Moving toy doll

A toy doll, posable and simulating stances or positions and movements of a skater, dancer or the like. The device includes a torso with arms and leg which may be frictionally pivotably connected to the torso to enable posing the doll in a wide variety of positions. The doll is supported atop a self-propelled base by engagement of a foot or skate, such as an ice skate, roller skate, roller blade or the like, with a platform which forms a portion of the upper surface of the base. The base is supported by a front wheel and by two spaced apart rear wheels. The base is propelled by one rear wheel and steered by a replaceable profile cam-guided front wheel. The platform is rotated along with the doll about an upright axis as the base is propelled over a horizontal surface through a repeated geometric pattern defined by the particular profile cam selected.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Scope of Invention 
This invention relates generally to movable toy dolls, and more 
particularly to a posable toy doll mounted on a self-propelled base which 
moves the doll to simulate as for example, an ice skater or a dancer. 
2. Prior Art 
Posable toy dolls are well known wherein the arms and legs of the doll are 
positionable in an almost infinitely variable number of positions, those 
selected positions then held by a frictional pivoting joint between the 
limbs and the torso of the doll. One such device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 
4,186,516 invented by Ensmann. This invention simulates skating movements 
of an ice skater wherein the doll is mounted on a turntable of a support 
stand. As to the support stand is manually moved over a flat surface, the 
turntable is made to rotate by a freely rotatable roller offset from the 
axis of rotation of the turntable which also engages the horizontal 
surface. One of the legs is freely pivotable so that torso is free to 
rotate about that leg as the device is manually propelled and the toy doll 
spins with the turntable. 
A radio toy is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,763,788 invented by Jobe, Sr. 
This device is directed to the combination of an audio frequency circuit 
of a radio receiver and miniature figures and puppets positioned on a 
playing surface which are moved to simulate dancing. The puppets and 
figures are caused to move by vibration of the playing surface. 
A carousel-type toy is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,386 invented by 
Hou. This device simulates the movement of a full-size carousel, the 
carousel figures being supported and caused to both reciprocate vertically 
and revolve around a central vertical support axis as the carousel itself 
rotates. 
Koper has invented a mechanical toy as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 
1,516,300. This toy also simulates a carousel having a novel drive means 
for rotating the platform at uneven speeds. 
Another toy carousel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,457,447 invented by 
Cohn. This invention includes an invented first hemisphere interconnected 
to a separate side-oriented second hemisphere. The first hemisphere 
rotates about its vertical axis by a spring wound motor, supported from 
side rotation by the second hemisphere. 
A roundabout is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 753,043 invented by Cleal. A 
number of figures are mounted on a platform which are given movements 
independent of that of the platform. Mirrors are mounted on upright walls 
to project an image of an increased number of figures. 
Spiegel has invented a moving figure toy roundabout as disclosed in U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,854,716. This roundabout provides the appearance of an 
amusement park having a plurality of individually connectable and 
selectively operable roundabouts driven by a common motor. 
None of these above-referenced inventions, however, are completely 
independently self-propellable and offering the simulation of a toy doll 
dancing or skating across a horizontal surface in a controlled geometric 
pattern while the doll rotates on the self-propelled base. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is directed to a toy doll posable and simulating stances or 
positions and movements of a skater, dancer or the like. The device 
includes a torso with arms and leg which may be frictionally pivotably 
connected to the torso to enable posing the doll in a wide variety of 
positions. The doll is supported atop a self-propelled base by engagement 
of a foot or skate with a platform which forms a portion of the upper 
surface of the base. The doll may be removable from the base. The base is 
supported by a front wheel and two spaced apart rear wheels. The base is 
propelled by one rear wheel and steered by a replaceable profile 
cam-guided front wheel. The platform is rotated along with the doll about 
an upright axis simultaneously as the base is propelled over a horizontal 
surface through a repeated geometric pattern defined by the particular 
profile cam selected. 
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a posable toy doll 
which simulates patterned movements of a skater, dancer or the like. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a posable toy doll having 
movable and detent or frictionally positionable arms and legs, the doll 
being mounted on a self-propelled base which imparts rotational movement 
of the doll about the base and simultaneous geometric arcuate movement of 
the base on a horizontal surface. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a posable toy doll which 
is removable from a self-propelled base so that the toy doll may be 
separately played. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a posable toy doll which 
simulates the movement of an skater, dancer or the like having a wide 
variety of posable positions for the limbs of the torso and having an 
interchangeable profile cam guide for steering the self-propelled base in 
a variety of arcuate repeated patterns on a flat surface. 
In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent 
hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to 
the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The compact arrangement of the battery-powered gear train within the base 
10 accomplishes all three functions of propelling the base 10, rotating 
the platform 54 and toy doll 102 releasably connected thereatop at a 
constant speed, and rotating profile cam 66 at a constant speed so as to 
steerably direct the movement of the base 10 through repeated geometric 
patterns. The base 10 itself is generally disc-shaped having a top plan 
view size similar to the imaginary perimeter around the doll 102. The base 
10 also has a molded sculptured surface of the top member 12 as best seen 
in FIGS. 2 to 5 which simulates ice for the ice skating doll for added 
realism. 
