Audible sound emitting toy

A toy such as a doll which is capable of alternately emitting one of a plurality of different audible sounds, depending on the orientation of the toy, i.e., each sound corresponds to a different orientation of the toy. Typically when the toy is a doll, the doll emits the sound of giggling or laughter when in the upright vertical position and the sound of crying when in the reclining horizontal position. At least a portion of the interior of the toy is hollow, and an arrangement is provided within the hollow interior capable of alternately emitting at least two audible sounds. A pivoted weight and a switch arrangement are disposed in the hollow interior of the toy, the switch arrangement being connected with the pivoted weight and with the arrangement for emitting sound. The pivoted weight moves to alternate positions when the orientation of the toy is changed, so that a change in the relative position of the pivoted weight causes the switch arrangement to controllably change the audible sound emitted by the arrangement for alternately emitting at least two different audible sounds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
An audible sound emitting toy. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Toys such as dolls which emit audible sounds provide a great deal of 
enjoyment for children, because of the simulation of a real-life baby, 
person or character of fiction to which the child can readily relate. A 
simple form of such a toy is one in which a sound is emitted when the toy 
is squeezed, in which case air is forced through means such as a whistle 
mounted in the body of the toy. Prior art relating to such pneumatic toys 
includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,616,217; 2,712,201; 2,745,214; 2,819,558; 
2,928,208; and 3,075,317; British Pat. No. 814,021; and French Pat. Nos. 
1,031,489; 1,038,887 and 1,171,083. 
Other toys rely on the winding of a spring-motor, e.g. by the turning of a 
key or by the pulling of a string, cord or wire by the child, to wind up 
and/or actuate the sound-producing unit which is usually a toy phonograph 
within the body of the toy. Prior art of this nature includes U.S. Pat. 
Nos. 3,165,320; 3,261,124; 3,282,588; 3,298,130; 3,315,406; 3,600,848; 
3,636,654; 3,636,655 and 3,859,749; and French Pat. No. 1,104,910. 
More sophisticated devices have been recently developed in which an 
electrically operated unit is installed in the toy to emit a sound. 
Usually the unit is battery-operated and the sound is emitted by throwing 
a switch. Prior art relative to such a unit includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 
3,467,393 and 3,589,735, and Japanese Pat. No. 793,915. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
1. Purposes of the Invention 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved audible 
sound emitting toy. 
Another object is to provide such a toy which is capable of alternatively 
emitting one of a plurality of audible sounds, each sound corresponding to 
a different orientation of the toy. 
An additional object is to provide a toy doll which emits the sound of 
laughter and/or giggling when in the upright vertical position, and the 
sound of crying when in the reclining horizontal position. 
A further object is to provide an audible sound emitting toy which emits 
different sounds in different positions. 
Still another object is to provide such a toy with integral time delay 
means with respect to the emission of at least one sound. 
Still a further object is to provide such a toy in the form of a doll, with 
integral means to open or close the eyes of the doll in accordance with 
the particular orientation of the doll. 
An additional object is to provide an audible sound emitting toy which 
relies on integral air-actuated mechanical means for time delay with 
respect to the emission of at least one sound and also with respect to a 
change in the position of a member such as a lid over a recess. 
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become 
evident from the description which follows. 
2. Brief Description of the Invention 
In the present invention, an improved audible sound emitting toy is 
provided in which the toy is capable of emitting a plurality of audible 
sounds, each sound corresponding to a different orientation of the toy. 
The toy is characterized by the provision of an enclosure which is at 
least a portion of the toy. At least a portion of the interior of the 
enclosure is hollow, i.e. a hollow toy is contemplated. At least a portion 
of the enclosure adjacent or surrounding the hollow interior portion is 
foraminous, to permit the egress of sound from the hollow interior portion 
of the toy, in which portion is disposed suitable means to alternately 
emit at least two different audible sounds. A pivoted weight and switch 
means are provided within the hollow interior portion of the enclosure. 
