Abstract:
A stuffed play doll configured to be used as a hand puppet having a body portion, a head projecting out from the top of the body portion, two arms projecting out from the body portion below the head, two legs projecting down from the body portion below the arms and at least one belt or strip of material which is open along each side which is located on the back of each arm between the body portion and the end of the arm. Each belt of strip is adapted to receive a finger tip which manipulates the arm, where the ends of each belt or strip of material are attached to an arm and each belt or strip has a length which extends across, along or diagonally across the back of each arm.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to stuffed dolls which may be manipulated as hand puppets and more specifically to an improved articulated doll having a strap which extends along, across or diagonally across the arms of the doll/puppet for receiving the tips of a person&#39;s finger for manipulating the arms of the doll. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Stuffed puppet dolls are known in the prior art. More specifically, by way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,307 to Biasuzzi, et al. discloses an animated toy resembling a stuffed animal having a pair of arms with pockets therein into which the hands of the user may be inserted. The pocket includes places for a person&#39;s fingers to be placed so that the user may pick up objects. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,135 to Siler discloses a stuffed doll having a rigid head and upper torso portion, legs hingedly connected at the lower end of the upper torso portion, lower full finger receiving pockets at the rear of the legs and a common pouch extending across the open upper ends of the lower finger receiving pockets to form an upper finger receiving opening at the rear of the upper torso of the doll. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,276 to Goldfarb, et al., discloses a soft pellet filled doll which may be played with as an ordinary doll or a hand puppet. A flexible cover sheet of material is located over the back of the upper torso to form an exterior compartment for receiving the hand of a user when the doll is being used as a hand puppet. The rear cover sheet extends across the rear of the doll, and is secured to the head, arms and upper torso portion of the casing to define an exterior compartment for receiving the hand of the user. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,070 to Mullen, et al. discloses an articulated toy figure which has rings attached to movable limbs which are operated by a person&#39;s fingers for reproducing lifelike human or animal movement. The rings extend outwardly from the limbs and each receives a finger for independent manipulation of the limbs to control the movements of the articulated figure. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,555 to Natiw discloses a puppet doll having a pair of stuffed body panels between which the hand of the user is sandwiched. The arms of the doll are encased in sleeves which are attached to front and back body panels. A continuous cavity is formed in the body, sleeves and head for receiving the hand of a user. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,670 to Williams discloses a doll having two arms and a head formed by a front panel and rear panel. In use, a user&#39;s hand is located between the two panels with one finger and a thumb located in the arms and a finger is located in the head. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,065 to Baiera discloses a walking hand puppet having a body with finger-insertable appendages, and a non-functional glove on the body. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,942,283 to Rushton discloses a hand puppet resembling a stuffed animal having a pocket into which the hand of a manipulator is inserted. The pocket extends into the legs and head of the animal so that the legs and head may be moved by the fingers of the manipulator. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,795,896 to Snyder discloses an animal formed by an elongated tubular sleeve into which is located the arm and hand of a manipulator where the body, head and face portions of the animal are movable by movements of the arm, hand and fingers of the manipulator. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,433,555 to Hulse discloses a puppet garment with an opening down the back through which a person&#39;s hand may be inserted to seat his/her fingers in tubes of the head and the hands to produce movements of the puppet. 
         [0014]    The present invention is distinguished over the prior art in general, and in particular to the patents above by an improved doll/puppet which may be selectively used as a hand puppet which is operated by a person&#39;s fingers. The figure has a central body portion, a head, two arms and two legs wherein at least one belt or strap is located across, along or diagonally across the back or each arm for receiving a person&#39;s finger tip for manipulating the arms. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed a stuffed play doll configured to be used as a hand puppet comprises:
       a body portion;   a head projecting out from the top of the body portion;   two arms projecting out from the body portion below the head;   two legs projecting down from the body portion below the arms; and   at least one belt or strip of material which is open along each side is located on the back of each arm between the body portion and the end of the arm, each belt of strip being adapted to receive a finger tip which manipulates the arm;   wherein the ends of each belt or strip of material are attached to an arm;   wherein each belt or strip has a length which extends across, along or diagonally across the back of each arm.       
 
         [0023]    The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow. 
