Doll pair and apparatus for cheerleading stunts

Abstract

A first doll is supported upon a support base in a substantially vertical standing position. A stunt apparatus includes a torso clasp which releasably attaches to the first doll torso and which includes an elongated rod pivotally secured to the torso clasp on the first doll. A second doll is secured to one end of the rod by a torso clasp and pivotal attachment. The remaining end of the rod is formed into a handle suitable for allowing the user to manipulate the second doll with respect to the first doll.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of a doll pair and apparatus for cheerleading stunts constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 sets forth a perspective view of the doll pair and apparatus initiating a shoulder stand and maneuver by the doll pair;

FIG. 3 sets forth a partial side view of the present invention doll pair and apparatus having attained a shoulder stand position;

FIG. 4 sets forth a partial rear view of the present invention doll pair and apparatus in the shoulder stand position;

FIG. 5 sets forth a partial perspective view of the foot and leg attachment of the fixed doll upon the base of the present invention;

FIG. 6 sets forth a rear view of the support base and a portion of the attached doll legs of the present invention;

FIG. 7 sets forth a front view of the support base and a portion of the dolls legs of the present invention doll pair and apparatus; and

FIG. 8 sets forth a rear perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention doll pair and apparatus characterized by the use of an alternative doll stand.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

By way of overview, the present invention doll pair and apparatus is provided to allow the child user to initiate one or more stunt or cheerleading maneuvers using a pair of dolls and its cooperating apparatus. The doll pair is able to undergo maneuvers such as a shoulder stand as well as somersaulting or tumbling routines as the child user acquires more skill. The doll pair includes a pair of fashion dolls wearing typical cheerleader uniforms together with a support base. The support base receives the feet and lower legs of one doll to maintain the doll in a fixed standing position. An apparatus provides an elongated rod having a handle end and a forward end. Each doll is provided with a torso clasp which snap fits upon the rear torso of the dolls body. Each of the torso clasps includes a pivotal attachment. The doll supported upon the base remains fixed in position and is pivotally secured to the approximate midpoint of the elongated rod. The remaining doll is mobile and is pivotally secured to the forward end of the elongated rod. The user is able to raise the mobile doll by forcing the handle end of the elongated rod downwardly. When properly manipulated, the user is able to raise the mobile doll to a standing position upon the fixed doll in a typical shoulder stand maneuver. When the elongated rod is manipulated with some skill, the child user is able to impart a somersault or tumbling motion to the mobile doll.

FIG. 1 sets forth the present invention doll pair and apparatus for cheerleading stunts showing the doll pair prior to the initiation of a stunt. In the position shown in FIG. 1, both dolls are essentially standing in an upright stance.

More specifically, FIG. 1 sets forth a pair of dolls generally referenced by numerals 10 and 20 together with a manipulating apparatus generally referenced by numeral 30. Dolls 10 and 20 are fabricated generally in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques and include conventional doll bodies 11 and 21 respectively. Doll body 11 defines a rear torso 12 together with legs 13 and 14. Similarly, doll body 21 defines a rear torso 22 together with legs 23 and 24. Apparatus 30 includes an elongated generally rigid rod 31 having an end 33 forming a convenient handle 34 and a forward end 32. Rod 31 further includes a pair of fixed enlarged beads 35 and 36. Apparatus 30 further includes a torso clasp 40 which is snap fit upon doll body 21 and rests against rear torso 22. Torso clasp 40 includes a pivotal attachment 41 which receives end 32 of rod 31. Similarly, a torso clasp 45 is snap fit upon body 11 and is positioned against rear torso 12 of doll 10. Torso clasp 45 includes a pivotal attachment 46 which receives an extension from a slide 47 upon rod 31. Slide 47 is moveable upon rod 31 between beads 35 and 36.

A base 50 formed of a rigid material includes a leg support 51 which receives and secures the feet and lower legs of doll 10 to maintain doll 10 in a vertical stance. Torso clasps 40 and 45 are preferably fabricated of a somewhat resilient elastic rigid plastic material to facilitate their snap fit attachment upon the torsos and waists of dolls 20 and 10 respectively.

