US1791324A - Stilt - Google Patents

Description

1 3, 1931- c. PETERSEN 1,791,324

STILT Filed Aug. 12, 1929 Ill/ll 1! //l III/lid lave/lion Clerislianfielens'en.

Milo/way,

Patented Feb. 3, 1931 CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, OF PORTLAND, MAINE STILT Application filed August 12, 1929. Serial No. 385,097.

The invention hereinafter to be described relates, in general terms, to toys, but more particularly pertains to that well known amusement device for childrena stilt.

It is quite the usual thing for boys to make their ownstilts and it is, possibly, for this reason that there has-been no markedchange or improvement in the form of the device since the earliest times. 1

When the boy is learning to walk with stilts he usually is content to have the steps located on the supporting legs at a comparatively short distance from the ground, but as he gains confidence in his ability to safely use them heis very likely to remove the steps and nail or otherwise secure them at a higher elevation on the legs.

The primary object of my present invention is to provide a stilt the step of which is so constructed as to be readily and conveniently positioned from one to another location on the stilt leg without the necessity of removingbolts, screws or other devices in order to make the change, thus providing a stilt adaptable for'use by boys of various ages and sizes and constituting, to all intents andpurposes, a combination'of several stilts in one. f

Afurther object is to supply a simple, operative device to secure the step in place on the leg of the stilt, providing a safety feature in that in one way only can the step be disengaged, the operation requiring the user to dismount to'make the change.

The character of my invention may best be understood by reference to the description found in. the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which is disclosed an illustrative embodiment of the device which,

other possible forms in which the invention might be carried out. I In the drawing-,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a stilt leg with my improved step mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Figs. 3 and 4: are views depicting the pro line (#6, Fig. 4, and

y Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the yoke employed to secure the step on the leg.

Similar reference characters are used to identify like parts in all the different views of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the leg of the stilt, a portion only of which is shown, 2 is the step therefor and 3 is the yoke which secures the step to the leg of the stilt.

The step may be made plain, as illustrated, or it may be provided with a toe hold (not shown), which latter, however, introduces an element of danger in that it is somewhat difiicult for the user of the stilt, in case he trips or stumbles, to easily clear his feet from the steps-with a consequent likelihood of taking a fall.

The yoke 8 is pivotally secured to the step by a rivet 4 which passes through holes 5 in the sides of the yoke and a hole 6 in'the step, and the ends are headed over'to secure the rivet in place.

Spaced from, the rivet 4 and extending through the full width of the step is a metallie bushing 7 within which operate the two plungers 8, 8, having rounded outer ends which engage the depressions 9, 9, respectively, in the sides of the yoke. A spring 10 yieldin'gly holds the plungers in engagement withthe depressions or seats.

On the outer side of the leg 1 are upwardly directed, angularly disposed slots '11, a sufficient number being provided to give ample at the present time, I consider preferable to Yscope to the adwstablhty of the Steps Projecting downwardly at an angle from the transverse portion 8 of the yoke is a tongue 12 which is adapted to engage any one of these respective slots 11 when the yoke is positioned adjacent thereto and hold the step against downward movement on the leg of the stilt, as seen in Fig. 1.

The stilts may now be safely used, in pairs, and'when in use the weight of the person, of

course, insures the parts being kept in place. While being handled, as in transportation, the facilities provided in the yoke prevent dislodgment of these parts from their normal positions on the legs.

In case, iowever, the boy user Wishes to make a change in the elevation of the steps on the legs, he proceeds as follows to accomplish this object.

First, the step is forcibly pulled away from the leg in a direction indicated by the arrou A in Fig. 1. This has the effect of moving the pins 8 out of their seat in the depressions 9 and leaves their ends abutting on the flat inner sides of the yoke 3as seen in Figs, 3 and 6.

Next, by moving the step and yoke in the direction ofthe arrow B (see Fig. 3) the parts will be brought into the position as illustrated in Fi g. d, in which position the two parts 2 and 3 may easily be moved in either direction on the leg of the stilt, longitudinally thereof.

When the tongue 12 is abreast of the slot 11 adjacent which it is desired to locate the step, then the operation just outlined is performed, in reverse order, and the parts returned to their normal working positions, as

depicted in Fig. 1.

To prevent displacement of the yoke and step from the leg a pin 13 is located above and below the plurality of the slots 11 (the lower pin not being shown), the space between the pins covering the range of possible adjustments of the yoke on the leg.

l he mechanism having to do with the adjustments of the steps on the legs of the stilt is ver simply constructed, requires no tools or implements with which to change the position of the steps and necessitates a very spe cific combination of movements to be made in order to make this change.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A stilt comprising a leg, an inclined slot on the outer side of said leg, opening upwardly, a step disposed on the inside of said leg, a yoke encompassing said step and pivotally connected thereto near the inner edge thereof, a tongue on the transverse portion of said yoke, disposed at an angle coincident with the angle of said slot and adapted to engage the lower side of said slot, and means to yieldingly hold said yoke against rotation on its pivot.

2. A stilt comprising a leg, a plurality of obliquely cut slots on the outer side of said leg, said slots opening upwardly, a yoke surrounding three sides of said leg and two sides of said step, means to pivotally connect said yoke to said step, an inwardly and downwardly inclined tongue on the transverse portion of said yoke adapted to loosely engage either one of said slots and disposed at the same angle thereas, a depression on each inner side of said yoke, adjacent said step, a pin projecting from each side of said step and adapted to engage, respectively, said depressions, and a spring disposed between said pins and acting to forcibly hold them in yieldin engagement, respectively,'with said depressions.

3, A stilt comprising a log, a plurality of inclined slots on the outer side of said leg, opening upwardly, a step disposed adjacent the inner side of said leg, a yoke embracing said leg and pivotally connected to said step, means to yieldingly secure said yoke against rotation in its pivot, and means on said yoke adaptable of engagement with any one of said slots to positively hold said step against longitudinal movement on said leg in a direction toward the foot thereof, said holding m ans being of such character as requires, to release said step, the rotation of said yoke on its pivot, acting in opposition to the said first mentioned means.

i. A stilt comprising a leg, a plurality of inclined, upwardly openin slots disposed on he outer side of said leg, a step positioned on the inner side of said leg in abutting but non-fined relation thereto, a yoke straddling said leg and said step, a pin adapted to pivotally connect said yoke to said step, a depression on each inner side of said yoke, adjacent said step, a bushing in said step, a plunger projecting from each end of said bushing, said plungers adapted, respectively, to engage the said depressions when said step and said leg are abutting, a spring interjacent said plungers, a tongue depending from the transverse portion of said yoke and disposed at the same inclination as are said slots and adapted to engage, singly, either as thereof, and a stop pin located on said leg above and. below the maximum range of movement of said yoke on said le In testimony whereof I am my signature.

G'Hl't l STIAN PETER SEN.

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