Patent Application
20120231697
The present invention relates to a doll, and in particular, to a doll including an outlet and a mechanism for discharging a liquid, such as water, from the outlet.
Dolls have proven to be an extremely popular and long-lasting category of toy products. Water and bath toys have also proven to be a popular category of toy products. However, such toys have limited ability to be repositioned relative to a source of liquid. In addition, such toys lack the ability to draw liquid from an external source in which a portion of the toy is placed.
There is a need for a unique doll that is able to discharge or squirt water. In addition, there is a need for a doll that is able to discharge or squirt water while being positioned in a lifelike or unique pose.
The present invention is directed to a figure including a body having a first portion including or defining an inlet, and a second portion including or defining an outlet. The first portion is submersible in a liquid such that the inlet is located in the liquid. A conduit extends between the inlet and the outlet. A pump mechanism is coupled to the conduit. The pump mechanism is operable by a user to draw the liquid into the inlet, move the liquid through the conduit, and discharge the liquid from the outlet.
In one embodiment, the first portion of the body includes a first appendage and the second portion of the body includes a second appendage. The inlet is disposed on the first appendage, and the outlet is disposed on the second appendage. In one implementation, the first appendage is a leg including a foot, and the inlet is disposed on the foot. In one implementation, the second appendage is an arm including a hand, and the outlet is disposed on the hand.
In one embodiment, the second portion of the body includes a torso and an arm having a hand pivotally connected to the torso. The outlet is disposed on the hand. The arm can be pivotally connected to the torso so that the location of the outlet relative to the body can vary. The first portion of the body includes a leg having a foot. The inlet is disposed on the foot. The conduit extends through the leg, torso and arm between the inlet and the outlet.
The present invention is also directed to a doll including a torso, a leg coupled to a lower portion of the torso, and an arm coupled to an upper portion of the torso. The leg includes a foot defining an inlet. The arm includes a hand defining an outlet. A pump mechanism is coupled to the torso, which is configured to draw a liquid into the inlet when the foot is submersed in the liquid, and discharge the liquid from the outlet. The pump mechanism is in communication with the inlet and the outlet. In one implementation, the pump mechanism includes a conduit extending between the inlet and the outlet.
In one embodiment, the leg is pivotally coupled to the lower portion of the torso. The leg includes a thigh portion hingedly connected to a calf portion at a knee portion, the conduit extending through the knee portion. The arm is pivotally coupled to the upper portion of the torso.
In one embodiment, an object is removably coupleable to the hand. The object includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the object is alignable with and coupleable to the outlet in the hand, so that liquid moves from the outlet in the hand into the inlet in the object, through the object, and then discharges from the outlet in the object. In one implementation, the object is configured to resemble an animal.
The present invention is also directed to a figure having a torso including a chamber configured to retain a liquid, an appendage pivotally coupled to the torso, and a pump mechanism coupled to the torso. The appendage includes an opening in fluid communication with the liquid retaining chamber. The pump mechanism is configured to discharge liquid retained within the chamber and out the opening.
In one embodiment, the appendage is a first appendage and the opening is an outlet. The figure also includes a second appendage pivotally coupled to the torso. The second appendage includes an inlet in fluid communication with the chamber. The pump mechanism is configured to draw liquid into the chamber from the inlet.
In one embodiment, an object is removably coupleable to the appendage. The object includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the object is alignable with and coupleable to the opening so that the liquid moves from the opening into the inlet in the object, through the object, and discharges from the outlet in the object.
In one embodiment, each of the inlet and the outlet is movable relative to the torso.
In another embodiment, the figure includes a torso, a first appendage pivotally coupled to the torso, the first appendage including an opening configured to be in fluid communication with an external liquid source, a second appendage pivotally coupled to the torso, the second appendage including an opening configured to discharge a liquid, and a pump mechanism coupled to the torso, the pump mechanism configured to draw in liquid through the opening in the first appendage and discharge liquid through the opening in the second appendage.
