A doll includes a torso slidingly supported upon the waist of the doll and configured for vertical movement between a raised and lowered position. A pair of springs bias the doll torso toward the raised position. The doll supports a pair of arms and a cam in a rotational attachment to the torso. A pedestal supported upon the doll lower body extends through a guiding bore formed in the doll torso and supports an upwardly extending pin which operates the cam causing pivotal movement of the dolls arms between an arms-lowered and arms-raised position. A flexible jumprope is secured to the dolls hands and the upward and downward pivotal movement of the dolls arms caused by movement of the torso provides a simulation of jumprope activity.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 This invention relates generally to dolls and particularly to those which
 include apparatus for manipulating the dolls appendages to mimic certain
 human-like activities.
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 Dolls which perform activities are well known in the art and have been
 provided for many years. The activities performed by such dolls are
 virtually endless in variety and have included virtually all human
 activities including walking, talking, eating, sleeping, crawling,
 skating, swimming and the playing of various sports and activities. The
 mechanisms provided within such activity performing dolls have been
 equally varied through the years as practitioners have sought to perfect
 the activity doll. Thus, dolls have been provided which include
 battery-power sources and electric motors operating various limb movement
 apparatus. Earlier dolls utilized movement apparatus which was spring
 powered by wind-up motors. Still other activity dolls have been provided
 which utilize a manual or hand powered activity. Such hand powered
 activity dolls are characterized generally by having articulated parts
 such as limbs or appendages together with an internal movement mechanism
 which drives the activity feature.
 Among the various types of dolls which are well known in the art, perhaps
 the most challenging type of doll which is adapted for performing various
 activities is found in the type of dolls known generally as "fashion
 dolls". Fashion dolls are generally described as relatively small and
 slender dolls having hard molded plastic bodies and articulated arms, legs
 and head. The small size of such types of dolls render the process of
 fitting an internal drive mechanism suitable for activity performance
 within the limited space of the doll body difficult if not some times
 impossible.
 In the face of the continued popularity and consumer appeal of activity
 type dolls, practitioners in the art have provided various improved dolls
 and apparatus therefore. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,603,030 issued to
 Bart et al. sets forth a JUMPING TOY which is capable of jumping rope. The
 rope jumping is accomplished by providing a doll body capable of sliding
 up and down upon its legs and having an internal spring and drive
 apparatus. The internal spring provides energy for the drive apparatus
 which in turn is coupled to a synchronized movement mechanism which
 rotates the dolls arms and passes a jump rope beneath the dolls feet as
 the feet are snapped upwardly into the doll body.
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,039 issued to Balgin sets forth a ROPE-SKIPPING TOY
 which closely imitates rope jumping by a human. A battery-powered motor is
 activated and deactivated by lightly pressing on the top of the dolls
 head. Once in motion, the doll appears to swirl the rope overhead and
 underfoot while effecting a jump each time the rope passes beneath the
 dolls feet.
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,219 issued to Price sets forth an ACTION CHARACTER
 FIGURE having a torso, a rotatable arm supported on the torso and a leg
 portion which is retractable into the lower end of the torso. The arm is
 connected to the leg within the interior of the torso such that rotation
 of the arm causes the leg to be retracted into the torso against a biasing
 spring. Releasing the arm causes a reverse action and a jumping action.
 U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,026 issued to Newton et al. sets forth an FIGURE
 WHEREIN MANIPULATION OF ONE LIMB CAUSES MOTION OF ANOTHER having a toy
 figure in which a pivotally supporting leg operates an internal drive
 mechanism within the doll torso. The drive mechanism in turn causes a
 pivotal movement of one of the doll arms.
 U.S. Pat. No. 3,744,182 issued to Terzian et al. sets forth a
 SELF-PROPELLED TOY having a toy figure supporting a movable weight mass
 within the body interior. The weight mass is operated to be moved rapidly
 between first and second positions to induce a vertical jumping movement
 of the toy. A rotatable arm pair supports a jump rope which is passed
 beneath the doll feet as the doll is moved vertically.
