Action amusement set with multi-purpose doll

The present invention provides an action amusement set having as a primary member a self-propelled, multi-purpose doll that can be disassembled to reveal a gameball usable with various sporting accessories included with the amusement set. The multi-purpose doll is provided with a drive mechanism for propelling and turning the doll. A remote control unit is also provided for remotely controlling the drive mechanism. The action amusement set includes several types of gameballs that can be selectively incorporated in the multi-purpose doll but which are configured for play in connection with a particular sport. The sporting accessories of the amusement set include several components that may be arranged into suitable setups corresponding to a particular sport.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an action amusement set for use by a small 
child and, in particular, an action set having as a primary component a 
self-propelled multi-purpose doll that may easily be disassembled and its 
parts used either alone or in conjunction with other accessories provided 
with the action set. When using the action amusement set, a small child 
need only manipulate various of the action set's components to produce 
different toys with which to play, thereby providing hours of enjoyment. 
In addition to providing multiple toys, the action amusement set serves as 
an educational aid for teaching a small child several basic motor skills. 
Various dolls are known that may be taken apart and reassembled into either 
their original configuration or a different configuration. Examples of 
such toys are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,208,832 to Corriveau, U.S. Pat. 
No. 4,579,537 to Leahy, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,441 to Byer. Furthermore, 
various self-propelled toys are in existence. An example of a 
self-propelled doll that is remotely controlled is described in U.S. Pat. 
No. 4,846,752. None of these toys, however, provides an action set having 
interchangeable components that can be manipulated to produce different 
toys in accordance with the present invention. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides an action amusement set that a small child 
can, amongst other things, use to practice and play a variety of sports. A 
primary component of the amusement set is a multi-purpose doll comprising 
a head section, a torso section removably attachable to the head section, 
and a leg section removably attachable to the torso section. The torso 
section comprises a gameball usable with other sporting accessories 
included in the action set. The multi-purpose doll further comprises a 
drive mechanism located in the leg section for propelling and turning the 
leg section. A remote control mechanism is provided for remotely 
controlling the drive mechanism. 
The multi-purpose doll can be disassembled and the head section and torso 
section used separately by a child. The head section comprises a head 
member and a ball cover attached to the head member. In one embodiment, 
the head member is provided with a hole sufficiently large to allow a 
child's finger to be inserted therein such that the head section may 
operate as a puppet when the doll is disassembled. 
The drive mechanism of the multi-purpose doll comprises a first drive 
source, a drive wheel coupled to the first drive source and protruding at 
least partially outside the leg section, a second drive source, and a 
turning disk coupled to the second driving source and the drive wheel. The 
first drive source is operable to rotate the drive wheel about a 
substantially horizontal axis, thereby causing the leg section to move 
forward. The second drive source is operable to rotate the turning disk, 
thereby causing the drive wheel and leg section to turn about a 
substantially vertical axis. 
Among the sporting accessories included in the action amusement set is a 
plurality of replacement gameballs that are interchangeable with the 
gameball of the torso section. The accessories also include a tripod 
assembly, comprising three legs and a tri-joint connector for removably 
connecting the legs, and a net adapted to partially surround the tripod 
assembly thereby forming a goal into which a child can kick, roll, or 
throw one of the gameballs. The sporting accessories also include a 
backboard adapted to be mounted to the tripod assembly and having an 
opening through which one of the gameballs can be thrown. Other sporting 
accessories as explained further below are provided with the action set so 
that a child may arrange different sport setups for play.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The action amusement set of the present invention can provide a child with 
hours of enjoyment by exposing him or her to a variety of sports. Included 
in the action set is a self-propelled, multi-purpose doll that can be 
disassembled to reveal a gameball usable with various sporting accessories 
also included with the action amusement set. The action amusement set 
includes several types of gameballs that can be selectively incorporated 
in the multi-purpose doll but which are configured for play in connection 
with a particular sport. The sporting accessories of the amusement set 
include several components that may be arranged into suitable setups 
corresponding to a particular sport. When using the action amusement set, 
a child may choose amongst a variety of games to play. The child can play 
with the multi-purpose doll separately or, by simple manipulations of the 
action set components, play one of several different sports available. In 
addition to providing a child with multiple sources of amusement, the 
action set also provides an educational aid for teaching the child various 
basic motor skills. 
