US2444169A - Puppet - Google Patents

Description

June 29, 1948.

R. E. PAIGE PUPPET 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 20, 1945 INVENTOR R/CHAAD 5 84/05.

4 BY f ,%wm, ATTORNEYS June'29, 1 43. R. E. PAIGE 1 2,44 69 PUPPET Fild Jan. 20, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEJNTOR lQ/CHARO 5 PA /G ATTO RN EYS June 29, 1948.

R. E. PAIGE PUPPET 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 20, 1945 TIIIIIIIII.

. INVENTOR /?/cHA/?0 4? 84/05 BY x 17" m v ATTORNEYS June 29, 1948.

R. E. PAIGE PUPPET 4 sheets-sheet 4 7 Filed Jan.- 20, 1945 Patented June 29, 1948 ATENT QFFI-CE 2,444,169 BUPPET am?- iia e Y9??? N- zippi ciiwn iamiary 20, 19,45, ser al No. 573,557

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(Cl. ie-4%) mend; is 11:1 itself :1 cells)? button Whose pointed head is forcibly pushedihifdugl'i all'ined' hol'es'fin the cardboard stock efthe pang tiibjbonnected eln'd depends upou'jahe elasticity or 'thestock to close in behi rdthe' heaifof the button, thereby prelizeiitir g"s'epa ,ratiori ioff miie sa e." Also, by appropriately "placing dghe 0011311 bubtdn elements upen a puppet figure, the same may serii'etb'iin- Dirt the appeara ce OfIth bufltbnfif Coat drother garment f the f gure.

Omher novel features'ofjbheinvention will become apparent as the iollowin speeification "is Ifeadin'coujunq ipl l withi;h' ppialnying drzvwin wh c Figure 'ilsf fl fimt levai o al iew of a pupp t .1 't m f dancip irl ng'ureame' same being shown in e; pp n ielfpgsitidiieff restlin full lines, and in oigipqsedswing ing ifi io ns inldotted lines, and detian dd ds lihes'l e peeti-ive l'y, flportion 0f the suspensidnords floeifi-brokenj away;

Figure 2 is a View similar to Eigur"1' sif'owing in iull linesthepositio'ii o fighe paits cori'espond= ing to that position shdwri"in ddttdlilies in Figure .ww

Figure 3 is a View sim lar ,to, F ure 1 showing in full lines the position if the pelitscorrespblriii- Figure 5 is a'reer e1 .vation mg gm figure.

Figure 6 is a front eleva biqna l iew illustrating the inventi-qn emboqied n epugw in flie r m shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is nfi g ge. el p nal iew .1 ihe up- 6. l .I v 4 i e iq emb gi ifi 339 4 11 M horse aildlfi difi 'cowboyf Figure 1115' ad e i leifliabiqr a l iew of the puppet tey shdwn in Fig-ure lO.

numeral It designates a puppet in its entirety which includes a join-ted feminine figure .II in the form of a hula dancer. However, other figures I I may be made in other forms such as will be hereafter described and as shown in Figures 6 to 12 inclusive. The figure II comprises a rear section I2, a lower front section I3 and an upper front section M, all of which are constructed of stiff cardboard or other equivalent fiat material.

The rear section I2 comprises an elongated body portion I5, an upper head portion I6, and leg portions Il-II. The body portion it is provided with an arcuate slot I8 at a point inwardly of and adjacent the plane of the top edge of the lower front portion I3 as best illustrated in Figure 5. The lower section I3 is pivotally connected to the rear section I 2 by a fastener element I9. A fastening element 2c similar to the element I9 pivotally connects the lower overlapping portion of the upper front section It to the upper portion of the lower front section I3 and the rear end of the element 20 extends into the slot I8 and functions as a stop in conjunction with the ends of the slot I8 to limit pivotal movement of the rear section l2 and lower front section I3 relative to each other. The arcuate slot I8 is struck on an arc concentric to the axis of the fastener element I9.

Each fastener element I9 and 23 comprises a shank portion 2| having an enlarged fiat head 22 at one end thereof and a rounded pointed head 23 at the other end thereof. Thepointed head 23 is forcibly pushed through alined holes 2 3-2 1 of the parts to be pivotally connected and the elasticity of the cardboard stock is relied upon to close in behind the head 23. and prevent accidental separation of the fastener element from the connected parts.

A flexible thread connection 25 connects the head portion I6 to the top of the upper body section I4.

