US2933853A - Toy figure - Google Patents

Description

April 26, 1960 c. c. LAVAL, .JR

TOY FIGURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30. 1956 INVENTOR HUEBNEI?, BEEHLER,

WOR/PEL 8 HERZ/6 CLAUDE C. LAVAL,J?.

April 26 1960 c. c. LAVAL, JR 2,933,853

Toy FIGURE Filed Aug. 50. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f77 Q73 /70 m 7| ze (7l n M a /53 "5 l" i Yc/ Auof c. LAVAL, JR. /NVENTOR HUEBNER, BEE HLER,

WORRE L 8 HE RZ/G AWO/mfr;

t ToY FIGURE y Claude C. Laval, Jr., Fresno, Calif. Application August 30, 1956, Serial N0. 607,060

Claims. (Cl. l16m-228) The present invention relates to figured toys or dolls and more particularly to such toys in which provision is made for illumination of portions thereof from internally of the toys.

In advertising, it has been well-known to illuminate certain features of figures representative of animals and the like to achieve special effects. It has also been known to illuminate certain features of toys, dolls, and puppets from internally thereof so vthat the toys may be carried about without interference with theillumination. This has been pleasing to children, productive of humorous effects, suited to the attracting of attention, and adapted to emphasize particular characteristics of the toys. Prior to the present invention, such illumination has been accomplished by employing light bulbs in the features to be illuminated. While, for example, the employment of a red light bulb as the nose of Rudolph the red nosed reindeer has been effective, suchiutili zation of light bulbs has proved disadvantageous. Where several features are to be illuminated, a multiplicity of bulbs are required and even though of a small size they utilize lexcessive electrical energy in toys in which the source of the energy is batteries contained within the toys. Ideally, a single flashlight battery in such a toy should be adequate for several months of normal-use andsuch durability cannot .be attained where numerous bulbs are. employed. Further, because of the ,particular features being simulated, light llbulbs of specialized and intricate configurationhave frequently been required.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in the illumination of toys of the character described. v v; v

Another object is to illuminate various predetermined features of a figured toy from asingle light source.

Another object is to provide illuminating means for the simulation of the features of vanimals and the like which is suited to 'ready formatiorrin as intricate con? figurations as' may be desired. ,f l .l

Another object is to provide a sourceof fiashinglight for illuminating selected portions of a doll or figured toy, such as simulated eyes, thereby to give the appearance of flashing eyes. v l l;

. An'other vobject is to ylight various portions of a dollfor figured toy and to enable control of light emissionfin response to predetermined movements of the toy. l

-Another object is to provide a doll having eyes adapted l to light up and eyelids that close coincidentally with interf .trates Patent 'a Patented pr. 2d, 1960 Ficc . 2 toy rabbit incorporating the principles of the present invention.

F Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3 is a somewhat enlarged, longitudinal section taken on a vertical plane at a position represented by line 3-3 of Fig. 2.l Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on a horizontal plane at a position represented by line 4-4 0f Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a somewhat enlarged section taken on a vertical plane at a position indicated by line 5-5 of Fig. 3. l Fig. `6 is a fragmentary vertical section of the head of a doll illustrating in particular a further feature of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on a plane at a position represented by line 7'-7 of Fig. 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a doll is generally indicated by the numeral 10 in Figs. l and 2. As employed herein, doll is intended in a broad sense to include all three dimensional figures suitable for the purpose of the present invention. For purposes of descriptive convenience, the doll includes a body 11 simulating the appearance of a rabbit. The body has a substantially fiat base portion 12 to enable resting the toy on a flat surface, a rearwardly extended tail 13, a pair of forwardly extended feetv 14, a pair of forwardly extended arms 15, a head portion 16, and a pair of ears 17 upwardly extended from the head portion. The head portion has eye apertures 13 substantially diametrically 0pposed to each other on opposite sides of the head portion, and a nose aperture 20 between and slightly below the level of the eye apertures in the front of the head por tion, all located in a manner best suited to accurate rab- Vbit simulation.

