Abstract:
A doll assembly has a torso having a neck, at least one arm, and at least one leg. The doll assembly also has at least one head having a plurality of faces on different sides of the head, each face having one nose, one mouth, a pair of eyes and a pair of ears, the head further having a first connector at a bottom portion thereof that removably connects the neck, and a second connector at a top portion thereof. The head can be divided into an upper head and a lower head that can be pivotably rotated with respect to the upper head. The doll assembly further includes at least one wig having a wig connector that removably connects the second connector to secure the wig to the top portion of the head.

Description:
RELATED CASES 
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part of pending Ser. No. 12/932,081, filed Feb. 16, 2011. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is directed to dolls and action figures, and in particular, to dolls having removable and replaceable heads and wigs, with each head having two separate faces. The heads and wigs can be replaced and/or adjusted to provided a variety of different doll heads. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Dolls and action figures have always been popular among boys and girls. Many girls have multiple dolls because they enjoy having different dolls with different characters. They may have a happy doll for certain situations, an action doll for other situations, and a sophisticated/dressy doll. Children will also dress up their dolls and action figures with different outfits, or (for dolls) change the hairstyle. Such variety and change is the essence of the fun and amusement that is derived from playing with dolls and action figures. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0006]    It is one objective of the present invention to provide a doll assembly that has increased variety of play and amusement. 
         [0007]    To accomplish the objectives set forth above, the present invention provides a doll assembly having a torso having a neck, at least one arm, and at least one leg. The doll assembly also has at least one head having a plurality of faces on different sides of the head, each face having one nose, one mouth, a pair of eyes and a pair of ears, the head further having a first connector at a bottom portion thereof that removably connects the neck, and a second connector at a top portion thereof. The head can be divided into an upper head and a lower head that can be pivotably rotated with respect to the upper head. The doll assembly further includes at least one wig having a wig connector that removably connects the second connector to secure the wig to the top portion of the head. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1A  is a side plan view of a doll according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1B  is a side plan view of the doll of  FIG. 1A  shown wearing a wig. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1C  is a side plan view of the doll of  FIG. 1A  showing the other side of the doll. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1D  is a side plan view of the doll of  FIG. 10  shown wearing a wig. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the head of the doll of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing how the head of the doll of  FIG. 1A  can be removably secured to the torso of the doll. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 4A-4D  illustrate how the doll of the present invention and its assessories can be used. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 5A-5D  illustrate four different faces that can be used for the doll head of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 6A-6D  illustrate four different wigs that can be used with the doll head of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7A  is a side plan view of a doll head according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7B  is a top plan view of the doll head of  FIG. 7A . 
           [0019]      FIGS. 8A-8C  are three different side plan views of a doll head according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8D  is a top plan view of the doll head of  FIGS. 8A-8C . 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  illustrates a wig that can be used with the doll assemblies of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a pin that can be used for the wig of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0023]      FIGS. 11A-11D  illustrate how the doll&#39;s face and the doll&#39;s hair can be changed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 12A-12D  illustrate how the doll&#39;s face can be changed (without changing the hair) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIGS. 13A-13D  illustrate how the doll&#39;s wig or hair can be changed (without changing the face) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 14A  is a perspective view of a modification that can be made to the doll head of the present application. 
           [0027]      FIG. 14B  is a side view of the doll head of  FIG. 14A . 
           [0028]      FIGS. 15A-15D  illustrate how the doll&#39;s face on a head can be changed (without changing the hair) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention where the head is divided above the nose. 
           [0029]      FIGS. 16A-16D  illustrate another way to change the doll&#39;s face on a head (without changing the hair) as an alternative to that shown in  FIGS. 15A-15D . 
           [0030]      FIGS. 17A-17D  illustrate how the doll&#39;s hair or wig can be changed (without changing the face) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIGS. 18A-18D  illustrate how the doll&#39;s face and the doll&#39;s hair can be changed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIGS. 19A-19D  illustrate how the doll&#39;s face on a head can be changed (without changing the hair) in accordance with an embodiment where the head is divided below the nose. 
