Doll dressing apparatus

Abstract

A doll dressing apparatus for dressing a doll to which clothing items can be releasably attached. The apparatus is comprised of a carrier on which one or more clothing items can be manually attached by a user of the apparatus. The apparatus removes the clothing item(s) from the carrier previously attached thereto and subsequently fits the clothing item(s) to the doll.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present invention relates to a doll dressing apparatus, which can dress a toy doll.

[0002] It is known in the art to provide a toy doll which can be dressed with interchangeable clothes. Such clothing is known to take the form of a front piece for fitting onto the front of the doll, and a back piece for fitting onto the back of the doll. The front piece and back piece may be secured to the doll by magnets in order to retain them in place. Such clothing can be placed on the doll by hand. Alternatively, it is known to place the clothing on the doll by a mechanical device.

[0003] A known mechanical device comprises two jaws, urged apart by a spring. The front piece of clothing is placed on the inside of one jaw, and the back piece of clothing is placed on the inside of the other jaw. The doll is then slid between the jaws. The final part of the sliding movement engages the jaws such that the jaws are brought together around the doll. The magnetic attraction of the pieces of clothing to the doll is stronger than the magnetic attraction of the clothing to the jaws. Once the clothing comes into contact with the doll, the clothing securely attaches to the doll and detaches from the jaws.

[0004] As the doll is slid out from between the jaws, the jaws spring apart without the pieces of clothing. The clothed doll can then be played with.

[0005] This known device for dressing a doll has the disadvantage that the pieces of clothing must first be placed directly onto the open jaws of a delivery mechanism. Such jaws are functional, and so are not attractive to a user. The user cannot see clearly the pieces of clothing when they are mounted on the jaws. It may also not obvious to a user which jaw is designed to receive the front piece of clothing, and which jaw is designed to receive the back piece of clothing.

SUMMARY

[0006] The present invention provides in a first aspect doll dressing apparatus for dressing a doll to which clothing items can be releasably attached, the apparatus comprising: a carrier on which one or more clothing items can be manually attached by a user of the apparatus; and dressing means which remove from the carrier the clothing item(s) previously attached thereto and subsequently fits the clothing item(s) to the doll.

[0007] The present invention provides in a second aspect a house for a doll comprising doll dressing apparatus fitting at least one clothing item on a doll, the apparatus comprising a doll support for supporting a doll; a carrier on which at least one clothing item can be manually attached by a user; and dressing means for removing the/a clothing item from the carrier at an undressing station and then fitting the removed clothing item to the doll at a dressing station spaced from the undressing station; wherein the clothing item(s) is/are attached to the carrier by attachment means which exert a first attachment force, the clothing item(s) are attached to the dressing means by-attachment means exerting a second attachment force higher than the first attachment force and the clothing item(s) is/are attached to the doll by attachment means which exert a third attachment force higher than the second attachment force.

[0008] The present invention provides in a third aspect a method of dressing a doll comprising: fitting at least-one clothing item on a carrier when the carrier is at a first location; moving the carrier to a dressing station at which the clothing item(s) is/are removed from the carrier by dressing means; moving the dressing means with the clothing item(s) attached from the undressing station to a dressing station; moving a doll to the dressing station; transferring the clothing item(s) from the dressing means to the doll; and moving the doll away from the dressing station to a final location.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a doll dressing device which can easily dress a doll in a pleasing manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of doll dressing apparatus according to the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a cut-away perspective view of the doll dressing apparatus of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0013] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a front cut-away elevation view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a first state;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a front cut-away elevation view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a second state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] In FIG. 1 there can be seen a doll dressing apparatus 10, in the form of a doll's house 100. The doll's house 100 has an open lower level 20, and an open upper level 30. The doll's house 100 defines a room on the first floor 20 in which the doll 10 can be positioned, and a room on the second floor 30 in which the doll can alternatively be positioned.

[0017] There is a middle level comprising a closed dressing area 21 situated between the lower level 20 and the upper level 30. The dressing area 21 is of a height substantially equal to or larger than the doll 10, and is not visible to a user. The dressing area 21 further does not have a floor on which the doll 10 can be placed. A rear wall 22 forms the back of the doll's house 100, and defines the back of the first floor 20, second floor 30 and dressing area 21.

