US3568361A - Controlled dual-action doll - Google Patents

Abstract

A DOLL SITTING IN A HIGH CHAIR RESPONDS TO THE PLACING OF A PLATE ON THE TRAY OF HER HIGH CHAIR BY EITHER JUMPING UP AND DOWN OR SHAKING HER HEAD "NO." THE PLATE CONTAINS MAGNETS WHICH ACTIVATE SWITCHES LOCATED IN THE TRAY TO DETERMINE THE DIRECTION AND SPEED OR ROTATION OF A REVERSIBLE MOTOR. LINKAGES RESPONSIVE TO MOTOR''S DIRECTION WILL CAUSE THE DOLL TO SHAKE HER HEAD "NO," OR TO JUMP FOR JOY.

Description

March 9, 1971 BART ET AL 3,568,361

CONTROLLED DUAL-ACTION DOLL Filed May '7, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG; IO

FIG.

INVEN'I'ORS PHILIP DAVID BART B PATRICK M. TOMA R0 March 9, 1971 BART ETAL 3,568,361

CONTROLLED DUAL-ACTION DOLL v Filed May 7, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.6 FIG.5 FIG .7

INVENTORS' PHIL'IP DAVID BAR'T BY PATRICK M. TOMA R0 March 9, 1971 p, BART ET AL 3,568,361

CONTROLLED DUAL-ACTION DOLL Filed May '2, 1969 s Sheets-Sheet a T 1 I N l r l 1- -L .1

|o2 s .Z i". s m {VIII I /9I H4 15 --j fn6 INVENTORS PHILIP DAVID BART PATRICK M. TOMARO United States Patent Otfice 3,568,361 Patented Mar. 9, 1971 3,568,361 CONTROLLED DUAL-ACTION DOLL Philip D. Bart, Monsey, N.Y., and Patrick M. Tomaro, Maplewood, N.J., assignors to Remco Industries, Inc., Harrison, NJ.

Filed May 7, 1969, Ser. No. 822,512 Int. Cl. A63h 33/26 US. Cl. 46-439 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A doll sitting in a high chair responds to the placing of a plate on the tray of her high chair by either jumping up and down or shaking her head No. The plate contains magnets which activate switches located in the tray to determine the direction and speed of rotation of a reversible motor. Linkages responsive to motors direction will cause the doll to shake her head No, or to jump for joy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a type of motor actuated doll which will respond to the placing of a plate on the tray of her high chair. In particular, this doll will shake her head as if to say N when a plate of spinach is placed before her and Will apear to jump up and down in delight when a plate of ice cream is placed on her high chair tray.

So far as I am aware, dolls of this type are new.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION My doll operates by means of magnetically responsive switches placed within the tray of the dolls high chair. A magnetic selector in the form of a reversible plate, contains permanent magnets and has a picture of a dish of spinach imprinted on one side and a picture of a dish of ice cream imprinted on the other. When the doll looks down upon the plate of ice cream, the proper magnetically responsive switches are closed and the doll jumps up and down in delight. When the plate is removed by the child, turned over, and again placed on the high chair tray, but with a picture of a dish of spinach facing the doll, different magnetically responsive switches are caused to close and the doll shakes her head as if to say No to the spinach.

While the magnetic selector as used in the preferred embodiment is in the form of a. plate it is clear that the selector mechanism is not to be limited to a plate and that any convenient form may be utilized. Indeed the polarized magnetic selector could be in the form of a blank so that the entertainment function would be selected at random rather than by choice.

The jumping motion of the doll is caused by the oscillating motion of the dolls arm. The arm which is in contact with an arm of the high chair and can press against it, causes the doll to lift up in its high chair When the arm moves down and to settle back in the high chair when the arm moves upwardly. The arm motion, therefore, is responsible for the jumping up and down motion of the doll.

The magnetic switches through related circuitry apply either a positive six volts or a negative three volts to the terminals of the motor. The polarity and magnitude of the voltage is regulated by a magnetically polarized selector which is placed before the doll on the tray'of its high chair. The magnetically polarized selector, which is in the form of a plate, contains permanent magnets, which will activate the magnetically responsive selector switches by repelling or attracting the magnetically responsive elements located therein thereby opening or closing the contacts associated with that switch. When the child places the plate before the doll with the picture of spinach facing the doll, the permanent magnets within the plate are arranged to open and close the proper magnetically responsive switches to form a series circuit which will apply a negative three volts to the motor terminals. When the orientation of the plate is reversed, so that a picture of ice cream is facing the doll, the permanent magnets again cause the proper switches to open and close so that a positive six volts is applied to the motor terminals.