 U.S. Pat. No. 1,331,378 issued to Roberts sets forth a DOLL having a base
 supporting a vertical member upon which a wind up motor drive is further
 supported. The motor drive is coupled to a horizontally extending shaft
 which in turn is coupled to the shoulders of a toy figure. The toy figure
 includes a jump rope which is rotated as the wind up mechanism rotates the
 doll arms and periodically lifts the toy vertically.
 U.S. Pat. No. 1,594,649 issued to Trautmann sets forth an SKIPPING TOY
 having a doll within which a fly wheel is rotatably supported. The fly
 wheel provides a source of rotational power when rotated by a pull-string
 which in turn is used to move the doll arms in a simulated rope jumping
 action.
 U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,330 issued to Abe sets forth a TOY AMUSEMENT DEVICE
 having a housing supporting a plurality of rotatable members.
 While the foregoing described prior art devices have improved the art and
 in some instances enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a
 continuing need in the art for ever more improved, interesting and amusing
 activity dolls.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provided an
 improved activity doll. It is a more particular object of the present
 invention to provide an improved activity doll which simulates jump rope
 activity. It is a still more particular object of the present invention to
 provide an improved activity performing doll which simulates jump rope
 activity and which utilizes a mechanism and play pattern suitable for use
 in fashion dolls or the like.
 In accordance with the present invention there is provided a doll
 simulating a jumprope action, the doll comprising: a doll body having a
 torso, a waist and means for supporting the torso upon the waist moveable
 between a raised and a lowered position; a pair of arms pivotally secured
 to the torso; cam means, operative in response to movement of the torso,
 for pivoting the arms between an arms-lowered and an arms-raised position;
 and a jumprope coupled to the arms, the torso being rapidly moved between
 the raised and lowered position to rapidly pivot the arms between the
 arms-raised and arms-lowered positions and move the jumprope.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of a jumprope simulating doll
 constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally
 referenced by numeral 10. Doll 10 is configured to generally resemble a
 young girl or women and is a type of doll which may generally be described
 as a "fashion doll". Doll 10 includes a body 11 fabricated of a relatively
 rigid material such as molded plastic or the like and defining a torso 12,
 a waist 24 and a pair of legs 20 and 22. A pair of feet 21 and 23 are
 joined to the body ends of legs 20 and 22. Torso 12 further defines a neck
 13 which supports a head 14. The structure of neck 13 and head 14 together
 with the structure of legs 20 and 22 may be carried forward using
 conventional fabrication techniques.
 Body 11 further includes a pair of arms 15 and 17 which are pivotally
 secured to torso 12 in the manner set forth below in FIGS. 2 through 5.
 Suffice it to note here, that arms 15 and 17 defines respective hands 16
 and 18 and are pivotally joined to the shoulder portions of torso 12.
 In accordance with the present invention, doll 10 further includes a
 jumprope 30 preferably formed of a some what flexible cord or line having
 a pair of handles 31 and 32 at the ends thereof. Handles 31 and 32 are
 received within hands 16 and 18 which define respective passages 26 and 28
 therein. Passages 26 and 28 are configured and sized to receive handles 31
 and 32 in a firm snug fit such that jumprope 30 remains held by hands 16
 and 18 in the manner shown in FIG. 1.
 Doll 10 further includes an outer garment 19 formed of a flexible fabric
 material which substantially covers torso 12, waist 24 and legs 20 and 22.
 Garment 19 is sufficiently flexible and loose to allow the movement of
 torso 12 described below toward and away from waist 24 in the operative
 action of the present invention doll.
 In operation, torso 12 is shown in FIG. 1 in its relaxed position in which
 no force is applied to body 11 and in which torso 12 is extended to the
 position shown in FIG. 2. In this extended position by means set forth
 below in FIGS. 2 through 5, torso 12 and the operative mechanism within
 body 11 described below position arms 15 and 17 in the downwardly
 extending position shown in FIG. 1. To operate the play activity of the
 present invention doll, the user grasps torso 12 in a convenient manner
 and forces torso 12 downwardly toward waist 24 in the direction indicated
 by arrow 33. By means set forth below in greater detail, the downward
 force upon torso 12 moves torso 12 downwardly in the direction indicated
 by arrow 33 toward waist 24. Correspondingly, the downward motion of torso
 12 operates in the manner set forth below in FIGS. 2 through 5 to pivot
 arms 15 and 17 upwardly in the directions indicated by arrows 34 and 35 to
 the arms-raised position shown in FIG. 3.
