US3839819A

US3839819A - Controlled wetting unit for dolls

Info

Publication number: US3839819A
Application number: US00372279A
Authority: US
Inventors: C Hollingsworth; W Kosicki
Original assignee: HORSMAN DOLLS Inc
Current assignee: GATA BOX Ltd A CORP OF NY
Priority date: 1973-06-21
Filing date: 1973-06-21
Publication date: 1974-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-08

Abstract

A controlled wetting unit for a doll in which a reservoir adapted to receive liquid introduced into the doll''s mouth is provided with a tube extending vertically to adjacent the top of the reservoir in the prone or feeding position of the doll to prevent liquid from reaching a check valve connecting the reservoir to a squeeze bulb until the level of water is adjacent to the top of the reservoir thus to prevent premature wetting and in which the tube in the vertical position of the doll extends generally horizontally along the bottom of the reservoir to permit the bulb first to be squeezed and then released to draw liquid from the reservoir into the bulb and then to be squeezed to force the liquid outwardly through a flow control valve to a tube leading to the wetting orifice until the reservoir is substantially empty.

Description

United States Patent 91 Hollingsworth et al.

[ Oct. 8, 1974 1 CONTROLLED WETTING UNIT FOR DOLLS [75] Inventors: Charles M. Hollingsworth, West Columbia; Witold W. Kosicki, Columbia, both of SC.

[73] Assignee: Horsman Dolls, Inc., Columbia, SC.

[22] Filed: June 21, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 372,279

[52] US. Cl 46/116, 46/135 A, 46/141 [51] Int. Cl A63h 3/24 [58] Field of Search 46/116, 135 A, 141

718,234 111932 France ..46/141 1,084,950 7/1954 France 46/135A Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting Attorney, Agent, or FirmShenier & OConnor [57] ABSTRACT A controlled wetting unit for a doll in which a reservoir adapted to receive liquid introduced into the dolls mouth is provided with a tube extending vertically to adjacent the top of the reservoir in the prone or feeding position of the doll to prevent liquid from reaching a check valve connecting the reservoir to a squeeze bulb until the level of water is adjacent to the top of the reservoir thus to prevent premature wetting and in which the tube in the vertical position of the doll extends generally horizontally along the bottom of the reservoir to permit the bulb first to be squeezed and then released to draw liquid from the reservoir into the bulb and then to be squeezed to force the liquid outwardly through a flow control valve to a tube leading to the wetting orifice until the reservoir is substantially empty.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures CONTROLLED WETTING UNIT FOR DOLLS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are known in the prior art wetting dolls which are adapted to wet in response to liquid introduced into the dolls body through its mouth. In some of these dolls the wetting mechanism consists merely of a tube connecting an orifice at the mouth to a wetting orifice. Such dolls have generally not proved to be appealing or satisfactory since no control whatever over the wetting action is provided.

In an attempt to overcome the problem outlined above, there has been developed a controlled wetting unit for dolls in which a reservoir supported within the dolls torso is adapted to receive and store liquid introduced into the dolls mouth. This controlled wetting doll further is provided with a manually actuatable pump adapted to be operated by the child to draw liquid from the reservoir and to force the liquid drawn from the reservoir through a flow control valve to a tube leading to the wetting orifice. While this controlled wetting unit represents a significant advance in the art over a wetting doll where no control over the wetting is provided, the controlled wetting unit itself involves a significant defect.

Liquid introduced into the mouth orificeof the doll described above usually is achieved by employing a squeeze bottle which is actuated to force liquid from the bottle into the mouth of the doll. After each squeezing operation the bottle is released to permit air to enter into the bottle for the next squeezing operation. The difficulty with this arrangement in the controlled wetting units of the prior art is that liquid forced into the reservoir as the feeding bottle is squeezed may be driven past the check valve and into the pump squeeze I bulb and past the control valve so that premature wetting takes place. That is to say, the doll may wet while being fed rather than waiting until the control unit squeeze bulb is actuated. Thus, the purpose of the control unit is defeated.

We have invented a controlled wetting unit for a doll which overcomes the defects of controlled wetting units of the prior art. Our control unit effectively places wetting under the control of the child. It prevents premature wetting. It is relatively simple in construction for the result achieved thereby.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of our invention is to provide a controlled wetting unit for a doll which overcomes the defects of wetting units of the prior art.

