Patent Publication Number: US-2017348603-A1

Title: Transforming flower doll

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of the following patent application which is hereby incorporated by reference: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/346,518 filed Jun. 6, 2016, entitled “Transforming Flower Princess Doll.” 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a toy. More particularly, the present disclosure pertains to a doll that is able to transform from a doll to a flower or bouquet of flowers. 
     Toys combining the appearance of a flower with a doll are known in the art. These toys, however, fail to accurately represent at least one of the doll or the flowers. Many of the known doll designs include a dress having multiple petal layers underneath. These petal layers are flexible and made from a cloth material similar to the dress. Distinguishing between dress features and the flower petals, therefore, is difficult. Further, these known designs require reinforcing structures in addition to the basic doll body and flower petals to allow the doll to stand upright. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     In view of at least the aforementioned problems associated with conventional designs, a transforming flower doll that more accurately portrays both a doll and a flower or bouquet is desirable. The transforming flower doll of the current disclosure may include at least one flower having at least one stem. The flower, therefore, may appear more realistic. In embodiments including multiple flowers, the flowers may appear as a bouquet. 
     Briefly, the present disclosure relates, in one embodiment, to a transforming flower doll. The transforming flower doll may include a doll body. The doll body may include a torso with an interior cavity defined in at least a portion of the torso. A head may be connected to the torso. At least one flower may include a stem. The stem may include a stem distal end opposite the head of the doll body. The stem may further include a stem proximal end opposite the stem distal end. The stem proximal end may extend into the interior cavity of the doll body. A sleeve may be connected to the torso between the head of the doll body and the stem distal end of the at least one flower. The sleeve may be configured to substantially cover the doll body in a flower mode position. The sleeve may also be configured to leave the doll body substantially uncovered in a doll mode position. 
     The at least one flower may be removable from the doll body. 
     A stem retainer may be disposed in the interior cavity of the doll body. The stem retainer may be configured to receive the stem of the at least one flower and to retain the stem up to a threshold removal force. 
     The at least one flower may include a plurality of flowers. The stem retainer may be further configured to receive and retain the stem of each of the plurality of flowers. 
     The stem retainer may be further configured to retain the stem of each of the plurality of flowers up to a threshold removal force, even when a respective stem is removed from the stem retainer. 
     A stem spacer may be connected to the torso of the doll body. The stem spacer may include a plurality of stem receiving holes defined therein. Each stem receiving hole may be configured to receive the stem of a respective flower therethrough. 
     Two arms may be rotatably connected to the torso. 
     The two arms may include a first arm and a second arm. A first hinge joint may connect the first arm to the torso, and a second hinge joint may connect the second arm to the torso. 
     The two arms may include a first arm and a second arm. A first ball and socket joint may connect the first arm to the torso, and a second ball and socket joint may connect the second arm to the torso. 
     The sleeve may include a skirt portion of a dress. 
     A skirt portion of a dress may be connected to at least one of the torso and the sleeve. The skirt portion may be configured to be substantially covered when the sleeve is in the flower mode position. 
     The skirt portion may be connected to the torso between the head and the sleeve. 
     The sleeve may be rolled over itself in the doll mode position. 
     The present disclosure also relates, in an embodiment, to a transforming flower doll. The transforming flower doll may include a doll body. The doll body may include a torso including a head end and a bottom end opposite the head end. A head may be connected to the torso nearer the head end than the bottom end. The transforming flower doll may further include at least one flower. The at least one flower may include a stem connected to the torso nearer the bottom end of the doll body than the head end of the doll body. A sleeve may be connected to the torso. The sleeve may be configured to substantially cover the doll body in a flower mode position. The sleeve may be further configured to leave the doll body substantially uncovered in a doll mode position. 
     The at least one flower further may include a plurality of flowers. A plurality of stems may be connected to the torso. 
     The stems may be connected to the bottom end of the torso. 
     The plurality of stems may project away from the bottom end of the torso in a plurality of directions. 
     The plurality of stems may be substantially rigid to support the transforming flower doll in an upright position on a substantially flat surface. 
     Two arms may be pivotably connected to the torso, such that the arms may pivot from a lowered position to a raised position. A sleeve may be connected to the torso. The sleeve may be configured to substantially tightly surround the doll body when the arms are in the raised position and the sleeve is in the flower mode position. 
     The sleeve may be configured to unroll over the doll body to surround the doll body in the flower mode position. The sleeve may be further configured to roll up nearer the bottom end of the torso than the head end in the doll mode position. 
