Stackable toy

A stackable toy comprising a doll having a centrally disposed, vertically movable pin, said pin being recessed within the doll when in retracted position and extending upwardly from the doll when in projected position, a socket being formed within the doll below the pin. The projected pin of one such doll is adapted to engage the socket of a second such doll to assemble the two dolls in stacked positions. Each doll is also provided with angularly disposed pin-shaped limbs, e.g. arms, and these limbs are equally engageable with a doll socket. A plurality of dolls made in accordance with this invention may be stacked by means of their respective centrally disposed pins as well as by means of their respective pin-shaped limbs. Various alternative means are provided for extending and retracting the centrally disposed pin. In its simplest form the pin is manually movable into either projected or retracted position. Other alternatives involve the use of helical cams or guide formations on the pin or in the body of the toy or both.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to stackable toys for young children. 
PRIOR ART 
The closest prior art known to applicant consists of the following United 
States Patents: 
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268,020 Howard 
440,986 Alderson 
1,407,451 Vaughan 
1,683,561 Letson 
1,918,122 Naue 
3,377,740 Bonanno et al 
3,758,982 Lemelson et al 
4,052,813 Crain et al 
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The closest of these is believed to be Letson, U.S. Pat. No. 1,685,561 
which shows a doll having a projecting pin supporting the doll's head. The 
pin is rotatable to turn the head and it also provides the means for 
raising and lowering the head. This patent does not however show a doll 
having a vertically movable pin which is adapted to project at its upward 
end and having a socket at its lower end, said upwardly projecting end and 
said socket being adapted to engage two additional dolls of like 
construction, the pin engaging the socket of one such doll, the socket 
engaging the pin of the second doll. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention comprises a stackable toy in the form of a doll having the 
configuration of a selected figure or character. The doll is provided with 
a longitudinally extensible pin which is upwardly movable to projected 
position and downwardly movable to retracted position. A Socket is 
provided in the base of the doll, said socket being adapted to receive the 
projected pin of a second doll. The upwardly projecting end of the pin is 
adapted to engage the socket of a third doll. Additionally, each such doll 
is provided with pin-shaped limbs, for example, arms, which are also 
engageable with the sockets of additional dolls of like construction. In 
the preferred form of this invention pin-shaped arms are provided at a 
predetermined angle relative to the vertical axis of the doll, e.g., an 
angle of 45 degrees. The vertically extensible pin enables a series of 
dolls to be stacked vertically. The angularly disposed arms enable the 
dolls to be linked angularly of the vertical axis. 
Various means are provided for projecting and retracting the vertically 
extensible pin. In the simplest form of the invention the pin may be 
manually moved into either extended or retracted position. One method of 
accomplishing this result is to insert a pin of another toy into the base 
of the subject toy and thereby push the pin of the subject toy into 
upwardly projecting position. Returning the upwardly projected pin into 
retracted position involves the simple expedient of pushing the pin 
downwardly with ones finger. 
This invention also provides helical cam and cam follower means for moving 
the pin in either direction. The helical cam means may be formed on the 
pin itself and the cam follower may be provided in the body of the doll. 
Conversely the cam means may be formed in the body of the doll and the cam 
follower on the pin. Actuating means may be provided in the form of a 
rotatable head on the doll or a rotatable base supporting the doll. In 
either case the pin is keyed to the rotatable element and either the cam 
is caused to rotate relative to the cam follower or the cam follower is 
caused to rotate relative to the cam. 
It will be understood that the toy is intended for the amusement and 
training of young children. It teaches the principles of projecting and 
retracting parts, pin-and-socket constructions, joints or connections, and 
building and balancing techniques. It is a relatively low cost toy with 
relatively few moving parts and a relatively simple modus operandi. 
