Doll leg connector

Claim 2

A limb connector mechanism for use in a toy doll having a torso and a limb to be connected to the torso, said limb having a circular opening of a given diameter at one end thereof defined by an upstanding peripheral flange extending from said limb and an inwardly directed rim formed at the free end of the flange, said connector mechanism comprising a one-piece generally Ushaped limb mounting frame mounted in said torso and having a pair of generally upstanding leg portions, each having a generally rectangular aperture therein for mounting a limb to said frame, a flat disk of a diameter larger than said given diameter inside said limb having a generally rectangular aperture therein and positioned against the inner surface of said rim, a cap positioned over said limb opening, between said rim and said frame, and having a peripheral flange portion surrounding the flange on said limb, said cap having an opening therein located in alignment with the apertures in said disk and said frame, a relatively flat connecting member having an enlarged head portion inside said limb positioned adjacent said disk and an elongated stem portion having a generally rectangular cross-section and extending through the aligned rectangular apertures in said disk and frame and the opening in said cap, and having a shoulder facing said rim formed adjacent its free end, and a helical compression spring surrounding said stem with one end thereof engaged against said frame and the other end thereof engaged against said shoulder to urge said disk and frame towards each other and hold said rim and cap therebetween, said limb including at least one key member extending from the outer surface thereof adjacent said flange, said cap having a cooperating recess therein complementary to and receiving said key member, said cap being thereby fixed in a predetermined position with respect to said limb for rotation therewith whereby said limb is connected to said frame and torso and said limb and cap are adapted to pivot on said stem to vary the position of said limb with respect to said torso.

Claim 3

A limb connector mechanism for use in a toy doll having a torso and a limb to be connected to the torso, said limb having an opening at one end thereof defined by an annular wall extending outwardly from said limb, said wall having an inner annular surface within said limb, and At least one key member extending from the outer surface thereof, said connector mechanism including a one-piece generally U-shaped limb mounting frame mounted in said torso and having a pair of upstanding leg portions each having a generally rectangular aperture therein for mounting a limb thereon, a generally circular disk having a larger diameter than said opening and a generally rectangular aperture therein, said disk being located in said limb against said inner annular surface and having a sector-shaped notch therein to facilitate edgewise insertion of the disk through said opening; a cap positioned between the free annular edge of said wall and said frame and having an annular flange portion surrounding the outer surface of said wall, said cap having a circular opening therein located in alignment with the aperture in said disk and said frame, and said flange having a recess therein complementary to and receiving said key member to maintain said cap in a predetermined position with respect to said limb, a relatively flat connecting member having an enlarged head portion inside said limb positioned adjacent said disk and an elongated stem portion having a generally rectangular cross-section and extending through the aligned rectangular apertures in said disk and frame and said circular opening in said cap; said elongated stem having a shoulder facing said limb formed adjacent its free end, and a helical compression spring surrounding said stem with one end thereof engaged against said frame and the other end thereof engaged against said shoulder to urge said disk and frame towards each other and hold said wall and cap therebetween, whereby said limb is connected to and rotatably mounted on said frame and torso; said cap and frame having a plurality of cooperating detents and complementary recesses defining a plurality of stable fixed positions into which said limb may be rotated.

Claim 4

A limb connector mechanism for use in a toy doll having a torso and a limb to be connected to the torso, said limb having an opening at one end thereof defined by an annular wall extending outwardly from said limb, said wall having an inner annular surface within said limb, and At least one key member extending from the outer surface thereof, said connector mechanism including a one-piece generally U-shaped limb mounting frame mounted in said torso and having a pair of upstanding leg portions each having a generally rectangular aperture therein for mounting a limb thereon, a generally circular disk having a larger diameter than said opening and a generally rectangular aperture therein, said disk being located in said limb against said inner annular surface and having a sector-shaped notch therein to facilitate edgewise insertion of the disk through said opening; a cap positioned between the free annular edge of said wall and said frame and having an annular flange portion surrounding the outer surface of said wall, said cap having a circular opening therein located in alignment with the aperture in said disk and said frame, and said flange having a recess therein complementary to and receiving said key member to maintain said cap in a predetermined position with respect to said limb, a relatively flat connecting member having an enlarged head portion inside said limb positioned adjacent said disk and an elongated stem portion having a generally rectangular cross-section and extending through the aligned rectangular apertures in said disk and frame and said circular opening in said cap; said elongated stem having a shoulder facing said limb formed adjacent its free end, and a helical compression spring surrounding said stem with one end thereof engaged against said frame and the other end thereof engaged against said shoulder to urge said disk and frame towards each other and hold said wall and cap therebetween, whereby said limb is connected to and rotatably mounted on said frame and torso; said cap and frame having a plurality of cooperating detents and complementary recesses defining a plurality of stable fixed positions into which said limb may be rotated.

Claim 5

The limb connector mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said stem has a flat head portion at its free end with one side thereof extending beyond the side of the adjacent intermediate portion of the stem, and having a notch therein defining said shoulder for receiving and retaining said other end of said spring.