US1864227A

US1864227A - Toy

Info

Publication number: US1864227A
Application number: US402209A
Authority: US
Inventors: Anderson Frohman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1929-10-24
Filing date: 1929-10-24
Publication date: 1932-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 1949-06-21

Description

June 21, 1932. F. ANDERSON TOY Filed Oct. 24, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fits-:1

A 'TTORNE Y June 21, 1932. ANDERSON 1,864,227

TOY

Filed 0013. 24, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pic-1'6 A TTORNEY Patented June 21, 1932 PATE NT orrlce FROHMAN ANDERSON, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN TOY Application filed October 24,1929. Serial-No. eoaaoa This invention relates to toys, and particularly to that class of toys in which a walking movement is produced, the principal objectbeing the provision of new and novel means for producing this walking movement. I

Another object is to provide a toyrepresenting a walking animal, bird or other walking figure, in which arise and fall, or ahopping movement of thefigure occurs during the horizontal movement thereof.

Another objectis to provide a'toy of the class described having a. novel leg construction imparting a rise and fall to the toy during movement in a horizontal direction;

Another object is to provide a toy of the class described having a rotating leg member provided with three legs.

'Another object is to provide a'toy of the class described having a rotating leg member including three equally spaced legs and so constructed that during movement'not more than two legs will be visible at one time.

Another object is to provide a toy of the class described in which each of the leg members is provided with a foot for contact with the floor or other surface and through which the toy is supported from the floor, the bottom of the foot being so formed as to impart to the toy during horizontal movement a simultaneous up and down movement.

Another objectis to provide a toy of the class described in which the pulling force necessary to move the toy along the floor remains substantially constant during the'ele- Eating movementof the toy relative to the cor.

Another object is to provide a toy of the class described in which the angle between a line passing through the pivotal point of the leg member and the point of contactof the leg member with the floor, and a vertical line passing throughthe pivotal point of the leg member, remains substantially constant during movement of the to Another objectis to provide a toy ofthe class'des'cribed in which the feet are so shapedthat theplane of the floor is at all times tangent thereto when in contact therewith. A further object is to provide a toy of the class described features of construction that will be specifically pointed out in the following specificaion, or that will be obvious therein.

The above being among the objects of the present invention, the same consists in certain novel features of construction and combinatlons of parts to be hereinafter descrlbed wlth reference to the accompanying drawings, and

incorporating certain novel A then claimed, having the above and other objects in view. 1 1

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a suitable embodiment of the present invention, and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several different views,' I Fig. l is a side elevation of my toy, showing it in full lines in one position ofitsmovement and in dotted lines in another position of its movement. I

Fig. 2'is a fragmentary side elevation of my toy shown in another position of itsmovement. P

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken as on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are side views of the leg member of my toy showing thesame in vari- 011s states of rotation iniorder to illustrate the motion imparted tothe toy thereby. 7 Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, I show a toy comprising a main body portion 10 and a rotating leg member 11 pivoted to the main body portion 10 by a pin such as 12. I The main body poi tion is shown in the drawings as representing a monkey, it being understood that this is merely for the purpose of illustration and I that in practice this portion of the device may be formed to represent any type of animal, bird or other creature normally provided with legs by nature for the purpose of walking.

The main body portion 10 is preferably made up of two side members 13 (see Fig. 3) suitably spaced from each other, as shown, in order to provide clearance for the leg member 11 which rotates therebetween. For the purpose of economy in manufacture, the side members 13 are preferably made up from flat stock as shown, although it will be understood that the particular shape and formation of these side members are unimportant as far as the present invention is concerned. The leg; member..11.;is alsoepreferably made up ofifla-tfstock, as :indicated innFig, .8, for the purpose of economy.

As shown best in Figs. l to 6, inclusive, the

leg member 11 is providedkviththreeequally angularly spaced legs or leg portions 14 and,

each leg 14 is provided with a foot or foot portion 15. The toy is, of course, supported from the floor through the leg 14 and feet 15. The soles sof the. feet: 15: contact eachin their turn with; the ifioorn. As illustrated best 'inFig; 5, the solesof the feet are'so 'curvediin: relation tothe pivotal. point; of the, fo'otzmember that the .heel. ofeachfoot is closer .radial lylto the pivotal pointofthe :leg' member than is the toeiof-ltheefoot and the toeand-the heel are preferably connected through a'smoothcurve representing-the: soles-of the foot.- The toe and heel ofeachfoot, as: viewed inside elevation, preferably merge-- in-toi the sole of the foot in. a smooth andwell-rounded curve.