Another object of our invention is to provide a controlled wetting unit for a doll which effectively puts the wetting operation under the control of the child.

A further object of our invention is to provide a controlled wetting unit for a doll which prevents premature wetting.

Other and further objects of our invention will appear in the following description.

In general, our invention contemplates the provision of a controlled wetting unit for a doll in which a reservoir supported on the dolls torso is adapted to receive liquid introduced into a mouth orifice in response to operation of a squeeze bottle and is provided with a tube which, in the prone or feeding position of the doll, extends generally vertically to adjacent the top of the reservoir to prevent liquid from reaching a check valve connecting the reservoir to the pump squeeze bulb until the liquid has reached a predetermined level and in which the tube in the vertical or wetting position of the doll extends along what is the bottom of the reservoir in that position to permit the bulb to be squeezed and released to draw liquid from the reservoir into the bulb and to permit the bulb to be squeezed again to force liquid drawn from the reservoir outwardly through a flow control valve to a tube leading to the wetting orifice with these operations being repeated until the reservoir is substantially empty.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a doll provided with our controlled wetting unit with the doll shown in the prone or feeding position.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a doll provided with our controlled wetting unit with the doll shown in the vertical or wetting position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of our controlled wetting unit for a doll.

FIG. 4 is a bottom elevation of the controlled wetting unit illustrated in FIG. 3 taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3. i FIG. 5 is a sectional view of our controlled wetting unit for a doll.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of our controlled wetting unit for a doll taken along the line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an alternate embodiment of our controlled wetting unit for a doll.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, a doll, indicated generally by the reference character 10 which may be provided with our controlled wetting system, includes a torso l2, arms, one arm 14 of which is shown, legs, one leg 16 of which is shown, and a head 18. Our controlled wetting unit, indicated generally by the reference character 20, is mounted in the back 22 of the torso 12 by any suitable means known to the art such, for example, as by adhering the assembly in an opening in the back.

An inlet tube 24 connects the mouth orifice 26 of the dolls head 18 to the unit 20. A squeeze bottle 28 filled with a suitable liquid such as water or the like is provided with a nipple 30 adapted to be inserted in the orifice 26. When the bottle is squeezed liquid from the bottle is forced into the tube 24 through the mouth orifice 26. When the squeeze bottle is released air enters the bottle to permit it to expand for the next operation.

An outlet tube 32 leads from the unit 20 to a wetting orifice 34. As will be explained more fully hereinbelow in response to actuation of the wetting unit liquid which theretofore was introduced into the tube 24 through the orifice 26 is forced out through orifice 34.

The unit 20 includes a reservoir body 36 having a base 38 formed with a first recess 40 extending in one direction across the base 38. We form the recess 40 with an inlet hole 42 leading into a pipe 44 extending into the reservoir 36. A second or outlet hole 46 in the base of recess provides communication between an outlet pipe 48 formed on the base 38 and the space outside the reservoir body 36.

We form the base 38 with

respective slots

50 and 52 offset from the center of the base and leading into recess 40. A passage forming member 54 is adapted to be inserted in the space formed by the recess 40 and to form passages leading from the

respective openings

42 and 46 to the

tubes

24 and 32.

Respective tabs

56 and 58 formed on the member 54 are adapted to engage the base 38 alongside the edges of recess 40 to permit the member 54 to besecured in place by use of a suitable adhesive or the like.

Member 54 comprises an inlet fitting 60 adapted to receive the tube 24 and formed with a passage 62 leading into a connecting passage 64 containing'the opening 42. In this way communication is provided between the interior of the reservoir 36 and the tube 24. Member 54 also is formed with an outlet fitting 66 adapted to receive the tube 32 and provided with a passage 68 leading into a connecting passage 70 in member 54 to provide communication between the outlet pipe 48 and the tube 32. g

The assembly 20 further includes a valve support 72 formed with a shoulder 74 adapted to be received by the upper edge of the reservoir 36. Any suitable means such as an adhesive may be employed to hold the parts in their assembled condition. A bulb 76 formed from a suitable material such as synthetic rubber or the like is provided with a peripheral flange 78 adapted to be received by the upper surface of the valve support 72 and adapted to be held in assembled relationship therewith by means of a retainer 80 formed with a base 82 adapted to engage the upper surface of the flange 78 and formed with an opening 84 through which the bulb 76 extends. A dependent annular flange 86 surrounding the base 82 extends downwardly into a recess 88 in the valve support 72.