[0018] The doll 10 is securable in a standing position on a doll support stand 1. The doll support stand 1 engages the doll 10 by means of boots 2, the feet of the doll 10 securely fitting in the boots 2. The doll support stand 1 comprises an arm 3 for controlling movement of the doll support stand 1 by a user. The arm 3 comprises a narrow portion 4 of smaller width than the remainder of the arm 3. The doll support stand 1 further comprises a trigger arm 56 extending in an arc, and spaced from the boots 2.

[0019] A slot 5 extends vertically up the side of the doll's house 100, extending between the first floor 20 and second floor 30. The slot 5 further has a horizontal portion 6 on the first floor 20 and a horizontal portion 7 on the second floor 30. The slot 5 has a tongue 8 integrally formed on substantially the length of the slot 5 on inner sides of the slot 5, the tongue not present on the ends of horizontal portion 6 and horizontal portion 7 distal from the slot 5.

[0020] The arm 3 passes through a slot 5 in the house 100, the narrow portion 4 locatable in the slot 3. The tongue 8 engages with the narrow portion 4 of the arm 3, such that a translational movement of the arm through the slot is only possible at the distal ends of the slot 5, in the horizontal portions 6 and 7.

[0021] The device for dressing a doll comprises a carrier in the form of a carrier 11 supported by a carrier support 12. A carrier slot 13 is formed in the rear wall 22, spaced from the slot 5. The carrier support 12 is slidable in the carrier slot 13. Movement of the carrier 11 is actuated by a wheel 25. The carrier slot 13 extends from the second floor 30 to the dressing area 21.

[0022] With reference to FIG. 2, the doll dressing apparatus further comprises dressing means having a carriage 26 with two dressing jaws 27. The carriage 26 are jaws 27 located within the dressing area 21. The carriage 26 is slidable horizontally along substantially the length of the dressing area 21, between the carrier slot 13 and the slot 5. The movement of the carriage 26 is actuated by turning of the wheel 25. The carriage 26 slides in a carriage guide slot 34.

[0023] With reference to FIG. 3, one dressing jaw 27 has a protrusion 33 extending downwardly. The protrusion 33 is engagable in a groove (not shown) in the dressing area 21. The groove is substantially straight with a curved portion 30 adjacent the carrier slot 13. The curved portion 30 forces a jaw 27 inwardly towards the alternative jaw 27 when the jaw 27 enters the curved portion.

[0024] The jaws 27 are each provided with a lever 32. The levers 32 are pivotally attached to each other, such that movement of one jaw 27 actuates movement of the other jaw 27 in the opposite sense. The dressing jaws 27 are biased apart by a spring 31. The spring 31 acts to urge the jaws 31 into a position sufficiently spaced apart to receive the doll 10.

[0025] With reference to FIG. 4, releasable attachment means used by the present invention is now described. The carrier 11 comprises a relatively weak magnet {not shown). Each piece of clothing 50, 51 comprises two magnets 54. Each magnet 54 has a north pole and a south pole, and the magnets 54 are orientated such that the north pole of one magnet faces inwardly, and the north face of the other magnet faces outwardly. The front piece of clothing 50 has a similar configuration, however the orientations of the magnets are reversed. Thus, the front piece of clothing 50 experiences a magnetic attraction to the carrier 11 only when it is in contact with the front of the carrier 11. If the front piece of clothing is placed adjacent to the rear of the carrier, the magnet in the carrier 11 and the relevant magnet in the front piece of clothing 50 will repel, ensuring that the clothing can only be placed on the carrier in its correct position. Similarly, the rear piece of clothing 51 is attracted to the rear of the carrier 11 and repelled by the front of the carrier 11.

[0026] Each jaw 27 is provided with two magnets 55. One magnet 55 has its north pole facing inwardly towards the other jaw, and one magnet 55 has its north pole facing outwardly. The position of the magnets 55 corresponds with the position of the magnets 53. The position of the magnets 55 corresponds with the position of the magnets 53, such that the jaws 27 are magnetically attracted to the pieces of clothing 50, 51. The orientation of the magnets 54, 55 ensures that the front and rear pieces of clothing 50, 51 are only attracted to the correct jaw 27. The magnetic attraction between the pieces of clothing 50, 51 and the jaws 27 is greater than the magnetic attraction between the pieces of clothing 50, 51 and the carrier 11.

