Support system and flexible integument for dolls

Abstract

A doll having a natural appearance, a natural feel, and natural motion has an internal support system covered by a flexible integument. The support system has a forward section corresponding to a shoulder girdle and a rearward section corresponding to a pelvic girdle. The forward section and the rearward section are connected by a first component that is flexible in range but not in scope. Forward limbs are attached to the forward section and rearward limbs are attached to the rearward section. A plurality of components comprising a second (straight) component, a third (hinge joint) component, and a fourth (ball-and-socket joint) component are used for other portions of the support system.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A doll comprising: 
 a body;    a connector;    a head connected to said body by said connector;    a support system hidden within said body, said support system at least including: 
 a forward section proximal to said head, said forward section having said connector;  
 at least one forward limb connected to said forward section; a first component;  
 a rearward section distal to said head, said rearward section connected to said forward section by said first component; and  
 at least one rearward limb connected to said rearward section;  
   stuffing material disposed around said support system; and    a flexible integument covering said stuffing material and said support system.    
     
     
         2 . The doll of  claim 1  wherein said forward section and said rearward section are rigid.  
     
     
         3 . The doll of  claim 2  wherein said at least one forward limb and said at least one rearward limb each comprise an upper portion, a lower portion, and a hinge component between said upper portion and said lower portion.  
     
     
         4 . The doll of  claim 3  wherein said support system further comprises a straight component within said upper portion and within said lower portion of said at least one forward limb and within said upper portion and within said lower portion of said at least one rearward limb.  
     
     
         5 . The doll of  claim 4  wherein said support system further comprises a ball-and-socket component between said forward section and said at least one forward limb and between said rearward section and said at least one rearward limb.  
     
     
         6 . The doll of  claim 1  further comprising a tail connected to said rearward section of said support system.  
     
     
         7 . The doll of  claim 1  wherein said flexible integument has both elasticity and resiliency.  
     
     
         8 . The doll of  claim 1  wherein said flexible integument has a potential stretch length between about 0% and about 100%.  
     
     
         9 . A doll comprising: 
 a body;    a connector;    a head connected to said body by said connector;    a support system hidden within said body, said support system at least including: 
 a forward section;  
 at least one forward limb connected to said forward section, said at least one forward limb having an upper portion and a lower portion;  
 a first component;  
 a rearward section connected to said forward section by said first component;  
 at least one rearward limb connected to said rearward section, said at least one rearward limb having an upper portion and a lower portion;  
 a straight component contained within said upper portion and within said lower portion of said at least one forward limb and said at least one rearward limb;  
 a hinge component between said straight component in said upper portion and said straight component in said lower portion; and  
 a ball-and-socket component between said forward section and said at least one forward limb and between said rearward section and said at least one rearward limb;  
   stuffing material disposed around said support system; and    a flexible integument covering said stuffing material and said support system.    
     
     
         10 . The doll of  claim 9  wherein said forward section and said rearward section are rigid.  
     
     
         11 . The doll of  claim 9  further comprising a tail connected to said rearward section of said support system.  
     
     
         12 . The doll of  claim 9  wherein said flexible integument has both elasticity and resiliency.  
     
     
         13 . The doll of  claim 12  wherein said flexible integument has a potential stretch length between about 0% and about 100%.  
     
     
         14 . A doll comprising: 
 a body;    a connector;    a head connected to said body by said connector, said connector causing said head to maintain position when said head moves in relation to said body in a predetermined natural range;    a support system hidden within said body, said support system at least including: 
 a forward section proximal to said head, said forward section having said connector;  
 two forward limbs pivotally connected to opposite sides of said forward section;  
 each of said two forward limbs at least having an upper portion and a lower portion;  
 a first component, said first component having at least two modules, said modules causing said first component to maintain position when said first component is moved in a first predetermined, natural range;  
 a rearward section distal to said head, said rearward section connected to said forward section by said first component;  
 two rearward limbs pivotally connected to opposite sides of said rearward section;  
 each of said two rearward limbs at least having an upper portion and a lower portion;  
   stuffing material disposed around said support system; and    a flexible integument covering said stuffing material and said support system, said flexible integument having elasticity and resiliency, said flexible integument having a potential stretch in a range of about 0% to about 100%, said elasticity enabling said flexible integument to stretch and said resiliency enabling said flexible integument to recover when said limbs are moved.    
     
     
         15 . The doll of  claim 14  wherein said forward section and said rearward section are rigid.  
     
     
         16 . The doll of  claim 14  further comprising a tail connected to said rearward section of said support system.  
     
     
         17 . The doll of  claim 14  further comprising a ball-and-socket component between said two forward limbs and said forward section and between said two rearward limbs and said rearward section, said ball-and-socket component causing said two forward limbs and said two rearward limbs to maintain position when said limbs are moved in a second predetermined range.  
     
     
         18 . The doll of  claim 14  further comprising a hinge component between said upper portion and said lower portion of said forward limb, said hinge component causing said lower portion to maintain position when said lower portion is moved in a first predetermined direction a first predetermined number of degrees.  
     
     
         19 . The doll of  claim 14  further comprising a hinge component between said upper portion and said lower portion of said rearward limb, said hinge component causing said lower portion to maintain position when said lower portion is moved in a second predetermined direction a second predetermined number of degrees.