Although these principles are quite elementary, they may be applied to 
many forms of stackable toys in addition to the stackable dolls which 
exemplify the invention. For example, the dolls may be stacked on vehicles 
equipped with projecting pins. Also, instead of stacking one doll upon 
another it is possible to stack various articles of clothing and 
accessories upon a doll, each such article of clothing or accessory being 
provided with a socket adapted to receive one of the pin formations on the 
doll. All kinds of stackable doll and toy combinations may be provided 
within the principles and claims of the present invention provided that in 
each case stacking results from engaging a pin with a socket. It is also 
apparant that the provision of a retractable pin renders it possible for 
the child to play with the toy as an individual unit separate and apart 
from like toys with which it may be joined and assembled.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now to the first form of the invention as depicted in the 
drawing, specifically FIGS. 2-7, it will be observed that toy 10 comprises 
a hollow body 12, a base 14 supporting said body, arms 16 and 18 extending 
from said body, a head 20 rotatably supported by said body, and extensible 
pin 22 mounted within said body and said head and supported therein for 
both axial and rotational movement relative to the body, and helical 
projecting and retracting means for projecting the pin partly out of the 
head and retracting it back into recessed position therein. The helical 
projecting and retracting means comprises a helical cam 24 formed within 
the body of the toy and fixed relative thereto, and a pair of cam 
followers 26, 28 formed on the pin and engaging opposite surfaces of the 
helical cam. Head 20 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed, 
vertically extending slots 30 and pin 22 is provided with a pair of key 
elements 32 which engage said slots. Consequently, when the body of the 
toy is manually immobilized while the head is manually rotated the pin 
will rotate with the head and the cam followers will ride up upon the 
helical cam, thereby causing the pin to project from its retracted 
position shown in FIG. 4 to its projected position shown in FIG. 5. When 
the body is immobilized and the head is rotated in the opposite direction, 
again the pin will rotate and the cam followers will ride down the helical 
cam causing the pin to move back to its retracted position shown in FIG. 
4. 
It will be noted that the helical cam 24 is provided at its lower end with 
a flat, horizontal section 34 and it is provided at its upper end with a 
similar flat horizontal section 36, these two flat sections being 
continuous with the helical cam. It will be understood that the cam 
followers are engageable with these two flat sections in order to 
stablilize the pin in its retracted and projected positions. By way of 
illustration, the helix extends around an angle of approximately 270 
degrees. The upper flat section 36 extends through an angular distance of 
90 degrees, the total angular sweep of both the helix and the upper flat 
section extending through a full 360 degrees. The lower flat section 34 
may also cover an angular distance of 90 degrees so that the total angular 
sweep of the helix and the lower flange section 34 will also come to 360 
degrees. This is purely illustrative. 
In the operation of the toy illustrated in FIGS. 2-7, the head is rotated 
approximately 90 degrees in order to cause the cam follower to traverse 
the lower flat section 34 and to reach the helical cam 24. The head is 
then rotated an additional 270 degrees in order to raise the pin to its 
projected position, this being accomplished by the cam followers 
traversing the helical cam and reaching the upper flat section 36. Further 
rotation of the head an additional 90 degrees relative to the body will 
cause the cam followers to traverse the upper flat section 36 and this 
will provide secure support for the pin in its upwardly projecting 
position. The entire process is repeated by rotating the head in the 
opposite direction relative to the body in order to lower the pin back to 
its retracted position and enable the cam followers, by their engagement 
with the lower flat section 34, to retain the pin in its retracted 
position. 
It will be observed that a socket 40 is provided in the base of the toy in 
vertical registration with the extensible pin. Socket 40 is adapted to 
receive the extensible pin of a second toy made in accordance with the 
subject embodiment of the invention. This is illustrated in FIG. 5 where 
pin 22a projecting from toy 10a is seated within socket 40 of toy 10. At 
the same time pin 22 of said toy 10 may be seated within socket 40b formed 
in a third toy 10b. We thus have three toys stacked one relative to the 
other and this process may be continued with additional toys stacked both 
above and below the three stacked toys illustrated in FIG. 5. 
The present invention provides other stacking means than those last above 
discussed, namely, the stacking facilities of arms 16 and 18. These arms 
are fixed relative to the body of the toy and they project therefrom at 
any desired angle, preferably 45 degrees relative to the vertical axis of 
the toy, including its extensible pin. These arms have a cross-sectional 
diameter approximating the cross-sectional diameter of the extensible pin. 
It follows, therefore, that arms 16 and 18 are engageable with socket 40 
of other toys made in accordance with the subject embodiment. This is 
illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein arm 18 of toy 10 is seated within the base 
socket of like toy 10a. 