[0027] The doll 10 also comprises two magnets (not shown). The north pole of one magnet faces forwardly, and the north pole of the other magnet faces rearwardly. The magnets are arranged such that the front piece of the clothing 50 is attracted to the front of the doll 10. The rear piece of clothing 51 is only attracted to the rear of the doll 10. The magnetic attraction between the pieces of clothing 50, 51 and the doll 10 is greater than the magnetic attraction between the pieces of clothing 50, 51 and the jaws 27.

[0028] The mechanism by which the carriage 26 and carrier 11 are moved is now described with reference to FIG. 5. The wheel 25 is connected by a shaft (not shown) to a toothed drive gear 35. The drive gear 35 meshes with a larger toothed gear, carriage gear 36. The drive gear 35 and carriage gear 36 both rotate in the same plane about a horizontal axis.

[0029] The carriage gear 36 is provided with an elongate member, carriage arm 37, which extends generally downwardly. The carriage arm 37 is rigidly fastened to the carriage gear. 36. The carriage arm 37 comprises a carriage arm slot 38 extending through a lower part thereof. The carriage arm slot 38 corresponds in position to the carriage guide slot 34, such that over the range of movement of the carriage arm 37, part of the carriage arm slot 38 is aligned with the carriage guide slot 34. The carriage 26 has a protrusion (not shown) which engages in the carriage arm slot 38. Thus, rotation of the carriage gear 36 causes rotation of the carriage arm 37, which effects a horizontal movement of the carriage 26 along the carriage guide slot 34.

[0030] A further gear, carrier gear 39, meshes with the carriage gear 36. The carrier gear 39 also rotates about a horizontal axis. A carrier arm 40 is rotatable about the same axis as the carrier gear 39, however the carrier arm 40 and carrier gear 39 are not rigidly secured to one another. The carrier gear 39 is provided with a carrier gear pin 43 extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the carrier gear 39. The carrier gear pin 43 engages with a part of the carrier arm 40, a carrier arm bearing surface 45. Rotation of the carrier gear 39 in an anti-clockwise direction causes rotation of the carrier arm 40 as the pin 43 engages against the bearing surface 45.

[0031] The carrier arm 40 comprises a carrier arm slot 41. A part of the carrier arm slot 41 is aligned with the carrier guide slot 13 over the whole length of the carrier guide slot 13. The carrier support 12 passes through the carrier arm 40, and is engaged in the carrier guide slot 13. Rotation of the carrier gear 39 in an anti-clockwise direction thus effects a movement of the carrier support 12 and the carrier 11 along the length of the carrier guide slot 13.

[0032] A carrier spring 42 is secured to the carrier arm 40 and the back of the dolls house 100. The carrier spring 42 acts to urge the carrier arm 40 in a clockwise direction.

[0033] The carrier arm 14 is provided with a projection, carrier arm projection 44. The carrier arm projection 44 has an angled end surface, and extends in the same plane as the carrier arm 40.

[0034] The mechanism for dressing a doll further comprises a release lever 46. The release lever 46 is rotatable in a horizontal axis about release lever pivot 49. The release lever 46 is urged upwardly by release spring 53. The release lever 46 comprises a release lever projection 48 extending in the same plane as the release lever 46. The release lever projection 48 is engagable with the carrier arm projection 44. Rotation of the carrier arm projection 44 against the release lever projection 48 causes the release lever 46 to be urged downwardly against the bias of the release spring 50. Once the carrier arm projection 44 has passed the release lever projection 48, the spring 50 acts to return the release lever 46 into its original upper position. This configuration is shown in FIG. 6.

[0035] The release lever 46 is provided with a release lever foot 47. The release lever foot 47 extends horizontally out of the plane of the release lever 46.

[0036] The method of dressing the doll 10 using the above described apparatus is now described. The doll 10 is positioned on the stand 1, on the second floor 30, and a front piece of clothing 50 is placed on the front of the carrier 11 and a back piece of clothing 51 is placed on the back of the carrier 11. The wheel 25 is then turned anti-clockwise. This rotation causes carriage gear 36 to rotate clockwise, and the carriage arm 37 moves to the left. The carriage 26 is engaged in the carriage arm slot 38, and so also moves to the left. Simultaneously, the rotation of the carriage gear 36 causes an anti-clockwise rotation of the carrier gear 39. The carrier gear pin 43 engages with the carrier arm bearing surface 45 to cause anti-clockwise rotation of the carrier arm 40. The movement of the carrier arm causes the carrier support 12 and hence the carrier 11 to move along the carrier guide slot 13. The carrier 11 thus moves to the left and downwardly.

