US1701503A - Amusement device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 12, 1929.

L. MARX AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Dec. 26, 1924 INVENTOR Louis Marx BY mwtmumrs Patented Feb. '12, 1929.

"LOUIS MARX, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

- musmmrr nnvrcii.

Application flled December 2c, 1924. Serial no. 758,094.

This inventionrelates .to an amusement apparatus, and more particularly to an amusement apparatus offthe type in which a vehicle platform or carrier is oscillated with a rotary tilting or gyrating motion to cause one or more vehicles to travel thereon cyclically in circular paths.

Amusement apparatus in which a vehicle platform or carrier is oscillated with a rotary tilting or. gyrating motion have been constructed in a number of forms and utilized either as amusement railways or roundabouts, or as racing toys. When constructed as an amusement" railway "or Froundabout, the platformv or vehicle carrier is oscillated or is given a combined rotary, and oscillatory motion to: cause occupantecarrying vehicles or cars thereon to traveler be automatically propelled by gravity in circularor other orbits} When constructed as a toy, the platform or vehicle carrier is oscillated to cause simulated vehiclessuch as railway cars, automobiles and the like to travel cyclically in circular or other paths thereon. A principal object of thepresent invention relates to the provision of an improved and, simplified gyrating amusement apparatus of this typewhich'may. be embodied as an amusement or pleasure railway or as a racing toy.

More specific prime objects of my inven tion include the provision of an amusement apparatus in which a novel and improved means is utilized for supportingthe plat form for its gyratingmotion to permit of securing a balanced, smooth and uniform rocking motion of the latformiwith relatively simple and easi y operable 'motor mechanism; the further provision of an amusement apparatus of this nature in which the motor mechanlsm for oscillating the,

platform or carrier embodies means for rockably supporting the platfonnyandthe still further provision of an apparatus of this nature in which the platform, and motor mechanism therefor are associated or inter-related soas to permit the same to be readily assembled and disassembled'by the user or operator toafi'ord easy access-to the parts for purposes of adjustment, repair and replacement of parts, the organization being such that whenthe apparatus is constructed in the form of a racingtoy, the parts may be boxed or packaged in disassembled formation by the manufacturer,

such parts being readily put togetherby the PATENT OFFICE. 1

simple step of placing the platform position on the motor mechanism without ad justmentof any of the parts. p

A further and correlated principal object of my inventionvtherefore consists in organijzing and relating the platform, its support and the motor. mechanism therefor in accordance with a simple law of combination so as to permit the manufacture of the amusement apparatus, especially when embodied in the form of aftoy, with the fewest of parts andat a comparatively low cost of production, assembly and distribution.

To the accomplishment ofthe foregoing and such other objects as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the 'e1'ements and their relation one to the other,

as hereinafter particularly described and 1 sought to be defined in the claims; reference being'had to the accompanying draw ings "which show thepreferredembodiment of myinventiomand in which: 4

Fig. 1 is a vertical -elevat-ional view with parts broken away of the improved, amusement apparatus embodying my and p I Fig. 2 is a plan view, thereof. 7

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, theimproved amusement device ofmy invention comprises the-oscillatable vehicle carrier or platform generally designatedas invention,

P which is supported and operated by a combined supporting andmotor mechanism generally designated as M, the construction being such that the operation of the motor mechanism imparts a rotary tilting or gyr'atcausing one or morevehicles thereon to travel or be propelled inflcircular' paths or orbits, I

When the invention is embodied in the (form of a toy, the platform P preferably comprises a plate or. disk-shaped member 10 ing oscillating 'motion to the platform for I c as j or circular paths14 and 15 forming raceways for one or a plurality of simulated "vehicles or carsjsuch as 16 and 17 which are adapted to travel or be propelled along the raceways when the platform is given its undulating or oscillating motion. The platform is further provided with a central cup-shaped bearin 18 and with a slot 19 arranged inradia alinement' with the bearing for cooperation with the supporting means for the platform,

which will be described presently.

As heretofore mentioned, one of the objects of the present inventlon centers about the provislon of a novel and improved means for supporting the platform for its oscillatingv 'gyrating motion to permit of securing a balanced and smooth rocking mot1on of the bearing 18 of the platform P and providing a pivot mounting therefor. Preferably the end 20 of the pivot post 20 is made pointed or conical-shaped, and the inner wall ofthe bearing 18 is also made conical so that a point pivot bearing between the post support and the platform is obtained. In the form of construction embodied in the drawings, the platform is constrained to an oscillating motion only and isrcstrained against rotation, and to this end there is provided an upstanding rod 21 fixed to a stationary part of the apparatus such as the lid or cover 22 of a motor casing 23, and the said rod projects through the slot or aperature 19 of the platform P. With this construction it will be seen that the platform is restrained against rotation and is. supported in a balanced manner to permit of a free and smooth rocking or oscillating motion with the use of comparatively simple motor mechanism. It will be further apparent from the construction thus far described that the platform may be readily removed from its support by the mere'lifting of the former from the latter. the parts being thus related and organized to permit the boxing or packaging of the parts in separated or disassembled formation in a compact manner and to permit the user toreadily assemble the parts without the necessity of adjustment by simply placing theplatform on its support.