The polarity of the voltage which is applied to the motor terminals determines whether the motor will rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The magnitude of the voltage determines the speed of rotation of the motor. When the motor rotates in a clockwise direction, a floating gear is caused to disengage from linkages which are responsible for the movement of the dolls arm. The shaft of the floating gear is journaled in a slot so as to allow the shaft to rotate and to provide move ment of the shaft Within the slot and in the plane of support. The torque applied to the shaft will cause the shaft and thereby the gear to float from one end of the slot to the other. The direction of the torque thatis applied to the shaft, determines to which end of the slot that the shaft will float. The direction of the torque is directly related and is thereby controlled b the rotation of the gear.

When operated in a clockwise direction, the torque applied to the shaft moves the shaft to a position in the slot whereby the linkages which operate the arm are disengaged. When operated in a counterclockwise direction, the shaft is moved by the torque to the opposite end of the slot and thereby places the floating gear in meshing relationship with the gear that drives the arm of the doll.

When the motor is biased so as to operate in a clockwise direction, the floating gear disengages the linkages which are responsible for the operation of the dolls arm and a slip clutch is engaged so as to drive the linkages that are responsible for the motion of the head. The slip clutch is designed so as to be engaged only when the floating gear has disengaged the linkages which are responsible for the arms motion.

Thus it can be seen that the operation which the doll will perform is directly related to the mode of rotation of the drive motor. The child by placing a plate on the tray of the dolls high chair will activate magnetically responsive switches and cause associated circuitry to apply a voltage of the proper polarity to the terminals of the motor. The motor will then be activated driving the selected entertainment function.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a side view of the doll in rest position sitting in her high chair.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the doll shaking her head No in response to a plate of spinach being placed before it.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the doll jumping in delight when the plate of ice cream has been placed before it.

FIG. 4 is a more detailed view of the motion of one of the dolls arms.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the mechanism within the doll that provides the dolls movement.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the same mechanism.

FIG. 7 shows in detail the operation of the floating gear.

FIGS. 8 and 9 represent a schematic illustration of the dolls electrical control system.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the dish that is placed before the doll containing the permanent magnets.

3 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The toy consists of three elements which interact with one another: the high chair, the plate that is placed on the tray of the high chair, and the doll that sits in the high chair and responds to the orientation of the plate that is before it. Permanent magnets within the plate activate magnetically responsive switches located in the tray of the dolls high chair. The opening and closing of such switches in association with related circuitry determine the magnitude and polarity of the voltages that are applied to the terminals of a reversible electric drive motor. The motor, depending on its mode of rotation, will drive the dolls arms in an oscillatory type of motion or move the head back and forth as if the doll were saying No to the food appearing on the plate.

FIG. 1 shows the doll sitting in her high chair. This is a side view. A battery compartment 1 located under the high chair is connected to the electric motor within the doll by wires which lead to contacts 3 in the dolls heels. The magnetically responsive switches 5 are located in the tray 6. The doll 9 is positioned into the high chair 7 by the child. The legs of the doll are placed into the pin connectors 12. The child then places plate 11 in front of the doll. The plate contains magnets which actuate the magnetically responsive switches 5 which control the operation of the doll 9. Bar 13 helps the child to align the dolls legs with the pins.

It should be noted that the doll is capable of being removed from the high chair by the child. When the doll is removed, it functions as a normal everyday doll. When the doll is placed into the high chair by the child, bar 13, helps to position the doll by causing the dolls legs to bend as it is placed into the chair. When it is in a sitting position, the child then engages the legs or more properly the heel of each leg into pin contacts 12 which are located in the heel of each shoe at point 3. It is important that the doll have the capability of being taken out of the high chair and functioning as a normal doll because a doll capable of only performing one function has limited commercial appeal to children.

JUMPING MOTION OF THE DOLL The jumping motion of the doll is accomplished by the oscillatory motion of the dolls arm. The arm which is in contact with the tray of the high chair causes the doll to lift up in its high chair when the arm moves down and to settle back into the high chair as the arm moves up. The dolls jumping up and down results solely from this low frequency oscillatory motion.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 give a more detailed view of the dolls arm and its interaction with the tray of the high chair. The motion is accomplished by the doll placing her hands 15 against the arm of the tray 14. The dolls arm 15 is joined at the shoulder with lever 21. Lever 21 oscillates the arm 15 in response to the motions of gear 36. As can be seen from FIG. 4, when the arm is in its lowermost position (shown by the dotted lines) the doll is in sitting position; when the arm is in its uppermost position (shown by the heavy lines) the doll is raised up in the high chair.

