Light activated doll

• US 5,158,492 A
• Filed: 04/15/1991
• Issued: 10/27/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elliot A. Rudell
• Original Assignee: Elliot A. Rudell
• Inventors: Rudell, Elliot A., Fisher, Raymond E., Cernansky, Joseph S., Foster, George T., Kamrath, Richard P., Pitkanen, Alan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US07/686,229
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 446/175, 446/354, 446/355, 446/298, 446/300, 446/301, 446/356, 446/299, 40/414, 40/418
• US Class Current: 446/175
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/48 Mounting of parts within dolls, e.g. automatic eyes or parts for animation self-moving A63H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

An automotive doll that is activated by light. The doll has at least two moving parts, preferably the head, arms and torso of a girl like figure. Within the torso of the doll is a motor that is connected to a plurality of gears and cams that are attached to the moving parts. The motor is preferably powered by batteries that are connected to a light sensor attached to the doll. The sensor switches on the motor when light is directed toward the sensor. When the motor is activated, the torso, arms and head all move relative to each other. The parts move through predetermined cycles, such that the head, arms and torso rotate back and forth between two positions. The drive mechanism is constructed and arranged so that each moving part rotates through a different cycle. Such an arrangement creates a doll that can move into an almost infinite variety of positions, greatly reducing the mechanical appearance of the toy.

Claims

1. An automotive doll, comprising:

a lower member;

a torso pivotally connected to said lower member;

a first arm pivotally connected to said torso;

a second arm pivotally connected to said torso;

a head pivotally connected to said torso; and

,

drive means operatively connected to said lower member, said torso, said first arm, said second arm and said head for moving said torso, said arms and said head relative to each other, said drive means being constructed such that said torso, said arms and said head each move through a predetermined motion cycle, wherein said torso, said arms and said head each has a cycle time that is different from each other.

2. The doll as recited in claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a first gear operatively connected to said first arm, a second gear operatively connected to said second arm, a third gear operatively connected to said torso and a fourth gear operatively connected to said head, said first, second, third and fourth gears each having a different diameter such that said first arm, said second arm, said torso and said head each have a different cycle time.

3. The doll as recited in claim 2, wherein said drive means includes a pair of elliptical cams operatively connected to said arms and said first and second gears, said elliptical cams being constructed to rotate said arms between two positions.

4. The doll as recited in claim 2, wherein said drive means includes a drum cam operatively connected to said torso and said third gear, said drum cam being constructed to rotate said torso between two positions.

5. The doll as recited in claim 2, wherein said drive means includes an overhead cam operatively connected to said head and said fourth gear, said overhead cam being constructed to move said head between two positions.

6. The doll as recited in claim 3, wherein said drive means includes a drum cam operatively connected to said torso and said third gear such that said drum cam rotates said torso between two positions, said head and said fourth gear being operatively connected to an overhead cam such that said overhead cam moves said head between two positions.

7. The doll as recited in claim 6, wherein said drive means includes a motor operatively connected to said first, second, third, and fourth gears to drive said gears and move said arms, head and torso, said motor being connected to a power supply and a light sensor such that said light sensor switches power to said motor when light is directed toward said light sensor, whereby said arms, head and torso move when light is directed toward said light sensor.

8. The doll as recited in claim 7, wherein said drive means includes clutch means operatively connected to said gears and said arms, head and torso, such that said clutch means can disengage said arms, head and torso from said drive means whereby said arms, head and torso can be moved by a user.

9. A light activated automotive doll, comprising:

a shell having a stationary lower member, a torso pivotally connected to said lower member, a first arm pivotally connected to said torso, a second arm pivotally connected to said torso and a head pivotally connected to said torso;

a drive assembly that includes a first gear operatively connected to said first arm, a second gear operatively connected to said second arm, a third gear operatively connected to said torso and a fourth gear operatively connected to said head such that said arms, head and torso each move through a predetermined motion cycle, said first, second, third and fourth gears each having a different diameter such that said first arm, said second arm, said torso and said head each have a different cycle time;

a motor housed within said shell and operatively connected to said drive assembly such that said motor can move said torso, arms and head;

a power supply housed within said shell and operatively connected to said motor such that said power supply can supply power to said motor; and

,

light sensing means attached to said shell and operatively connected to said power supply and said motor for switching power to said motor when light is directed toward said light sensing means;

whereby said torso, arms and head can move when light is directed to said light sensing means.

10. The doll as recited in claim 9, wherein said drive means includes a pair of elliptical cams operatively connected to said arms and said first and second gear, said elliptical cams being constructed to rotate said arms between two positions.