 As the user then releases torso 12, the return springs (springs 76 and 78
 in FIG. 4) operative upon torso 12 force torso 12 upwardly returning torso
 12 to the position shown in FIG. 1. Concurrently, the return travel of
 torso 12 operates in the manner set forth below in FIGS. 2 through 5 to
 pivot arms 15 and 17 downwardly from the arms-raised position of FIG. 3 to
 the arms-lowered position of FIG. 1. As the user becomes skillful in
 timing the downward force and release upon torso 12 and the movement of
 torso 12 caused by such downward force and release, the movement of arms
 15 and 17 between the hands lowered position and hands raised position on
 a repeated basis causes jumprope 30 to appear to undergo a jumprope play
 pattern motion. In truth, jumprope 30 does not undergo an actual jumprope
 action and does not pass above head 14 and beneath feet 21 and 23.
 Instead, jumprope 30 moves up and down in a swinging motion in front of
 doll 10 thereby simulating a jumprope action. It has been found children
 become very skilled at manipulating the present invention doll and
 imparting a "jumping" action to the doll as they force torso 12 down and
 release or raise torso 12 and thereby produce a very good simulation of
 jumprope action.
 FIG. 2 sets forth a partial section rear view of doll 10 taken along
 section lines 2--2 in FIG. 1. By way of overview, it will noted that the
 section view of FIG. 2 shows the operative mechanism of doll 10 in a
 relaxed or natural position in which the doll torso is positioned in its
 upward position and in which the doll arms are extended downwardly in the
 arms down position.
 More specifically, doll 10 includes a body 11 preferably formed of molded
 plastic components or the like and having a torso 12 defining an interior
 cavity 65 and supporting a wall 61 therein. Wall 61 defines a center bore
 62 and an elongated vertical slot 63. Torso 12 further includes a pair of
 shoulder sockets 40 and 41 and a neck 13. As described above, neck 13
 supports a head 14 (seen in FIG. 1) in accordance with conventional
 fabrication techniques. Torso 12 further includes a pair of plates 50 and
 52 defining respective notches 51 and 53.
 Doll 10 further includes a pair of arms 15 and 17 having respective ball
 ends 43 and 42 which are received within sockets 41 and 40 respectively.
 Arm 15 includes a hand 16 which receives handle 31 of jumprope 30 while
 arm 17 defines a hand 18 which receives a handle 32 of jumprope 30. Arm 15
 further includes a shaft 45 extending inwardly from ball end 43 which
 extends through notch 53 of plate 52. A pair of flanges 48 and 49 are
 supported upon shaft 45 on each side of plate 52. Similarly, arm 17
 includes a shaft 44 extending inwardly from ball end 42 and received
 within notch 51. Shaft 44 supports a pair of flanges 46 and 47 on either
 side of plate 50. Shaft 44 and shaft 45 are mutually joined to a
 triangularly shaped cam 60 extending between flanges 47 and 49. In the
 preferred fabrication of the present invention, shafts 44 and 45 together
 with cam 60 and flanges 46, 47, 48 and 49 are fabricated as a single
 integrally formed unit. Further in accordance with the preferred
 fabrication of the present invention, shaft 44 is securely joined to ball
 end 42 while shaft 45 is secured joined to ball end 43. As a result, the
 combined structure of arms 15 and 17 together with shafts 44 and 45 and
 cam 60 are rotated as a single rotational unit.
 Body 11 further includes a waist 24 supported upon a pair of legs 20 and
 22. A base 70 includes a cylindrical pedestal 71 extending upwardly
 through bore 62 and fitted within bore 62 to allow free sliding movement
 thereon. Pedestal 71 further includes a pin 75 extending outwardly from
 pedestal 71 which is received within slot 63. Slot 63 and pin 75 cooperate
 to provide a travel limit for relative movement between pedestal 71 and
 torso 72.
