An articulated doll with movable arms capable of moving one arm in an up and down fashion to simulate the answering of a phone. The second arm is movable in a side-to-side motion so that a utensil such as a toothbrush held by the second hand is moved to simulate the brushing of teeth. The arms are moved in response to mechanical stimuli actuated by squeezing various portions or extremities of the doll. In one arrangement a pair of independently operable squeeze bulbs are located on one foot of the doll and are each in communication with a corresponding bellows mounted adajcent each of the shoulder joints of the doll. Expansion of the bellows acts through pivotable or rotatable members to move the arms as described. Additional squeeze bulbs are located in the second foot of the doll to independently control the opening and closing of the doll's mouth and the intake of liquid through a mouth opening.

There now has been discovered a simple, straight-forward apparatus for animating figures through the use of the apparatus and method of the present invention. The apparatus and method employ a plurality of collapsible, fluid chambers, and associated values controlling the fluid pressure in each of the chambers. At least two of the chambers are physically arranged so that the inflation of one such chamber and deflation of the other complimentary chamber causes all or a part of the figure to assume a different spatial position, dependent upon the level of inflation of each of the chambers. Typically, at least two of the chambers are arranged so that the inflation of one such chamber exerts a physical force on the other.

A doll has a head, torso and limbs. One of the limbs is jointed to provide a distal portion which is pivotal relative to a proximal portion. Pneumatic operating devices are provided for effecting the pivotal motion and these include an actuator which is manually operable and pneumatically connected to a pressure responsive member accommodated in the proximal limb portion. The actuator is a variable volume member such as a pressure bulb which may take the form of one of the other limbs of the doll. The pressure responsive member is connected to the distal limb portion by a connector in such a way that operation of the pressure responsive member by the actuator causes pivotal movement of the distal limb portion. In a preferred embodiment, the pressure responsive member is located in the upper portion of one of the arms and the movement of the lower arm effected thereby causes the lower arm to move towards the face and give the impression of blowing a kiss on its return movement.

An apparatus and method for animating figures employs at least one collapsible, fluid chamber, and associated means for controlling the fluid pressure the chamber. In one embodiment, a single, inflatable chamber is employed, the chamber having a section of one wall which is less elastic than the remaining portion of the wall. In another embodiment, two collapsible, fluid chambers, and associated means for controlling the fluid pressure in each of said chambers are provided. The chambers are each helically wound in opposite directions and placed substantially parallel to one another.

Driving gear on one limb has at least twice as many teeth as driven gear on other limb which is connected to driving gear by idler gears for negatively increasing gear ratio between limbs so that driven limb will swing through a substantially larger arc than, and in a direction opposite to, the driving limb.