CA2265589A1

CA2265589A1 - Doll with display device

Info

Publication number: CA2265589A1
Application number: CA002265589A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Robert David Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-09-13
Filing date: 1997-09-11
Publication date: 1998-03-19
Also published as: KR20000036124A; WO1998010848A1; GB9710390D0; AU4130097A; US20010004577A1; EP0932435A1; JP2001507950A

Abstract

A doll or soft toy (2) includes a rotatable display device (12) with a plurality of faces (27), each carrying either a picture or photograph (10) in a transparent pocket (28) or fabric (32) complementary in appearance to the surrounding surface of the doll. The display device (12) can be rotated to display in turn different pictures or photographs or to conceal the display device.

Description

ï»¿1015.20253035CA 02265589 l999-03- 101DOLL WITH DISPLAY DEVICETechnical FieldThe present invention relates to a doll incorporating achangeable display, and particularly, but not exclusively, toa doll which allows a selected one of a plurality of surfacesto be presented.The term "doll" as used herein includes a toy animal orfictional character.Background ArtDolls in which alternative heads can be presented byrotating a member carrying those heads are disclosed in US4,568,304 and US 5,417,606."Sleeping" dolls, in which the eyeballs rotate when thedoll is laid on its back, so that the eyes appear to close,are also known.Dolls which may be personalised by inserting a photographor picture into a pocket so that it appears as part of thedoll are wel1âknown in the art, for example from US 2,199,049,US 4,020,586, US 5,141,466, US 5,403,224 and US Des.348,293.Typically, the photograph or picture represents a face so thatthe facial appearance of the doll can be customised. However,the arrangement for changing the appearance of the doll istypically too complicated to allow a child to change theappearance unaided,doll.An alternative arrangement disclosed in US 3,811,220and gives an unusual appearance to theallows a child to change the appearance of a doll within a setof different facial expressions, but is only suitable for anessentially two-dimensional doll and does not allow theappearance to be customised beyond the set of expressions.Disclosure of InventionAccording to the present invention, there is provided atoy doll having an opening in the surface thereof and a memberrotatably mounted within the doll and having a plurality ofsurface portions thereon, the member being rotatable so as todisplay different surface portions in said opening.An advantage of embodiments of the present invention isï»¿1015_20253035CA 02265589 l999-03- 102that a child can easily change the appearance of the doll, byrotating the rotatable member to select the desired surfaceportion to appear in the opening.the rotatablecomprising a recess or hollowIn one aspect of the present invention,member has a compartmentinterior closed by one of the surface portions, which can bemoved to provide access to the compartment. This allowsto be hidden doll, thecompartment only becoming apparent when the rotatable memberobjects in the opening to theis rotated so that the surface portion which closes thecompartment is visible.In another aspect of the present invention, one of saidsurface portions comprises fabrichaving an appearanceconforming" with the surface of the doll surrounding theopening, so that the doll may have the appearance of aconventional doll, such as a soft toy.In another aspect of the present invention, one of saidsurface portions includes means for releasably holding an itemso that it can be displayed in said opening or concealedwithin the body of the doll as the rotatable member isrotated.Preferably, the item is a flat item, such as a pictureor photograph.Brief Description of DrawingsSpecific embodiments of the present invention will nowbe described with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:Figure 1 is a perspective View of a doll according to anembodiment of the present invention, displaying a picture;Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a display devicewhich is incorporated in the body of the doll of Figure 1;Figure 3 shows part of a vertical crossâsection throughthe doll of Figure 1 and through a display device incorporatedin the doll;Figure 4 shows part of the crossâsection of Figure 3,with the rotatable member rotated to display another surfacethereof;ï»¿1015_20253035CA 02265589 l999-03- 103Figure 5 shows a detail of one of the surfaces of therotatable member, which is adapted to hold a picture orphotograph; andFigure 6 shows a vertical crossâsection through a displaydevice in an alternative embodiment.Modes for Carrying Out the InventionAs shown in Figure 1, a soft toy doll 2 has a facialportion 4, representing facial features,and a body portion6. Within an opening 8 of the body portion 6, there isdisplayed a picture 10. The doll 2 is particularly attractiveto a child, because it has the overall familiar appearance andfacial features of a doll, and also displays the picture 10,which may be a photograph of a relative or friend. Asexplained below in detail, the picture 10 is substantiallyflush with the surface of the doll and is not surrounded byany hard or sharp edges and so can be safely carried aroundby the child.Figures 2 to 4 illustrate a device which allows the childto change or conceal the picture 10 and enhances the playvalue of the doll. The picture 10 is mounted on a member 12having the shape of an equilateral triangular prism, as shown13b of the16b which18b on the inner endin Figure 2. At the centre of each end face 13a,member 12 are provided respective recesses 16a,engage corresponding projections 18a,faces 20a, 20b of a housing 22 which has the form of atruncated hollow cylinder, with the plane of truncation beingparallel to the axis of rotation R of the member 12 to formthe rectangular opening 8.A fringe portion 24 extends outwards from the peripheryof the opening 8. The doll 2 is assembled by adhering fabric26, from which the casing of the doll 2 is made, to the fringeportion 24, as shown in Figure 3. The fabric 26 may be, forexample, synthetic fur. The doll is then finished by stuffingthe casing with a suitable stuffing 29, such as foam rubberpieces or kapok, and the casing is then sewn up to form thedoll 2 with the housing 22 fixed within the body portion 6.On each of two side faces 27a, 27b of the member 12,ï»¿101520253035CA 02265589 l999-03- 104there is provided a rectangular pocket 28 of transparentmaterial, which is open at one side 30 to allow the picture10 to be inserted in the pocket 28.Advantageously, the pockets 28 are arranged so that thepictures 