In operation, the child user initiates the shoulder stand activity of doll 20 upon doll 10 by pressing handle 34 downwardly in the direction indicated by arrow 25. The pivotal attachment of rod 31 at pivot 46 upon doll 10 together with the rigid vertical stance maintained by base 50 allows pivot 46 to act as a pivot point whereby lowering handle 34 in the direction of arrow 25 raises end 32 of rod 31 upwardly in the direction indicated by arrow 26. The upward movement of end 32 carries doll 20 upwardly in a corresponding movement.

FIG. 2 shows the present invention doll pair and apparatus at the approximate mid point of the shoulder stand maneuver resulting from continued pivotal movement of rod 31.

More specifically, there is shown a pair of dolls generally referenced by numerals 10 and 20 together with a manipulating apparatus generally referenced by numeral 30. Dolls 10 and 20 are fabricated generally in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques and include conventional doll bodies 11 and 21 respectively. Doll body 11 defines a rear torso 12 together with legs 13 and 14. Similarly, doll body 21 defines a rear torso 22 together with legs 23 and 24. Apparatus 30 includes an elongated generally rigid rod 31 having an end 33 forming a convenient handle 34 and a forward end 32. Rod 31 further includes a pair of fixed enlarged beads 35 and 36. Apparatus 30 further includes a torso clasp 40 which is snap fit upon doll body 21 and rests against rear torso 22. Torso clasp 40 includes a pivotal attachment 41 which receives end 32 of rod 31. Similarly, a torso clasp 45 is snap fit upon body 11 and is positioned against rear torso 12 of doll 10. Torso clasp 45 includes a pivotal attachment 46 which receives an extension from a slide 47 upon rod 31. Slide 47 is moveable upon rod 31 between beads 35 and 36.

As can be seen, the rigid stance and support of doll 10 allows doll 10 and torso clasp 45 to maintain the pivot point whereby doll 20 may be raised up with the continued downward movement of handle 34 in the direction indicated by arrow 25. Additionally, the pivotal movement of doll 20 as it is raised to the shoulder stand position may be controlled or manipulated by the speed at which the user forces handle 30 downwardly. In the event the user forces handle 34 downwardly in a relatively slow movement, the vertical orientation of doll 20 is generally maintained as pivot 41 allows the doll to move upwardly while maintaining a generally vertical orientation. If however the user moves handle 34 downwardly with some abruptness and speed, pivot 41 is not able to allow doll 20 to adjust orientation as end 32 moves. The result is that doll 20 undergoes a somersaulting motion as it is raised. The somersaulting motion is indicated by arrow 29.

FIG. 3 sets forth a partial view of the present invention doll pair and apparatus at the completion at the shoulder stand maneuver. As can be seen the shoulder stand maneuver results from the positioning of doll 20 above doll 10 such that the feet of doll 20 overly the shoulders of doll 10. At this point, an important aspect of the present invention is found as base 50 includes a pivoting latch member 55 having a notch 56 formed therein. Latch member 55 may be pivoted to engage handle 34 of elongated rod 31 within notch 56 and thereby secure rod 31 in the vertical position. This in turn secures dolls 10 and 20 in the shoulder stand position also.

More specifically, there is shown a pair of dolls generally referenced by numerals 10 and 20 together with a manipulating apparatus generally referenced by numeral 30. Dolls 10 and 20 are fabricated generally in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques and include conventional doll bodies 11 and 21 respectively. Doll body 11 defines a rear torso 12 together with legs 13 and 14. Similarly, doll body 21 defines a rear torso 22 together with legs 23 and 24. Apparatus 30 includes an elongated generally rigid rod 31 having an end 33 forming a convenient handle 34 and a forward end 32. Rod 31 further includes a pair of fixed enlarged beads 35 and 36. Apparatus 30 further includes a torso clasp 40 which is snap fit upon doll body 21 and rests against rear torso 22. Torso clasp 40 includes a pivotal attachment 41 which receives end 32 of rod 31. Similarly, a torso clasp 45 is snap fit upon body 11 and is positioned against rear torso 12 of doll 10. Torso clasp 45 includes a pivotal attachment 46 which receives an extension from a slide 47 upon rod 31. Slide 47 is moveable upon rod 31 between beads 35 and 36.