The switch means is connected with the pivoted weight and with the means 
to alternately emit at least two different audible sounds. The pivoted 
weight moves to an alternate position when the orientation of the toy is 
changed, so that a change in the relative position of the pivoted weight 
causes the switch means to controllably change the audible sound emitted 
by the means to alternately emit at least two different audible sounds. 
The toy is preferably a doll, in which case the enclosure is typically the 
torso of the doll. When the toy is a doll, generally the first orientation 
of the doll will be an upright vertical position and the second 
orientation of the doll will be a reclining horizontal position. In this 
case, typically the doll will emit the simulated sounds of giggling or 
laughter, resembling the sounds of an actual baby when held and petted, 
when in the upright vertical position. When in the alternative reclining 
horizontal position, the doll typically will emit the sounds of crying, 
preferably after a delay of a time interval, such as 30 seconds, attained 
by the provision of time delay means in the structure, as will appear 
infra. Thus, in this preferred embodiment, the child playing with the doll 
is led to believe and feel that a true simulation of a real baby is 
attained, i.e. a baby that needs the constant care and attention of the 
child. This effect is attained since, when the doll is placed in a toy 
cradle or the like so that the doll is in the horizontal position, the 
doll starts to cry, typically after a time interval. Thus the child is led 
to pick up the doll, and hold the doll in her arms, or upright in a 
vertical position, or even against her shoulder, for cuddling, comforting, 
coddling, and care in general, at which point the doll emits simulated 
sounds of giggling, cooing and/or laughter to show happiness. The sequence 
is repeated when it is time for the child to put the doll to sleep again 
in the cradle. Within the context of the present invention, it will be 
understood that the term giggling encompasses and includes cooing, 
laughter and other gleeful sounds. 
Any suitable means known to the art may be provided within the hollow 
interior of the toy to alternately emit at least two different audible 
sounds. Such means preferably is of the character described in U.S. Pat. 
Nos. 3,467,393 and 3,589,735, and Japanese Pat. No. 793,915, which 
described means are typically battery-operated, however, pneumatic or 
spring-motor operated means to alternately emit at least two different 
audible sounds are also contemplated as being within the scope of the 
present invention. 
In a preferred embodiment, the pivoting of the weight is attained by 
mounting the weight on a pivoted beam. In this case, suitable means may be 
provided to alternately open and close a lidded recess such as an eye 
socket in conjunction with motion of the pivoted weight. Thus the pivoted 
beam typically extends in one direction to the weight and in another 
direction to a pin which cooperates with any suitable member. Typically 
the toy has at least one recess, which recess contains a pivoted member 
having a weighted bias, and the pin alternately displaces or releases the 
pivoted member of the recess, which recess typically is a simulated eye 
socket, i.e., the pivoted member of the recess is a simulated eyeball. The 
simulated eyeball is typically pivoted and weighted on a bias so that the 
simulated eyelid only opens when the pin is extended into the eye socket 
by the beam, and thus the pin spontaneously retracts and the eyelid closes 
when the beam ceases to exert force against the pin. 
In a preferred embodiment, a time delay sequence is provided so that, e.g., 
the eyelid only opens slowly, typically over a 30 second time interval, 
because the beam only gradually displaces the pin into the eye socket. 
This simulates the gradual awakening of a toy doll when it is placed in 
the horizontal reclining position. In this case, the pivoted weight is 
movable to a first position without hindrance when the toy is in a first 
orientation, and the motion of the pivoted weight to a second position 
when the toy is in a second orientation is hindered by time delay means 
which permit gradual displacement of the pivoted weight to the second 
position over a finite time interval, e.g., 30 seconds. The time delay 
means preferably includes a flexible resilient bellows mounted on a rigid 
mounting, and a bleed valve and a flap valve. The bleed and flap valves 
are also mounted on the rigid mounting, with the flap valve controlling 
the passage of air into the bellows so that air can rapidly pass into the 
bellows when the bellows expands, with the flap valve being a one-way 
valve so that passage of air out of the bellows through the flap valve 
when the bellows contracts is precluded. The bleed valve controls the 
passage of air out of the bellows, so that air can only gradually pass out 
of the bellows when the bellows contracts. Typically the bellows contracts 
due to pressure of the pivoted weight when the toy is in the second 
orientation, and the bellows expands when the pressure of the pivoted 
weight is relieved when the toy is in the first orientation. 
