US1437990A - Mechanical toy - Google Patents

Description

l. G. Nlcks. y MECHANICAL TOY.

APPLICATION FILED NOVA 2B. 192i.

Patented De.v5,v1922.

M ATTORNEYS.

NITHESS. W

I. G. NICKS.

MECHANICAL TOY. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 28'Ig'Iv9zI.

'Patented Deo. 5,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHED' 2.

W ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 5, 1922o IRA1GUY`NICKS, OF DENVER, CLORADO.

MECHANICAL TOY.-

Application filed 'November 28, 1921,` Serial No. 518,296.

This invention relates to improvements in r'mec'h-a-Igl'ica-l #toys, :and embodies a novelly constructed and mounted hobby-horse, or

analogous imitation rocking body, which is so hitched -to a cart, -in combination with novelly `coacti-ng elements therebetween, asl

to provide for the propulsion of the toy as a ibod-ily whole by the roc-king actuation of `the horse body -or parts thereof.

lt may be said at the outset vthat if in theI description 4and claims the terni horse be employed allo-ne, for the sake of brevi-ty and simplicity, Iit is understood that the word is used inthe sense of imitation horse, er for that matter any equivalent animal body or analogous rock-ing body, and likewise where the term cart is employed, it is intended to cover any other appropriate type of vehicle as well.

rThe primary object ofthe invention has been to devise such a-combined toy,iwhich is not only lfacilelyfoperable by a child for self propulsion, but which also provides for a rocking, bucking, or galloping motion of the horse,l whether driven or ridden, whereby the generalappearance .and motions are more natural and lifelikehence more pleasurable. to the child and associates.

`Other objects andadvantages of the im proveinents will be so clearly apparent, as incidental to he following disclosure, that it would 'sert-fe no useful purpose-to further enlarge upon the same initially, and with these Jprefacing remarksl therefore, reference 'will b e immediately )had to the accordpanyin'g drawings, forming a part, of thi-s application 'in illustration of a practical'einbodinient of the improvements, in which drawings like reference numerals designate the saine par-ts in the several views, of which` l Figure l is side elevational view of the in'iproved toy, certa-in parts additionally appearing `in dottedoutl'ine to illustrate the changing positions-vof said parts;y igure -2 is a top planv view thereof,

Figure 3 is a rear 'elevationaiview of `the cart section and a crank-element forthe axle thereof, one of the aXle journals being partly broken away to illustrate ath-rust ball 'bearing arrangement; l I

Figure-4l -is a vertical cross-sectional View through thefhors'e section, taken along the line i- 4 of Figure l, and illustrating -a steering or guiding wheeled support mounts the horse; vand Figure 5 is a local view, indica-ted by the line 5-'5 of Figure l, showing in front elevation the application-cfa foot steeringjbar element, which additionally functions' which pedalino' -ineans to `assist in :the rocking ac-v tuationoo'f the horse. Y

ln referring first tothe improved horse construction, it is to be understood that although the parts are illustrated being for-med of vflat surfaced wood lsections they may in, actual practice -be made of lother suitable ymater-iai and 4may be of rounded Vout contour, 'if desired, to more closelyvsimulate the natural animal body.` r

VThe trunk or nia-in body portion .of :the horse consists of spaced sidel `walls l0, .the edge openings between which lmay-bei-closed 'by filler block sections where requisite ,or` if desired for a rounded off and lmore finished appearance, thesa'id side walls ,providingthe chest-shoulder portions 11,' the ruinp portions 12 and the fore and rear ,leg lportions l3-l4i, and may also-provide', in association with an upper yfiller 'block' 39 hereinafter mentioned, `the poinrn'el 'and can-tie portions 16-17 of an imitation saddle body l5 with accessories, -which saddle body andraccesserie-s, as well `as the bridle, inane of the horse and :other minor decorations orequipment, may be lpainted orf-.otherwise applied to the horse body for ornamental .purposes '-18 designates the tail vmember-5pivot-ally connected at itsl` upper end, as at 19, between the upper portions of the rump `sections 12, nd designates the neclr `portion pivotally supported, as at 2l, between the'chest-shoul# vder vsections 11, the head of the khorse 22 'being integrally Vformed or joined with the neck, and a 'base extension-23 of lthe neck being projected well down between the chest p ortionsll. t i l iy Each -side wall oftheichest portion 1l ,is :provided with-a curved islot 24,struck Von an arc with the pivotal position 2l as its center, and the ends of a lateral pin 25 or paired pins, oppositely projected from the base extension 23 of the neck section, ride in the said'slots 24 to function as will hereinafter appear.