 Pedestal 71 further includes an upwardly extending pin 72. A spring 76 is
 received within a bore 73 formed in body 11 at waist 24. Spring 76 extends
 upwardly from bore 73 beyond base 70 and is captivated against the lower
 edge of wall 61. As is better seen in FIG. 4, waist 24 of body 11 further
 defines a bore 77 supporting a spring 78 which is also captivated against
 the underside of wall 61.
 In the relaxed position shown in FIG. 2 in which no force is applied to
 torso 12, the force of springs 76 and 78 (spring 78 seen in FIG. 4)
 supports torso 12 together with arms 15 and 17 and jumprope 30 in the
 raised position shown in FIG. 2. The upward movement of torso 12 due to
 springs 76 and 78 (spring 78 seen in FIG. 4) is limited by the travel of
 pin 75 of pedestal 71 within slot 63. As can be seen, the upward spring
 force against wall 61 forces wall 61 upwardly until the lower end of slot
 63 contacts pin 75 of pedestal 71. As will also be noted, pin 72 is free
 of contact with cam 60 and thus no force is communicated between pin 72
 and cam 60. The rotational support of arms 15 and 17 provided by shafts 45
 and 44 within notches 53 and 51 of plates 52 and 50 respectively is a
 freely moveable support allowing arms 15 and 17 to pivot downwardly under
 their own weight to the arms-lowered position shown in FIG. 2.
 FIG. 3 sets forth the section view of FIG. 2 in which torso 12 has been
 forced downwardly upon waist 24 moving the present invention doll to its
 arms-raised position.
 More specifically, doll 10 includes a body 11 preferably formed of molded
 plastic components or the like and having a torso 12 defining an interior
 cavity 65 and supporting a wall 61 therein. Wall 61 defines a center bore
 62 and an elongated vertical slot 63. Torso 12 further includes a pair of
 shoulder sockets 40 and 41 and a neck 13. As described above, neck 13
 supports a head 14 (seen in FIG. 1) in accordance with conventional
 fabrication techniques. Torso 12 further includes a pair of plates 50 and
 52 defining respective notches 51 and 53.
 Doll 10 further includes a pair of arms 15 and 17 having respective ball
 ends 43 and 42 which are received within sockets 41 and 40 respectively.
 Arm 15 includes a hand 16 which receives handle 31 of jumprope 30 while
 arm 17 defines a hand 18 which receives a handle 32 of jumprope 30. Arm 15
 further includes a shaft 45 extending inwardly from ball end 43 which
 extends through notch 53 of plate 52. A pair of flanges 48 and 49 are
 supported upon shaft 45 on each side of plate 52. Similarly, arm 17
 includes a shaft 44 extending inwardly from ball end 42 and received
 within notch 51. Shaft 44 supports a pair of flanges 46 and 47 on either
 side of plate 50. Shaft 44 and shaft 45 are mutually joined to a
 triangularly shaped cam 60 extending between flanges 47 and 49. In the
 preferred fabrication of the present invention, shafts 44 and 45 together
 with cam 60 and flanges 46, 47, 48 and 49 are fabricated as a single
 integrally formed unit. Further in accordance with the preferred
 fabrication of the present invention, shaft 44 is securely joined to ball
 end 42 while shaft 45 is secured joined to ball end 43. As a result, the
 combined structure of arms 15 and 17 together with shafts 44 and 45 and
 cam 60 are rotated as a single rotational unit.
 Body 11 further includes a waist 24 supported upon a pair of legs 20 and
 22. A base 70 includes a cylindrical pedestal 71 extending upwardly
 through bore 62 and fitted within bore 62 to allow free sliding movement
 thereon. Pedestal 71 further includes a pin 75 extending outwardly from
 pedestal 71 which is received within slot 63. Slot 63 and pin 75 cooperate
 to provide a travel limit for relative movement between pedestal 71 and
 torso 72.
