US1297044A - Drawbridge. - Google Patents

Description

J.C.,TURNER. 'DMV/BRIDGE.

APPLICATION FILED IUN 7. 191?.

Patented Mar. 11,1919.

UNITEDV STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. TURNER, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR TO THE J OI-IN C. TURNER NOVELTY CO.,

OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

DRAWBRID GE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

Application led June '7, 1917. Serial No. 173,323.

To all whom t mag( concew:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. TURNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and Stateof Ohio, 'have invented a new and useful Improvement in Drawbridges, of which the following specification is a full disclosure.

This invention relates to toys and it proposes an apparatus siinulating a drawbridge.

One object is to render available a simple construction adapted to form the basis of a toy and which is an imitation of a drawbridge adapted normally to rest in open position and to close at a predetermined station in the approach of a car from eitherY direction.

Another object is to devise a simple toy drawbridge which is held by a latch against the spring pressure in an openY position and which is released by car-action to swing into closed position and permit the passage of the car.

Other objects are in part obvious'from the annexed drawings and in part kindicated in connection therewith by the following analysis of this invention.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction. combination of parts and in the unique relation ofthe members and in the relative proportioning and disposition thereof; all as more completely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully toA comprehend the underlying features thereof that they may embody the same by the numerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred form have been annexed as a part of this disclosure, and in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which Figure l is a plan of one embodiment of this'invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; both views showing the drawbridge in its latched open position ready toY be closed by the approach of a car.

Continuing with reference to the drawings, A indicates the drawbridge proper which consists of a bridge element formed of sides 1 and 2 preferably cut and ornamented to imitate trestlework. These sides are shown connected by a. plurality of ties 3, 4 and 5; the latter serving also as a support for the pivoty of the drawbridge. This tie 5 rests on a post 6 upstanding from the base B of the drawbridge, and a suitable pin or aXle 7 extends downwardly from the tie 5 into a socket 8 in the pillar 6 and a coiled spring 9 encircles the pin 7 and tends normally to rotate the drawbridge in the direcl tion of the arrow 10 so as to swing or snap 17 andlS will match lor register with theV Vrails 19 of the drawbridge.

By means of suitable devices not herein shown, the track sections C and'Dmay be tilted upwardly andrdownwardly about the standards 15 and 16 as fulcrums so as to determine the direction of movement of a suitable gravity car here diagrammatically represented by E.

Each of the track sectionsC and I) are provided with means whereby the gravity car E is enabled to act on a latch normally holding the d rawbridge in its open position so as to cause the drawbridge to swing under the action of the spring 9 into its closed position in anticipation of the approach of the gravity car E. This instrumentality comprises a latch member F pivoted at a to the wing 14 of the base B and normally held by a spring e against a stop-pin 7c. A beveled tongue or latch proper m projects from the part F and is adapted to catch against the drawbridge to retain it in its open position, the small spring e being of sufficient strength for thatpurpose. The tongue m is carried by a socket in the part F and is springpressed outwardly and is provided with a bevel so that the drawbridge may manually be swung back from its closed into its open position and retained in the latter. In order that the latch F may be withdrawn to permit the drawbridge to swing into its closed position, two cords a and r 'respectively run around a pulley s and connect with the latch member F so that a pull on said cords will swing said latch member away toA one side 2 Laet/,cee

and permit the drawbridge to close. The cords n and fr, respectively pass around pulleys t and w and then extend to the track sections C and D; respectively to connect with operating mechanisms arranged in conjunction therewith. Since these mechanisms are identical in each instance, it will suffice to describe the one associated with track section C. A standard Z) provides a part o carrying a pivot Z supporting a weighted trip f. The cord n extends around pulleys z, and i carried by a post o and is attached to the upper end of the trip Now; when the car E comes along7 its lower portion vu hits the trip f and swings it over in such a direction as to exert a pull on the cord a with the effect that the latch F is pulled away and the drawbridge A is permitted to swing into registry with the track sections C and D. The car then proceeds on its way across the drawbridge and over and along the track section D and when it reachesthe counter part trip f it merely swings it out of the way without pulling the cord and `after the car has passed the trip 7" then returns to normal. The child then swings the drawbridge A manually back to its open position and relatches it in place.

Without further elaboration; the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for Various applications without omitting certain features that, from the standpoint of the prior art,

fairly constitute essential characteristics of claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:-

1. A toy comprising a draw-bridge base and track sections; a drawbridge pivotally mounted on said base and spring-pressed into registry with said track sections; a latch adapted to retain said drawbridge in an open position; and means for enabling an approaching car to operate said latch to release said drawbridge and permit it to swing into its closed position.

2. A toy combining a first track section; a second track section spaced therefrom; a drawbridge pivoted to swing from an open position into a closed position bridging said space; mea-ns resiliently urging said bridge into its closed position; a latch adapted to retain it in its open position; a trip located at one of said track sections to be actuated by an approaching car; and a connection extending from said trip to said latch whereby the drawbridge will swing into its-closed position upon the approach of a car.

3. A toy combining a first track section; a second track section spaced away therefrom; a ypivoted drawbridge occupying an intervening position and normally spring pressed into its closed position; latch means for retaining the drawbridge in its open p0- sition; an automatic trip mechanism arranged in conjunction with each of said spaced track sections 'whereby a car opproaching in either direction will operate said latch to release said drawbridge.

ln witness whereof; l hereunto subscribe my name; as attested by the two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN C. TURNER.

Witnesses LEON MINTZ, D. Cooks.

Copesof this patent may be obtained. for five cents eachJ by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents. Washington, l. G.

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