US3002317A - Doll mouth - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 3, 1961 P s 3,002,317

DOLL MOUTH Filed Sept. 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROBERT l. PRUPIS ATTORNEY Oct. 3, 1961 R. PRUPIS 3,

DOLL MOUTH Filed Sept. 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- FIG.

INVENTOR. ROBERT l. PRUPIS ATTORNEY United States 3,002,317 DOLL MOUTH Robert I. Prnpis, Newton Centre, MESS}, assignor to Margon Corporation, Newark, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 14, 1e56, Ser. No. 609,835 7 Claims. (Cl. 46-171) This invention relates to toys, especially dolls, and more particularly to a simulated-movable mouth therefor.

Attempts have been made to simulate a change in the facial expression of a doll by simulated movement at the mouth. This has requiredmechanical linkages or the like behind a mouth element disposed at a mouth opening.

Many doll heads are made of a soft, flexible material having a rather realistic skin-like surface. These heads may be molded inexpensively by slush molding a vinyl slurry in an outer mold, without requiring a core. The material is elastic enough to be pulled from the mold. It is usually stuifedlater to help maintain its overall configuration.

The movable mouth mechanisms heretofore suggested are not suitable for use in flexible heads, and one primary object of the present invention is to provide a movable mouth mechanism for such heads.

Another object is to provide an operating mechanism which causes an instantaneous changeover from one mouth condition all the way to another, as the position of the head is changed, typically from an upright to a supine position. This unstable or total-change action simplifies the design and avoids the problem caused by intermediate positions of the movable element, which ordinarily may appear unrealistic or unnatural. Thus the artist need concern himself with only two terminal positions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a movable mouth mechanism simulating a change of teeth, rather than a movement at the mouth. For this purpose, the mechanism includes an oscillatable element ornamented with differently delineated sets of teeth, one set of which is exposed and another set of which is concealed in one position of the element, and vice versa. Thus, one set may represent good teeth and the other bad teeth, and the toy may be used to encourage mouth hygiene by illustrating to a child the difference in appearance as between good and bad teeth.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides in the mechanism for simulating a change of facial expression at the mouth of a doll, and the elements thereof, and their relation one to another and to the doll, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a doll head embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section drawn to enlarged scale, and taken approximately in the plane of the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a similar view, but showing the relation of the parts when the head is turned from upright to supine position;

FIG. 4 is a section through the movable element;

FIG. 5 is a rear view ofthe movable element;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the assembled mouth mechanism which is later inserted in the doll head;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a doll head showing a modilied and preferred form of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a transverse section taken approximately in the plane of the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. '9 is a similar view but showing the relation of the parts when the head is turned from upright to supine.-

with mechanism, generally designated M, which simulates achange of facial. expression. at the mouth. In the particular case here shown the head H is also provided with eye openings 12 to expose eye members 14. These form no part of the present invention and require no further description. If movable their movement is independent of, and in no way linked to, the mouth mechanism.

Referring now to FIG. 2 ofv the drawing, the headH is molded with an integral socket 16 behind the mouth opening 0. The mechanism M comprises a hollow thin walled casing 18, 20 which is dimensioned to be received in the socket 16. The casing has an opening 22 at the front which conforms generally to the mouth opening 0. It may be made slightly larger in order to help conceal the edge of the housing material. The mechanism fur.- ther comprises an oscillatable element 24 pivoted inside the housing on an axis indicated at as, this element being partially exposed at the mouth opening 0. It is moved by a weight member 34), best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawing. This weight member is secured. to and movable with the element 24 within the housing, and it serves to move the element between the position shown in FIG. 2 when the head H is upright, and the position shown in FIG. 3 when the head H is supine. It is evident from the drawing that the movable element 24 is ornamented with simulated mouth parts some of which are exposed at the mouth opening 0 in one position, and concealed in another position of the. element, thereby changing the facial expression of the doll. More specifically, in the'present case the movable element 24 is ornamented with simulated teeth 32, 34 which are exposed in the mouth opening when the head is erect, as shown in FIG. 2, and which are concealed when the head is horizontal as shown in FIG. 3. More.- over, the movable element is preferably colored red in the area 36 below the teeth 34, this being in simulation of a lower lip. The region 38 below the part 36 is preferably flesh colored, this color is so far as feasible matching the flesh color of the head H in the region below the mouth opening. The effect is that when the head is erect, as in FIG. 2, the mouth appears to be open with the teeth showing, whereas when the head is in the horizontal position shown in FIG. 3 the mouth appears to be closed with the movable lower lip as adjacent the stationary upper lip 40, the red coloring for the latter being applied directly to an appropriately lipshaped part of the dolls head at the top of the mouth opening.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 it is important to observe that the weight member 3t) is disposed upwardly and forwardly of the pivot axis 26 when the head is erect. A consequence of this is that the movable element is unstable when the head is changed from vertical to horizontal position, so that the weight moves the element abruptly. When the head is tilted rearwardly a small amount, there is no corresponding change in the position of the movable element. When the head is tilted so far that the center of mass shifts from one side of the axis 26 the other, the mavens element swings all the way to its other extreme position instantaneously. It never assumes an intermediate position.

