Rag Doll With Changeable Features

Abstract

A child's rag doll characterized by the provision of a plurality of panels with different simulated facial expressions thereon, with the panels being hingedly connected to the doll and, further characterized by the provision of a means for holding the panels in an upper position, overlying the doll face, and a lower position, overlying the doll torso.

Parent Case Text

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation in part application based upon the co-pending application of the same inventors entitled "RAG DOLL." This co-pending application was filed Feb. 26, 1971 and assigned Ser. No. 119,121 now abandoned.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to toy devices and more particularly to an improvement in a rag doll.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

There are many forms of dolls provided for the enjoyment of children. In recent years there has been a trend towards providing dolls with simulated human characteristics beyond the mere ability to simulate a cry or the like. Also, there have been many improvements in the provision of dolls which have an associated wardrobe for changing the clothes that the doll is wearing at the desire of the child who possesses the doll.

Rag dolls have long been available in the art and possess the advantage of being relatively soft and yieldable so as to feel comfortable, particularly to younger children who may wish to clutch the doll close to themselves during periods of play or sleep. Different wardrobes may be provided for rag dolls so that the children can dress rag dolls according to their own desires, but extremely young children usually have difficulty in keeping track of play accessories and separate items of the doll's apparel may be easily lost or misplaced by such young children.

It is the object of this invention to provide an improved rag doll having means for changing the representation of the doll, which means is permanently associated with the doll and, portions of which may be held in different positions of display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of an improved rag doll wherein the facial expression may be changed at the individual whim of the possessor of the doll, with the means for changing the facial expression being permanently associated with the doll.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention includes the provision of a rag doll with the usual softly stuffed body. The doll is provided with a plurality of face panels which are hingedly connected to the doll body so that they may be moved from a position where they generally occupy the front of the head portion of the doll, to a position wherein they overlie the lower portion of the doll. The lower torso portion of the doll is provided with a pouch-like area for receiving certain face panels. Thus, in use, if a child selects the expression on one of the intermediate face panels, he may fold down the face panels in the lower pouch so that the intermediate face panel is exposed to view, and at the same time, masks from view the remaining face panels therebehind.

In another mode of this invention the face panels are provided with simulated garment representations on the opposite side thereof. The panels have an outwardly extending loop and a button is provided at the top and the bottom of the doll body for securement of the panels in an upper or lower position by fastening the loop about one of the buttons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the doll of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the face panels folded outwardly to simulate the process of selecting a desired face panel for view;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged front view of the doll of this invention; partially broken away in section;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken generally along the line 5--5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a section view taken generally along the line 6--6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of the doll of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the panels folded outwardly; and

FIG. 9 is a vertical section view through the doll shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail different embodiments therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 through 6, the doll 10 of this invention includes a pair of simulated legs 12 and simulated arms 14 which are attached to a body, generally indicated 16. The body includes a lower torso portion 18 and an upper or head portion 20. Simulated braids or pigtails 20a may extend from the head 20.

Generally speaking, the body 16 includes a rear fabric panel 22 having a downturned top portion 22a, and upturned bottom portion 22b, and inturned sides 22c and 22d. The body 16 further includes a front fabric torso panel 24 which has an upturned bottom 24a closely spaced from the upturned bottom 22b; a rearwardly returned medial tab 24b intermediate the ends of the body 16 and inturned side portions 24c and 24d, closely spaced from the inturned sides 22c and 22d of the rear panel 22.

The body 16 further includes a front fabric head panel 26 having a downturned top 26a closely spaced from downturned top 22a of rear panel 22; a rearwardly returned medial tab 26b closely spaced from tab 24b; and inturned sides 26c and 26d closely spaced from inturned sides 22c and 22d of the rear panel 22. As will be explained, the panels 22, 24 and 26 are secured together and generally define an enclosure which may be provided with suitable stuffing or padding 28 of a soft material, such as a foam plastic or cotton or the like, to provide a soft somewhat flexible and somewhat resilient body of a nature characteristic of rag dolls in general. The securement of the front head panel 26 and rear panel 22 together at the upturned end portions 26a and 22a, respectively, is schematically illustrated by a stitching line 30. Similarly, the securement of the front torso panel 24 and the rear panel 22 at the upturned bottom portions 24a and 22b, respectively, is schematically illustrated by a line of stitching 32. Similarly, the securement of the front head panel 26 and rear panel 22 at the inturned side portions 26c, 26d and 22c and 22d, respectively, is schematically illustrated by lines of stitching 34a and 34b, while the securement of the front torso panel 24 and rear panel 22 at the area of inturned sides 24c and 24d and 22c and 22d, respectively, is schematically illustrated by the lines of stitching 34c and 34d, respectively. It is to be understood that any suitable fastening means may be provided for securing the fabric panels together in the areas indicated, and it is to be further understood that the stitching lines shown in the drawings are only schematic representations thereof.