OPERATION OF THE DOLL Whether the doll will shake her head or jump up and down is determined by the mode of rotation of the motor located within the doll. When the motor operates in the clockwise direction, the floating gear located Within the doll is caused to disengage from the linkages which are responsible for the movement of the dolls arm and to engage a slip clutch so as to drive linkages that provide the dolls head with motion. When the motor operates in a counterclockwise direction the slip clutch is disengaged and the floating gear is caused to engage the linkages which are responsible for the movement of the dolls arm.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of the mechanical components that are located within the dolls body 9. An electrically reversible motor 30 drives gear 31. Gear 31 in turn is coupled with gear 32 which thereby drives gear 33. Gear 33 which is connected to shaft 40 drives both gear 34 and the shaft 40. Gear 34 is known as a floating gear. Depending upon the rotation of the electrical reversible motor 30, gear 34 will either cause spring clutch 50 to be engaged or drive arm 15 through gear 36.

The shaft of the floating gear is journaled in a slot so as to allow the shaft to rotate and to provide movement of the shaft within the slot and in the plane of support. The direction of the torque that is applied to the shaft (which is directly related to the rotation of the gear) determines to which end of the slot that gear and shaft will float. When the motor is operated in a clockwise direction, the torque applied to the shaft moves the shaft to a position in the slot whereby the linkages which operate the arm are disengaged. When the motor is operated in a counterclockwise direction, the shaft is moved by the torque to the opposite end of the slot and thereby places the floating gear in meshing relationship with the linkages that drive the dolls arm.

More particularly, the operation of this floating gear can best be seen from FIG. 7. One end of the shaft 41 is located in a slot 35. When the motor 30 operates in a clockwise direction, gear 34 driven through the train of gears 31, 32 and 33 rotates in a counterclockwise direction. The torque applied to gear 34 and one end of shaft 41 thereby causes the shaft 41 to move to position 52 in slot 35. Gear 37 is located on the shaft 41 and is so arranged that when the shaft 41 moves to position 52 it will disengage from gear 36. When gear 36 is disengaged, the arms will cease motion. Likewise, when the motor 30 is driven in a counterclockwise direction, gear 34 is again driven through gear train consisting of gears 31, 32 and 33. This time, however, gear 34 is driven in a clockwise direction. The torque then causes the gear 34 to move to the point 54 in slot 35. Gear 37 now engages gear 36 which drives the arm '15 by way of lever 20* and pin 21. When the gear 34 moves counterclockwise, disc 60 which is permanently connected to shaft 41 and thereby to gear 34, also moves in a counterclockwise direction. Movement in this direction will allow pins 62 to engage the spring clutch 50.

MOVEMENT OF THE DOLLS HEAD When the motor is biased so as to operate in a clockwise direction, the floating gear disengages the linkages which are responsible for the operation of the dolls arm and a slip clutch is engaged so as to drive the linkages which are responsible for the motion of the head. The slip clutch is designed so as to be engaged only when the floating gear has disengaged the linkages which are responsible for the arms motion.

The spring clutch is constructed so that when it rotates in one direction the convolutions of the spring are caused to expand and thereby slip over the shaft on which it is mounted. When the spring is made to rotate in the opposite direction, however, the convolutions of the spring contract and thereby grab the shaft on which it is mounted so as to cause the shaft to rotate with the spring.

The operation of the spring clutch can be explained in more detail by reference to FIG. 5. Rotating disc 60 vvlth the pin '62 rigidly attached thereto when operated 1n a clockwise direction will cause pin 62 to contact the spring and thereby open the convolutions of the spring 50. As the end 57 of spring 50 is not rigidly attached to the rotating member 64, the spring 50 will move in response to the motion of disc '60. It will, however, slip 1n relation to rotating member 64. When disc 60 operated in a counterclockwise direction, pin 62 engages spring 50 in such a way as to cause the convolutions of the spring to compress. In doing so the spring 50 comes into contact with section 63 of rotating member 64.

Spring 50 which is moving in response to rotating disc 60 will cause rotating member '64 to rotate along with disc 60. Thus, it can be seen that depending upon the rotation of disc 60, cam 66 will either be operative or inoperative. When disc 60 is rotating in a counterclockwise direction, the convolutions of spring 50 compress and thereby activate cam 66. When disc 60 operates in a clockwise direction, the convolutions of spring 50, eX-pand, thereby, causing spring 50 to slip over rotating member 64.