. ..Ihe opening movement, thatis the position shown in FIG; 2, -is preferably limited by stop means, here shown as an arm 42 which bears against therear edge 4d of the forward part 18 of the housing. The closing move heat, that is, to the position ishowni n FIG. *3, is limited by a stop means 46 which also be'ars against the-rear edge of the part 1813f the housing. in the present case the stop means '42 and 456 form parts of a metal stamping, the forward portion ofwhich is embedded in the Weight member 30. The movable-member 24, the weight num ber 30, and, the stop meansare all assembled together in any desired fashion, as by cementing, meehanical interlock, or like expedient, so that these pans all turn in unison about the axis26. The latter may be provided by a rod or pintle passing through the mom able member and having its ends received in the side walls of the housing. The ends are preferably stepped or shouldered, asshown in FIGS 2 and u i Y I v i In the present easethe housing comprises a forward part 18 and a rear part 2% which come together telescopicallyfor ashort distancejas is best shown in PEG. 2. The overlap may be limited by appropriate stops, here indicated by indentations at '43 best shown in P16. 6. A small area at each sideof the forward member 1 3 is preferably flattened, asshown at 54}, and the flattened parts have bearing holes to receive the ends of rod 26. rear part ill of the housing, is preferably provided wthforwardly projecting ears 52 whichare disposed outside the ends of the rod These ears may be spaced outwardly somewhat from the surfaces fill, thereby providing clearance for the-ends o f rod -25. r, modified form of the invention shown in 7 through 1'2 of the drawing. 7 Here again the head is fa soft flexible head "provided with a mouth opening '54 (FIG. 18) and a socket 56 behind the inouth opening. the head is rnade by :theso-called slush molding proc'ss'the socket 56 comes out 'as a fully closed socket at the rear The mechanism inserted in the socket again comprises a hollow thin walled casing 5!, oil with an pscillatable element 62 pivoted therein at 64, this element being partially exposed at the "mouth opening. There is alsoa weight-member '65, best shown in FIG. 10, and this weight-member is disposed upwardly forwardly of the axis '64 when the head is in erectposi- 'tion.

The present construction differs from that previously "a number ofirespects. V Qne is that the forward part of the-housing at the topedgeofthe mouth openingis bent :Ql' turned upward as shown at 66. This "part iseolored ied and is suitably shaped to act as the-stationary upper flip for the doll head. The latter is patterned or molded 'atthe'region 68 to receive or bear snugly against the back surface 'of the lip 66.

Another difference is that, the movable element 62 includes a shaped part 70 which acts as the lower lip of the mouth. The part 74} is not only colored/red, as before, but isshaped to simulate a lower lip. lf desired, it may he stepped slightly, as indicated at '72, -"as though the forward tip of the tongue were visible. The "part 74 below 'lip 'll) is fiesh colored, and the edge of the mouth opening at the bottom is tapered to'a relat ively thin edge, so that no lower lip is provided bythe 'head itself.

A manufacturer nialiin'g th'e'mouth mechanism -may supply the same as an assembled unit to the'doll manufacturer, "and with the pres'entconstruction,the doll manufacturer does not need to apply any red coloring material for the lips or'rnouth. "Instead the red for both upper and lower lipsis 'already'present at'66 and 7il, and fthese reds, of course, may be made'tomatcheach other "perfectly, as they should.

The part of the movable "element above the lower lip may be recessed rearward, and be shaped and colored white to simulate teeth, as indicated at 7 6. This simulates only the lower part of the upper teeth, and is visible when'the head is erect, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. However, when the head is tiltedrearwardly to horizontal position as shown in FIG. 9, the movable element 62 changes tothe position shown'in FIG. 9, thus simulating closingjofthe mouth, for the lowerlip 7G approaches the upper lip 66, and neitherthe teeth 76 nor thetongue 72. are visible. An increased part of the flesh colored area '74 becomes visible, and acts as a continuation of the lower part 78 of the head.

