Patent Publication Number: US-5021020-A

Title: Flat toy doll and flat toy doll and folio system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Flat paper dolls have been very popular for children for many years as they provide a variety of paper figures and paper wardrobe to dress the figures with at a very modest cost. However traditional paper dolls have the disadvantages that the paper clothes constructed to be attached by tabs extending out from the edges tear easily and thereby permit the clothes to tear or fall off because the tabs would not hold when the doll was moved during play. Flat paper dolls also would not stand up nor could the arms or legs be manipulated by the user to assume a life like pose in an imaginary play theme. Furthermore, typically conventional three dimensional dolls are difficult for children to dress and undress because of the manual dexterity needed to get the dolls arms and the legs in and out of the clothing. This leads to frustration on the part of the child leading to disinterest or damage and discard of the toy. This frustration can be eliminated by the present invention incorporating a flat doll construction because flat clothes can be put on the doll and stick easily thus eliminating frustration often encountered when trying to dress and undress the traditional doll. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to providing an improved one-sided flat doll of substantial thickness which gives the appearance of roundness to a flat doll, a folio wardrobe system employing the improved flat doll and wardrobe and to a method for constructing the improved flat doll employing the improved construction of the invention. 
     The flat doll apparatus and flat doll wardrobe for including a plurality of articles of apparel are particularly adapted to provide for ease of dressing and changing clothes outfits of a doll by small children, and by having a thickened figure with an inner frame provides a pleasing life like appearance. The present invention comprises a flat doll which includes a thickened flat figure of an animate human object shaped in a silhouette form of disproportionate thickness to width, having a head, a plurality of arm members, a plurality of leg members, and a torso. 
     The figure of the doll is of multilayer construction and includes a plastic coated flexible wire for providing a flexible frame for the figure wherein the sharp ends of the wire have been twisted and bent inwardly against the wire to eliminate any sharp protrusions which might otherwise harm or injure the user. An inner body form constructed of polyester fleece is provided immediately adjacent the wire frame and is attached thereto by stitching. An intermediate body form of polyester fleece is attached on top of the inner body form by means of outline stitching extending through both body forms to give the figure firmness. One side of the intermediate body form is covered by a thin layer of polyester fiber. A substantially flat front outer panel on which a face and hair has been painted with individualized features, consisting of knit fabric covering the entire front surface of the doll figure, is stretched over the multilayer body form and the outer peripheral edges are drawn together on the back, and secured by stitching. Fastening means for attaching clothing to be worn by the doll comprising a rear panel slightly smaller than the figure as attached to the back of the intermediated body form comprising a layer of looped pile fleece. 
     The figure then includes a fastener means attached to the back of the head and neck of the figure for attaching to a support member such as a stand or wall. 
     The portfolio then includes pages for holding clothing means for dressing the doll in a plurality of outfits comprising a essentially flat one dimensional garment sized to fit the doll figure provided with a plurality of tabs extending outwardly from opposite sides of the garment having hook fastener means attached thereto for easy, quick and secured attachment with a loop pile fleece layer of the bank panel. 
     The flat doll and apparel system for providing convenient and orderly storage for a multiplicity of apparel outfits to dress the flat doll, comprises a folio fabric book, having a pair of covers constructed of loop fabric and a plurality of pages constructed of loop fabric. The doll figure can be attached for storage in the portfolio on a first page by pressing the back panel consisting of a strip of hook fasteners secured to the head and neck against the surface of the first page constructed of loop pile fleece for attachement thereto subject to release by the user when desired. A garment element can be attached to a second page of the fabric portfolio comprised of loop pile fabric by pressing the tabs of the garment including hook fastener means against the surface of the fabric pages. 
