Abstract:
A doll with reconfigurable hair and dress is disclosed. The hair is rotatably coupled to the top of the head of the doll and a switch within the head of the doll. Furthermore, the switch is connected to the output mechanism, dictating which output the output mechanism produces. When the hair rotates about the head of the doll, the switch is actuated, changing the output of the output mechanism. Additionally, the dress of the doll is capable from converting from a full gown that folds away to reveal a skirt.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/618,000, filed Mar. 30, 2012, entitled “Reconfigurable Doll,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a doll that has multiple hair styles and outfits, and is easily converted from one set of styles to the other without removing or adding clothes or hair from the doll. Furthermore, the changing of the hair styles triggers a switch that determines the output of the doll. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Children use their imagination when playing with dolls to imagine their dolls in a variety of scenarios, from singing on stage to driving in a car, to working in an office. When the dolls are interacting in each one of these scenarios, children require that the dolls be wearing the proper clothes and hair styles. Furthermore, dolls should output a signal that is appropriate for the doll&#39;s setting. For example, a doll in the office setting would not normally be dressed in a ballerina outfit discussing her dance moves. 
     Furthermore, with current dolls, users must manually remove a doll&#39;s clothes and put on the desired outfit for the doll. Moreover, if the user desired the doll to output a specific signal, the user would have to indicate which signal via a series of buttons, if multiple signals existed. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a doll whose outfit and hair can be easily reconfigured. In addition, depending on which hair and/or outfit is configured, the doll will output a signal that corresponds to the hair and/or outfit that is currently configured on the doll. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a doll with a body portion that includes a convertible dress or reconfigurable garment. The convertible dress contains a first garment portion and a second garment portion that can be positioned in the front of the second body portion or the back of the second body portion. Furthermore, the convertible dress includes a first string attached to the first garment portion and a second string attached to the second garment portion. 
     In another embodiment, the second body portion contains a guide member on the back of the second body portion with the first string and the second string being threaded through the guide member. Moreover, a locking tab that is attached to the first string and second string to lock the strings in place in the back of the second body portion. 
     In an alternative embodiment, a doll includes a first body portion having a front, a back, and a top. The first body portion contains a switch within the first body portion and hair rotatably mounted to the top of the first body portion. The hair is rotatably coupled to the switch. The hair has a first side and a second side, and the switch is triggered when the second side of the hair is rotated to the front of the first body portion. Furthermore, the doll contains a second body portion having a front, a back, and an output mechanism operably connected to the switch and having at least two outputs. The switch dictates which one of the at least two outputs the output mechanism performs or generates. 
     In another embodiment, the second body portion includes a convertible dress. The convertible dress contains a first garment portion and a second garment portion that can be positioned in front of the second body portion or behind the second body portion. Furthermore, the convertible dress includes a first string attached to the first garment portion and a second string attached to the second garment portion. 
     In another embodiment, the second body portion has a guide member on the back of the second body portion, the first string and the second string being threaded through the guide member. Additionally, the second body portion contains a locking tab that is attached to the first string and second string to lock the strings in place in back of the second body portion. 
     In an alternative embodiment, a doll contains a first body portion having a front, a back and a top. The first body portion contains a switch or switch engaging portion within the first body portion and hair mounted to the top of the first body portion. The hair is rotatably coupled to and engages the switch. Furthermore, the hair has a first side and a second side. Additionally, the switch is triggered when the second side of the hair is rotated to the front of the first body portion. The doll also includes a second body portion rotatably coupled to the first body portion having a front, a back, and an output mechanism operably connected to the switch and having at least two outputs. The switch dictates which one of the at least two outputs the output mechanism produces. Moreover, a dress capable of surrounding the back and front of the second body portion is connected to the back of the second body portion. 
     In another embodiment, the dress is convertible. The dress has a first garment portion and a second garment portion that can be positioned in front of the second body portion or behind the second body portion. Furthermore, the convertible dress contains a first string attached to the first garment portion and a second string attached to the second garment portion. 
     In another embodiment, the second body portion includes a guide member on the back of the second body portion with the first and second strings being threaded through the guide member. In addition, the second body portion contains a locking tab that is attached to the first string and the second string to lock the strings in place in the back of the second body portion. 
     In yet another embodiment, a doll comprises a first body portion having a front, a back and a top, the first body portion containing a switch within the first body portion and hair rotatably mounted to the top of the first body portion and rotatably coupled to the switch, a second body portion having a front, a back, and an output mechanism operably connected to the switch and having at least two outputs, the switch dictating which one the at least two outputs the output mechanism performs, and a reconfigurable garment, the reconfigurable garment being placeable in a first configuration resembling a first type of garment and in a second configuration resembling a second type of garment. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the reconfigurable garment of the doll in its first configuration surrounds at least part of the second body portion and in its second configuration is located behind the at least part of the second body portion. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the reconfigurable garment of the doll resembles a dress in its first configuration. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the reconfigurable garment of the doll includes a first garment portion and a second garment portion that can be positioned in the front of the second body portion or the back of the second body portion. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the reconfigurable garment of the doll further comprises a first string attached to the first garment portion and a second string attached to the second garment portion. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the second body portion further comprises a guide member on the back of the second body portion, and the first string and the second string are threaded through the guide member. 
