US1863393A - Hobbyhorse - Google Patents

Description

June 14, 1932. L 1, BRENNAN 1,863,393

HOBBYHORSE Filed April 2. 1951 Joh? J//e/ma/, @5% /Mdfmq Patented June 14, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT; oFFlclzpA JOI-IN J'. BRENNAN, 0F LANSING, MICHIGAN IHOBBYHORSE Application filed April 2, 1931.

An object of this invention is the production of a toy of the nature stated which may be propelled by a young child seated astride thereof, and which during its progress by reason of features comprising front and rear l0 wheels rotatiyely supported at one side of the center thereof suitable devices will be actuated whereby pivoted head and neck portion, leg members, and a tail appendage will be moved to stimulate the natural motions thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a hobby horse having parts of special construction and arrangement believed to be of simple formation, that may be made very strong, and which cannot get out of order or be readily broken in use by the child.

The special construction and disposition of the parts of this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which Fig.

1 represents a vertical interior View of the construction, throughout its length and showing all parts assembled, partly sectional with one side removed.

Fig. 2 is a partly sectional view showing the preferred mode of making the joint in the leg members.

Throughout the descriptionand drawing the same number is used to refer to the same part.

Considering the drawing, the body portion of the ligure is composed of two side boards or pieces such as the side 1, and these and supported in place by the blocks 8 and 9.

Extending downwardly and forwardly at the forward end of the body are support-ing arms or plates 10 and 11, and at the rear Serial No. 527,335.

and extending rearwardly are similar supporting plates or boards 12 and 13. lt will be understood that there are ytwo side boards such as the side 1 comprisingk the body of the horse, and that the supporting arm 10 is attached to the side 1, and the duplicate arm 11 is secured to the duplicate of side 1 not shown. The front wheel 16Y is located between the lower ends of the arms 10 and 11. In like manner at the rear, there are- -two supporting arms 12 and 13, the first being secured to side 1 as shown, and arm 13 being attached to the duplicate of side 1 not shown. The axle 14 of the front wheel passes as shown through the supports 10 and 11, and the axle 15 of the rear wheel passes likewise through the supports 12 and 13. The front wheel is marked 16 andthe rear wheel 17. It will be noted'that the axles of the wheels; are located at a distance toV one side of the center of each wheel. Bearing upon the top of the front wheel 16 is a roller 18 pivotally carried by the lever 19 having the fulcrum or pivot pin 20. l At the opposite end from the roller 18 the lever 19 car- .T

ries a link 21 which is connected pivotally with the neck 22 of the horse. The neck is pivotally carried on the pin 23. The neck has a link 24 in pivotal connection with a pin 25, and the pin 25 is secured to the upper end of the leg member 26. The pin passes through a suitable slot such as the slot 26a in the support 10, and it will be understood that the support 11 has alike slot through which pin passes into connection with a second leg member like the leg 26 but not shown. It will be understood that there are two front legs 26' exactly alike in shape, and there are two rear legs 35 which are duplicates. The legs are pivotally supported at the front byV pivot pin 20, and at the rear by the like pivot 35a. As the body of the horse moves up and down in its operative progress the legs swing back and forth upon the pivots.

As illustrated, the head 27 of the horse may be connected in vertical and lateral swinging relation with the neck 22 by means of the coil springs 28 and 29. It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the bridle rein 27a is connected positivelywith the head 27 which can be moved vertically or sidewise by manipulating the rein. It will be further observed that the jaw 28aJ is pivoted to the head, the pivot being marked 28d, and the 5 jaw may be opened by drawing upon the auxiliary rein or cord 28o, and the lower spring 28 is attached tothe pivoted jaw in such manner .as to return the jaw Ainto its closed position shown. Strap 28o is flexible. The two coil springs act to maintain the head normally in the position illustrated.

A spring 30 keeps the roller 18 in contact with the tire of the front wheel 16.

At the rear, the roller 31 `islocated incontaot with the tire of the rear wheel 17, and Vis carried upon the lower end ofthe lever '32. The lever 32 bears'a pin 33 that ipasses through asuitable slot 34 in the support or ibracket 12 andaisattached to the leg member 35. As explained for the front leg members, the pin 33 also passesthrough asimilar slot in l'thesupport 13 and is attached to a second hind leg member like the member y35 but .not shown.

The upper end of thelever 32 is pivotally :connected to azrocker varm 36 and .the tail`37 of :the 'horse :is attached to kthe arm 36. There will :beihere noted in Fig. 1 awire or ycord38attached to the lever`32and extending upwardly through the top or body v4 of thehorse. The lever 32 may thus be pulled upwardly by hand Vby drawing yupon vthe wire 38.

