US1640150A - Child's teeter board - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 23. 1927 L. L. HENRY ET AL CHILDS TEETER BOARD Filed Nov] 18, 1926 Patented Aug. 23, 1927. I

LEO L. HENRY AND EDWIN. nna'nnamaron, or CEDARBAIIDS, IOWA.

This invention relates to devices for the amusement of children, and the object of the invention is to produce a serviceable teeter-board for a single child and adapted for use in a nursery or on a porch or lawn, and to be stowed in a small space for shipment or for storage when not in use.

The invention is fully disclosed in the description and claims following, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a teeterboard embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 shows details of the spring connection with the teeter-board. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view in the plane of the center of the upper spring support and lengthwise of the same.

The preferred type of base for the apparatus is a skeleton frame 5 of tubular steel bent from a single piece and joined at 5". Near the middle of the frame or base is mounted an arch 6, preferably a solid rod. This is securely attached to the sides of the base, as by boring through'the upper portion of the tube, inserting the ends of the arch, and welding them in place. The arch and base are trussed by a diagonal brace 7 similarly welded to the middle of the arch and the front end of the base.

On the horizontal portion of the arch is mounted the seat-board 8 by suitable bearing clips 9 bolted to the board at 10. On this as a pivot the board may rock through quite a large arc, its movement down at the seat end being limited by a cushioning bumper 11 preferably rubber), and on the oppositeside of the pivot by a stop 12. The seat-board is expanded at one end to form a comfortable seat, and is preferably provided with a housing or seat-back 13. Straps 14 are secured in slots 15, so that very small children may be held securely in the seat while teetered by a larger person.

In front of the seat the board is narrowed at 16, so as to be conveniently straddled by a child using the teeter alone. An upstanding hand-hold formed of a pair of standards 17 bolted at 1 8 to the board, and a handle-bar 19 bolted to the upper end of the standard at 20, serves to steady the child while springing up and down.

The seat is thrown upwardly and its weight and thatof the occupant wholly or partially counterbalanced by springs 21 een-= onrrnis TEETER BOARD.

Application-filed November 18, 1926. Serial ms. 149,071.

necting the base and the opposite end'of the seat-board. The springs are subjected toa considerable stretch when the seat is fully depressed, and'should preferablyzbe longer than the space between the board and base at the front end when this end of the board is depressed. The front end of the board is accordingly provided with an upstanding cleat 22, to which the upper ends of the springs are attached. The manner of attachment is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. On the grooved upper edge of the cleat is secured a tube 23 by bolts 24 passing through the cleat and seat-board as well as the tube. In the ends of the tube are secured (as by screwing), studs 25. To the upper ends of the springs are attached lugs 26 bored at 27 to fit the studs loosely, and provided with shanks 28 herein shown as screw-threaded to fit snugly within the ends of the coil springs. The lower ends of'the springs similarly engage vertical studs 29, which may be attached to the base in the same manner as the arch above described. The arch bearings and those connecting the springs with the seat-board are of such a character as to give smooth and easy action to the board, when well lubricated.

The stop 12 is in practice forked at 12 so as to straddle the brace when in the depressed position. It thus serves not only as an abutment, but to prevent any twisting of the seat-board on its support. either by rough usage, or through accidental side thrusts duringtransportation, or otherwise. The teeter-board, as will be evident, is easily movable from place to place, and is operable on any fairly level surface. By the nature of its construction it is practically weather-proof, and may thus be used out of doors as well as in the house. Its construction'is such, furthermore, as to withstand rough treatment at the hands of even the most careless or destructive child. Though compact enough to be transported intact by parcel post, it is capable of affording abundant exercise and. amusement to any child within its seating capacity.

Having thus described our invention, we claim: a 1. A childs teeter-board, comprising a skeleton base of tubularsteel, an arch rising therefrom, a brace connecting the arch and base, a seat-board mounted rockablyoii the arch, andhaving an upstanding cleat, studs projecting therefrom, lugs carried pivotally by said studs, and springs connecting said lugs and base.

2. A childs teeter-board, comprising a base, an upstanding seat-board support, a seat-board mounted rockably thereon, springs connecting the board and base and adapted to hold the seat end of the board normally upward, a brace connecting the seat support and base, and a forked abutment attached to and depending from the seat-board, and adapted to engage said brace when the seat is in elevated position.

3. In a childs teeter board, the combination of a base, an arch rising therefrom, a seat-board mounted rockably on the arch and provided With a seat at one end, later-a1 studs at the other end of the seat board, lugs With screw-threaded shanks pivoted on the studs, screw-threaded studs attached to the base, and springs screwed on said lug shanks and base studs.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures.

LEO L. HENRY. EDWIN HETHER-INGTON.

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