           [0033]      FIGS. 20A-22B  illustrate another embodiment of the present invention, where the doll&#39;s head can be used with both faces showing. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0034]    The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0035]    The present invention provides a doll assembly that allows the head to be removed and replaced by a different head. Each head is provided with two separate faces on opposite sides of the head so that the doll can assume two different identities or characters when the head is attached to the torso of the doll. In addition, a variety of different wigs can be removably secured to the top of each head to provide increased variety of play. The heads can also be configured so that each head is divided into an upper half and a lower half, and then adjusted so that a different upper head can be aligned with a different lower head. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A-1D , the doll  10  has a torso  12  which includes arms  14  and legs  16 , as with any conventional doll. The arms  14  and legs  16  can be provided with appendages so that the arms  14  and legs  16  can be pivoted and moved. A head  18  can be removably secured to the neck  20  of the torso  12  in the manner shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0037]    Referring also to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each head  18  has two faces  22   a,    22   b  on opposite sides thereof. The two faces  22   a  and  22   b  are different, and in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A , the face  22   a  can be an ordinary and conventional face, while the other face  22   b  can be mysterious face. Therefore, a doll that has such a head  18  can be portrayed with having two different personalities. As shown in  FIG. 1A , each head  18  has two pairs of eyes (one pair for each face), two pairs of ears (one pair for each face), two noses (one for each face), and two mouths (one for each face). An opening  24  is provided at the top of the head  18  for receiving a pin  26  from a replaceable wig  28 . Another opening  30  is provided at the bottom of the head  18  for receiving a winged locking pin  32  that extends from the top of the neck  20  of the torso  12 . 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1A-1D ,  2 ,  3  and  4 A- 4 D, the child can select any desired doll head  18 , and then install the doll head  18  to the torso  12  by inserting the winged locking pin  32  through the opening  30 . Thus, the opening  30  and the neck  20  (i.e., via the locking pin  32 ) function as connectors. Since the locking pin  32  is winged, the winged portions  34  can be flexed so as to allow the locking pin  32  to be inserted through the opening  30 , with the winged portions  34  maintaining the doll head  18  at the neck  20  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4A ). Once the head  18  has been installed at the neck  20 , the child can decide which face to feature by turning the head  18  around the neck  20  so that the selected face faces the front (see  FIG. 4B ). The child can then select the desired wig  28 , and insert the pin  26  through the opening  24  to secure the wig  28  in a snap-fit connection at the top of the head  18  (see  FIGS. 2 and 4C ). Thus, the opening  24  and the pin  26  function as connectors. The wig  28  can rotated (if desired), or removed later to be replaced by a different wig  28 . The child can also rotate the head  18  to select the other face, then rotate the wig  28  as needed, to change the face and/or the wig  28  being used. See  FIGS. 1C ,  1 D and  4 D. 
         [0039]    A plurality of different heads  18  can be provided for use with a single torso  12 .  FIGS. 5A-5D  illustrate four different faces. The faces shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5D  correspond to the two faces provided on the head  18  shown in  FIGS. 1A-1D  and  2 - 3 , while the faces shown in  FIGS. 5B and 5C  can be the two faces provided on a different head  18 . 
         [0040]    Similarly, a plurality of different wigs  28  can be provided for use with the heads  18 .  FIGS. 6A-6D  illustrate four different wigs that can be used with faces in  FIGS. 5A-5D . 
         [0041]    The head  18  can be provided with more than two faces. For example,  FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate a doll head  18   x  having four separate and different faces  22   c ,  22   d,    22   e  and  22   f.  Each face  22   c,    22   d,    22   e  and  22   f  has two pairs of eyes (one pair for each face), two pairs of ears (one pair for each face), four noses (one for each face), and four mouths (one for each face). 
         [0042]    Similarly,  FIGS. 8A-8D  illustrate a doll head  18   y  having three separate and different faces  22   g,    22   h  and  22   i.  Each face  22   g,    22   h  and  22   i  has two pairs of eyes (one pair for each face), two pairs of ears (one pair for each face), three noses (one for each face), and three mouths (one for each face). 
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9-10 , the wig  28  has a semi-rigid silicon cap  100  that is configured and adapted to fit on the top of the doll&#39;s head  18 . Hair  102  is secured to the top of the silicon cap  100 , and a pin  26  extends from the center of the bottom of the cap  100 . The pin  26  is provided with a ring  104  that has a slightly larger diameter than the diameters of the pin  26  and the opening  24  at the top of the head  18 , so that the ring  104  can be pushed through the opening  24  and secured inside the head  18  by the ring  104 . 
         [0044]      FIGS. 11A-11D  illustrate how the doll&#39;s face and the doll&#39;s hair can be changed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 11A  illustrates a doll&#39;s head  18  with a particular wig  28 . In the first step ( FIG. 11B ), the head  18  can be turned by 180 degrees about the torso  12 . In the second step ( FIG. 11C ), the existing wig  28  can be pulled off, and then replaced by a new wig  28  (see  FIG. 11D ). 
         [0045]      FIGS. 12A-12D  illustrate how the doll&#39;s face can be changed (without changing the hair) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 12A  illustrates a doll&#39;s head  18  with a particular wig  28 . In the first step ( FIG. 12B ), the head  18  can be turned by 180 degrees about the torso  12 . In the second step ( FIG. 12C ), the existing wig  28  can be turned by 180 degrees.  FIG. 12D  illustrates the new face with the same hair/wig  28 . 
         [0046]      FIGS. 13A-13D  illustrate how the doll&#39;s wig or hair can be changed (without changing the face) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 13A  illustrates a doll&#39;s head  18  with a particular wig  28 . In the first step (FIG.  13 B), the wig  28  is removed and replaced with a new wig  28  (see  FIG. 13C ).  FIG. 13D  illustrates the new wig  28  with the same face. 