A spring :39 drawing upon the arm 36 downwardly, keeps the roller 31 in contact -'with ithe ftire vof the rear vwheel 17.

`Considering Fig. 2, the preferred `form of knuckle joints for the leg members `is set forth. .Astripof'metal 40 is hidden in the lupper portion fof 1the yleg Vmember 411 yand .extends v'downwardly in'to .the lower porti on =of the Elegmember 'wherein it isl engaged piv- \otally vvby a transverse pin 41 yand the lower end-ofsthe-strip-rmoves in the slot 42 in the 45 flower leg portion. The lower portions Yof :the leg Ymembers are `:thus movable with vreispect to the 'upper portions, t'and lin Ethe -front `leg, as inthe living animal, the lower part "of the leg may swing 'backwardly, while in Ythe rear legthelower part swings forwardly. The ihoof portions fare not usually articulated.

In the-operationbf this invention, let it be assumedthat the horse is propelled bythe rider'in-a forward direction. Due to the fact fthatthe aXles-of .the Vwheels are'at one side -of ithe center, the body'of the horse will be rraised 'and lowered as r'it progresses, and at v:the-same time the lneck l22 -will be vmoved up anddown. This movement willfcarry the head 27 with itpbut as the-strap or cord 280 Ashown in Fig. 1 is'connected with V'the pivoted jaw and with the lfront support -or bracket 11, asthe head wags up'and down the jaw opensandrcloses.y kAt thesameftime the front leg members 26 are swung back and forth giving the impression of a running horse. At the rear the lever 32 rises and falls as rear wheel 17 rotates, and the leg member 35 is swung back and forth upon its pivot 35a, and at the same time the tail 37 is wagged up .and down by arm 36. If the wheels are vin .the positions illustrated, Athe movement lifts and lowers the body as a whole, imitative of a trotting horse. But if the wheels are arranged sothat the Abody rocks, the movement is that of a galloping horse.

'It is not intended to limit this invention to any particular size, material or color, or to the precise shape of any part. Modifications vare obviously readily devised.

Having 'now -described rthis invention, I claim'z- 1. A hobby horse having in combination wheels rotatively supported Aat one side of the center thereof whereby thebodyportion of the horse is raisedand lowered as it progresses, a pivoted head and neck portion, pivoted leg members, and means operated by the rise and fall of the body and the eccen- Ytric movement `of the wheels whereby the head and neck portion and the leg Amembers are moved.

2. A hobby horse having in combination, front and rear wheels rotatively supported at one side of the center thereof whereby the body Vportionof the horse is raisedand lowered in :its progress,:a ypivoted head and neck portion, means whereby said head'and neck portion is moved by the eccentricfrotation ofV the front wheel, front and rear leg members,

andmeans whereby the said rear leg-members means-connected with said rear leg members and operated by the said rear wheel for moving the said rear leg members.

4. Ahobby horse having in combination a .front wheel and a rear wheel supported at one lside of the center thereof whereby .the body portion of the horse is raised and lowered as it progresses, rear leg members, means pivotally connected with the said leg members and arranged to :be operated by the eccentric Vrotation of the said :rear wheel, and devicesconnected with the saidleg operating means andrextending to lthe external surface of the body portionof the horse in .reachof the hand whereby a kicking motion may be given to the said rear leg members.

5. A hobby horse having in combination a rear wheel rotatively supported at one side of the center whereby the body portion of the horse is raised and lowered as it progresses, rear leg members, means pivotally connected with the said leg members and arranged to be operated by the eccentric rotation of the said rear wheel, a pivoted tail, and means con-V nected with said tail and and said legs operating means whereby the said tail is moved.

6. A hobby horse having in combination front and rear wheels rotatively supported at one side of the center whereby the body portion of the horse is given up and down movements as it progresses, said horse having a pivoted head and neck portion, means actuated by said front wheels for moving said head and neck portion, the said head having a pivoted jaw portion, and means connected with said jaw portion and with the front wheel supports whereby when the head is raised the jaw appears to be opened and to close when said head falls.

7 A hobby horse having in combination front and rear wheels, said horse having a pivoted head and neck portion, the said head and neck being spring connected, means comprising a rein extending to the saddle of the horse for moving the said head, a jaw portion pivoted to the head, and means connected with the j aw and extending to the saddle for actuating the jaw by itself.

In testimony whereof I afX my signature.

JOHN J. BRENNAN.

Images