Another easiest the construction here shown is that the entire movable element is molded out of a single piece of material, typically one of the known plastics materials. The material is kept hollow and thin walled below the axis 64, as is indicated at 80 in FIG. 10. The material is filled in solidly above and forward of the axis 64, as is indicated at 6-5, and thus the solidly filled portion 65 acts as the weightniember. I

if desired, additional integral parts may be provided to act as stop means, and in such case the parts are thin walled and light in weight in order not to interfere with the desired action of the weight member 65. Thus in the present case a thin walled rearward extension 82 (PIG. 10) may be used to limit the opening movement of the element 62, for itbears against the top rear portion of the housing, as is best shown in 'FIG. 8. Similarly the portion 84 may be employed as "a stop means to limit closing movement of the element, it bearing against the bottom of the housing, asshown in F169.

However, it will be understood that when the forward portion of the movable element is shaped, it may itself be appropriately dimensioned to act as motion limiting or stop means. Thus in 'FlG. 8 the portion 86 may bear against the bottom of the opening in the housing to limit the opening movement of the element 62, and in FIG. -9 the lip and/or tongue portion 70, 72 may bear against the top of the opening in the housing to limit the closing movement of the element 62.

As will be seen in FIGS. 8 and 11, the housing may consist -of partially telescopic forward and rear portions, much as previously described. Thus the forward edge of therear part 69 fits frictionally over the rear edge of the forward part-58, themotion being limited by stops or indentatioris-shownat-SB. The'pivots 64may be formed as I integral trunnions, and are received in bearing holes in flattened side portions 90-of the housing. The outer ends of the trunnions may be protected against frictional contact with the material of the doll head, by means of forwardlyprojecting ears;92, which may he stepped or displaced outwardly slightly, as shown in FIG. 12.

The trunnions may be'put into the bearing holes by lspringingthe side walls 90 apart slightly as, for example. by pres i g the top and bottom parts of the forward housing 58 toward one another. The movable element then is inserted forwardly through the openrear end of the housing part 58. The rear part 60 of the housing is added after-the trunnions have been received in the bearing holes. 7

The doll is molded out of conventional soft materials in accordance with any usual practice. For example, the

"head'may be molded out of soft rubber. I-Iowever, it is more readily and economicallymade out of a vinyl slush molding compound, for with such compounds only an eutside mold is needed, no inside core being required. The mouth opening andits socket are formed by providing a suitable plug in the mold. The plugis shaped and dimensioned to provide a socket which will snugly receive and hold the housing, and "also to provide a mouth opening which will substantially conform to the mouth opening of the housing. The material issufilciently elastic and "flexible "to be pulled from a one-piece mold, the "socket p0rtio n 56 being pulled from around tlie'plug which forms the" same. 'I'lieelasticity of the mateiialniak's it possible eaten? to, insert the mouth assembly by simply forcing the same: through the mouth opening into the socket. g,

The housing parts 58 and 60 are preferably formed of thin sheet metal. The movable element 62 is preferably molded out of a suitable plastics material, and the material is preferably flesh colored. In such case the only additional color to be applied is white at the teeth 76, and red at the lip and tongue '70 and 72. The flesh color at the area 74- is provided by the color of the plastics material itself. ()ther procedures may be used, as by painti'iig the flesh color on a red plastic, etc. g

.It will be understood that while the movable element 62 simulates movement of a lower lip, it would be possible to provide stationary lower and upper lips, and to so design the movable element as to simulate the movement of a tongue only. in the resulting doll the mouth would remain open, but the tongue simulation would move.

In the present case the housing 58, 60 is made of sheet r'iietal. The movable element 62 is made of a hard plastics material, the trunnions 64 being formed integrally therewith. However, the materials are not critical, and in the form of the invention shown in FIG. 4, the parts 24 and 30 may be made of metal, or the part 24 may be made of plastic while the part 30 is made of metal. In both forms of the invention the thin housing may be made of a hard plastics material instead of metal.

In' the drawing, FIG. 2, 3, 6, 8, 91 and 11, the lower lip is lined vertically to indicate red, and in FIG. 11 the edge of the upper lip is similarly lined vertically to indicate red. In the specification the term flesh color has been employed, it being understood that this means external skin color. In a typical case the skin is fair, but may be of different color to indicate different races.

