US2883794A - Feeding and sleeping doll - Google Patents

Description

APril 1959 J. ELLMAN FEEDING AND SLEEPING DOLL- Filed April 17, 1958 vi 5 a v INVENTOR. JUL/U5 ELLM/IN.

ATTORNE K a United States Patent 2,883,794 FEEDING AND SLEEPING DOLL Julius Ellman, Brooklyn, N .Y.

Application April 17, 1958, Serial No. 729,150

7 Claims. (Cl. 46-141) This invention relates to toys and, moreparticularly, to an infant doll.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a feeding and sleeping type infant doll that. willr'ealistically simulate the feeding and sleeping periods of small infants in an authentic and lifelike manner. Ordinarily,,an infant, prior to feeding, is quite alert and keeps its-{eyes open Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 thereof, a head of a doll made in accord- 13 and a mouth 28 which communicate with the'interior of the compartment. p

A set of simulated eyes 15 (Fig. 7), each having a simulated iris and an immediately adjacent opaque portion separated by a set of'eyelashes 16, are secured upon a.

' common shaft 17 for simultaneous movement between a normal eye open position and an adjusted eye closed position, as will be hereinafter more fully described. The shaft 17 is rotatably supported upon abracket 18 secured within the shell so as to enable the spheroidal simulated eyeball portions to rotate between the aforementioned until it has been fed. During the feeding period, the

infant will become sleepy, close its eyes, and take a nap until it becomes uncomfortable and requires a diaper change, at which time it will open its eyes and call for attention. This is a procedure which practically all infants follow from the beginning of the cycle commencing basic functions of an infant so as to provide both an amusing and educational toy. j p Another object of the present invention is-to provide an infant doll that will carry out the foregoing, functions completely automatically and without further adjustment other than placing the doll in a feeding position and placing a bottle of simulated milk to the lips of the doll.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a doll of the above type that is completely operated'by the flow of liquid into the mouth of the doll and which has all of the working parts completely confined within the shell simulating the head of the doll. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a doll of the type described which can be manufactured in large quantities at relatively low cost, and which will not interfere with the other working parts of the toy. All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a doll head made in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the doll head shown in Fig; l. a 1

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the symmetrical plane of the doll head showing the eyes thereof and associated parts in a normally open position.

'Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the doll head in an initial feeding position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the change in the position of certain parts occurring during the feeding'cyc'le. I

' Fig. 6 is a viewsimilar to Fig..5,:showing the eyes position in direct proximity with-the eye socket openings 13 in a smooth and uninterrupted manner.

A lever 20 is also secured to the shaft 17 adjacent to the mid section thereof. To facilitate the proper oper ation of the parts, the longitudinal axis of the lever 20 extends along a line that is substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable shaft 17 and substantially normal to the central axes of the simulated irises 19 of the eyes. A weight 22 is secured to the end of the lever 20 closest to the top of the head 10, which weight is further disposed within the area defined between the top of the head 10 and the shaft 17, and. between the shaft 17 and backof the head. The eyes 15 are thus maintained in an open position during movement of the head within the symmetrical plane of the shell from an erect position, such as that shown in Fig. 3 to a full face up prone position, such as that shown in Fig. 4.

A shallow receptacle 23 is secured to the opposite end of the lever 20 and has an open end 25 which is supported in proximity to the open mouth 28 in the face of the doll by the weight 22 that maintains the eyes in the open position. The opposite end of the receptacle is provided with a bottom wall 26 that is constructed from any desired liquid permeable material as for instance filter cloth, filter stone, etc. Thus, when the doll is placed in the face up prone position illustrated in Fig. 4, the 'eyes 15 are in the aforementioned open position. However, as liquid 36 from the feeding bottle 35 empties into the receptacle 23 through the open mouth 28, the Weight of a predetermined quantity of such liquid will serve as a counter balance to counteract the effect of the weight 22 by moving the receptacle 23 downwardly to an intermediate position 23a, in which position the eyes 15 are also rotated to an intermediate position 15a simulating closing eyes of a tiring or drowsy infant. As the liquid 36 continues to empty into the receptacle, the additional weight moves the partially rotated receptacle 23a to a fully adjusted position 23b, in which position the partially closed eyes 15a are also rotated to a fully closed position 15b, thus simulating an infant that has fallen asleep.

Because of the. nature of the liquid-permeable bottom wall 26 of the receptacle, the liquid 36 contained therewithin will slowly filter or drain outwardly therethrough and may form a pool, as shown at 37 within a concavity within the interior of the shell 10, or if desired, may be piped'away by any desired means (not shown). At the sametirne, the loss of liquid through .the bottom wall 26-will reduce the counterbalancing effect thereof still in a completely closed position after the end of the so thatiafter a predetermined period of time, the weight 22 at the opposite end of the lever will overcome the effect of this counterbalancing force and move downwardly by gravity to return the closedv eyes 15b and adjusted receptacle 23b to the initial positions 15, 23, respectively, illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing. This simulates the waking of the infant after its nap. As the doll is then lighted to upright position, the pool 37 of the liquid collected within the concavity in the head will be permitted to flow downwardly into the body of the doll and then outwardly, if desired, through a suitable opening to simulate the wetting of the infants diaper, following which the doll is again ready for the next play cycle.

