US2171281A - Walking doll construction - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 29, 1939. E. TORNGREN WALKING DOLL CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 12, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IdeJ To? z I 'z, 353

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E. TORNGREN 2,171,281

WALKING DOLL CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 12, 1-938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALKING DOLL CONSTRUCTION Edel- Torngren, Grand Rapids,Mich.

Application September 12, 1938, Serial No. 229,457

10 Claims.

This invention relates, as indicated, to walking dolls generally and is specifically directed to means for causing in opposite directions simultaneous movements of the legs and to provide means whereby the doll may assume a sitting position.

There have been numerous constructions in the past for the express purpose of causing the legs of a doll to move in opposite directions simultaneously. There have also been constructions directed specifically to allow the .doll to assume a sitting position, but so far as I have been able to ascertain the combination of the two movements have not been satisfactorily placed in a single construction which will allow a quick and economical method of assembling.

My invention consists in the novel arrangement of parts whereby the structure may be assembled quickly and economically and has for its principal object to provide a novel mechanism which will move one of the legs rearwardly as the other is moved forwardly.

Another object is to provide means in addition to the walking structure whereby a forward motion of both of the legs will allow the doll to assume a sitting position.

A still further object is to provide a structure which will perform the aforementioned acts and which does not necessitate numerous or complicated parts, and therefore provides a structure which may be easily and quickly assembled, thus lowering greatly the cost of manufacturing. Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

- To the accomplishments of the foregoing and related ends said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and following description set forth in detail certain means and one mode for carrying out my invention, said means constituting, however, but one of several ways in which the principle of my invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like: parts throughout the various views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section through 50 the central portion of the structure, taken substantially on the plane of line ll in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary part sectional side elevational'view of the apparatus taken substantial- 1y on the plane of the line indicated by the numerals 2-2 of Fig. 1. r

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the leg supporting block.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of one of the legs as viewed from the inner side thereof.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational View showing one of the legs as it appears when the doll is in a sitting position.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary part sectional part elevational view taken substantially on the plane of line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary part sectional and part elevational view of one of the legs turned to a right-angle position from the body.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings and more especially to Figs. 1 and 2, the vdoll is composed of a body portion l within which is rigidly secured thereto or, preferably, molded inintegrally therewith, a leg supporting member 2 which extends downwardly below the lower portion of the body. Below the body portion and through the leg supporting member 2 is an opening through which is passed a small tube 3. On each side of the member 2 is located a plate 4 which also has an opening therein adapted to set over the tube 3 thereby allowing each of the plates to be pivotally mounted on the supporting member 2.

Each of the legs 5 and 6 has integral therewith and in the upper portion thereof a solid member or block indicated in the respective legs by the numerals 'l and 8. Although these blocks are constructed in a slightly different manner with regard to the opening therethrough, it is to be. understood that it makes no difference on which side of the body either of the blocks is placed. That is to say, each of the blocks 1 and 8 has in it an elongated passage 9 having a shoulder I0, but in one of the blocks is an additional passage H at right angles to the passage 9, and whether the block 8 having this additional opening I l therein is placed on the right or left side of the doll makes no difference as far as the operation and construction is concerned and it is within the purview of my invention to reverse these parts without in any way departing from the spirit thereof. The larger portion of the openings 9 up to the shoulders II] are adapted to receive the outer ends of the tube 3 thereby allowing a pivotal movement on the supporting member of the legs 5 and 6.

Each of the legs on the inner sides of the blocks 1 and 8 thereof is provided with a groove 12 as shown in Fig. 4. The plates 4 are of such size and shape as to set snugly within the groove l2. The shape and size of these plates 4 will be more clearly seen upon viewing Fig. 3.

Each of the plates 4 extends upwardly to a point above the top of the supporting member 2. Screw hooks or eyes l3 are situated at the front and back portions of the supporting member 2. A cord M is passed through these hooks and is secured to the plates 4 as at l5 so that a movement in one direction of the upper en dof one of the plates 4 will cause simultaneous movement in the opposite direction of the other plate 4 as these plates pivot about the tube 3. It is conceivable that eyes may be used instead of the hooks as shown, but I prefer to use the hooks because of the ease with which they permit assembling this particular mechanism. 'Also, I do not wish to be limited to the use of two of these hooks because it is entirely possible to use a greater number, however, I prefer to use only two because of the reduction in cost as well as the lessening of friction on the cord.

Atthis particular point in the assembling of the doll and after the legs are in place and the plates 4 are in their respective grooves If, it will be obvious that a simulation of Walking will be accomplished when the doll is placed on a surface and one leg is caused to move either rearwardly or forwardly, because upon one leg receiving this motion, the other leg will be moved in the opposite direction due to the novel arrangement at the top of the legsupporting member above described and clearly shown in Fig. 3.

In order that both legs may be moved forwardly simultaneously I have provided the members 4 with curved or beveled edges [6. I also prefer to bevel the longitudinal edges of the grooves l2 as shown at I! although the beveling of both the plates and the grooves are not abso- .lutely necessary. Because of this curvature or beveling it will be seen that if both legs are moved forwardly at the same time a resistance between the plates and the legs will be effected and a sufficient force will disengage the plates from the grooves thereby allowing the legs to move freely Without effecting any movement of the plates 4. After both legs have been freed from the plates in this manner they may be moved forwardly until a sitting position of the doll is effected.

It is also conceivable, and is intended to be within the scope of my invention, that with sub stantially the same structure, only one of the legs need be disengaged from the plates to effect a sitting position, since, when one leg is free to move independent of the other, the other will also be free to move likewise.