The bleed valve typically is a substantially cylindrical pin having an 
annular longitudinal flat section, with the substantially cylindrical pin 
extending through a circular opening in the rigid mounting. The pin 
preferably terminates with an enlargement within the enclosure formed by 
the bellows and the rigid mounting, which enlargement is generally 
juxtaposed with the rigid mounting. The enlargement typically is a 
disc-shaped cap coaxially aligned with the substantially cylindrical pin; 
generally in this case the rigid mounting is circular, the bellows is 
generally cylindrical, and the rigid mounting and the bellows are 
coaxially aligned with the cap and pin. 
The present toy provides several salient advantages. Since different sounds 
are emitted at different orientations of the toy, a child derives a great 
deal of pleasure and enjoyment in playing with and manipulating the toy, 
since not only visual but also the aural senses are stimulated. Thus, the 
simulation of a living toy such as a doll is greatly enhanced. The toy 
thus appeals greatly to children of all ages, and serves to stimulate the 
mind processes of the child due to the relating in the child's mind of the 
position or orientation of the toy with a particular sound. When the toy 
is a doll the simulation of a real-life baby is such that the child feels, 
in a preferred embodiment of the toy, that the doll actually needs the 
child and wants to be picked up, held, and fondled or coddled, as 
described supra. Thus the toy provides a new sense of responsibility in 
the mind of a child. The toy employs components which are relatively 
inexpensive to fabricate and assemble, and the toy is of low cost and is 
durable and reliable in service. Finally, the toy provides a sense of 
companionship to a child playing alone, such as a child with no siblings 
in the family. 
The invention consists in the features of construction, combination of 
elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the 
article of manufacture hereinafter described and of which the scope of 
application will be indicated in the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the doll 20 of FIG. 1, initially held 
vertically upright by the child 22 in FIG. 1, has just been placed by the 
child 22 on a horizontal surface in FIG. 2, so that, inter alia, eyes 24 
in the doll head 26, which were initially open, are now closed in FIG. 2. 
The internal structure of an eye 24 is shown in FIG. 3. The movable 
portion of the eye 24 basically consists of a pivoted member having a 
front portion 28, a weighted rear portion 30, and a central pivot axis 32. 
The front portion 28 is provided with simulated eyelid 34, simulated 
eyelashes 36 and a simulated eyeball 38 with pupil 40 (FIG. 5). A rear pin 
42 mounted in a sleeve 44 at the rear of the eye 24 serves to displace the 
elements 28 and 30 in a generally arcuate path about the pivot mounting 
axis 32, when the pin 42 is displaced forwards, as will appear infra, 
whereupon the eye will open. 
FIG. 3 shows details of the internal structure of the invention in doll 
torso 46, which is a foraminous enclosure, being provided with a plurality 
of front openings 48, so that a sound emitted by a means 50 to alternately 
emit at least two different sounds may readily emanate from the interior 
of the torso 46 through the outer garment 52 of the doll (FIGS. 1 and 2) 
to the outside of the doll and thus be heard by a child. The means 50 in 
this embodiment of the invention is of a configuration and structure as 
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,467,393 and 3,589,735 and Japanese Pat. No. 
793,915, and is powered by a battery 54. 
A weight 56 is pivoted by being attached to a beam 58 which extends to a 
pivotal mounting 60 having an axle 62. The beam 58 extends upwards from 
the pivot point or mounting 60 to a paddle 64 which, as will appear infra, 
moves in an arcuate path indicated by arrow 65 towards pin 42 and then 
forces pin 42 into sleeve 44 and against the weighted section 30 so as to 
force the eye 24 to open. The weight 56 rests upon the top section 66 of a 
generally cylindrical bellows 68 which is composed of a flexible and 
resilient material such as natural or synthetic rubber, e.g., neoprene, 
buna or the like or such as a resilient plastic, e.g., certain types of 
polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. The corrugations 70 in bellows 68 permit 
the compression and ultimate collapse of the bellows 68 as the weight 56 
pivots about axle 62 and bears down against the top section 66 in the 
direction generally indicated by the arrow 72. 
