US3313060A - Toy with attachable ears - Google Patents

Description

April 1967 E. L. MOBLEY. JR

TOY WITH ATTACHABLE EARS Original Filed July 16, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. I

INVENTOR.

EDWARD L.M0BLEY,JR.

BY I

April 1967 E. L. MOBLEY, JR 3,313,060

7 TOY WITH ATTACHABLE EARS y Original Filed July 16, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDWARD L. MOBLEY, JR.

April 11, 1967 I E. L. MOB-LEY, JR 3,313,060

TOY WITH ATTACHABLE EARS I Original Filed July 16, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. EDWARD L. MOBLEY, JR.

BYZM f FIG. ll

April 11, 1967 E. MOBLEY, JR 3,313,060

' TOY WITH ATTACHABLE EARS Original Filed July 16, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. EDWARD L. MOBLEY, JR.

April 11, 1967 E. L. MOBLEY, JR 3,313,060

TOY WITH ATTACHABLE EARS Original Filed July 16, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. EDWARD L. MOBLEY, JR.

Z f hy United States Patent 3,313,060 TOY WITH ATTACHABLE EARS Edward L. Mobley, Jr., 374 Woodland Ave., Wadsworth, Ohio 44281 Continuation of application Ser. No. 209,958, July 16, 1962. This application July 30, 1965, Ser. No. 478,026 1 Claim. (Cl. 46-164) This application is a continuation of applicants earlier filed application, identified as Ser. No. 209,958 and filed July 16, 1962 This invention relates to a toy, either human or animal, with a hollow, form-retaining elastomeric head and ears of a flexible sheet material. The ears may be of cloth or a plastic composition. They may extend below the neck and lie against the body of the animal. Preferably, they are of a plush material with the back side of the plush adjacent the head.

The accompanying drawings disclose several preferred methods of attaching the ears to the head. Other means may be employed. Generally, one end of the ear will be held in an opening in the head, although the ears may be glued or otherwise attached to an imperforate head.

In the drawings FIGURE 1 is a front view of the head of a dog;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the same, showing some of the body;

FIGURE 3 is a section on the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a front view of the same head, with ears attached in a different manner;

FIGURE 5 is a side View of the same;

FIGURE 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a view of one car before being inserted in a socket in the head;

FIGURE 8 is a front view of the same head with the ears differently attached;

FIGURE 9 is a side view of the same;

FIGURE 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is an exploded view of the ear and means for holding the ear in the head;

FIGURE 12 is a front view of the same head with the ears differently attached;

FIGURE 13 is a side view of the same;

FIGURE 14 is a section on the line 14-14 of FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is a front view of the same head showing different means for attaching the ears;

FIGURE 16 is a side view of the same;

FIGURE 17 is a section on the line 17-17 of FIGURE 16; and

FIGURE 18 is a detail in perspective illustrating the method of attachment utilized in FIGURES 15-17.

In all of the various views the head is hollow and of an elastromeric material such as of a vinyl resin or rubber. It is formed by casting or any other suitable method. Although the head of a dog is shown in each of the views, the invention is applicable to a boy or girl doll, or the head of any other animal. The ears of sheet material produce a novel, artistic effect. In this fashion a hollow head devoid of filling is provided in contrast to a stuffed or rigid type head.

The ears may be of cloth, either woven or knitted or the like. Preferably they are soft, and plush fabric is particularly adapted to give a pleasing artistic effect. Alternatively, they may be made of a sheet of plasticized vinyl resin or other plastic such as a sheet deposited from rubber latex. If cloth ears are used, the edges may be overcast or finished in any other desired manner to prevent raveling.

In FIGURE 1 the head is slit at 5 to produce an open- Patented Apr. 11, 1967 ing in which the knot 6 on the end of the ear 7 can be inserted and is then held so firmly that it cannot readily be dislodged by a child. The slit may be a perfectly straight slit or the ends of the slit may be finished with short perpendicular cuts 8 to provide a larger opening than is available with a straight slit. A narrow slot may be used instead of a slit.

The cars 7 are long and the bottom end of each is cut straight across, although it maybe scalloped or cut in any manner. The bottom ends of the ears lie against the body of the toy.

