Crying doll

A crying doll having a head with eyes, each endowed with a tear hole, a mouth, a device housed in the head for producing the visual effect of the doll shedding tears that has a fluid tank connected to the outside and able to accumulate a fluid above the level of the tear holes, and at least one flexible supply duct that hydraulically connects with one or both of the tear holes. The device includes a throttle for the supply duct and an actuating cam for the throttle for arranging the throttle against the supply duct, flattening it locally and impeding the passage of fluid through it. The actuating cam is mounted in the proximity of the mouth and operable upon inserting a nipple of an accessory element, separate or not from the doll, in the mouth.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a crying doll, the kind that incorporates a device for producing the visual effect of the doll crying, in other words, that it spills tears from its eyes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, there are various proposals of dolls that carry out various actions as a response to some external stimulus. Such is the case with dolls that comprise means or devices that make the doll able to spill water from its eyes.

These proposals are all based on housing a water tank inside the doll, but they differ according to the mechanisms that accompany the tank to assure that the contained water is spilled from the eyes of the doll.

For example, the proposal in document ES0149711 U is known, which describes a doll with an apparatus for simulating the appearance of tears in the eyes of a doll that has a vessel with an outlet hole to which a duct connects that guides the fluid from the tank to an opening made in the eye of the doll. In the outlet hole of the tank a valve member is mounted that can be turned to one of two positions, in one of which the outlet hole is closed and the other in which the outlet hole is open. The control for the position of the valve member is activated remotely through magnetic means. To this end the valve member comprises an electromagnet that can be rotated by means of a control magnet that can be grasped from outside the doll with one hand, such that a user can make the doll “cry” by simply handling the control magnet close to the head of the doll. In this case, it is not necessary to endow the doll with pumping or similar means for propelling the fluid contained in the tank towards the eyes.

Another example is that described in the document ES0181861 U, which describes a doll that comprises a liquid tank mounted inside its head; a duct that connects the tank to the eyes in order to create a passage intended to move the fluid from its tank to the eyes of the doll in order to produce the visual effect of a doll that cries; a flexible ampule that extends downward from said tank and into the body of the doll; and a cantilever that goes from the outside of the doll to its body and that is arranged in a way that upon moving, it compresses the ampule and moves the fluid contained in it to the outside through the duct, producing a tearing effect. In this case, the cantilever carries out a function similar to that of pumping or propelling means for the fluid contained in the tank.

An objective of the invention is an alternative device for ensuring that a fluid contained in the doll can flow through its eyes in order to produce the effect of the doll crying.

With the goal of improving the playability of the doll, another objective of the invention is that the “crying” effect of the doll can be controlled by the user, and more specifically by simulating an action associated with a typical comforting action in real life, such as feeding or placing a pacifier or similar object in the mouth of a baby.

Another objective of the invention is that the control device for the “crying” be constructively simple but robust at the same time.

Likewise, another objective of the invention is a device suitable for ensuring a dripping effect, in this way better simulating shedding tears.

To this end it is not desirable, for example, for water flow to be expelled in such a way that, upon leaving the tear hole, it sprays continuously instead of dripping.

It is also desirable that this device can function without needing to have pumping or other similar means in order to cause the crying, such that the fluid contained in the tank can be emptied naturally, without having to propel the circulation of the fluid from said tank to the eyes of the doll.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The crying doll object of the present invention comprises a head in which two eyes are provided, each one endowed with a tear hole, and a mouth, a device being housed in the head for producing the visual effect of the doll shedding tears, in other words, that it spills tears from its eyes.

The device comprises a fluid tank connected to the outside and able to accumulate a fluid above the level of the tear holes; and at least one flexible supply duct that hydraulically connects said tank to one or to both of the tear holes.

Essentially, the doll is characterized in that it further comprises a throttle for the supply duct and an actuating cam for the throttle with the ability to move between an operative position (A), in which it pushes and arranges the throttle against the supply duct, flattening it locally and impeding the passage of fluid through it; and a free position (B), in which it does not arrange the throttle against the duct, thereby allowing the passage of liquid from the tank to the tear holes, the mentioned actuating cam being mounted in the proximity of the mouth and being operable in the direction of its operative position (A) upon inserting a nipple of an accessory element, separate or not from the doll, in the mouth.

In this way, as long as the nipple is inserted in the mouth of the doll, the “crying” is interrupted.