In the preferred construction, for the purpose of still further simplifying the organization and reducing the number of parts to aminimum, the supporting post 20 forms part of the motor mechanismM. The motor mechanism h l comprises a spring motor 24 housedby the casing 23, the said spring motor being provided with. a winding means 25 for energizing the motor, and with a stop ratchet mechanism 26 for holding the motor in. an energized condition, energization of said motor functioning for imparting motion to. a train of gears connected to the pivot post 20 for imparting a rotatingmovement thereto. The gear train preferably comprises a gear 27 fixed to a drum 28 to which the, spring motor 24 is attached, the gear 27 meshing with a pinion 29 fixed to a shaft 30, which shaft carries a gear 31, the said gear 31 meshing with a gear 32, which latter is fixed to the lower end of the pivot post or shaft 20, the said shaft being journalled in spaced bearings 33 and 3' l' fixed to ing 23.

the easwlri'ch comprises a gear 35 fixed to the'shaft Preferably the motor mechanism is provided with a starting and stopping device 30 and meshing with a pinion 36, to which' is attached a toothed member such as a gear 37 both fixed to a shaft 38, the said toothed member cooperating with a crank portion 39 of a movable arm4c0, the said arm being adapted to be rocked from the position shown in Fig. 1, in which the crank portion 39 is out of engagement with the teeth of the gear 37, to a position for causing engagement of said crank-portion withthe teeth of the gear 37, motion of the controlling arm 40 thus permitting the starting a and stopping of the IIlOtOlflTlECllEllllSlll.

For imparting the desired oscillatory motion to the platform P, I provide means connected to the shaft20 so as to be rotated thereby, the said means comprising in the preferred construction a member 41, which member includes a V transversely arranged rod 42 adjustably receivable'by the shaft 20 and fixed thereto by means of an adjusting screw 43, the said transverse rod carrying a rotary element or wheel la freely rotatable thereon, the said rotary element 44 being arranged for engaging the under-wall of the platform and being adapted to ride in engagement therewith when the shaft 20 is rotated. With this construction, it will be evident that when the motor mechanism is released andfthe shaft 20 rotated. the rotary engagement of the wheel lwith the platform P will cause all parts of the said platform to move progressively from high to low positions, so that the said platform. is rocked with the angle of dip or inclina-' tion progressively rotating, the oscillating motion imparted tothe platform being in the nature of a rocking or gyrating motion. As a result of this gyrating or rotary tilting motion of the platform, the vehicles 16 and 17 thereon in seeking the lowest levels will travel'or be propelled along the raceways 14v and 15, and will thus move cyclipivoted mounting of the platform, the motor I mechanism M may be of relatively simple construction, since the amount of energy required for oscillating the platform or vehicle carrier at its pivotal mounting is comparatively small. With the construction provided, therefore, I am enabled when the apparatus is embodied in the form of "a toy to employ comparatively inexpensive and simple motive mechanism and to obtain thereby an operation of relatively long duration. It will be further seen that the means for effecting the oscillation of a platform is simple and composedof a minimum v of parts, thus minimizing the possibility of derangement and wear and tear, and permitting the parts to be readily adjusted or repaired by the child or operator. It will be further seen that by arranging the motor mechanism below the platform, a stable apparatus is obtained and the motor mecha nism is appropriately concealed by the've-' hicle carrier.

It will also'be seen that a further important advantage of the constructional embodiment of my invention resides in the 1 a low cost.

It will be apparent to those skilled the art that numerous constructional changes may be made without departing from the principles of the invention. Thus althoughin the preferred form of the invention the shaft 20 serves both as a supporting means and as a part of the motor mechanism, changes may. obviously be made therein to permit these functions to be carried out-by independent instead 1 ofunitary means. Other and numerous changes may be made Without departing from the essence of the invention, defined in the following claims.

I claim: V V

1. An amusement device comprising a motor casing, a motor mechanism housed by said casing, a rotary shaftconnected to said motor mechanism and extending up-. Wardly from said casing, a pivot bearing concentric with 'and at the upper end. of said shaft, an oscillatable platform mounted on and supported by said pivot bearing and a member fixed to said rotary shaft formovement therewith aboutthe shaft as an axis and arranged to engage said platform in its rotation for oscillating the same with a gyrating motion.

' 2. An amusement device comprising a motor casing, a motor mechanism housed by said casing, a rotary shaft connected to 531d motor mechanism and 'extendingupwardly from said casing, a pivot bearing at the upper end of said shaft, an oscillatable platform having a central bearing mounted on the pivot bearing, the latter forming a support for the platform, the said platform being detachable from its support when the shaft'as an axis and arran ed to engage said platform in its rotation f or oscillating the same with a gyrating motion.

3. In an'amusement device, a supporting housing, a track structure comprising a dished plate associated. therewith and havinga support on the housing permitting of universal rocking motion, a cam eccentric to the point of support for the track structure and revoluble concentrically about the support for the track'structure, in contact with a part of thetrack structure, the support andcam defining free upper points of support'for the plate, the said free upper lifted therefrom, and a member fixedto said 1 rotaryshaft for movement therewith about points of support being such that. the plate is removable from the free points of support by a lifting action, a motor operatively connected with the cam and a gravity propelled object on the track. i

. 4. An amusement device comprising an oscillatory platform, a post having a pivotal support for said latform, the said platform being remova ly attachable to said J post, means adapted to be driven in a circle about the post and bearing againsta part of the platform for imparting a gyrating motion to the platform about said pivotal sup port, said platform being also detachably receivable by said means, the said means and pivotal point of support being relatively adjustable for varying the angle ofgyratory movement of said platform.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 23rd day of Dec., A. D. .1924. i i LOUIS MARX.

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