US1330951A - Toy vehicle - Google Patents

Description

A. R. OELHAFEN.

Toy VEHICLE'. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23.1918.

Patented Feb. 17,1920.

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TTH/VEYS UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR R. OELHAFEN, OF TOMAHAWK, WISCONSIN.

TOY VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

Application led'February g3, 1918. Serial'No. 218,844.

tant features, a loosely mounted propellingA arm arranged to be grasped in thehands of the child sitting uponthe seat, the lower end of the arm having a friction pad whereby a firm hold is obtained on the surface beneath,

to propel the vehicle forwardly or rearwardly according to the direction of the ush.

Another object ofr theinvention is to provide a toy vehicle having the seat disposed well above the axles, a guide being provided for the propelling arm so that the arm may be easily swung forwardly, backwardly or laterally to obtain the various and necessary movements in propellingthe vehicle.

Another object of theinvention lies in the arrangements of the friction pads in various formations on the ends of different types of propelling arms.

Another object of the invention lies in the arrangement of the propelling arm with respect to the guide, the; propelling arm having an opening adapted to strike the guide at one end at the completion ofl a stroke to automatically lift the friction pad from the ground.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a perspective view showing the toy vehicle in use,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the vehicle the front portion being shown in section,

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of a portion of the front axle,

Fig. 4l is a perspective view of a modlfied construction,

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a modified construction in the mounting of ay propelling arm Fig. 6 is a detail view of amodiied frame arrangement, and

ltion ,pad 8 secured thereto.

Figs. 7 to 14 inclusive are detail views showing various forms of friction pads and propelling arms.

In carrying out my invention I provide a toy vehicle having a seat 1 mounted well above `the front and rear axles 2 and 3. The seat l is supported on top of the upwardly converging front and rear frame bars l, and 5. A propelling arm 6 is movable between the front frame bars 4l, is adapted by means of the handle 7 to be held by a child sitting on the seat, and braced against the ground .to `obtain the forward propulsion of the vehicle.

For the purpose of insuring a firm hold `on the surface over which the vehicle moves in thrusting the propelling arm against the ground, the-lower end of the arm has a fric- This pad is made of some suitable material that is yielding or springy and yet mechanically strong enough to withstand considerable wear. The shape of the pad as well as the propelling arm, is subject to considerable change and various forms of both are illustrated in Figs. 7 to 14 inclusive. These various forms will be explained more fully later.

Referring again to the construction of the vehicle, it should be observed rst that the rear frame bars 5 are parallel to each other as illustrated in Fig. l, that is to say the lateral distance between the bars is the same. The front bars A, however, converge toward the front axle 2 and are secured together by any suitable means to anaxle block 9 which is interposed at the meeting` point ofthe front bars. So it will be seen that the general aspect of the vehicle from the side is that of a pyramid, and while the rear bars are parallel, the front bars coni/'erge in the manner just stated.

Disposed centrally of the front converging bars 4; is a guide 10 which is fixed at both ends in the seat and axle block respectively, and receives the propelling arm 6 ends of both axles are reduced to form trunnions. One of the trunnions 13 is illustrated in Fig. 3. v

Mounted on the trunnion 13 is a metallic bushing 14 and a similar bushing l5 is fixed in the center of the wooden wheels 16. The bushings in moving upon one another, reduce friction and also prevent the enlarging of the hole in the wheel as would be the case were the bushings not provided. The wheel is held in place on the trunnion by a washer, and a screw which is fastened into the end of the trunnion. The wheels 16, which are the same in the four instances shown, may be made of metal if it be preferred, and in this event the bushings will not be necessary, excepting of course when the wooden axles 2 and 3 are retained, when the bushings 14 will be tted on the trunnions just the same.

