US1443130A - Polycycle - Google Patents

Description

Jam 23, 1923; 11,443,130.

M. G. HILPERT.

POLYCYCLE.

FILED MAR. 27, 1920. s SHEETS-SHEE1 1.

Patented den. .23, 19323.

MEIER GEO. HILPE RT, O HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

PoLYoYoLn.

Application filed March 27, 1920. Serial No. 369l265 T0 aZZw/ wm e't may coawcwz: u

Be it known. that l, Minna {la .l'liLPn-itr, citizen of the United States, re, lug atl'larrishurg, in the county 0t Dauphin end State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Polycycles, of

i which the following is a specification.

. lli iSll'ill for .ruch iuljustinent Whether one This invention relates to thcgeneral subject of toys, andhas particular reference to an lITJI'JIOVGHlEll'L in juvenile vehicles of the polycycle type. J i

'lfo thisend the lllVQIllllUll has primarily in View a. noyel device which may not only he uljusted to meet the in, oi? the growing child but at the same time, by reason of its novel constructionmay be converted into d. renttypes of toys, thereby providing a d ereit-y of amusement which other toys oi this type fail to all'ord. That is to say, the

invention aims to provide a device fulfilling the requi-reuieuto of a polycycle which may he djusted from a s isuitahle tor a child ofohe year to? inst nee, to sizes :l'or child rcu oi? older y mm, and, also converted into izdjustahle carts 01 chariots to he pulled inslcad oi? nropelled, and turthei, with the luuidleadjusted rigidly, may he used in the latter tot-in as a scooter which the occupant propels with. one foot while occupying a standing positioi'i on 'iiliiiflilli'lOIlD.

The invention also oiuhodies auxiliary benefits when set up as a polycycle such asv safety tops to prevent child sli oping oilhacla ward, 'u'icreiused wheel has-e as the seat is increased in height, increased handle height aho e or platform to to to care oi trunk and arm growth coincidei ally With an increased platform height to take care of increased leg length, a suitable toot hold 01' rest i or a second tail hoard .ccupant which hourd also affords tag nuniher space; and when set up as a cart, benefits, such in; safety gajuards against oci'tupant coming in contact with moving Wheels, numerous level adjust- .iucuts adaptable to hill grades and 'toel'lord coiuiloi't occugant; and generally the important henetitot providing a toy tor the child holdin liorth Valuable Felt taugi'ot lee Mills in cons u-tion and couihination h *ir luv oi the many levels-tonguepositions, etc.

side up or the other .ccoroingly, it Wlll be apparent that the present invention contemplates a convei'tihle toy which is susceptible oiassembly in different ci'uuhiijiatious to readily provide toys oi? the type settorth. In this connection it is proposed to provide a novel platform unit which may he su 'iport-ed at the front end by a special wheeled steering unit, and at the rearend by a novel type of Wheeled truck unit, both of said Wheeled units being capable oil facile assembly to expedite conversion and adjiistinent as desired.

A further and more specific object of the invention is toprovide a device which may he made of easily constructed and available parts, thereby meeting manufacturing rcquirelnents in a thoroughly practical and satisfactory manner and materially enhancing the value of the infiention from a coininei'cial standpoint.

l ith the above and other objects in'view which Will mo: a readily appear as the nature oi" the invention is hetteiunderstood, the. eai yie consist in the novel construction, conihinatiou and ari'angcmcut oi parts herein-- a'ltcr more fully descrihed, illustrated and claimed. i

i preferred and. practical emhodin'lent oi": the .invcmiou shown in the iurcoinpanying; drawings, in "which i o l ig'ure l is a top plan view of the in1- proved toy. v

gure 2 is a side elevation thereof, the dotted lines indicating some of the adjusted positions.

Figure 3 is a "trout elevation of the Wheeled steering g unit.

.l igure a: is a rearelevation of the toy.

, Figure 5 is a side elevation oftlie device conver ed into a cart, lull lines lIl said figure type oi. Wheeled inoditicd iii in] otsteeriugg; unit.