[0037] As the carrier 11 reaches its final position, a jaw 27 reaches the curved portion of the groove, and is forced inwardly towards the other jaw 27. The other jaw also is urged by the same amount due to levers 32, so that the jaws 27 are urged together. Since the groove coincides with the final position of the carrier 11, the jaws 27 close around the carrier 11.

[0038] The front and back pieces of clothing 50, 51 have a greater magnetic affinity for the jaws 27 than for the carrier 11. The pieces of clothing 50,51 therefore magnetically attach to the jaws 27, and detach from the carrier 11.

[0039] The wheel 25 is then rotated clockwise. This causes the drive gear 35 to turn clockwise, and the carriage gear 36 to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction. The carriage arm 37 therefore moves to the right, and thus pushes carriage 26 to the right. Simultaneously, the jaws 27 move apart as the protrusion 33 slides along the curved portion. The carriage 26 moves horizontally to the right along slot 34.

[0040] The rotation of the carriage gear 36 in an anti-clockwise direction effects a clockwise rotation of the carrier gear 39. However, the carrier gear pin 43 moves away from the carrier arm bearing surface 45, so that the carrier arm 40 is not substantially moved by the rotation of the carrier gear 39. The carrier arm 40 is however urged to rotate in a clockwise direction by the carrier spring 42. The rotation is limited by the carrier gear 39, since the carrier gear pin 43 is in contact with the carrier arm bearing surface 45. When the carrier arm projection 44 engages with the release lever projection 48, the release lever projection 48 prevents further rotation of the carrier arm 40. The carrier 11 is therefore held in a intermediate position, approximately halfway along the carrier guide slot 13.

[0041] The carrier arm projection 44 engages with the release lever projection 48, forcing the release lever 46 downwardly. The carrier arm projection 44 then rotates past the release lever projection 48, such that the release lever 46 returns to its original upper position under the action of release spring 50.

[0042] The wheel 25 is turned clockwise until the carriage 26 reaches its initial position adjacent to slot 5. The jaws 27 are spaced wide apart at this initial position, and are carrying the pieces of clothing 50, 51 by means of magnets 54, 55.

[0043] The doll support stand 1 carrying the doll 10 is then moved vertically down the slot 5, so that the doll 10 descends from the second floor 30 to the dressing area 21, When the doll 10 reaches the dressing area 21, it passes between the jaws 27. As the doll 10 is positioned between the jaws 27, the jaws 27 are actuated by trigger arm 56 to move together around the doll 10. The magnetic affinity of the clothing 50, 51 is stronger for the doll 10 than for the jaws 27. The clothing 50,51 therefore detaches from the jaws 27 and attaches to the doll 10.

[0044] The doll 10 is then slid further down the slot 5 into the first floor. As the arm 3 is moved into the horizontal portion 6, the trigger arm 56 of the stand 1 presses the release lever foot 47 downwardly, causing downward movement of the release lever 46 and the release lever projection 48. The carrier arm projection 44 is no longer restrained by the release lever projection 48, and so the carrier arm 40 rotates in a clockwise direction under the action of carrier spring 42. The carrier 11 therefore returns to its original starting position.

[0045] The fully dressed doll 10 can now be removed from the boots 2, and played with.

Claims

1. Doll dressing apparatus for dressing a doll to which clothing items can be releasably attached, the apparatus comprising: a carrier on which one or more clothing items can be manually attached by a user of the apparatus; and dressing means which remove from the carrier the clothing item(s) previously attached thereto and subsequently fits the clothing item(s) to the doll.

2. Doll dressing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dressing means is movable between two stations, a first undressing station at which the dressing means removes from the carrier the clothing item(s) previously attached thereto and a second dressing station at which the dressing means fits the clothing item(s) to the doll.

3. Doll dressing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the carrier is movable between two locations, a first location at which the carrier clothing item(s) can be manually assembled on the carrier and a second location which is the undressing station of the dressing means.

4. Doll dressing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 comprising a movable doll support on which the doll is mountable, the doll support being movable between an initial site at which an undressed doll can be mounted on the doll support through the dressing station at which the undressed doll is dressed to a final site from which the dressed doll can be removed.

5. Doll dressing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 comprising a first manually operable sliding mechanism which can simultaneously slide both the dressing means and the carrier to the dressing station.