The joined feminine figure II comprises the pivotally connected sections I2, I3 and III. The section I3 is representative of the lower body portion of the figure draped in a skirt, the legs I'I-I'I of the section I2 depending therebelow. The front upper section It. is representative of the head 26, arms 21, and upper body portion 28 of the figure and combined with the legs Il-fl and section I3 complete the figure;

The head 26 of section M is provided with eye openings 29-29 which expose the eyeballs 38-33 printed on the front side of the head portion I6 of the rear section I2. I

The puppet I also includes a novel suspension and manipulating means 3| for the figure II. The means 3| includes a flat bar 32 of appropriate length. A pair of suspension threads 33-33 have their upper ends fixedly connected to the bar at suitably spaced distances apart while their lower ends are respectively connected to the opposed sides of the head 26 of section I l.

The bar 32 is preferably made of cardboard stock and has a pair of slits 34-34 (Figure 14) extending inwardly from the top edge thereof. The upper ends of the threads 33-33 are pulled through they respective slits and the length of the threads may be adjusted by pulling the free ends back and forth until the figure I I is properly suspended, after which the threads are permanently secured by passing the threads around the bar once more and thence through the slits a second time. The purpose of the slits 34 is to permit the making of an easy die-cutting biier'atien whereas a hol in the bar would necessitate a delicate stripping operating to clear the holes before the thread could be threaded therethrough. Also, the formation of holes in the bar for effecting a thread connection would necesitate tedious threading of the threads through. the holes and the tying of knots in the threads at the proper location necessary to effect an adjustment of the suspension threads.

I have also provided a novel form of connection between the lower ends of the threads 33 and the head portion 26 of section I4. By reference to Figure 13 it will be seen that a J-shaped slit 35 is formed in the cardboard stock, the shank portion of which opens onto the edge of the cardboard stock while the hook portion is disposed. inwardly of said edge. The lower end of the suspension thread 33 is slid into the slit until it reaches the closed hooked end thereof. A knot 36 is tied in the lower end of the thread to prevent its pulling free of the slit. This type of thread connection avoids the punching and striplping of holes from the stock adjacent the edges of the parts which would result in breakage of the edges of the stock when the punch of the die forces the board.

The full line position of the parts shown in Figure 1 represent the puppet in a normal stationary suspended position. To manipulate the: puppet figure II, an operator grasps the bar 32. and alternately imparts a right and left shifting force thereto in a direction lengthwise of the bar. This oscillating movement of the bar 32 imparts: a back and forth swinging movement to the figure, th limits of swinging movements being: shown in dotted lines and dot and dash lines in. Figure 1 and in full lines in Figures 2 and 3.. The threads 33-33 constitute flexible pendulums from which the figure is suspended, the same describing arcs whose centers are at spaced points: along the bar 32. As the figure II swings back: and forth, animate actions are imparted to the. various pivotally connected parts. Due to the fact that the upper front section I4 is directly connected to the threads 33-33, and that thehead portion I6 of the rear section I2 is pivotally and loosely connected to the head 26 of section. I4, these sections swing simultaneously in the same direction but through different arcs. By reason of the pivotal connection I9, the lower front section I3 is caused to swing in a direction opposite to that of the sections I2 and I4 thus imparting a dancing action to the figure II. Thelimit of swinging movement of the section I3 in opposite directions is controlled by enby reference to Figures 2 and 3.

Although I have mentioned that the figure is activated by the swinging movement imparted thereto, it is to be understood that by a mere tilting of the bar 32 in the direction of its ends will'impart a pulling action on one thread and cause a slackening of the other thread, whereupon animated poses may be imparted to the figure.

cognates I In Figures 16 ito 9 iinclus'ive I have :illustrated ta further adaptation of my ainvention wherein the "puppet figure 40 is in the form of a caricature of'a sailor dancingand playing aiukulele. The figurellli includes a main .body section I41 *which is :cut toza-shape to simulate the body 42 .oflLthe fig- :ure, thetwo arms ttlaand onecleg flfl. Oneof t-he 'arms lwhas a section 45 pivotally connected thereto by a pivot fastener element '46. The section =45 overlies the front of section 4! sand 'is cutto'the shape toforma hand portion 41' and a ileg portion 48. 'Themainsection M .is also formed with a head :section 4:9, the front of which is representative of the chin (and vmouth of the figure. Pivotally connected 'tothe head :portion de by azpivot fastening elementifill is a head section 1.5 which-overlies the :front .of the "section '41. 'The'head section 5| .isprovided with eye openings 52-352 through which eyeball elemen-ts 553- 53 carried by the head portion =49 of section 24i extend. -Tl'ie eyeball elements :53, pivot :fastenlng elements 136 and :56 are in "the form :of collar .louttons and. are inserted with the cardboard :stock in the :same manner as the fastener elements 11.9 :and '21] i-hereinbefore described.