         [0024]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0025]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0026]    The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals. 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  is a view of an embodiment of the back of a stuffed doll/puppet where the doll can be held as a puppet when the fingers of a person&#39;s hand are located under straps or belts which are positioned vertically across the back of the dolls/puppets arms; 
           [0029]      FIG. 1A  is a view of a person&#39;s finger located under the belt or strap which is located vertically across the rear of an arm of the doll/puppet of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 1B  is a view of a person&#39;s finger tip located in a finger tip pocket located on the rear of an arm of the doll/puppet of  FIG. 1   
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a view of an embodiment the back of a stuffed doll/puppet where the doll can be held as a puppet when the fingers of a person&#39;s hand are located under the straps or belts which are positioned horizontally along the dolls/puppets arms; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2A  is a view of a person&#39;s finger located under the belt or strap which is located horizontally along the rear of an arm of the doll/puppet of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2B  is a view of a person&#39;s finger tip located in a finger tip pocket on the rear of an arm of the doll/puppet of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is a view of an embodiment the back of a stuffed doll/puppet where the doll can be held as a puppet when the fingers of a person&#39;s hand are located under the straps or belts which are positioned diagonally across the back of the dolls/puppets arms; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 3A  is a view of a person&#39;s finger located under the belt or strap which is located diagonally across the rear of an arm of the doll/puppet of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3B  is a view of a person&#39;s finger tip located in a finger tip pocket on the rear of an arm of the doll/puppet of  FIG. 3 ; 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0037]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
         [0038]    Traditional stuffed doll hand puppets employ an opening in the back of the doll for a person to place his/her hand to operate the doll&#39;s arms, head and possibly feet with his/her fingers. The person&#39;s fingers operate the arms and possibly the head from inside the shell/body of the doll. The intent is to hide the hand from view. 
         [0039]    In this invention the hand is not hidden and the finger holder which is attached to the doll is a strap or belt of soft material which has a length of between one half of an inch and one and five eighths inches which is attached to the outer covering of the doll, has a width of between one sixteenth of an inch and two inches and which is open at each end, and is made of a fabric or an elastic stretchable material such as rubber or a fabric which may be stretchable. In an embodiment, the through axis of the opening in the strap or belt may be aligned with the axis of the arm or leg of the doll or the body of the doll where the head is being manipulated. In another embodiment the through axis of the opening in the belt or strap may be between thirty and sixty degrees with the axis of the arm or leg of the doll that is to be manipulated or the body of the doll where the head is being manipulated. In another embodiment the through axis of the opening in the belt or strap may be ninety degrees with the axis of the arm or leg of the doll that is to be manipulated. 
         [0040]    In prior art dolls the opening in the back of the arm may be a pouch or one or more cavities which are open at only one end and are located inside the arms and head of the doll for the person&#39;s hand and/or fingers. The cavities may be located under the exterior covering or shell of the doll or they may be located inside the stuffing of the doll which is used to provide a soft bodied puppet doll. 
         [0041]    In this invention one or more externally located straps or belts are located on the outside rear surface of the shell/body of the doll which is used to hold a person&#39;s finger against the doll&#39;s arm. By bending and/or moving the person&#39;s finger tip, arm movements of the doll are simulated. 
         [0042]    When a hand is removed from a traditional puppet stuffed doll, the doll typically falls limp and does not make a good play toy. 
         [0043]    With this invention, the doll plays perfectly well as a huggable doll and a hand puppet, since its volume and firmness are constant. Thus, the toy is a doll first and a puppet second. 
         [0044]    The volume and firmness of the doll here disclosed remains constant whether used as a finger puppet or a doll and, therefore, the doll is always a huggable doll and a hand puppet. 
         [0045]    To make a traditional stuffed finger puppet doll using traditional construction, a cavity or hole is made in the back of the doll and then a two or three fingered glove is sewn to the opening which extends inside the arms and head. This construction is more expensive than the method of constructing a doll having only a belt or strap for holding an exposed finger tip to the back surface of the arms and head of a doll as is here disclosed. 
         [0046]    In an embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in  FIG. 1 , there is shown a view of the back of a stuffed doll/puppet  10  where the doll can be held as a puppet when the finger tips of a person&#39;s hand are located under straps or belts or finger tip pockets which are positioned vertically ACROSS the dolls/puppets arms. The doll puppet has a body  12 , a head  14 , two arms  16 ,  18 , and two legs  20 ,  22 . 
         [0047]    To animate the stuffed doll puppet, a belt or a strap  24  is attached to the rear of each arm by sewing or with an adhesive such as an epoxy. Each strap may be made of an material such as rubber or a stretchable or non-stretchable fabric which may have a width which extends along the arm for a distance of between one sixteenth of an inch and two inches, and a length which extends across the arm for a distance of between one half of an inch and one and five eighths of an inch. In an embodiment of the invention a single belt or strap or finger tip pocket or two parallel belts or straps may be located across the back of each of the doll&#39;s arms. A person&#39;s finger tips, see  FIG. 1A , when placed under the belts or straps which are located around the rear of the doll&#39;s arm, allows that person to manipulate the doll&#39;s arms by moving his/hers finger tips. A person&#39;s finger tips, see  FIG. 1B , when placed in finger tip pockets which are located around the rear of the doll&#39;s arm, allows that person to manipulate the doll&#39;s arms by moving his/hers finger tips. 
         [0048]    Continuing with  FIG. 1 , one or more belts or strips or finger tip pockets may be located horizontally. across the rear of the doll&#39;s head and legs by sewing or with an adhesive such as an epoxy. Each strap or pocket may be made of an material such as rubber or a stretchable or non-stretchable fabric which may have a width which extends vertically along the doll&#39;s head and legs for a distance of between one sixteenth of an inch and two inches, and a length which extends horizontally across the head and legs for a distance of between one half of an inch and one and five eighths of an inch. In an embodiment of the invention a single strap or finger tip pocket or two parallel straps may be located across the back of the head and each of the doll&#39;s legs. A person&#39;s finger tips when placed under the straps or in the pockets on the head and the legs allows that person to manipulate the doll&#39;s head and legs by moving his/hers finger tips. 