FIG. 1 illustrates the multi-purpose doll 20 that serves as the primary 
member of the action amusement set. The doll 20, shown in its fully 
assembled configuration, comprises three major components that are 
removably joined together. When fully assembled, the doll 20 resembles a 
caricature of an athlete wearing athletic apparel and may be remotely 
operated by a child 25 to move forward and to the left or right. When 
disassembled, two of the major components may be used separately as 
different toys. 
With reference to FIG. 2, the three major components are a head section 30, 
a body section 35 in the form of a gameball, and a leg stand 40 which 
houses a motorized unit for propelling forward and turning the doll 20. 
The head section 30 includes a head 48 and a ball cover 50 attached to the 
head 48 by suitable conventional means such as stitching, glue or the 
like. Preferably, the head 48 is hollow and made of rubber or other 
suitable material. The ball cover 50 serves to conceal the gameball 35 
when the doll is fully assembled. Preferably, the cover 50 is made of a 
spandex material which allows the cover to snuggly fit over the gameball 
35. Other clothing material, however, may be used as well. Two arm 
segments 55A and 55B are attached to the outside surface of the ball cover 
in order to give the toy the appearance of being a complete figure when 
fully assembled. The arm segments 55A and 55B, preferably are made of 
cloth and are sewn to an upper part of the cover. 
The ball cover 50 includes a zipper 58 that allows the cover to more easily 
be pulled over the gameball 35. A drawstring 56 is also provided to assist 
in securing the ball cover 50 around the gameball 35. As discussed further 
below, the zipper 58 and drawstring 56 additionally serve as educational 
aids for teaching the child several dressing skills. 
In a preferred embodiment, the head 48 has at its base a hole 60 that is 
sufficiently large to allow a child's finger to be inserted therethrough. 
Consequently, when the head section 30 is detached from the body section 
35, it may be used as a puppet, thus providing the child with a different 
toy for play. 
Furthermore, when the multi-purpose doll 20 is disassembled, the gameball 
35 provides the child with another different toy for play. In FIG. 2, the 
gameball 35 resembles a basketball. Preferably, however, the amusement set 
includes other gameballs resembling a football, volleyball, bowling ball, 
and soccer ball, and which can be used to replace the gameball 35 in the 
multi-purpose doll 20. The gameballs preferably are made of foam rubber, 
making the gameballs easier and safer to handle. The gameball 35 and the 
leg stand 40 are each provided with a friction patch 45A and 45B, 
respectively, such as that sold under the trademark Velcro, to allow the 
components to be removably attached to one another. 
The leg stand 40 is preferably made of plastic and has a generally 
hour-glass shape with overemphasized thighs and kneecaps. The leg stand 40 
also has a simulated pair of tennis shoes 61 which point at an 
approximately forty-five degree angle. The tennis shoes 61 are provided 
with a series of holes 63 through which shoe laces 64 may be threaded. The 
shoe laces provide an additional educational aid for teaching a child 
dressing skills. 
As mentioned above, the leg stand 40 houses a motorized unit (not shown in 
FIG. 2) for propelling forward and turning the doll. In a preferred 
embodiment, the leg stand 40 is supported on three wheels, two front 
wheels 62 and a rear drive wheel 65. The rear drive wheel 65 is coupled to 
the motorized unit, whereas the two front wheels 62 are attached to the 
base of the leg stand for free rotation. The front wheels 62 are not 
coupled to the motorized unit but are provided in order to add stability. 