11. The doll as recited in claim 9, wherein said drive means includes a drum cam operatively connected to said torso and said third gear, said drum cam being constructed to rotate said torso between two positions.

12. The doll as recited in claim 9, wherein said drive means includes an overhead cam operatively connected to said head and said fourth gear, said overhead cam being constructed to move said head between two positions.

13. The doll as recited in claim 10, wherein said drive means includes a drum cam operatively connected to said torso and said third gear such that said drum cam rotates said torso between two positions, said head and said fourth gear being operatively connected to an overhead cam such that said overhead cam moves said head between two positions.

14. The doll as recited in claim 13, wherein said drive means includes clutch means operatively connected to said gears and said arms, head and torso, such that said clutch means can disengage said arms, head and torso from said movement means, whereby said arms, head and torso can be moved by a user.

15. The doll as recited in claim 9, wherein said light sensing means includes a timer operatively connected to said motor and said power supply, said timer being constructed to allow said power supply to power said motor for a predetermined amount of time after light is no longer directed to said light sensing means.

16. The doll as recited in claim 9, wherein said light sensing means is constructed to switch power to said motor only when collimated light is directed toward said light sensing means.

17. The doll as recited in claim 9, further comprising a camera shaped housing that contains a light bulb connected to a switch such that said light bulb emits light when said switch is pressed down, whereby said camera shaped housing can be moved to face the doll and said switch can be pressed down such that light is directed toward said light sensing means moving the doll while light is directed toward said light sensing means.

18. The doll as recited in claim 9, further comprising means within said first arm for expanding said first arm when said first arm is moved in a first direction and retracting said first arm when said first arm is moved in a second opposite direction.

19. The doll as recited in claim 9, wherein said shell is constructed to resemble a small child.

20. The doll as recited in claim 9, wherein said shell is constructed to resemble an animal.

21. A light activated automotive doll, comprising:

a shell constructed to resemble a small child, said shell having stationary legs, a torso pivotally connected to said legs, a first arm pivotally connected to said torso, a second arm pivotally connected to said torso and a head pivotally connected to said torso;

a first gear and a first elliptical cam housed within said shell and operatively connected to said first arm to rotate said first arm relative to said torso;

a first clutch operatively connected to said first elliptical cam and said first arm that can disengage said first arm from said first elliptical cam and said first gear;

a second gear and a second elliptical cam housed within said shell and operatively connected to said second arm to rotate said second arm relative to said torso;

a second clutch operatively connected to said second elliptical cam and said second arm that can disengage said second arm from said second elliptical cam and said second gear;

a drum cam and a third gear housed within said shell and operatively connected to said torso to rotate said torso relative to said stationary legs;

a third clutch operatively connected to said drum cam and said torso that can disengage said torso from said drum cam and said third gear;

an overhead cam and a fourth gear housed within said shell and operatively connected to said head to move said head relative to said torso;

a fourth clutch operatively connected to said overhead cam and said head that can disengage said head from said overhead cam and said fourth gear;

a motor housed within said shell and operatively connected to said cams and said gears such that said motor can move said arms, head and torso;

a power supply housed within said shell and operatively connected to said motor such that said power supply supplies power to said motor to move said arms, head and torso;

a light sensor attached to said shell and operatively connected to said power supply and said motor that switches power to said motor when collimated light is directed toward said light sensor; and

,

a timer operatively connected to said motor and said power supply, said timer being constructed to allow said power supply to power said motor for a predetermined amount of time after said collimated light is no longer directed to said light sensor.

22. The doll as recited in claim 21, further comprising a camera shaped housing that contains a light bulb connected to a switch such that said light bulb emits light when said switch is pressed down, whereby said camera shaped housing can be moved to face the doll and said switch can be pressed down such that light is directed toward said light sensor moving the doll while light is directed toward said light sensor, wherein the doll moves for said predetermined amount of time after light is no longer directed toward said light sensor.

23. The doll as recited in claim 21, wherein said shell is constructed to resemble an adult male and said first arm further includes means within said first arm for expanding said arm when said first arm is rotated in a first direction and retracting said first arm when said first arm is rotated in a second opposite direction.

24. The doll as recited in claim 23, further comprising a camera shaped housing that contains a light bulb connected to a switch such that said light bulb emits light when said switch is pressed down, whereby said camera shaped housing can be moved to face the doll and said switch can be pressed down such that light is directed toward said light sensor moving the doll while light is directed toward said light sensing means, wherein the doll moves for said predetermined amount of time after light is no longer directed toward said light sensor.