26 and 27 respectively indicate driving and bridle reins connected at 28 to the head 22, which sets of reins are preferably formed of rigidly stiff material, such as light metal bars or the equivalent, and 29 simply desig nates a foot rest or bar for the riders feet, when mounted in the saddle, which cross bar extends transversely of the horses forelegs 13.

From the base of the horses rear leg sections, there is forwardly projected a steering gear support or bar 30 which pivotally mounts, as at 3l, a transversely disposed foot steering bar 32, providing straps or stirrup members ,33, and this bar 32 further provides forwardly extending connecting rods 34, for coupling the steering bar with a guiding wheeled support for the horse body. These coupling rods 34 may be attached in any suitable way, and l have illustrated their ends as being bent as olfsets adapted to be projected through apertures in the bar 32 and the axle of the wheeled support, which provides a convenient securing means for the said ends.

rlhis guiding wheeled support comprises an axle 35, mounting a small pair of steering wheels 36 and also mounting the lower bifurcate arms 37 of a vertical rod or post 38 which passes up into the horse body (see lFig. 4) and into a recessed filler block 39,

the lower portion of the rod 38 being preferably rotatably supported by a fixed bottom filler block 40 through the means of opposed bea-ring disks 4l 42, maintained by the upper and lower Cotter pins 43. However, other equivalent arrangements could be provided for all of the immedi ately foregoing features.

The rod 38 may, therefore, be free to rotatably oscillate in the horse body, under control of the steering gear, but otherwise the mounting is substantially rigid, so that as the horse body is rocked, as hereinafter mentioned` there is also imparted thereto a slight loping-like or a rising and falling motion, owing to the ground pivotal bearing provided for by the support-infr guiding wheels 36. f

eferring now to the cart or sulky construction, the axle 45 thereof provides the central crank arm 46 and the opposed. side crank arms 47, which axle has a pair of vertical rod members 48 furnishing upper and lower T-elements 49-50, the upper ones 49 providing fittings for coupling the rear ends of a pair ofshafts 5l and an interposed rear shaft bar 52 therefor, while the lower ones 50 provide journals for the axle 45. These preceding elements may be of tubular formation, if desired, or otherwise.

Vlhe said lower T-elements 50 may each.

be formed with a ball race 53 (see the right side of Fig. 3) to provide for end thrust ball bearing journals for the rotatable axle 45, and at least one of the vehicle wheels 54 serves as a traction wheel which is fast to the axle to rotate therewith, while the other wheel 54 is preferably revoluble freely on the axle, for obvious reasons, although it could be made fast to the axleif desired, as this whole arrangement is merely stated optionally and could be altered in various ways.

The extremities of the axle 45 are braced by a pair of angularly formed bracket supports7 one of the legs 55 of each of which exte ds upwardly and forwardly for connection to the shafts 5l, as at 56, while the shorter leg` 57 is vertically upstanding and at its upper end is bent inwardly at 58 for attachment., as at 59, to the bottom of a seat 66. These angular brackets are-apertured :it their inverted apices to fit over the axle ends and are held in place, as by the mits 6l, with the inner hub faces of the wheels turning in anti-frictional engagement with the balls of said ball bearings.

The seat 60 may be a long or short one and may be mounted in any suitable way, but as illustrated it a long one and is supported from the shafts of the cart by means of divergent arms 62 extending immediately underneath the seat, the outer ends of which i s 62 are bolted through the seat to the shz s 5l, as at 63, while the inner ends hereof are secured together and tothe seat and the rear shaft bar 52, as by a common bolt spacer blocks 65-66 being provided if desired., although not at all essential.

ln coupling up the horse and vehicle, to attain the primarily desired ends of my improved combination toy, the shafts 5l of the sulky are connected with a pair of pivot pins 67, one of which projects laterally and mitwardlv from each of said chest sectionsl se that the body of the horse as a whole is pivotally associated with the shafts 5l "o swing in a vertical plane with the pivot Y:ins 67 as its axis. j A

to of the horse, as distinguished from its. rockng motion, caused bythe forward and backiard swing of the guiding wheeled sup'port as will later appear,-whiCh vertical play of the shafts imparts a slight rocking/motion to the sulky similar to that occurring in real driving.