:All'three sections, 41!, 45 and El are under thercontrol of suspension threads 54, 55 and .56 respectively and have their lower ends connected in J-shaped slits 51 cut inzthe respective sections atcertain edges thereof. The upper ends -of the'threads 53,55 and 56 are connected to a i'manipulating oar similar to bar 32 and by manual'manipulation the figure fill maybe placed 'into :animation. The figure 49 when set in motion will impart the appearance that the sailor figure is dancing, playing the ukulele, singing, and rolling its eyes for simultaneous pivotal .movements are imparted to the sections 1H, 145 and '51! in coordinate relation to each other. The same principles of manipulation :and operation are present 'in the puppet figure -66 as is present in the puppet figure II hereto- ;fore -:fully explained.

,In'Figures to 12 inclusive Ihave illustrated any invention embodied in jointed figure 69 in :the aform of a horse and a cowboy rider. The fi'gurefifi -oomprisesa plurality of cardboad sec- ?tions movably connected together in a novel manner :so that motion from a swinging pendulum section under the control of manipulating suspension threads will transmit motion to sec- :tions rnot under direct control of the threads. The figure .69 includes a rear section 6| which comprises an elongated body portion 62, a head portion 53, and armrporti-onslid andttl. A pivot fastener element 65 connects an arm section 6'! to the rarm'portionitfi, and which arm section 61 is alsoshaped to simulate a pistol 63. Connected to :the top of the section Bl by means of. a v.l-rshaped slot 69 is a manipulating suspension thread .10. A'sus-pension thread it is directly .conne'ctedto the arm section 61 by a J-shaped -slit:69'.

Disposed "forwardly of "the section 61 and con- :cealing the same with the exception of the arm "portions 164 and'fifi :is a'section H. 'The section H is shaped to simulate the body portion l2 and headrportion -13 of the-cowbody rider. The head portion '13 is provided with eye openings "14-14 which expose eyeballs provided on the front face of the head'portion 63 of section 6l. The section ll 'ialsorincludes leg portions 16 and TI simulating the right front and .rear legs of a horse. The rhody :pontion 112 of .section lll is..;pivotallyeconofI-theseutinn 2 6i zimpa'rts :a force to the section 'll to :set the .same motion.

lPivotally oonnected to the section :6! and overlying all Ebut the leg :portions 16 and H thereof is a section ill shaped to simulatethe body, lhindquarteraneck :82 and left front and :rearlegsi83and8-4 respectively of ahorse. The

:sections 6:! and :8! are connected -by a pivot fasteneruelement 85, the shank of which .is in .alinement with the .arcuate slot :19 *and into which thershank extends. 'The :shank of the fastener element :35 'is engageable by opposite endszof the slot l9 for limiting pivotal movement of :llhBfrSBCtiOl-IS 6| 2.116.131 :relative to each other.

The head of the element imparts the-appearance of aiibutton along the chaps printed on the T110111, side of the section -8l.

iPivotally connected to the neckrportion 82 of :section BI .by means of a pivot fastener element :86 isahead section 8.1, the same being shaped to .simulateithehead of la-horse. The pivot element d6 isueccentrically located relative to the head :section :81 tocauseethe'front-end thereof to drop down by gravity. A manipulating suspension thread 88 has its lower sendiconnected to the headsecti'on 81 -by-a Jeshaped slot 89. A loop cord 90 has .its :ends fixed to the head section and has its loop portion threaded through an iopeningial linwthe' arm section'65.

lIhe tipivot fastener elements .66, i8, 85, and -86 :aresimilar in construction and :function as the elements l-9 .andde :hereinbefore specifically described.

*lIhe manipulating suspension threads 1!], l0 :and :88 have their upper ends fixedly connected :to a bar 32 *whichzis manipulated in'a manner similar :to Tthe bar hereinbefore specifically described. The sections :,6=|, 6 1,. and 81 are directly connectedxto 'the threads 10, 1-0 and 38 respectively, which threads act as pendulums as the puppet zhorseziand cowboy puppet figure swings from side to side, the respective :pendulums exerting ia pulling :force upon the wpivoted sections :.as the "figure passes beneath each slit connecition and :past it. :Movement of the section 6! isrtransmitted to'theisection H by the connecting wloop '80, .theisection H "turning on :the pivot connectin zelementv85. The pivoted sections constituting lthe. horse and .cowboy figure *move in coordinated .arelation to impart :the appearance of a galloping .horse and 1a vpistol shooting cowboy rider.

