US503967A - Annie j - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANNIE J. HOLLAND, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

' DOLL.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 503,967, dated August 29, 1893.

Application tiled April 19, 1893.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANNIE J. HOLLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented anew and use- 'ful Improvement in Dolls, of which thev following is a specification.

The invention relates to dolls heads, and particularly to that class in which the eyes automatically close when the doll is laid on its back, and open when it is raised into an erect position. In dolls of this kind as usually constructed, the balls colored to represent eyes roll or turn down toward or behind the cheek when the doll is laid down, and portions of the balls painted in flesh color are brought into view, thus giving the Vappearance of closed eyelids. The effect is unnatural, however, and is particularly so when the doll is laid in a partially erect position, in which case the pupils are partly behind the cheek in an impossible position.

In my improvement, when the doll is laid on its back, the upper eyelids close naturally over the eyes, said eyelids being separate and distinct from the eyes, and when the doll is raised into an erect position, the eyelids lift and roll back into the head entirelyindependently of the eyes, which may be stationary.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a view of a dolls head in a horizontal position and with its eyelids closed over the eyes. Fig. 2 is a section taken with the dolls head in a reclining position. Fig. 3 is a section taken With the head in a Vertical position. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the eyelids and operating mechanism, portions of the head being shown in horizontal section.

A represents the ordinary hollow dolls head, made of papier mach or other suitable material. The eyes B are held in the proper position by being attached to supports b, which are cemented or otherwise secured to the rear side of the face-wall A', and lower immovable eyelids O extend from said supports and rest in their proper positions.

D D are loops secured to the inner surface of the head on opposite sides, say near the temples, by means of adhesive supports d, or in any suitable manner. A pair of substantially horizontal wires E have their outer ends lying in these loops, and said Wires meet cen'- Serial No. 471,010. (No model.)

trally as shown at E', then diverging, as illustrated, support a pair of eyelids H. A Wire F has its upper end secured to the wires E, where they join,and its lower endis provided with a weight or counterbalance I.

While the head is in a vertical position,'as shown in Fig. 3, the weight I holds the outer ends of the horizontal wires down to the lowest points of the loops D, and holds the portions E in a substantially horizontal position, thus keeping the upper eyelidsH in the position shown in Fig. 3, t. e., open or raised. As soon as the head is laid in a horizontal position, as in Figs. l and 2, the weight I carries the outer ends of the wires E to the upper ends of the loops D, and pushes the upper eyelids out through the openings a over the eyes, in the natural position assumed by a person asleep, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

It will be seen that the eyelids do not move in an arc of a circle having a fixed center, inasmuch as the pivotal or bearing points of the wires E move from one end of the loops D to the other, as described.

It is evident that the sockets 'for the ends of the wires E need not be made of wire, as any substance or construction providing sockets of the general shape of the loops D may be employed and secured to the inner side of the head.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a dolls head, in combination, eyelids, H, set in eye-openings o., supports, E E', for said eyelids, extending therefrom into the head and with their outer ends resting in sockets or loops, D, on the inner side of and rigid with the head, and a weight secured to said eyelid supports, whereby as the eyelids move over the eyes, the outer or bearing ends of the supports Will play in the sockets or loops, substantially as described.

2. In a dolls head,in combination, eyes, B, and lower eyelids, C, rigidly secured in position by means of the supports b, and upper eyelids adapted to move by gravity over the eyes through suitable eye-openin gs as the position of the head is changed, substantially as set forth.

ANNIE J. HOLLAND. Witnesses:

HENRY W. WILLIAMS, J. M. HARTNETT.

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