US3757465A

US3757465A - Doll

Info

Publication number: US3757465A
Application number: US00213895A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Barlow
Original assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
Current assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
Priority date: 1971-12-30
Filing date: 1971-12-30
Publication date: 1973-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-11
Also published as: IT973875B; FR2166981A5; JPS4877939A; BR7209207D0; AU4922972A; DE2259769A1

Abstract

An animated doll having the ability to change eye colors, characterized by the provision of a rotatable indexable spindle in the doll having plural pairs of eye of different colors thereon, and eyelid means associated with the spindle for closing the eye opening during rotation of the spindle to present a new set of eyes to view.

Description

United States Patent Barlow 1 1 Sept. 11, 1973 [54] D LL 2,208,219 7 1940 Maibaurn 46/135 R X 1,496,406 6/1924 Bertsch 46/135 R [75] Inventor- Barb, Evanston 2,938,302 5/1960 Walss 46/135 R x [73] Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates, Chicago, 21954639 10/1960 walss 46/135 R X L 1,821,243 9/1931 Springer 46/135 R 2,289,977 7/1942 Maibaum 46/135 R [22] Filed: Dec. 30, 1971 [21] Appl' No: 213 895 Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-D. L. Weinhold Att0rneyJames F. Coffee et a]. [52] US. Cl 46/135 R, 46/166, 46/169 [51] Int. Cl A63h 11/00 57 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 46/135 R, 135 A, l 1

46/165470y H8 H9 An ammated doll havmg the ab1l1ty to change eye colors, characterized by the provision of a rotatable index- [56] References Cited able spindle in the doll having plural pairs of eye of dif- UNITED STATES PATENTS ferent colors thereon, and eyelid means associated with 1; the spindle for closing the eye opening during rotation ggzgggg 46/ 2 of the spindle to present a new set of eyes to view. 1:027:324 5 1912 Dickson.........1...........::::i::::::46/167 8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDSE'PI H SHEEI 1 [IF 2 mvsmoszs 60000/1 4. MAZOW MAW/N 64A 68 ATTORNEYS DOLL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to animated figure toys and more particularly, to a doll with a changeable eye assembly.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art U.S. Pats. disclosing dolls with changeable eye assemblies include the following: Dickson, No. 1,027,324, -21-1912; Springer, No. 1,821,243, 90- 1-1931; Maibaum, No. 2,093,684, 9-21-1937; Maibaum, No. 2,208,219, 7-16-1940; Mandel], No. 2,475,508, 7-05-1949; Walss, No. 2,670,568, 3-0- 2-1954; Walss, No. 2,938,302; 5-31-1960; Walss, No. 2,954,639, -04-1960; Newman, No. 3,292,610, 12-20-1966.

Dolls having changeable physical characteristics possess the advantage of increasing the child's identity with the doll. Features of the doll may be changed to simulate features corresponding to a child who possesses the doll or to a friend of the child. Thus, during play and fantasy moments'with the doll, the child can increase the identity of the doll with himself or with a friend, by selecting features or characteristics which correspond to the child or a friend.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved animated figure toy with changeable features in the form of a doll having changeable eyes with associated eyelid mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of a doll having changeable eyes and movable eyelids associated therewith.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention includes the provision of an indexable spindle in the doll head, carrying sets of pairs of eyes behind eye openings. Eyelids are movably associated relative to'the eye openings and connected with the spindle by a lost motion connection. As the spindle mechanism is actuated, the eyelids first close, then the spindle rotates to present a new set of eyes adjacent the eye openings, following which the eyelids lift to present the new set-of eyes to view.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, partially in section, of a doll head incorporating the changeable eye assembly of thisinvention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section view throughthe doll head taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section view through the doll head taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and illustrating in particular, the eye assembly of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a section view taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a section view taken generally along the line 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a section view taken generally along the line 8-8 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the changeable eye assembly of this invention. While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The figure toy 10 of this invention includes a generally rigid shell 12 defining a head which, in the illustrated embodiment, is somewhat grotesque in configuration. Preferably, the figure 12 has the usual facial characteristics, including a mouth 14, nose l6, and eye openings 18 and 20. It is to be understood that the head 12 could be mounted on a doll-1ike body by well known means, but such a torso or body is not shown herein, since it forms no part of the invention.

