Background of the Invention Dolls and other toy figures have proven to be an extremely popular and long-lasting type of toy product. Such dolls have included human-like dolls, various toy figures, animal-like figures and the like in virtually endless variety. One type of doll which has remained extremely popular through the years is known generally in the toy art as"fashion dolls".

While the design and fabrication of fashion dolls has been subjected to substantial variation, generally all are fabricated having a relatively thin body supporting a head, legs and arms in pivotal attachment. Usually such fashion dolls are fabricated of molded plastic materials or the like. In many, the fabrication utilizes a plurality of rigid plastic components coupled by various joint or attachment mechanisms. In other-fabrications, appendages such as arms and legs include internal relatively rigid hard

plastic skeletons covered with an outer relatively soft covering using a material such as foam plastic, rubber or the like. Similar dolls are provided in a toy figure type known generally in the art as"action figures". Action figures are often fabricated in a similar manner to the above described fashion dolls.

For the most part, action figures are usually oriented toward use by boys while fashion dolls are often oriented toward use by girls.

One of the more critical and difficult aspects of fabrication in the manufacture of dolls such as fashion dolls arises in the attachment of head, arms and legs to the torso or body. The various mechanisms employed in such attachment are often unduly complex and costly. In addition, such attachment mechanism are often difficult to use. For the most part, such attachment mechanisms must provide a pivotable joint which, once assembled, remains secure and prevents separation by child users.

While the problems and challenges of leg and arm attachment are particularly critical in dolls such as fashion dolls and action toy figures, other dolls such as infant figures or fanciful toy figures also face similar critical requirements in their respect appendage attachment mechanisms.

Not surprisingly, the critical need for effective attachment mechanisms for use in securing appendages and heads to dolls and toy figures has prompted practitioner's in the art to create a great variety of device and structures. For example, U. S. Patent 3,254,442 issued to Ostrander sets forth a DOLL WITH

INDEPENDENTLY ARTICULATED BUTTOCKS having a doll torso which supports a downwardly extending generally planar center member. The center member includes a pair of outwardly facing headed studs which receive legs in a press-fit attachment as the studs are forced through elastic apertures in the upper end of the dolls legs.

U. S. Patent 3,234,689 issued to Ryan sets forth a DOLL CONSTRUCTION FOR NATURAL MOVEMENTS AND POSITIONS having a doll defining a lower torso upon which a pair of outwardly facing spherical surfaces are formed. A pair of legs having cooperating socket portions are secured upon the lower torso by a common two-headed pin extending therethrough.

U. S. Patent 3,940,880 issued to Kaelin et al sets forth DOLL JOINT STRUCTURES for connecting the limbs of a toy figure or doll to the torso. The torso defines a plurality of concaved generally spherical sockets which receive cooperating ball portions of each appendage. The appendages are secured within the sockets by extending attachment members having expanded head portions.

U. S. Patent 3,955,311 issued to Lyons et al sets forth a MECHANISM FOR MOVING AN UPPER APPENDAGE OF A TOY FIGURE having a torso supporting a push-button for hand operation. A drive mechanism couples the push- button to a lever which is rotated upwardly and which in turn moves a rotary motion ball joint connected to the upper arm of the figure.

U. S. Patent 3,988,855 issued to Crabtree et al sets forth a POSABLE FIGURE HAVING ONE PIECE CONNECTOR

FOR TORSO, TRUNK AND LEGS having a stretchable inner connector extending into the legs of the toy figures which is interconnected to a trunk portion and torso.

U. S. Patent 4,006,555 issued to England et. al sets forth a DOLL WITH INCREMENTALLY MOVABLE ARM having an actuator and a gear transmission system operative connected to one of the dolls arms for imparting incremental movement thereto.

U. S. Patent 4,274,224 issued to Pugh et al sets forth a TOY FIGURE HAVING MOVABLE LIMB MEMBERS includes a torso and skeletal structure which enables the limb members to be connected to the torso or another limb member for movement relative thereto.

U. S. Patent 4,579,542 issued to Mayer et al sets forth an ACTION FIGURE WITH ARM MOVEMENT DERIVED FROM LEG MOVEMENT having a torso supporting a pair of arms and a pair of legs. One of the figures legs is pivotally coupled to the torso and is internally coupled to a movement mechanism which responds to inward movement of the leg to produce rotational movement of at least one arm.

U. S. Patent 4,669,998 issued to Amici et al sets forth a HUMANOID FIGURE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING SAME in which a figure includes articulated limbs and-a pivotable head supported upon a torso. An armature is seated within the torso and has arm and leg portions extending from a center portion to arm and leg apertures formed in the torso in a generally spherical shape. The arms and legs include generally

spherical operating ends which are received within the spherical sockets for pivotal attachment.