In the assembled position of the parts, an annular flange 90 at the periphery of the member 82 is adapted to engage the upper edge of the valve support 72. This flange 90 together with a plurality of tapered lugs 91 spaced circumferentially around the valve support 72 form a recess for receiving a portion of the dolls torso around an opening therein for receiving the assembly 20 thus to hold it in position on the dolls body. Locating lugs 93 may be provided for cooperation with notches in the opening in the dolls back properly to orient the assembly 20.

We secure an inlet passage forming member 92 to the underside of the valve support plate 72 at one location thereof. Member 92 includes an inlet fitting 94 which receives a tube 96 extending from the fitting 94 toward the base 38 of the reservoir 36. This member 92 includes a channel 98 in the upper surface thereof leading to a siphon chamber 100 formed in the member 92. A partition 102 formed on the base of the support 72 overlies the channel 98 to form a passage therewith providing communication between the interior of the flexible tube 96-and the chamber 100.

We form the base 104 of the valve support 72 with a check valve chamber 106 overlying the chamber 100. The chamber 106 includes an inlet opening 108 the upper end of which is surrounded by a seat 110 adapted to be engaged by a valve which may, for example, be a disc 112 of synthetic rubber or-th e like. A disc retainer 114 positioned in chamber 106 over the valve 112 has a passage 116 therein which communicates with the interior of the bulb 72.

Base 104 also includes an outlet valve chamber 118 the lower end of which is formed with an outlet pipe 120 adapted to telescope within pipe 48 when the various parts are assembled. A solid post 122 extending upwardly from the bottom of the chamber 118 receives a sleeve 124 of flexible material such, for example. as synthetic rubber. A plug 126 assembled in the upper end of the chamber 118 is formed with a fitting 128 adapted to receive the upper end of the tube 124.

Referring now to FIG. 7, we have shown an alternate embodiment of a doll incorporating our controlled wetting system. The assembly 20 of the form of our doll 130 is the same as that described hereinabove. Doll 130, however, includes a pair of eye sockets 132 which receive respective eyes 134. Moreover, rather than connecting the outlet tube 32 of the doll 130 directly to the wetting orifice 34 we connect it to the inlet port of a distributor 136 having three outlet ports.

Respective tubes

138 and 140 connect two of the outlet ports of distributor 136 to the interior of the resepctive eye sockets 132. A tube 142 connects the third outlet of the distributor to the wetting orifice 34.

In use of a doll l0 incorporating our controlled wetting unit 20, in order to feed the doll it is laid in the prone position illustrated in FIG. land the nipple 30 of bottle 28 is inserted into the mouth orifice 26. As the bottle is alternately squeezed and released, liquid will be forced from the bottle through the tube 24 and into the reservoir 36. In this position of the doll the tube 96 extends generally vertically upwardly from the fitting 94 to a location adjacent to what is the top of the reservoir 36 in this position of the ,doll. Owing to this arrangement, no liquid can enter the tube 96 until the reservoir is very nearly full. Thus, the pressure exerted on the bottle 28 in the course of the feeding operation will not cause any liquid to be forced through the system including the check valve 112 and the outlet valve 124 to result in premature wetting.

After the doll has been fed it is moved to the erect position illustrated in FIG. 2. It will be seen that in this erect position the tube 96 is generally horizontally disposed and lies along what is the bottom of the reservoirin this position of the doll. The doll is now ready for a wetting operation. To accomplish this result bulb 76 is squeezed to force air outwardly through the space between sleeve 124 and post 122. When the bulb is released it restores itself to its initial condition by virtue of its inherent resilience. As the bulb thus restores itself, water is drawn from the reservoir 36 through the tube 96, through passage 94 and into siphon chamber 100 and past valve 112 into the bulb. When the bulb next is squeezed, liquid therein is forced outwardly through fitting 128 and through the space between the sleeve 124 and post 122. This arrangement provides a controlled flow of the water outwardly through pipe 148 to tube 32 from whence it flows to the wetting orifice 34. This operation may be continued until the reservoir is substantially dry. It will readily be appreciated that, owing to the location of the tube 96, repeated operations will substantially empty the reservoir. The arrangement of the form of doll 130 illustrated in FIG. 7

is substantially the same as that described hereinabove.

