I

LAUNCHABLE DOLL

[0001] This invention relates to a launchable doll comprising wings which impart aerodynamic lift to the figurine when it is rotated.

[0002]US-A~5,525,086 describes such a doll. It is an aim of the invention to provide a more versatile doll.

[0003] Accordingly, the invention provides a launchable doll having wings which impart aerodynamic lift to the doll when it is rotated, said wings being fixed to the doll at a waist level thereof. This allows the doll to have movable limbs so that it can be posed and dressed as a regular doll. It also allows the doll to be launched from a launcher without having specific means for coupling to the launcher.

[0004] The wings may be pivotable with respect to the body of the doll so that when not rotating the wings fall to a substantially vertical position. This allows the doll to sit. In this embodiment the wings may provide a skirt for the doll.

[0005] In some embodiments, the wings are detachable from the doll. In particular, the wings may be attachable between a torso portion and a waist portion of the body portion. Said torso and waist portions may be slidable towards and away from each other and at least one spring may be provided to clamp a projection on the wings between said torso and waist portions. At least one leg of the doll may be pivotably attached at least indirectly to the torso portion and provided with cam means for moving the leg or waist portion towards the torso portion. A lever may be provided on the torso portion for urging the waist portion away form the torso portion to release the wings.

[0006] A particular embodiment of the doll has four wings. The wings may -be provided on two parts which fit together around the body of the doll.

[0007] Preferably, the doll comprises articulated legs and/ or arms.

[0008] The invention also provides a set comprising a launchable doll as defined above and a launcher comprising a base, a tube for containing the legs of the doll and a mechanism for rotating the tube and the doll with respect to the base. The wings of the doll may be arranged to rest on an upper end of the tube. The mechanism may be a windable clockwork mechanism or may be powered by a pull string or a pullable serrated strip.

[0009] Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] Figure 1 shows a doll according to the invention;

[0011] Figure 2 shows the doll of Figure 1 in a launcher;

[0012] Figure 3 shows an alternative launcher;

[0013] Figures 4 and 5 show the wing parts of the doll in more detail;

[0014] Figure 6 shows an alternative wing part;

[0015] Figures 7 to 12 are sectional view showing stages in the fitting of the wings according to on embodiment; and

[0016] Figures 13 to 16 are sectional view showing stages in the fitting of the wings according to an alternative embodiment.

[0017] Figure 1 shows a doll having wings 1 which are arranged to impart aerodynamic lift to the doll when the doll is rotated as shown by the arrows. The wings are detachable form the body of the doll and the doll has articulated arms 2 and legs 3 allowing dressing etc. when the wings 1 are removed.

[0018] Figure 2 shows how the legs of the doll are inserted in a tube 4 of a launcher 5. The tube is rotatable with respect to a base 6 of the launcher. The

internal cross section of the tube 4 is not round so that rotation thereof cause the doll to rotate and fly out of the tube. The tube is rotated, for example, by means of a geared mechanism powered by a windable spring. Such a mechanism is easier to use than the pull cord mechanism described in US-A-5,525,086 and enhances safety as it allows the amount of rotation and hence the lift to be closely controlled. An alternative mechanism is powered by means of a so-called "rip cord" which is a serrated strip, usually of plastics such as polypropylene. This strip is loaded into the launcher and engages teeth, either on the launching tube or on a gear at least indirectly connected to the tube, to cause the required rotation when pulled through.

[0019] Figure 3 shows an alternative launcher in which a rotatable tube is formed inside a tower 7 of a palace 8.

[0020] Figures 4 and 5 show one way in which the wings 1 may be fitted to the doll. Two wings 1 are formed on each of two wing parts 9, each wing part having a semicircular portion 10. The semicircular portions 10 are joined to form a ring extending around the body of the doll.

[0021] Figure 6 shows an alternative wing part in which wings Y are pivotable downwardly relative to a semicircular portion 10'. The wings Y can form a skirt for the doll in this position. When the doll is rotated the wings Y rise to a horizontal position by their aerodynamic lift.

[0022] Figure 7 is a sectional view of one embodiment of the body of the doll. A torso 11 has a rear lever 12 which is pivoted at 13 to a rod 14 arranged to slide vertically within the torso. An upper spring 15 biases the rod 14 upwardly. The leg 3 of the doll is pivoted at 17 to the lower end of the rod 14. A waist portion 18 is retained between the leg 3 and the torso 11 and is biased downwardly by a lower spring 19 arranged around the rod 14. A projection 20 on the waist portion 18 engages a recess 21 in the leg 3 when the latter is in line with the axis of the torso 11.

[0023] As shown in Figure 8, when the leg 3 is bent the projection 20 is disengaged from the recess 21, forcing the waist portion 18 upwardly and compressing the lower spring 19.

[0024] Figure 9 shows that when the lever 12 is lifted, the lower spring 19 expands and the upper spring 15 is compressed until the two forces balance. At this point, the gap between the torso 11 and the waist portion 18 is large enough to receive a protrusion 22 on the semicircular portion 10 of the wing part 9, the waist portion 18 being shaped to receive this protrusion.

[0025] As shown in Figure 10, the wing part 9 is pushed further into the gap, pushing the torso 11 and the waist portion 18 further apart and compressing the upper spring 15 further. When the protrusion 22 is fully home it snaps into its location in the waist portion 18 as the upper spring 15 is released.

[0026] The wing part 9 is held loosely between the torso 11 and the waist portion 18 and the second wing part 9 is inserted as shown in Figure 11.

[0027] Figure 12 shows that when the lever 12 is pushed down, the wing parts 9 are clamped securely between the torso 11 and the waist portion 18.

[0028] Figure 13 shows an alternative embodiment in which the doll's legs are used to lock the wing parts in place. A rod 34 is arranged to slide vertically in a torso 31. The upper end of the rod is retained by a pin 43. The attachment of the leg 3 and the waist portion 18 is similar to the previous embodiment.

[0029] As shown in Figure 14, when the leg 3 is bent, the projection 20 on the waist portion 18 pulls the rod 34, and thus the leg 3, upwardly towards the torso 31. The gap between the torso 31 and the waist portion 18 is maintained because the lower spring 19 is stronger than the upper spring 15.

[0030] The wing parts 9 are pushed into place as shown in Figure 15 and snap into position under the force of the upper spring 15.

[0031] As shown in Figure 16, as the legs 3 of the doll are straightened the cam surface thereof moves the waist portion 18 upwards and clamps the wing parts 9 in place. At the end of the travel projection 20 engages in recess 21, locking leg 3 in place.

[0032] The wings of the doll may be covered with flexible plastics material that is softer than the remainder of the doll to allow easier catching. The doll may have conventional fabric wings attached to its torso to allow it to resemble a fairy. The doll may include a light source, such as one or more light emitting diodes, which may be used to transfer light to transparent or tinted wings, providing an interesting effect when the wings rotate.

[0033] The word "doll" as used herein embraces both male and female human figures as well as animal, cartoon and fantasy figures.