Dancing doll

• US 5,176,560 A
• Filed: 08/26/1991
• Issued: 01/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allan Buckwalter, Joseph J. Wetherell, Larry Reiner
• Original Assignee: Allan Buckwalter, Joseph J. Wetherell, Larry Reiner
• Inventors: Buckwalter, Allan, Reiner, Larry, Wetherell, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US07/749,698
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 446/352-356, 446/236, 446/246, 446/175, 40/414
• US Class Current: 446/175
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 11/18 Figure toys which perform a realistic walking motion
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/46 Connections for limbs

Abstract

A free-standing dancing doll having a sound actuated motor and drive mechanism for rotating each of two drive rods extending through the doll. The drive mechanism includes a gear train for simultaneously rotating each of the drive rods at different speeds to impart asymmetric motion to selected doll body parts including the legs, arms, and head, to thereby simulate compound dance movements.

Claims

1. A dancing doll comprising a doll body adapted for free-standing on a support surface, said doll body including a head, a torso, a pair of arm members and a pair of leg members, plural drive rods extending through said torso and each of the respective leg members, drive means for axially rotating each of said drive rods simultaneously at different speeds, said rotary motion of the drive rods being translated into asymmetric dance-like movement in the doll body.

2. A dancing doll as claimed in claim 1 further including a first shoulder joint within the torso, an upper portion of at least one of said drive rods being adapted to coact with said first shoulder joint for inducing arm movement.

3. A dancing doll as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first shoulder joint includes a sleeve member, an upper portion of a first drive rod being angularly offset from a longitudinal axis of the first drive rod, said sleeve member being loosely mounted over said upper portion of the first drive rod whereby axial rotation of the first drive rod is translated into an angular oscillatory movement of the sleeve.

4. A dancing doll as claimed in claim 3 wherein the head member includes a depending socket, said socket being adapted for loose fitting engagement with a post support projecting from said torso, the head member being displaceable about the post member during arm and torso movement.

5. A dancing doll as claimed in claim 3 wherein the head member is pivotally mounted, further including linkage means for interconnecting the upper portion of the first drive rod to the head, said linkage means being adapted to displace the head member in response to axial rotation of the first drive rod.

6. A dancing doll as claimed in claim 2 wherein a lower portion of a first drive rod is transversable through a first leg member, an end of the first drive rod being anchored to a foot member, said first drive rod further being adapted to coact with the first leg member and the foot member for generating movement therein.

7. A dancing doll as claimed in claim 6 wherein the first leg member is formed with a knee bend, said first drive rod having a conforming angulation, said first drive rod further being adapted for axial rotation within the first leg member whereby the first leg member transitionally assumes a straight leg position.

8. A dancing doll as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first leg member includes an ankle bend and an ankle joint, with the first drive rod conforming to the ankle bend and being rotationally accommodated within the ankle joint.

9. A dancing doll as claimed in claim 6 further including tubular means within the first leg member for rotatably accommodating the first drive rod.

10. A dancing doll as claimed in claim 9 wherein the first leg member and the foot member are fabricated of molded foam material, the foam material being displaceable during rotational movement of the first drive rod.

11. A dancing doll as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drive means includes a motor mounted within the torso.

12. A dancing doll as claimed in claim 11 wherein the drive means includes a gear train.

13. A dancing doll as claimed in claim 12 including two substantially parallel drive rods, each of said drive rods extending longitudinally through the torso and through each of the respective leg members.

14. A dancing doll as claimed in claim 13 wherein the drive means is sound actuated.

16. A dancing doll as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of the drive rods is provided with complementary angular offset segments at a respective upper and a lower portion thereof, whereby the respective arm members move in an opposite direction to the respective leg members to facilitate balancing the doll.

15. A dancing doll as claimed in cl aim 1 wherein the head member, torso and drive means are axially aligned through the center of gravity of the doll to provide free-standing stability.