Figure l) a detail side ele niodlied type ot a rear truck lllllli. .l lg nre 10 IS a rear LlQViltlOll oi? on oil a the conslruction shown in ui'e 1g1 e 11 is a de .l View o? a modified fowl O i foot rest.

Figure 12 is a detail view of a modified type of connection between the steering column and the platform.

Figure 13 is a detail horizontal section of the construction shown in Figure 12.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying the present invention. into of feet the primary object of providing a convertible construction is observed in all in.-

Cir

dividnal elements of constructions, and it will therefore be observed that the main platform unit 1 is so designed as to provide the opposite occupant supporting or seating surfaces 2 and 3, the former constituting a seat when the device is used as a polycycle as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings and the latter performing the same function when the platform is reversed to be used as a cart or scooter.

From Figure 1 it will be observed that the said platform 1 consists of a relatively narrow front section 1 and a widened rear seat-portion 5 to provide in effect a saddle which the occupant may straddle to conveniently propel the device. T he relatively narrow "end rl'of the platform has fitted thereto a novel steering; unit designated gencrally as S, while the rear portion 5 carries a novel truck unit T, both of which are capable of 'adjnstably supporting the platform 1 inv elevated positions.

Referring first to'the steering unit Fl it is to be observed that the same is held to the platform 1 by means of the opposite bearing); blocks 6 and 7 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the platform by the tl'astenings 8 and project forwardly there from to provide the spaced bearing surfaces 9 and 10 for the flanged nut or washer elements lV of a locking device D, which also includes the bolt llthat may pierce or pass through the column diametrically, as will later appear. For the purpose of maintain ing the properspaced relation between the forwardly projecting ends of the bearing blocks 6 and 7 a spreader block or filler 12 may be interposed between the front ends thereof and held in place by the fastening-S 13. It will therefore be apparent that the said bearing; blocks may be accurately maintained in proper spaced relation to provide the necessary clearance to permit of access to the locking device 11 by which the several parts of the vertical steering column are held in place and alsoadjnstcd.

The said steering; column proper of the unit S may include in its preferred embodiment a pair of opposite post forming; members 141. and 15 which are separated by the. relatively movable or adjustable intermediate handle carrying section 16. whereby the journal ends (Land '7). of the members it and 15 i'nay be spaced apart as indicated at 0 below the end of the said member 16 to pro-- vide the necessary clearance for the wheel 17. In this embodiment of the invention therefore, the wheel 17 is journalled on the axle unit consisting of the bushing and bolt 18 referred to and the said bolt constitutes a support for the oppositely disposed foot rest members 19.

One of the novel and distinctive features of the steering unit is the relatively adjustable and extensible characteristic of the steering column. As previously indicated. be post forming members 1 1-. and 15 may be spaced apart by the intermediate handle carrying member 16. the whole being; rclatively adjustable in a vertical direction to enable the platform 1 to be elevated to meet the needs of the growing; child as well as the section 16 being; adapted to be independently elevated. That is to say, the relatively stationary members la and 15 are provided with a plurality of udjustn'icnt openings 20 for registering with the openings 16 of the handle section to receive the bolt ll. of the locking device D. whereby when it dcsired to elevate the platform l, the bolt of the locking device may be removed to allow the platform to be freely raised on same to a new position with reference to wheel 17. at the same time permit the handle section 16 to be moved upwardly betwe n the parts 1 1. and 15 a distance corres Minding to twice the elevation of the platform. thereby meeting the needs of the growth of the trunk and arms as well as the growth of the legs. Thus it will be seen that the elevation of the platform may be readily cil'cclcd si multanconsly with the adjustment of the handle (I2l1l \'lllQ' member 1. .3. whereupon the bolt may be reinserted through the proper openings of both the men'ibcrs ll. 15 and. 16 and the cupped washers \V brought into bearing; relation with the surfaces 9 and 10. It will of course be nnderstoml that the rear end of the platform 1 is adju ted .crtically to the same b \t oi the front :nd by ad. justing the truck T which will. be later referred to.

