US1529832A - Automatic locking means for wheeled toys - Google Patents

Description

J. G. DENGLER AUTOMATIC LOCKING MEANS FOR WHEELED TOYS Filed May'lo. 1924 Jab r2 GLUE/j! Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

'U'NHTED STATES JOHN G. IDENGLEB, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANTA.

AUTOMATIC LOGKING-IvIEAN FOR WHEELED TOYS.

i Application filed- May 10, 1924. Serial No. 712,330.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN G. Dnncnnma citizen of the United States, residing at N. S. Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of .Pennsylvania,'-have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Automatic Locking Means for Wheeled Toys, of which the following is .aspecification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in wheeled toys and has for its principal object to provide a locking means for the driven .axle thereofso asto prevent the rotation of the-axle when the toy is in an inoperative position thus .enabling the springmechanism associated therewith to be rewound.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a locking means for a wheeled toy which will be automatic in its operation.

A further object isto provide a locking means for wheeled toys which will .enable a child to rewind the spring mechanism associated with thetoy without any danger of the childs fingers coming in contact with the cog wheels orcfurther having to hold the wheels mounted on the driven axle.

A further object is to-provide a locking means for wheeled toys of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable and furthermore adapted for the purposes for which it is designated.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a fragmentary rear end elevation of a wheeled toy with the locking means in an inoperative position.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of a wheeled toy showing the locking means in an operative position, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of the driven axle.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally a wheeled toy and the same comprises the body portion 2. Depending from the rear portion of the body 2 adjacent the respective sides thereof are the rear in the manner hereinafter ,to be more fully described. Supported on .th e outerg, sof the axle are the traction .iivheelS-Slinihie usual manner. 7 I i I v The rear axle 5 is provioled with ,acog wheel 9- adjacent the bracket Land the, purpose of this cog wheel isto provideia means for engagement with the .cog wheel 10 keyed to the shaft 11 which extends transversely through supporting brackets alphas (are shown at 12 in the manner we llkno wnin the art. A coil spring 13encircles}the'shaft 11 and is fastenedat one end to'thejbottom of the toy body 2 andatits opposite end to the cog wheel 10. A-handleflsuclijas is illustrated at 14 is providedionthe .outer end of the shaft .11 and provides a meansif r winding the spring 13 on thefshaft llin' the manner as is commonan'dwelldinowniilthe art of spring wound and actuating 'tdys.

Ordinarily with the spring wound and actuated wheeled toys now in use, it is necessary in order to prevent the rotation of the rear axle and the traction wheels carried thereby to hold the same while the springis being rewound. Oftentimes small chil: dren in handling toys of this character will accidentally place their fingers between the cog wheels and this will result in serious injury. In order that the traction wheels on the driven rear axle may be held against rotation while the spring mechanism is being rewound, I have provided the locking means which is associated with the rear driven axle and the supporting bracket 3 whereby the axle will be automatically moved into a locked and inoperative position so that the spring mechanism may be rewound whenever necessary.

The operation of the locking means may be briefly stated as follows: Normally when the wheeled toy is on the floor or ground the weight of the body or toy will cause the bracket 3 to have its uppermost enlarged portion receiving the squared portion 7 of the axle 5 whereby the axle may freely rotate in the bracket and permit the free 0peration of the traction wheels over the surface 'upon which it is placed. When it becomes necessary to rewind the spring mechanism, the toy is lifted off of the ground or floor and the lifting of the toy causes the bracket 3 to be raised upwardly therewith simultaneously causing the square portion 7 of the axle 5 to seat in the lowermost reduced portion of the slot 6 in the bracket 3 thereby causing the rear driven axle to be locked against rotation in the bracket so that the spring mechanism may be easily and quickly rewound. It will also be understood that when thetoy is held in an inoperative position, the spring 13 will exert a pressure on the squared portion of the axle in the mannet, as is obvious from the construction shown so as to further assist in locking the driven axle against rotation While the spring mechanism is being rewound. When the toy is again placed on the floor or ground, the

bracket 3 due to the weight of the toy will mpve downwardly over the square portion of the axle so as to cause the same to again seat in the enlarged upper portion of the slot and permit the free rotation of the axle and the traction wheels carried thereby.

and the traction Wheels carried thereby against rotation while the spring mechanism is being rewound. The provision of a locking means of the above mentioned character, on'spring actuated wheeled toys will prolong the use of the toy as well as prevent any possibility of injury to the person handling the toy while rewinding the spring mechanism.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is V T '1. In a wheeled toy, one of the driven axle supporting brackets having a key-hole slot provided therein, the driven axle having a reduced squared portion normally disposed in the larger portion of the slot in said bracket when the'toy is in operation, said squared portion of the axle being adapted to seat in the smaller part of the slot to lock the axle and the traction wheels carried thereby against rotation when the wheels are not engaged with a supporting surface.

2. In a spring actuated wheeled toy, one of the driven axle supporting brackets having a key-hole slot provided therein, said driven axle extending through the bracket and normally disposed in the upper larger portion of the slot when the toy is in operation,the portion of the axle disposed in said slot being adapted to be seated in the smaller lower portion of the slot to lock the axle and the traction wheels carried thereby against rotation when the toy is lifted ofi of the ground to rewind the spring mechanism.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN G. DENGLER.

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