When the accessory element is an element separate from the body of the doll, it preferably takes the shape of a pacifier or a bottle.

When the accessory element is an element not separate from the doll, it is preferably the finger of a hand articulately joined to the body of the doll.

In a variation of the invention, the actuating cam is urged by elastic means tending to arrange the actuating cam in the free position (B) such that upon removing the nipple from the mouth of the doll it will “cry” naturally.

According to one embodiment, the doll is endowed with retention means prepared for keeping the actuating cam loaded in its operative position (A) overcoming the force exerted on it by the elastic means.

Preferably, the mouth comprises a receiving concavity or opening for the nipple of the accessory element and the cited retention means are arranged or formed in said receiving opening and are able to retain the cited nipple inserted enough in the receiving opening to keep the actuating cam loaded in the cited operative position (A).

Thus, the “crying” is interrupted as long as the nipple is not removed from the mouth of the doll.

The nipple can be kept plugged into the mouth through a pressure coupling. Thus, the invention envisages that the nipple has a bulge intended for snap retaining it via pressure in the receiving opening.

According to one embodiment, the actuating cam is fit into a straight guide in a sliding manner, such that it follows a straight movement between its operative (A) and free (B) positions, and vice versa.

The invention provides that the throttle be linked to a support in an articulate or guided way and that it has a first end on one side; and a second bulky end, on the other side, which is arranged between a portion of the duct to be throttled and the actuating cam, which has a lower face with a contact surface that slides over the cited actuating cam and an upper face with at least one squeezing protrusion.

In a form that is of interest, a single duct supplies fluid to the two tear holes. In this form of interest, the cited duct comprises a first end connected to the bottom of the tank; an intermediary portion upon which the throttle acts; and a second end that splits into two branches, each one connected to the tear hole of an associated eye.

In order to prevent the backward movement of the duct when the squeezing element of the throttle is pressed down in the cited duct in order to throttle it via flattening, in a variation the head of the doll has a support element inside of it for the portion of the duct upon which the throttle acts.

In a variation of the invention, the tank is refillable, connected to the outside through an anti-spill and aerating valve member that functions due to gravity.

Preferably, the valve member includes a weight that, when the doll is upright, adopts a position due to gravity such that it does not close the connecting channel connecting the tank to the outside, the same weight also being able to adopt a position in which it closes the cited connecting channel of the tank when the doll is partially or completely inverted, preventing water from spilling out of the tank.

The valve member can be can be integrated in a detachable cap that is able to be coupled to an opening provided for this purpose in the tank.

According to a characteristic of an embodiment, the device incorporates a purge system for purging the duct that connects the tank with the tear holes that comprise manual pumping means able to inject air into a circuit made up of a tube that connects to the inside of the tank.

The head preferably has a lightly beveled outside surface corresponding to the lower rim of the eye socket, directly beneath each tear hole, that makes room for a small corbel or bracket intended to break the continuity of the liquid flow expelled by the tear hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1shows an example of a doll1adapted for the implementation of the invention. To this end the doll1comprises a head2in which two eyes3are provided, each one endowed with a tear hole3a, and a mouth4.

FIG. 2shows the inside of the head2of the doll1. The head2is made of plastic and has a series of internal dividing partitions that apart from contributing to the mechanical features of the head, for example making it rigid, carry out the function of supporting the components of a device5for producing the visual effect of the doll shedding tears.

This device5comprises a fluid tank6, refillable with water, connected to the outside through an anti-spill valve member23of the kind that incorporates a weight28that, when the doll is upright, adopts a position due to gravity such that it does not close the connecting channel connecting the tank6to the outside, allowing for the entrance of air and the natural emptying of the liquid contained in the tank6. The same weight28adopts a position in which the connecting channel of the tank is closed when the doll is partially or totally inverted, preventing water from spilling out of the tank.

FIGS. 5aand 5bschematically show an example of the valve member23like the one previously mentioned that is mounted in a removable cap6ain an opening6bmade in the upper end of the tank6. The cap6acan be coupled in a removable way to the opening6bthough known means, for example through a threaded coupling. In this way the cap6acan be taken off in order to comfortably fill the tank6.

The valve member23has a housing that connects, through the connecting channel25, to the outside when the cap6ais placed on the corresponding opening6bin the tank6; and also with a passage24that will connect the same housing with the inside of the tank6.