A further distinctive feature of the invention resides in arranging the hand rest mcmbers 23 at one edge of the handle member 10, whereby in the original form of the device the said hand hold members will assume a position relatively close to the seat portion of the platform to :n-commmlalc the short arm length of a small child. and. on the other hand by simply reversing; the position of the handle member 16 the hand rc may be shifted to the front edge of the 1 wring column to thereby increase the stretch ol the arm length by several inches.

For the purpose of maintaininn pnsi forming members H and .15 in clamping cngag'ement with the handle member 1b at the lllf) upper end of the steering column a suitable 1:10

holding bolt 24 maybe utilized, this holding bolt being also adapted to perform the function of a pivot or fulcrum when the device is used as a cart and the handle member 16 performing the function of a tongue by j which the cart is pulled.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent that the steering unit S essentially comprises relatively fixed members which constitute journal supports for the wheel of the steering unit,and which are adjustably connected to the platform, and a relatively telescopic handle member which may be elevated to correspond to the riseor a multiple. of the rise in level of the platform and thereby provide a rigid perpendicular handle, said rigidity being due to both bolts 21 and Qlengaging the members 14-46. When the bolt 24: constitutes the only holding means for the handle and acts as a pivot or fulcrum as previously described, the handle serves as a tongue.

The truck unit T is purposely constructed with a view to providing a comfortable seat for the occupant of the device when the same is converted from a car type of toy into a cart, and to this end it will be observed that the said truck unit preferably consists of the oppositelegs or pedestals 25 which may be secured to the platform by the fastenings 26. These legs are provided along their rear edge with a plurality of spaced axle receiving openings 27 for enabling the platform to be elevated with reference to the rear axle to correspond with the elevation of the front end on the steeringpost when used as a car type of toy, and are also provided with another series of spaced openings 28 for performing the same function when the platform is reversed to be used as a cart. The steering unit is of course reversed in the platform when changing from the car type of toy to ,the cart type by taking apart the wheel and journal supports from the handle section and reassembling in the platform section from the other side.

The opposite legs or pedestal members 25 are preferably maintained in spaced apart relation through the provision of the slat or brace B and are also made further secure by the novel rear axle unit designated gencrally as 29. This unit comprises a relatively hollow pipe section 30for abutting against the inner face of the members 25 and is internally threaded to receive the axle bolts 31 for carrying the rear wheels 32 of the truck. It will of course be understood that suitable washers 33 may be employed in connection with the bolts 31 to properly hold the wheels in position. Thus, when the platform is reversed the legmembers constitute the sides of the chair-like rest, and also act as guides for the wheels and the transverse web or brace B constitutes the back 34. It will therefore be apparent that the truck 'unit T essentially includes a pair of leg or pedestal forming members 25 con nected by the brace B, and said legs having adjustable journal bearings for the rear axle unit 29 carrying the wheels 82 arranged on opposite sides of the device.

By reason of the novel formation of the steering unit S and the truck unit T it will be apparent that when the device is used as a straddle vehicle or polycycle, the platform 1 may be elevated to any one offive different levels by simply adjusting the front end of the'platform on the steering column and also adjusting the rear axle to a corresponding opening of the series 27 in the rear leg or pedestal members 25. In this connection it may also be noted that by securing the opposite ends of the platform in different nonregistering positions with reference to the adjustment openings on the steering post and rear truck unit, the said platform may be supported at different inclinations, that is obliquely with reference to the horizontal position assumed by the platform when it is supported in matching or registering positions on the steering postand truck unit. When the device is to be used as a cart that is pulled instead of propelled, the platform 1 may be reversed so that the pedestal mem bers 25 constitute in effect a chair orback rest for the occupant of the vehicle while his feet may be conveniently placed. on the foot rests 19. In this form of the toy the handle member 10 is adjusted between the post forming member i l and 15 to perform the function of a tongue or similar draft member. To enable the tongue to have a relatively free swinging movement on the pivot bolt 24, the nut on the same should not be drawn up tight, but when the device is. to be used as a scudder or scooter the handle member 16 may be held rigidly in the upright position by tightening the bolt 2a or by the addition of a like bolt 2% in the mild k cent registering holes of member 16 and members 14land 15 to thereby adjust the entire handle to meet the standing position of the occupant, which is the position assumed in operating a toy of this type.