FIG. 4 sets forth a partial rear view of the present invention doll pair and apparatus in the shoulder stand position. As can be seen, apparatus 30 maintains doll 20 upon the shoulders of doll 10 in a typical shoulder stand position utilized in cheerleading activities.

More specifically, there is shown a pair of dolls generally referenced by numerals 10 and 20 together with a manipulating apparatus generally referenced by numeral 30. Dolls 10 and 20 are fabricated generally in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques and include conventional doll bodies 11 and 21 respectively. Doll body 11 defines a rear torso 12 together with legs 13 and 14. Similarly, doll body 21 defines a rear torso 22 together with legs 23 and 24. Apparatus 30 includes an elongated generally rigid rod 31 having an end 33 forming a convenient handle 34 and a forward end 32. Rod 31 further includes a pair of fixed enlarged beads 35 and 36. Apparatus 30 further includes a torso clasp 40 which is snap fit upon doll body 21 and rests against rear torso 22. Torso clasp 40 includes a pivotal attachment 41 which receives end 32 of rod 31. Similarly, a torso clasp 45 is snap fit upon body 11 and is positioned against rear torso 12 of doll 10. Torso clasp 45 includes a pivotal attachment 46 which receives an extension from a slide 47 upon rod 31. Slide 47 is moveable upon rod 31 between beads 35 and 36.

It should be noted that the movement of rod 31 through sleeve 47 is essentially a free movement for the most part. This allows the child user to rotate rod 31 and thereby spin doll 20 in a cartwheel-like movement. Additionally, sleeve 47 defines an elongated slot 38 while rod 31 defines an elongated tab 37. As a result, the rotation of rod 31 within sleeve 47 may be inhibited by sliding rod 31 until tab 37 extends into slot 38. In this position, rotation of rod 31 is prevented. Thus, the user is able to initiate vertical movements such as those shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 in which doll 20 is raised upwardly as well as rotational or cartwheel-like movements such as those indicated by arrow 48 by rotating rod 31 within sleeve 47.

FIG. 5 sets forth a perspective view of base 50 supporting legs 13 and 14 of doll 10. Base 50 is preferably formed of a rigid relatively heavy material to provide a firm support for doll 10. Base 50 includes a vertically extending support 51 which receives legs 13 and 14 as shown. In addition, support 51 further includes a rotatable clasp 55. Clasp 55 is pivotally secured to support 51 by a pivot pin 54. Clasp 55 includes a notch 56. As described above, clasp 55 may be rotated from the position shown to an extending position in which notch 56 engages a portion of elongated rod 31 (seen in FIG. 3). This maintains the position of rod 31 in a locked vertical orientation such as that shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 sets forth a rear perspective view of base 50 supporting legs 13 and 14. Base 50 is preferably formed of a rigid relatively heavy material to provide a firm support for doll 10. Base 50 includes a vertically extending support 51 which receives legs 13 and 14 as shown. In addition, support 51 further includes a rotatable clasp 55. Clasp 55 is pivotally secured to support 51 by a pivot pin 54. Clasp 55 includes a notch 56. As described above, clasp 55 may be rotated from the position shown to an extending position in which notch 56 engages a portion of elongated rod 31 (seen in FIG. 3). This maintains the position of rod 31 in a locked vertical orientation such as that shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 sets forth a front perspective view of legs 13 and 14 secured within support 51 upon base 50.

FIG. 8 sets forth a rear perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention doll pair and apparatus. The embodiment of FIG. 8 is substantially identical to the embodiment of the present invention set forth above in FIGS. 1 through 7 with the difference being found in the use of an alternative support and base for maintaining doll 10 in an upright position and for pivotally supporting apparatus 30. Accordingly, FIG. 8 shows doll 10 supported upon the new base and supported by the alternative doll support structure. It will be understood that the remainder of the present invention doll pair and apparatus is but for these differences identical to the embodiment described above.