     In an alternative embodiment, a locking tab is attached to the first string and second string to lock the strings in place in the back of the second body portion. 
     In another embodiment, a doll comprises a body portion and a convertible or reconfigurable dress coupled to the body portion, the reconfigurable dress including a first garment portion and a second garment portion that can be positioned in the front of the body portion or behind the body portion, the reconfigurable dress further comprising a first string attached to the first garment portion and a second string attached to the second garment portion, the first and second strings being useable to move the reconfigurable dress from a first configuration to a second configuration, the reconfigurable further comprising a guide member, and each of the first string and the second string is threaded through the guide member. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the doll further comprises a locking tab attached to the first string and second string to lock the strings in place relative to body portion. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the locking tab is located behind the body portion. 
     In an alternative, the doll further comprises a switch disposed within the body portion and an output mechanism disposed within the body portion, the output mechanism being operatively connected to the switch, wherein activation of the switch dictates an output of the output mechanism. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the doll further comprises hair rotatably mounted on the body portion and rotatably coupled to the switch. 
     In yet another embodiment, a doll comprises a first body portion including a switch, a second body portion including a front, a back, and an output mechanism, the output mechanism being operatively connected to the switch of the first body portion, and a reconfigurable garment with a first side and a second side, the reconfigurable dress being coupled to the second body portion and placeable in a first configuration resembling a first type of garment and a in a second configuration resembling a second type of garment. In this embodiment, the reconfigurable dress further comprises a first string coupled to the first side, and a second string coupled to the second side, where the first and second strings are usable to reconfigure the garment from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the doll further comprises a locking tab located attached to the first string and second string to lock the strings in place relative to second body portion. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the output mechanism includes at least two outputs and the switch dictates which one of the at least two outputs the output mechanism performs. In this embodiment, the output mechanism is a speaker. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the second body portion includes an actuator coupled thereto, the actuator being activatable by a child to cause the output mechanism to perform an output. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of product according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of one embodiment of a doll according to the present invention in a first orientation. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of the doll of  FIG. 2  in a second orientation, different from the first orientation. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a rear view of a portion of the back of the doll of  FIG. 2  showing the output mechanism and guide member of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 5-7  illustrate front views of the doll of  FIG. 2  in various stages of transformation between the first orientation of  FIG. 2  and the second orientation of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIGS. 8-9  illustrate rear views of the doll of  FIG. 2  showing the strings and locking tab of the dress of the doll with the locking tab in a first position and in a second position, respectively. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a front view of the doll of  FIG. 2  with the hair in a first hair transformation stage being transformed from the first orientation of  FIG. 2  to the second orientation of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a front view of the doll of  FIG. 2  with the hair in a second hair transformation stage being transformed from the first orientation of  FIG. 2  to the second orientation of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     It is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “end,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer” and the like as may be used herein, merely described points or portions of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration. Further, terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., merely identify one of a number of portions, components, and/or points of reference as disclosed herein, and do not limit the present invention to any particular configuration or orientation. 
     A reconfigurable doll according to the present invention includes a first body portion and a second body portion rotatably coupled to one another, the first body portion containing a switch engaging portion and hair, and the second body portion containing a switch and an output mechanism connected to the switch. In one embodiment, when the hair is rotated about the first body portion, the switch is actuated. In one embodiment, the output mechanism has at least two outputs. The output mechanism produces one of at least two outputs based on whether or not the switch is actuated. In one embodiment, the doll includes a reconfigurable dress attached to the back of the second body portion. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a doll  5  that contains a first body portion  100  and a second body portion  200  movably coupled to each other. The first body portion  100  contains a switch  102 . The second body portion  200  contains an output mechanism  206  that is configured to generate at least two outputs. The output mechanism  206  and the switch  102  are operably configured for the output mechanism  206  to produce one of the at least two outputs depending on whether or not the switch  102  has been actuated. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , one embodiment of the doll  5  is illustrated. In  FIG. 2 , the doll  5  is configured to be in a first configuration, and in  FIG. 3 , the doll is configured to be in a second configuration. In this embodiment, the doll in the first configuration resembles a princess and the doll in the second configuration resembles a singing pop star. Doll  5  contains a first body portion  100  and a second body portion  200 . First body portion  100  has a front  110 , a back  112  (see  FIGS. 8 and 9 ), and a top  114 . The front  110  of the doll  5  contains a face  116 . Furthermore, in this embodiment, attached to top  114  of first body portion  100  is hair  104 . As illustrated by  FIG. 3 , within first body portion  100  is switch  102 . Hair  104  is rotatably coupled to the switch  102 . As the hair  104  is rotated about the top  114  of first body portion  100 , the switch  102  is actuated by a portion of the head to which the hair is coupled. 
