US3893257A - Puppet head with movable eyes and lip and remote hand controls therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A puppet head or the like provided with simulated eyeballs and a simulated lip, both the eyeballs and the lip being pivotally mounted within the head of the puppet, and a pair of sheathed wires connected to the pivotally mounted eyeballs and lip and extending beyond the puppet head for remote operation thereof for movement of the eyes and lip.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Miki 1451 July s, 1975 [5 1 PUPPET HEAD WITH MOVABLE EYES AND 2,1 14,351 4/1938 McCown 46/126 AND REMOTE HAND (IONTROLS 2,466,214 4/1949 Deaton 46/126 X THEREFOR 3,200,537 8/1965 Glass et a1. 46/118 3,212,213 10/1965 Perego 46/154 X [75] Inventor; Tokuhilo Miki, Osaka Japan 3,315,406 4/1967 Ryan .1 46/118 [73] Assignee: Perfect Liberty, Japan FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 8l8,673 8/1959 United Kingdom 46/126 [221 329.130 9/1935 Italy 46/210 211 App]. No; 488,252

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 10, 1972 Japan 47-5484 [52] US. Cl 46/126; 46/135 R; 46/154; 40/106-132 [51] Int. Cl A6311 7/00 [58] Field of Search it 46/135, 126, 154, 128, 46/148, 210, 118; 40/106-132 [56} References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Mack 40/l06.32

Primary ExaminerF. Barry Shay Attorney, Agent, or FirmHil1, Gross, Simpson, Van Santen, Steadman, Chiara & Simpson [57] ABSTRACT A puppet head or the like provided with simulated eyeballs and a simulated lip, both the eyeballs and the lip being pivotally mounted within the head of the puppet, and a pair of sheathed wires connected to the pivotally mounted eyeballs and lip and extending beyond the puppet head for remote operation thereof for movement of the eyes and lip.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures PUPPET HEAD WITH MOVABLE EYES AND LIP AND REMOTE HAND CONTROLS THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention is in the field of puppets, marionetts, or the like, wherein movement of the eyeballs and the lips is controlled remotely by means of wires.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various types of means have been suggested for moving or opening and closing the eyeballs or eyelids and the lips of dolls or other playthings. Such means may include springs. weights, magnets or electrical devices. While such means have been used for playthings, they are not readily adaptable to be used in puppet heads for theatricals such as marionette performances because in such theatrical. performances it is necessary to move the eyeballs or eyelids and the lips ofa puppet at different rates of speed so as to produce a realistic effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a device for moving the eyeballs and lip in a puppet head used for theatricals to enable anyone without specific talent or training to oper ate the eyeballs and lips in a puppet head with ease. The device of the present invention is simple in construction and is virtually trouble free.

The puppet head of the present invention includes a pair of simulated eyeballs and a simulated lip. The eyeballs are mounted on pivotal means within the head, and the lip is likewise mounted pivotally within the head itself. A pair of sheathed wires is connected to the pivotal means which support the eyeballs and the lip, respectively, the ends of the sheathed wires extending beyond the head for remotely controlled pivotal movement by means of the operator's fingers. The puppet head is conveniently combined with a glove to which the ends of the sheathed wires are secured, with loops being provided to the ends of the wires for engaging the fingers of the glove to assist in manipulation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure, and in which:

FIG. I is a front elevational view, partially in crosssection, of the device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the device;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the mechanism in the eyeball portion;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the mechanism in the lip portion;

FIG. 4A illustrates the manner in which the wires can be combined with a glove; and

FIG. 48 illustrates the manner in which the loops on the wires are engaged with the glove on the users hand.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 has been applied to a hollow head body containing suitable apertures (not shown) behind which are located a pair ofeyeballs 2.

Theeyeballs 2 are mounted on asupport shaft 3 which is arranged for pivotal movement between a pair ofsupport brackets 16 secured to the interior of the head. Theshaft 3 has an integralsemicircular protuberance 4 disposed midway between theeyeballs 2. Theprotuberance 4 is provided with a central aperture through which passes awire 5 which is the inner wire of a sheathed flexible wire generally indicated atreference numeral 14. Theinner wire 5 is provided with a detent or stopper 6 at one end thereof and another detent or stopper 6 is located on the opposite side of theprotuberance 4, a short distance from the stopper 6. The distance between the two detents or stoppers 6 and 6' is determined by the desired degree of opening of theeyeballs 2.

At the mouth cavity, there is provided a lip support shaft 9 which is secured to the interior of the head by means ofeyelets 17. A forked lip support including spacedarms 7 and bearing portions 10 are pivotally received on a shaft 9. The ends of thearms 7 are fixedly secured to alip portion 8. The lip support structure includes a semicircular protuberance 11 through which aninner wire 5 is passed through a central aperture provided in the protuberance 11. A detent orstopper 12 is provided at one end of the inner wire 5', and a second detent or stopper 12' is provided beyond the aperture and the protuberance 11, a short distance from the detent or stopper 12. The distance between thedetents 12 and 12' is determined by the desired degree of opening of thelip 8.

Both theinner wires 5 and 5' extend through their sheaths l4 and 14' within the periphery of the head portion as best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings. At their other ends, theinner wires 5 and 5' are connected to loops l3 and 13' as best seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

In operation, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the operator passes his forefinger and middle finger into the loops l3 and 13' and then he bends or stretches his forefinger and/or middle finger to permit theinner wire 5 or 5', or both of them. to slide within thesheath 14 or 14', causing the detents 6 and 6' for theeyeballs 2 to engage thesemicircular protuberance 4 so as to turn theeyeball support shaft 3, thereby turning theeyeballs 2 to produce an eye-opening or eye-closing effect. Sliding movement of the inner wire 5' pushes the protuberance 11 at the fork of thelip support arms 7, causing thelip 8 to turn with thearm 7 to thereby open or close the lips.

For convenience in operation, the portions of thesheaths 14 and 14' near theloops 13 and 13' may be sewn to the palm portion of aglove 18 as by means of apatch 19. This facilitates manipulation more readily than when fixing the loops l3 and 13' directly on the operators fingers.

A lobe l5 simulating a tongue may be provided on the lip support shaft 9 between the tubular portions 10 of thelip support arm 7 and a colored cloth may be attached to thelobe 15 to enhance the visual effect.

The device of the present invention is capable of producing realistic expressions of human beings or animals by positively moving theeyeballs 2 and thelip 8 of the hollow puppet head 1 with simple and relatively small finger actions. Audiences are amused because they cannot readily perceive how theeyeballs 2 and thelip 8 of the puppet head I manipulated by the performer are moved so realistically.

having slidable wires therein connected to said first and second pivotal means, a glove of a size for receiving the hand of a user, means for securing said hollow wires to the palm of said glove and loops secured to the ends of said slidable wires for engaging the fingers of said glove, whereby said user may manipulate said slidable wires.

Claims (1)

1. A puppet head or the like comprising a pair of simulated eyeballs, a simulated lip, first pivotal means within said head pivotally mounting said eyeballs therein, second pivotal means within said head pivotally mounting said lip therein, anD flexible hollow wires having slidable wires therein connected to said first and second pivotal means, a glove of a size for receiving the hand of a user, means for securing said hollow wires to the palm of said glove and loops secured to the ends of said slidable wires for engaging the fingers of said glove, whereby said user may manipulate said slidable wires.

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