Doll's clothing

Abstract: A doll's garment is moulded from an elastomeric material or rubber, to give greater realism. A set comprising a miniature doll with articulated limbs and at least one garment therefor is also provided.

Description: The present invention relates to a doll's garment and to a set comprising a doll and at least one garment therefor. Traditionally, doll's clothes are stitched from fabric, but this is impracticable for making clothes for dolls smaller than about 8 cm in height, due to the difficulty experienced in forming the stitches. Various proposals have therefore been advanced for making articles simulating doll's clothing from alternative materials. For example, US-A-4414774 describes fabricating such articles from plastics materials. The articles are said to be "semi-rigid or flexible" but in practice their degree of rigidity is such that they lack realism and appear bulky, cannot be fitted or removed in a life-like manner and are restricted to dolls of a particular shape. In addition, once the doll is clothed, its limbs cannot be moved so that the articles are unsuitable for dolls with articulated limbs. US-A-3 783 554 shows labels defining clothing and being constructed of a rubber-like material. In order to overcome at least some of these disadvantages, from a first aspect, the present invention provides a removable doll's garment, characterised in that it is injection moulded from an elastomeric material or rubber and comprises at least one integrally moulded detail. The material may in particular be selected from ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and any of the polymers sold under the registered trade mark "Kraton" by Shell Chemical Co (such as (optionally hydrogenated) styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-diene, styrene-isoprene and styrene-butadiene block copolymers, styrene-ethylene-butylene block copolymer containing mineral oil, branched styrene copolymer, styrene-butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene triblock rubber, styrene-isoprene-styrene linear block polymer, styrene-butadiene radial block copolymer, butadiene-styrene copolymer rubber, or synthetic rubber). Preferably, the average modulus of elasticity of the material is less than 1 MNm -2 . More preferably, the 100% modulus of elasticity, measured at a standard test speed of 500 mm/min, is between 120 and 350 kNm -2 , and still more preferably between 240 and 280 kNm -2 . The 300% modulus of elasticity may lie between 440 and 490 kNm -2 . Such values provide a material from which garments with sufficient realism can be moulded, whilst avoiding increased difficulty in moulding detail and in removal of the moulded garments from the mould which the inventors have found to occur with highly elastic polymers. Advantageously, the wall thickness of the garment is from 1 to 3 mm. From a second aspect, the invention provides a play set comprising a doll having articulated limbs and at least one garment for the doll, characterised in that the or each garment is injection moulded from an elastomeric material or rubber and comprises at least one integrally moulded detail. The doll is preferably articulated at the shoulders and hips and may additionally be articulated at the elbows and/or the knees. The doll may be less than 8 cm in height and in a particular embodiment, the doll is approximately 4 cm in height. The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figures 1a to 1g show doll's garments according to embodiments of the invention; Figures 2a to 2f show a doll according to an embodiment of the invention in various different positions; and Figures 3a to 3f show the doll of Figures 2a to 2f dressed in the garments of Figures 1a to 1f respectively. Figures 1a to 1g show various injection-moulded garments for a doll approximately 4 cm in height. More specifically, Figure 1a shows a dress, Figure 1b a pair of dungarees, Figure 1c a gown, Figure 1d a jacket and skirt, Figure 1e a vest and skirt, Figure 1f a jacket and a pair of slacks and Figure 1g a hat and coat. The garments are moulded from elastomeric materials or rubber and are therefore noticeably flexible and elastic, which provides a high degree of realism as compared with prior art garment-simulating articles. The realism is further enhanced by decorating the garment using paint, varnish, glitter etc. Additionally details such as belts, buttons, and collars are provided by the moulding process. In a particular example, the garments are moulded from clear Kraton and painted with a paint of which the modulus of elasticity is compatible with that of the Kraton. Figures 2a to 2f show a three-dimensional doll which is approximately 4 cm in height. The doll is assembled from injection-moulded plastics components and is articulated at the shoulders, hips and knees. Figures 3a to 3f show the doll of Figures 2a to 2f after fitting of the garments shown in Figures 1a to 1f respectively. Due to their elasticity, the garments can be fitted in a life-like way, i.e., jackets are donned "arms first" and dresses, trousers and skirts are stepped into. However, upper garments may more easily be donned over the feet due to the diameter of the doll's head and the usual positioning of the arms. Once clothed, the doll's limbs can still be moved. The garments are easily interchanged, even by younger children. One garment can be donned over another, e.g. a jacket over a dress. Whilst particular embodiments have been described, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, dolls according to the invention can comprise male figures or figurines and non-human figures as well as female dolls. The garments can include suits, shirts, coats, shorts, cloaks, capes, uniforms, hats, shoes, helmets, armour and scarfs. In addition, the term "garment" as used in this specification should be understood to include any flexible article which can be fitted to the external surface of a doll, including second skins, outfits resembling other animals or creatures and moulded surfaces resembling rock, flames, bones or the like. Whilst the invention is particularly apt for miniature dolls, it is applicable to dolls of any shape and size.

Claims: A doll's garment made from an elastomeric material or rubber, characterised in that the garment is removable, in that it is injection moulded from said elastomeric material or rubber and in that it comprises at least one integrally moulded detail. A doll's garment according to claim 1, made from a material selected from ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, (optionally hydrogenated) styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-diene, styrene-isoprene and styrene-butadiene block copolymers, styrene-ethylene-butylene block copolymer containing mineral oil, branched styrene copolymer, styrene-butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene triblock rubber, styrene-isoprene-styrene linear block polymer, styrene-butadiene radial block copolymer, butadiene-styrene copolymer rubber, and synthetic rubber. A doll's garment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the average modulus of elasticity of the material is less than 1 MNm -2 . A doll's garment according to claim 3, wherein the 100% modulus of elasticity of the material is between 120 and 350 kNm -2 . A doll's garment according to claim 4, wherein the 100% modulus of elasticity is between 240 and 280 kNm -2 . A doll's garment according to any preceding claim, which has been decorated with paint or varnish. A doll's garment according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one integrally moulded detail is a belt, button or collar. A set comprising a doll having articulated limbs and at least one garment made from an elastomeric material or rubber therefor, characterised in that the or each garment is injection moulded from said elastomeric material or rubber and comprises at least one integrally moulded detail. A set according to claim 8, wherein the doll is articulated at least at the shoulders, hips and elbows. A set according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the doll is less than 8 cm in height.

Inventors: NORMAN CASEY WILLIAM, NORMAN TORQUIL PATRICK ALEXAND, NORMAN, CASEY WILLIAM, NORMAN, TORQUIL PATRICK ALEXANDER
Applicants: GENIE TOYS PLC
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A63H3
IPC codes: A63H9, A63H3