said torso.

4. The combined walking and talking mechanism of claim 1, wherein said sound-producing device comprises a hollow cylindrical body having a closed bottom and a central opening formed in said closed bottom and said operating member comprises, a plunger within said hollow cylindrical body, said plunger having a stem extending through said opening, a closely-fitting weighted cylindrical body disposed within said hollow cylindrical body above said plunger for axial displacement therein, said body having an axially-extending passageway therethrough and a vibratory sound-producing element extending into said passageway, said stem terminating adjacent said pinion-secured member for movement by said pinion-secured member inwardly into said hollow cylindrical body upon rotation of said pinion in one direction.

5. The combined walking and talking mechanism of claim 4, wherein said hollow cylindrical body is formed with a perforated closure at its upper end and an expansion spring is interposed between said closure and the upper end of said weighted cylindrical body.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,967,818 7/1934 Gershowitz et al. 46-118 2,116,183 5/1938 Beach et a1 46-180 2,259,467 10/1941 Henry 46-187 FOREIGN PATENTS 850,524 10/ 1960 Great Britain. 483,263 7/1953 Italy.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

L. J. BOVASSO, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A COMBINED WALKING AND TALKING MECHANISM FOR A DOLL HAVING A HOLLOW TORSO PORTION AND A PAIR OF LIMBS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BY ONE END ON SAID TORSO PORTION ON OPPOSED SIDES THEREOF, COMPRISING A PAIR OF PINIONS, MEANS WITHIN SAID HOLLOW TORSO PORTION SUPPORTING SAID PINIONS IN MESHED RELATION FOR RECIPROCAL AXIAL ROTATION IN A PLANE NORMAL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID TORSO, MEANS OPERATIVELY INTERENGAGING EACH OF SAID PINIONS WITH ONE OF SAID LIMBS FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID LIMB UPON ROTATION OF SAID PINION, A SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICE INCLUDING A MOVABLE MEMBER FOR ACTUATING SAID SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICE, MEANS INCLUDING A HOUSING FOR SAID SOUNDING DEVICE IMMOVABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID TORSO FIXEDLY SUPPORTING SAID SOUND-PRO-