     Continuing with  FIGS. 2 and 3 , attached to first body portion  100  is second body portion  200 . Second body portion  200  contains a front  202 , and a back  204  (as seen in  FIG. 4 ). Furthermore, extending from second body portion  200  is a first arm  208 , a second arm  210 , a first leg  212 , and a second leg  214 . In addition, attached to the second body portion is a dress or garment  300 , which is reconfigurable. The dress  300  contains a first garment portion  304  and a second garment portion  306 , which together form a front slit  302  on the front  202  of the second body portion  200  of the doll  5 . In  FIG. 2 , the first garment portion  304  and the second garment portion  306  are unfolded and located in the front or the front area of the second body portion  200 . In  FIG. 3 , the garment portions  304 ,  306  are folded back or moved rearwardly, revealing a skirt  400  attached to the second body portion  200 , and first and second legs  212 ,  214 . Moreover, second body portion  200  contains an actuator  216  that is used to actuate the output mechanism (seen in  FIG. 4 ). In this embodiment, actuator  216  is located on the front  202  of second body portion  200 , but may also be located on the back  204  of the second body portion  200 , the arms  208 ,  210 , the legs  212 ,  214 , or the first body portion  100 . In one embodiment, the actuator  216  is a toy necklace coupled to the body or bodice of the doll. Different songs or audible outputs are activated by pressing the actuator  216 . A tact switch is located behind or inside of the necklace that is activated to cause the electronic system of the doll to generate audible outputs. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the back  204  of the second body portion  200  is illustrated. As illustrated, in this embodiment, the dress  300  is attached to the back  204  of the second body portion  200  by dress attachment  318 . Furthermore, the output mechanism  206  (shown relative to speaker holes) is located on the back  204  of the second body portion  200 . In other embodiments, the output mechanism  206  may be located on other area including the front  202  of the second body portion  200 , or even the first body portion  100 . Moreover, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a first string  308  is attached to the first garment portion  304  at first connection point  309  (see  FIGS. 2, 8, and 9 ) and a second string  310  is attached to the second garment portion  306  at second connection point  311  (see  FIGS. 2, 8, and 9 ). In this embodiment, the strings  308 ,  310  converge together at guide member  312 , which is in the form of a buckle  313 . In other embodiments, the guide member  312  may be a pair of fabric loops  320  in dress  300 , similar to that of belt loops, shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 , illustrated is a series of transformation steps A 1 , A 2 , A 3  to transform the dress  300  from the first orientation, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , to the second orientation, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 5  illustrates the beginning of the transformation phase A 1  of the dress  300 . The transformation of the dress  300  begins with a user  500  pulling the strings  308 ,  310  located in the back  204  of the second body portion  200  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). Because the first and second strings  308 ,  310  are attached to the first and second garment portions  304 ,  306 , respectively, when the strings  308 ,  310  are pulled, the garment portions  304 ,  306  begin to separate at the front  202  of the second body  200 . When the garment portions  304 ,  306  begin to separate at the front  202  of the second body  200 , the front slit  302  becomes larger, until it is no longer a slit, as in transformation stage A 2 , illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
     Continuing with  FIG. 6 , illustrated is the second transformation stage A 2  of the dress  300  of the doll  5 . In the second transformation stage A 2  of the dress  300 , the continued pulling of the strings  308 ,  310  has pulled the garment portions  304 ,  306  farther toward the back  204  of the second body portion  200 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the garment portions  304 ,  306  have opened up the dress  300  revealing the skirt  400  and legs  212 ,  214  of the doll  5 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the third transformation stage A 3  of the dress  300  is illustrated. In the third transformation stage A 3 , the garment portions  304 ,  306  of the dress  300  are almost completely folded or moved to the back  204  of the second body portion  200 . With the garment portions  304 ,  306  nearly completely moved and folded, the skirt  400 , which was under the dress  300 , is completely reveled. The duration of the transformation process A 1 , A 2 , A 3  depends on the force pulled on the first and second strings  308 ,  310  by the user  500 . The greater the force used to pull first and second strings  308 ,  310  results in the transformation process A 1 , A 2 , A 3  of the dress  300  occurring faster. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , illustrated is the securement of the garment portions  304 ,  306  of the dress  300  to the back  204  of the second body portion  200 . Illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9  are the back  204  of the second body portion  200  and the back  112  of the first body portion  100 . In  FIG. 8 , the first string  308  and the second string  310  are being pulled by a user  500 . As previously explained, the first string  308  and the second string  310  have been threaded through guide member  312 , which is located on the dress  300 . In this embodiment, guide member  312  is in the form of fabric loops  320 . In addition, first string  308  and second string  310  are threaded through locking tab  314 . In this embodiment, locking tab  314  is configured to resemble a gem  316 , but may be a variety of shapes and configurations in other embodiments. In  FIG. 8 , the locking tab  314  is positioned in rear dress orientation B 1 , where the locking tab  314  is located on the strings  308 ,  310  away from the guide member  312 . While in rear dress orientation B 1 , the first garment portion  304  and the second garment portion  306  are moved completely to the back  204  of the second body portion  200 , and their connection points  309 ,  311  are positioned adjacent to the guide member  312 . However, in this orientation, if the user  500  lets go of the strings  308 ,  310 , the garment portions  304 ,  306  would unfold, pulling strings  308 ,  310  through guide member  312  until the locking tab  314  reached the guide member  312 , preventing any further movement of the strings  308 ,  310  and the fold portions  304 ,  306 . 
