Improvements in Toy Figures.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 3rd Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Nov., 1893-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Toy Figures.
I CHARITY SMITH, of 36 Lynn Street, Ithaca in the County of Tompkins and
State of New York, United States of America, Artist, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to so called "rag" dolls and it has for its object to
provide means for the more easy and economical production of stuffed figures, and
at the same time to impart to them a life like form; and it consists in the
construction hereinafter described and particularly pointed out reference being had
to the accompanying drawings forming part of this Specification in which Figures 1
and 2 are respectively outlines of patterns for the front and back of a doll and
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a rear and side elevation of a doll made from the
patterns represented in Figures 1 and 2.
The patterns made substantially as shown and herein set forth will preferably be
printed in colors upon a suitable fabric and subsequently cut out along the dotted
lines indicated in Figures 1 and 2. The patterns or front and back pieces have in
the main similar form and dimensions.
of
The body part of the back piece 3 is made longer than the corresponding part
the front piece 4 and will in making the complete figure be provided with dart
seams at 5, the converging dotted lines and the short parallel lines indicating the
lines of the fabric that are stitched together to complete those seams. The lines
of the main seams however are denoted by full lines, the long exterior dotted
parallel lines indicating the selvage. The back piece will also have similar
seams 7 in the region corresponding to the heels in the completed figure and the
front piece is similarly provided with dart seams 8 at the knees. 12, 9, 10
and 11 denote darts in the region of the elbows, neck, chin and head portions
respectively. The back arm pieces containing dart seams 12 are made longer
The various dart
than the corresponding front pieces on account of said seams.
seams in the front and back pieces shaped and arranged substantially as set forth
are first sewed.
The two parts 3 and 4 and the back and front arm pieces are thus made
practically of the same length, whereupon they are sewed together around their
edges along the exterior full lines and the receptacle thus produced is then turned.
Before finally closing the seam however, the image formed as described is stuffed
with cotton or any suitable material.
By the use of the dart seams in those parts of the front and back pieces corre-
sponding to the elbows, hips, knees and heels or ankles and which are formed
before the two pieces are sewed together, very suitable curves in the completed
figure and an approximate resemblance to the living form are produced and this
effect is secured without the use of the so called "gathers" usually formed at one
or more points in dolls of this general character, which gathers are troublesome to
make and also impart a clumsy appearance.

page_text: By similar dart seams as above pointed out the head is rounded and the neck and
chin suitably formed.
The improvement is not confined to the use of any particular fabric, nor to any
particular dimensions and it is applicable to any stuffed figure having bent limbs
or bodies or having one part arranged at an angle with another, as the foot of a
person to the leg, or the lower to the upper arm. The improved body may also be
used with a china head when desired.
If the angular pieces taken up by the dart seams, as indicated by the broken lines
in Figures 1 and 2 were partially cut away or transversely slit before closing these
seams some of the advantages of the improvement might be secured, but seams made
in the manner first described give satisfactory results.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The front and back pieces for a stuffed figure, each piece having in the parts
corresponding to the limbs, dart seams indicated at one of the main joints of the
lower limbs, substantially as set forth.
2nd. The front and back pieces for a stuffed figure, each piece having in the parts
corresponding to the limbs, dart seams indicated at one of the main joints of the
lower limbs, the body of the back piece being the longest and having a dart seam,
substantially as set forth:
3rd. A comprising a front and
hips, knees and elbows, substantially as set forth.
univocaus at the
4th. In a toy figure, the front and back pieces each having a dart seam at the
neck, substantially as set forth.
5th. In a toy figure, the front and back pieces, the latter being the longest and
having dart seams to form the hips, substantially as set forth.
6th. In a toy figure the front and back pieces having dart seams in the parts
corresponding to the head of the completed figure, substantially as set forth.
7th. In a toy figure, the front and back pieces, the latter having dart seams in the
parts corresponding to the heels, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1893.
C. SMITH,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents."