US1203438A - Toy vehicle. - Google Patents

Description

F.- H. WEBSTER.

TOY VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. 1916.

1203, 138. Patented Oct. 31,1916,

INVENTOI? --4 ATTORNEYS FAY H. WEBSTER, 0F MARVELL, ARKANSAS.

TOY VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

Application filed March 29, 1916. Serial No. 87,473.

provide an improved drive means in which the reaction of a stretched rubber strand is utilized to create a torque in a drive axle or like rotary driven element.

A more particular object is to so arrange the drive connection of the elastic strand with the driven element, that the latter will be freed from the direct action of the elastic strand after an impulse by the strand, to permit the axle to attain a prolongation of the imparted movement under momentum andunimpeded by the said strand.

Other objects, .as well as advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a side elevation of a self-propelled toy Vehicle having my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2; Fig. 41 is a detail plan view of the clutch members on the driven element; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the loose clutch element.

' I have shown my invention applied to a toy vehiclein which the body is indicated by the numeral 10. The vehicle includes a base board 11 secured to the body in any suitable manner. In the example shown, the base board has an edge flange 12, and the body is formed with tongues 13 engaging the base board.

The numeral 1 1 indicates a front axle and 15 a rear, axle, each having running wheels 16. On the drive axle, which in the present example, is the rear axle 15, a clutch member 17 is fixedly secured through the mediumof a set screw 18 or other means. A mating clutch element 19 is loose on the axle and may shift longitudinally of the axle relatively to the fixed clutch element 17.

I provide one or more strands of rubber, indicated by the numeral 20 and fasten one end thereof to the vehicle or other article, the fastening in this instance being effected by a hook21 at the front of the vehicle near one side thereof. The rubber strand extends from the hook 21 oblique to the axle 15, and is secured to the loose clutch element The connection of the rubber strand with the clutch element 19 is effected through the medium of a lug 22 on said element. To permit ready engagement of-the rubber strand for renewing the same, a slot is formed at the inner face of the lug 22, said slot being undercut as at 23, at the base, thereby producing a contracted entrance throat 24. There is also, at a side of the lug 22, a notch 25 communicating with the rear slot. Thus, the material of the 111g 22 overhangs at two sides to effectively retain the loop 20 of the double strand of rubber 20, it being understood that said strand is preferably formed of rubber band or a plurality of such bands. The opposed facesof the clutch elements, 17, 19, are spiral as in.

dicated, respectively, by the numerals, 26, 27, thereby producing mating clutch faces,

By the described arrangement, if the axle 15 be turned backward, as for instance, by rolling the same on a floor, or other surface, or by inserting a pencil or key between the spokes of one of the rear wheels 16, the fixed clutch element 17 will engage-its face 28 with the face 29 of the loose clutch element l9 and turn the latter element, thereby winding the rubber strand 29 and stretching the same to place it under tension. Owing to the oblique disposition of the rubber strand 20, said strand will be wound onto,

the clutch elements, thereby assisting in holding the loose clutch element in clutched position. From the clutch elements the prolongation of the movement imparted by the action of the strand since the fixedclutch element and axle are readily freed from the upon the axle.

loose clutch element and hence, freed from any restraining action of the strand 20, whereas without this arrangement, the momentum would tend to again wind the rubber strand and thereby arrest turning movement or cause reversal thereof.

The obliquity of the elastic strand is such that its fixed point of attachment is in a longitudinal line laterally outward from the clutch elements. The efiect of this is that the elastic strand not only is wound about the clutch element but after the winding on said elements, the strand is wound directly The winding of the strand on the clutch elements insures a sufficiently tight grip between the said elements, to prevent the strand from slipping between the elements in the early act of winding, since if a convolution of the strand slipped between the elements, the lateral thrust of the bands tension would not be suflicient to hold the clutches together. The entering of the strand between the clutch elements would tend to force them apart notwithstanding the lateral thrust. Of some importance also, is the direct winding of the strand on the'axle without the increased diameter of the clutch or spool or the like for the winding of the band since the direct winding on the axle necessitates a much shorter length of band to produce a complete revolution of the driving wheels.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A self-driven article including a drive axle, a fixed clutch element thereon, a clutch element loose on said axle, said clutch elements having opposed spiral faces, and an elastic strand disposed oblique to the axle and connected at one end with said loose element, the opposite end of said strand being fixed relatively to the said loose element, said strand running in a straight direction directly from the loose clutch element to the fixed end of said strand, and said fixed end being disposed laterally of the clutch elements to cause a winding of the strand first on the said elements and then on the axle.

2; The combination with an axle and a fixed clutch element thereon, of a mating clutch element loose on the axle, and an elastic strand to drive said axle, said strand being connected at one end with the said loose element, the opposite end of the strand being relatively fixed, said strand being obliquely disposed at such an angle to the said axle as to Wind on the said clutch e1ements by the turning of the loose element to retain the clutch elements in engagement and toreact and create a torque in said elements and axle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FAY H. WEBSTER.

Witnesses:

C. W. 00010:, J. B. SWIFT.

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