     The present disclosure also relates, in an embodiment, to a method of transforming a transforming flower doll. The method may include providing the transforming flower doll. The transforming flower doll may have a doll body and at least one flower. The at least one flower may include a stem connected to the doll body. The method may further include manipulating a sleeve connected to the doll body. The sleeve may move from a doll mode position to a flower mode position. The doll body may be substantially uncovered by the sleeve when the sleeve is in the doll mode position. The doll body may be substantially covered by the sleeve when the sleeve is in the flower mode position. 
     The transforming flower doll may further include a skirt portion of a dress. The skirt portion of the dress may substantially cover the at least one flower when the sleeve is in the doll mode position. The skirt portion of the dress may substantially cover the doll body when the sleeve is in the flower mode position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of one embodiment of a transforming flower doll. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the transforming flower doll of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom rear perspective view of the transforming flower doll of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front side perspective view of the transforming flower doll of  FIG. 1  in the inverted position with the hands in the raised position. 
         FIG. 5  is a front side perspective view of the transforming flower doll of  FIG. 1  in the inverted position with the skirt portion of the dress over the doll body and the sleeve in the retracted position. 
         FIG. 6  is a front side perspective view of the transforming flower doll of  FIG. 1  in the inverted position with the sleeve in the extended position. 
         FIG. 7  is a detailed bottom rear view of the transforming flower doll of  FIG. 1  in the inverted position with the sleeve in the extended position. 
         FIG. 8  is a front side perspective view of the transforming flower doll of  FIG. 1  in the inverted position with the sleeve in the extended position and a flower exploded from the doll body. 
         FIG. 9  is a side elevation cross-section view of the transforming flower doll of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a rear side perspective exploded view of the transforming flower doll of  FIG. 1  without a dress. 
         FIG. 11  is a front elevation view of the skirt portion of the dress surrounding the doll body of the transforming flower doll of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the skirt portion of the dress. 
         FIG. 13  is a front elevation cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a transforming flower doll. 
         FIG. 14  is a front elevation cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of a transforming flower doll. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more drawings of which are set forth herein. Each drawing is provided by way of explanation of the present disclosure and is not a limitation. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. 
     Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features, and aspects of the present disclosure are disclosed in, or are obvious from, the following detailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present disclosure. 
     The words “connected”, “attached”, “joined”, “mounted”, “fastened”, and the like should be interpreted to mean any manner of joining two objects including, but not limited to, the use of any fasteners such as screws, nuts and bolts, bolts, pin and clevis, one or more sections of hooks and corresponding one or more sections of loops, ribbons, laces, ropes, buttons, and the like allowing for a stationary, translatable, or pivotable relationship; welding of any kind such as traditional MIG welding, TIG welding, friction welding, brazing, soldering, ultrasonic welding, torch welding, inductive welding, and the like; using any resin, glue, epoxy, and the like; being integrally formed as a single part together; any mechanical fit such as a friction fit, interference fit, slidable fit, rotatable fit, pivotable fit, and the like; any combination thereof; and the like. 
     Unless specifically stated otherwise, any part of the apparatus of the present disclosure may be made of any appropriate or suitable material including, but not limited to, metal, alloy, polymer, polymer mixture, wood, composite, textiles, leathers, or any combination thereof. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a transforming flower doll  100  is shown. The transforming flower doll  100  may include a doll body  102 . The doll body  102  may include a torso  104 , a head  106  connected to the torso, and two arms  108  connected to the torso. The transforming flower doll  100  may further include a dress  110  having a bodice portion  112  and a skirt portion  114 . The bodice portion  112  of the dress  110  may be connected and/or integral to the skirt portion  114 , or the bodice portion and the skirt portion may be non-integral components. The bodice portion  112  of the dress  110  may further be an article of clothing for the doll  100  that can be placed on the torso  104  and removed from the torso. Alternatively, the bodice portion  112  may simply be a decorative feature of the torso  104  that is permanently connected to the torso. In one embodiment, the bodice portion  112  may simply include a painted portion of the torso  104 . The skirt portion  114  of the dress  110  may be connected to the bodice portion  112 , or the skirt portion may be connected to the torso  104 . In many embodiments, the skirt portion  114  may resemble a flowing ball gown or any other appropriate dress lower portion. The skirt portion  114  may be made of any appropriate material. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the skirt portion  114  of the dress  110  may at least partially surround one or more artificial flowers  116 . When the skirt portion  114  is at least partially surrounding the one or more artificial flowers  116 , this position may be considered a skirt lowered position. The skirt portion  114  in the skirt lowered position may optionally fully cover the one or more artificial flowers  116  at the front, back, and sides of the doll  100 . Stated another way, the artificial flowers  116  may only be visible when looking under the skirt portion  114  by either raising the skirt portion or viewing the flowers by looking from below the bottom side of the doll  100 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 4-6 , steps for transforming the doll  100  from a doll mode ( FIG. 1 ) to a flower mode ( FIG. 6 ) are shown. First, a user may move the arms  108  from a lowered position (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) to a raised position (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). Next, a user may move the skirt portion  114  of the dress  110  toward the head  106  of the doll  100 . With the skirt portion  114  in this position, a sleeve  118  may be exposed. The sleeve  118  may be in a retracted position. A user may then extend the sleeve  118  to at least partially cover the doll body  102 . The sleeve  118  may also at least partially cover the skirt portion  114  of the dress  110  in this extended position. Once the sleeve  118  has been extended, the doll  100  may be in the flower mode (shown in  FIG. 6 ). 
