Amusement devices: toys – Having permanent magnet – For operating valve – switch – or clutch
Patent
1997-07-14
1999-08-24
Hafer, Robert A.
Amusement devices: toys
Having permanent magnet
For operating valve, switch, or clutch
446136, 446305, 446345, A63H 324
Patent
active
059417501
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a baby doll capable of simulating physiological functions of a human baby in response to an applied magnetic field and relates particularly, though not exclusively, to a miniature baby doll having a receptacle designed to receive the doll in a recumbent position wherein the doll is capable of simulating a human baby wetting itself. The invention also relates to a magnetically actuated eye for a doll.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Children in every culture enjoy playing with toy dolls. Typically a doll is used by the child in imaginative play to enable the child to imitate adult role models and/or play act fantasy roles. The doll is usually a passive participant in the play but fulfills an important role as it frees the child to relate in an adult way towards the doll without causing offense. In view of the important role dolls can have in the play of children, toy manufacturers have tried to incorporate additional features in toy dolls in order to enhance their play value. The play value of a toy is a measure of its ability to capture and maintain the interest and involvement of a child. The greater the play value, the longer a child will continue to play with and remain amused by the toy.
In recent years some toy manufacturers have produced dolls that can be fed liquid from a bottle and which also wet themselves as a result. However, the behaviour of such dolls is very predictable and the play value of the doll is not greatly enhanced since it is often unable to maintain the interest and involvement of the child. Furthermore, the internal mechanism that enables the doll to both ingest and excrete liquid is fairly bulky, and it has therefore not been possible to produce a miniature doll with similar features.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was developed with a view to providing a baby doll capable of simulating physiological functions of a human baby in response to an external magnetic field.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a baby doll and a receptacle adapted to receive the doll in a recumbent position, the doll having an internal reservoir that can be filled with liquid through a mouth of the doll, said internal reservoir having an outlet which is closable by a closure member, said closure member being movable from a closed position to an open position in response to an applied magnetic field; and, the receptacle being provided with a magnetic field generating means whereby, in use, when the doll is placed in the receptacle and a magnetic field is applied to the closure member by the magnetic field generating means said outlet is opened so that the doll appears to have wet itself.
Preferably said magnetic field generating means is movable between a first position in which the magnetic field is not applied to the closure member and a second position in which the magnetic field is applied to the closure member. Advantageously an actuating mechanism is provided for automatically moving the magnetic field generating means from the first position to the second position within a certain time interval after the doll is placed in the receptacle.
Preferably, the receptacle is in the form of a cot.
Preferably the cot or the doll also includes sound generating means for producing a crying sound at more or less the same time as, or shortly after, the magnetic field generating means has moved to the second position whereby, in use, the doll appears to cry because it has wet itself. The doll is preferably provided with movable eyes that close when it is placed in a recumbent position, said eyes being adapted to open when a magnetic field is applied thereto whereby, in use, when the doll is placed in the cot and a magnetic field is applied to the eyes by the magnetic field generating means the doll also appears to wake up because it has wet itself.
It will therefore appear to a child that the baby doll is behaving in a way that is typical of a human baby and that demands the attention and involvement of the c
REFERENCES:
patent: 2505626 (1950-04-01), Palmer
patent: 3383793 (1968-05-01), Bonanno
patent: 3775901 (1973-12-01), Ellman et al.
patent: 4413441 (1983-11-01), Hunter et al.
patent: 5252101 (1993-10-01), Rosenwinkel et al.
Carlson Jeffrey D.
Hafer Robert A.
Technovation Australia Pty. Ltd.
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