. It will also be understood that features of the first form of the invention may be interchanged with features shown in the second form of the invention. For example, in the latter I have shown the lip 66 formed integrally with the housing so that it is a partof the mouth mechanism applied to the doll head, whereas in the first form of the invention the upper lip is formed or painted directly on the doll head itself. It should be understood that the second form of the invention may be made as here shown, but omitting the upper lip 66, in which case the housing 58 terminates at the top within the mouth opening of the doll head, substantially as shown in the first form of the invention. While this has a disadvantage in requiring the doll manufacturer to color the upper lip of the doll head, it has the advantage of giving the doll manufacturer much greater leeway in originating the appearance and character of the doll face. Thus the artistdesigning the head may give the upper lip any desired configuration to help produce a desired expression on the doll head.

It will also be understood that the simulation of teeth at 76 on the movable element 62 may be omitted, in which case the action of the mouth mechanism will be to simulate opening or closing of the month by movement of the lower lip to the upper lip, but without showing teeth in either position. This change, and also the omission of rearward stop means, are shown in FIG. 13.

Referring to FIG. 13, the movable mouth element there shown generally resembles that shown in FIG. in being molded out of a single piece of a hard plastic material, the piece as molded including trunnions 102. The part of the movable element forward and above the axis of trnnnions I02, indicated at 100, is solid and thus acts as a weight. The region 108 below the axis 102 is pref- 'erably hollow and thin walled. 'In consequence the balance is unstable, and the element shifts abruptly between either of two positions corresponding to those shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. No rearwardly projecting stop means are provided, and instead the motion is limited by the forward or lower part of the movable element cooperating with the mouth opening in a manner which again may be seen from inspection of FIGS. 8 and 9.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 13 there are no simulated teeth. There is an indentation at 106 which may simulate the feta/aid tip of a The areas at 104 and 106 are colored red. However, the

sired, the movable member 24, weight member 30, the" stop means, and the ends or trunnions at axis 26 may be integrally die cast of any suitable material to form a single unitary movable member, or the weight member 30, the stop means, and the ends or trunnions at axis 26" may be integrally die cast with such casting suitably united with member 24.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 544,854, filed November 4, 1-955, and since abandoned. V p

It is believed that the construction and method ofuse of my improvement, as well as the advantages thereof; will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. It will also be understood that while I have shown and described the invention in several preferred forms, changes may be made in the structures shown, without departing from the scope of the invention, as sought to be defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Mechanism for simulating a change of facial appearance at the mouth of a flexible doll head having a mouth opening and a socket behind said mouth opening, said mechanism comprising a casing dimensioned to be received with a snug fit in the mouth socket of the head, said casing having an opening at the front conforming generally to the mouth opening, an oscillatable element pivoted in said casing to expose a surface area thereof to view at said mouth opening, a weight member disposed to be upwardly and forwardly of the pivot of said element when the head is erect, whereby the weight is unstable and is adapted to move abruptly when the head is changed from erect to supine position, and stop means to limit the motion of said movable element, said element having simulated mouth parts at said surface area some of which are exposed at the mouth opening of the doll in one position and concealed in another position of said element, said element being molded out of a single piece of material which is hollow and thin walled below the pivot and which is filled in solidly above and forward of the pivot when the head is in erect position, the said solidly filled in part constituting the weight member.

2. Mechanism for simulating a change of facial appearance at the mouth of a flexible doll head having a mouth opening and a socket behind said mouth opening, said mechanism comprising a casing dimensioned to be received with a snug fit in the mouth socket of the head, said casing having an opening at the front conforming generally to the mouth opening, an oscillatable element pivoted in said casing to expose 'a surface area thereof to view at said mouth opening, a weight member disposed to be upwardly and forwardly of the pivot of said element when the head is erect, whereby the weight is unstable and is adapted to move abruptly when the head is changed from erect to supine position, and stop means to limit the motion of said movable element, said element having simulated mouth parts at said surface area some of which are exposed at the mouth opening of the doll in one position and concealed in another position of said element, said element being molded out of a single piece of material which is hollow and thin walled below the pivot and whichis filled'in solidly above and forward "of the pivot when the head is in erect position, the said solidly filled in part constituting the weight member, said element having additional integral parts constituting the stop means, said last mentioned parts being thin walled and light in weight in order not to interfere with the desired action of the weight member.

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