     The sleeve  118  may be connected to the torso  104  of the doll body  102 . The sleeve  118  may be further configured to be placed in both the extended position (such as shown in  FIG. 6 ) and the retracted position (such as shown in  FIG. 5 ). The extended position may include the sleeve  118  at least partially covering the doll body  102 . In some embodiments, the extended position may include the sleeve  118  at least partially covering and surrounding the doll body  102 . In further embodiments, the extended position may include the sleeve  118  substantially covering and surrounding the doll body  102 . In further still embodiments, the sleeve  118  may cover and/or surround a majority of the doll body  102  in the extended position. The skirt portion  114  of the dress  110  may be substantially covered when the sleeve  118  is in the extended position, as well. The sleeve  118  may cover and/or surround a majority of the skirt portion  114  in the extended position. Additionally or alternatively, the sleeve  118  may be configured to substantially tightly surround the doll body  102  with the arms  108  in the raised position. The sleeve  118  may be further configured to leave the doll body  102  substantially uncovered when the sleeve is in the retracted position. In many embodiments, a majority of the doll body  102  is uncovered when the sleeve  118  is in the retracted position. In some embodiments, the sleeve  118  may be rolled over itself in the retracted position. In such embodiments, the sleeve  118  may be unrolled over the doll body  102  to surround the doll body. Other embodiments may include the sleeve  118  folded over itself, compressed against itself, and the like in the retracted position. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , in some embodiments, the skirt portion  114  of the dress  110  may function as the sleeve  118 . That is to say, the sleeve  118  and the skirt portion  114  may be the same component of the doll  100 . In such embodiments, the skirt portion  114  may substantially cover the at least one flower  116  when the skirt portion is in the doll mode position. The skirt portion  114  may substantially cover the doll body  102  when the skirt portion is in the flower mode position. Many embodiments may include one or more fasteners configured to retain the skirt portion  114  in the flower mode position. These fasteners may include, but are not limited to, tie straps, sections of hooks  119 A with corresponding sections of loops  119 B including for example Velcro connections, buttons, and the like. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3-5 , many embodiments of the doll  100  may include the skirt portion  114  of the dress  110  connected to at least one of the torso  104  and the sleeve  118 . In some embodiments, the skirt portion  114  may be connected to the torso  104  between the head  106  and the sleeve  118 . As discussed above, the skirt portion  114  may be connected directly to the torso  104 , directly to the sleeve  118 , directly to the bodice portion  112 , or some combination of the above. 
     The torso  104  may include a head end  120  and a bottom end  122  opposite the head end. The head  106  may be connected to the torso  104  nearer the head end  120  than the bottom end  122 . In such embodiments, the sleeve  118  may be further configured to roll up into the retracted position nearer the bottom end  122  of the torso  104  than the head end  120 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5-9, 13, and 14 , the at least one artificial flower  116  may include a stem  124  connected to the torso  104 . In some embodiments, the stem  124  of each artificial flower  116  may be connected to the torso  104  nearer the bottom end  122  than the head end  120 . Each of the artificial flowers  116  may further include at least one petal  126  connected to the respective stem  124 . The at least one petal  126  may be opposite the head  106  of the doll body  102 . Of course, many embodiments may include the at least one artificial flower  116  including a plurality of artificial flowers. In such embodiments, each of a plurality of stems  124  may be connected to the torso  104 . In some embodiments, the stems  124  may be connected to the bottom end  122  of the torso  104 . 