The linkages which are responsible for the movement of the dolls head consist basically of a rotating cam and a rocker arm which oscillates about a point in response to the position of the cam. When the spring clutch is engaged, the shaft upon which the cam is mounted starts to rotate causing the rocker arm to follow the shape of the cam and thereby to oscillate about a pivot point. The head of the doll which is coupled to the upper portion of the rocker arm oscillates back and forth in response to the movement of the rocker arm.

More specifically, cam 66 is mounted upon a shaft 64. Shaft 64 slippingly engages shaft 41 and does not rotate with shaft 41 unless the spring clutch 50 is engaged. When cam '66 rotates with shaft 41, rocker arm 68 is actuated. Rocker arm 68 oscillates about pivot 70 and causes arm 72 which engages the lower portion of the neck and head 75 through hole 74 to oscillate back and forth, thereby, giving the effect of the doll shaking its head No. The apparatus which is responsible for the motion of the head can be best seen from FIG. 6. The head and neck are mounted on support 75 which is connected to the body 9 through coupling 81. A hole 74 is made in the neck and head supports 75, through which arm 72 fits.

When arm 72 oscillates about pivot 70 in response to rocker arm 68 being moved by the motion of cam 64, the head and neck oscillate back and forth as if the doll were shaking its head No.

THE SELECTOR PLATE AND RELATED CIR- CUITRY TO CONTROL THE OPERATION OF THE DOLL As can be seen from FIG. 10, the plate that is placed before the doll contains two permanent magnets. Magnetically responsive switches through related circuitry apply either a positive six volts or a negative three volts to the terminals of the motor. Depending on its orientation with respect to the tray, the plate will open or close the contacts of the switches of the multiple position control circuit.

When the child places the plate with the picture of a dish of spinach facing the roll, the permanent magnets within the plate are arranged to open and close the proper magnetically responsive switches to form a series circuit which will apply a negative three volts to the motor terminals. When the orientation of the plate is reversed, so that a picture of the dish of ice cream is facing the doll, the permanent magnets again cause the proper switches to open and close so that a positive six volts is applied to the motor terminals. The polarity of the voltage which is applied to the motor terminals determines whether the motor will rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The magnitude of the voltage which is applied to the motor terminals determines the speed of rotation of the motor and thereby the speed of operation of the toy.

The circuitry which controls the speed and direction of the motor can best be described in reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. From FIG. 8 of the drawings it can be seen the motor 30 is connected by lines 91 and 92 to the magnetically responsive switches 5 located in the tray 6. The magnetically responsive switches control the rotational mode of the motor by either opening or clos ng contacts 95, 96, 97, or 98 in response to selector plate 11 being placed. above them. When the selector plateis in position as shown in FIG. 8, the magnetic switches 5 which contain selectors 140 and 141 respectively respond to the position of plate 11. Selector 140 is of such a polarity as to be repelled by permanent magnet 150. Selector 141, on the other-hand, has such a polarity as to be attracted by the permanent magnet 151 located in the selector 11. When the selector 140 of magnetically responsive switch 5 has been repelled by permanent magnet 150, the contacts are opened and the contacts 96 are closed. Likewise, when the magnetic selector 141 of switch 5 is attracted by permanent magnet 151, the contacts 97 are closed and the contacts 98 are opened. This creates a series circuit whereby a positive 6 volts is applied across the terminals of the electrical reversible motor. The series circuit consists of the motor 30, line 92, closed contacts 97, line 125, line 102, the batteries 115, 116, 114, and 113 which are 1% volt dry cell batteries and are arranged in series circuit, line 101, closed contacts 96, line 122, and line 91.

When selector 11 is placed into its second position as shown in FIG. 9, contacts 95 and 98 which have previously been opened are now closed. Contacts 96 and 97 which had previously been closed are now Opened. The circuit that is formed by operating the switches in such a way is a series circuit where a negative 3 volts is applied across the terminals of the motor. Going through the circuit, the negative terminal of the motor is connected by line 92, line 127, closed contacts 98, line 103, the batteries 116 and 115 which are in series, line 102, line 123, closed contacts 95, line 121 and line 91 to the positive terminal of motor 30. Batteries 115 and 116 are thereby arranged in a series circuit whereby a minus 3 volts is applied to the motor. This drives the motor in a clockwise direction and causes the dolls head to shake.

