US3686894A

US3686894A - Toy-containing locket

Info

Publication number: US3686894A
Application number: US618800A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elliot Handler; John W Ryan; Jack L Lemkin; Ralph Dunn
Original assignee: Mattel Inc
Current assignee: Mattel Inc
Priority date: 1967-02-27
Filing date: 1967-02-27
Publication date: 1972-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-29

Abstract

A locket device having a rear cover, a transparent front member, and a figure toy removably insertable in the locket. the rear cover has a recess accommodating the head of the figure toy and carries a clip for attaching the locket to a user''s pocket and an easel for standing the locket up on a suitable surface.

Description

United States Patent Handler et al.

1451 Aug. 29, 1972 [54] TOY-CONTAINING LOCKET [72] Inventors: Elliot Handler; John W. Ryan, both of Los Angeles; Jack L. Lemkin,

Torrance; Ralph Dunn, Los Angeles, all of Calif. [73] Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif.

[22] Filed: Feb. 27, 1967 [21] Appl. No.: 618,800

[52] [1.8. CI. ..63/19, 40/1521, 46/116, 63/1 [51] Int. Cl ..A44c 15/00 [58] Field of Search ..63/18, 19, 32, 2, 23PL; '40/152.1, 160

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 297,271 4/ 1884 Ladd et al ..40/160 UX 3,317,097 5/1967 Giordano ..220/31 SR X 3,324,997 6/ 1967 Bonarmo ...220/31 SR X Palmer ..63/2

497,611 5/1893 Stauffer ..63/23 577,660 2/1897 Liebmann ..40/1s2.1 1,097,349 5/1914 Mygatt ..63/32 ux 1,414,899 5/1922 Sabatelli ..63/18 ux 2,646,668 7/1953 Rinehart ..63/2 2,700,919 2/1955 B00116 ..63/32 x 3,037,367 6/1962 Ebertin ..63/l4.4 x

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,015,389 12/1965 GreatBritain ..63/32 Primary Examiner-F. Barry Shay Attorney-Seymour A. Scholnick [57] ABSTRACT A locket device having a rear cover, a transparent front member, and a figure toy :removably insertable in the locket. the rear cover has a recess accommodating the head of the figure toy and carries a clip for attaching the locket to a users pocket and an easel for standing the locket up on a suitable surface.

5 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures TOY-CONTAINING LOCKET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The background of the invention is set forth in two parts:

1. Field of the Invention The field of art to which the invention pertains is jewelry, and, more particularly, to lockets having a figure toy removably insertable therein and adapted to be worn as a brooch, a hair-piece ornament, a belt, a pendant, or a pocket ornament. Alternatively, the locket may be used as a table-top ornament.

2. Description of the Prior Art Locket devices, including those having hinged covers, are known as typified by Wachter US. Pat. No. 152,197, issued June 16, 1874; however, such lockets are subject to substantial limitations when directed to children. Such lockets do not serve well in the child's world for they are characterized by utilitarian and decorative appeal suitable only for adults.

While an apparatus may be devised having a transparent surface enclosing a cavity for housing objects therein, such as the sealedpaper weight disclosed in Lobrniller US. Pat. No. 736,751, issued Aug. 18, 1903, such sealed devices have no means for removably inserting a toy figure.

An item of jewelry which may be used by children comprises a bracelet incorporating a plurality of links each having transparent front members through which may be viewed picture cards. Such an item is illustrated in Forstner US. Pat. No. 1,701,610, issued Feb. 12,

While generally satisfactory, these prior art items are subject to limitations which materially decrease their effectiveness as jewelry for children. One limitation resides in the fact that they are usually restricted to a single arrangement of parts, thereby limiting the stimulation of the imagination of the. child user. Furthermore, it has long been known that figure toys, such as 1 dolls, are a source .of great fascination to children,

especially girls; however, the prior art apparently failed to provide a locket having a removably-insertable figure toy, with the locket featuring an arrangement of elements that yield a plurality of jewelry pieces in a single device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing factors and conditions characteristic of childrens jewelry, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and use- According to the present invention, a locket device for a child is provided. The device includes a transparent first member having a bowl-shaped portion and an integral, radially-extending frame surrounding the bowl-shaped portion. A second member is removably engageable with the mouth of the bowl-shaped portion and fastening means are provided for retaining the members in closed relationship.