     Many embodiments may include the torso  104  including an interior cavity  128  defined therein. In such embodiments, the stem  124  of each artificial flower  116  may extend into the interior cavity  128 . As shown in  FIGS. 9, 10, and 13 , a stem retainer  130  may be disposed in the interior cavity  128  of the torso  104 . The stem retainer  130  may be configured to hold the stem  124  of the artificial flower  116 . In embodiments including a plurality of artificial flowers  116 , a stem spacer  132  may be connected to the torso  104  of the doll body  102 . The stem spacer  132  may include a plurality of stem receiving holes  134  defined therein. Each stem receiving hole  134  may be configured to receive the stem  124  of a respective artificial flower  116  therethrough. In this and other embodiments, each of the plurality of stems  124  may project away from the bottom end  122  of the torso  104  in a respective one of a plurality of directions. Of course, as shown in  FIG. 14 , neither a stem retainer  130  nor a stem spacer  132  may be required in some embodiments of the doll  100 . Many such embodiments may include one or more portions of the doll body  102 , for instance the torso  104 , surrounding or otherwise interacting with the one or more stems  124 . 
     In some embodiments, the at least one artificial flower  116  may be removable from the doll body  102 . Some embodiments include only one removable artificial flower  116  out of a plurality of artificial flowers, while other embodiments include all the artificial flowers being removable. Many of such embodiments include the artificial flower  116  configured to be reattached to the doll body  102  after removal. Additionally or alternatively, the doll body  102  may be configured to repeatedly receive and release the at least one artificial flower  116 . Of course, other embodiments may include real flowers instead of the artificial flowers  116 . In embodiments allowing for removable artificial flowers  116 , the stem retainer  130  may be configured to receive the stem  124  of the at least one artificial flower. The stem retainer  130  may be further configured to retain the one or more stems  124  up to a threshold removal force. In such embodiments, each artificial flower  116  may be securely held by the stem retainer  130  until a user removes it, for instance. In some embodiments, the stem retainer  130  may be further configured to retain the stem  124  of each of a plurality of artificial flowers  116  up to a threshold removal force, even when a respective stem is removed from the stem retainer. Stated another way, the stem retainer  130  may be configured to maintain the stems  124  secured therein regardless of how many stems are retained by the stem retainer. The stem retainer  130  may be further configured to receive one or more stems  124  and thereafter retain them. The stems  124  retained in the stem retainer  130  (or otherwise connected to the torso  104 ) may be rigid and/or numerous enough such that they may support the doll  100  in an upright, or standing, position on a substantially flat surface. 
     Many embodiments of the doll  100  may include the arms  108  rotatably connected to the torso  104 . The arms  108  may be connected to the torso  104  by joints  136 . The joints  136  may include hinge joints, ball and socket joints, or any other appropriate rotatable connection. The arms  108  are, therefore, configured to pivot from a lowered position (shown in  FIG. 3 ) to a raised position (shown in  FIG. 4 ). As such, the sleeve  118 , which may be connected to the torso  104  somewhere between the head  106  and the at least one petal  126  of the at least one artificial flower  116 , may then be unrolled over the arms  108  when the arms are in the raised position. Of course, some embodiments may be configured such that the sleeve  118  may cover and surround the doll body  102  regardless of the position of the arms  108 . 
     Some embodiments of the doll  100  having rotatably connected arms  108  may include the arms controlling extension and retraction of the at least one artificial flower  116 . In such embodiments, the artificial flowers  116  may be in a retracted position where a portion of the stems  124  of each artificial flower is disposed in the internal cavity  128  of the torso  104 . Upon moving the arms  108  to the raised position (in anticipation of converting the doll  100  to the flower mode), the artificial flowers  116  may move to the extended position where a lesser portion of the stems  124  of each artificial flower is disposed in the internal cavity  128  when compared to the retracted position. In these embodiments, the flowers  116  may be more hidden when the doll  100  is in the doll mode (shown in  FIG. 1 ), and the flowers may be more prominent when the doll is in the flower mode (shown in  FIG. 6 ). An example of a manner of accomplishing this task may include at least one of the arms  108  actuating a gear. The gear may then actuate a linear gear such that the assembly acts as a rack and pinion. The stems  124  may be connected directly or indirectly to the linear gear, such as connecting the stem retainer  130  directly or indirectly to the linear gear. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims. 
     Although embodiments of the disclosure have been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only. The words used are words of description rather than limitation. It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit or the scope of the present disclosure, which is set forth in the following claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged in whole or in part. While specific uses for the subject matter of the disclosure have been exemplified, other uses are contemplated. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the versions contained herein.