By reversing the polarity of the voltage that is applied to the terminals of motor 30, the motor is made to run in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. This in turn causes the doll to operate in the selected entertainment mode. When the doll is shaking her head, only three volts are required to drive the mechanism which is responsible for the motion of the head. When the dolls arms cause its body to move up and down in the high chair, the power drain is greater and therefore 6 volts are required to properly operate the doll in this mode of operation.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that changes and modification may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the pending claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An animated childrens toy which is capable of the plurality of entertainment functions, said toy comprising a multiple position magnetically responsive selector switch, a reversible electric drive motor connected thereto so as to operate the motor in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction; linkages coupled to said motor and responsive to the mode of rotation of said reversible electric drive motor to operate the selected entertainment function; a magnetically polarized selector separate from said multiple position switch and adapted to operate said multiple position magnetically responsive selector switch when placed in proximity to said selector switch, whereby said proximate placement of the selector by the child selects the entertainment function and causes the said actuated toy to perform the selected function.

2. An animated childrens toy as described in claim 1 wherein the magnetically polarized selector is in the form of a plate with at least one permanent magnet located therein.

3. An animated childrens toy as described in claim 2 wherein said linkages responsive to the mode of rotation of the electric drive motor include a floating gear such that when the motor is operated in one direction said gear disengages one of said linkages and when operated in the other direction engages said linkage.

4. An animated childrens toy described in claim 3 wherein the toy is a doll in a high chair and said selectable entertainment functions consists of the doll jumping up and down in a high chair or moving its head to the left or right.

5. A doll which is capable of either shaking its head as if to say No or jumping up and down with delight in response to the selection made by the child, said doll comprising:

(a) a body with a reversible electric drive motor contained therein;

(b) first and second linkages to produce respectively the motion of the doll jumping up and down and the motion of the doll shaking its head;

() means both coupling said first and second linkages to said motor and responsive to the mode of rotation of said motor whereby said first linkage is activated when the motor is operated in one direction and said second linkage is activated when said motor is operated in the other direction;

(d) magnetically operative control circuit for controlling the direction of the said electric drive motor;

(e) magnetically polarized selector separate from said doll and adapted to actuate said control circuit when placed in proximity with said control circuit;

whereby said proximate placement of the said magnetically polarized selector selects the motion of the doll and causes said doll to be actuated.

6. A toy, consisting of a doll seated in a high chair wherein the said doll is capable of either shaking its head as if to say No or jumping up and down with delight in response to the selection made by the child, said toy comprising:

(a) a body with a reversible electric drive motor located therein;

(b) a. chair in which the doll is placed;

(0) arms associated with the body of said doll wherein the jumping motion of the doll is produced by imparting oscillatory motion to at least one of the dolls arms which contacts the high chair and alternately lifts and lowers the body of said doll with respect to said chair;

(d) first and second linkages to produce, respectively, the oscillatory motion of the said arms and said head of the said doll;

(e) couplings between said first and second linkages and said electric drive motor which are responsive to the mode of rotation of said motor whereby said 8 first linkage is activated when the motor is operated in one direction and said second linkage is activated when the motor is operated in the other direction;

(f) magnetically operative control circuit for controlling the direction of said electric drive motor;

(g) a magnetically polarized selector separate from said doll and adapted to energize said control circuit when placed in proximity with said control circuit;

whereby said proximate placement of the said magnetically polarized selector selects the motion of the doll and causes said doll to be actuated.

7. A dual function toy capable of first and second distinct actions in response to a selection made by a child, said toy including a body having a motor therein, first and second linkages within said body and associated with said motor for producing said first and second actions respectively, means connecting one of said linkages with said motor depending upon the direction of rotation of said motor, a magnetically operative control circuit for controlling the direction of rotation of said motor, and a magnetic selector separate from said toy and adapted to actuate said control circuit when placed in proximate relationship to said circuit, whereby said proximate placement of the selector by the child selects the entertainment function and causes thetoy to be actuated.

8. A dual function toy as described in claim 7 wherein the magnetic selector is in the form of a plate with at least one permanent magnet located therein.

9. A dual function toy as described in claim 8 wherein one of said linkages include a floating gear such that when the motor is operated in one direction said gear disengages one of said linkages and when operated in the other direction re-engages said linkages.

10. A dual function toy as described in claim 9 wherein said magnetically operative control circuit includes at least one magnetically responsive, multiple position control switch.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 46119, 247

Images