U. S. Patent 4, 738,649 issued to Delli Bovi et al sets forth a FIGURE TOY WITH PUNCHING ARM MECHANISM having a spring powered rotatable arm capable of simulating a punching or pummeling action. The mechanism utilizes a spring motor and a ratchet-clutch arrangement which facilitates winding of the spring power mechanism.

U. S. Patent 4,968,282 issued to Robson et al sets forth a POSEABLE DOLL constructed of sub units connected to one another by ball and socket joints. A skin which encloses the sub units is secured to the sub units by insertion of appendages into sockets in the sub units and by means of a fastener which snaps into a groove pining the skin to the doll.

U. S. Patent 5,842,906 issued to Terzian et al sets forth a WALKING MECHANISM FOR TOYS having a doll torso supporting a plurality of elliptical gears within the torso coupled to a pair of pivotally supported legs in a driving arrangement.

U. S. Patent 807,664 issued to Debes; U. S. Patent 1,270,781 issued to Cabana; U. S. Patent 2,021,115 issued to Jackson; U. S. Patent 2,663,971 issued to Ippolito and U. S. Patent 3,273,2870 issued to Karton set forth examples of early developments of appendage attachment mechanism for dolls.

While the foregoing described prior art devices have generally improved the art and in some instance

enjoyed commercial success, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for ever more cost effective, secure and easily utilized attachment mechanisms for head and appendages of dolls and toy figures.

Summary of the Invention Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved appendage attachment mechanism for dolls and other toy figures.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved appendage attachment mechanism for dolls and other toy figures which facilitate a relatively simple snap-fit attachment to the doll torso.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a doll comprising: a doll body; an appendage defining a socket having a socket aperture ; a slotted ball defining a generally spherical outer surface, a slot and a ball aperture in communication with the slot; and an armature supported by the doll body having an extending shaft and an outer end, the outer end having a compressible resilient clasp, the slotted ball being forced into the socket through the socket aperture and the appendages and then being attached to the body by forcing the appendage to the body so as to force the resilient clasp through the ball aperture into the slot, the clasp expanding to secure the slotted ball.

Brief Description of the Drawings The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which: Figure 1 sets forth a perspective view of a doll having appendage attachment mechanisms constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 sets forth a partially sectioned front view of the doll of Figure 1 showing the present invention appendage attachment mechanism in section view; Figure 3 sets forth a perspective assembly view of a portion of a doll having the present invention appendage attachment mechanism used to secure the doll legs; Figure 4 sets forth a partial section assembly view of an appendage attachment mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention prior to assembly; Figure 5 sets forth a section view of the initial stage of assembly of the present invention appendage attachment mechanism;

Figure 6 sets forth a further stage of assembly of an appendage attachment mechanism of the present invention; Figure 7 sets forth a section view of a completed assembly of the present invention appendage attachment mechanism.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment Figure 1 sets forth a perspective view of a doll generally referenced by numeral 10. Doll 10 includes a pair of leg attachments generally referenced by numerals 20 and 21 fabricated in accordance with the present invention. Doll 10 includes a torso 11 supporting a head 18 and a pair of arms 12 and 13. In accordance with the present invention, leg attachments 20 and 21 pivotally secure a pair of legs 14 and 15 to torso 11. Torso 11 is fabricated to include a lower portion formed pf a front torso plate 16 and a rear torso plate 17. As is set forth below in greater detail, torso plates 16 and 17 cooperate to support leg attachments 20 and 21 in accordance with the present invention.

With the exception of leg attachments 20 and 21 and front and rear torso plates 16 and 17 as well as the cooperating portions of legs 14 and 15, the remainder of doll 10 may be fabricated in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques. In addition, it will be understood that while doll 10 shows a typical fashion doll in form and configuration, the present invention appendage attachment mechanism may be utilized for differently

shaped and configured dolls and toy figures without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, it will be equally apparent that while the present invention appendage attachment mechanism is shown for purposes of illustration securing legs 14 and 15 to torso 11 of doll 10, a similar utilization of the present invention appendage attachment mechanism may be employed for securing other appendages such as arms 12 and 13 and may also be utilized to secure head 18 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Doll 10 is utilized in accordance with conventional play patterns and is preferably fabricated of molded plastic components of the type conventionally used in fabricating fashion dolls.

Thus, arms 12 and 13 utilize conventional pivotal attachments (seen in Figure 2) to provide pivotal movement of arms 12 and 13. Similarly, head 18 is preferably secured to torso 11 using a conventional attachment which facilitates movement thereof.