While I :have illustrated .and :described three different designs .of lpuppet figures, I wish it to he understood that the puppet figures may be made "up :iniunlimited numbers of subject matter, .therefore i[ idonot restrict myself to the dezsigns-of ipuppsetsrnorto any thingless than the whole of imyiinventi'on as :set forth .inthe appended claims.

Having 1311115 described my invention, What I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. .An .animated .puppet comprising in combination, a puppet figure .including a plurality of :rigid 'pivotally :connected zoo-related sections, .a rigid :manipulating vm'enib'er, ."suspension threads :having etheirrupperends connected $0 :the :manipulating member and their lower ends respectively connected to certain of the sections, whereby oscill'atory manipulation of the member will impart a pendulum swinging action to the figure to cause direct alternate pulling forces to be exerted upon those sections to which said threads are connected to impart repetitious actions to the puppet figure, and means connecting the other pivoted sections with those other pivoted sections directly connected to the member by threads for imparting pivotal movement to the former sections from the latter sections.

2. An animated puppet comprising in combination, a puppet figure including a plurality of rigid pivotally connected correlated sections, means for suspending the figure and for imparting pendulum swinging action thereto to effect repetitious pivotal movement of a predetermined group of the sections, and means for imparting pivotal movement to the other of the sections from the pivotal movements of the first group of sections.

3. In an animated puppet, a plurality of correlated fiat sections arranged in overlapping relation, said sections comprising a group of three of which two are individually pivoted to the third, means for setting the latter section into oscillation in its own plane, thereby imparting predetermined oscillatory movements to said pivots, and means constraining said first and second sections to swing through predetermined limited arcs as said pivots move.

4. In an animated puppet, a plurality of correlated fiat sections arranged in overlapping relation, said sections comprising a group of three of which two are individually pivoted to the third, means for setting the latter section into oscill-ation in its own plane, thereby imparting predetermined oscillatory movements to said pivots, and means constraining said first and second sections to swing through predetermined limited arcs as said pivots move, said last-named means comprising suspension elements constrained to swing as pendulums in a common plane.

5. In an animated puppet, a plurality of correlated fiat sections arranged in overlapping relation, said sections comprising a group of three of which two are individually pivoted to the third, means for setting the latter section into oscillation in its own plane, thereby imparting predetermined oscillatory movements to said pivots, and means constraining said first and second sections to swing through predetermined limited arcs as said pivots move, said last-named means comprising suspension elements constrained to swing as pendulums in a common plane, and a common control element to spaced points of which said suspension elements are anchored.

6. In an animated puppet, a plurality of correlated fiat sections arranged in overlapping relation, said sections comprising a group of three of which two are individually pivoted to the third, a suspension element constrained to swing as a pendulum and engaging said third section so that the latter may be set into oscillation in its own plane, thereby imparting predetermined oscillatory movements to said pivots, and means constraining said first and second sections to swing through predetermined limited arcs as said pivots move.

7. In an animated puppet, a plurality of correlated fiat sections arranged in overlapping relation, said sections comprising a group of three of which two are individually pivoted to the third, a suspension element constrained to swing as 'a'pendulum and engaging said third section so that the latter may be set into oscillation in its own plane, thereby imparting predetermined oscillatory movements to said pivots, and means constraining said first and second sections to swing through predetermined limited arcs as said pivots move, said last-named means comprising other suspension elements constrained to swing as pendulums in said plane.

8. In an animated puppet, a plurality of correlated flat sections arranged in overlapping relation, said sections comprising a group of three of which two are individually pivoted to the third, a suspension element constrained to swing as a pendulum and engaging said third section so that the latter may be set into oscillation in its own plane, thereby imparting predetermined oscillatory movements to said pivots, and means constraining said first and second sections to swing through predetermined limited arcs as said pivots move, said last-named means comprising other suspension elements constrained to swing as pendulums in said plane, and a common control element to spaced points of which all of said suspension elements are anchored.

9. In an animated puppet, the combination of elements set forthin claim 3, said constraining means comprising a slot in one of said sections and a pin carried by another section and pro jecting into said slot.

10. In an animated puppet, the combination of elements set forth in claim 3, said constraining means comprising a slot in one of said sections and a pin carried by another section and projecting into said slot, said pin constituting one of said pivots.