Immediate total compression and collapse of the bellows 68 is prevented by 
the provision of air egress time delay means, so that the compression of 
the bellows 68 is gradual. This provides a finite time interval, e.g. 30 
seconds, during which the beam 58 slowly pivots about pivot means 60. Thus 
when the child first places the doll in a reclining horizontal position as 
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, e.g., into a toy crib, the eyes 24 do not 
immediately open, since paddle 64 only moves slowly towards pin 42. 
Ultimately, after the time interval has elapsed and a position is achieved 
which is shown in FIG. 5, the bellows 68 is totally collapsed and the 
paddle 64 has moved against and displaced the pin 42 slowly forwards and 
into the eye 24 from the rear, so that the eye is gradually opened to a 
fully open position. 
Concomitantly, the audible sound emitted by the doll changes from e.g. 
giggling, to crying. This is accomplished by the provision of switch means 
74 in conjunction with the beam 58. The switch means 74 in this embodiment 
of the invention is characterized by the provision of a first pole 76, a 
second pole 78, and a spring-biased throw member 80. The member 80 is 
spring biased towards completion of a circuit with pole member 76, which 
results in the emanation of giggling from the doll means 50. This occurs 
when the doll is in the upright position and when a tab or tongue 82 on 
beam 58 does not press against throw member 80. In this case a circuit is 
completed via wire 84, throw member 80, pole 76 and wire 86; the wires 84 
and 86 lead to the appropriate circuit in means 50 such that the sound of 
giggling or laughter is generated. 
When the pivoted weight 56 starts to move downwards against surface 66, as 
in the FIG. 3 configuration, at the onset, beam 58 pivots about axle 62 
and tongue 82 displaces throw member 80 away from contact with terminal 
tab 88 on pole 76, so that the circuit is broken, all sound ceases, and 
the throw member 80 moves in the space between tab 88 and the terminal tab 
90 on pole 78, during the finite time interval of e.g. 30 seconds. When 
the motion of beam 58 is finally completed as shown in FIG. 5, tongue 82 
has displaced throw member 80 into a contact with tab 90 of pole 78, so 
that an alternate circuit to means 50 is completed and the doll commences 
to cry, i.e., the audible sound of crying emanates from means 50. The 
crying sound will continue until the doll is picked up and again held 
vertically, as will appear infra. Concomitantly with the onset of crying, 
as discussed supra, the eye 24 has opened to the fully open position, and 
thus the simulation of a baby, in the reclining position, who has 
awakened, opened its eyes and started to cry, is complete. 
A typical time delay means of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 
3A. As mentioned supra, the time delay means functions by the gradual 
egress of air from bellows 68, so that the bellows 68 only gradually 
compresses and deforms to the collapsed state under the influence of 
weight 56 pressing against top section or surface 66 of the bellows. This 
is accomplished in this embodiment of the invention by mounting bellows 68 
on a rigid circular mount 92 which in turn is mounted to the inner torso 
of the doll on lateral arms 94 which extend and are attached by screws 96 
(FIG. 6), to inner pedestals 98 integral with the doll torso 46. It will 
be appreciated that similar mountings are provided for the other inner 
appurtenances of the doll, such as e.g. means 50. In any event, the time 
delay means includes structural elements in conjunction with mounting 92, 
consisting in this embodiment of the invention of a bleed valve mounted to 
mounting 92, for controlled egress of air from bellows 68 through mounting 
92. The bleed valve preferably consists of a central substantially 
cylindrical pin 100 having an annular longitudinal flat section 102 for 
controlled egress of air, which pin 100 extends through a central circular 
opening 104 in the rigid mounting. Thus, as best shown in FIG. 3A, a 
minute passage of controlled dimension, for air egress, is defined between 
the flat edge of section 102 and the arcuate edge of opening 104. The pin 
100 is integral with an enlargement within the enclosure formed by the 
bellows 68 and the rigid mounting 92, which enlargement holds the pin 100 
in position and consists in this embodiment of the invention of a 
disc-shaped cap 106 coaxially aligned with the pin 100; the circular rigid 
mounting 92 and the cylindrical bellows 68 are coaxially aligned with the 
cap 106 and the pin 100. 