.er pair of long arm77 actuating rods 70, one for each side of the horse body, are pivotally associated at their forward ex- 'llhis pivotal connection also permits of a .slight tilting or vertical play of the shafts compensate for the bodily rise and fall lOO llO

trenlities withthe ends of the lateral pin 25 yprojected -frorn'ftfhe neckbase `extension 23,

`whiclr ends ride in andextendthrough the slots 2li of the`v chest sect-ions 11 as be- 5 fore referred' to(Y "Fla pair of fshort arm actuating `rods lj'are piyot'ally 'connected at `their reaifendsito the crank arm i6 of the vehianle,'pandat Atheir"forward ends they/are 'niadepflast =t'oithe 'flower end of thetail section 16, as Lby ineans ofbolts '72 or equivalent jrigidfsecuring means. "While I have reins' connecting position 28 Vwas "innnedif lately below the axis 2 1g "by ,pulling back on .the reins "the actuation would cause' the starting `of la tforward yoperation. However .toseect fai-mere definite position as' a Start les' point t des'rb@ 'thecyde 0f Creations let it'fbe lfirst 'assumed that the parts are disposed as in 'dotted olutline, when the hrQI'SBS'jaW will be in its lowerinost position l "'infthej-plane 'of the `line `{befittingthe axis 21, the an meneer pivot 19 Win be in highest position 'lying` in the plane of the f lineffb (nitting` vthfeja'xis 67, the lateral pin will be inits extreme rearinost posi,y

-tionllying inthe plane of the line c cutting' 1the 21, the guiding wheels 36 'will bein itheirrear lpositions 4Zfthe "hind legs will'be inV their'highest positionsjas indicated by e, the central crank-t6 will be in its forward sostieni and the paired @ranks ,47. will be '4i-n ytheir rear positions zl. 'It may 'be well to state 'that the' reason that the `pin 25, 'dotted i'n'atthe right,: appears to be out of jfslot Q is 'sini'plybeoause Vthe horse as Q en Vin its lowerniost position the Slot 24E- itself would be correspond.- lglj lmrl hat k'dits Cl'fd illustration Ais 'oinitted to'fav'oid ufndneconfusion of `lin-es theidra-,wings.A *l

' Starting the` `with 'the 'parts'in the posi- "tjionfs' asflin ythedotted outline, the cycle of Aoperatiens ,will 'be as follow-S1# downward and forward thrust 'with the feet against thefcoinbined steering' and pedaling` 32 will cause all of the ,aforesaid parts, respectively, to `rnove tothe positions as indicated' by the designations a", ,b2 d', .e2 .f/ and .235e downward and t5`rearwardthrust being'applied to the eranl erence to the driving reins26 apply yalso to 46 vin itsfvforwardI position f `bythe short arm actuating rods 7l, as will be apparent owino` to the downward swine' of the ruina y a f3 i and tail member 18, it being remembered that thehorse body is pivotally connected tothe shafts at 67. lt will be noted that ?the" lo`ng arm actuating` rods 70 willnow 'he 1n a plane[extending` from the crank arms ii'po'sitio'ns at z' tothe lateral pin 25 disposed in :the intermediate plane @Q the cranlr46 moving to the position g, and the l reins vconnection 28V is now a trifle above the plane ce of the axis 2l. The guiding wheeled support has also been inoved slightly forward tothe Aposition d', which correspondingly elevates the horse asf-a bodily whole with a slight rising inotion.

Upon now pulling backfon the reins 26 (and'it will be understood that all reft-he bridle reins 27) there will be applied an operating` force to cause all of the yaforesaid parts, respectively7 to moveto the ypositions a2, 62, 02,0?, 7i) and f, the crank larins '4-7 being' pulled over forwardly a quarter revolution from the position i to the position f by the forward pulling' actuation of the `rods Z0 owing` tothe forward swing of the pin 25, ycarried by the base neck extension `2 3, froni'the plane c to c2, which lattermove-y ment has been caused by 'pulling the'horses head back to its position a2. "lt will now be noted that the long arm rods 7() lie in a vplane attending from the crank arms l? positions at to the lateral pin 25 disposed in'E the entraine forward plane 02, while the crank arrn 46 and the rear ends ofthe short arin rods 7l lie at the position,

with the tail member 18- having been operated rearwardly to its full open position.

Now. upon` pushing` forwardly on the rigid reins element 26 (or 27) the'head will vbe swunf; forwardly and -downwardly back to the position a, the other; parts, respectively, being' likewise actuated back to their intermediate positions 7),` c,

fd, c,f yand g, it being; observed that the longv arm rods 70 have this time lfunctioned push rods to force the crank l? downwardly vandV rearwardly from the positions 'f to the positions g, while at the sarne time thecrank'arrn '4A-6 has been y'also revolved a quarter revolution tothe position v from the position it, forcing theh short arm rods 7l forwardly to partially fold up the tail inernber 18 and raising the runip of the horse halfway; i (it.) The reins connecting` position 28 now passing immediately below the planea', by pullingr back again on the reins -26 (or 27) the horses head is pulled downwardly to the vposition a' again, movingl the respective parts back to their initial dot-tedgoutli'ne pofunctioning as push bars,'-during this quar-` izo- lsiti onsrb, c, d, e, fand 7L, the rods still ter revolution, forcing the crank arms 47 from the positions g to the positions it, and

the crank arm i6 being moved forwardly and downwardly from the position i to the position f, whereby the tail member 18 is fully closed and the rump section of the horse is moved upwardly to its highest tilted position, completing the cycle of operations which may be repeated indefinitely.