The motorized unit within the leg stand 40 is remotely controlled by the 
user 25 by operating a remote control unit 70 (FIG. 1). The remote control 
unit 70 may send control signals to the motorized unit within the leg 
stand 40 by a hard-wire connection 72 (FIG. 1) or by radiowaves or 
infrared signals. 
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a motorized unit 75 for 
propelling the doll. The unit 75, which is housed in the leg stand 40, 
comprises a drive wheel cover 78 that encloses a guide or turning disk 80 
and several motors 82, 84, and 86. The drive wheel cover 78 is fixingly 
secured to the leg stand 40 by suitable means. The motors 82, 84, and 86 
are operable to rotate a respective spur gear 92, 94, and 96 positioned at 
distal ends of the respective motor drive shafts 93, 95 and 97. 
The disk 80 has a wheel opening 100 in which the drive wheel 65 is 
inserted. When the motorized unit 75 is fully assembled, the wheel 65 is 
pivotally attached to a wheel brace 102 on the disk 80. The motor 82 is 
mounted to the disk 80 opposite the wheel brace at motor mounts 104 such 
that the spur gear 92 may drivingly engaged the base of the wheel 65 as 
shown in FIG. 4. Motors 84 and 86 are mounted to the disk at motor mounts 
106 and 108 such that the drive shafts 95 and 97 and gear spurs 94 and, 96 
point radially outward from the center of the disk 80. 
The drive wheel cover 78 is divided into two halves which, when joined 
together, form a generally flat cylinder with a relatively large opening 
110 on the underside. The underside of the drive wheel cover 78 has a 
flange 115 that projects inwardly around the entire circumference of the 
drive wheel cover 78. The flange 115 has a bearing surface 117 on the 
interior surface thereof. 
Disposed within the cover 78 and above the flange 115 is a spur rack 120 
which extends about the entire inner circumference of the cover 78. When 
the unit 75 is fully assembled, the disk 80 is positioned between the 
flange 115 and spur rack 120. The spurs 94 and 96 of the motors 84 and 86, 
respectively, engage the upper surface of the spur rack 120. FIG. 3A is a 
partial exploded view of the spur 94 engaging the spur rack 20. As shown, 
the spur 94 and rack 120 have corresponding grooves. 
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the motors 82, 84, and 86 are coupled to 
the remote control unit 70 by a hard-wire 72. The disk 80 has an opening 
130 situated near the motor mounts 106 and 108 in order to provide access 
of the control hard-wire 72 to the individual motors. The remote unit 
control 70 houses several batteries 124 that supply the necessary power to 
the motors. In order to cause the doll to move forward, the user may 
operate a forward switch 126 on the remote control unit 70. The switch 126 
controls delivery of power from the batteries 124 to the motor 82 in order 
to drive the wheel 65, causing the drive wheel to rotate about a 
substantially horizontal axis. The terms "horizontal" and "vertical" are 
relative terms used for clarity but are not intended to limit the position 
of the multi-purpose doll. 
If the user wishes to turn the doll to the left or right, he or she may 
activate the left/right switch 128 control unit 70 in order to send power 
to either motor 84 or motor 86. The motors 84 and 86 each are arranged to 
operate such that the respective spurs 44 and 46 rotate in opposite 
directions. When power is delivered to one of the motors 84 or 86 the 
corresponding spur gear is driven over the spur rack 120 pulling the disk 
80 along and causing it to turn about a substantially vertical axis. 
Operation of the other motor causes the disk 80 to turn in the opposite 
direction. Since the wheel 65 is mounted to the disk 80, it too turns when 
the disk 80 is turned. Turning of the disk 80 causes the wheel 65 to also 
turn about a substantially vertical axis. In this way, directional control 
of the doll can be achieved. 
With the spur gears 94 and 96 resting on the spur rack 120, the respective 
drive shafts 95 and 97 carry a portion of the load produced by the weight 
of the disk 80 and the motors 82, 84 and 86 mounted on top of the disk. 
Another portion of the load, however, is carried by the flange 115. 
