US3733740A - Air actuated eye for toys with hollow flexible bodies - Google Patents

Abstract

A new artificial eye for puppets or toys made of rubber or other non-rigid hollow plastic material, comprises a hollow body of frusto-conical configuration with a duct in the middle, which has a rectangular configuration in the upper part. The artificial pupil is a circular portion located in the middle of a hollow spherical cap serving as the ocular globe. When the puppet is pressed, air enters the duct, is brought into recesses located in diametrically opposed position on the edge of the hollow body by a deflector, strikes a projection on an extension piece placed in the duct and displaces the pupil. When the pressure is released, the air makes the deflector rotate the pupil in the opposite direction.

Description

United States Patent [191 Palumbo [54] AIR ACTUATED EYE FOR TOYS WITH HOLLOW FLEXIBLE BODIES [76] Inventor: Giovanni Palumbo, Viale Faenza 10,

20142 Milan, Italy 22 Filed: Nov. 19,1971 21 Appl. 110.; 200,487

. [30] I Foreign Application Priority Data 1451 May 22, 1973 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,022,397 12/1952 France ..46/l35 R Primary Examiner-F. Barry Shay Attorney-Bucknam and Archer [57] ABSTRACT A new artificial eye for puppets or toys made of rubber or other non-rigid hollow plastic material, comprises a hollow body of frusto-conical configuration with a duct in the middle, which has a rectangular configuration in the upper part. The artificial pupil is a circular portion located in the middle of a hollow spherical cap serving as the ocular globe. When the puppet is pressed, air enters the duct, is brought into recesses located in diametrically opposed position on the edge of the hollow body by a deflector, strikes a projection on an extension piece placed in the duct and displaces the pupil. When the pressure is released, the air makes the deflector rotate the pupil in the 0pposite direction.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures AIR ACTUATED EYE FOR TOYS WITH HOLLOW FLEXIBLE BODIES This invention relates to an artificial eye with movable pupil and related manufacturing method.

More specifically, this invention relates to an artificial eye with movable pupil, particularly adapted for application to puppets in general, having human or animal semblance, made at least partially from rubber or non-rigid plastic materials being internally hollow.

It is well known that on the face of dolls, puppets, doggies or other animals made from the most different materials and traded as childrens toys are applied false eyes. The modern manufacturing techniques enable to ensure astonishing movability effects of the eyes, by resorting to particular technical arrangements.

Such arrangements are, however, generally rather complicated and ensure only a casual movement of the pupils, which is generally bound to the displacements which the puppet is subjected to.

It is the object of this invention to provide instead an artificial eye with movable pupil, in which the movement of the eye pupil be not casual and bound to the puppets movements.

It is another object of this invention to provide an ar tificial eye with movable pupil being most functional and simple to manufacture.

These and further objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of an artificial eye, in which the side rectilinear displacement o fgthe eye pupil takes place by an air flow, directed by means of a duct into a particular recess provided at therear of the pupil itself and obtained by pressing the puppets body.

Obviously, by releasing the puppets body, the air flow sucked in through the aforesaid duct causes the displacement of the pupil in the opposite sense.

These and further characteristic features of the artificial eye for puppets according to the present invention will be better understood from an examination of the figures on the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show two sectional views of the eye itself and the cap, serving to fasten it to the puppets structure.

Referring now to the numeral symbols in the various figures of the accompanying drawing, the artificial eye according to this invention consists of a hollow body 1, having a frusto-conical configuration.

Said hollow body is provided in the middle with a duct 2 having a circular section, communicating with the puppets body and enlarging upwardly, where it takes a rectangular configuration 3.

The aforementioned duct 2 having a circular section is provided laterallywith a deflector 4 for conveying in an appropriate direltit'iion the air flow, proceeding from the lower portion o'fQthe duct itself.

The edge 5 of the hollow body 1 is a projection and shows externally a shoulder 6 for the fastening thereof to the ocular cavity, provided on the face of the doll or puppet. Said edge 5 shows on its inner portion two recesses 7 and 7', disposed in diametrically opposite positions, in which are provided two small projections 8 and 8' having a cylindrical shape, integral with an internally hollow spherical cap or calotte 9, representing the ocular globe.

The aforesaid cap 9 shows in its median zone a circular portion 10 having a different color, reproducing the pupil of the ocular globe. Although the pupil and ocular globe may be of any color whatever, it is preferred that the former be black and the latter white. Integral with the upper portion of the cap 9 is disposed an extension piece of rectangular section 11, extending upwardly into the wide portion of the rectangular section 3 of the duct 2.

Said extension piece 11 ends with a curvilinear zone 12 and a projection 13, running parallel to the walls of the duct with rectangular configuration 3 in the part opposite the deflector 4.

Said extension piece 11 may oscillate together with the cap 9, integral therewith and with the pupil 10 about the projection or pins 8 and 8'.