The body 11 of the toy 10 is preferably opaque and is conveniently constructed of an outer fabric cover 25 of fuzzy material, simulating the fur of a rabbit, and enclosing a hollow interior 26 filled with any suitable stuffing 27 to give shape to the body. Looped wires 28 are provided within the ears 17 for reinforcing them and causing them to stand upwardly fromthehead portion An elongated substantially cylindrical housing 35 preferably of electrically non-conductive material is extended longitudinally within the body 11 and thus provides an open upper end adjacent to the head portion 16 and an-internally threaded open lower end in the base portion-12 accessible from outside of the body through l an opening inthe fabric cover 25. A substantially cylinf drical fitting 38 is secured within the upper end ofthe housing by means of a threaded bolt 39 and has an annular shoulder 40 rested on the upper edge of the housing.

ruption of light emissionrfrom the eyes and that open The fitting provides an upwardly disposed, internally threaded outer socket 41 bottomed by a plate 42 transi verse'ly disposed in the housing.

A Vlight bulb receptacle 46 of substantially cylindrical,

f tubular form provides a lower fianged rim 47 seated von the plate 42 and secured thereto by means of an electrically conductive bolt 49 providing a threaded shank 50 concentrically extended through the plate downwardly into the housing 35, and a head 51 above the rim. An annular gromrnet 53 of insulating material is fitted laround the Vshank between the rim and the head of the bolt so that` the bolt is in insulated spaced relation to the recep-y tacle. A nut 54 is screw-threadably vturned on the shank for securing the receptacle on theV plate. Thus, the receptacle provides an inner screw-threaded socket 55 ,Eigpl is a, side elevation,` partially` sectiomvof Aa i which i's in concentric position within the outer socket 41. K

A light bulb provides a transparent envelope 61 and anthreaded base 62 constituting a contact for the bulb when screwed into the receptacle 46, a downwardly exs tended boss 63 constituting another contact for the bulb and engaging the head 51 of the bolt 49. The bulb also has an insulator 66 mounted within the envelope, a first filament mounting post 67 embedded in the insulator and extended upwardly therefrom, a second filament mounting post 68 embedded in the insulator and extended up: wardly therefrom in spaced relation to the'first post, and an incandescent filamentl 69 constituting alight source electrically interconnecting the upper ends of the mounting posts. Because of the opaque body 11, the light source is invisible exteriorly of the body. Further, a connecting element 70 is also embedded in the insulator and is bent so as to extend downwardly therefrom. A bi-metallic strip 71 provides an upper end 72 secured to the second mounting post 68 and a lower end 73 releasably engaging the connecting element.

A pair of batteries 78 is slidably fitted in the housing 35 and provide terminals 79 and 80 of opposite polarities at opposite ends thereof and concentric to the housing. An insulated spacer block 83 of substantially cylindrical form is slidably fitted in the housing between ,the fitting 38 and the battery 7S. An elongated electrically conductive stern 84 is concentrically extended through the block and provides a threaded upper end 85 engaging the shank 56 and a threaded lower end 86 engaging the upper terminal 80 of the upper battery. The block has con.- centric endwardly disposed cavities 87 and 88 and nuts .89 are screw-threadably turned on the upper and lower ends of the stem for securing it in position on the block.

A plug 95 of insulative material is screw-threadably Aturned in the lower end of the housing 35 and provides a pad 96 in opposed relation to the lower terminal 79 of the lower battery 78. An elongated substantially U- shaped conductor 97 provides an inwardly bowed central portion 99 extended longitudinally along the housing 35 within the body 11 and end portions 101.right angular- 1y `extended in a common direction from the central portion. The end portions are respectively extended through the upper and lower ends of the housing so as to engage the receptacle 46 and to be positioned below the lower terminal 79 of the lower battery. By threading the plug into the housing, the lower end of the conductor is compressed into engagement with the lower battery ter.- minal to energize the filament 69. Upon predetermined heating of the filament and therefore the interior of the envelope 61, the bi-metallic strip 71 moves away from the connecting element 70 to break the electrical circuit and de-energize the filament. Upon predetermined drop of the temperature, the strip again makes contact to ener-` gize the filament, that is, theelectrical circuit is periodically interrupted to cause the filament yto emit a fiashing light.

A light conductor is generally indicated in the drawings .by the numeral 110 and includes a-substantially cylindrical cap 111 having a threaded male base 112 screwthreadably fitted in the outer socket, arcentral light conducting passage 113 enveloping the light bulb 60 and diametrically opposed front, rear and side, cylindrical b ores 1 ,14 opening Ifrom the passage to the exterior of the cap.