In FIGURES 46 the head 10 is formed with two sockets 11 which hold the ears. One end of each ear is provided with a pocket 12 which encloses a marble 13 or the like. It is not necessary that the element 13 be round, but this is a preferable shape. As illustrated in the drawings, the pocket is formed by folding one end of the ear over the marble to enclose it, and then binding this folded end at 15 by thread or the like. The thread may be tied or sewn into place. This end of the ear with the marble in it is simple popped into the socket which has an opening smaller than the diameter of the covered marble so that the opening must be stretched somewhat for insertion and removal of the end of the ear.

FIGURES 8 to 11 illustrate a different embodiment of the invention in which some holding means, preferably an elongated holding means is fastened to the end of the car which is inserted in the head. The head 20 is slit at 21, for the insertion of the ends of the ears and the holding means. The slit may be perfectly straight, or may end in short cross slits 22 to facilitate insertion of the holding means. In the illustration, the holding means is a peg 25 and the end 26 of the ear is wrapped around this and held by sewing, gluing or other appropriate means. Instead of being wrapped around the pin, the end of the ear might be inserted through an opening in the pin. Although a cylindrical pin is more easily inserted through the slit than any other pin, the pin may have a square or hexagonal cross section, or may be of any other desired shape. It need not be straight. It is not contemplated that the end 26 of the ear be removed from the head so that any means for holding the ear in the head is satisfactory.

FIGURES 12 to 14 illustrate means for fastening the ears on to the head without inserting an end of the sheet material through an opening. The end 31 of each strip of material 32 is folded back and a button 34 is fastened to this end by sewing or riveting or the like. This button is then slipped into the slit 36 on each side of the head and holds the ear in place.

The method of attachment utilized in the representations of FIGURES 15 to 18 employs a button 40, preferably thin and flexible with a stiffening rim 41. The opening 42 preferably has a jagged edge as shown. The end 43 of the car 44 is passed through the slit 45 in the head and then through the opening. The jagged edge grips the ear in a firm embrace. Using a holder with a smooth-edged opening, the opening would be so small that the ear would make a tight fit in it. The button can be of any desired shape and composition.

The invention is not limited to any particular means of attaching the ears to a head. The head may be slit or slotted, or be provided with a socket, or otherwise fabricated as is necessary to fasten the ears. The shape of the cars is not critical, although for one preferred pleasing effect they are long and relatively narrow and drape against the shoulders of the toy animal. The head is hollow so that access can be obtained to the interior of the head while attaching the ears, except where the ends of the ears are held in sockets, as illustrated in FIGURES 4 to 6, for example.

While a full and complete description of the invention 3 has been set forth in accordance with the dictates of the patent statutes, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the basic embodiment herein shown. Accordingly, modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A toy of the character described, comprising;

(A) a hollow head of resilient elastomeric material devoid of interior filling having opposed access openings in the ear region thereof that communicate between the interior and exterior surfaces of said head;

(B) a pair of elongate ears of flexible fabric sheet material each having one end inserted through said opening and being received interiorly of said head;

(C) attachment means (1) connected to the inserted end of each said (D) said interior wall surface of said head contacting at least one portion of said inserted ear and attachment means, whereby withdrawal thereof through said opening is restricted;

(E) said ear material being gathered at the area of passage through said openings and being enlarged 4. exteriorally of said openings, whereby movement of said ears relatively of said openings is restricted; (F) the stretchable walls of said openings reacting against said inserted ears and assisting in restricting movement thereof relatively of said openings.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 898,018 9/1908 Steifi 46-123 1,371,013 3/1921 Wilson. 1,439,846 12/ 1922 Sheldon 46-164 1,772,673 8/ 1930 MacDonald. 2,152,349 3 /1939 Flood. 2,261,328 11/1941 Baum 46-164 2,636,460 4/ 3 Seiderman. 2,668,394 2/1954 Auzin 46-135 3,032,921 5/ 1962 Green 46-135 X 3,037,246 6/ 1962 Cohn.

FOREIGN PATENTS 609,010 11/1960 Canada.

F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Examiner;

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