The locket device also includes a figure toy in the form of a doll removably insertable in the locket which, when inserted, is retained in a fixed position between the members. The second member has formed therein a recessed portion in which is received the back segment of the doll s head to further aid in fixedly retaining the doll in the locket, as well as lending to compactness of the outer dimensions of the locket.

A plurality of accessories are affixed to the locket adapting it for use in a number of play environments. The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of use, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference charactersrefer to like elements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a childs locket device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partial plan view of a faceted simulation of a precious stone forming a part of the locket device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the artificial precious stone of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken substantially along line 6--6 of FIG. 1, showing ornamental configurations formed in the frame of the childs locket device;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view, with portions thereof represented schematically, showing a plurality of lockets of FIG. I joined together to form a belt and the like;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the device of FIG. 1 clipped to a belt;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the device of FIG. 1 with a safety pin affixed thereto for pinning the device to a shirt or blouse and the like; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side-elevational view, with parts broken away to show internal construction, showing the device of FIG. 1 supported in easel-fashion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring again to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, a child's locket device constituting a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated 10, includes a frame 12, a figure toy 30, a front or first member 32, and, in FIG. 2, a cover or second member 35. The cover 35 is pivotally connected to frame 12 for pivotally moving cover 35 away from frame 12 and the first member 32, thereby enabling the insertion and removal of figure toy 30.

The front member 32 may be formed from any suitable transparent, plastic-type material and includes a substantially bowl-shaped portion 33 forming a cavity having sufficient depth to receive figure toy 30. The peripheral edge 34 of portion 33 forms a mouth in first member 32 which is joined to the inner edge 14 of frame 12. Frame 12 forms an integral part of member 32 and extends radially outwardly therefrom.

Frame 12 has molded integrally therewith decorative impressions such as scrolls 25, ornamental stones 17 and artificial semiprecious stones 18, as shown in cross-section in FIG. 6 for scroll impressions 25 and ornamental stone impressions 17.

The details of the faceted simulations of semi-precious stones 18 are shown in FIGS. 4, and 6. Each stone 18 has a plurality of facets 19 and a flat top surface or apex 20 formed on the upper surface of frame 12. In order to impart brilliance to stone 18, the lower surface 16 of frame 12 has molded therein a plurality of recessed, reflective surfaces 23 each having an inclination from a point intermediate upper surface 15 and lower surface 16 to an intersecting point at a common apex 24 adjacent lower surface 16. The reflective surfaces 23 total twice the number of facets 19 thereby forming a number of lines of intersecting surfaces equal to the number of facets. The lines of intersection are aligned centrally below each facet surface 19 thereby increasing the amount of light reflecting from artificial stone 18 when viewed from upper surface 15 of frame 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 7, cover 35 may be formed from opaque, resilient plastic-type material and is adapted to cover the mouth 34 of front member 32. Cover 35 includes a flange 37 which may be formed integrally therewith. The flange 37 is provided with a pair of pin-receiving apertures 38, .38 which receive associated pins39, 39 projecting outwardly from frame 12 for assembling cover 35 therewith. When so assembled, heat may be applied to ends 40, 40 of

pins

39, 39 for fixedly attaching cover 35 to frame 12. A transverse line of depression 41 is formed in flange 37 by reducing the cross section thereof forming a hinge about which cover 35 may be pivotally swung to-and-fro with respect to front member 32. A tab 44 is integrally formed on cover 35 and carries a hooked member 45 for detachably engaging an aperture 47 provided in frame 12. Due to the resilient nature of the material from which cover 35 and tab 44 are formed, pressure properly applied to tab 44 releases hooked member 45 and, conversely, hooked member 45 may be snapped into engagement with aperture 4 Cover 35 has formed therein a recessed portion 36 which extends away from front member 32 and which is adapted to receive the rear, head portion 30a of the figure toy or doll 30 inserted in the cavity formed by bowl-shaped portion 33. Recessed portion 36 permits a reduction in the envelope size of front member 32 for the reason that the head of toy 30 is located in the region where front member 32 is converging upon frame 12.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 11, an easel 50 for supporting the childs locket device is formed from plastic-type material which may be similar to that used for cover 35 and has a base 51 including a hinge 57 formed therein by reducing the cross section thereof. The base 51 is provided with a pair of