6. Doll dressing apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein a housing is provided to support the carrier, the dressing means and the doll support and the housing has an open upper level in which the first carrier location and the initial doll support site are located, an enclosed middle level in which the undressing site and the dressing site of the dressing means are located and a open lower level in which the doll support final site is located, the carrier being movable between the upper and middle levels, the dressing means being movable along the middle level and the doll support being movable from the upper level through the middle level to the lower level.

7. Doll dressing apparatus as claimed in claim 6 comprising a second manually operable sliding mechanism for sliding the doll support vertically, which is also capable of allowing translational movement of the doll support in the planes of the upper and lower levels.

8. Doll dressing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the dressing means comprises a carriage supporting two moveable jaws, wherein the jaws are closed to engage the clothing item(s) on the carrier, opened to remove the clothing item(s) from the carrier, closed to attach the clothing item(s) on the doll and opened to release the clothed doll.

9. Doll dressing apparatus according to claim 8 wherein each jaw is rotatable about a vertical axis.

10. Doll dressing apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the dressing means further comprises resilient means acting between the two moveable jaws, the resilient means urging the two jaws apart.

11. Doll dressing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein an arm is mounted on each jaw and the arms are connected so that rotation of one jaw causes a corresponding rotation of the other jaw.

12. Doll dressing apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising a groove in the housing along which slides a protrusion extending from at least one of the jaws, wherein the groove is curved so that the jaws are urged closer together as the carrier approaches the undressing station, the jaws thereby closing on the carrier.

13. Doll dressing apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the doll support comprises a protrusion, which contacts a jaw of the dressing means when the doll support is moved through the dressing station, whereby the jaws are urged closed to attach the clothing item(s) to the doll.

14. Doll dressing apparatus according to claim 13 wherein releasable attachment means are provided to act between the carrier and the clothing item(s), to act between the jaws of the dressing means and the clothing item(s) and to act between the doll and the clothing item(s).

15. Doll dressing apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the releasable attachment means comprises at least one magnet provided on or in each clothing item, at least one magnet provided on or in the carrier, at least one magnet provided on or in each jaw of the dressing means, and at least one magnet provided on or in the doll.

16. Doll dressing apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the releasable attachment means comprises pairs of magnets provided in or on each of the clothing item(s), the jaws of the dressing means, the carrier and the doll, the magnets of each pair having differing polarities chosen such that the magnets of the pair associated with each clothing item must be aligned with attracting poles of another pair of magnets before the clothing item{s) can be attached to the carrier the jaws of the dressing means or the doll.

17. Doll dressing apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the first sliding mechanism comprises: a manually operable wheel connected to a first gear; a second gear meshing with the first gear; an elongate arm rigidly secured to the second gear, the arm having a slot; and a slider connected to the carriage of the dressing means, the slider sliding in the slot to relay movement to the dressing means.

18. Doll dressing apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising: a third gear meshing with the second gear; a carrier arm rotatable about the same axis of rotation as the third gear, the arm being engaged by a pin attached to the third gear to cause movement of the carrier from the first location thereof to the undressing station when the third gear is rotated in a first direction of rotation, the arm not engaging with the pin when the third gear is rotated n the opposite direction of rotation.

19. Doll dressing apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising resilient means acting on the carrier arm such that the carrier is urged back from the undressing station towards its first position.

20. Doll dressing apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising a release lever, the release lever being engageable with the carrier arm to limit movement of the second arm under the biasing force of the resilient means, the release lever when operated freeing the carrier arm to move freely under the action of the resilient means to return the carrier to the first position.

21. Doll dressing apparatus for dressing a doll to which clothing items can be releasably attached, the apparatus comprising: a carrier on which one or mote clothing items can be manually attached by a user of the apparatus; and dressing means which removes from the carrier the clothing item(s) previously attached thereto and subsequently fits the clothing item(s) to the doll; wherein: the dressing means is movable between two stations, a first undressing station at which the dressing means removes from the carrier the clothing item{s) previously attached thereto and a second dressing station at which the dressing means fits the clothing item(s) to the doll.