, However, when the bulb is squeezed after the initial filling operation, as water flows outwardly through tube 32 it is distributed by head 136 to

tubes

138, 140 and 142 so that as the doll wets it cries.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided a controlled wetting unit for a doll which overcomes the defects of controlled wetting units of the prior art. Our wetting unit prevents premature wetting. At the same time, it ensures that the reservoir is substantially empty upon repeated operations of the wetting system. It is extremely simple in construction for the result acheived thereby. In an alternate embodiment of our controlled wetting unit the doll cries as it wets.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims without departing from the spirit of our invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim l. A controlled liquid discharge unit for a doll including in combination, a doll torso, a doll head carried by said torso, said head being formed with a mouth orifice into which liquid can be introduced, one of said torso and said head being formed with a liquid discharge orifice, a housing having a base and an open end spaced from said base, a pump assembly comprising an actuating element and an inlet valve and closure means formed with an opening communicating with said inlet valve, means mounting said pump assembly on the open end of said housing to provide a liquid reservoir in said housing between said base and said closure means, elongated passage forming means connected to said inlet valve opening, said elongated means extending from said inlet valve opening to a location in said reservoir adjacent to said base, means mounting said housing on said torso with said elongated means'extending generally from front to back of said torso, means for conducting liquid from said mouth orifice to said reservoir, and means responsive to operation of said actuating element for pumping liquid from said reservoir to said liquid discharge orifice.

2. A controlled liquid discharge unit as in claim I in which said elongated means is positioned off center adjacent to a portion of the side wall of said housing and in which said side wall portion is adjacent to the bottom of said torso.

3. A controlled liquid discharge unit as in claim 2 in which said actuating element is an externally accessible resilient bulb.

4. A controlled liquid discharge unit as in claim 3 in which said inlet valve is a check valve between said elongated means and the interior of said bulb.

5. A controlled liquid discharge unit as in claim 4 in which said actuating element responsive means includes a flow control valve between the interior of said bulb and said discharge orifice.

6. A controlled liquid discharge unit as in claim 5 in which said flow control valve comprises means forming a valve chamber, a solid post in said chamber, a resilient sleeve, one end of said sleeve being received by said post, means including a fitting received by the other end of said sleeve for conducting liquid from the interior of said bulb to the interior of said sleeve, said chamber being formed with an outlet and means for conducting liquid from said outlet to said discharge orifice.

7. A controlled liquid discharge unit as in claim 1 in which said liquid discharge orifice is a wetting orifice adjacent to the bottom of said torso.

8. A controlled liquid discharge unit as in claim 1 in which said liquid discharge orifice is a tearing opening in said head.

9. A controlled liquid discharge unit as in claim 1 in which said liquid discharge orifice is a wetting orifice adjacentto the bottom of said torso, said head being formed with a pair of tearing openings, said unit including means responsive to operation of said actuating ele ments for pumping liquid from said reservoir to said tearing openings.

Claims

1. A controlled liquid discharge uNit for a doll including in combination, a doll torso, a doll head carried by said torso, said head being formed with a mouth orifice into which liquid can be introduced, one of said torso and said head being formed with a liquid discharge orifice, a housing having a base and an open end spaced from said base, a pump assembly comprising an actuating element and an inlet valve and closure means formed with an opening communicating with said inlet valve, means mounting said pump assembly on the open end of said housing to provide a liquid reservoir in said housing between said base and said closure means, elongated passage forming means connected to said inlet valve opening, said elongated means extending from said inlet valve opening to a location in said reservoir adjacent to said base, means mounting said housing on said torso with said elongated means extending generally from front to back of said torso, means for conducting liquid from said mouth orifice to said reservoir, and means responsive to operation of said actuating element for pumping liquid from said reservoir to said liquid discharge orifice.

2. A controlled liquid discharge unit as in claim 1 in which said elongated means is positioned off center adjacent to a portion of the side wall of said housing and in which said side wall portion is adjacent to the bottom of said torso.

9. A controlled liquid discharge unit as in claim 1 in which said liquid discharge orifice is a wetting orifice adjacent to the bottom of said torso, said head being formed with a pair of tearing openings, said unit including means responsive to operation of said actuating elements for pumping liquid from said reservoir to said tearing openings.