apertures

52, 52 engaged by associated

pins

56, 56 on cover 35 for connecting easel 50 thereto. Integrally formed on base 51 are upwardly extending

legs

53, 53 which are joined together at their upper ends 54 by a U-shaped, transverse leg 55. Easel 50 may be retained in a stored position against cover 35 by flexing

legs

53, 53 sufficiently to engage ends 54 under associated

angular tabs

61, 61 provided on cover 35 adjacent the mid-portion of recessed portion 36, as shown in FIG. 7. Easel 50 may then be pivotally swung away from cover 35 about hinge 57 to the position shown in FIG. 11 and retained therein by a tab 59 integrally formed on base 51 for frictionally engaging cover 35.

An additional feature of the present invention is clearly shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. A spring clip 63 is formed in the recessed portion 36 of the cover 35 and is defined by a spatial separation 64 along the sides and lower end 65 of clip 63 in recessed portion 36. Clip 63 is thereby cantilevered to the recessed portion 36 of cover 35 at the upper end 66 of clip 63. The lower end 65 is curved away from recessed portion 36 in order to facilitate the insertion of a belt B, a shirt pocket flap (not shown) or the like, between clip 63 and recessed portion 36 of cover 35.

Also shown in FIG. 9, as well as FIG. 10, recessed portion 36 of cover 35 has a protuberance 68 extending outwardly from recessed portion 36 of sufficient magnitude to accommodate an eyelet 69 formed transversely through protuberance 68. Eyelet 69 is in open communication with the space between clip 63 and portion 36 for receiving the fixed leg 71 of a safety pin 70 which may be moved into position in eyelet 69 by engaging leg 71 under end 65 of clip 63, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 10, and sliding pin 70 upwardly behind clip 63. The childs locket device 10 may then be pinned to an item of wearing apparel and the like.

Two or more locket devices 10 may be linked together by any suitable connecting means, such as by the links 76 shown in FIG. 8. Each link 76 may be made from an elongated metal strip having resilient properties and being formed into an oval shape with ends of the resilient strip in disengageable contact. A link so formed may be inserted through an elongated aperture provided in each end of frame 12 and thereafter linked to another locket device 10 by engaging an associated aperture 75 or, in the alternative, linked to a chain 80 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which may be worn about a child users neck.

While the particular locket device herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A locket comprising;

a first member having a generally annular and generally planar frame portion having a central opening and a curved generally dome-shaped portion of transparent material overlying said central opening to define a rearwardly open cavity containing a removable three-dimensional object, said frame portion extending laterally outwardly from said domeoshaped portion;

a closure member having means movably securing the same to said frame portion in spanning relation to said central opening to close said cavity and 5 being movable to open said cavity to permit insertion of said three-dimensional object in said cavity;

fastening means for holding said closure member in cavity closing position;

means provided on at least one of said members for supporting said first member in a generally upright position to be observed for viewing said object through said transparent material; and

said supporting means comprising a resilient clip provided on said closure member for connecting said locket to a portion of wearing apparel or the like.

2. -A locket as stated in claim 1 wherein said clip inaway from said first member; means for supporting said first member in a position to be observed for viewing said object through said transparent material; said supporting means comprising a resilient clip prociudes means for retaining one leg of a safety pinin position on said closure member.

3. Alocket comprising:

vided on said second member for connecting said locket to a portion of wearing apparel, or the like,

a generally planar second member having hinge a three-dimensional object removably insertable a first member formed of transparent material, said first member having a bowl-shaped portion defining a cavity having a mouth;

means swingably securing said second member to said first member for covering said mouth, said second. member being provided with aperture means communicating with said cavity;

within said cavity in said first member, said aperture means accommodating a portion of said object, whereby said portion may extend into a plane lying beyond the plane of said second member and away from said first member; 3 5

means for supporting said first member in a position to be observed for viewing said object through said transparent material;

said supporting means having a first end pivotally connected to said second member for swingably moving from a first position to a second position, said supporting means lying flat against said second member when swung to said first position and having a second end which extends outwardly from said second member when swung to said second position, whereby said second end is engageable with a supporting surface for supporting said locket as an easel, said second end including a pair of legs joined together by a U-shaped transverse leg which encompasses at least a portion of said aperture when said supporting means lies flat against said second member.