The orientation of the opening6bis selected such that when the doll is in an upright position or essentially upright the weight28rests due to the effects of gravity on a crenelated edge26of the passage24that connects to the tank6without preventing the passage of air in the direction of the tank, as seen inFIG. 5b. Upon inverting the doll, the same weight28also moves due to gravity until it rests tightly on a gasket29closing the access to the outside through the connecting channel25impeding in this way the outlet of fluid from the inside of the tank6towards the outside, as represented in this case inFIG. 5a.

In the example, the valve member23further comprises non-return means27whose purpose is explained later on. These non-return means27, in the shape of a flexible membrane, are placed in the passage24that connects to the tank6and they will block it when the pressure inside the tank6is greater than the atmospheric pressure. Thus, the fluid contained in the tank6is prevented from exiting outwards, even when the doll is upright if there is a sudden increase in pressure inside the tank6.

The device5comprises a supply duct8that is flexible and that hydraulically connects said tank6to the two tear holes3a. Note that the location of the tank6is such that it is able to accumulate the fluid above the level of the tear holes3aso that said fluid can be discharged naturally through these tear holes3a, as long as its passage through the supply duct8is not interrupted.

The device5of the invention is prepared precisely so that the passage of the fluid in the direction of the tear holes3acan be interrupted as part of the play options that the doll1offers. To do so, the device5comprises a throttle7for the supply duct8able to be actuated by an actuating cam13that can be activated from outside the doll1with the nipple17of an accessory element16of the doll1, in the form of a pacifier in the example.

In the example of the drawings, the throttle7, like a cantilever, is mechanically linked, preferably in a guided way and with the ability to rotate, to a support9provided to this end inside the head2of the doll1and in the throttle there is a first end7a; and a second bulky end7b, which is arranged between a portion of the duct8to be throttled and the actuating cam13. In the previously mentioned bulky end7bthere is a lower face with a contact surface11that slides over the cited actuating cam13and an upper face with a squeezing protrusion12intended to flatten the supply duct8when the actuating cam13pushes up towards the throttle7, rotating it around the support9.

Regarding the actuating cam13,FIG. 2shows that in the variation of the example it fits in a sliding way in a straight guide20, such that it can move along the guide20between two end positions. The throttle7can be mounted on this same guide20. Nevertheless, the elastic means14apply stress to the actuating cam13, tending to arrange it in the position illustrated inFIG. 2. In the example these elastic means are represented by a spring that actuates via compression but they can be configured in a different way. For example, they could be made of a tab or elastic flap that extends from the actuating cam13in the direction of the bottom of the guide20.

FIGS. 4aand 4bshow the effect caused by the movement of the actuating cam13from the position illustrated inFIG. 2towards a position in which, by touching the contact surface11of the throttle7, it pushes the latter in the direction of the supply duct8.

More specifically,FIG. 4shows the device5with the actuating cam13in the position it adopts by default, which is a free position (B) in which it arranges the throttle7in a position such that the squeezing element12does not flatten the duct8. In this position the fluid housed in the tank6has no obstacles as it flows through the duct8until it comes out of the tear holes3a. Consequently, the doll1sheds tears.

As seen inFIG. 2, the actuating cam13is placed in the proximity of the mouth4of the doll1and specifically within reach of the nipple17that can be inserted into the receiving opening4aformed in said mouth4.

FIG. 4bshows what happens when the nipple17is inserted in the receiving opening4a, i.e. when the pacifier is placed in the mouth4of the doll1.

FIG. 4bshows that the nipple17pushes the actuating cam13in the direction of an operative position (A) in which said actuating cam13pushes the bulky end7bof the throttle7upwards enough so that the squeezing protrusion12locally flattens the duct8impeding the passage of fluid through it. In order to prevent said duct8from moving back when the gripping element12exerts pressure on it, in the head2of the doll1a support element22is formed (seeFIG. 2) that helps flatten the duct. Even though it is not represented, it is anticipated that this support element22also have some kind of protrusion or similar feature that works together with the gripping element22in order to encourage the throttling of the duct8via flattening.

When the throttle7adopts the position seen inFIG. 4b, the fluid housed in the tank6cannot flow through the duct8. Consequently, the doll1does not shed any tears when the pacifier is placed, or in this case plugged, correctly into the receiving opening4aof the mouth4of the doll1.