A modified construction of the vehicle is shown in Fig. 4. Here the frame bars are replaced by a platform 17 with a longitudinal slot 18 in which the lower end of the propelling arm 6 is pivoted. The slot 18 widens out at 18a to provide ample room for the driving arm in rounding corners. A driving arm 19 is pivoted at the upper end to the propelling arm, and the free end of the driving arm carries the friction pad 8 which engages the ground. The driving arm occupies the slot 18 as shown and upon moving the propelling arm back and forth a. fresh hold of the friction pad on the ground is obtained each time, so that the back and forth movement of the childs body secures the forward propulsion of the vehicle. The seat 1 is supported well above the latform and forward of the rear axle 3. I`he projecting portion of the platform to the rear of the seat may be used as a step upon which another child may stand in coasting.

Instead of simply mounting the propelling arm 6 on the guide 10 as shown in Fig. 2, the arrangement in Fig. 5 may be employed. Here the guide consists of a transverse pin 10a which occupies a horizontal slot 11 in the propelling arm. The pin 10 is supported in a yoke 20, and springs 21 on each side of the propelling arm normally keep the arm in the middle but permit the free lateral movement of the arm on the pin. This construction is of special advantage when the vehicle is propelled around corners, and is embodied to good` eifect in the v lconstruction in Fig. 4.

The frame bars 4 and 5 may be crossed as shown in Fig. 6, and the seat 1 secured on the upper extremities of the bars. The bars are secured together at the crossing points, and this construction may readily be employed instead of that shown in Fig. 2 if it be so desired since this construction is probably somewhat stronger than that shown in Fig. 2.

The various forms of the friction pads illustrated in Figs. 7 to 14 consist briefly of a resilient piece attached to the end of the propelling arm in various manners. In Fig. 7 the friction pad consists of a ball 8a which is simply slipped over the end of the arm and held there by the friction of the walls of the socket against the arm. In Fig. 8 the ball 8b is held in place by a screw 22. In Fig. 9 the end of the arm is beveled and the pad 8c is simply slipped over the end. In Fig. 10 the pad 8d is held in place by a screw 22, and in Fig. 11 the pad Se is secured in any suitable manner to the rounded end of the arm as shown. The forms in Figs. 9 and 11 are preferred because the ends of the arms in both instances have the general shape representing the angle of inclination of the propelling arms at the end of a stroke. In other words when a stroke is completed the propelling arm will stand at an` angle substantially as shown in Fig. 2, and in order to prevent the uneven wearing of the friction pad, the end of the arm is beveled or rounded as just explained so that the pad lies at upon the surface.

The forms in Figs. 12 to 14 represent still other departures, the arrangement in Fig. 14 consisting of a plug 8f fitted in a socket in the end of the arm. These various types of friction pads and propelling arms are simply shown in the drawing to illustrate that many modications may be made and still retain the first principle of providing a non-slipping piece on the end of the propelling arm to insure a firm grip on the surface in propelling the vehicle forwardly.

The operation and advantages of the toy vehicle are as follows: Reviewing the construction briefly; the wheels 16 are mounted on the trunnions on the extremities of the front and rear axles, and the axles in turn are mounted on the king bolt 12 and in sockets in the extremities of the rear frame bars 5 respectively. The arran `ement of the frame bars is very clearly s own in the drawing and needs no further explanation.

It may be stated however that the guide 10 is xed in the middle of the forwardly converging front frame bars 4 so as to hold the propelling arm 6 in the center. The guide 10 is also subject to considerable variation in its construction. Instead of usingthe plain rod, parallel members may be employed with the propelling arm 6 in between. The construction shown in Fig. 2 or its immediate equivalent is preferred however, primarily that the automatic lift ing action of the friction pad at the end of the stroke by means of the engagement of the guide with the upper extremity of the slot, may be had.

