Flatiron toy doll accessory

[57] ABSTRACT

Plastic soleplate is provided with apertures, a red filter above the apertures, a light bulb above the filter and a light-impervious, upstanding side wall to which a handle-carrying, light-impervious cover is affixed. Red light glows through light apertures when bulb is lit to simulate a hot iron. The flatiron is small enough to serve as a doll accessory simulating an iron which would be used by the doll and the iron is also suitable for use by a child-user.

Claims, 4 Drawing Figures

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PATENTED JUL1 81972

3.676,950

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3,676,950

FLATIRON TOY DOLL ACCESSORY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The background of the invention will be set forth in two parts.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains generally to the field of flat iron toys and more particularly to such a toy which is suitable for use as a doll accessory and which includes colored light means for simulating heat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Sorkin U.S. Pat. No. 2,497,744 is one example of a toy flatiron including means giving the illusion of heat. The iron includes a metal soleplate and a translucent cover housing a set of flashlight batteries and a light bulb. When the electric current is turned on, the illuminated light bulb produces a glow through the translucent material of the housing.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a flatiron toy exemplifying improvements over the toy disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,497,744.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flatiron toy doll accessory including means giving the illusion of heat.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a toy of the type described including a soleplate provided with apertures over which a red filter is placed and including a light bulb above the filter and a light-impervious cover causing the light bulb to glow through the apertures.

According to the present invention, a simulated flatiron doll accessory is provided with a plastic soleplate having apertures provided therein. A red filter is mounted on the upper surface of the soleplate over the apertures and an electric light bulb is mounted on the filter for shining light through the filter and the apertures giving the illusion of heat.

A light-impervious cover, which may be molded from a suitable plastic material, is mounted over the bulb and is sealed to the upstanding sidewall of the soleplate. An electric cord is connected to the light bulb and is adapted to be plugged into a source of current supplied by one or more flashlight cells.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of use, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like elements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a simulated flatiron doll accessory constituting a presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line 2—2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 3—3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the flatiron of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring again to the drawings, a simulated flatiron doll accessory, generally designated 10, includes a soleplate 12 which may be molded from a suitable plastic material, such as a styrene monomer, and which includes an upper surface 14, a lower surface 16, an upstanding, encompassing sidewall 18, a pointed toe 20 and a flat, broad heel 22.

An upstanding gripper sleeve 24 (FIG. 2) may be formed integrally with soleplate 12 during the molding operation and includes a pair of ways 26, 28 adapted to frictionally receive a tang 30 for connecting a hollow cover 32 to soleplate 12. Cover 32 may also be molded from a suitable styrene material and includes a top wall 34 and an encompassing side wall 36 having an open bottom 38. Open bottom 38 is provided with a step shoulder 40 adapted to be cemented to the encompassing side wall 18 of soleplate 12. Cover 32 is preferably made from an opaque, light-impervious material and is provided with a pair of apertures 42,44 in top wall 34 and a single aperture 46 in side wall 36 in line with the toe portion 20 of soleplate 12.

Flatiron toy 10 also includes a handle 48 which may be molded from suitable acetal resin material and which includes a flat, rectangular grip portion 50 adapted to be either held between the thumb and fingers of a child-user or engaged in the soft, flexible hand of a simulated doll user. Handle 48 may be connected to cover 32 by engaging a pair of depending snap tabs 52, 54 in apertures 42, 44, respectively. The front portion 56 of handle 48 may be relieved as shown at 60 to enhance the appearance of flatiron 10 and to simulate the appearance of a conventional steam iron.

Flatiron 10 also includes a filter 62 which is preferably red in color and which may be molded from a suitable styrene material. Filter 60 includes a pair of upstanding, spaced-apart clips 62, 64 and is provided with an aperture 66 adapted to pass over gripper sleeve 24 when filter 60 is positioned on the upper surface 14 of soleplate 12 near toe portion 20. A small light bulb 70 may then be secured in position between clip 62, 64 and is connected to the leads 72, 74 on an electric cord 76 having a male plug 78 (FIG. 1) adapted to be plugged into a suitable low-voltage source, such as the battery pack disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 145,682, filed May 21, 1971. Leads 72, 74 are soldered to bulb 70 and shorting at the soldered connection is minimized by passing leads 72, 74 on opposite sides of gripper sleeve 24. Cord 76 is knotted, as shown at 80, inside housing 82 and passes out of the rear wall portion 82 thereof through an aperture 84 provided therein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the knotted portion 80 absorbes shocks imparted to cord 76 by pulling thereon, thereby minimizing the likelihood of pulling leads 72, 74 loose from bulb 70.

In use, bulb 70 may be energized whereupon a red glow will shine through apertures 68. Light will also shine outwardly through aperture 46 above toe portion 20. Otherwise, soleplate 12, cover 32 and handle 48 are substantially lightimpervious. The light shining through apertures 68 gives the illusion of heat emanating from flatiron toy 10.

While the particular flatiron toy shown and herein described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims, which form a part of this disclosure.