More specifically, doll 10 includes a doll body 11 having a rear torso 12 and a pair of legs 13 and 14. A base 70 defines a socket 71 which receives an end 66 of a vertical stand rod 64. Stand rod 64 further defines a flange 67 which stabilizes end 66 within socket 71. In further accordance with the alternate embodiment of FIG. 8, doll 10 is wearing a torso clasp 60 which is secured to rear torso 12 of doll 10 in a snap fit attachment similar to torso clasp 45 shown above in FIG. 1 worn by doll 10. Torso clasp 60 differs from torso clasp 45 however in that it provides a stand support 63 secured to the rear portion of torso clasp 60 which defines an aperture receiving end 65 of stand rod 64. Torso clasp 60 further includes a pivot support 61 which receives pivotal attachment 46. Pivot attachment 46 is pivotal within pivot support 61 as indicated by arrow 62.

The remainder of apparatus 30 is identical to apparatus 30 set forth above in FIGS. 1 through 7. Thus, apparatus 30 includes an elongated rod 31 supporting spaced apart beads 35 and 36 together with a tab 37. A slider 47 is slideably moveable upon rod 31 between beads 35 and 36 in the above described manner. Slider 47 is securely joined to pivotal attachment 46.

Thus, in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 8, the use of leg support 51 (seen in FIG. 1) to maintain doll 10 in a vertical position upon the supporting base has been replaced by stand rod 64 and torso clasp 60. In all other respects however, doll 10 cooperates with apparatus 30 and is utilized in combination with doll 20 (seen in FIG. 1) to provide the above described play pattern for cheerleading stunts or like activities. As with the above described embodiments, doll 10 may be removed from torso clasp 60 due to its releasable snap fit attachment to allow doll 10 to be utilized in conventional play patterns typical of fashion dolls or the like.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A combination first and second dolls and cooperating stunt apparatus, said combination comprising: first and second dolls;a base having means for supporting said first doll in a standing posture upon said base;a first torso clasp secured to said first doll;a second torso clasp secured to said second doll; anda stunt apparatus having an elongated rod having a first end forming a handle and a second end pivotally joined to said second torso clasp and an intermediate pivot between said first and second ends pivotally joining said elongated rod to said first torso clasp.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said intermediate pivot includes a slide moveable upon said elongated rod.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein said elongated rod includes a pair of spaced-apart beads and wherein said slide is positioned upon said elongated rod between said beads.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said slide defines a slot and wherein said elongated rod includes a tab receivable within said slot to prevent pivoting movement of said slide upon said elongated rod.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said slide defines a length and wherein said beads are spaced-apart by a distance greater than said length of said slide.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said slide is moveable on said elongated rod between a first position engaging said tab and a second position free of said tab.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein means for supporting said first doll includes a leg support engaging said doll.

8. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for supporting said first doll includes a vertical stand rod having a first end received in said base and a second end received in said first torso clasp.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said base defines a socket receiving said first end of said vertical stand and a support flange in contact with said base.

10. A combination comprising: first and second dolls each having a torso;a base having means for supporting said first doll in an upright posture upon said base;a first torso clasp secured to said torso of said first doll;a second torso clasp secured to said torso of said second doll; anda stunt apparatus having an elongated rod defining a handle end and a distal end pivotally coupled to said second torso clasp and an intermediate pivot between said handle end and said distal end pivotally joining said elongated rod to said first torso clasp,said elongated rod being pivoted about said first torso clasp by moving said handle end to raise or lower said second doll.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said first and second torso clasps are snap-fit attachable and removable to and from said first and second dolls.

12. The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said intermediate pivot includes a slide moveable upon said elongated rod.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said elongated rod includes a pair of spaced-apart beads and wherein said slide is positioned upon said elongated rod between said beads.

14. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said slide defines a slot and wherein said elongated rod includes a tab receivable within said slot to prevent pivoting movement of said slide upon said elongated rod.

15. The combination set forth in claim 14 wherein said slide defines a length and wherein said beads are spaced-apart by a distance greater than said length of said slide.

16. The combination set forth in claim 15 wherein said slide is moveable on said elongated rod between a first position engaging said tab and a second position free of said tab.

17. The combination set forth in claim 16 wherein means for supporting said first doll includes a leg support engaging said doll.

18. The combination set forth in claim 16 wherein said means for supporting said first doll includes a vertical stand rod having a first end received in said base and a second end received in said first torso clasp.

19. The combination set forth in claim 18 wherein said base defines a socket receiving said first end of said vertical stand and a support flange in contact with said base.