US1724170A

US1724170A - Walking figure wheeled toy

Info

Publication number: US1724170A
Application number: US209936A
Authority: US
Inventors: William A Barry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1927-08-01
Filing date: 1927-08-01
Publication date: 1929-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1946-08-13

Description

g- 3 1929- w. A. BARRY WALKING FIGURE WHEELED TOY Filed Aug. 1927 j 10 Z 17 1a 15 13m?" y INVENTOR ATTORNEY claims.

Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM A. BARRY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

WALKING FIGURE WHEELED TOY.

Application filed August 1, 1927.

Serial No. 209,936.

The present invention relates to the art Figure 4 is a side view.

of toys and particularly to the wheeled walking type, the idea being to provide an improved walking toy, so constructed and connected to a wheel supported body, that in pulling the same over a fiat Surface, such as the pavement or floor, the toy in its movement over the surface, will give a relatively true representation of walking movement.

In other words the construction and arrangement is such, and due to operative connections between the legs of the toy, the legs and feet will be synchronized in their swinging movements.

Another purpose is to mount the body of the walking toy on an extension of the wheeled body, the co-operat-ion between which and the body of the walking toy, will be such as to cause a waddling action, assisting materially in causing swinging actions to be imparted to the legs. The waddling movement of the body of the walking toy including means to limit the body in such waddling movements.

Another purpose is to provide the legs with relatively heavy feet, their inner portions adjacent their forward ends being cut away and having metal wear strips substantially conforming to the contour of the inner edge of the feet and the cut away portions thereof as to enable the feet to swing past each other during the synchronized swing ing actions of the legs, said wear strips acting as gravity means to facilitate the swinging action.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no way limitive, and that while still keeping within the scope of the invention, any desired modification of detials and proportions may be made in the construction of the device according to circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts to be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings" and In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in front elevation showing the body of the walking figure of the toy tilted 'to one side to the extreme end of its waddling movement in one direction.

Figure 2 is a similar View, but showing the body of the walking figure inclined to the extreme end of its waddling movement in the opposite direction.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view on line 55 of Figure 2, showing the operative connections between the legs, whereby they are synchronized in their swinging actions.

Figure 6 is a rear view of the walking figure of the toy, illustrating the limiting abutments, which limit the walking figure in its waddling movements toward either side.

Referring to the drawings,1 identifies a body having conventionally supporting wheels 2, and projecting forwardly from the body 1 is a frame 3, which is rectangular in plan view, and 4t identifies a walking figure. This figure comprises a body 5, which, in frontelevation is of the general outline of a human, having arms, head and shoulders. The body 5 of the walking figure has a headed pin 6, which is fulcrumed in a transverse portion 7 of the frame 3, thereby pivotally mounting the walking figure on the frame. In the present instance the headed pin is in the form of a screw, though any other suitable device may be employed, and is threaded into the rear portion of the body 5 of the walking figure. Suitable washers 8 are interposed between the transverse portion 7 of the frame and the head of the pin and between said portion and the rear face of the body 5 of the walking figure, thereby enabling the walking figure to oscillate laterally with uniform movements.

Projecting rearwardly from the rear face of the body 5 of the walking figure are limiting abutments 9, which are so disposed adjacent the opposite edges at the sides of the body 5 of the walking figure as to cooperate with the transverse portion 7 of the frame 3, as to limit the body 5 in its oscillatory movements laterally. However, the movements of the walking figure laterally are such as to cause a substantially true repre sentation of the waddling movements of some humans.

Formed integrally with and depending from the lower edge of the body 5 of the walking figure and in spaced position are legs 10. The body 5 of the walking figure may be made of any suitable material, either fibre, wood or the like, preferably the latter, while the frame is in the form of a U-shaped metal strip, and the supporting wheels 2 are of metal, though not necessarily, as it is obvious they may be constructed of wood. The body 1 of the toy is in the form of a wooden vehicle or cart body.

As previously stated the legs 10 and the central lug 11 which depend from the body 5 of the walking figure are spaced causing bifurcations 12 to be formed. Passing through the lugs, as is shown, is a ,pivot rod 13, which may be in the form of a pin headed at 14 on both ends, though not necessarily, as it is obvious that nuts may be applied to the ends of the rod. Legs 15 are pivotally mounted upon the rod 13, and they are of relatively substantial size in diameter as well as in length, and depending from their lower ends are relatively heavy enlarged feet 16. These feet extend at right angles to the lower ends of the legs, and their lower surfaces are arcuate as shown in formation.

Pivotally mounted upon the lower end of the central lug 11 is an oscillatory link 17 mounted upon a headed pin 18, which de pends from the central lug 11. The opposite ends of the oscillatory link engage substantially loosely in holes or cavities 19 in opposed but adjacent faces of the legs 15 at points immediately adjacent the crotch between the two legs. By means of this oscillatory link the legs are synchronized in their swinging or lateral movements, so that when one leg is forward of the body 5 of the walking figure,the other leg is rearward and vice versa.