Socket 40 is also adapted to receive other pins which may be provided in a 
toy assembly such as is depicted in FIG. 1. It will be observed that FIG. 
1 shows a toy helicopter 50 including a cabin or fuselage 52, a tail 
section 54 and propeller blades or wings 56. Projecting forwardly from the 
cabin or fuselage is a forwardly extending pin 58 which is engageable with 
socket 40 of toy 10c made in accordance with the subject embodiment of the 
invention. The tail section 54 is provided with laterally extending pins 
60 which are engageable with socket 40 of still another toy 10d made in 
accordance with the subject embodiment of the invention. Cabin or fuselage 
52 may be provided with an upwardly extending pin 62 which is engageable 
with socket 40 of another toy 10e made in accordance with the subject 
embodiment of the invention. The extensible pin of toy 10e may project 
upwardly to provide means for rotatably supporting propeller blades or 
wings 56 and for engaging socket 40 of toy 10. Additionally the extensible 
pin 22 of toy 10 is engageable with a socket similar to socket 40, formed 
in cap 64. In short, FIG. 1 illustrates various arrangements of toys and 
accessories wherein stacking or assembly results from pin-and-socket 
connections. Other toys and other arrangements involving the same 
pin-and-socket principle are clearly encompassed within the scope of the 
invention and of the appended claims. 
Turning now to the modification depicted in FIG. 8 it will be observed that 
doll 70 comprises a hollow body 72 having a head 74 and arms 76, 78 
integral therewith, a base 80 rotatably connected to the lower end of 
hollow body 72, and an extensible pin 82 extending through the body and 
adapted to project through an opening in the head. Pin 82 is non-rotatable 
relative to the head and body of toy 70. This non-rotatable condition may 
be provided by key means (as illustrated in connection with the first 
embodiment of the invention) or by forming pin 82 in non-cylindrical 
shape, e.g., in square cross section. The bearing sections 84 and 86 of 
the head and body may also define square openings complementing the square 
cross-sectional shape of the pin. See FIG. 9. 
It will now be noted that base 80 is provided with a helical cam surface 88 
which substantially encircles the lower end of pin 82. Cam follower 90 
extends laterally from pin 82 and rides on helical cam 88 of the base. If 
desired, at each end of helical cam surface 88 there is a horizontal flat 
section which is continuous with the helical cam surface. When hollow body 
72 of the toy is held in one hand and base 80 is rotated in one direction 
with the other hand the result will be to cause cam follower 90 to ride up 
on the cam surface and to project the upper end of pin 82 outwardly from 
the head of the toy. It will be understood that when cam follower 90 is in 
engagement with the upper flat section adjoining the cam surface pin 82 
will be securely supported in its upper, outwardly projected position. 
When the base is rotated in the oposite direction cam follower 90 will 
ride down the helical cam surface until it reaches the lower flat section, 
at which point the pin 82 will be securely supported in its lower, 
retracted position. For illustrative purposes helical cam 88 extends 
angularly around pin 82 a distance of approximately 270 degrees and each 
of its flat sections extends an angular distance of approximately 90 
degrees. 
As is the case with the first embodiment of the invention, the second 
embodiment which is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is provided with a socket 92 in 
its base structure and this socket is adapted to receive the outwardly 
projecting pin of a second toy made in accordance with the same embodiment 
of the invention. Actually, toy 70 is also stackable relative to the first 
embodiment of the invention, that is, the upwardly projecting end of pin 
82 is the mechanical or structural equivalent of the upwardly projecting 
end of pin 22 and socket 92 corresponds to socket 40 of the first form of 
the invention. 
Referring now to the third embodiment of the invention as illustrated in 
FIGS. 10 and 11 it will be seen that toy 100 has a hollow body 102, a head 
104 rotatably mounted on said body and a pin 106 extending axially of said 
head and body. A helical groove 108 is formed in pin 106 and a cam 
follower 110 is provided on the inner wall of head 104 for engagement with 
said helical groove. The helical groove may extend an angular distance of 
approximately 270 degrees around the pin and the helical groove may 
flatten out at both ends to form upper and lower flat sections 
corresponding to the flat sections of the previously described embodiments 
of the invention. 