10 can be easily inserted or removed, by rotating themember 12 so that one of the open sides 30 faces outwards fromthe doll 2, but the open sides 30 are not accessible when oneIn thatposition, the edges of the side faces 27 are concealed behindof the side faces 27 is flush with the opening 8.the fringe portion 24.A third side face 27c of the member 12 is covered by alayer 32 of fabric of the same appearance as the fabric 26.Between the fabric 32 and the side face 27c of the member 12,stuffing 34 is provided so that the contour of the fabriclayer 32 generally matches the contours of the portion of thedoll 2 surrounding the opening 8. Thus,is rotated to the position shown in Figure 4, the fabric layerwhen the member 1232 is displayed in the opening 8, conforming in appearance tothe surrounding fabric 26 of the doll 2, and the pictures 10a,10b are concealed.To obtain positive location of the member 12 in thehousing 22 with one of the three side faces 27 displayed full36b,12 are rounded and shaped to conform with grooves 38a,38c,member 12 and meet the corners of the equilateral triangular36c of the member38b,which extend parallel to the axis of rotation of theon in the opening 8, side edges 36a,end faces 13 of the member 12. The housing 12 is made ofresilient plastics material, so that each of the edges 36resiliently engages in a corresponding one of the grooves 38,but the member 12 can be rotated to another position byapplying only light pressure. This action may easily beperformedkn/a child and additionally provides a play activitywhich helps to develop manual dexterity.Preferably, as shown in Figure 5, the pockets 28 eachhave a semiâcircular cutâout 40 along the open edge 30, whichallows a finger to be inserted to open the pocket 28 and toallow a picture 10 to be easily inserted or removed.ï»¿101520253035CA 02265589 l999-03- 105An alternative embodiment is shown in Figure 6, whichshows a crossâsection similar to that of Figure 3. To avoidunnecessary repetition, like parts are designated by the samereference numerals.In this alternative embodiment, the rotatable member 12The first sideface 27a comprises a panel 41 which is removable so that theis a cuboid and is square in crossâsection.hollow interior of the rotatable member is accessible throughthe opening 8 when the first side face 27a is located therein.This arrangement provides a secret compartment for storingobjects such as small toys or sweets (candy), therebyenhancing the play value of the doll.The panel is resiliently engaged with the side edges 36aand 36b of the rotatable member 12, so that it may be easily. removed and replaced by means of a handle 42.Thetransparent pockets 28b and 28c for displaying pictures 10,second and third side faces 27b and 27c carrywhile the fourth side face is covered with a layer 32 offabric with stuffing 34, as in Figure 3.In an alternative embodiment the panel 41 may be attachedto the rotatable member 12 along one of its edges by a hinge,the panel 41may be a sliding cover over an aperture in the first side face27a.but may include a recess behind the panel 41.to avoid loss of the panel 41. Alternatively,The rotatable member 12 need not be completely hollow,The recess maybe shaped so that a specific object such as a toy fits closelywithin it.The present invention is not limited to specific featuresof the above described embodiments, but many variants areenvisaged which fall in the scope of the appended claims.For example, it is not essential that the member 12should be a triangular or square prism, but may instead havea greater number of side faces 27 allowing more surfaces tothewith only two faces.be displayed. Alternatively, member 12substantially flat,may beHowever, it isparticularly advantageous that part of the member 12 shouldabut the housing 22 approximately opposite the face beingï»¿101520253035CA 02265589 l999-03- 106displayed, so that the device cannot easily be broken bypushing on the middle of the displayed surface. The surfaceswhich are adapted to hold pictures do not need to be flat, butmay be curved, preferably while still allowing pictures orother items to be removably attached to them.Although preferred, it is not essential that one or moreof the displayed surfaces of the rotatable member 12 shouldbe able releasably to hold a picture. Instead, permanentpictures or other surface decorations may be attached to eachsurface.The axis of rotation of the rotatable member may beorientated horizontally, vertically, or at any other angle,preferably in a plane approximately parallel to the plane ofthe opening 8.Any suitable means may be used for mounting the rotatablemember 12 rotatably in the housing 22, as will be appreciatedby the skilled person. Likewise, any suitable means may beused for attaching the picture 10 to a display surface.Instead of a picture 10, various other items may bemounted on or in one of the display surfaces, such as anelectronic game or other video display which can be concealedor displayed for operation.One portion of a display surface may be covered with amaterial matching the appearance of the surrounding portionsof the doll while another portion is arranged to hold thepicture, so that the picture may have a different shape orsize smaller than the display surface.The rotatable member is preferably rotatable in eitherdirection under direct manual operation by the user.Alternatively, the rotatable member may be driven by drivemeans, such as a clockwork or electric motor, in response toactuation of a release mechanism or a switch, or indirectlymanually rotated, for example by means of a handlemechanically connected to the rotatable member.Preferably, the rotatable member may be rotated throughof therotatable member may be displayed in turn in the opening.a complete revolution so that all of the facesï»¿1015CA 02265589 l999-03- 107Alternatively, the rotation may be limited so that only someof the faces can be displayed.Numerous other applications formay be envisagedembodiments of the present invention. insteadFor example,of a picture 10, a sheet showing details of the owner of thedoll 2 may be used to assist in identifying children inairports or hospitals or returning the doll if lost.The display device may be mounted in the facial portion4 of the doll 2, and the display surfaces may each representa different face or facial expression.While the invention has been described with reference tospecific embodiments, it will be understood by one skilled inthe art that various modifications may be made to theembodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the claims. It is intended that allsuch modifications fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Claims