The changeable eye assembly 22 of this invention is intended to be mounted within a structure, such as the head 12, behind eye openings 18 and 20. The eye assembly 22 includes

outer half shells

24 and 26 which are secured together and held within the head 12 by threaded fasteners 30, which extend through screw openings 28 in each of the shell halves and into posts 32 in the interior of head 12.

Each

half shell

24 and 26 has

half socket portions

34a, 34b, 36a, 36b, respectively, at its opposite ends, which are interconnected by cylindrical

half shell portions

40 and 42, respectively.

Socket halves

34a and 34b are provided with

eye openings

42a and 42b which are intended to generally register with eye openings 18 and 20 in the head 12. In addition, each

half shell

24 and 26 has outwardly projecting

sleeve stub halves

44, 46, 48 and 50 at its opposite ends which provide bearing surfaces for receivingthe

stub ends

52 and 54, respectively, of the eyelid assembly 56.

Eyelid assembly 56 has spaced, generally

spherical portions

58 and 60 which are supported at opposite ends of a semi-cylindrical intermediate member 62. The member 62 hasa projection 64 generally medially located thereon having an opening 640 therethrough. Each

sphere

58 and 60 has an eye opening 68 and 70 spanned by clear plastic and bordered by simulated

eyelashes

72 and 74 at the top thereof. Sphere 60 further includes a spring mounting stub 76 which projects outwardlyfrom one side thereof close to the, stub end 54. A torsion spring 78 is mounted on stub end 54 and has one end, 78a, connected with stub 76, and another end, 78b, which is captivated in the socket half 36b of shell 26. By this arrangement, the eyelid assembly is biased for orientation normally with the

opening

68 and 70 in alignment with the

openings

42a and 42b with the

eyelashes

72 and 74 extending through

openings

42a and 42b at the top thereof. v

The changeable eye assembly 22 further includes an eye set 82. The eye set 82 includes a center shaft 84 terminating in reduced pin-

like ends

86 and 88. The shaft 84 is provided with rectangular enlargements 90 and 92 near each of the

pin ends

86 and 88, respectively. The enlargements 90 and 92 are provided with hub-like extensions 94 on each facet thereof which receive color rings 96. The color rings 96 are provided with openings 98 of a size and shape to frictionally fit on hubs 94. The hubs 94 simulate an eye lens and the color rings 96 simulate a colored iris. In the illustrated embodiment, there are four different pairs of eyes provided on the assembly 82 in that the rectangular enlargements 90 and 92 provide four different faces to which the hub 94 and rings 96 can be connected. It is to be understood that a greater number of faces could be provided affording greater number of pairs of eyes of different colors.

The shaft 84 has a rectangular extension 100 which is intended to lie adjacent a leaf spring 102. The extension 100 and spring 102 comprise an indexing means for retaining the shaft in a position oriented with re-' spect to the openings in the eyelid assembly, the outer shell, and the doll head.

Means comprising a lost motion connection 104 is interposed between the eyelid assembly and the eye set. The lost motion connection includes a cam wheel 106, a follower 108, a pin 1 extending outwardly from the cam and a slot 112 in the socket 58. The cam wheel 106 has a center opening 114, rotatably receiving the pin end 86 of shaft 84.