A modification of the steering post unitis shown in Figure 7 of the drawings. wherein a tubular wood or metal posted is employed, the same being bifurcated at its lower end 4:1 to receive the wheeled while the upper end telescopically receives an adjustable handle carrying member 44 which post is suggested in Figure 8 wherein the column 47 is provided witn a transverse slot 48 for adjustably accommodating the handle carrying member 49 while the'lower end of said post is formed to provide a j ournal bearing 50 for the wheel 51.

In Figures 9 and 10 a skeleton type of combined truck and back rest is shown. In thisi'nodil'ication the sides or legs 52 of the truck are substantially U-shaped metallic members having adjustment openings in one arm thereof for receiving the axle unit of the truck. F or the purpose of bracing the legs 52 against side thrust and also constituting a back rest when the platform is reversed to provide a cart, the said legs 52 are connected by the cross stays 5e shown in Figure 10.

A modified type of foot rest is shown in Figure 11 of the drawings, wherein the axle 55 of the steering unit constitutes means for clamping the oppositely disposed angular pieces 56 in position.

It is also apparent that when reversing the platform from one form of toy to the other it is only necessary to disassemble the handle carrying shaft fromthe steering post unit, and remove same from the platform and reverse its position with reference to the platform and then reassemble through the post opening in the platform.

Figures 12 and 13 show a still further modified means for rotatably supporting the post of the steering unit by utilizing the .locl'cing bolts 11 and 11 or their equivalent to bear on the collars or plates and lVithout further description it is thought that the distinctive structural characteristics of the invention will be readily apparent, and it will therefore be obvious that the device provides a readily convertible toy which fully carries into execution the objects heretofore outlined. That is to say, the invention provides convertible vehicle including a reversible platform 1 having opposite seating surfaces, one end of said platform being supported by the wheeled steering unit while the opposite end is supported by a combined truck and chair unit which in one form of the vehicle constitutes a truck journal for the rear axle and in the cart form constitutes a chair for supporting the occupant in an upright seated position. And, it will of course be understood, that modifications may be resorted to in connection' with minor details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vehicle of the class described inclnding a rear wheeledtruck unit and a steering wheel unit, and a reversible platform having opposite seating surfaces and adapted to be adjust-ably connected at opposite ends thereof respectively with the steering wheel unit and the rear truck unit to constitute an occupant propelled vehicle or a type adapted to be pulled.

2. A vehicle of the class dcscribed including a wheeled rear truck unit and a front steering wheel, a reversible platform having combined clniirforming and truck constituting journal members fitted to opposite sides thereof and provided with means for adjustably engaging with the axl of the rear wheeled truck unit.

A vehicle of the class described in cluding a platform having opposite seating surfaces, a relatively :uljustablo whcclod steering unit for supporting the front cnd of said platform whereby the same may be elevated,- and a combined rcar truck and chair unit for adjustably supporting the rear end of the platform whereby the same may be elevated to different levels and also reversed to convert the toy from occupantpropelled type of vehicle to a type adaptcd to be pulled.

at. A vehicle of the class described including a platform having opposite seating surfaces, a combined wheel truck and chair unit adjnstably supporting the rear end of the platfor1n,-aml an adjustable wheeled steering unit carrying the front end of said platform and including a relatively lixcd post portion and a relatively adjustable handle carrying portion adapted to be vertically adjusted with. the platform.