Further structure is provided in conjunction with mounting 92, so that air 
may gush into bellows 68 as it deforms back and assumes a fully extended 
configuration, when the doll is picked up and held vertically by the child 
22. As best shown in FIG. 7, the instant the doll is picked up and held 
vertically, pivoted weight 56 immediately swings on the beam 58 so that 
pressure on bellows 68 ceases to exist. The contracted corrugations 70 
immediately begin to exert a force, in a direction indicated by the arrow 
108, so as to distend the bellows 68 to a fully extended position. In 
order to permit air to gush into bellows 68, which obviously could not 
occur through or via the bleed valve described supra, due to the very 
restricted orifice of the bleed valve, a one-way flap valve is also 
provided in conjunction with rigid mounting 92. The flap valve controls 
the passage of air into the bellows 68 so that air can rapidly pass into 
the bellows 68 when it expands, with the flap valve being a one-way valve 
so that passage of air out of the bellows 68 through the flap valve, when 
the bellows 68 contracts, is precluded. The flap valve basically includes 
a disc-shaped flexible resilient flap member 110 mounted between cap 106 
and mounting 92, together with a small hole or opening 112 in the rigid 
mounting within the perimeter of the flap member 110. Thus, as best seen 
in FIG. 7, the flap valve permits rapid one-way flow of a gushing stream 
114 of air into the bellows 68 when it expands and moves in the direction 
of arrow 108, while as shown in FIG. 3, when the bellows is contracting, 
flap member 110 presses against mounting 92 and effectively closes off 
hole 112 against air flow. The annular mounting 116 of bellows 68 on the 
rigid disc-shaped or circular mount 92 also precludes annular air flow 
into or out of the bellows 68. 
It will be apparent from the foregoing that some means must be interposed, 
in this embodiment of the invention, to shut off the means 50 when the 
doll is not being played with. FIG. 6 shows a typical means for this 
purpose, consisting of an on-off switch 118, which when in the on position 
as shown by the full lines, forces the end 120 of a flexible spring-like 
electric current transfer member 122 against a junction contact 124, so 
that an electric circuit is completed between wires 126 and 128, which 
permits electric current to flow through wires 126 and 128 and from the 
battery to the means 50. The phantom outline of elements 118 and 120 in 
FIG. 6 indicates the off position of the switch 118, at which time the end 
120 of current transfer member 122 is spaced from contact 124. The 
orientation of the switch 118 at the side of the torso 46 in the assembled 
doll is shown in FIG. 9. 
FIG. 8 shows details of the pivotal mounting 60 of the beam 58. Support 
elements 130 and 132 extend from the torso 46 to hold and support the ends 
of the axle 62. FIG. 10 shows the mounting of the battery 54 in the upper 
rear of the torso 46. A cover plate 134 snaps into place to conceal the 
battery 54. A cross-sectional detail of the configuration of this cover 
plate 134 is shown in FIG. 3. Finally, the joints between the arms, legs 
or head 26 and the torso 46 have been shown to some extent in FIGS. 3, 6 
and 7. These joints are of the usual configuration for dolls and will not 
be described in detail, in the interest of brevity. Likewise, the mounting 
of inner appurtenances such as means 50 to the torso 46 have been shown to 
some extent, however, these mountings will not be described in detail; 
they are similar to the mounting of member 92 to the torso as described 
supra. 
It thus will be seen that there is provided an audible sound emitting toy 
which achieves the various objects of the invention and which is well 
adapted to meet the conditions of practical use. 
As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and 
as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is 
to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the 
accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a 
limiting sense. Thus, it will be understood by those skilled in the art 
that although preferred and alternative embodiments have been shown and 
described in accordance with the Patent Statutes, the invention is not 
limited thereto or thereby.