Said oscillation is obtained by an air flow being conveyed into the duct 2, should any of the parts of the doll or puppet in general, to which the eye is applied, be pressed. The aforementioned air flow is oriented by the deflector 4 and strikes against the projection 13, displacing it and causing the rotation of the extension piece 11 about the pins 8 and 8' resting on the recesses 7 and 7'. When the compression on the puppet is no longer exerted, the puppet tends to return to its initial position, causing an air flow back into the inside of it. To reach the duct 2, the air cannot flow out from the curvilinear portion 12 of the extension piece 11, because it is prevented by the deflector 4 and thereby presses against the opposite portion of the projection 13, displacing it.

In this manner, the cap 9 and with it the pupil 10 is forced to rotate in opposite direction relative to the sense of rotation it had undergone during the compression of the puppet.

For completion and protection of the thus executed artificial eye and movable pupil there is externally applied a calotte or cap 14, consisting of transparent material which pressure embeds between the vertical walls of the edges 5.

For the fastening of the aforementioned artificial eye to the ocular recess of puppets or animal toys in general a hollow body 15 having'a frusto-conical configuration is used. Said hollow body 15, fitted on the lower portion with a middle opening 16 at the duct 2 is inserted and suitably fastened to the hollow body 1 so as to tighten between its edges and the stopping shoulder 6 the edge of the orbital opening, provided in the doll or puppet to which the artificial eye should be fitted.

From the foregoing specification and the figures of the accompanying drawing the simple construction and functional performance of the artificial eye according to the present invention become quite apparent.

Obviously, both said artificial eye and related manufacturing and functional methods have been hereinabove described and represented by making reference to the accompanying figures, showing a preferred but non-limiting embodiment form given by way of example.

Several changes and modifications as well as improvement on the shape, dimensions and construction may be introduced by the man of the art in the artificial eye according to this invention still within the spirit and scope of the invention itself, said changes, modifications and improvements appertaining, of course, to the industrial protection applied for.

What is claimed is:

I 1. Artificial eye with movable pupil for puppets or toys showing an animal configuration, made at least partially from rubber or non-rigid plastic materials,

being internally hollow, which comprises: (a) a hollow body having a frusto-conical configuration, provided in the middle portion with a duct having a circular section, communicating with the puppets body, ending with a side deflector and widening upwardly to a rectangular configuration, the edge of said hollow body being provided in its inner portion with two recesses, disposed in diametrically opposite position; (b) an internally hollow spherical calotte serving as ocular globe, provided in its median zone with a circular portion, reproducing the pupil, the inner upper surface thereof being integral with an extension piece having a rectangular section, extending upwardly into the wide portion of rectangular configuration of the duct and terminating with a curvilinear portion at the deflector and with a projecting portion, said extension piece running parallel to the walls of the duct portion having the rectangular configuration, in the part opposite of said deflector the aforementioned calotte being provided on the lower part with two cylindrically shaped projections, which embed into the recesses of the hollow body, and about which the calotte may oscillate under the effect of the air proceeding from the duct and striking on the projecting portion of said extension piece; and (c) a second spherical calotte consisting of transparent material fitted by pressure between the vertical walls of the edge of the hollow body and serving as protection for the artificial eye.

2. Artificial eye according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge of the hollow body externally has a shoulder for the fastening thereof to the ocular cavity of the puppet or animal toy.

3. Artificial eye according to claim 1, characterized in that for its fastening to the ocular cavity, it is provided with a second hollow body having a frustoconical configuration with a middle opening corresponding to the duct.

Claims (3)

1. Artificial eye with movable pupil for puppets or toys showing an animal configuration, made at least partially from rubber or non-Rigid plastic materials, being internally hollow, which comprises: (a) a hollow body having a frusto-conical configuration, provided in the middle portion with a duct having a circular section, communicating with the puppet''s body, ending with a side deflector and widening upwardly to a rectangular configuration, the edge of said hollow body being provided in its inner portion with two recesses, disposed in diametrically opposite position; (b) an internally hollow spherical calotte serving as ocular globe, provided in its median zone with a circular portion, reproducing the pupil, the inner upper surface thereof being integral with an extension piece having a rectangular section, extending upwardly into the wide portion of rectangular configuration of the duct and terminating with a curvilinear portion at the deflector and with a projecting portion, said extension piece running parallel to the walls of the duct portion having the rectangular configuration, in the part opposite of said deflector the aforementioned calotte being provided on the lower part with two cylindrically shaped projections, which embed into the recesses of the hollow body, and about which the calotte may oscillate under the effect of the air proceeding from the duct and striking on the projecting portion of said extension piece; and (c) a second spherical calotte consisting of transparent material fitted by pressure between the vertical walls of the edge of the hollow body and serving as protection for the artificial eye.

2. Artificial eye according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge of the hollow body externally has a shoulder for the fastening thereof to the ocular cavity of the puppet or animal toy.

3. Artificial eye according to claim 1, characterized in that for its fastening to the ocular cavity, it is provided with a second hollow body having a frusto-conical configuration with a middle opening corresponding to the duct.

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