Preferably, a bearing surface is provided on the underside of the disk 80 
in correspondence with the bearing surface 117 on the flange 115 so that 
the disk may easily glide over the flange 115 when the disk is rotated. 
FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment of the motorized unit and control 
system, wherein the remote control system employs radiowave signals rather 
than a hardwire connection between the remote control unit and the motors. 
In particular, FIG. 5 shows a side cross-sectional view of the leg stand 
40 and the motorized unit 75. This embodiment is similar to that shown in 
FIGS. 3 and 4 except that a receiver 135 is provided in the leg stand 40 
for receiving signals from a transmitter located in a modified remote 
control unit 70' (FIG. 7). The receiver 135 includes an antenna 137 for 
receiving the signals. Batteries 140 for powering the receiver 135 and 
motors 82, 84 and 86 are housed in a battery enclosure 142 positioned in a 
backside of the leg stand 40. The batteries 40 are coupled to the receiver 
135 through line 144. The receiver 135 in turn is coupled to the motors 
82, 84, and 86 via line 146. (For clarity the complete connection is not 
illustrated in FIG. 5). 
FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a schematic of the circuitry that may be employed 
for the two embodiments of the control systems. With reference to FIG. 6, 
the circuitry illustrated corresponds to the first embodiment wherein 
hard-wire connections are made between the remote control unit 70 and the 
motors 82, 84, and 86 (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). The batteries 124 that 
are housed in the remote control unit 70 are coupled to the forward switch 
126 and the left/right switch 128. Activation of the switches allows power 
to be supplied from the batteries 124 to the particular motors 82, 84, and 
86 in the leg stand 40. 
With reference to FIG. 7, the modified remote control unit 70' of the 
second embodiment houses a transmitter 150, a microprocessor chip 155, and 
batteries 157 for powering the transmitter. The batteries 157 are coupled 
to the forward switch 126 and left/right switch 128. The switches in turn 
are coupled to the microprocessor chip 155. The microprocessor 155 
converts the signals received from the switches 126 and 128 into control 
signals and sends the control signals to the transmitter 15 for 
transmission via antenna 160 to the receiver antenna 137 on leg stand 40. 
The receiver antenna 137 provides the control signals to the receiver unit 
135. The receiver unit 135 includes a receiver 162 that is coupled to a 
switch 154. The switch 154 responds to the control signals received by the 
receiver 162 in order to send power from the batteries 140 to selected 
ones of the motors 82, 84, and 86. 
As explained above, the multi-purpose doll 20 provides the child with 
multiple toys with which to play. The child may use the multi-purpose doll 
20 in its assembled or disassembled configuration. When assembled, the 
doll 20 functions as an action toy that can be remotely controlled to move 
forward and turn to the left or right. Furthermore, the child can 
manipulate the zipper 58, drawstring 56, and shoe laces 64 and thereby 
practice different dressing skills. When disassembled, the head section 30 
may function as a puppet and the body section 35 provides a gameball that 
may be used in conjunction with various sporting accessories provided with 
the action amusement set. 
FIGS. 8 through 14, illustrate the sporting accessories included in the 
amusement set and various sporting setups that can be arranged from the 
accessories. With reference to FIG. 8, the primary accessory is a tripod 
assembly 180 comprising three legs or poles 183 and a tri-joint connector 
186. The legs 183 have threaded ends 185 that allow the legs 183 to be 
connected to the connector 186 and other accessories. The connector 186 is 
provided with corresponding threaded bores in extensions 189. Also shown 
in FIG. 8 is one of a plurality of casters 191 that are included in the 
amusement set and which can be screwed to the ends of the legs 183 so that 
the tripod assembly 180 can be easily moved. 
The tripod components preferably are made of aluminum or plastic but may be 
made of other suitable material. As illustrated in the remaining FIG. 
8-13, the tripod components can be arranged with other accessories of the 
action set to create sporting setups corresponding to a bowling game, 
soccer game, football game, basketball game, volleyball game, and 
weightlifting game. 