11. In an animated puppet, the combination of elements set forth in claim 3, said constraining means comprising a slot in one of the underlying sections and a pin carried by an overlying section and projecting rearwardly into saidslot.

12. In an animated puppet, the combination of elements set forth in claim 3, the front surfaces of said sections bearing complementary embellishments conjointly defining a fanciful depiction, said constraining means comprising a slot in one of the overlying sections, and a pin carried by an underlying section and projectin forwardly into said slot, the front end of said pin forming part of said depiction.

13. In an animated puppet, the combination of elements set forth in claim 3, said constraining means comprising a flexible tie element of predetermined length connecting two of said sections, said tie element exercising its constraining effect when it become taut.

14. In an animated puppet, a plurality of correlated flat sections arranged in overlapping relation, the front surfaces bearing complementary embellishments conjointly defining a fanciful depiction, said sections comprising a group of three of which two are individually pivoted to the third and are also mutually pivoted to each other, and means for setting one of said sections into oscillation in its own plane, thereby imparting predetermined oscillatory movements to the other sections, said means comprising a suspension element constrained to swing as a pendulum.

15. In an animated puppet, the combination with the elements set forth in claim 14 of means for limiting the extent of relative movement between two of said sections, said means comprising a slot in one of said sections and a pin carried by the other and projecting into said slot.

16. In an animated puppet, the combination of elements set forth in claim 3, said constraining means comprising an additional section pivoted to one of the sections to be constrained, and a suspension element connected to said additional section and constrained to swing as a pendulum in the plane of said section.

17. In an animated puppet, the combination of elements set forth in claim 3, each section being composed of flat cardboard stock, and certain of said pivots comprising an element shaped like a collar button and pierced through the overlapping mutually pivoted sections.

18. An animated puppet comprising a plurality of flat pivotally connected correlated sections arranged in overlapping relationship, the front faces of said sections bearing complementary embellishments conjointly defining a fanciful depiction including a depiction of at least one live figure, and means for suspending the puppet and for imparting pendulum swinging action thereto in the plane of said sections to effect repetitious pivotal movements of said sections through limited oscillatory paths, said suspending means comprising a common control element elevated with respect to said sections, and suspension elements anchored to spaced points along said control element and extending downwardly to predetermined points of engagement with certain of said sections, whereby said pendulum action will cause predetermined variations in the degrees of overlap of said sections, said sections being of such contours, and the pivot axes being so disposed, that said variations will animate said depiction independently of the normal regions of articulation in the live figure depicted.

19. An animated puppet comprising, in combination, a puppet figure including a plurality of overlapping correlated sections constructed of sheet material, pivot elements connecting the overlapping sections together and about which they are free to turn, a control bar, a, plurality of suspension threads, means connecting the upper ends of the threads to said bar at spaced apart distances therealong, and means for connecting the lower ends of the threads to said sections whereby oscillatory movement imparted to the control bar will cause the figure to swing in pendulum fashion wherein each thread swings taut upon a difierent center thereby exerting alternate repetitious pulling forces upon the pivotally connected sections, the means for connecting the upper ends of the threads to the control bar comprising spaced slits provided in the control bar extending downwardly from the top edge thereof, the upper ends of the threads being inserted into the respective slits and the threads looped about the bar and having the looped portions also respectively disposed in said slits.

20. An animated puppet comprising, in combination, a puppet figure including a plurality of overlapping correlated sections constructed of sheet material, pivot elements connecting the overlapping sections together and about which they are free to turn, a control bar, a plurality of suspension threads, means connecting the upper ends of the threads to said bar at spaced apart distances therealong, and means for connecting the lower ends of the threads to said sections whereby oscillatory movements imparted to the control bar will cause the figure to swing in pendulum fashion wherein each thread swings taut upon a different center thereby exerting alternate repetitious pulling forces upon the piv-- otally connected sections, the means for connecting the lower ends of the threads to the respective sections comprising J -shaped slits provided in the respective sections extending inwardly from the edges thereof, the lower ends of the threads being knotted and inserted into the respective slits to seat therein at the closed end thereof.

RICHARD E. PAIGE.

REFERENCES CITED 1 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 962,578 Noack June 28, 1910 1,205,386 Perenyi et al. Nov. 21, 1916 1,345,750 Beaumont July 6, 1920 1,721,091 Richie et a1 July 16, 1929 1,931,326 Raible Aug. 17, 1933

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