The relatively large heavy feet, as previously stated, are arcuate on their under surfaces, and they may be any approved contour in plan view. under surface of the feet are substantially 'arcuate, they are substantially thicker toward their inner portions than toward the outer portions, which shape is shown clearly in FigureQ and it for the reason that the undersurface of the foot 22 swung to the rear is disclosed, while the under surface of the opposite foot swung forwardly is entirely obscure, excepting where the forward under surface of the foot is cut away or beveled ofi' partially adjacent the inner portion of the foot. In other words the under surface of each foot inclines from the inner thicker side of the foot to the thinner outer side of the foot, enabling the weight of the body of the figure and the weight of the forward portion of the wheeled frame to be supported first on one foot and then the'other, that is first supported on the inner thicker portion of the foot, until the body of the figure over balances, and causes the figure to tilt or waddle to one side. The forward portions of the under surfaces of the feet at their adjacent edges are cut away or bevelled off, not only fromtheir toe portions in- Wardly and rearwardly toward the inner edges of the feet, but also inclined from their bias points '20 upwardly, inwardly and forwardly toward their inner adjacent toe por- However, while the tions as identified at 21. The construction and arran ement of these bevelled or inclined surfaces are such as to permit. the feet to escape the surface on which the toy is walking, during their synchronized oscillatory movements. The under surfaces of the feet also have metal wear strips 22, which conform to the inner adjacent side edges and the bias origins of the bevelled 0r inclined surfaces, performing the dual purpose of gravity means to insure swinging movements of the legs and feet, and also to avoid wear upon the under surfaces of the feet proper.

Fastened on the front face of the body 5 of the walking figure is a screw eye 22:3, to which a cord 24 is attached, by which the toy may be pulled over the surface on which it traverses. As the toy is pulled, due to the wheeled body and its frame, the walking figure waddlcs or swings to one side, and the legs are given movements, such as will substantially represent the walking movements of a human being. 7

The walking figure wheeled toy travels as follows:

hen the walking figure wheeled toy is pulled by a string or cord 24 the walking figure may be placed as in Figure l, and iii which position one leg is forward due to the link connection 17, the link 1 being pivoted at 18 to the body of the toy and owing to the position of one leg being forward and the link 17 having been tilted the other leg is in a rearward position. Due to the walking figure being mounted on a two wheeled toy, the wheels as they roll oscillate. In other words the body 1 of the wheeled toy oscillates on a perpendicular axis passing vertically through the body and through the middle of the axle, on which the wheels 2 are mounted, and since the adjacent under portions of the feet near the forward end of the feet are cut away, or curved or leveled off one foot will swing past the other foot without hitting the ground surface. This is particularly due to the fact that the body of the walking figure is balanced on the pivot 6, resting on one foot, the wheeled toy being previously oscillated on the perpendicular axis through the center of the body 1. The limiting abutments 9 act to limit the tilting movement of the body of the walking figure, by engaging with the transverse portion 7 of the frame 3. As the body balances on one leg and then the other and due to the wheeled toy oscillating on said perpeinlicnlar axis through the body and through the medium .of the link connection 17, the legs and feet will sving past each other without hitting the ground surface.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is:

1. A walking figure wheeled toy to be in]- ill] llll) polled forwardly, the combination with a wheeled frame, of a walking figure with its body fulcrumed to the forward end of the fame, swinging legs depending from the body of the walking figure, meansfor sup porting the weight of the body first ,on one leg and then the other, while the opp site leg swings forward, thereby giving the walkring figure lateral waddling movements as the toy is impelled, means on the body to cooperate with the frame for limiting the figure in its lateral waddling movements, and means for synchronizing the legs in their swinging movements.

2. In a toy as set forth, a frame having supporting wheels and adapted to be impolled forwardly, a walking figure including a. body operatively pivoted to theforward end of the frame, legs swingingly depending from the body of the figure having feet to engage with the surface on which the toy operates, said feet having their under portions out way, whereby the weight of the body may rest first on one leg then the other and the opposite leg will be free to swing forwardly, thereby causing the figure to have lateral waddling movements, andv operative connections between the legs to synchronize them in their swinging movements as the figure waddles laterally.

3. In a toy as set forth, a wheeled frame to be impelled forwardly, a walking figure comprising a body and a pair of swinging legs having feet, the body of the figure being operatively mounted on the forward end of the frame, the construction and formation of the under surfaces of said feet being such that the body and the forward end of the frame may be supported first on one leg and then the other, the opposite leg being free to swing forwardly, whereby lateral waddling movements are imparted to the figure, and means on the body to cooperate with the frame for limiting the figure in such movements in either direction.