 Pedestal 71 further includes an upwardly extending pin 72. A spring 76 is
 received within a bore 73 formed in body 11 at waist 24. Spring 76 extends
 upwardly from bore 73 beyond base 70 and is captivated against the lower
 edge of wall 61. As is better seen in FIG. 4, waist 24 of body 11 further
 defines a bore 77 supporting a spring 78 which is also captivated against
 the underside of wall 61.
 With temporary return to FIG. 2, it will be recalled that torso 12 is
 supported above base 70 by springs 76 and 78 (spring 78 seen in FIG. 4).
 It will be further recalled, in this position pin 72 is out of contact
 with cam 60 and as a result arms 15 and 17 are pivoted under their own
 weight to the arms down position shown in FIG. 2.
 Returning to FIG. 3, torso 72 has been forced downwardly overcoming the
 force of springs 76 and 78 (spring 78 seen in FIG. 4) and forcing wall 61
 downwardly upon pedestal 71. This downward movement is limited by the
 travel of pin 75 within slot 63 of wall 61. As torso 12 is moved
 downwardly, the combined structure of shafts 44 and 45 and cam 60 is
 forced downwardly such that cam 60 is forced against pin 72. In the manner
 set forth below in FIGS. 4 and 5 in greater detail, the force of pin 72
 against cam 60 rotates cam 60 and thereby shafts 44 and 45 which in turn
 pivots arms 17 and 15 respectively to the arms-raised position shown in
 FIG. 3. In further accordance with the present invention, as arms 15 and
 17 rapidly pivot upwardly jumprope 30 is caused to swing forwardly and
 upwardly to extend above hands 16 and 18. Once torso 12 has been released,
 the force of springs 76 and 78 (spring 78 seen in FIG. 4) raise torso 72
 to the position shown in FIG. 2 which in turn allows arms 15 and 17 to
 pivot downwardly to the arms-lowered position shown in FIG. 2. The
 downward pivotal movement of arms 15 and 17 swings jumprope 30 downwardly
 in front of doll 10 returning jumprope 30 to the position shown in FIG. 1.
 As the user acquires skill in timing the successive downward force and
 release of torso 12 the user is able to manipulate arms 15 and 17 in a
 manner producing a swinging movement of jumprope 30 up and down in front
 of doll 10 to simulate a realistic jumprope action.
 FIG. 4 sets forth a partial section view of doll 10 taken along section
 lines 4--4 in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 sets forth the configuration of doll 10 in
 the relaxed position corresponding to the configuration shown in FIG. 2 in
 which no force is applied to the doll torso and in which the doll torso is
 positioned by springs 76 and 78. Thus, the configuration shown in FIG. 4
 corresponds to the relaxed or arms-lowered configuration of doll 10.
 More specifically, doll 10 includes a body 11 having a torso 12 defining an
 interior cavity 65 and supporting a neck 13. Torso 12 further includes a
 wall 61 secured to torso 12 and defining a bore 62 therein. Wall 61
 further defines a slot 63 and an upwardly extending pin 72. Body 11
 further includes a waist 24 and a base 70 defining a pair of bores 73 and
 77 therein. Bore 73 receives a spring 76 while bore 77 receives a spring
 78. Springs 76 and 78 are captivated against the undersurface of wall 61.
 Base 70 supports an upwardly extending generally cylindrical pedestal 71
 slidingly received within bore 62 and supporting an upwardly extending pin
 72. Pedestal 71 further supports a rearwardly extending pin 75 received
 within slot 63 of wall 61.
 Torso 12 further includes a pair of plates 50 and 55 extending into
 interior cavity 65. In the manner shown in FIG. 2, a shaft 44 which
 supports an arm 17 is rotatably supported between plates 50 and 55. Shaft
 44 further supports a flange 47 which in turn supports a triangularly
 shaped cam 60. Cam 60 defines an apex 66 and a flat 67. As mentioned
 above, cam 60 is rotatable with arms 15 and 17 (arm 15 seen in FIG. 2).