It will be recognized that the type of liquid-permeable material selected for the bottom wall 26 of the receptacle 23 will control the period of time for which the doll will remain asleep since it alone controls the outward flow of liquid which serves as the counterbalancing effect for retaining the eyes in the closed position 15b. It will also be recognized that the liquid flowing outwardly through such permeable wall may be used to provide the simulated diaper-wetting effect or may be stored, discharged, or disposed of in any other suitable manner without effecting the proper operation of the eye control elements.

While a liquid-permeable wall has been shown as a means for gradually dissipating the liquid from the receptacle 23, it will be understood that any substitute means may be utilized for the purpose of gradually draining the liquid from the receptacle. A lower stop 30 and an upper stop 32 within the shell provide limit means for cushioning the movements of the lever 20 between the opposite extreme positions so as to prevent damage to the sensitive operating parts such as the eyelashes 16, etc.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

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

1. A simulated head for dolls comprising, in combination, a head-shaped shell, a pair of simulated eye sockets and a simulated open mouth communicating with the interior of said shell, a set of simulated eyes adjustably supported within said shell in proximity to said sockets for movement between an eye-open position and an eyeclosed position, yielding means normally displaceably maintaining said set of eyes in said open position, and means for overcoming said yielding means to effect movement of said set of eyes to said eye-closed position in response to the flow of liquid through said mouth opening into the interior of said shell, said latter means including a receptacle in said shell in proximity to said open mouth to receive the liquid introduced through said open mouth, the increasing weight of said liquid in said receptacle gradually overcoming said yielding means and thus gradually moving said eyes to closed position to simulate a sleeping child, said receptacle having outlet means for slowly draining the liquid therefrom, the removal of a predetermined quantity of said liquid from said receptacle slowly reducing the counterbalancing effect thereof to permit said eyes to return ultimately to said normally fully open position.

2. A simulated head assembly for dolls comprising, in combination, a head-shaped shell having a face side and a back side, a pair of simulated eye sockets and a simulated open mouth in the front face side of said shell communicating with the interior thereof, a set of simulated eyes supported within said shell in proximity to said eye sockets, said set of eyes comprising a pair of spheroidal members each having a simulated iris on one side and an opaque area immediately adjacent thereto, bearing means supporting said set of eyes within said sockets for oscillating movement between an eye-open position with said irises exposed within said sockets and an eye-closed position with said opaque areas exposed within said sockets,

gravity responsive means normally maintaining said set of eyes in said open position, and means for effecting movement of said set of eyes to said eye-closed position in response to the flow of liquid through said mouth opening into the interior of said shell, said set of eyes further comprising a common shaft carried upon said bearing means, and both of said spheroidal members being secured to said shaft for simultaneous rotation therewith, said gravity responsive'means comprising a lever secured to said shaft, and a weight secured to one end of said lever between said shaft and the back of the shell, and between said shaft and the top of said shell, said weight urging said eyes toward said open position in all movements of said shell within the symmetrical plane of the shell between an erect and a face up prone position, said fluid responsive means comprising a receptacle supported upon the opposite end of said lever having one end opening toward and in proximity to said mouth opening in said shell, said receptacle in response to the flow of liquid therein counterbalancing the effect of said weight to rotate said shaft to move said set of eyes toward said closed position.

3. A simulated head assembly for dolls as set forth in claim 2, further comprising outlet means in said receptacle for slowly draining the liquid therefrom, and the removal of a predetermined quantity of said liquid from said receptacle reducing the counterbalancing effect thereof to cause said set of eyes to return toward said normally open position.

4. A simulated head assembly for dolls as set forth in claim 3, wherein said outlet means comprises a liquidpermeable material at the end of said receptacle opposite from said one open end.

5. A head for dolls comprising, in combination, a hollow head-shaped shell, a simulated open mouth communicating with the interior of said shell, a pair of eye.- balls rotatable on a pivot between an eye-open and an eye-closed position, said eyes having a lever operatively connected thereto, a first means on one side of said pivot constituting a fixed weight normally maintaining said eyes in open position, a second means on said lever on the other side of said pivot to receive through the mouth, liquid in sufiicient quantity to constitue variable weight to overcome said fixed weight, to turn said eyes about said pivot to closed position, said second means having outlet means to slowly drain the liquid therefrom to lighten said second means whereby said first means assumes control of said eyes to move them to open position.

6. A head for dolls as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second means comprises a receptacle supported upon the opposite end of said lever having one end opening toward and in proximity to said mouth opening in said shell, said receptacle in response to the flow of liquid therein counterbalancing the effect of said weight to rotate said shaft to move said set of eyes toward said closed position.

7. A head for dolls as set forth in claim 5 wherein said outlet means comprises a liquid-permeable material at the end of said receptacle opposite from said one open end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 440,706 Graeser Nov. 18, 1890 488,537 Bentley Dec. 27, 1892 1,193,947 Trost Aug. 8, 1916 1,805,231 Blaustein May 12, 1931 2,572,795 Wood Oct. 23, 1951 2,633,663 Fuerst Apr. 7, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 57,322 Switzerland May 21, 1911

Images