         [0049]    In an embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in  FIG. 2 , there is shown a view of the back of a stuffed doll puppet  10  where the doll can be held as a puppet when the finger tips of a person&#39;s hand are located under straps or belts which are positioned horizontally along the dolls puppets arms. The doll puppet has a body  12 , a head  14 , two arms  16 ,  18 , and two legs  20 ,  22 . 
         [0050]    To animate the stuffed doll puppet, a belt or a strap  30  is attached to the rear of each arm by sewing or with an adhesive such as an epoxy. Each strap may be made of a material such as rubber or a stretchable or nonstretchable fabric which may have a width which extends across the arm for a distance of between one sixteenth of an inch and two inches, and a length which extends along the arm for a distance of between one half of an inch and one and five eighths of an inch. In an embodiment of the invention a single strap or two parallel straps may be located along the back of each of the doll&#39;s arms. A person&#39;s finger tip, see  FIG. 2A , when placed under the straps  30  which are located along the rear of the doll&#39;s arm, allows that person to manipulate the doll&#39;s arms by moving his/hers finger tips. A person&#39;s finger tip, see  FIG. 2B , when placed in the finger tip pockets which are located along the rear of the doll&#39;s arm, allows that person to manipulate the doll&#39;s arms by moving his/hers finger tips. 
         [0051]    Continuing with  FIG. 2 , one or more belts or strips or finger tip pockets may be located horizontally. across the rear of the doll&#39;s head and legs by sewing or with an adhesive such as an epoxy. Each strap or pocket may be made of an material such as rubber or a stretchable or nonstretchable fabric and each strap may have a width which extends vertically along the doll&#39;s head and legs for a distance of between one sixteenth of an inch and two inches, and a length which extends horizontally across the head and legs for a distance of between one half of an inch and one and five eighths of an inch. In an embodiment of the invention a single strap or two parallel straps may be located across the back of the head and each of the doll&#39;s legs. A person&#39;s finger tips when placed under the straps or in the finger tip pockets on the head and the legs allows that person to manipulate the doll&#39;s head and legs by moving his/hers finger tips. 
         [0052]    In an embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in  FIG. 3 , there is shown a view of the back of a stuffed doll/puppet  10  where the doll can be held as a puppet when the finger yips of a person&#39;s hand are located under straps or belts or finger tip pockets which are positioned diagonally along the dolls/puppets arms. The doll puppet has a body  12 , a head  14 , two arms  16 ,  18 , and two legs  20 ,  22 . 
         [0053]    To animate the stuffed doll puppet, a belt or a strap  40  or a finger tip pocket is attached to the rear of each arm by sewing or with an adhesive such as an epoxy. Each strap or pocket may be made of a material such as rubber or a stretchable or nonstretchable fabric and each strap may have a width which extends diagonally across the arm for a distance of between one sixteenth of an inch and two inches, and a length which extends diagonally along the arm for a distance of between one half of an inch and one and five eighths of an inch. In an embodiment of the invention a single strap or finger tip pocket or two parallel straps may be located diagonally along the back of each of the doll&#39;s arms at an angle of between thirty degrees and sixty degrees where an angle of about forty five degrees is preferable. A person&#39;s finger tip, see  FIG. 3A , when placed under the strap  40  which are located diagonally along the rear of the doll&#39;s arm, allows that person to manipulate the doll&#39;s arms by moving his/hers finger tip. A person&#39;s finger tip, see  FIG. 3B , when placed in the finger tip pocket located diagonally along the rear of the doll&#39;s arm, allows that person to manipulate the doll&#39;s arms by moving his/hers finger tip 
         [0054]    Continuing with  FIG. 3 , one or more belts or strips or finger tip pockets may be located horizontally. across the rear of the doll&#39;s head and legs by sewing or with an adhesive such as an epoxy. Each strap may be made of a material such as rubber or a stretchable or non-stretchable fabric. The strips may have a width which extends vertically along the doll&#39;s head and legs for a distance of between one sixteenth of an inch and two inches, and a length which extends horizontally across the head and legs for a distance of between one half of an inch and one and five eighths of an inch. In an embodiment of the invention a single strap or two parallel straps may be located across the back of the head and each of the doll&#39;s legs. A person&#39;s finger tips when placed under the straps or finger tip pockets on the head and the legs allows that person to manipulated the doll&#39;s head and legs by moving his/hers finger tips. 
         [0055]    In each of the above embodiments the body, head, arms and legs of the doll are filled with any washable soft compressible resilient foam material such as polyurethane foam which allows the doll to be soft to the touch and be used as a puppet or a play doll when not being used as a puppet. 
         [0056]    While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are entitled.