The head 20 of the doll is provided with a generally U-shaped hood member 36 having a downturned top portion 36a positioned between portions 26a and 22a and secured therebetween by the line of stitching 30. In addition, the hood member 36 has inturned sides 36b and 36c positioned between inturned sides 22c, 26c and 22d and 26d, respectively, and secured thereto by line of stitching 34a, 34b. The U-shaped hood member 36 overhangs a portion of the upper head panel 26 and, in combination therewith, forms a U-shaped peripheral pocket 38 around the edge of the head portion 20.

The doll is further provided with a plurality of face panels 40, 42, 44 and 46 and 48, each of which has a rearwardly turned tab portion 40a, 42a, 44a, 46a and 48a, respectively, secured between the portions 24b of lower torso panel and 26b of upper head panel by suitable means, such as the schematic represented line of stitching 49. The securement by means of the schematically represented stitching line, or other suitable means, permanently affixes the different face panels 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48 to the doll, yet mounts the same in a fashion so that they are swingably or hingedly connected to the doll for movement between an upper position, where they generally overlie the head panel 26, to a lower position where they generally overlie the lower torso portion 24.

Each of the different panels 40 may be provided with means simulating different facial expressions. For example, as illustrated in the drawings, the face panel 42 may have a simulated smiling mouth 42b and simulated eyes 42c and 42d. Similarly, the next underlying panel 44 may have different simulated facial expression as represented by the mouth 44b and the eyes 44c and 44d and so on. If desired, even the head panel 26 could be provided with a simulated facial expression as well.

The doll of this invention further includes a lower torso flap panel 52 having an upturned lower end 52a positioned between the upturned ends 24a and 22b of the body panels and secured there-between by the stitching line 32. The flap panel 52 generally overlies the front lower torso panel 24 and is open at the top thereof and combines with the torso panel 24 to provide a face panel receiving pouch 56. Panel 52 is spaced sufficiently far from panel 24 so as to be capable of retaining all of the face panels therein. Panel 52 also is provided with inturned sides 52b and 52c held between inturned sides 22c, 24c and 22c and 24d, respectively, by lines of stitching 34c and 34d, respectively.

To assist in retaining the panels 40 through 48 within the pouch 56, the doll is further provided with a simulated belt 58 which generally spans the front of panel 52 between the outstretched arms 14. Simulated belt 58 has an inturned end 58a also received between inturned portions 22c and 24c and secured thereto by means of a simulated line of stitching 34c. At the opposite end, the belt 58 is provided with snap fastening means 60 which may engage a mating component 60a fastened to the top of panel 52, to releasably secure to the belt to the panel as desired.

In use, the several movable face panels 40 through 48 may be retained under the pocket 38 afforded by the U-shaped hood member 36. As a child desires to present a different facial expression to view, the child may move the desired panels 40 through 48 and tuck them in the pouch 56 until the desired face panel is exposed to view within its confinement in the U-shaped pocket 38 on head portion 20. The face panels received within the pocket 56 may be secured therein by means of the belt 58 and the snap-fastening arrangement 60 so that only the face panel desired to be seen will be exposed to view, with remaining face panels either behind the one exposed to view, or held within the pouch 56.

FIGS. 7-9 show a modified embodiment of the doll of this application. Referring to these figures, the doll 110 is similar to that disclosed in FIGS. 1-6 with the general difference being that the face panels are provided with different decorative portions on their opposite sides so as to change the appearance of the rag doll in its simulated torso portion after each panel has been folded downwardly to expose the next face panel.