1. A doll having:
a recess within the doll including an opening at the surface of the doll, and a rotatable member having at least two surface portions, and rotatably mounted in the recess such that different surface portions of the rotatable member are visible in turn in said opening as said member rotates; wherein at least one of said surface portions includes holding means for releasably holding an item so that it is visible in said opening.

2. A doll having:
a recess within the doll including an opening at the surface of the doll, and a rotatable member having at least two surface portions and rotatably mounted in the recess such that different ones of said surface portions are visible in turn in said opening as said member rotates;
wherein at least one of said surface portions is movable to allow access to a compartment within said rotatable member.

3. A doll having:
a recess within the doll including an opening at the surface of the doll, and a rotatable member having at least two surface portions and rotatably mounted in the recess such that different ones of said surface portions are visible in turn in said opening as said member rotates;
wherein at least one of said surface portions comprises fabric conforming in appearance with the surface of the doll surrounding the opening.

4. A doll as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein at least one of said surface portions includes holding means for releasably holding an item so that it is visible in said opening.

5. A doll according to claim 1 or 4, wherein said item has the form of a sheet.

6. A doll according to claim 5, wherein the holding means comprises a pocket having a transparent portion through which the sheet is visible.

7. A doll according to claim 1 or 2, or any one of claims 4 to 6 when dependent thereon, wherein at least one of the surface portions has a covering of similar appearance to that of the surface of the doll adjacent said opening.

8. A doll according to any preceding claim, wherein said member has substantially the form of a prism.

9. A doll according to any preceding claim, including engaging means for releasably engaging the rotatable member at positions thereof at which only one of said surface portions is visible in said opening.

10. A doll as claimed in any preceding claim, having a surface substantially composed of soft material.

11. A doll according to any preceding claim, wherein the rotatable member is directly accessible to allow manual rotation thereof.

12. A doll according to any preceding claim, wherein the rotatable member is mounted in a housing recessed within the doll, the interior shape of the housing substantially conforming to the volume of revolution of said rotatable member.

13. A doll according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of said surface portions comprises a video display.

14. A doll having:

a recess within the doll including an opening at the surface of the doll, and a member including holding means for releasably holding an item;
the member being movable within said recess so as selectively to conceal or reveal said item in said opening.

15. A doll having:
a recess within the doll including an opening at the surface of the doll, and a member carrying a video display;
the member being movable within said recess so as selectively to conceal or reveal said video display in said opening.

16. A doll having:
a recess within the doll including an opening at the surface of the doll, and a member having the form of a prism with at least three side faces, the member being rotatably mounted in the recess such that different ones of said side faces are visible in said opening as said member rotates.