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 2 to 5, the device 
is shown generally at numeral 100 and includes a posable toy doll 102 
having the appearance of an ice skater and a self-propelled base shown 
generally at numeral 10. The toy doll 102, as will be described in more 
detail herebelow, is releasably connectable by one ice skate blade 112 
onto a rotatable platform 54 of base 10. By the configuration and 
construction of the toy doll 102 and its pivotable limbs, a wide variety 
of poses with respect to the base 10 and its rotatable platform 54 are 
possible. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 6 through 10 and 15, the self-propelled base 10 
includes a molded plastic top member 12 and a molded plastic bottom panel 
14 which interconnect to define the overall outer surfaces of the base 10. 
Within the base 10, a small DC motor 18 is mounted having an output shaft 
over which is connected a pinion gear 20. The motor 18 is operably 
connected to a storage battery 82 as seen in phantom in FIGS. 6 and 10. 
Pinion gear 20 engages into a combination gear 22 which is mounted for free 
rotation on shaft 88. In turn, shaft 88 is held for free rotation within 
bearing blocks 28 and 30 which are secured with the top member 12. A 
thrust washer 26 is mounted between the combination gear 22 and bearing 
28. 
The combination gear 22 also includes a worm gear section 24 which engages 
with and drivably rotates a spur gear 33 mounted against one end of a 
clutch housing 34 on square shaft 38. By this arrangement, one rear 
driving wheel 40a mounted on shaft 38 is drivably rotated by motor 18 to 
propel the base 10, the other rear wheel 40b being free-wheeling. 
To prevent damage to the drive motor 18, clutch housing 34 includes a 
spring 36 positioned partially therewithin which acts between the clutch 
housing 34 and one end of a clutch 35. Clutch face 32 is, in turn, 
drivingly engaged against one end of a beveled gear 42. By this 
arrangement, should the toy 100 be abusively propelled by hand, for 
example, the drive motor 18 and gear train are protected. 
Also rotatably mounted on axle shaft 38 is a bevel gear 42 which drivably 
engages with mating bevel gear 44 which, in turn, is drivably engaged onto 
axle shaft 46. Another worm gear 48 is secured over the opposite end of 
axle shaft 46 and serves to drivably engage with a platform gear 50. 
A platform 54 snapably engages at 56 into the upper end 52 of the platform 
gear 50, via an intermediate bushing 57 as seen in FIG. 8, the platform 54 
fitting within cavity 86 formed centrally into the upper surface of the 
base top member 12. By this arrangement, the platform 54 is rotatably 
driven simultaneously with the propelling rotation of drive wheels 40 by 
motor 18. 
Platform 54 also includes a centrally positioned, upwardly extending forked 
clip 58 which lockably, yet releasably engages into the skate 112 and a 
cavity formed into one lower leg as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 14. By this 
arrangement, either the right or the left leg of the toy doll 102 is 
snapably securable to the platform 54. 
The base 10 also includes a steerable front wheel 78 which is mounted for 
rotation within front wheel mount 70 about a horizontal axis. Front wheel 
mount 70, as best seen in FIGS. 1, 8 and 9, is pivotally connected by 
steering shaft 72 within a cylindrical cavity formed and downwardly 
extending from an upper surface of the base top member 12. The front wheel 
mount 70 supportively engages against thin arcuate support guides 90 and 
92 as best seen in FIG. 6 and 8. Pin 94, engaging against arcuate support 
90, is biasingly acted upon by a coil spring 80 which is abutted at the 
other end of spring 80 to the base top member 12 as best seen in FIGS. 6 
and 8. 
Front wheel mount 70 also includes a cam follower 74 which downwardly 
extends to contact against a profile cam 66. Profile cam 66, nesting 
within cavity 84 may have an almost unlimited number of profiles which 
will determine the arcuate repeated pattern through which the base 10 is 
steered. Spring 80, as previously described, acting against pin 94, 
maintains the cam follower 74 in contact with the periphery of profile cam 
66. By this arrangement, the base 10 is propelled through an arcuate 
geometric pattern determined by the particular contour of profile cam 66 
on a repeated basis. Cam 66 snapably engages into prongs 64 of cam gear 60 
which, in turn, engages with platform gear 50. By this arrangement, the 
profile cam 66 is simultaneously rotatably driven along with drive wheel 
40a and platform 54. 
Referring lastly to FIGS. 11 to 14, manufacturing details of the toy doll 
102 are there shown. Arms 104 are pivotally connected by a friction joint 
106, head 116 is also pivotally connected by a friction joint 118 and legs 
108 are pivotally connected by a detented joint 110. By this arrangement, 
all of the limbs and head are freely positionable and retained in that 
position during movement of the device. 
While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what are 
conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is 
recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the 
invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed 
herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as to 
embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.