A slot 1 16 is formed in socket S8 for receiving the pin 110 of the cam wheel 106. The cam wheel 106 is provided with cam quadrant portions 118 on one face, near the periphery thereof, with each quadrant being separated from the next by a transverse shoulder 120. Follower 108 has a central D-shaped opening 122 which fits on D-shaped stub 122a of shaft 84 to fix the follower with respect to shaft 84. The follower 108 also has a pair of outwardly struck quadrants 124 terminating in an offset free end 126. The quadrants 1.24 are intended to overlie a pair of the four quadrants 118 of the cam wheel 106 with the free ends 126 abutting the shoulders 120. However, only two such quadrants and shoulders are provided on the follower 108 whereas four companion cam quadrants 118 and shoulders 120 are provided onthe cam wheel 106. Thus, provision is made for 90 of lost motion movement between the wheel 106 and the follower 108.

A strand 128 extends from connection through opening 64a on projection 64 through an opening 130 in the shell half and further through an opening 131 in the head. A pull ring 132 is connected to the strand 128 to the exterior of the head. In operation, when the strand 128 is pulled, it will cause rotation of the eyelid assembly 62 with the eyelid undergoing approximately 90 of movement so that the

eyelashes

72 and 74 drop to the bottom of

openings

42a and 42b and the remainder of

sphere portions

58 and 60 occupy these openings. At this point, one of the shoulders 120 will come into en'- gagement with one of the free ends 126 so that continued pulling on the string 128 will cause rotation of shaft 84 so that another set of eyes of different colors will be presented behind the

spheres

58 and 60. The indexing arrangement afforded by the enlargement 100 and leaf spring 102 will insure registration of each pair of eyes in position for alignment with the

openings

42a, 42b

and 68 and 70. As soon as the strand 128 is released, the torsion spring 78 will cause the eyelid assembly 62 to rotate reversely, also afforded through the lost motion connection, so that the

eyelashes

72 and 74 will come to the top of the

openings

42a and 42b and the openings 68 and will be in alignment therewith.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. An animated figure, comprising:

means defining a figure head having simulated facial features and eye openings therein;

a changeable eye assembly mounted within the head behind the eye openings including a movable multiple eye set assembly supporting different pairs of sets of eyes for orientation behind said openings, and a movable eyelid assembly including eyelids adjacent said eye openings, said eyelid assembly being connected with said multiple eye set assembly by a lost motion connection for moving said eyelid assembly across said eye openings prior to movement of said eye set assembly;

and means for moving said eyelid and eye set assemblies; whereby, when said means for moving is actuated, said eyelids will close said eye openings, following which the eye set assembly will move to present a new set of eyes adjacent the openings.

2. The animated figure of claim 1 wherein said eye set assembly has indexing means for positively orienting the eye sets behind the eye openings.

3. The animated figure of claim 1 wherein said eye set assembly includes a rotatable spindle with said eye sets being radially oriented relative to the axis of rotation of said spindle.

4. The animated figure of claim 3 wherein said eyelid assembly overlies said eye set assembly, having portions coaxial therewith, with said lost motion connection being between said coaxial portions.

5. The animated figure of claim 4 wherein the eyelid and eye set assemblies are coaxially mounted within a housing having eye openings therein.

6. The animated figure of claim 5 wherein the eyelid assembly is normally biased to an open position wherein the eyelids remain adjacent to the eye openings.

7. The animated figure of claim 6 wherein said eyelid assembly comprises a pair of semi-spheres interconnected by shaft portion which overlies said spindle.

8. The animated figure of claim 7 wherein the means for moving said eyelid and eye set assemblies comprises a strand element connected to the shaft portion of the eyelid assembly for rotation thereof responsive to tension applied to said strand.

Claims

1. An animated figure, comprising: means defining a figure head having simulated facial features and eye openings therein; a changeable eye assembly mounted within the head behind the eye openings including a movable multiple eye set assembly supporting different pairs of sets of eyes for orientation behind said openings, and a movable eyelid assembly including eyelids adjacent said eye openings, said eyelid assembly being connected with said multiple eye set assembly by a lost motion connection for moving said eyelid assembly across said eye openings prior to movement of said eye set assembly; and means for moving said eyelid and eye set assemblies; whereby, when said means for moving is actuated, said eyelids will close said eye openings, following which the eye set assembly will move to present a new set of eyes adjacent the openings.