EP0529171B1

EP0529171B1 - Doll simulating feeding

Info

Publication number: EP0529171B1
Application number: EP91500152A
Authority: EP
Inventors: José Manuel Poligono Ind. El Rodriguez Ferre
Original assignee: Creatividad y Diseno SA
Current assignee: Creatividad y Diseno SA
Priority date: 1991-08-23
Filing date: 1991-12-30
Publication date: 1995-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 2011-12-30
Also published as: DK0529171T3; EP0529171A1; ATE124280T1; HK36496A; ES1018436Y; DE69110885D1; ES1018436U; DE69110885T2

Abstract

A new doll toy. In the invention a doll adopting a conventional shape of a little boy or girl has been designed by including inside the head an electromechanical unit-2- and a rocking piece-3- holding two pivoted arms-5- being a part of said unit, the motion of the arms originating successive deformations of the flexible material making up the mouth by pretending a chewing function synchronised with sounds in the way of sentences starting to be voiced when a circuit -10-regulating said voicing is being connected and the voicing is continued with different sentences when a spoon-13- is being inserted into the doll's mouth, said spoon being provided with a specially configured end for the selective operation of some sensors-7- provided at the doll's mouth oppositely located at an opening -8-. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention refers to an eating doll with vocal response.
From US-A-5 037 345 a doll of a human baby, teddy bear or other shape is disclosed which has the capacity to ingest a simulated solid food item in it's mouth and thereafter store it within its body, and produce one of a variey of response simulated voice expressions. To insert a simulated solid food item into the mouth of the doll the lower jaw of the mouth is to be opened downwardly and owing to the insertion of the item a leaf spring switch is closed to operate a motor driving a feed roller to completely receive the item into a receiving case provided in the doll's trunk. At the same time, a voice generating unit is activated.
It is the object of the invention to provide a doll as set forth above which is able to simulate a chewing motion.
This object is attained by the features of claim 1. A preferred embodiment of the invention is subject matter of the dependent claim.
In the present invention, a doll adopting the conventional shape of a little boy or girl has been designed,and inside the doll is included an electromechanical unit, a rocking support member holding two pivotal arms being a part of said unit, the motion of said arms originating successive deformations of the flexible material compounding the mouth of said doll by pretending a chewing function synchronized with sounds as in the way of spoken sentences starting to be voiced when a circuit controlling said voicing is connected and the voicing is continued albeit with different sentences when a spoon is inserted into the doll's mouth, said spoon being provided with a specially configured end for the selective performance of some sensors oppositely positioned in an opening existing at the doll's mouth.
The above described doll organisation allows, when the circuit is connected using a switch located at the doll's back, that a first sound release in the way of a sentence is heard randomly asking for a meal from a predetermined group. Spoons equivalent to each of the predetermined meals are available. The right hand sensor is activated upon insertion of the suitably adapted spoon into the doll's mouth; the operation of the electromechanical unit is then achieved, and the mouth in the chewing function is moved and concurrently a sound associated to said function is released. When the spoon is drawn out from the mouth, a new sentence will be voiced and after a few seconds the cycle starting sentence will again be repeated.
If the spoon inserted into the mouth is not that required for the requested food, the release of a different sentence will be originated and repeated until the sensor activating spoon is removed from the mouth, and again turning to the voicing of the cycle starting sentence thereafter.
To facilitate the explanation, the present invention is accompanied by drawing sheets wherein a preferred embodiment cited only by way of example is shown.
In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective front view of the doll showing its internal organisation.
Figure 2 pertains to a front view of the cited mechanism.
Figure 3 is a side view of the doll's head,wherein the electromechanical unit is housed.

Returning now to the figures, it will appreciated in this embodiment, a doll-1- externally adopting the required shape, and including inside an electromechanical unit contained within a frame -2- comprising an electromotor and a pinion and cogwheel combine,each other operatively engaged to drive a support member -3- attached to the frame 2 with a shaft -4- on which said support member 3 might be pivoted, this member 3 of flexible material being the holder of arms -5- pivoting on their respective shafts-6-. A row of sensors -7- is provided therebetween oppositely located at the opening -8- provided at the doll's mouth.
Inside the doll, an enclosure -9- for a battery set is provided, this battery set being connected to and supplying the electronic circuit -10- by means of which the different mechanisms are driven.
The electronic circuit -10- is connected to an on-off switch (not shown).
An acoustic arrangement -12- controlled by the electronic circuit -10- to which is connected, is also a part of the components unit included in the doll's body. With this arrangement engaged, different sentences can also be voiced, which contents change as a function of the sensors-7- being activated when a spoon-like toy piece -13- provided with a configured end for pressing some predetermined sensors is inserted into the doll's mouth.

Claims

An eating doll with vocal response, including an electronic circuit (10) disposed in the doll (1) and an on-off switch activated by a command means (7) located at the doll's back, said electronic circuit (10) being powered by a battery set disposed in said doll (1), said electronic circuit (10) producing sound by means of an acoustic arrangement (12) disposed in said doll (1), a mechanism (2-5) driven by an electric motor and being arranged in the head of the doll (1) for simulating eating activities by motion of flexible portions of the mouth portion (8) of said doll (1) of which at least the lower jaw is pivotally mounted in a frame (2) within the head of the doll (1) and operatively connected to said electric motor, wherein said mechanism (2-5) comprises a support member (3) pivotally mounted by a shaft (4) to said frame (2), a cogwheel and pinion assembly for the operation of said support member (3), the latter having an upwardly and a downwardly extending arm (5), respectively, pivotally linked thereto with one of their ends, said arms (5) being operatively connected to the flexible mouth portions of said doll (1) and being driven by said mechanism (2-5) to provide successive deformations of said flexible mouth portions so as to simulate a chewing motion, and that a row of sensors (7) connected to the electronic circuit (10) is located in an opening provided in the mouth portion (8) of said doll (1) top allow insertion of a spoon toy (13) having a suitably configured end to selectively press the sensors (7), thereby releasing sound in form of sentences and/or chewing noises by said acoustic arrangement (12) and eventually initiating activation of said mechanism (2-5).
A doll as set forth in claim 1, wherein different sensors (7) are adapted to release different types of sound if pressed by respectively adapted spoon tools (13).