Doll with blinking eyelids moved by a pendulum

Claim 2

In combination with a figure doll which has eyes, a blinking mechanism comprising: a pendulum pivotally mounted on said doll; means mounted on said doll including eyelids mounted for up and down movement about a horizontal axis for covering and uncovering said eyes; and means for coupling said pendulum to said mounted means to move said eyelids down far enough to cover most of said eyes and then releasing them to move up and uncover said eyes, during movement of said pendulum past a limited portion of its path of swinging, said eyelids being normally biased to move up on said release whereby to obtain rapid blinking movements at a low repetition rate.

Claim 3

The combination described in claim 1 wherein: said mounted means comprises a lever, said eyelids being mounted on said lever, and said lever being pivotally mounted on said doll and urged toward a position wherein said eyelids are in an open position when said doll is in a predetermined upright orientation; and said means for coupling said pendulum to said mounted means includes a member having an inner end fixed to said pendulum and an outer end extending from said pendulum for brushing past said lever to briefly urge it to pivot in a direction to close said eyelids as said pendulum swings.

Claim 4

The combination described in claim 2 wherein: said member is constructed of resilient material, to deflect against said lever, and suddenly release from it as said pendulum swings.

Claim 5

The combination described in claim 1 wherein: said means for coupling said pendulum to said mounted means includes a first magnet mounted on said mounted means and a second magnet mounted on said pendulum, said first magnet having north and south poles adjacent to the path of said second magnet and said second magnet having north and south poles positioned to pass successively by said poles of said first magnet as said pendulum swings, whereby to attract and then immediately repel said mounted means for a rapid blinking movement of said eyelids.

Claim 6

The combination described in claim 1 wherein: said pendulum is pivotally mounted on said doll with a majority of the pendulum weight above the axis of pivoting when the doll is upright, whereby to obtain a long oscillation period in a small doll.

Claim 7

In combination with a figure toy which has eyes, animating means for said eyes, comprising: a lever member pivotally mounted in said toy; eyelids coupled to and pivotable with said lever member, said eyelids being in position to cover and uncover said eyes when said lever pivots; a pendulum member pivotally mounted in said toy; and means including a resilient projection for coupling said lever and pendulum members, said projection mounted on a first of said members and having an end portion for contacting the second of said members during a portion of the movement of said members relative to each other to urge said lever member to pivot, said resilient projection positioned to deflect to an extent that it suddenly disengages said second member when moved past a position of initial contact with it, said lever member being biased to automatically return to its prior position upon said disenGagement.

Claim 8

In combination with a figure toy which has eyes, animating means for said eyes, comprising: a lever member pivotally mounted in said toy; eyelids coupled to and pivotable with said lever member, said eyelids being in position to cover and uncover said eyes when said lever pivots; a pendulum member pivotally mounted in said toy; and means including a resilient projection for coupling said lever and pendulum members, said projection mounted on a first of said members and having an end portion for contacting the second of said members during a portion of the movement of said members relative to each other to urge said lever member to pivot, said resilient projection positioned to deflect to an extent that it suddenly disengages said second member when moved past a position of initial contact with it, said lever member being biased to automatically return to its prior position upon said disenGagement.

Claim 9

The combination described in claim 6 wherein: said lever member has a projecting portion; and said resilient projection includes a wire of spring material mounted on said pendulum member to pass the location of said projecting portion of said lever member.