1-. In a toy as set forth, the combination with a wheeled frame to be impelled forwardly, of a walking figure comprising a body fulcrumed to the forward end of the frame and adapted to waddle laterally, means on the body to cooperate with the frame for limiting the body in its lateral waddling movements, swinging legs depend ing from the body whereby the weight of the body and the forward end of the frame may be supported first on. one leg and then the other and the opposite leg will-be free to swing forwardly, means for synchronizing the legs in their swinging movements, said legs having feet,'the forward adjacent under surface of which being cut away to permit the legs to swing without interference with the surface on which the toy traverses.

5. In a toy as set forth, a two-wheeled frame to be impelled forwardly, a walking figure comprising a body operatively pivoted to the frame on an axis passing horizontally therethrough, whereby the body of the figure is adapted to have lateral waddling movements, legs swingingly depending from the body of the figure, the weight of the body and the forward end of the frame adapted to be supported first on one leg and then. the other, and the opposite leg will be free to swing forwardly, said legs having feet with their forward adjacent under surfaces cut away to permit the legs to swing without interference with the surface on which the toy traverses.

6. In a toy as set forth, a two-wheeled frame to be impelled forwardly, a walking figure comprising a body operatively pivoted on an axis passing horizontally through the frame, whereby the body of the figure is adapted to have lateral waddling move ments, legs swingingly depending from the body of the figure, the weight of the body and the forward end of the frame supported first on one leg and then the other, and the opposite leg will be free to swing forwardly, said legs having feet with their forward adjacent under surfaces cut away to permit the legs to swing without interference with the surface on which the toy traverses, means for limiting the body of the figure in its lateral waddling movements, and operative connections between the legs to synchronize them in their swinging movements.

7. In a toy as set forth, a two-wheeled frame to be impelled forwardly, a walking figure comprising a body operatively pivoted on an axis passing horizontally through the frame, whereby the body of the figure is adapted to have lateral wacldling movements, legs swingingly depending from the body of the figure, the weight of the body and the forward end of the frame supported first on one leg and then the other, and the opposite leg may be free to swing forwardly, said legs having feet with their forward adjacent under surfaces cut away to permit the legs to swing without interference with the surface on which the toy traverses, said frame having a forward transverse portion, limiting abutment 011 the rear face of the body of the figure to cooperate with the adj acent ends of the transverse portion to limit the figure in its lateral waddling movements, said legs having relatively heavy feet at their lower ends, the adjacent portions of the legs near the crotch of the figure having cavities, and an oscillatory link pivoted on the lower end of the body of the figure in the crotch with the ends of the link engaging in the cavities to synchronize the legs in their swinging movements and thereby insuring lateral waddling to the walking figure.

8. In a walking figure wheeled toy to be impelled forwardly, a wheeled frame, a walking figure comprising a body fulcrumed on the forward end of the frame, a pair of link coupled legs swingingly pivoted to the lower part of the body of the walking figure, first one and then the other of the legs acting to support the Weight of the body and the frame and the opposite leg will be free to swing forwardly in representation of walking movements, whereby the fulcrumed walking figure may waddle laterally.

9. In a walking figure wheeled toy to be impelled forwardly, a wheeled frame, a walking figure comprising a body fulcrumed on the forwardend of the frame, a pair of link coupled legs swingingly pivoted to the lower part of the body of the walking figure, first one and then the other of the legs acting to support the weight of the body and the frame and the opposite leg will be free to swing forwardly in representation of walking movements, whereby the fulcrumed walking figure may waddle laterally, said frame having a forward transverse portion, and means on the body of the figure adjacent the opposite sides thereof to alternately engage with said trans verse portion to limit the body in its lateral waddling movements.

10. In a walking figure wheeled toy to be impelled forwardly, a wheeled frame, a walking figure comprising a body fulcrumed on the forward end of the frame, a pair of link coupled legs swingingly pivoted to the lower part of thebody of the walking figure,

' first one and then the other of the legs acting to support the weight of the body and the frame and the opposite leg will be free to swing forwardly in representation of walking movements, whereby the fulcrulned walking figure may waddle laterally, said frame having a forward transverse portion, limiting abutment lugs on the rear face of the body of the walking figure adjacent the opposite sides of the body to alternately engage with said transverse portion of the frame to limit the body of the figure in its lateral waddling movements.

11. In a walking figure wheeled toy to be impelled forwardly, a wheeled frame, a walking figure comprising a body fulcrumed on the forward end of the frame, a pair of link coupled legs swingingly pivoted to the lower part of the body of the walking figure, first one and then the other of the legs adapted to support the weight of the body and the frame and the opposite leg will be free to swing forwardly in representation of walking movements, whereb the fulcrumed walking figure may wadd e laterally, said frame having a forward transverse portion, and means on the body of the figure adjacent the opposite sides thereof to alternately engage with said transverse portion to limit the body in its lateral waddling movements, said legs having relatively heavy feet at their lower ends, the forward adjacent under surface of the feet being cut away to permit the legs to swing without interference with the surface on which the toy traverses.

In testimony whereof he affixes his signature hereto.

lVILLIAM A. BARRY.