         [0047]    The doll head  18  can be modified to allow the head to be divided into two different sections, an upper head and a lower head. This allows the user to be able to take one doll head having two faces, and derive four different faces therefrom. Referring to  FIGS. 14A and 14B , the doll head  118  can be divided into an upper head  118   a  and a lower head  118   b.  The doll head  118  is shown in  FIGS. 14A and 14B  as being divided just beneath the nose, although it is also possible to divide the doll head  118  above the nose, as will be illustrated in the embodiments in  FIGS. 15-18  hereinbelow. An opening  120  is provided in the top surface  122  of the lower head  118   b,  which is adapted to receive a flexible V-shaped locking mechanism  124  from the bottom of the upper head  118   a  that has two wings  126 . The locking mechanism  124  can be inserted into the opening  120  so that its wings  126  extend outwardly inside the opening  120 , thereby securing the upper head  118   a  to the lower head  118   b  in a manner which allows the upper head  118   a  and the lower head  118   b  to be rotated with respect to each other. The lower head  118   b  can be connected to the torso  12  in the same manner as for the head  18  described above. 
         [0048]      FIGS. 15A-15D  illustrate how the doll&#39;s face on a head  118  can be changed (without changing the hair) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 15A  illustrates a doll&#39;s head  118  with a particular wig  28 . In the first step ( FIG. 15B ), the upper head  118   a  can be turned by 180 degrees about the lower head  118   b.  This differs from  FIGS. 12A-12D  in that only the upper half of the face is being changed, as opposed to  FIGS. 12A-12D  where the entire face is changed. In the second step ( FIG. 15C ), the existing wig  28  can be turned by 180 degrees.  FIG. 15D  illustrates the new face with the same hair/wig  28 . 
         [0049]      FIGS. 16A-16D  illustrate another way to change the doll&#39;s face on a head  118  (without changing the hair) as an alternative to that shown in  FIGS. 15A-15D .  FIG. 16A  is the same as  FIG. 15A , and illustrates a doll&#39;s head  118  with a particular wig  28 . In the first step ( FIG. 16B ), the lower head  118   b  can be turned by 180 degrees about the torso  12 . In the second step ( FIG. 16C ), the wig  28  can be turned by 180 degrees with respect to the upper head  118   a.    FIG. 16D  illustrates the new face with the same hair/wig  28 , which differs from the face in  FIG. 15D . 
         [0050]    Another alternative is to turn the upper head  118   a  with respect to the lower head  118   b  in the second step (corresponding to  FIG. 16C ), which would result in a different face from the faces in  FIGS. 15D and 16D . 
         [0051]      FIGS. 17A-17D  illustrate how the doll&#39;s hair/wig  28  can be changed (without changing the face) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 17A  illustrates a doll&#39;s head  118  with a particular wig  28 . In the first step ( FIG. 17B ), the wig  28  is removed. In the second step ( FIG. 17C ), a different wig  28  is coupled to the head  118 .  FIG. 17D  illustrates the new hair/wig  28  with the same face. 
         [0052]      FIGS. 18A-18D  illustrate how the doll&#39;s face and the doll&#39;s hair can be changed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 18A  illustrates a doll&#39;s head  118  with a particular wig  28 . In the first step ( FIG. 18B ), the lower head  118   b  can be turned by 180 degrees about the torso  12  and about the upper head  118   a  in a manner where the upper head  118   a  is maintained in the same orientation. In the second step ( FIG. 18C ), the existing wig  28  can be pulled off, and then replaced by a new or different wig  28  (see  FIG. 18D ). 
         [0053]      FIGS. 19A-19D  correspond to  FIGS. 15A-15D , and illustrate how the doll&#39;s face on a head  118  can be changed (without changing the hair) in accordance with an embodiment where the head  118  is divided below the nose.  FIG. 19A  illustrates a doll&#39;s head  118  with a particular wig  28 . In the first step ( FIG. 19B ), the upper head  118   a  can be turned by 180 degrees about the lower head  118   b.  In the second step ( FIG. 19C ), the existing wig  28  can be turned by 180 degrees.  FIG. 19D  illustrates the new face with the same hair/wig  28 . 
         [0054]    Similarly, the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 16-18  can be implemented with a doll&#39;s head  118  where the head  118  is divided below the nose. The same steps shown and described in connection with  FIGS. 16-18  can be applied to such a head  118  as well. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 20A-22B  illustrate another embodiment of the present invention, where the doll&#39;s head can be used with both faces showing. In the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-19 , the wigs  28  were provided in a manner and construction such that the long hair at the back of the wig  28  covered one (i.e., the rear) of the faces. In  FIGS. 20A and 20B , a wig  228  is provided that has two side tails but no hair covering either face. Therefore, as shown in  FIGS. 20A and 20B , both faces are visible to the user, with  FIG. 20A  showing a front face and  FIG. 20B  showing a rear face.  FIGS. 21A  and  21 B illustrate how the wig  228  can be lifted and pivoted by 180 degrees so that the front face of  FIG. 20A  is now shown with a different side of the wig  228  in  FIG. 22B , and the rear face of  FIG. 20B  is now shown with a different side of the wig  228  in  FIG. 22A . 
         [0056]    Thus, the present invention provides a doll assembly that allows the user to change the face of a doll so that the doll can assume different personalities and/or identities. In addition, by allowing different wigs to be removably coupled to the head(s), the user can accompany the change in personality and/or identity of the doll by an appropriate change in the hair color and style. 
         [0057]    While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.