In one embodiment, the pump mechanism includes a flexible conduit extending between the opening in the first appendage and the pump mechanism.
In one embodiment, the first appendage is configured to be submersed into the external liquid source with the opening in the first appendage positioned to intake liquid from the external liquid source.
In one embodiment, the figure includes an object removably coupleable to the second appendage, the object including an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the object alignable with and coupleable to the opening of the second appendage so that the liquid moves from the opening of the second appendage into the inlet in the object, through the object, and discharges from the outlet in the object.
Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure.
In one embodiment, the doll or figure is configured to intake or receive a liquid, such as water, and discharge the liquid. The doll includes a mechanism that can be actuated by a user, such as a child, to draw in the liquid and discharge the liquid. The mechanism can be a pumping mechanism that has an actuator accessible outside the body of the doll. The doll may include an inlet or intake opening or port through which a liquid can be drawn. In addition, the doll may include an outlet or discharge opening or port through which the liquid can be projected or discharged. In one embodiment, the doll may include an internal reservoir or chamber in which liquid can be retained or stored temporarily until it is discharged from the doll.
In one embodiment, as shown in
In this embodiment, the appendage 14 includes an inlet 26. The inlet 26 is movable along a plane P1 relative to the body of the doll 10. The other appendage 18 includes an outlet 28 movable along another plane P2. The movement of the inlet 26 and the outlet 28 is determined in part by the structure of the appendages 14 and 18 and in particular, the joints between the appendages 14 and 18 and the body of the doll 10. In one implementation, the plane P1 along which the inlet 26 is movable is substantially parallel to the plane P2 along which the outlet 28 is movable. In another embodiment, the planes P1 and P2 can be at an angle relative to each other, such as being perpendicular.
A pump mechanism 30 (shown in phantom) is coupled to the torso 12. The pump mechanism 30 is configured to draw a liquid (e.g., such as water) into the inlet 26 when the inlet 26 is submersed in the liquid, and discharge the liquid from the outlet 28. In one embodiment, the pump mechanism 30 includes a flexible conduit 32 (shown partially in phantom) extending between the inlet 26 and the outlet 28.
A toy doll 100 according to another embodiment is illustrated in
As shown in
In one embodiment, the pump mechanism 130 includes or is coupled to a conduit 132 (partially shown in phantom in
The pump mechanism 130 includes a trigger or plunger 138. Upon depression of the plunger 138 by a user, water is draw into the inlet 128, and moves upwardly through the lower portion 134 of the conduit 132 into or past the pump mechanism 130. The water is then forced from the pump mechanism 130 into and through the upper portion 136 of the conduit 132, and then discharged from the outlet 126 in the hand 122.
Referring to
With continued reference to
The arm 110 is pivotally coupled to the upper portion 114 of the torso 102 via another coupler 524. Another extension member 526 is connected to or defined by the coupler 524. The coupler 524 and/or extension member 526 define a passage 528 (shown in phantom in
Referring to
Thus, upon actuation of the plunger 406, water is drawn into the inlet 128 and flows upwardly through the lower segment 502 of the conduit system 500. The water then flows through a chamber provided in the pump mechanism 400, and is forced into and through the upper segment 504 of the conduit system 500. The water is then ejected from the outlet 126.
Referring to
In one implementation, the inlet 202 is defined by a nozzle 208 that is received in the outlet 126 and a distal end portion 140 (shown in
Referring to
As the leg 104 is pivotally movable at the knee portion 146 as well as between the thigh portion 142 and the lower portion 108 of the torso 102, the doll 100 may be disposed in its sitting position C2 on a support surface S, with the calf portion 144 pivoted downwardly, such as near or against an edge 51 of the support surface S, so that the inlet 128 on the foot 118 is submersed in a water or liquid source W (e.g., a basin, pool or bathtub), which is external to the body of the doll 100. The hand 122 of the arm 110 may be pivoted outwardly and away from the torso 102, so that water discharged from the outlet 126 (or from the outlet 204 of the object 200) is projected outwardly and away from the doll 100. The other arm 112 may be pivoted back so that the corresponding hand 124 braces against the support surface S, thereby further stabilizing the doll 100 on the support surface S.