Light conducting eye rods 1,16 provide inner ends mounted in the side bores 114 of the cap `11,1.at diametrieally opposed positions in light intercepting relation in the passage, all as best seen in Fig. 2, and outer ends bent upwardly and extended outwardly into alignment with the eye-apertures 1S. The outer ends of the eye rods have outwardly opening concentric bores 117 and annular grooves 118. The light conductor 110 alsoV provides a nose rod ,120 having an inner end mounted infthefrout .bere 1M 0f the cap intermediate the eyerods and ,ex-

tended forwardly therefrom in alignment with the' nos@ aperture 20. The nose rod provides an outer end also .having an outwardly .opening here 12,1 and en annular groove 1.2L .Annuler dips '124 are fitted. in unserem/es nd provide thread engaging portions 125 substantially radially inwardly extended into the bores of theirl resp'ecf tively associated rods.

Eye bolts and a nose bolt and 131 respectively provide Shanks 132 and 133 respectively screw-threadably fitted into the bores 117 and 121 of the eye and nose rods 116 and 120. In each case, the threaded Shanks are screw-threadably turned on the thread engaging portions 125 of the clips. The eye and nose bolts provide outwardly convex heads 135 and 136 visible externally of the body 11 and compress the fabric 2 5 of the body against their respectively associated rods. For coloring the light conducted, filters 138 and 139 may be provided against the inner ends of the Shanks 132 and 133.

An elongated light conducting object illuminating rod provides an inner end mounted in the rear bore 114 of the cap 111 in light intercepting relation to the passage 113 and an outer end extended outwardly through an aperture in one ofthe arms 15. An object 146 of light transparent material is secured to the outer end of the object illuminating rod and, as such, appears to be held in the arm of the rabbit. As illustrated, the object is intended to simulate the appearance of a carrot and thus is preferably of a corresponding color. A filter, not shown, similar tothe filters 138 and 139 but yellow in color is preferably employed to impart a natural color to the simulated carrot.

The light conductor 110 is made of a material which transmits light longitudinally thereof and suppresses trans mission of light transversely thereof. A transparent acrylic resin is excellently suited for this purpose. A specific example-of such a resin which is presently being employed in commercial models of the invention is the 'material knownY as Lucite. As referred to hereinafter, the light conductor has an inner light receiving end in light intercepting relation to the light source 69 and outer light emitting ends visible exteriorly of the body 11.

Operation The operation ofthe embodiment of the subject inf vention now described is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly summarized at this point.

Whenever it is desired to illuminate the eyes and nose (bolts 130 and 131) of the rabbit, and the carrot 146 the plug 95 is screw-threaded into the housing 35. An electrical circuit isl established from the upper terminal 80 of the upper battery 78, through the stem 84, the conductive bolt 49, the prong 63, the first mounting post 67, the filament 69, the bi-metallic strip 71, the connecting element 70, the base 62, the conductor 78, and back to the lower terminal 79.

Light from the filament 69 travels through the eye rods 116 and the nose rod 120, and throughthe eye and nose belts 13oV and 131 to the heads 13s and 136 which simu-l late the eyes and nose of the rabbit. 'It will thus be apparent Vtherefore that the 'eyes and nose of the rabbit are illuminated with whatever color light is provided by the filters 138l and 139. IIn addition, light is conducted from passage 113 through the object illuminating rod 145 to the carrot 146 so that the latter is also illuminated.

)In the manner above described, the filament 69 is periodically energized and tie-energized by make and break of the electrical circuit so that the lightemitted from the eye and nose bolt heads 135 and 136 and the carrot 146 flashes on and off. When it is desired to turn off the light, the plug 95 is unscrewed to release the lower end 101 of the conductor 98 from contact with the lower battery terminal 79. Y

It'has Aalso been discovered ,that the flashing lights of the 'rabbits eyes, nose, and carrot tend to lull children to sleep. *When it is contemplated that the toy will be used primarily for this purpose, a timer is preferablysubstituted for the upper f the two batteries '78 so that the circuit `will be interrupted after a predetermined Aperiod ofuse. Ihetimermay be of any suitable form and contained Ain a casing vsimilar to that shown for fthe battery and thus, being well-known' in structure and mode of operation, is not shown in the drawings.

