1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to dolls and miniature buildings and, more particularly, to a doll and a miniature building that simulates a real-life person and building.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Dolls and doll houses or other buildings scaled down to doll size are well known in the art. Aside from doll houses, it is well known to have miniature farms, miniature battlefields, and miniature gasoline stations, among others, to be associated with corresponding dolls. An environment that the prior art of dolls and miniature buildings does not disclose is a ballet studio. Many persons, both children and adults, spend a considerable amount of time in a ballet studio. In this respect, for a number of reasons, it would be desirable if a doll and a simulated building were provided which represented a ballerina and a ballet studio. Some reasons for the desirability of a simulated ballerina and dance studio are as follows. They would serve as a reminder to a ballet student to practice ballet exercises. They could serve as an attractive decoration in a ballet studio.
When a ballet student leaves the ballet studio, it is often difficult for the student to remember the body positions that are required. In this respect, it would be desirable if a simulated ballerina were provided that could be adjusted to depict body positions of a ballerina which may be difficult for the student to remember.
In a ballet class, a number of exercises are done in association with a horizontal bar in front of a wall mirror. The horizontal bar is used for balancing the student as the student goes through a number of exercises. In this respect, it would be deskable if a simulated ballerina and dance studio apparatus were provided which included a horizontal bar onto which the hand of the ballerina doll can be placed in order to balance the doll.
Throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed relating to doll houses, and the following U.S. patents are representative of some of those innovations: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,888,039; 4,030,234; 4,070,789; 4,883,443; and 4,919,982. More specifically, the above-cited patents relate to doll buildings that can be folded or disassembled. However, none of the patents disclose a simulated ballerina or a simulated ballet studio.
Many dolls are known in the prior art. Some of the prior art dolls include articulated joints. However, none of the dolls in the known prior art contain the number and quality of articulated joints that would permit a ballerina doll to be adjusted into known ballet positions. In this respect, it would be desirable if a doll were provided which contained the number and quality of articulated joints that permit the ballerina doll to be adjusted into known ballet positions.
An articulated joint that permits the ballerina doll to be adjusted into known ballet positions should be able to be easily adjusted and should retain its adjusted position.
In a simulated ballet studio there are a number of features that would be most significant in the simulation. The key features to be simulated are the horizontal bar, the wall mirror, and the dance floor.
Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use dolls and doll houses, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a simulated ballerina and dance studio apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) represents a ballerina and a ballet studio; (2) can be adjusted to depict body positions of a ballerina which may be difficult for a ballet student to remember; (3) includes a horizontal bar onto which the hand of a ballerina doll can be placed in order to balance the doll; (4) contains the number and quality of articulated joints that permit the ballerina doll to be adjusted into known ballet positions; (5) includes articulated joints that permit the ballerina doll to be adjusted into known ballet positions easily and with good retention of the adjusted position; and (6) has a simulated ballet studio which includes a horizontal bar, a wall mirror, and a dance floor. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique simulated ballerina and dance studio apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.