A doll including a head, a torso and limbs in the form of arms and legs. The doll includes a face having particular facial elements such as eyes, a mouth and a pair of antennae. Each eye includes a eye rim. The eye rim is formed from an elongate member of an endless loop configuration. The eye rim is stitch the face at four locations and is constructed from a core material about which a decorative liner is disposed. The core material may be a light gauge rod of a plastically deformable material such as wire. Thus the eye rims and other facial features can be manipulated by hand to vary their shapes and thus the facial expression of the doll.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a doll and relates particularly, though not exclusively, to a doll including facial features which can be manipulated to vary its expression.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,493 describes a stuffed toy in the configuration of a pickle. The stuffed toy has changeable facial expressions in relation to the eyes and mouth. The eyes and mouth are formed from a stud which pierces the stuffed toy and is held in position via a washer, The remainder of the eyes or mouth are formed from a vinyl panel cut out in a crescent-shape and rotationally mounted to the stuff toy via the stud and washer arrangement. The expression of the stuffed toy may be changed by rotating the eyes and/or mouth panels which are made of a stiff material such an vinyl.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,376,040 and 5,800,242 also disclose dolls or toys including facial features which can be manipulated to, for example, selectively achieve a wide variety of moods or expressions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,040 describes a doll including a mouth in the form of an elastic band which is resilient wherein the mouth is temporarily deformed using a pair of fingers and thereafter the mouth returns to its undeformed configuration. U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,242 describes a toy including a skeleton structure of a plastically deformable material, the reinforcing frame of the skeleton structure being embedded in the material such as the rubber moulding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a doll comprising a face having one or more facial elements each being representative of a facial feature and being elongate and of an endless loop configuration which is stitched or otherwise adhered at at least two opposite and distant locations to an exposed surface of the face, each of the facial elements being constructed of a plastically deformable material which can be manipulated whereupon it retains its manipulated shape to change the shape of the facial feature and thus the facial expression of the doll.

Preferably each of the facial elements includes an elongate member of an endless loop configuration. More preferably the elongate member is in the form of the facial feature of a mouth or an eye's rim.

Preferably the elongate member of the facial element includes a relatively light gauge rod of a plastically deformable material such as a wire or plastic material. More preferably the light gauge rod is a core material about which a decorative liner is disposed.

Generally the face is fabricated from a pliable fabric such as velour.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown inFIG. 1there are two forms of a doll both designated generally as10including a head12, a torso14and limbs16in the form of arms and legs. The doll10of this embodiment is fabricated as a stuffed doll and generally represents a distinctive looking alien.

As beat shown inFIGS. 2 and 3the head12of the doll10includes a face18having particular facial elements. In this embodiment the facial elements include its eyes shown generally as20and a mouth22. Also shown is a pair of antenna such as24. Thus, each of the facial elements is representative of a facial feature of the doll10.

Each of the eyes such as20includes an eyeball26which is in the form of a button fixed to the head12, and an eye rim28. The eye rim28is formed from an elongate member of an endless loop configuration. The eye rim28is in this example stitched to the face18at four (4) spaced apart location. The eye rim28is constructed from a core material30about which a decorative liner32is disposed. The core material is in this example a relatively light gauge rod of a plastically deformable material such as a wire or plastic material. The decorative liner is of a satin or other appropriate decorative fabric.

The eye rims such as28can thus be manipulated by hand to vary the shape of this particular facial feature and thus the facial expression of the doll10. The plastically deformable material from which the eye rims28are constructed together with their spaced apart fixing to the face18permit this varied manipulation of the facial feature.

The mouth22is similarly constructed of an elongate member of an endless loop configuration. The mouth22is initially shaped in its curved configuration of FIG.2and stitched to the face18at two (2) opposite and distant locations. Thus, the mouth22which is also constructed from the plastically deformable material can be manipulated into a variety of shapes and forms indicative of a particular facial expression.

The alien doll10of this embodiment includes the pair of antenna such as24fixed to and protruding from the head12. Each of the antenna such as24is formed of the same material as the mouth22and eye rims28. However, the antenna24are anchored or otherwise fixed to the head12at one end only with a free end allowing the antenna24to be manipulated into a variety of positions. Additionally, the antenna24may be twisted, spiralled or straightened depending on the general “mood” or facial expression which is to be conveyed by the doll10.

The stuffed doll10of this embodiment is lined in a soft fabric such as velour. This soft and pliable fabric tends to “move” together with the facial features so as to increase the range of configurations in which the facial features may be manipulated. Particular features, such as the mouth22, may also be manipulated 3-dimensionally with, for example, a lower lip of the mouth being raised outwardly and upwardly to overlap the upper lip. Otherwise, the face la of the doll10can be manipulated into a variety of shapes and corresponding facial expressions.FIG. 3indicates some of the possible configurations and expressions of the doll10of this embodiment of the invention.

Now that a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in some detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the doll has at least the following advantages:

the facial expression of the doll can be varied by manipulating and thus deforming one or more of its facial features;

(i) the facial expression of the doll can be varied by manipulating and thus deforming one or more of its facial features;(ii) the doll is relatively simple in construction where, for example, the facial features are merely fixed to the face of the doll; and(iii) the doll is relatively versatile and adaptable for use by both children and adults as a toy for stress relief.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. For example, the facial features may be constructed of practically any material which can be plastically deformed to vary and retain its shape, such as a deformable plastic material possibly in the form of a foam. The facial feature may be fixed to the face via an adhesive or fastener although the stitching described is preferable.

All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.