Finally, legs 14 and 15 are pivotally movable with respect to torso 11 in accordance with the apparatus set forth below in greater detail. This pivotal movement includes front-to-back pivotal movement as well as inwardly and outwardly directed pivotal movements typical of those available in fashion dolls or the like. The advantage of the present invention appendage attachment mechanism is found in the ease of assembly described below and the secure attachment which prevents the separation of legs 14 and 15 from torso 11 during use and. even certain levels of abuse and misuse.

Figure 2 sets forth a partially section front view of doll 10 showing leg attachments 20 and 21 securing legs 14 and 15 to torso 11. More specifically, doll 10 includes a torso 11 supporting a pair of arms 12 and 13 using conventional attachment apparatus. Torso 11 further includes a rear plate 17 defining a pair of generally arcuate cutouts 31 and 32. Rear torso plate 17 further includes a generally rectangular forwardly extending boss 33 having a correspondingly rectangular slot 34 formed therein.

Leg attachments 20 and 21 utilize a common armature 60 which includes a generally rectangular plate 61.

Plate 61 is sized and shaped to be received within slot 34 of boss 33. Armature 60 further includes a pair of outwardly and downwardly extending shafts 62 and 72. Shaft 62 supports a cap 67 having a spherical surface and joined to a plug 68. Plug 68 is generally rectangular in form and further supports a resilient clasp 63.

Similarly, shaft 72 supports a cap 77 and a rectangular plug 78 which in turn supports a resilient clasp 73. In accordance with the present invention, clasp 63 and plug 68 receive and secure a slotted ball 64. Ball 64 is better seen in Figure 3 and defines a slot 65 which receives clasp 63 and an aperture 66 which receives plug 68. The resilient character of clasp 63 secures plug 68 and clasp 63 to slotted ball 64. Cap 67 having a spherical shape portion completes the generally spherical structure provided by slotted ball 64.

Similarly, a slotted ball 74 receives clasp 73 within slot 75 and receives plug 78 within rectangular

aperture 76. In further similarity, the spherical surface of cap 77 completes the spherical shape of slotted ball 74.

Legs 14 and 15 provide cooperating apparatus which forms a portion of legs attachments 20 and 21.

Accordingly, leg 14 includes a socket end 44 defining a socket 40 which receives ball 64 in the manner described below. Suffice it to note here, that ball 64 and cap 67 cooperate with socket 40 of socket end 44 to provide a ball-and-socket attachment for leg 14 to torso 11 which facilitates pivotal movement in virtually all directions. Leg 14 further includes a substantially rigid molded plastic skeleton 42 upon which a soft outer body 43 is molded. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art however, that the combination of skeleton 42 and outer body 43 may be replaced by a more conventional solid plastic or hollow plastic leg structure which forms socket 40 and which provides the present invention structure. An aperture 41 is formed on the interior side of socket end 44 and as is set forth below in greater detail, facilitates the attachment of leg 14 to ball 64 by a snap-in engagement.

Similarly, leg 15 includes a skeleton 52 supporting a socket end 54. Socket end 54 defines a socket 50 and an aperture 51. In further correspondence to leg 14, leg 15 includes a soft outer body 53 generally enclosing skeleton 52 and socket end 54. It will be noted that the upper portions of legs 14 and 15 define generally spherical surfaces which cooperate with cutout portions 31 and 32 of rear torso plate 17 to facilitate pivotal movement of legs 14 and

15. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art by examination of the relationships between clasps 63 and 73 and slotted balls 64 and 74 that the attachment of balls 64 and 74 once assembled is extremely secure.

Correspondingly, it will be apparent from examination of balls of 64 and 74 and sockets 40 and 50 that the captivity of balls 64 and 74 is similarly secure. As a result, the security of leg attachments 20 and 21 is extremely reliable and capable of resisting substantial forces during use or even misuse.

Figure 3 sets forth a perspective assembly view of leg attachments 20 and 21 together with cooperating portions of torso 11 which form the lower portion of doll 10. Thus, doll 10 includes a torso 11 having a front torso plate 16 and a rear torso plate 17. Front torso plate 16 defines a pair of generally arcuate cutouts 36 and 37 as well as a mating edge 35. Front torso plate 16 further defines a generally rectangular boss 45 which will be understood to define a correspondingly rectangular slot therein (not shown).

Rear torso plate 17 defines arcuate cutouts 31 and 32 as well as a mating edge 30. Rear torso plate 17 further defines a generally rectangular boss 33 having a correspondingly rectangular slot 34 therein. It will be understood that bosses 33 and 45 are generally similar in shape and size and that each defines a slot similar and size to slot 34 of boss 33.