Second form With reference to Figs. 6 and 7, there is shown' a toyV 150 conveniently having the' form of a doll. The doll has a substantially opaque body 151 providing head portion 152 having a mouth 153, ears 154, a nose 155, and eye apertures 156 on opposite sides and above the nose. The body is also formed with a mounting portion 158 inwardly extended between 'the eye apertures. The body 151 is equipped with the housing 35 and its contents exactly as shown in Fig. 1. Those portions of such structure which are visible in Figs. 6 and 7 are identified'by similar numerals.

A light conductor 159Vonce again includes a cap 160 mounted on the upper end of the housing 35 and having a passage 161 enveloping the light bulb 60, as seen in Fig. 2.

Light conducting Veye rods 170 provide inner elbow portions `171 ymounted in the cap 160 and extended into the passage 161. 'I'he inner portions of the rods also have beveled outer ends 172. The rods further provide outer portions 173 having outer convex ends 174 simulating eyes for the doll 150 and inner beveled ends 175 adapted to be oomplementarily fitted against the outer ends 172. vEyelid portions 176 are integrally secured to the outer portions 173 and eyelashes 177 project between the lids and the eye simulating ends 174.

A pivot rod 180 is journaled vfor rotation inthe mounting portion 158 in a substantially horizontal lposition transversely behind the eye-apertures 156, The outer portions 173 are secured onoppos'iteends of the pivot rod for movement between positions aligned with'the inner portions 171 and the eye apertures 156 and posiinvention 4enables the illumination of various ,portions of a simulated animal, or, the like, from a common light source by means of a system of light conductors extended lfrom the source of light to the area of the toy which iis to be lighted. This permits a more efficient utilization of the available light and electrical energy than previously possible. Further, the invention contemplates the provision of a flashing light and a light conducting arrangementwhich cooperates with the eyes of a doll, or like toy, so` as to establish and to interrupt predetermined paths for the light as the attitude of the toy is changed. ,Y Although the invention has been herein' shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that `departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the l invention, which is not to be limited to the details distions displaced from such alignment. When in their positions of'alignment, the outerand inner ends 172 and ,175 of the inner and outer portions 171 and 173 are in ush engagement and -the eye simulating outer ends 174 are in registration with the eye apertures so, as to be visible externally of the body. Whenintheir displaced or retracted positions, the eyelid portions 176 cover the eye apertures 156'thereby creating the appearance that the eyes of the doll are closed. Pendent bars 181 are connected to opposite ends of the pivot rod and support weights 182 in downwardly spaced relation to the pivot rod. A single weight is of course adequate for the purpose.

=In operation, when the body 151 of the doll 150 is in upright position, the weights 182 hang gravitationally downwardly from the pivot rod 180 to urge the outer portions 173 of the eye rods 170` into aligned positions with the inner portions. Upon energization of the filament 69 as seen in Fig. v2, light is conducted from the passage 161 in the cap 160 through the rods 170 to the outer ends 174 thereof to cause the eyes of the doll to light up.

so that light emerged from the outer ends 172 of the inner portions 171 is not directed through the outer portions 173. Further, the outer eye simulating ends 174 are shielded by the body 151 from view externally of the body and the eyelid portions 176 cover the eye apertures 156. As long as the doll is reclined and the-head portion remains tilted, no light emerges through the eye apertures 156 and the doll is in simulatedy sleeping condi? tion. By merely placing the doll in upright position, however, continuity in the light passage is restored and the eyes once again are illuminated.

From the foregoing. it will be evident that an appealing figured toy or doll has been provided. The subject closed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so las to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. i s

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

1. A ligure toy comprising a body, a light source mounted in the body so as to be invisible exteriorly of the body, and a light conductor having a light receiving end and a light emitting end, said conductor being adapted to transmit light longitudinally to suppress light passage transversely thereof, a light confining member surrounding the light source and having light outlet means, and means mounting the light conductor on the b'ody for movement between an intercepting position with the light receiving :end intercepting light from the outlet means of the confining member surrounding the light source and with the light emitting end visible exteriorly of the body so that .light is transmitted through the conductor from the source to the exterior of the body, and a position with the light receiving .end displaced from light receiving position so that no light from the'source is able to pass through the conductor whereby no light from the source is visible exteriorly of the body, and means connected tothe mounting means for moving the conductor between said positions, said confining member lrestricting passage of light therethrough except for passage of light through saidoutlet means and therefore allowing light passage through said conductor when the receiving end thereof is in said intercepting position.