The propelling arm may be permitted to simply drag loosely on the ground. In propelling the vehicle forwardly, the propelling arm is lifted and quickly moved forwardly on the guide to the limit of the childs reach. The propelling arm will be unconsciously stood at such an angle that upon pulling backwardly the vehicle will be forced forwardly most effectively. If it be desired to propel the vehicle backwardly, the arm is thrown in the other direction. The vehicle may be used as a wagon by pulling the propelling arm as far forwardly on the guide l0 as it will go thus providing a tongue whereby the wagon is pulled.

Another variation in the manner of employing the toy vehicle consists of making the wheels 16 with grooves to run on a track when it is not desired to run the vehicle on the floor or on the street. Instead of using the wheels, sled runners may be employed so that the vehicle may be propelled over the snow. The body may be made into such shapes as that of an automobile, or into the figures of animals, etc.

While the construction and arrangement of the toy vehicle is that of a generally preferred form, obviously modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim l. A toy vehicle including a wheeled frame, fixed guide means, a propelling arm loosely mounted on said means, adapted to be grasped at one end and thrust at an angle with respect to the ground for propelling the frame forwardly, and means on the ground engaging end including a resilient friction pad, for preventing said arm from slipping.

2. A toy vehicle comprising a wheeled frame with a seat, a propelling arm, an inclined guide rod fixed on the frame arranged to loosely support the propelling arm to permit the free forward, backward and lateral motions of the arm in propelling the frame forwardly, means including a friction pad for preventing slipping on the ground contacting end of said arm, and a cross-handle on the upper end of the arm.

3. A toy vehicle comprising a wheeled frame including forward and rearward upwardly converging frame bars the forward bars converging at the front, a seat surmounting the forward and rear frame bars, an axle block interposed in the front converging ends of the forward bars, a front axle pivoted beneath the axle block, a propelling arm operating in the space between the forward frame bars, and means including a guide fixed in a central position lon gitudinally of said space, to support said arm to freely move backwardly, forwardly and laterally.

4. In a toy vehicle, front and rear axles having wheels, front and rear frame bars rising from the axles, a seat surmounting the frame bars and disposed in a plane well above the axles, a propelling arm operating in the space between the front frame bars, the disposition of the seat above the axles permitting the free movement of the propelling arm in the backward, forward and lateral directions, fixed means for loosely supporting the propelling arm, and4 means including a friction pad on the end of the arm for engaging the ground.

5. A toy vehicle comprising a frame including forwardly converging front frame bars leaving an operating space, a guide disposed centrally of said space, and a propelling arm mounted on said guide, including means for permitting free longitudinal and lateral motions of the arm on the guide.

6. A toy vehicle comprising a wheeled frame including the forward frame bars spaced apart to provide an operating space. a guide including a rod disposed longitudnally of said space, and a propelling arm loosely mounted upon said guide and adapted to be moved forwardly at the top to obtain an angled relationship between the arm and the ground to propel the vehicle forwardly, said arm being adapted to be pulled backwardly upon said guide with the lower end in contact with the ground to act as a brake for vehicle.

7. A toy vehicle, comprising a frame including rear frame bars and front frame bars, a seat mounted on the frame bars, a rear axle mounted on the rear frame bars, an axle block carried by the front frame bars, a front axle pivoted on the axle block, sheathed trunnions formed on the axles, wheels with sheathed bores journaled on the trunnions, means for keeping the wheels in place, a propelling arm having a slot, operating in the space between the front frame bars; means including a guide rod fixed in the space between the front frame bars and occupying` said slot, and non-slipping means on the lower Iend of the propelling arm, including an attached resilient friction pad.

S. A toy vehicle comprising a wheeled frame including the forward frame bars spaced apart to provide an operating space, a guide located in said space and disposed longitudinally thereof, and a propelling arm having a slot receiving the guide, said arm being freely movable upon the guide in propelling the vehicle and being adapted to be pulled forwardly upon the guide to the lower extremity of the slot to provide a tongue when the vehicle is used as a wagon.

ARTHUR R. OELHAFEN.

In presence of- H. G. BELL, J. B. FosNo'r.

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