 In the position shown in FIG. 4 and in the absence of a downward force upon
 torso 12, cam 60 is raised above pin 72 allowing arms 15 and 17 (arm 15
 seen in FIG. 2) to rest in the arms-lowered position shown. It will be
 noted that the upper end of pin 72 is generally aligned with the underside
 of apex 66 of cam 60. Thus, as the user forces torso 12 downwardly in the
 direction indicated by arrow 84 overcoming the force of springs 76 and 78
 cam 60 is forced downwardly toward pin 72. As cam 60 moves downwardly apex
 66 is brought into contact with the upper end of pin 72. As torso 12
 continues to be moved downwardly forcing apex 66 of cam 60 against pin 72
 causing cam 60 to be rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 89. The
 rotation of cam 60 in turn rotates shafts 44 and 45 (shafts 44 and 45 seen
 in FIG. 2) which in turn pivots arms 15 and 17 (arm 15 seen in FIG. 2)
 upwardly. As the force applied to torso 12 continues, torso 12 is moved to
 the fully lowered position shown in FIG. 5 and arms 15 and 17 (arm 15 seen
 in FIG. 2) are raised to the arms-raised position also shown in FIG. 5.
 The downward movement of torso 12 is limited by the travel of pin 75
 within slot 63.
 FIG. 5 sets forth the section view of FIG. 4 in which doll 10 is shown in
 its arms-raised configuration which results from the fully downward
 movement of torso 12.
 More specifically, doll 10 includes a body 11 having a torso 12 defining an
 interior cavity 65 and supporting a neck 13. Torso 12 further includes a
 wall 61 secured to torso 12 and defining a bore 62 therein. Wall 61
 further defines a slot 63 and an upwardly extending pin 72. Body 11
 further includes a waist 24 and a base 70 defining a pair of bores 73 and
 77 therein. Bore 73 receives a spring 76 while bore 77 receives a spring
 78. Springs 76 and 78 are captivated against the undersurface of wall 61.
 Base 70 supports an upwardly extending generally cylindrical pedestal 71
 slidingly received within bore 62 and supporting an upwardly extending pin
 72. Pedestal 71 further supports a rearwardly extending pin 75 received
 within slot 63 of wall 61.
 Torso 12 further includes a pair of plates 50 and 55 extending into
 interior cavity 65. In the manner shown in FIG. 2, a shaft 44 which
 supports an arm 17 is rotatably supported between plates 50 and 55. Shaft
 44 further supports a flange 47 which in turn supports a triangularly
 shaped cam 60. Cam 60 defines an apex 66 and a flat 67. As mentioned
 above, cam 60 is rotatable with arms 15 and 17 (arm 15 seen in FIG. 2).
 As torso 12 is forced downwardly causing rotation of cam 60, pin 72 is
 moved upon flat surface 67 of cam 60. Thus, the downward force upon torso
 12 in the direction indicated by arrow 85 moves cam 60 downwardly against
 pin 72 rotating cam 60 in the direction indicated by arrow 87.
 Correspondingly, arms 15 and 17 (arm 15 seen in FIG. 2) are pivoted
 upwardly in the direction indicated by arrow 88. Springs 76 and 78 (seen
 in FIG. 4) are fully compressed within bores 73 and 77 when torso 12
 reaches its full downward travel. Thereafter, the user releases torso 12
 allowing springs 76 and 78 (seen in FIG. 4) to raise torso 12 upwardly to
 the position shown in FIG. 4 which releases the engagement of pin 72
 against cam 60 allowing arms 15 and 17 (arm 15 seen in FIG. 2) to pivot
 downwardly to the arms-lowered position.
 Thus, as the user rapidly forces torso 12 downwardly and releases torso 12,
 the dolls arms are rapidly pivoted between the arms-lowered and
 arms-raised position resulting in the above described simulation of
 jumprope action.
 What has been shown is a novel jumprope simulating doll in which a
 relatively simple operative mechanism is provided in a manner easy for
 even the youngest of children to master. Despite the simplicity of the
 novel mechanism of the present invention doll, a realistic simulation of
 jumprope movement and action is provided in which the complexity involved
 in simulations here to fore provided of jumprope action which accompany
 attempts to pass the jumprope over the dolls head, behind the doll body
 and beneath the dolls feet during each operative cycle are avoided.
 Instead the present invention doll utilizes a simple raising and lowering
 motion to impart a jumprope simulation to the doll.
 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.