     Continuing with  FIG. 9 , illustrated is the back  204  of the second body portion  200  with the locking tab  314 , strings  308 ,  310 , and garment portions  304 ,  306  of the dress  300  in rear dress orientation B 2 . In orientation B 2 , the locking tab  314 , has been slid upwards along the strings  308 ,  310  closer to guide member  312 . Furthermore, the connection points  309 ,  311  have been drawn adjacent to the guide member  312  by the strings  308 ,  310 . When in rear dress orientation B 2  the user  500  can release the strings  308 ,  310  because the strings  308 ,  310  have been slid substantially through the locking tab  314 , placing the locking tab  314  adjacent to the guide member  312 , and the locking tab  314  has locked the strings  308 ,  310  in place. When a user  500  releases the strings  308 ,  310  in rear dress orientation B 2 , the garment portions  304 ,  306  are held in the folded position of A 3  (as seen in  FIG. 7 ) because, the locking tab  314  prevents the strings  308 ,  310  from moving through the guide member  312 , holding the connection points  309 ,  311  adjacent to the guide member  312 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , illustrated is the transformation of the hair  104  from orientation C 1  to orientation C 2 . Illustrated in  FIG. 10  is the doll  5  with the hair  104  in orientation C 1 , where the first side  106  of the hair is facing forward on the doll  5 . The hair  104  is positioned on the top  114  of the first body portion  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the user  500  is grasping the hair  104  in preparation for rotating the hair  104  from first hair orientation C 1  about rotation axis C 3  to second hair orientation C 2 . Second hair orientation C 2  is illustrated in  FIG. 11 , where the second side  108  of the hair  104  is facing forward on the doll  5 . The hair  104  can rotate about the axis C 3  in either a clockwise or counter clockwise rotation. 
     As previously described above, when the hair  104  is rotated about the axis C 3 , the switch  102  is actuated. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the switch  102  is disposed within the first body portion  100  and rotatably connected to the hair  104 . Additionally, the switch  102  is operably connected to the output mechanism  206  (as seen in  FIG. 4 ). In this embodiment, the output mechanism  206  contains at least two outputs, one that corresponds to the first side  106  of the hair  104  being oriented in the front, the other corresponding to the second side  108  of the hair  104  being oriented in the front. When the hair  104  is rotated from the first hair orientation C 1  to the second hair orientation C 2 , the switch  102  is actuated, or switched to the “on” position, changing the output of the output mechanism  206  to correspond to the second side  108  of the hair  104 . When the hair  104  is rotated back to the first hair orientation C 1 , the switch  102  is actuated again, or switched to the “off” position, changing the output mechanism  206  to correspond with the first side  106  of the hair  104 . In other embodiments, the output mechanism may contain more than two outputs that are activated by a switch. 
     In an alternative embodiment, a toy or simulated microphone may be coupled to the hand of the doll. The corresponding arm holding the microphone can function as a switch to trigger among various songs or audible outputs. The songs or music generated by the doll can vary with respect to the appearance of the doll, including its garments, as well as the outfit mode of the doll. Thus, the doll can play a song selected randomly every time the arm with the microphone is raised up by her mouth. Accordingly, the doll can generate outputs for either hair configuration or appearance at any time. In this embodiment, a switch in the shoulder region of the doll is triggered by the movement of the arm once the arm reaches a particular level or position. 
     Although the disclosed inventions are illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. For example, although the illustrated embodiments are shown with a doll having two types of hair and two outputs, the case of the present invention could be used with any number of hair styles and number of outputs. In addition, various features from one of the embodiments may be incorporated into another of the embodiment. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.