The result 'of the aboverdescri'bed constructitoni will be vobvi ous 1 and is -.-clearly shown in the drawings. Referring to Figs.-- 1 and-.41", thetoy; is shown inithe; onerposition iii-which two feetiare' simultaneously in contact with the-floor.- Inasmuchlas lihGSOlBaOf the forward-tfeot :at .a. pointadfiacent its heehis in contact with the floor, and inasmuch fiSriilflQ forwardefootdn such a position carries the greater proportionof theweight: of the a toy. and-1v further, asit is closer tothe pivotalcenter of the leg member than is thetoe of therea-r foot,- Jit will be-obviousa that when the leg member is inthis positionof rotation the toy itself assumes its lowest position with respect to the-ifloor. If, now,the=toy is moved forwardly, and-'assumingrthat; there is :sufiicient frictionbetween the: forward. :foot, as represented in Figs; 1 and..l,. and. the floor to prevent sl-ippingof. such foot, the, leg member 11 will soon. assume :the position indicated in Fig. 5;. In? this. positiomdneto. the. curvatureofthebottom of the footin contact with the floor, it will be apparent thati-the pivotal axis .ofthe leg memher, will have moved upwardly'with', respect tothe Afloor from. the ppsitioneindicated in Figs, 1 and 4:2" Upon continued: movement of the toy; and conseoplentw continued rotation of theileg member, it Will be apparent-gthat the: position of the pivotal. pointof thelegmember will continue to. rise: relative to the; floor 111111311 the toe" of the: foot comes: ina. ontact; .wit'h the; floor, as

that when the toy is moved along the floor the: friction between the -floor and; the leg member. cause-rot ation. of the. leg member and consequent rise and fall of the figure, which will impart to the figure that natural rise-and fal-l commonto walking movement.

While not essential to the broader aspects of the present invention, I prefer to so shape the-.bodymembenlll that only two of the legs 14: will at any time be visible in side elevation, as, this imparts :a' more: realistic: effect; to the toy; The body memberzl0: shown is shaped to achieve this: result.

Also, in the broader-aspects of the. present invention, the-particular.curvature of the sole" of the foot is .not 10f prime importance solongeas it is :so-shapedwiththe heel: of the foot radially closer to the. pivotal. point of the-leg member than the toe; of the. foot, so as to impart to the pivotal: point-and there-- forerthe body ofzthe. toy a rising and falling motion .during rotation of. the leg member. However, inuaccordance with: afurther obj ect of. the; present. invention, I prefer that the curvatureaof the SQlQtOZlllillG fOOll bear a predetermined .relationwithlrespect to the pivotal point of the-:legqmember; Specifically, I prefer-to .ferm thesole. of; the feet as; a; part of a. spiral havingzits center coincident with lillGxPlVOtEbl point of the leg'memben: Insucha-case the li'nedrawn through the point of contact ofthe foot with=the floor and 7 through wtheapivotali pointof "the :leg member (indicated in. Figs; 4:, :5 and Was the line,=18 18 and -18."respecti%vely) will. 'at all times; remain :at a constant angle with respect to-a verticala linezdrawnzthrough the pivotalpoint. of thesleg: member,; such vertical "line being indicated as 1 at 19, and the respective angles ineach :casebeing indicatedas-at A-.-A and A respectively, these anglesin such awcase. all being (equal. The reason-.fonthis-.istwofold; First,be'causerby maintaining such: angle constant. throughout the rotation'oftheleg member-,;the force-necessary to turn the leg member against gravity acting on the; body member will be substantially constant while'thesole: of any foot 1.5is lIlzCQl'ltflGli'W lli'l'l the-fioor-andthus during elevation? ofv the body member..- Further, because of the small: angle as which. is possibleltm maintain withithi's curve of the foot in 'a-Jthree-legged' member, it is possible to insure operation of'the toy-on surfaces affo'rdingga minimumioffriction. with the foot.

1s illustrated in Fig. 4. This figureillustrates the condition in which two of the feet are si-.

multaneously in contact with the floor. This is the position which the leg member will assume ordinarily when the toy is at rest, both legs sustaining a part of the weight of the toy. By shaping the feet as described, the point of contact of the forward leg or foot 15 with the floor with respect to the vertical line 19, which indicates the direction of the force of gravity acting on the body of the toy, will be considerably less than the distance of the point of contact of the rearward foot 15 with the line 19. These respective distances are represented in Fig. 4 as at 20 and 21 respectively. The result of this construction is that substantially all of the weight is carried on the forward foot, and thus relatively little effort is required to lift the rearward foot 15 when rotation-is again started, thus insuring rotation of the foot upon horizontal movement of the toy with a minimum of tendency of the foot to slide relative to the floor.