An armature 60 includes a rectangular plate 61 sized and configured to be receivable within slot 34 of boss 33 and the corresponding slot (not shown) formed in boss 45. Armature 60 supports a pair of outwardly and downwardly extending shafts 62 and 72.

Shaft 62 includes a cap 67 having a spherical surface portion, a plug 68 having a rectangular shape and a resilient clasp 63. Similarly, shaft 72 supports a cap 77 having a spherical surface and a plug 78 (seen in Figure 2) supporting a resilient clasp 73. A slotted ball 64 defines a generally spherical shape having a slot 65 and an aperture 66 formed therein. A slotted ball 74 defines a slot 75 and an aperture 76.

Leg 14 defines a socket 40 (better seen in Figure 2) while leg 15 defines a socket 50 (also better seen in Figure 2). Socket 50 includes a socket end 54 defining an aperture 51 therein.

Assembly of legs 14 and 15 to doll 10 is carried forward by initially assembling armature 60 to torso plates 16 and 17 by insertion of plate 61 into slot 34 of boss 33 and into the corresponding slot (not shown) formed within boss 45. The assembly of armature 60 between front torso plate 16 and rear torso plate 17 is secured and captivated by the attachment of torso plates 16 and 17 along their respective edges 30 and 35. Plates 16 and 17 may be secured using virtually any conventional fabrication such as adhesive attachment or the like to maintain the attachment between plates 16 and 17 and captivate armature 60.

At this point of assembly, armature 60 supports shafts 62 and 72 such that the shafts extend toward the apertures formed by cutout 31 and 36 on one side and 32 and 37 on the remaining side. The attachment of legs 14 and 15 is set forth in greater detail in Figures 4 through 7 below. Suffice it to note here, that ball 64 is initially forced into socket 40 of leg 14 and ball 74 is forced into socket 50 of leg 15. It

should be noted that balls 64 and 74 are assembled within sockets 40 and 50 respectively prior to attachment to armature 60. As is described below in greater detail, slots 65 and 75 of balls 64 and 74 allow a sufficient closure of balls 64 and 74 during insertion into socket 40 and 50 to facilitate their respective assemblies therein. Once balls 64 and 74 are assembled within sockets 40 and 50, legs 14 and 15 may be assembled to armature 60. Leg 14 is assembled to armature 60 by aligning aperture 66 with the major axis of clasp 63. Thereafter, sufficient force is applied to compress resilient clasp 63 in the manner set forth below in Figures 4 through 7 to pass clasp 63 through aperture 66 into slot 65. As is also described below, plug 68 thereby inserted into aperture 66. The resilience of clasp 63 secures clasp 63 to ball 64 completing the assembly. In a similar fashion, leg 15 is assembled to armature 60 by aligning aperture 66 with clasp 73 and forcing leg 15 against armature 60 with sufficient force to pass resilient clasp 73 through armature 76 and into slot 75. Once again, clasp 73 thereafter expands within slot 75 locking clasp 73 to ball 74 and completing the leg attachment. It will be noted that balls 64 and 74 are able to deform when initially forced into sockets 40 and 50 respectively due to slots 65 and 75 being empty. Once clasps 63 and 73 have been assembled with slots 65 and 75 however, this deformation or inward flexing of balls 64 and 74 is prevented. As a result, balls 64 and 74 may not be withdrawn from sockets 40 and 50 once clasps 63 and 73 have been snap-fitted therein. As a result, the assembly of legs 14 and 15 to the remainder of doll 10 is carried forward in an

extremely simple snap-fit assembly action which once assembled is extremely secure.

Figures 4 through 7 set forth partial sections views of the assembly of leg 14 to one side of armature 60 utilizing the present invention leg attachment generally referenced as leg attachment 20.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art however, that the structure and descriptive material set forth in Figures 4 through 7 for leg attachment 20 apply equally well and are equally descriptive of leg attachment 21. Accordingly, the structure and descriptive material set forth in connection with Figures 4 through 7 should be understood to be applied equally well to leg attachment 21 (seen in Figure 3).

Leg 14 defines an outer body 43 supporting a skeleton 42 having a socket end 44 formed therein.

Socket end 44 defines a socket 40 and an aperture 41.

A ball 64 defines a slot 65 and a rectangular aperture 66. A shaft 62 supported by armature 60 (seen in Figure 3) includes a cap 67 having a generally spherical outer surface and a rectangular plug 68.

Rectangular plug 68 includes a resilient clasp 63.