Advantageously, upon creating an empty space in the water duct8downstream from the flattening, the fluid that may stay housed in the segment or segments comprised between this flattening and the connection with the tear holes3awill not exit to the outside.

The invention provides that the first end7aof the throttle7, especially when the support9acts as a fulcrum allowing for the rotation of the throttle7when its second bulky end7bis pushed by the actuating cam13, be adapted for actuating the switch for the actuation of an electronic device that can be housed in another part of the doll, for example in the core of the doll1. In this way, the instantaneous position of the throttle7can cause other play effects, such as the emission of a sound similar to crying or a sucking action. The invention envisages, for example, that the first end7ainclude an electrically conductive component that closes an electric circuit upon being arranged in the suitable position for turning on the electronic device.

FIG. 2bshows a detail of the mouth4of the doll1. Specifically, thisFIG. 2bis useful for illustrating that the doll1is endowed with retention means15prepared for keeping the actuating cam13loaded in its operative position (A) (seen inFIG. 4b), overcoming the force exerted on it by the elastic means14.

In the shown example, the retention means15are configured for retaining the nipple17in a plugged-in position in the receiving opening4aof the mouth4. Conventionally, these retention means act through pressure or through elastic reaction. One way to achieve this effect is to endow the nipple17with a bulky head19, for example with an arrowhead shape or similar shape, and endow the receiving opening4awith a ring-shaped protrusion18intended for retaining the bulky head of the nipple17. During the maneuver to introduce the nipple17into the receiving opening4a, the bulky head19will expand said receiving opening4aor will push the ring-shaped protrusion18which will recover its/their natural shape when the cited bulky head19of the nipple17has moved past this ring-shaped protrusion18, which will carry out a non-return function sufficient for overcoming the force that the elastic means14exert on the actuating cam13, but suitable so that a child can take the nipple17out of the receiving opening4awithout too much effort.

The invention provides as an alternative or complement that a suitable nipple17for carrying out the function described previously be made in part of the same doll, such as the finger of a hand22of said doll1. In this case, the tears could be interrupted by plugging the finger into the receiving opening4aof the mouth4of the doll, imitating the habit of sucking one's thumb, which sometimes consoles babies.

With the goal of having the doll1“cry” from both eyes3, in a variation of the invention seen inFIG. 3the device5comprises a duct8with a first end8aconnected to the bottom of the tank6and whose middle portion8bwill be acted on by the throttle7. The duct8comprises a second end8cthat splits into two branches21, each of which will be connected or will go through to the tear hole3aof an associated eye3. In the case of each of the branches21being connected with a corresponding tear hole3a, the placement of an intermediary dropper is anticipated, such as a flag drip emitter, with an inlet connected to the associated branch21and with an outlet connected to the tear hole3awith the function of obtaining a drop-by-drop flow as it exits.

With the goal of maintaining the duct8in the suitable position so that the gripping element12can find the duct8during the throttling maneuver, the actuating cam13comprises an upper flap13athat impedes lateral movement by the duct8and that cooperates with the guide20.

The device5comprises, in a preferred embodiment, a system that helps leave the doll1in the optimal conditions so that is creates the “crying” effect after having completed a fluid loading operation in the tank6. The completion of a loading operation can cause air to be trapped in the tank6.

This trapped air in the tank6can reach the duct8and cause a malfunction in the “crying”, breaking the continuity of the tearing or impeding it from starting after a loading operation is completed.

In order to prevent this, the device5of the example incorporates a purge system31for purging the duct8that comprises conventional pumping means33, with manual operations via a push button32. This push button32is associated with a piston capable of injecting air into a circuit made up of a tube30that connects the chamber of the piston to the inside of the tank6. This injected air will propel the fluid contained in the tank6towards the only possible outlet, which is through the duct8in the direction of the tear holes3ain this way purging any air that may be trapped in this duct8. Note that in order to keep this excess pressure from causing the fluid or the injected air to come out through the valve member23, the latter has the previously described non-return means27, as shown inFIGS. 5aand5b.

To contribute to a more realistic “crying” effect, the doll1of the example has a lightly beveled outer surface corresponding to the lower rim of the eye socket, directly beneath each tear hole3a, that makes room for a small corbel or bracket34intended to break the continuity of the liquid flow expelled by the tear hole3a, contributing to the formation of drops36that slide down the cheeks of the doll1.