US20240325939A1

US20240325939A1 - Diaper doll

Info

Publication number: US20240325939A1
Application number: US18/193,283
Authority: US
Inventors: Donna Renee Hayes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2023-03-30
Filing date: 2023-03-30
Publication date: 2024-10-03

Abstract

A doll assembly includes a dowel; a polymeric foam ball mounted on the dowel; a support structure surrounding the dowel; a base; limbs affixed to the support structure; and a multi-component outfit. The dowel has a longitudinal axis with two ends, with adhesive applied to one end. The dowel is inserted in a hole in the ball. The support structure includes multiple disposable diapers wrapped around the dowel and fastened. The base includes a disposable diaper fastened at the second end of the dowel transverse to the longitudinal axis. The outfit is mounted on the ball, the support structure, and the limbs. The doll assembly may be used as a table prop and is a creative, decorative, and functional gift which may be disassembled to provide multiple gifts in one package.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to doll assembly and, more particularly, to a diaper doll.
Existing diaper doll products are not creative, functional, and sophisticated.
As can be seen, there is a need for a creative, functional, and sophisticated diaper doll.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a doll assembly comprises an elongated dowel with a longitudinal axis having a first end and a second end, said elongated dowel having adhesive applied to the first end; a polymeric foam ball having an orifice accommodating the first end of the elongated dowel, such that the polymeric foam ball is mounted on the elongated dowel; a support structure surrounding the elongated dowel comprising a plurality of disposable diapers wrapped circumferentially around the longitudinal axis and fastened with at least one fastener; a base comprising at least one disposable diaper longitudinal axis and fastened at the second end transverse to the longitudinal axis; limbs affixed to the support structure; and a multi-component outfit mounted on the polymeric foam ball, the support structure, and the limbs.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a diaper doll according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a first assembly view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a second assembly view thereof;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view thereof; and

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a diaper doll according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Broadly, one embodiment of the present invention is a doll assembly with a body comprising about 26 to 30 disposable diapers, a baby outfit, a pacifier clip, 4 baby wash cloths, and a pacifier which may have magnetic attachment means.
The doll assembly may be used as a table prop, such as for baby shower and/or gift tables. The doll assembly may also be a creative, decorative, and functional gift which may be disassembled to provide multiple gifts in one package, such as for a mother to be. The doll assembly be customized or tailored for the customer (ex. Race and Gender).
Components may be fastened in place using fasteners including but not limited to adhesive, pins, and elastic bands. Other suitable fasteners may be used in some cases, such as hook and loop fasteners. An elastic fabric sleeve may also be used.
The doll assembly of the present subject matter may be manufactured according to the following method. The sizes and amounts described below may be optimized, e.g., a larger outfit may be used with a longer dowel, more diapers, etc.
A polymeric foam ball serving as the head, e.g., 5 inches in diameter, may be painted with acrylic paint in a suitable color, such as beige. an elongated, e.g., 12-inch, dowel with a longitudinal axis having a first end and a second end may have an adhesive such as Glue Dots® applied to the first end. The first end may then be inserted into the foam ball.
To form the neck, the artist may arrange a folded disposable newborn-sized diaper abutting the ball with the dowel resting midway between the diaper waist and crotch. The artist may wrap the diaper circumferentially around the dowel, securing the diaper with an elastic band. A second newborn diaper may be folded over the first diaper and secured with an elastic band.
To build the upper torso, the artist may wrap 6 folded size-1 diapers about ½ inch lower on the dowel from the ball than the placement of the newborn diapers, securing the diapers in place. Repeating the process, the artist may build the bottom half of the body, placing 2 stacked diapers against the bottom end of the dowel such that the axis of the dowel is perpendicular to the plane formed by the stacked diapers.
Starting at the top of the foam head the artist may work a resilient woven nylon sleeve, e.g., a Queen size nylon stocking such as L'Eggs®, in a selected skin color, over the foam ball and pull the stocking down to completely cover the diapers. The stocking may be secured encompassing/around the head and diapers with a knot. The limbs (arms and legs) may then be produced.
To build an arm, the artist may roll 1 disposable diaper vertically inward towards the body of the doll and secure the rolled diaper with 2 elastic bands. Placing the rolled-up diaper in the center of a second diaper, the artist may fan out or splay the diaper to form a shoulder, securing it with 2 elastic bands. Repeat for the second arm. The arms may be affixed or fastened to the upper torso.
For each leg, the artist may use 3 diapers and repeat the rolling process, fanning out the third diaper to form the thigh. Safety pins (e.g., 4) and an adhesive may be applied to fasten the diaper legs to the lower torso.
The doll may be dressed in multi-component garments selected to suit the client, e.g., a 5-piece outfit in a 0-3 mos. size, including bodysuit, footed coverall, hat, mittens, and bib may be mounted on the doll. The artist may stuff an infant washcloth into each foot of the coverall pant before inserting the corresponding leg. Another infant washcloth may be stuffed into each mitten before fastening the mitten to the arm. The washcloths are compressed within the feet and mittens. Once the bib is arranged to cover the neck, the artist may secure it in place using two Glue Dots® adhesives. A pacifier may be fastened to the outfit using a pacifier clip.
Using the website of a paper cutting machine such as Cricut®, the artist may craft a custom cut adhesive vinyl face and hair for the doll from one or more vinyl sheets, for example in black, brown, and tan, selected to suit the client.
The materials of manufacture are not particularly limited. For example, the rod or dowel may be made of bamboo. The foam ball may polystyrene foam, such as Styrofoam®. The elastic bands may be rubber or an elastic polymer. Preferably, the elastic bands are clear, i.e., transparent. Any suitable disposable diaper may be used.
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6 , FIG. 1 illustrates a diaper doll 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention having a support structure 12 serving as a torso and a polystyrene foam ball 16 serving as a head, clothed in a cloth outfit 14 with a pacifier 30. appliques 32 formed as facial features and hair, in this case, including a crop of hair and closed eyes, as well as a nose. As shown in FIG. 2 , the ball 16 has a hole or orifice 16A that accommodates a dowel 22 end with adhesive 24. FIG. 2 illustrates forming the neck by wrapping a folded diaper around the dowel 22 below the ball 16. Generally, two layered diapers 20 provide a suitable diameter for the doll's 10 neck. FIG. 3 illustrates forming the torso support structure 12 by wrapping an upper set and a lower set of several diapers 20 in layers around the dowel 22, with a horizontal base formed of diapers 20, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the dowel 22. Each diaper may be held in place with an elastic band 26. A nylon stocking 18 surrounds the head 16 and the support structure 12 formed by the diapers 20 wrapped around the dowel 22, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 . A knot 18A in the stocking 18 holds the head and torso in place; see FIG. 4 . The arms and legs are formed by rolled washcloths 28 and attached to the support structure 12 with adhesive 24 at regions suggestive of shoulders and hips. The leg washcloths 28 are inserted into the legs of the garment 14, the arm washcloths 28 are inserted into the garment 14 top sleeves, the garment 14 bonnet is placed on the head ball 16, and a garment 14 bib is secured around the neck. A diaper doll 40 according to another embodiment of the present invention has appliques 32 representative of open eyes and eyebrows. The garment 14 bonnet shown has ear structures. The garment top 14 is shown with a button and ruffled sleeves.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A doll assembly comprising:

an elongated dowel with a longitudinal axis having a first end and a second end, said elongated dowel having adhesive applied to the first end;

a polymeric foam ball having an orifice accommodating the first end of the elongated dowel, such that the polymeric foam ball is mounted on the elongated dowel;

a support structure surrounding the elongated dowel comprising a plurality of disposable diapers wrapped circumferentially around the longitudinal axis and fastened with at least one fastener;

a base comprising at least one disposable diaper longitudinal axis and fastened at the second end transverse to the longitudinal axis;

limbs affixed to the support structure; and

a multi-component outfit mounted on the polymeric foam ball, the support structure, and the limbs.

2. The doll assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the limbs comprises a rolled washcloth fastened to the support structure.

3. The doll assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the limbs comprises a rolled disposable diaper fastened within a splayed disposable diaper which is mounted on the support structure.

4. The doll assembly of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a neck formed from two of the disposable diapers layered around the elongated dowel abutting the polymeric foam ball.

5. The doll assembly of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises an upper torso formed from a first layered plurality of the disposable diapers and a lower torso formed from a second layered plurality of the disposable diapers, wherein the upper torso abuts the lower torso.

6. The doll assembly of claim 1, wherein the polymeric foam ball and the support structure are encompassed by a resilient woven nylon sleeve fastened with a knot.

7. The doll assembly of claim 1, wherein appliques formed as facial features are affixed to the polymeric foam ball.

8. The doll assembly of claim 1, wherein the multi-component outfit comprises a bodysuit, a coverall, a hat, mittens, and a bib.

9. The doll assembly of claim 8, wherein the coverall is a footed coverall, each foot having a compressed washcloth therein.

10. The doll assembly of claim 8, wherein the mittens each have a compressed washcloth therein.

11. The doll assembly of claim 8, wherein the multi-component outfit further comprises a pacifier.