     The invention will be described for the purposes of illustration only in connection with certain embodiments; however, it is recognized that those persons skilled in the art may make various changes, modifications, improvements and additions on the illustrated embodiments all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the folio book and the doll of the invention together with apparel for dressing the doll; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the toy doll of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of the toy doll of the invention as shown in FIG. 2 dressed with an article of clothing; 
     FIG. 4 is a back view of the toy doll of the invention as employed in Fig. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of the toy doll as shown in FIG. 2 partially in sections showing the wire frame and layers of inner and intermediate body forms; 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the dreawings, FIG. 1 shows a doll folio system 10, comprising a flat doll 18, a folio 11, comprising a plurality of cover pages constructed of loop fastener fabric 12 with handles 14, a plurality of pages constructed of loop fastener fabric 16, and including the flat doll 18 mounted on a cover page 12 and a doll wardrobe 20 mounted on a plurality of pages 16 therein for dressing the flat doll 18. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 &amp; 4 the flat doll 18 is shaped in silhouette form of disproportionate thickness to width having a head member 22, a torso portion 24, a plurality of arms 26, a plurality of legs 28 and having a front panel 30 extending the entire length of the front of the figure of the flat doll consisting of a flat layer of soft washable fabric. Imprinted on the front panel are individualized facial features 32 on the head 22, and undergarments 33 on the torso 24. A rounded outer edge 35 is disposed between the front panel 30 and a rear panel 42. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 &amp; 4 an essentially flat, 2 dimensional, article of clothing, here shown as a dress 34 and a pair of shoes 36 has been affixed to the torso portion 24 of the figure. The dress 34 is provided with a plurality of tabs 38 constructed of the hook section of a hook and loop fastening material and a plurlity of wrist tabs 40, also of hook material for engaging the wrist portion of the arms 26. The rear panel 42 extends over the entire length of the rear of the figure of the flat doll 18 and consists of a flat layer of loop fastening material. Affixed to the back of the head member 22 and neck portion of a fastener tab 44 for attaching to a support member, not shown, such as a stand or a wall or for attaching the doll figure 18 to the one of the plurality of fabric pages 16 in a folio book. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the flat doll 18 has a composite construction comprising a skeletal wire frame 46 in the interior of the figure having a flexible plastic coating 48 to which is fastened an inner body form 50 constructed of polyester fleece. An intermediate body form 52, also consisting of polyester fleece is positioned on the inner body form 50 and fastened thereto. A panel 53 constructed of polyester fleece is attached to the front of the intermediate body form 52 and extends over the entire front of the figure including the multiple layers of the inner and intermediate body forms to which is attached a next polyester fiber layer. A front panel 54 covering panel 53 consists of flesh colored knit fabric onto which a unique face 56 has been individually painted. The rear panel 42 of the doll figure is constructed of a flat layer of loop fastening mateial extending over the entire surface of the rear of the flat doll 18. 
     The doll wardrobe 20 as shown if FIG. 1 includes a plurality of articles of apparel to be selected by the user for dressing the doll. 
     The method of constructing the substantially flat doll 18 includes forming a skeletal wire frame 46 with a plastic coating 48 to provide an inner frame by coiling and twisting the wire so that all sharp points or ends are eliminated. The next step includes winding padding around the coiled wire to form the inner body form 50 consisting of polyester fleece which is then stitched to the wire frame. Next a second intermediate body form 52 also of polyester fleece, is outline stitched through both body forms to give the figure of the doll 18 firmness. A thin layer of polyester fabric is next attached by adhesive means on the front of the doll figure. 
     The front panel 30 consisting of a flesh colored knit fabric on to which a face and hair has been painted is stitched to the intermediate body form 52 of the fleece fabric leaving the center back open and turning the casing right side out and pulled onto the body form molding the knit fabric over the soft underside of the intermediate form, the back is then pulled together and secured with stitches. 
     Next there is provided on the flat rear panel of the doll a fastener tab 44 made of fabric with the hook part of a fastener stitched on the tab being used to hold the doll 18 onto another surface or to apply a covered piece or cardboard or plastic of proper length thus allowing the doll 18 to stand alone. 
     Thereafter sewing or painting on the front of the front panel 54 which now has a flat but rounded appearance undergarments 33 and then making stitches taken at the chin, shoulder, elbow, wrist, waist, knee, and ankle, giving the doll 18 dimension and shoes 36 of loop pile are attached thus allowing other footwear to be placed on with ease.