In order to hold the legs and plates against the supporting member, an elastic cord I8 is pro vided as more clearly shown in Fig. 1, which extends through the openings 9 in the legs, the tube 3 and the opening II. The cord is maintained in this position and in a stretched condition by the pins i9 and 20. The stretched condition of the cord I8 tends to hold the legs, and

. consequently the plates, against the sides of the supporting member 2.

With this construction the various parts of the doll may be assembled easily and quickly as will be noted from the following. 'In assembling the doll one of the pieces or plates 4 will be placed against the supporting member and over the tube 3. The cord I4 is then secured to the upper part of the plate and passed through one of the eyes or hooks 13. The opposite end of the cord or string I 4 is then passed through the other hook l3. The other plate 4 is then placed on the opposite side of the supporting member in a similar manner and the two loose ends of the cord l4 are then secured to the upper end of the second plate. In assembling the legs, the steel pin I9 is first placed through the cord [8 near one end thereof. The pin and cord are then both inserted in the opening in the leg 5 and pushed forwardly therethrough. When the pin has passed, entirely through the opening it is then released and assumes a position as shown in Fig. l at right angles to the cord thus preventing its removal. The other end of the cord i8 is then passed through the tube 3 and through the passages 9 and H of the other leg 6, which will pull the leg 5 into position as the other end of the cord 18 is stretched. The leg 6 is then placed against the opposite side of the supporting member 2 and over the other end of the tube 3 and the cord I8 is stretched a considerable amount; at this time the pin 20 is inserted through the opening in the block 8 provided for that purpose. This then maintains the elastic cord in a stretched position and insures the keeping of the legs and plates against the supporting member.

After the doll has been completely assembled as above described and the plates 4 have been inserted in their respective grooves [2, the walking action may take place as above described by moving one of the legs either forwardly or rearwardly. When it is desired to have the doll assume a sitting position, both legs are moved forwardly and this movement exerts a sufficient force between the beveled edges 56 of the plates and the beveled edges ll of the grooves as to allow the legs to be moved outwardly free of the plates as clearly shown in Fig. '7. When it is desired to resume the walking posture, the legs need only be returned to their normal position and they will snap! back into place on the plates Ll because of the action of the elastic cord 58.

From the foregoing it will therefore be seen that I have constructed a walking doll which may also assume a sitting position by novel arrangement of parts so that not only the actions of the doll are easily efiected but also the parts are very simple and few in number so that it may be assembled not only quickly and easily but economically as well.

A modification of the means disclosed for oppositely moving the respective legs has been conceived which consists of eliminating the screw eye 13 in the forward part of the body and passing the cord i4 through the rear screw eye only, said cord having its respective ends fastened to the respective ends of the plate 4. This modification does not cause a positive rearward movement of the feet of the doll but when one foot is moved rearwardly the cord will cause the other foot to move forwardly.

Other modes of carrying out the principle of my invention may be used instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided, however, the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A walking doll comprising a body portion, a leg supporting member rigidly secured thereto, a pair of legs pivotally mounted on said member, elements extending upwardly from said legs and adapted to move therewith, screw-eyes located in said leg supporting member and a continuous cord passing through said eyes and secured to said elements, whereby a forward movement of one leg will effect a rearward movement of the other leg.

2. A walking doll comprising a body portion, a leg supporting member, a pair of legs pivotally mounted thereon, means detachably engaged with said legs to effect a movement thereof simultaneously in opposite directions, said means adapted to be disengaged from said legs to allow a sitting position of the doll by moving both legs forwardly.

3. The combination of elements as defined in claim 2, said means including a pair of plates pivotally mounted on said supporting member adapted to fit in slots in said legs.

4. A doll comprising a body portion, a leg supporting means, a pair of legs pivotally mounted on said supporting means, means for yieldably holding said legs against said supporting means, a groove located on the inner surface of each leg, a plate adapted to fit into each of said grooves, and means connecting said plates whereby a forward movement of one leg will effect a rearward movement of the other.

5. The combination of elements as defined in claim 4, said plates being longitudinally beveled to slip out of said grooves upon a forward movement of both legs to eifect a sitting position of the doll.

6. The combination of elements as defined in claim 4, said last named means including screweyes in said leg supporting means and a continuous cord slidable through said eyes and secured to said plates.

'7. A doll comprising a body portion, a leg supporting member, a plate on each side of said member, a leg adjacent each plate, a solid element having an opening therethrough secured within each leg, a horizontally disposed tube extending through said supporting member, said plates and said solid elements whereby said legs and plates Will be pivotally mounted on the supporting member, an elastic member extending through said tube and the openings in said solid elements, means holding said elastic member in a stretched condition to yieldably hold said legs against said supporting member, means connecting said plates to effect simultaneous and a1- ternate movements of said legs, slots in said solid elements in which the plates are adapted to fit, said plates being disengageable from said slots to allow both legs to move forwardly to effect a sitting position of the doll.

8. The elements in combination defined in claim '7, the means connecting said plates including screw-eyes in the supporting member and a cord passing therethrough and secured to each of said plates.

9. The combination of elements as defined in claim 2, said means including slots in said legs and plates pivotally mounted on said supporting member, said plates being beveled at their longitudinal edges and adapted to fit in said slots, whereby a slight force exerted on the legs will allow the plates to slip out of said grooves.

10. A doll comprising a body portion, a leg supporting member, a pair of legs pivotally mounted thereon, members extending upwardly from and in engagement with said legs, means connecting said members to efiect simultaneous alternate movements of said legs, one of said members adapted to be disengaged from one of said legs whereby both legs can be moved forwardly to effect a sitting position.

EDEL TORNGREN.

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