A vehicle of the class dcsrribcd iucluib ing a platforn'i, a wheeled truck unit for supporting the rear end, of said platform. and a wheeled steering unit carrying thin front end thereof, rid steering unit comprising a post consisting of spaced scctious and coi'istituting a journal for the 'whccl of the unit, handle carrying means having a relatively telescopic engagement bctwccn said sections. and means for securing the platform and handle in different adjusted positions on the post.

6. A vehicle of the class described including a platform, a wheeled truck unit for supporting the rear end of the platform. a. wheeled steering unit for carrying the front end of said platform, said steering unit comprising relatively fixed post means having the wheel of the unit journal therein, an adjustable handle carrying mcmbcr. and a locking device for securing the platform to the post and also securing the handle carrying means within the post. said locking dcvice including a bolt engaged with bearing elements at each end thereof and providing an extended bearing between the post and the front end of said platform '7. A vehicle o f the class described including a platform. a wheeled truclc unit for adjustahly supporting the rear cud of said plat-form. and a whcclcd stccring unit for carrying the front end of said 'ilatform, said ill) Hill

unit including a relatively fixed wheel carry m post provided with adjustment openings,

a handle carrying member adjustable with.

reference to the post and having openings for registering with the OPGIllllgl-l. in the post, and I cans for securing the front end of the platform and the handle carrying n'icinber to the post at anyone of a plurality of relatively elevated positions.

8. A vehicle of the class described. includ ing a platform, a wheeled truck unit for ad justahly supporting the rear end of the plat form, and a wheeled. steering unit for carrying the front end thereof, said steering unit comprisin gga wheel. carryingmember and a relatively adjustable handle carrying;- member adapted to be locked with the post at any one of a plurality of positions, and also adapted to serve as hinged tongue when secured to the post by its lower end only.

9. A vehicle of the class described includ ing a reversible platform, a wheeled truck unit for supporting the rear end of said platform, and a wheeled steering unit for carrying the front end thereof, said steering un1t includmg a handle carrying member adapted to be locked w th the post at two points to provide a relatively rigid extensible steering column, and also adapted to be secured to the post at one end only to provide a relatively hinged draft tongue.

10. A vehicle of the class described includ ing a reversible platform having; opposite seating surfaces, a wheeled combined truck and chair unit for the rear end of said platform, and a wheeled steering unit carrying the front end thereof, said steering unit 111- cluding a vertically extensible handle carry- 'ing member and means whereby the said member may be vertically adjusted coaxially with the axisof the post or pivoted in the line of saidaxis to constitute a draft 11. A vehicle of the class described including a reversible platform having; opposite seating surfaces, a. wheeled steering unit carrying; the front end of said platform, and

a combined truck and chair unit arranged in the rear end of said platform and includmg side members. means for connecting said side members to brace the same against lateral thrust and also constitute a back rest, and an axle llllllltl-Chllsllftbly carried by sa1d side members.

the front end of said platform, and a handlecaii'rying member adjustably interlocked w' ,h a portion of said eteerii'ing unit and hav inp; hand rest means arranged eccentric to the axis of said member whereby when said. member is reversed the said hand rest will occupy a position diametrically opposite the first mentioned position.

l t. in a vehicle of the class describecha platform, spaced. bearing blocks carried by the platform, a front steering unit including; a post rotatably mounted. in said bearing blocks, and means carried by said post for positioning; the platform. thereon and con stituting; a bearing for engaging the upper and lower wear surfaces of said bearing blocks.

15. A vehicle of the class described includinp; a reversible platform having opposite seatino; surfaces, side members secured thereto and projecting to both sides of the opposite seating surfaces of the platform. said side members being; provided with a pluralit of alined axle receiving openings, and a wheeled truck unit including an axle adapted to be inserted in the openines at either one face or the other of the platform.

16. A vehicle of the class described including a reversible platform, opposite side members having; axle receiving: openings arranged in relatively oblique alinement to the said platform, whereby the length of the wheel base is increased as the platform is adiusted to higher levels.

, In testimony whereof ll hereunto ailix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ilflEllER GEO. HILPERT.

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