Specifically, doll 110 is also provided with simulated legs 112 and simulated arms 114 which are attached to the body portion, generally indicated 116. The body portion 116 includes the lower torso portion 118 and an upper or head portion 120.

Generally speaking, the body 116 includes an enclosure 121 defined by the substantially ovoid enveloping sheet fabric panel 122. Enclosure 121 includes a back portion 122a a downwardly returned head portion 122b, and an upwardly returned torso portion 122c. The head portion 122b terminates in an inwardly returned tab portion 123a and the torso portion 122c terminates in an inwardly returned tab portion 123b parallel to, and spaced away from, tab 123a. The enclosure or hollow interior 121 defined by the enveloping panel 122 is filled with a suitable stuffing material 124 such as cotton, foam plastic or the like, or any other suitable material used with dolls of this type.

A plurality of decorative panels, such as 128, 130 and 132, are hingedly connected to the doll body 116. Preferably each panel has opposed faces 128a and 128b; 130a, 130b; 132a 132b; with the "a" faces of each panel simulating a facial expression and the "b" faces of each panel simulating a garment. Furthermore, it is intended that the portions 122b and 122c of the shell covering would be generally coextensive in configuration and that the panels 128-130 and 132 would be of a size and shape to substantially overlie and cover these panel portions 122b and 122c. Each of the panels 128, 130 and 132 is held between the tab portions 123a and 123b by suitable means such as a line stitching 134, to thereby hingedly connect the panels 128, 130 and 132 to the general mid-portion of the body 116 for movement between an upper position, overlying the head portion, to a lower position overlying the torso portion.

Each panel 128, 130 and 132 is further provided with a first means for fastening the panel in either of an upper or lower position. Preferably this first means takes the form of a loop 128c, 130c, and 132c, respectively, which extends outwardly from the periphery of each panel. The body 116 is provided with a second means for fastening the panels in either of the aforementioned positions with the second means preferably taking the form of an upper button 136 located at the upper portion of rear panel 122a and a lower button 138 which is connected to the lower portion of the rear panel 122a. Each of these buttons provides a means for securing the loops 128c, 130c, and 132c when the panels are either in the upper or lower positions.

Thus it can be seen that by means of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-9 movement of the several panels from the upper to lower positions will not only change the facial configuration of the doll but will also change the simulated garment or apparel representation of the doll. With this arrangement, the child may not only fantisize with respect to the different facial expressions of the doll, but also with respect to the different garments being worn. Furthermore, the structure shown in FIGS. 7-9 provides a simplified arrangement for holding the panels in either the upper or lower positions.

Thus, the doll of this invention provides a means for changing the physical appearance of the doll, by providing different decorative panels. However, the means is permanently associated with the doll, in that the face panels are secured therein by suitable means, such as a line of stitching, so that they may be moved between a position wherein they overlie the head portion, to a position wherein they may be received within a pouch overlying the torso portion. Thus, there is no likelihood of a child losing the different panels which may be presented to view, since they will be always permanently affixed with the doll. Not only may the simulated apparel and facial expressions of the doll be changed, but it is also possible to make the doll become representative of different characters by means of the face panels. For example, the different face panels could have different simulated animal faces such as a cat, a dog, a lion, and the like.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims

We claim:

1. A doll comprising:

shell means secured together defining an enclosure;

stuffing material in said enclosure and substantially filling the enclosure to define a generally self supporting doll body;

said doll body including a head portion and a torso portion;

a plurality of decorative panels hinged to said body generally intermediate said head and torso portions for movement between a first position, overlying at least part of said head portion, and a second position, overlying at least part of said torso portion;

said panels having opposite sides with facial features on one side of each panel and oriented for exposure to view when each panel is in said first position and simulated garment features on the opposite side of each panel and oriented for exposure to view when each panel is in said second position; and

means for releasably retaining said panels in said first position.

2. The doll of claim 1 wherein said panels generally are of a size and shape to substantially cover the front of said head portion.

3. The doll of claim 2 wherein said panels generally are of a size and shape to substantially cover the front of said torso portion.

4. The doll of claim 3 wherein the front of said head portion and said body portion generally are of the same size and shape.