US 2010/0304638 A1 · Mouth construction for ventriloquial figure

Abstract

An improved mouth construction for a ventriloquial figure comprises a movable jaw assembly operatively connected to the head of the figure and including a rigidly cast lower jaw member pivotally connected within the head and a pliable lip member formed to fit upon and cover the upper surface of the lower jaw member. The lip member is cast from a rubberlike synthetic polymer, such as silicone rubber, that is first cured in an associated mold and then secured firmly upon the surface of the cast lower jaw member while curing using specially fabricated dual T-shaped bar fasteners embedded between the separate members to mechanically lock them together during the casting process. The resultant mouth construction provides a quite impact between the movable jaw assembly and the upper lip surface of the stationary upper jaw portion of the head and makes the ventriloquial figure more life-like in its operation.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A mouth construction for a ventriloquial figure of the type having a slotted jaw opening in the head thereof, comprising:

a jaw member cast in rigid form and pivotally connected to the head within the jaw opening;
a lip member cast in pliable form and conforming with the top of said jaw member, said lip member being attached upon the top of said jaw member during casting thereof;
and
bar fastener means extended between said lip member and said jaw member, said bar fastener means being embedded and secured within each of said lip and jaw members while casting to mechanically lock said members together.

1 more element

A method of constructing a mouth assembly for a ventriloquial figure, comprising the steps of:

casting a lip member in a pliable form from a curable silicone rubber material, the form of the lip member having a U-shaped configuration with a lip-like upper surface and a substantially flat lower surface;
while the cast lip member is curing, inserting a bar fastener having a double T-shaped profile substantially one-half of its length into the lower surface of the lip member, the bar fastener being embedded perpendicularly to the lower surface of the lip member when cured with the remaining one-half of the length of the bar fastener projecting therefrom;
casting a jaw member in a rigid form from a curable urethane elastomer material, the form of the jaw member having a U-shaped upper rim;
and
while casting the jaw member, positioning the cured lip member together with the partially embedded bar fastener upon the U-shaped upper rim of the jaw member so that the projecting length of the bar fastener is inserted within the upper rim of the jaw member and embedded when cured.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mouth construction for ventriloquial figure

Life of this patent

Mouth construction for ventriloquial figure

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17