It is clear from FIGS. 10 and 11 that pin 106 has a circular cross section 
and that it is supported by annular bearing elements 112 and 114 
respectively. By the same token, bearing element 114 is itself rotatably 
supported by cylindrical bearing 116 formed in the body section of the 
toy. The lower end of pin 106 is provided with a pair of radially 
extending guide elements 118 which ride against linear bearing elements 
120, these linear bearing elements being provided on the inner wall of the 
hollow body of the toy. Base 122 is fastened to or joined with the lower 
end of the hollow body and there is no relative movement between the two. 
A socket 124 is formed in base 122 in registration with pin 106 and this 
socket 124 performs the same function as sockets 92 and 40 above 
mentioned. When the body is held in one hand and the head is rotated in 
one direction by the other hand cam follower 110 will ride up in helical 
groove 108, starting at a flat section at the lower end of said helical 
groove and ending at a flat section at the upper end of said helical 
groove. When cam follower 110 is positioned on either of said flat 
sections it provides a firm support for the pin. Again, and purely as an 
illustration, the helical groove 108 may extend around the pin for an 
angular distance of approximately 270 degrees and each of the flats may 
extend a further angular distance of 90 degrees. Toy 100, like the other 
toys made in accordance with the principles of this invention, is provided 
with a pair of pin-shaped arms 126, 128 and these arms are adapted to 
engage socket 124 of toys of like construction. 
Referring now to the fourth embodiment of the invention as illustrated in 
FIG. 12 it will be seen that toy 130 is provided with a hollow body 132, a 
head 134 joining said hollow body and a base 136 secured to and supporting 
said hollow body. Extending through the hollow body and head which is 
joined therewith is an extensible pin 138. There are three bearings which 
slidably support said pin, namely bearing 140 at the upper end of the 
head, bearing 142 at the lower end of the head and bearing 144 at the 
lower end of the hollow body. Base 136 is provided with a collar 146 which 
registers with bearings 144, 142 and 140. Collar 146 also performs the 
function of a bearing with respect to pin 138. The cross-sectional shape 
of the pin and its respective bearings, including collar 146, is a matter 
of design. For example, if the pin defines a cylinder so do the bearings. 
In this embodiment of the invention it is immaterial whether the pin is 
rotatable relative to the head and body of the toy or whether it is fixed 
against rotational movement. It suffices that the pin is longitudinally 
movable relative to the head and body of the toy. It will now be noted 
that a radial shoulder 148 is formed on pin 138 between bearings 140 and 
142. It is this shoulder which limits the vertical movement of the pin 
relative to the head and body of the toy by engagement with said bearings 
140 and 142. The range of vertical movement is determined by the spacing 
of said bearings and the vertical dimension of said shoulder. 
As in the case of the other embodiments of the invention hereinabove 
discussed, toy 130 is provided with a socket 150 formed in its base. 
Actually, socket 150 is defined by bearing 146. Socket 150 will receive 
the upwardly projecting end of pin 138 of a second toy 130, and socket 150 
of a third toy 130 will receive the upwardly projecting end of the pin 138 
of the first mentioned toy 130. In such manner a plurality of toys 130 may 
be stacked one upon the other. It will further be noted that toy 130 is 
provided with pin-shaped arms 152, 154 and once again it will be 
understood that these arms are engageable with socket 150 in the base of 
all toys corresponding to toy 130. By the same token the pin and socket of 
toy 130 may be deemed interchangeable with the pin and socket of each of 
the other embodiments of the invention above described. 
Toy 130 is not provided with a helical cam means for projecting or 
retracting its extensible pin. Pin 138 may be moved to its projected 
position (shown in FIG. 12) by simply inserting another pin (e.g., arm 152 
or arm 154 of a second toy 130) into socket 150, thereby engaging and 
pushing pin 138 to its upward position. Pin 138 may be returned to its 
retracted position by withdrawing the actuating pin from socket 150 and 
gravity or a slight digital push will return pin 138 to its retracted 
position. 
The foregoing is illustrative of preferred forms of the invention and as 
will be understood these forms are intended to illustrate the invention 
and not to limit its scope except to the extent of the scope and 
limitations of the appended claims.