Abstract:
A doll is provided that is custom designed to resemble a specific person, either living or dead. These characteristics of sex, hair color and style, eye color and the like are selected from a group of various characteristics. A tape-recording mechanism provides for the recording of the represented person&#39;s voice, if still living, or for the recording of voices by friends or relatives, if deceased.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in Disclosure Document Number 473,677 filed on May 4, 2000. There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to novelty doll devices and the like and, more particularly, to a memorial novelty doll device having integral sound producing means and a kit and method for customizing the same. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The reality of death is something we all must face. While the pain associated with losing a loved one usually fades with time, so do the pleasant memories as well. The favorite sayings, memories, frequent expressions and the general life events that define an individual are thought of only when viewing a photo album, or reminiscing with friends and family members. Such times happen less frequently as the years go by. While audio and tape recordings help as well, they are usually not handy and very seldom played back. Often, younger descendants of the deceased were not even born yet when they died. These people have little to go on when trying to figure out what type of person the deceased was, other than family stories and maybe a few pictures. Many of these same problems occur with living family members who live a distance away and are infrequently seen. 
     A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related. 
     The following patents disclose a miniature tape recorder incorporated in a doll. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,987 issued in the name of Belin et al. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,561 issued in the name of Pracas 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,172 issued in the name of Basile 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,017,905 issued in the name of Convertine et al. 
     The following patents describe a speaking toy doll responding by touch or voice recognition. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,428 issued in the name of Curran 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,602 issued in the name of Rose 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,653 issued in the name of McKeefery 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,821 issued in the name of Ouellette et al. discloses a bilingual educational doll. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,030 issued in the name of Rose describes two or more dolls with speech synthesizing systems. 
     Consequently, there is a need for a means by which a deceased person&#39;s memories can be revived on a frequent basis, yet with dignity and respect 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved memorial novelty doll device having integral sound producing means. 
     It is a feature of the present invention to provide a method for individually customizing such an improved memorial novelty such as to render a visually similar characterization of a deceased individual during a memorial service. 
     Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, the memorial doll is a doll that is custom designed to resemble a specific person, either living or dead. Upon initial observation, the invention resembles a conventional doll that is approximately 16″ tall with a base diameter of three to four inches. After closer inspection however, it can be seen that the physical characteristics of the doll are customized to match a specific person. These characteristics are envisioned to be body shape characteristics, hair color and style, eye color, clothing, and the like. A tape-recording mechanism, either located in the base or the rear of the invention, provides for the recording of the represented person&#39;s voice, if still living, or for the recording of voices by friends or relatives, if deceased. The recording comments are envisioned to be that of favorite memories, expressions, sayings, etc. associated with the represented individual. 
     The use of the memorial doll allows for the representation of a living person or a means for descendants to remember a deceased member of the family in a respectful manner while keeping past memories alive. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a memorial novelty doll device having integral sound producing means according to a typical representation of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along line II—II; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial front elevational view of a recording means for use therewith; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram of said recording means for use therewith; and 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram describing a method for customizing the same. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures. 
     1. Detailed Description of the Figures 
     Referring now to FIG. 1-2, a memorial novelty doll device  10  and associated customizing kit, as will be described herein, is shown, according to the present invention. The use of the memorial doll allows for the representation of a living person or a means for descendants to remember a deceased member of the family in a respectful manner while keeping past memories alive. As such, provisions are made as to render a visually similar characterization of a deceased individual during a memorial service. To accomplish this, the doll  10  is comprised of a head  12  and a body  14 . The body  14  is selected from a body group  16  comprising a generic male body  14   a  an a generic female body  14   b . Each body  14  within the body group  16  includes a head attachment means  20  of a common design for allowing the head  12  to attach thereto via a body receiving means  22 . Further, each body  14  within the body group  16  forms a receiving cavity  26  for receiving an internal recording means  28  of a design described in greater detail below. 
     Further, the head  12  is selected from a head group (not shown) comprising a series of generic head forms having various shades of external color to simulate various skin tones available within the general population. However, each head  12  includes an eye receiving means  30  and a hair attachment means  32 . Affixable within the eye receiving means  30  are eyes  34 , each having an eye attachment means  36 , and selected from an eye group  38  comprising blue eyes, brown eyes, green eyes, and black eyes. The hair attachment means  32  is affixable to a hair element  40  selected from a hair group  42  comprising brown hair, black hair, and blonde hair, each available in curly or straight and long or short configurations. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3-4, the internal recording means  28  is described in greater detail. The internal recording means  28  is envisioned as a tape-recording mechanism, either located in the base or the rear of the invention, provides for the recording of the represented person&#39;s voice, if still living, or for the recording of voices by friends or relatives, if deceased. The recording comments are envisioned to be that of favorite memories, expressions, sayings, etc. associated with the represented individual. The internal recording means  28  is capable of detachably receiving one of a plurality of audio tapes  29  for either playing or recording. Conventional pressure actuated on/off switches  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  55  are mounted to the exterior of the body  14 . The control circuit  56  includes a battery  58 , is directly connected to control switch  50  which in turn is directly connected to tape deck  28  to provide power for either playing or recording. A sound emitting speaker  60  is directly connected to the tape deck  28  and will broadcast the contents of the tape  29  whenever double pole “play” switch  52  and master switch  54  are closed. Switch  52  should be ganged or operatively connected to record switch  54  by link  53  so that when one switch is closed, the other switch is open. Control LED&#39;s (not shown) can be used in conjunction with switches  50 ,  52 ,  54 , and  55  so that each switch will be lighted when it is closed. 
     When it is desired to go to the record mode, switch  54  is closed, and the receiver  62  will cause a sound to be recorded on the tape  29 . An internal voice actuation switch  64  capable of bypassing switches  50  and closing switch  54  when the switch  50  is open, when responder  62  picks up the noise, is operative when automatic switch  55  is closed. 
     2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, a means by which a deceased person&#39;s memories can be revived on a frequent basis, yet with dignity and respect can be utilized. Based upon the physical characteristics of the individual to be memorialized, a body  14  is selected to match from the body group  16 . Upon attachment of a head  12  having coloring designed to match the physical characteristics of the individual to be memorialized, selection and attachment of eyes  34  from the eye group  36  to the eye receiving means  30  is completed to further match the physical characteristics of the individual to be memorialized. Finally, hair  40  is selected from the hair group  42  to match the physical characteristics of the individual to be memorialized, and a message is recorded to represent the person&#39;s voice, if still living, or for the recording of voices by friends or relatives, if deceased. The recording comments are envisioned to be that of favorite memories, expressions, sayings, etc. associated with the represented individual. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.