2. A figure toy comprising a body having predetermined upright and reclining positions, a light source mounted in the body in a position invisible from the exterior of the body, a light confining member surrounding the light source and having light outlet means, an elongated light conduit having a light emitting end and a light receiving end adapted to receive light for transmission to the emitting end, means mounting the light conduit in the body for movement between an intercepting position with the light emitting Vend visible externally of the body and with the light receiving end interceptf ing light from the outlet means of said confining member for transmission through the conductor so that light is transmitted through the conductor from the source to the exterior of the body and a retracted position wherein the light receiving end is displaced fromlight intercepting position so that no light from the source passes through the conductor whereby no light from the source is visible exteriorly of the body, said confining member restricting passage of light therethrough except for passage of light through said outlet means and therefore allowing light passage through lsaid conductor when the receiving end thereof is in said intercepting position, and gravitationally responsive means connected to the conduit mounting means for locating the light conductor in light intercepting position when the body is in predetermined upright position and for displacing the conduit from said position when the body is in reclined position.

3. In a doll having upright and reclined positions and having a head portion providing an eye aperture, a light ansa-eos 7 source, means mounting theV light source within the body so as to be invisible from the exterior of the body; a iight confining member surrounding the light source and having light voutlet means, a light conductor having a light receiving end and an opposite convex light emittingend simulating an eye of the doll, means mounting the-conductor for pivotal movement between an interceptingA position when the doll is upright with the light receiving end aligned with the outlet means of said confining member and the light emitting end registering with the eye aperture whereby light from the source is transmitted through the conductor so as to be visible externally of the body from the light emitting end of the'conductor, and a retracted position whenthe doll is reclined with the light receiving and emitting ends out of alignment with the source and eye apertures, respectively, so thatI no light from the source is transmitted exteriorly of the body through the conductor; said confining member restricting passage of light therethrough except for passage of light through said outlet means and therefore allowing light passage through said conductor when the receiving end thereof is in said intercepting position; and a weight dependently suppoited on the conductor for urging the conductor into said aligned and retracted positions.

4. A doll adapted for movement between predetermined upright and reclined positions comprising a body having a head portion providing a pair of eye apertures; alight source; means mounting said source in the body; a cap'of light conductive material having a chamber receiving the light source; a pair of eye rods of light conductive material adapted to transmit light longitudinally thereof and to suppress light transversely thereof having inner portions connected to the cap in light receiving relation to the chamber and outer portions separable from their respective inner portions and having convex ends simulating eyes for the doll; means mounting the outer portions of the rods for pivotal movement between positions aligned with the inner portions with the outer ends fitted in the eye apertures for transmitting light therethrough to the outer ends so as to be visible externally of the body, and retracted positions displaced from said light transmitting position; and weights dependently supported from the outer portions for urging the outer portion into 8 aligned positions when the doll is upright and into re'- tracted positions when the doll is reclined.

5. In combination with a hollow body having a peripheral surface including a predetermined area to be illuminated and a light source mounted within the body adapted upon energization to emit light in all directions therefrom, a light conducting system f or directing substantially all of the `light from the source toward said area of the body whereby the rest of the body is not illuminated by the source comprising an elongated light conduit having a light receiving end portion wholly enclosing the source, a light emitting end adjacent to and pointing toward said area to be illuminated, and an axially longitudinally extended light conducting path, said conduit being adapted to transmit light longitudinally thereof and vto suppress light passage transversely thereof whereby light is transmitted to said area from the source when the latter is energized, the conduit including a portion mounted in the body for movement between a position in said light conducting path and a position out of said light conducting path whereby said light path is interrupted and conduction of light from the source to said area is precluded, and means connected to the movable portion for controlling the position thereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,157,119 Mori Oct. 19, 1915 V1,260,133 Birdsall Mar. 19, 1918 1,805,823 Heilweil May 19, 1931 e1,877,940 Morgenstern et al Sept. 20, 1932 2,254,715 Tuller Sept. 2, 1941 l2,304,888 Davis Dec. 15, 1942 2,316,589 Iwanowicz Apr. 13, 1943 2,367,858 Flynn Jan. 23, 1945 2,420,772 Dalton May 20, 1947 2,481,736 Foerster Sept. 13, 1949 l2,490,830 Norton Dec. 13, 1949 2,604,728A Nudelman July 29, 1952 2,605,385 Levinson July 29, 1952 2,627,590 Ohlund Feb. 3, 1953

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