During these four quarter crank revolutions, it will likewise be obvious that the guiding wheeled support will be once shifted forwardly for its full swing and will be once shifted rearwardly for its full swing, causing the horse body as a whole to twice rise and fall in addition to its rocking motion, providing for the life-like loping motions before referred to.

Considering the forward propulsion of the combination toy, although it is apparent that backing up motions may be reversely accomplished, it may be briefly emphasized finally that the long arm rods serve as'actuating rods for the continuous revolution of the crank element the said rods being operated by power applied to the horses head in swinging the latter back and forth on its pivotal axis 2l, and which rods function as pull7 rods from the position h through i to f and as push rods from the position f through to z whereas the short arm rods 7l function primarily to cause the rocking of the horse body as a whole serving as upwardly pushing rods from the position h through z' to y and as downwardly pulling rods from the position 7" through g to h; but the rods 7l additionally function as power applying rods to their crank 46 from the position f through g to 7i. providing foot power is applied in downwardly and forwardly direction on the steering and pedaling` bar 32 as the rump of the horse is moved from its uppermost to its lowermost tilting position.

.be satisfactorily accomplished even. by the use of flexible rein elements.

It is also believed to be apparent that the course of the combination toy may be guided readily by operating the steering bar 32 with the feet as would be indicated in dotted outline at Figure 2.

t is believed that the full advantages of all of the foregoing features will, be quite apparent especially when we consider the desires of children and their lean-ing towards practical mechanically operated toys which have life-like appearance and motion.

l/Vhile I have thus fully set forth my invention, it will be understood, however, that l donot wish to unnecessarily restrict myself to all of the details of the improvements exactly as disclosed, excepting as they may come within the terms of the ensuing claims, or equivalent elements, and as fairly interpreted in the light of the specification if lnecessary, as it is obvious that various alterations might be made in future practice without necessarily departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the single horse body or Vanalogous element could be substituted for by a team, in which latter event a tongue might be employed instead of the shafts as the vehicle bitching element.

What I do claim as new and patentable l. In a mechanical toy, the combination with a vehicle having a bitching element providing wheels and propelling crank mechanism therefor, of a vertically rocking body member pivotally associated towards its forward end with said bitching element, a movable head element for said body member, actuating means between said movable head element and said crank mechanism, actuating means between the rear of said body member and said crank mechanism, and means for operating said movable head element back and forth.

2. In a mechanical toy, the combinationwith a vehicle having a bitching element providing wheels and propelling crank mechanism therefor, of a vertically rocking body member pivotally associated towards its forward end with said hitching element` a movable head lelement and pivotal tail element for said body member, lactuating means between said movable head` element and said crank mechanism, actuating means between said pivotal tailelement and said crank mechanism, and means for operating said movable head element back and forth.

ln a mechanical toy, the combination with a vehicle having a hitching element.

providing wheels and propelling crank mechanism therefor, of a wheeled support, a vertically rocking body member mounted by said wheeled support and pivotally associated towards its forward end with said bitching element, connections between said wheeled support and said body member for advancing and withdrawing the former by the rocking of the latter, a movable head ele# ment for said body member, actuating means between said movable head element and said crank mechanism, and means for operating said movable head element back and forth to operate said actuating means.

e. ln a mechanical toy, the ,Combination loo 1ers-,990

withk aipjvehicle having hitching element.

i a vertically rocking body member mounted by said! wheeled supportv and? pivotally assoc iatedI towards its forward end with` said hitching element, connections between said wheeled support and' said' body member for advancing and withdrawing |the former by the rocking. ofthe latter, a movable` head element for said-body memberyactuating means between saidimovable head element and said crank mechanism actuating. means between i the rear of saidbody member and: said crank mechanism,y and meansfor moving said head element backand` `forth.f