An opening 326 (shown in phantom) is disposed on or defined by the hand 322. A liquid retaining chamber 328 (shown in phantom) is defined by or disposed in the torso 302. A conduit 330 (shown in phantom) is defined by or extends from the opening 326 in the hand 322, through the arm 310, and to the liquid retaining chamber 328. Thus, the opening 326 is in fluid communication with the liquid retaining chamber 328 via the conduit 330. A liquid (e.g., such a water), may be poured or otherwise flow into the opening 326. The liquid then moves through the conduit 330 and into the liquid retaining chamber 328.
In one embodiment, a bottle member 332 is coupleable to the hand 322, as shown in
The arm 310 may be moved to a raised position C3, so that the liquid within the cavity 334 of the bottle member 332 drains therefrom and moves through the conduit 330 to the liquid retaining chamber 328 via gravity. In addition, the bottle member 332 may be positioned proximate to the head 316 of the doll 300 when the arm 310 is in its raised position C3, so that the doll 300 appears to be “drinking” the liquid within the bottle member 332.
It should be understood that other objects including a cavity for retaining liquid, or a conduit though which a liquid flow, may be utilized instead of the illustrated bottle member 332. Alternatively or in addition, liquid may be poured directly into the opening 326 in the hand 322. Alternatively or in addition, the opening 326 may be submersed in a liquid so that the liquid flows into the opening 326.
Once a volume of liquid is disposed within the liquid retaining chamber 328, the bottle member 332 (or other object) may be decoupled from the hand 322. The liquid within the liquid retaining chamber 328 may then be ejected therefrom, back through the conduit 330, and expelled from the opening 326.
A pump mechanism 338 (shown in phantom) is coupled to the liquid retaining chamber 328 and operative to expel liquid therefrom. In one embodiment, the pump mechanism 338 includes a trigger or plunger in communication with the liquid retaining chamber 328, which when depressed, expels liquid from the liquid retaining chamber 328. In another embodiment, the liquid retaining chamber 328 is at least partially defined by a flexible member (e.g., such as a rubber panel or section), which extends from or partially defines a back portion of the torso 302. Upon depression of the flexible member, the interior volume of the liquid retaining chamber 328 is substantially reduced so that liquid retained therein is expelled. Thus, the flexible member functions as the pump mechanism 338.
Thus, upon actuation of the pump mechanism 338, liquid retained within the liquid retaining chamber 328 is forced back out of the conduit 330. The liquid may be rapidly expelled from the opening 326, such as in a liquid spray or stream. When ejecting liquid from the opening 326, the arm 310 may be moved from its raised position C3 to a lowered position C4, shown in phantom in
In one embodiment, the object 200 may be coupled to the hand 322, such as described above. Liquid in the liquid retaining chamber 328 may thus be expelled therefrom and move through the conduit 330 to the opening 326. The liquid is then forced from the opening 326 in the hand 322 into the inlet 202 of the object 200, through the conduit 206 in the object 200, and is discharged from the outlet 204 of the object 200. Thus, the liquid may be discharged either from the outlet 204 of the object 200 when the object 200 is coupled to the hand 322 of the doll 300, or the liquid may be discharged from the opening 326 on the hand 322, such as described above.
It is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer” and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points or portions of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration. Further, terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., merely identify one of a number of portions, components and/or points of reference as disclosed herein, and do not limit the present invention to any particular configuration or orientation.
Although the disclosed inventions are illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the inventions and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. In addition, various features from one of the embodiments may be incorporated into another of the embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.
