US1801676A - Figure toy - Google Patents

Description

April 21, 1931. MALLARD 1,801,676

FIGURE TOY Filed April '22, 1929 2 SheetsSheet l L.L.MZ ar M X I v April 1931- L. MALLARD 1,801,676

FIGURE TOT! Filed April 22, 1929 2 Sheets -Sheet" 2 KY gwue'ntoz L. MQ Zia/mi llIlIlIlllllllL Patented Apr. 21, 1931 imam L. IvIALLARn'or NORFOLK, VIRGINIA ,j FIGURE troy Application filed April 22,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in figure toys and more particularlyto a walking toy, the primary object being to provide a toy of the class described which gives a natural walking movement to a figure as it is drawnover the ground.

A still further object of' the invention resides in providing a combined walking and rolling toy which is so constructed that" the legs are actuated directlyfrom the rolling or traction elements, as the device ispropelled. 1 f r Still another. object of the inventionvre- .15 sides in eccentrically'mounting the wheels on the device so as'to produce a tilting action'to the toy as the same is drawn over the ground. 7 7 7 Still another object of the invention resides in producing the eccentric action in connection with the wheels of the device through the medium of an improved con-' struction in a crank shaft supporting-said wheels on the body of thedevice.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a device which is simple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and one which will be very pleasing and interesting in use. I

With these and numerous other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a partof this application, v

Figure l is a side elevation of a toy con- 40 structed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a bottomplan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the same;

Figure at is a diagrammatic view showing a crank shaft constructed in accordance with my invention andillustrating the posi 1929. Serial my. 357,289.

the

shaft as the latter is rotated.

In describing my invention, I shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which 1 designates a base plate or support upon which is mounted the body 2, representing the body of a wagon. In order to support this body 2 in substantially a horizontal position, the supports 3 are provided between the body 2 and the plate or support 1. A sliding door 4 is provided in the rear of the body 2 which is adapted to contact with the plate 1 when said door is in its lower most position and when said door is raised, the contents of the body 2 may be ejected therefrom, as in a chute, inasmuch as the base member or plate l'is normally in an upwardly inclined position toward its forward end, as will be hereinafter and mor particularly set forth. 7

Mounted on the support or plate 1 at the forward end thereof, is a head 5 repre senting the head of a horse, although I do not wish to be limited to this particular design. This is merely illustrative and it will be understood that any other designs may be utilized. 1 f

'Pivoted as shown at 6 to each side of the plate "or support 1 adjacent the forward end thereof, is a leg member 7. These leg members are adapted to be operated to produce a walking motion, as will be hereinafter and more particularly set forth.

Depending from the bottom of the member 1 adjacent the rear end thereof on each side is a support 8. Mountedon the bottom faces of the support 8 for rotation thereon is a crank shaft 9. This crank shaft is specifically of anovel construction to produce eccentricity with respect to the wheels connected therewith and a tilting motion to the device as it is propelled. In carrying out this idea, the shaft 9 is provided with the U-shaped crank portions 10, the outer opposed arms 11 of which are of greater length than the inner opposed arms 12 thereof. This may be clearly observed in Figure i of the drawings. The outwardly extending stub axles 13, forming the ends of the crank shaft upon which the wheels 14 are frictionally mounted, are inclined or offset slightly from the horizontal, as clearly shown in Figure 4:. This inclination of each of the stub axles 13 is the same on both sides so thatiir one position of the crank shaft, the stub axle 13. will be directed upwardly, and the stub axle of the crank shaft at the opposite endwill-bedirected downwardly, but the stub axles in such position will be 'in' longitudinal alignment and on a line passing directly through the center of the crank shaft 9, as illustrated by dot and dash lines in Figure f.

From this construction, it will be seen that the wheels 1 f mounted on the 'stub axles 13 will rotate eccentrically with respect to the body of the crank shaft 9, but at the same time will be thrown laterally to one side and the other in unison.

The crank portions 10 of the shaft 9 are connected with the legs 7 through the medium of pitmans 15 and by reason of this particular construction of the crank shaft heretofore described, the toy, as it is propelled, will be tilted from side to side to permit the walking action of the legs to become more effective and thus produce a more realistic and more amusing toy. A flexible connection 16 is engaged with the head member 5 so that the toy may be drawn along the surface of the ground by a child and as it is drawn, the wheels 14 will be rotated, obviously rotating the crank shaft 9 and causing the legs 7 to produce a walking action. The device will be tilted from side to side, as stated above, when the device is propelled and by being tilted, each leg is permitted to be lifted from the ground without dragging, which would be true, were the wheels not eccentrically mounted.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improved device, the manner of applying the same to use and its operation generally, as well as the details of construction thereof, will be readily un derstood, and it will be seen that I have provide a simple, inexpensive and efficient means for carrying out the objects of the invention.

While I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functionsset forth, it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a figure toy, a, body, legs pivotally mounted on the forward end thereof, the crank shaft mounted on said body at the rear end thereof, connections between the legs and the crank portions of said shaft to actuate the former upon the rotation of the latter and ground engaging wheels secured to the ends of said crank shaft on axes angular to the axis of the crank shaft,

whereby to provide a tilting movement to the body and a walking action to the legs, as the device is propelled.

2. In a figure toy, a body, legs pivotally mounted on the forward end thereof, a crank shaft mounted on said body at the rear end thereof, link connections between the legs and the respective crank portions of said shaft to actuate the former upon the rotation of the latter, and wheels rigidly mounted on the ends of said crank shaft, said ends being disposed out of alignment with the body of the crank shaft to position said wheels eccentrically with respect to the body of said crank shaft, whereby to produce a tilting motion to the body and a walking action to the legs as the device is propelled.

3. In a figure toy, a body, legs pivotally mounted on the forward end thereof, a crank shaft mounted on said body at the rear end thereof, link connections between the legs and the crank portions of said shaft to actuate the former upon the rotation of the latter, the ends of said crank shaft being directed out of alignment with the body of the crank shaft and ground engaging wheels mounted on said unaligned ends of the crank shaft and rigidly connected thereto, whereby when said device is propelled, the body will be titled and the legs given a walking action. .7 4:- In a figure toy, a body, legs pivotally mounted on the forward end thereof, a crank shaft mounted on said body at the rear end thereof, link connections between the legs and the crank portions of said shaft to actuate the former upon the rotation of the latter, the outer opposed arms of each crank portion being longer than the inner opposed arms thereof and said crank shaft having its ends bent outwardly with respect to said longer arms of the crank portions to provide eccentric mountings thereon, and ground engaging wheels rigidly mounted on the last mentioned ends of said crank shaft, whereby when the device is propelled, the body will be tilted alternately from side to side and the legs given a walking motion.

5. In a figure toy, a body, legs pivotally mounted on the forward end thereof, a crank shaft mounted on said body at the rear end thereof, link connections between the legs and the crank portions of said shaft to actuate the former upon the rotation of the latter, the outer opposed arms of the crank portions of said crank shaft bein of greater length than the inner oppose arms angularly from said longer arms to form stub axles, the stub axles being bent out of alignment with the body of the crank shaft and in alignment with a plane passing through the center of the crank shaft at an angle to the Vertical plane thereof, and wheels rigidly mounted on said stub axles, as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LOGAN L. MALLARD.

thereof and end portions bent-

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