Figure 4 shows leg attachment 20 prior to assembly as ball 64 is aligned with aperture 41 of socket 40. Thereafter, as is seen in Figure 5, ball 64 is forced through aperture 41 and into socket 40.

During this insertion, slot 65 of ball 64 allows ball 64 to collapse slightly. Additionally, the somewhat resilient material such as molded plastic or the like from which socket end 44 is formed allows aperture 41 to expand slightly in the manner shown in Figure 5.

Once ball 64 has been assembled within socket 40 it expands to its normal size and receives clasp 63 in the manner shown in Figures 6 and 7 to complete assembly to leg attachment 20.

Figure 5 sets forth a section view of leg attachment 20 as ball 64 is being forced into socket 40.

Leg 14 defines an outer body 43 supporting a skeleton 42 having a socket end 44 formed therein.

Socket end 44 defines a socket 40 and an aperture 41.

A ball 64 defines a slot 65 and a rectangular aperture 66. A shaft 62 supported by armature 60 (seen in Figure 3) includes a cap 67 having a generally spherical outer surface and a rectangular plug 68.

Rectangular plug 68 includes a resilient clasp 63.

At the stage of assembly shown in Figure 5, ball 64 is being forced through aperture 41 into socket 40.

To better illustrate the responsive ball 64 to this insertion, ball 64 is shown rotated 90 degrees from the position shown in Figure 4. While ball 64 may, if desired, forced into socket 40 through aperture 41 without this rotation, it has been found helpful to initiate this rotation whereby ball 64 may flex inwardly as indicated by arrows 83 and 84 as ball 64 is forced in the direction indicated by arrow 80.

Thus, the resilient material of ball 64 and the orientation of slot 65 allow ball 64 to pass through aperture 41 more easily. In addition, the resilient material forming socket end 44 allow aperture 41 to expand outwardly as indicated by arrows 81 and 82 to further facilitate this insertion. once ball 64 is

fully inserted into socket 40, aperture 41 returns to its normal size and ball 64 returns to the normal shape shown in Figure 5. As a result, ball 64 is captivated within socket 40.

Figure 6 sets forth the initial assembly of clasp 63 into ball 64. As a preface to this insertion, it will be noted that ball 64 has been rotated to align aperture 66 thereof with the length to clasp 63.

More specifically, leg 14 defines an outer body 43 supporting a skeleton 42 having a socket end 44 formed therein. Socket end 44 defines a socket 40 and an aperture 41. A ball 64 defines a slot 65 and a rectangular aperture 66. A shaft 62 supported by armature 60 (seen in Figure 3) includes a cap 67 having a generally spherical outer surface and a rectangular plug 68. Rectangular plug 68 includes a resilient clasp 63.

As leg 14 is forced against clasp 63, the resilient material of clasp 63 deforms allowing clasp 63 to fit within aperture 66 of. ball 64. As a result, shaft 62, cap 67, plug 68 and clasp 63 are in effect forced in the direction indicated by arrow 80 relative to leg 14. As this force is maintained, clasp 63 passes through aperture 66 of ball 64 and expands into slot 65 in the manner seen in Figure 7.

Correspondingly, plug 68 is received within aperture 66 and cap 67 is positioned against ball 64 completing its spherical outer surface.

Figure 7 shows a section view of the completed attachment of leg 14 to armature 60 (seen in Figure 3).

More specifically, leg 14 defines an outer body 43 supporting a skeleton 42 having a socket end 44 formed therein. Socket end 44 defines a socket 40 and an aperture 41. A ball 64 defines a slot 65 and a rectangular aperture 66. A shaft 62 supported by armature 60 (seen in Figure 3) includes a cap 67 having a generally spherical outer surface and a rectangular plug 68. Rectangular plug 68 includes a resilient clasp 63.

Once clasp 63 expands within slot 65, withdrawal or separation of leg 14 from armature 60 (seen in Figure 3) is prevented. Clasp 63 engages the surface on each side of aperture 66 securely attaching clasp 63 to ball 64. Further, the presence of clasp 63 within slot 65 prevents the deformation of ball 64 in response to forces attempting to separate leg 14 therefrom. As a result, leg attachment 20 provides a secure attachment which provides easy pivotal movement while securely maintaining the attachment of leg 14 to the remainder of doll 10 (seen in Figure 1).

What has been shown is an appendage attachment mechanism for dolls and other toy figures which facilitates a simple snap-fit assembly while maintaining a secure attachment. The attachment mechanism provided is readily fabricated of low-cost mass production materials such as molded plastic or the like. The attachment may be utilized to secure virtually any appendage to virtually any doll or toy

figure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. while particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.