US1527974A - Toy vehicle - Google Patents

Description

Patented Mar. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED C. GILBERT, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO A. C. GILBERT 7 COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

TOY VEHICLE.

Application filed December 16, 1920. Serial No. 431,203.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED C. GILBERT, a citizen of the United States, residing in New Haven, county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Vehicles, of

'which the following is a full, clear, and

exact description.

This invention relates to toy vehicles and more particularly to those which may be built up or fabricated from standard construction units or elements. Theseunits or elements are so constructed and'arranged that they may be assembled'to form many different toys. For the sake of economy in manufacture and in order that many different toys may be formed from a small number of construction units, it is necessary that these units be so arranged that the same parts may be associated together in various different relations.

One object of the invention is to provide a new and improved construction toy vehicle, which maybe fabricated from a minimum number of different elements.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a set of members which may be associated together in various ways to secure the axles to the body of the vehicle, at different distances therefrom.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a novel, and improved method of attaching the axle securely to the body of the vehicle. V c

To these and other ends the invention resides in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toy vehicle, of the type known as a glider or coaster, embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the method of assembly of the rear axle bearing members;

Fig. 3 is aperspective view showing the p 7 I I vided about the bolt which j 0111s the bracket method of assembly of the front axle bearing members; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view. of a modified method of assembling the members to construct the rear axle bearing.

The toy vehicle to which I have shown my improvements applied consists of an elongated frame or body portion, which is made up of two relatively long frame members 11. These frame members are of angle cross-section and are in turn formed of the metal strips12, two of which are spliced together in abutting relation in the formation of one of the frame members 11. The strips 12 are perforated, as shown, so that two abuttingmembers may be placed end to end' and a metal strap .13 applied and bolted thereto,.so that the two strips will form one long rigid member. The angle members are then formed by joining two of the long rigid members thus formed by means of the perforated brackets 14, which may be secured to these strips by means of the perforations therein to connect them in as many places as will be found desirable to form a rigid member. These two frame members 11 may then be joined in spaced relation by a plurality of strap members 15, which are placed at desirable and convenient points along the length of the same, to form the body member of the vehicle. To the front end of the body is connected a V-shaped bracket 16, which is so shaped at the ends thereof that it may be bolted .to both strips 12 of the frame members 11, so that these brackets assist in holding these strips in assembled relation. To the lower portion of this bracket is connected a clip 17 bymeans of a bolt 10, which clip is perforated'to receive the front axle 18 carrying the two wheels 19. A pin 20 may .be inserted through perforations in the axle on each side of each of the wheels 19 to prevent the movement of the wheels longitudinally of the axle. To prevent longitudinal movement between the legs of the. clip 17 and it is provided with a set screw 22, which when tightened, will secure the axle in position.

It is seen that the parts thus far described may be assembled, as set forth to provide a rigid body member which has an axle pivotally connected thereto and securely held in osition. This pivotal connection is pro- 16 to the clip 17.

I It'is common in toy vehicles of the glider and coaster type to provide rear wheels that are of greater diameter than the front wheels. This difference in the size of the wheels appears in the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings and it is particularly apt to be true in toys of the type shown Where the parts are used in et 16,is secured within tl1e.U-shaped clip 17', by the-bolt l0. -position. is, of; course, non-rotatably. held ment. upon the axle.

the construction of other toys. The rear axle 23, which carries the larger wheels 24-,

is of course supported .ata, greater distance.

' for the rear axle hearing, but in the interest of economy. it is expedient'to use, if possible,

some or all ofthelsame members, assembled in a different relation, .ratherthan to manutt'actnre other members of smaller 'size, which, it-fis apparent, would increase the vcost ofthe toy set.

. I have therefore devised the constructions shown 1n Figs. 2-.and- 4, which use the same constructionunits as the bearing. assembly shown in Fig. 3, but mount the: body Supporting' ll-bracket below the axle instead of above, thereby making: just enough. differxence'in the height of-th'e bracket to compensate for the difference in diameter of the wheels.

To assemble the parts as shown in Fig. 2, oneof'the V-shaped brackets 16', identical in shape and size with the V-shaped brack- The bracket, in this within' the clip 17. A; second 'U-shaped clip 21- then placedwith 1 one .of its legs. between thoseofdhe clip. I'T'vand the axle- 23 'is inserted throu 'lrthe ali ned o enin'es b t: o

thenbe held against longitudinal displace- In thisarrangement the bracket 16' ismounted non-rotatably upon the axlewliile, shown in Fig. 3, the

front axlev 18 and clip :17; may rotate about the .bolt- 10 to steer the :vehicle.

htly different arrangement is shownin Fig.

entirely withinflthe clip 17", insteadof-being .placedin a-straddling position as shown in as: in Fig. 2 and the body supporting .brack- 4 1 4, wherein the clip -21 is. placed Otherwisethe part-s are assembled -et 16. is held inthe same'position as in thatufigine.

' s'sbodyor seat member 25::may be secured .to the framei members 11 by bolts, 26 passing through perforations 271 in the member I\S ShO.VH,"thQ seat member. contains a numberirof perforations so that itnmay. be secured upon the body in various relations. In practice theparts ofthe toy are, when detached,- packedin abox and thezseat member 25 forms a lid for the packing box. Spacing. brackets (not shown) are usually mounted on the frame members '11 below the seat25. i

Itis apparent that I have provided a strong and substantial construction toy, which, may be economically manufactured and which excels in appearance, strength and durability. many of the permanently built toys now upon the market.

'As shown, the parts of my toy vehicle are all constructedof metal but the particular mate-rial 'usedmay, o-f-course, be varied without; 5 departing from my invention.

While I have. shown and. described: one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood thatI do notslimitmyself"thereto inall ofits details asvarious changes may-be made without departing from tl e spirit. of the inventionor from the scope of -the; appended claims- YVhat I claim, is:

LIn a toy vehicle, a body, front-and rear axles, similar brackets to supportsaid body from said axles,.;- one of said brackets being-supportedat a-pointabove one axle and another. of said. brackets being supported at a point :below the other axle to support the body at different distances from said: ax les,. and a set of securing members 2. In a tov.vel-iicle, a body, an. axle, a

substantially l-slraped bracket (secured to saidhody, a. llesh'aped clip embracingrsaid axles said axle-lying within the apex of 1l1 the'clips. dWhen in proper, position the set screw "22 is tightened-zandtheparts will thel bracket, saidebracketbeing connected to said clip at.a,point .below said axle.

In. a toy vehicle, abody, an axle, a substantially VTshaped bracket secured to said.- body, anda U- shaped clip having. its legs embracing said axle and the base dependin therefri m the apex of said hrack et-"be ng securedvtothe upper face ofcsaid clip base at a point below; said axle; so that said body is suspended from the axle. 4.- In; a. toy vehicle, a body, an axle, a

substantially V-shaped bracket secured to,

saidbody, a;U-shaped clip embracingsaid axle,said1;bracket being connected toxsaid clip;at.a.point-below said axle, and asec ond clip secured to the axle and straddling one oft-he legs of said. first clipto prevent longitudinal movement of said axlerelative to said first clip.

In witness-whereof, I have hereunto set my handronthe 8th day of December, 1920.

ALFRED C. GILBERT.

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