5, In yalmechanicaltoy,y thel combination with a vehicle having a hitching elementproviding wheels andY propelling crank mechanisintherefor, of a wheeled. support,

a vertically" rocking body member mounted by said wheeledysupportand" pivotally associated towards its forward' end with saidhitclfiingV element, connections' between said wheeledA supporti' and Said body member for advancing and withdrawing the former by the rocking, of the latter,l a movable head element andra pivotal tail element for said :.=body member, actuating means between said movable head element` andl said.v crank mechanismI actuating means between said pivotal tail element andV said crank mechanism, and means for operating, said movable head elementA back and forth;` c

6. In a mechanical toy, the'combination with af vehicle; having a hitching element providing wheels and propelling crank mechanism therefor, of a vertically rocking body member pivotally associated towards its forward end with said hitching element, a guiding wheeled support bodily mounting said rocking body member in revoluble association therewith, connections between said wheeled support and said body member for advancing and withdrawing the former by the rocking of the latter,

steering means for said connections, a mov-v able head element for said body member, ac-

tuating means between said movable head element Vand said crank mechanism, actuating means between the rear of said body member and said crank mechanism, and means for operating said head element lback and forth.

7 In mechanical toys, the combination with a vehicle having a hitching element providing l1jwheels and propelling crank mechanism therefor, of a vertically rocking body member pivotally associated towards its forward end with said hitching element, a guiding wheeled support bodily mounting said rocking body member in revoluble association therewith, connections between said wheeled support and said body member for advancing and withdrawing the former by thevrocking .of lthe latter, steering means for said connections, a movable hea'd element anda pivotal tail element for said body member, actuating means between said movable*l head element and -said crank mechanism, actuating means between said pivotal tail element and said crank mecha nism,` and means for. operating said movable head element back. and forth f 8.` In a. mechanical toy, the combination with vehicle having a hitching elementl providing wheels` and propelling crank mechanism therefor, of a 'vertically rocking body member pivotally associated towards its forward end` with said hitchin "element a guiding wheeledv support bodily mounting said rocking member in `revoluble association therewith, connections between said wheeled support and the rear' lower portionv cf said rocking member for advancing and withdrawing the former by the rocking of' the latter, combined steering and pedaling means mounted by said connections, a inevable head element for said bodymember, actuating means between said movable head element and said crank mechanism, actuat ing means betweenwthe upper rear of said body. member and saidL crank mechanisni, and means vfor operating said head element back and forth y 9. In a mechanical toy, 'the combinationA with a vehicle having al1-itching element` providing wheels p and` propelling crank mechanism therefor, ofal vertically rocking n animal; Abody member pivotally associated' towards ,its forward end with said hitching element, a pivotal head element for ,said rocking member providing a base neck eX- tension, a pivotal tail element for said rocking member, actuating means between said pivotal tail element and said crank mecha` ice nism, actuating means `between said base neck extension and said crank mechanism,

'said hitching element, connections between said wheeled support and said rocking member for advancing and withdrawing the former by the rocking of the latter, a pivoted head element for said rocking member prol viding a Ibase neck extension, ,actuating means between said base neck extension and said crank mechanism, and reins connected to said pivotal head element for swinging the latter and its base neck extension back and forth.

1l. In a mechanical toy, the combination l providing element tor said rocking member providing' a base neck extension, actuating means between said base neck extension' and said crank mechanism, actuating mea-ns between the rear oie said rocking member and said crank mechanism, and reins connected to said pivotal head element for swinging the latter and its base neck extension back and forth. f

l2. ln a mechanical toy, the combination with a vehicle having a hitching element providing wheels and `propelling crank mechanism therefor, ot a vertically rocking animal body member pivotally associated towards its 'forward end with said hitching element, a guiding wheeled support bodily mounting said rocking member in revoluble association therewith, pivotal rigid connections between said wheeled support and the rear lower portion of said rocking member for advancing and withdrawing the former by the rocking of the latter, combined steering and pedaling means mounted by said pivotal rigid connections, a pivotal head elelment for said rocking member providing a 13. ln a mechanical toy, the combination with a vehicle having a hitching element providing wheels and propelling crank mechanism therefor, of a vertically rocking animal body member pivotally associated towards its 'forward end with said hitching element, a guiding wheeled support mounting said rockingmember in revoluble association therewith, means for steering said wheeled support, a head element providing a base neck extension which is intermediately pivoted to the forward end oi' said rocking member, a lateral pin projecting from opposite sides of the lower portion of said base neck extension and freely extending through curved slots in said rocking member; pivotal rigid actuating means between said lateral pin and lsaid crank mechanism, pivotal rigid actuating means between the upper rear ot said rocking member and said crank mechanism, and reins connected to the head of said head-neck pivotal element for swinging said lateral pin back and forth lin 'its curved slots.

lin testimony whereof, I an'iX my signature.

ma enr Nicks.

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