With reference to FIG. 9, the tripod assembly is arranged with a nylon net 
193 positioned about the fully assembled tripod 180, a plurality of 
plastic bowling pins 198, and a gameball 201 resembling a bowling ball in 
order to create a bowling game setup. The net 193 is held in place by 
looping portions of the net about the tripod 180 and tying the net to the 
legs 183 with string. With the accessories so arranged, a child can roll 
the gameball 201 to the pins 198 and practice knocking them down. 
Alternatively, the child can remove the bowling pins 198 and practice 
kicking a gameball resembling a soccer ball into the net and thereby 
practice soccer kicking skills. 
With reference to FIGS. 10 through 11B, a football game setup is shown 
whereby the tripod 180 is assembled with the net 193 and a plastic 
backboard accessory 203 attached to the front tripod legs. The backboard 
203 is attached to the tripod legs by inserting the lower edge of the 
backboard 203 into brackets 196 on the front tripod legs and tying the 
upper portion of the backboard 203 to the front tripod legs by straps 205 
provided on the rear of the backboard 203. The backboard 203 has a central 
hole 207 that can be covered by a plate 209 pivotally hinged to the rear 
of the backboard as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B. During play, the child 
tosses a gameball 211, that is shaped like a football, through the opening 
207 pushing the plate 209 rearwardly. In this way, the child can practice 
the skill of throwing a football accurately. If desired, the plate 209 may 
be removed thus allowing easy passage of the gameball 211 through the 
opening 207. 
As illustrated in FIG. 12 the backboard 203 can be used separate from the 
tripod to arrange a basketball game setup. Preferably, the action set 
accessories include a basketball hoop and net 215 having a rear bracket 
218 that may be inserted through a bracket 220 provided centrally on the 
backboard 203. Separate brackets 225, only one of which is shown in FIG. 
12, are provided for attaching the backboard 203 and hoop 215 to the top 
of a door or the like. Each bracket 225 has a hook portion 227 that may be 
slipped through a respective bracket 229 on the backboard 203. The 
remaining portion of the bracket 225 can be slipped over the top of the 
door 223. With this setup, the child can practice tossing the gameball 35 
through the hoop 215 and thus develop basketball shooting skills. 
Alternatively, the backboard 203 and hoop 215 can be mounted to the tripod 
assembly in the same manner as the football game setup of FIG. 10. In 
either case the rear plate may be held in place by friction patches 221 to 
prevent the rear plate from moving. 
With reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, the sporting accessories further include 
two cone-shaped rubber bases 231 having through-holes 235 through which an 
end of a leg 183 may be inserted. As shown in FIG. 13, two of the legs 183 
may be inserted into respective bases 231 and a nylon net 237 connected 
there between in order to arrange a volleyball setup. The bases provide 
stability for holding the net 237 and legs 183 upright. With the 
volleyball setup, two or more children can practice hitting a gameball 
having the shape of a volleyball over the net 237. 
As shown in FIG. 14, the pair of bases 231 can be attached to opposite ends 
of a leg 183 to create a weight lifting setup. The bases 231 are held on 
the leg 183 by screwing nuts 239 over the threaded ends of the leg. With 
this weight lifting setup a child can practice weight lifting techniques. 
As can be appreciated from the foregoing description of the invention, the 
action amusement set can provide a child with the ability to play multiple 
games by manipulating and arranging certain of the components of the 
action set. In doing so, the child can learn various basic motor skills 
involved in several different sports which the child may encounter more 
fully in later years as well as learn motor skills necessary for dressing 
oneself. Furthermore, by providing the child with action set components 
that may be interchanged, a child may use his or her imagination to create 
different setups. 
Although the present invention has been described with reference to 
preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not 
limited to the details thereof. A number of possible substitutions and 
modifications have been suggested in the foregoing detailed description, 
and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Any such 
substitutions and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of 
the invention as defined in the appended claims.