Doll Plus Invertable Container

The present invention relates to toys and more particularly to toy dolls resembling human figures.

A wide variety of dolls have been known in the past commencing perhaps with figures constructed from grass and twigs to the very modern vehicle/robot figures of the Gobot.RTM. toys of the present day. Toy dolls today are generally constructed of polymeric materials and fabric, sometimes closely resembling the human body, and at other times having a very imaginative appearance.

The present invention includes a toy doll which is constructed of a container and a doll torso mounted in the container. The container may, for example, have a cup-cake shape or a garbage can shape. The container may be in its normal position with the doll torso contained therein. Alternatively, the container portion may be inverted or turned inside out, which supports the doll torso in an elevated position. In the inverted position, the container serves as a skirt for the doll. The container may include a fabric inner liner which resembles a skirt fabric when the container is in the inverted position. The container may also include a polymeric top, e.g. frosting-like, which overlies and conceals the doll when the container is in its normal position. The container may be constructed of a resilient polymer and may be fluted to resemble the conventional cupcake containers which are commercially available. Alternatively, the container may resemble a galvanized garbage can or a redwood garden container.

FIG. 1 shows the present invention in the cupcake configuration;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2--2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention in the doll configuration;

FIG. 4 is a view partially in section along the lines 4--4 in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the present invention in the garbage can configuration; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the present invention in the redwood basket configuration.

The toy 10 of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the cupcake configuration. The toy 10 includes a container 11 which may be constructed of a resilient polymeric material including a frustoconical wall portion 12 and a bottom wall 13. The frustoconical wall 12 may be fluted to resemble cupcake containers typically used in making cupcakes. The toy 10 may include a top 14 which resembles frosting from a cupcake and/or a hat. The top 14 may include a recess 16 for reception of the rim 17 of the container 11.

The toy 10 includes a doll torso 21 with arms 22,23 and a head 24. The torso 21 may be molded of a suitable polymeric material and may have embossed thereon the appearance of fabric. In other words, the torso 21 may be textured. The arms 22 and 23 may be rotatably mounted in the torso 21 to permit life-like movement of such limbs. Likewise, the head portion 24 may be rotatably mounted in a suitable socket to permit movement of the head during play. The head portion 24 of course includes the typical features of eyes 26,27, lips 28, and hair 29. Desirably, the hair 29 is comprised of long strands or fiber resembling long hair.

A skirt 31 is attached to the torso 21. The skirt 31 may be of any suitable fabric or polymeric sheet material resembling fabric.

The toy 10 may be converted from the cupcake configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by removing the top 14 and turning the container 11 inside out to the position illustrated in FIG. 4 to arrive at the doll configuration. In such a position, the torso 21 is supported in the elevated position with the skirt 31 overlying the container 11. If desired, the top 14 may be superimposed over the head portion 24 to resemble a bonnet. The toy 10 can be converted to the cupcake configuration by reversing the procedure.

An alternate garbage can doll embodiment 110 of the doll of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The doll 110 includes a container portion 111 constructed of a shape retaining flexible material, for example, an injection molded polymer. The container portion 111 has a tubular wall portion 112 and an integral bottom wall portion 113. The container portion 111 resembles a galvanized garbage can and may have a top 114 with a handle 114a.

The doll 110 has a torso 121 with arms 122,123 and a head 124. The head 124 may have hair depicted thereon. The toy doll 110 may be converted from the enclosed container configuration to the exposed doll configuration in a manner very similar to that described with respect to the cup-cake doll and shown in FIG. 4.

A second alternate embodiment 210 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this instance the container portion 211 resembles a redwood garden basket with a plurality of slats 211a and open spaces 211b therebetween. The container 211 has a bottom wall portion 213. If desired, the slats 211a may be reinforced at the outer ends such as with elastic bands 215 or a wishbone shaped spring 226 that are secured to the slats 211a. The container 211 may be enclosed with a cover 214 resembling tree leafs and grass.

The doll 210 likewise has a torso 221, arms 222,223 and a head 224. The doll 210 may be have a skirt 231 attached to the torso 221. The inner side of the skirt may resemble a black or green leaf bag which can be viewed through the open spaces 211b. The doll 210 may be converted from container to doll configurations as described with respect to the cup-cake doll 10. The slats 211a may have a memory with respect to the bottom wall portion 213 such that appropriate container positions or torso supporting positions will be maintained as desired.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it is to be recognized that various modifications may be made without departing from the broader scope of the present invention. For example, the container 11 may be embossed with surface texture to resemble fabric in lieu of the loosely hanging fabric material 31. The container may be any of various other depictions such as an ice cream cone, Coca Cola.RTM. glass or a flower e.g. tulip or daisy. The doll figure may be other than a human figure, e.g. a pet dog figure.