22. Doll dressing apparatus for dressing a doll to which clothing items can be releasably attached, the apparatus comprising: a carrier on which one or more clothing items can be manually attached by a user of the apparatus; and dressing means which remove from the carrier the clothing item(s) previously attached thereto and subsequently fits the clothing item{s) to the doll; wherein: the dressing means is movable between two stations, a first undressing station at which the dressing means removes from the carrier the clothing item(s) previously attached thereto and a second dressing station at which the dressing means fits the clothing item(s) to the doll; and the carrier is movable between two locations, a first location at which the carrier clothing item(s) can be manually assembled on the carrier and a second location which is the undressing station of the dressing means.

23. Doll dressing apparatus as claimed in claim 22 comprising a first manually operable sliding mechanism which can simultaneously slide both the dressing means and the carrier to the dressing station.

24. Doll dressing apparatus for dressing a doll to which clothing items can be releasably attached, the apparatus comprising: a carrier on which one or more clothing items can be manually attached by a user of the apparatus; and dressing means which remove from the carrier the clothing item(s) previously attached thereto and subsequently fits the clothing item(s) to the doll; wherein: the dressing means is movable between two stations, a first undressing station at which the dressing means removes from the carrier the clothing item(s) previously attached thereto and a second dressing station at which the dressing means fits the clothing item(s) to the doll; the carrier is movable between two locations, a first location at which the carrier clothing item(s) can be manually assembled on the carrier and a second location which is the undressing station of the dressing means; and a movable doll support is provided on which the doll is mountable, the doll support being movable between an initial site at which an undressed doll can be mounted on the doll support through the dressing station at which the undressed doll is dressed to a final site from which the dressed doll can be removed.

25. Doll dressing apparatus as claimed in claim 24 comprising a first manually operable sliding mechanism which can simultaneously slide both the dressing means and the carrier to the dressing station.

26. Doll dressing apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein a housing is provided to support the carrier, the dressing means and the doll support and the housing has an open upper level in which the first carrier location and the initial doll support site are located, an enclosed middle level in which the undressing site and the dressing site of the dressing means are located and a open lower level in which the doll support final site is located, the carrier being movable between the upper and middle levels, the dressing means being movable along the middle level and the doll support being movable from the upper level through the middle level to the lower level.

27. Doll dressing apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the first sliding mechanism comprises: a manually operable wheel connected to a first gear; a second gear meshing with the first gear; an elongate arm rigidly secured to the second gear, the arm having a slot; and a slider connected to the carriage of the dressing means, the slider sliding in the slot to relay movement to the dressing means.

28. Doll dressing apparatus according to claim 27 further comprising: a third gear meshing with the second gear; a carrier arm rotatable about the same axis of rotation as the third gear, the arm being engaged by a pin attached to the third gear to cause movement of the carrier from the first location thereof to the undressing station when the third gear is rotated in a first direction of rotation, the arm not engaging with the pin when the third gear is rotated in the opposite direction of rotation.

29. Doll dressing apparatus according to claim 28 further comprises resilient means acting on the carrier arm such that the carrier is urged towards its first position.

30. Doll dressing apparatus according to claim 29 further comprising a release lever, the release lever being engageable with the carrier arm to limit movement of the second arm under the biasing force of the resilient means, the release lever when operated freeing the carrier arm to move freely under the action of the resilient means to return the carrier to the first position.

31. Doll dressing apparatus as claimed in claim 26 comprising a second manually operable sliding mechanism for sliding the doll support vertically, which is also capable of allowing translational movement of the doll support in the planes of the upper and lower levels.

32. A house for a doll comprising doll dressing apparatus fitting at least one clothing item on a doll, the apparatus comprising: a doll support for supporting a doll; a carrier on which at least one clothing item can be manually attached by a user; and dressing means for removing the/a clothing item from the carrier, at an undressing station and then fitting the removed clothing item to the doll at a dressing station spaced from the undressing station; wherein: the clothing item(s) is/are attached to the carrier by attachment means which exert a first attachment force, the clothing item(s) are attached to the dressing means by attachment means exerting a second attachment force higher than the first attachment force and the clothing item(s) is/are attached to the doll by attachment means which exert a third attachment force higher than the second attachment force.

33. A method of dressing a doll comprising: fitting at least one clothing item on a carrier when the carrier is at a first location; moving the carrier to a dressing station at which the clothing item(s) is/are removed from the carrier by dressing means; moving the dressing means with the clothing item(s) attached from the undressing station to a dressing station; moving a doll to the dressing station; transferring the clothing item(s) from the dressing means to the doll; and moving the doll away from the dressing station to a final location.