4. A locket comprising:

said clip spanning at least a portion of said aperture means.

5. A locket comprising:

a first member having a generally annular and generally planar frame portion having a central opening and a curved generally dome-shaped portion of transparent material overlying said central opening to define a rearwardly open cavity containing a removable three-dimensional object, said frame portion extending laterally outwardly from said dome-shaped portion;

a closure member having means movably securing the same to said frame portion in spanning relation to said central opening to close said cavity and being movable to open said cavity to permit insertion of said three-dimensional object in said cavity;

fastening means for holding said closure member in cavity closing position;

said supporting means having a first end pivotally connected to said closure member for swingably moving from a first position to a second position, said supporting means lying flat against said closure member when swung to said first position and having a second end which extends outwardly from said closure member when swung to said second position, whereby said second end is engageable with a supporting surface for supporting said locket as an easel.

Claims

1. A locket comprising: a first member having a generally annular and generally planar frame portion having a central opening and a curved generally dome-shaped portion of transparent material overlying said central opening to define a rearwardly open cavity containing a removable three-dimensional object, said frame portion extending laterally outwardly from said dome-shaped portion; a closure member having means movably securing the same to said frame portion in spanning relation to said central opening to close said cavity and being movable to open said cavity to permit insertion of said three-dimensional object in said cavity; fastening means for holding said closure member in cavity closing position; means provided on at least one of said members for supporting said first member in a generally upright position to be observed for viewing said object through said transparent material; and said supporting means comprising a resilient clip provided on said closure member for connecting said locket to a portion of wearing apparel or the like.

2. A locket as stated in claim 1 wherein said clip includes means for retaining one leg of a safety pin in position on said closure member.

3. A locket comprising: a first member formed of transparent material, said first member having a bowl-shaped portion defining a cavity having a mouth; a generally planar second member having hinge means swingably securing said second member to said first member for covering said mouth, said second member being provided with aperture means communicating with said cavity; a three-dimensional object removably insertable within said cavity in said first member, said aperture means accommodating a portion of said object, whereby said portion may extend into a plane lying beyond the plane of said second member and away from said first member; means for supporting said first member in a position to be observed for viewing said object through said transparent material; said supporting means having a first end pivotally connected to said second member for swinGably moving from a first position to a second position, said supporting means lying flat against said second member when swung to said first position and having a second end which extends outwardly from said second member when swung to said second position, whereby said second end is engageable with a supporting surface for supporting said locket as an easel, said second end including a pair of legs joined together by a U-shaped transverse leg which encompasses at least a portion of said aperture when said supporting means lies flat against said second member.

4. A locket comprising: a first member formed of transparent material, said first member having a bowl-shaped portion defining a cavity having a mouth; a generally planar second member having hinge means swingably securing said second member to said first member for covering said mouth, said second member being provided with aperture means communicating with said cavity; a three-dimensional object removably insertable within said cavity in said first member, said aperture means accommodating a portion of said object, whereby said portion may extend into a plane lying beyond the plane of said second member and away from said first member; means for supporting said first member in a position to be observed for viewing said object through said transparent material; said supporting means comprising a resilient clip provided on said second member for connecting said locket to a portion of wearing apparel, or the like, said clip spanning at least a portion of said aperture means.

5. A locket comprising: a first member having a generally annular and generally planar frame portion having a central opening and a curved generally dome-shaped portion of transparent material overlying said central opening to define a rearwardly open cavity containing a removable three-dimensional object, said frame portion extending laterally outwardly from said dome-shaped portion; a closure member having means movably securing the same to said frame portion in spanning relation to said central opening to close said cavity and being movable to open said cavity to permit insertion of said three-dimensional object in said cavity; fastening means for holding said closure member in cavity closing position; means provided on at least one of said members for supporting said first member in a generally upright position to be observed for viewing said object through said transparent material; and said supporting means having a first end pivotally connected to said closure member for swingably moving from a first position to a second position, said supporting means lying flat against said closure member when swung to said first position and having a second end which extends outwardly from said closure member when swung to said second position, whereby said second end is engageable with a supporting surface for supporting said locket as an easel.