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US5176560A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Dancing doll

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-08-26
•
Granted: 1993-01-05
•
Expires: 2011-08-26
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Abstract

Abstract A free-standing dancing doll having a sound actuated motor and drive mechanism for rotating each of two drive rods extending through the doll. The drive mechanism includes a gear train for simultaneously rotating each of the drive rods at different speeds to impart asymmetric motion to selected doll body parts including the legs, arms, and head, to thereby simulate compound dance movements.

Inventors

  • 👤 Joseph J. Wetherell
  • 👤 Larry Reiner
  • 👤 Allan Buckwalter

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 19:59
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H3/00; A63H3/36; A63H3/46; A63H11/00; A63H11/18

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 78 words
A dancing doll comprising a doll body adapted for free-standing on a support surface, said doll body including a head, a torso, a pair of arm members and a pair of leg members, plural drive rods extending through said torso and each of the respective leg members, drive means for axially rotating each of said drive rods simultaneously at different speeds, said rotary motion of the drive rods being translated into asymmetric dance-like movement in the doll body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 78 words
A dancing doll comprising a doll body adapted for free-standing on a support surface, said doll body including a head, a torso, a pair of arm members and a pair of leg members, plural drive rods extending through said torso and each of the respective leg members, drive means for axially rotating each of said drive rods simultaneously at different speeds, said rotary motion of the drive rods being translated into asymmetric dance-like movement in the doll body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 41 words
A dancing doll as claimed in claim 1 further including a first shoulder joint within the torso, an upper portion of at least one of said drive rods being adapted to coact with said first shoulder joint for inducing arm movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 70 words
A dancing doll as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first shoulder joint includes a sleeve member, an upper portion of a first drive rod being angularly offset from a longitudinal axis of the first drive rod, said sleeve member being loosely mounted over said upper portion of the first drive rod whereby axial rotation of the first drive rod is translated into an angular oscillatory movement of the sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 46 words
A dancing doll as claimed in claim 3 wherein the head member includes a depending socket, said socket being adapted for loose fitting engagement with a post support projecting from said torso, the head member being displaceable about the post member during arm and torso movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 52 words
A dancing doll as claimed in claim 3 wherein the head member is pivotally mounted, further including linkage means for interconnecting the upper portion of the first drive rod to the head, said linkage means being adapted to displace the head member in response to axial rotation of the first drive rod.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 59 words
A dancing doll as claimed in claim 2 wherein a lower portion of a first drive rod is transversable through a first leg member, an end of the first drive rod being anchored to a foot member, said first drive rod further being adapted to coact with the first leg member and the foot member for generating movement therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 53 words
A dancing doll as claimed in claim 6 wherein the first leg member is formed with a knee bend, said first drive rod having a conforming angulation, said first drive rod further being adapted for axial rotation within the first leg member whereby the first leg member transitionally assumes a straight leg position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 39 words
A dancing doll as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first leg member includes an ankle bend and an ankle joint, with the first drive rod conforming to the ankle bend and being rotationally accommodated within the ankle joint.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 24 words
A dancing doll as claimed in claim 6 further including tubular means within the first leg member for rotatably accommodating the first drive rod.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 36 words
A dancing doll as claimed in claim 9 wherein the first leg member and the foot member are fabricated of molded foam material, the foam material being displaceable during rotational movement of the first drive rod.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 19 words
A dancing doll as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drive means includes a motor mounted within the torso.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 16 words
A dancing doll as claimed in claim 11 wherein the drive means includes a gear train.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 32 words
A dancing doll as claimed in claim 12 including two substantially parallel drive rods, each of said drive rods extending longitudinally through the torso and through each of the respective leg members.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 15 words
A dancing doll as claimed in claim 13 wherein the drive means is sound actuated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 32 words
A dancing doll as claimed in cl aim 1 wherein the head member, torso and drive means are axially aligned through the center of gravity of the doll to provide free-standing stability.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 50 words
A dancing doll as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of the drive rods is provided with complementary angular offset segments at a respective upper and a lower portion thereof, whereby the respective arm members move in an opposite direction to the respective leg members to facilitate balancing the doll.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-01-05 1996-07-06 1997-01-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-01-05 2000-07-06 2001-01-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-01-05 2004-07-06 2005-01-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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