Abstract:
A flexible toy doll and clothes rack assembly, which includes a flexible framework being bendable to the desired shape, a doll covered on the flexible framework, coupling means, and support means detachably coupled to the framework by the coupling means. A bendable doll is left after removal of the support means from the framework.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a clothes rack, and more particularly to a flexible toy doll and clothes rack assembly. 
     A regular toy doll is comprised of a covering (fur) having the shape of an animal or carton character, and stuffing material, such as cotton, sponge, rags, etc. stuffed in the covering. This kind of toy doll is great favorite of people since long for the advantages of high softness and safeness, low cost, and attractive appearance. People may attach toy dolls to bags, clothes hangers, slippers, and etc. for decoration. Similar designs of the present inventor are seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,301 entitled “Rotating Clothes Hanger Covered with a Toy Doll; U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,644 entitled “Toy Doll and Hanger Assembly; U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,219 entitled “Clothes Hanger Covered with a Toy Doll. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a flexible toy doll and clothes rack assembly, which is comprised of a flexible framework, a doll covered on the framework, a coupling device, and a support member fastened to the framework through the coupling device. The framework can be bent to the desired shape. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the framework is comprised of at least one base frame, and a plurality of joint units. The at least one base frame each comprises a plurality of ball ends for the coupling of the joint units. The joint units each comprise a ball end and a socket end. The socket end at one joint unit fits the ball end at another socket unit and the ball ends at the at least one base frame for enabling the joint units to be connected to one another and connected to the at least one base frame. Alternatively, the framework can be comprised of a plurality of metal (iron, aluminum, or metal alloy) wire rods that can be bent to the desired shape. The framework can have any of a variety of designs. For example, the framework can be the base frame of a suit hanger, multi-rod clothes line, skirt hanger, socks hanger, shoe rack, toy eagle, toy octopus, toy bear, toy mouse, toy duck, etc. The coupling device enables the support member to be detachably fastened to the framework. Detachable arrangement between the coupling device and the support member can be variously embodied, and achieved by conventional techniques. For example, the support member can be detachably fastened to the coupling device by a screw joint, or plug joint. The doll can have the shape of any character. The doll comprises a covering with stuffing or without stuffing. The covering of the doll has a through hole for the mounting of the coupling device. The coupling device is comprised of a socket member fastened to the framework, and a plug member fastened to the socket member to receive the support member. The socket member comprises an outward top flange disposed inside the covering of the doll. The plug member comprises an outward top flange disposed outside the covering of the doll and pressed on the covering of the doll around the through hole against the outward top flange of the socket member. After installation of the coupling device in the framework, the covering of the doll around the through hole is well protected by the coupling device. The support member can be a swivel hook, a stand, a hanging rod, a hanging loop, etc. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partially sectional view of a toy doll and clothes rack assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the framework, the coupling device, and the support member for the toy doll and clothes rack assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a partially sectional view of a toy doll and clothes rack assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention (the support member is a stand). 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a toy doll and clothes rack assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention (the framework comprises four clothes rods). 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a toy doll and clothes rack assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention (the support member is a hook). 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a toy doll and clothes rack assembly according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention (the framework is comprised of a plurality of metal wire rods that can be bend to the desired shape). 
     FIG. 7 shows an application example of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 shows an application example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a toy doll and clothes rack assemble according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown comprised of a framework  10 , a doll  20 , a support member  30 , and a coupling device  40 . The framework  10  is flexible, and can be bent to the desired shape. The doll  20  can have the shape of any of a variety of characters, and is covered on the framework  10 . A through hole  22  is made on the covering  21  of the doll  20  for receiving the coupling device  40 . The support member  30  according to this embodiment is a swivel hook detachably connected to the framework  10  through the coupling device  40 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2 again, the coupling device  40  comprises a socket member  41 , and a plug member  42 . The socket member  41  comprises a top opening  411 , and an outward top flange  412  rose around the periphery of the top end thereof. The plug member  42  is fitted into the top opening  411  on the socket member  41 , having a coupling hole  422  and an outward top flange  421  raised around the periphery of the top end thereof. After installation of the plug member  42  in the socket member  41 , the coupling device  40  is firmly secured to the doll  20 , enabling the covering  21  to be sandwiched in between the outward top flange  421  of the plug member  42  and the outward top flange  411  of the socket member  41 . The swivel hook  30  comprises a bottom connector  31  coupled to the coupling hole  422  on the plug member  42 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the framework  10  comprises a base frame  11 , a plurality of joint units  12 , and a head unit  13 . The coupling device  40  is fastened to the head unit  13 . The joint units  12  each comprise a ball end  122 , and a socket end  121 . The joint units  12  can be connected to one another by coupling the ball end  122  at one joint unit  12  to the socket end  121  at another. The base frame  11  has multiple ball ends for the coupling of the joint units  12 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a toy doll and clothes rack assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the doll  20  is covered on the framework  10 , and the framework  10  is supported on the support member  30 . The support member  30  according to this embodiment is a stand comprised of a base  32 , and a stem  33  perpendicularly extended from the base  32  at the top. The top end of the stem  33  is fastened to the plug member  42  in the socket member  41  (not shown) at the framework  10 . 
     FIG. 4 shows a toy doll and clothes rack assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the support member  30  is a swivel hook, and the framework  10  comprises four clothes rods, each clothes rod comprised of a plurality of joint units connected in series. 
     FIG. 5 shows a toy doll and clothes rack assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the support member  30  is a hook having a bottom screw rod  34  threaded into a screw hole  423  on the plug member  42  in the socket member  41  (not shown) at the head  23  of the doll  20 . After removal of the support member  30  from the doll  20 , the arms  24  and legs  25  of the doll  20  can be bent to different angles. The screw hole  423  is small, and can be kept from sight by the hairs at the head  23  of the doll  20 . 
     FIG. 6 shows a toy doll and clothes rack assembly according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the framework  10  is formed of resilient metal wire rods  50  that can be bent to the desired shape. 
     FIG. 7 shows an application example of the second embodiment shown in FIG.  3 . According to this application example, one arm  14  of the doll  20  is bent to an angled shape to hold a cap  60 . 
     FIG. 8 shows an application example of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.  5 . When the arms  24  of the doll  20  are extended out, a piece of clothing  70  can then be hung on the doll  20 . 
     It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended for use as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.