The result of the foregoing construction is that this formation of the leg member 11 and curvature of the soles of the feet 15 insures a toy of this type which has a hopping action during its walking movement, which will operate on a substantially smooth floor affording very little friction between the floor and the feet of the toy, and will require a minimum of effort to operate it.

Although not essential in all cases, it is preferable to provide some means connected with the toy for imparting movement to it. This means may comprise a handle member which may be formed as .a tail 25 as shown, or in any other suitable manner. It is also desirable to provide some means for maintaining the toy in the proper relative position with respect to the floor. One means of accomplishing this is shown in the drawings as comprising a cart-like object having a body portion 26, wheels 27 and a handle portion 28 which is preferably rigidly connected to the body of the toy, as shown. A string 29 may be attached to the cart 26 for pulling the same, if desired, or the cart may be equipped with any suitable type of motive power to turn the wheels 27. The cart may, of course, be placed either in front or back of the toy.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance of thebroad'invention, the scope of which is commensurate with theappended claims. v

What I claim is: 1. In a device of the combination, a main body member, a legmember pivotally secured'thereto, said leg member being provided with a plurality of angularly arranged legs thereon, each of said legs being provided with a foot, the sole of each of said feet being curved, and the sole of each of said feet adjacent the corresponding heel being. closer radially to the pivotal point of said leg member than the sole of said foot adjacent the toe thereof, and substantially all 'pointson said soles adapted for engagetype described, in

ment with a supporting surface.

' 2. In a toy, ofthe class described, in com-- bination, a body member and a leg member rotatably secured thereto, said'leg member having a plurality of legportions angularly arranged thereon, and-each of said leg por 1 tions terminating in afoot, the sole of each of said feet being of. relatively extended length and varying in distance from one end to the other-from the'axis of rotation of said leg member whereby to cause a continuous change in elevation of said body member rela tive to the surface on which said toy is sup ported during contact of said soles with said surfaceand movement of said toythereon. 3. Ina toy of'the class described, in combination, a body member and a leg member rotatably secured thereto, said leg member havinga plurality of leg portions angularly arranged thereon, and each of said leg portions terminating ina foot, the sole of each of said feet being formed as a part of an approximately spiral path the center of which is approximately coincidentwith the center of rotation of said leg member. f 4. In atoy of theclass described, in combination, a body member and a leg member rotatably secured thereto, said legmembe'rhav ing a'plurality of leg portions angularly arranged thereomand each of said leg portions terminating ina foot, the sole of said foot being formed as part of aspiral path having its center coincident with theaxisof rotation of said leg member. 7

" 5. Ina toyof ,the class described, in 'combination, a body member and'a leg member rotatably secured thereto, said leg member having a plurality of leg portions angularly arranged'thereon,-and each of said leg portions terminating in a foot,thesoles of said feet being formed to maintain a substantial ly constant angle between a vertical line passing through the axis of rotation of said leg member and a linejoining said axis with the point of contactxof said soles with the surface on which sai'd'toyis supported, during movement of said soles on said surface.

'6. Ina toy of the class described adapted to'be'moved' along a surfaceon which it'is' supportedgiin. :combination; a; body'imember andi a le'g memberfrotatably"securedthereto said leg member being provided withia plus rality of equally angularlyarrangedrleg memhers 'each of'which terminates in a footearranged-to oontactiwith the-supporting surface, the soles of said: feetsbeing so curvedirela time itoeaeh other that at those'points in the operation of said toy where two of saidlfeet are simultaneously in contact with said surface, the distance fromlthe point of intersec tion with said'su-rface' of a vertical line pass ing: through the axis iofrotationofsaid leg membertothe'point of contactof the forwand ofzsaid icontacting leg members 'with saidtsurface is. lesssthan; the distance from said line to the pointxofcontact ofthe rear ward of fsaiid contactingleg members with said'surface.

7 In: autoy ofrthe- .clfass described, a-fb0dy member,'and tasupporting'member rotatably secured :to'saidibody memberg-Isaid supporting member being" provided a supporting surface; formed as part oi a spiral, the center 0% whichxis substantially. coincident withthe line of pivot.v of said supporting memhenl.

8.; In. a toy or the like, in.-"c'ombination,.a main member; and 1 a plurality of rigidly in terconnected. members :adapted; to" support said main; memberfromza floor" or ther'like, said: supporting. memberszbeingzpivoted relay. tiweto said mainmemberaand being provided w-ithtax supporting surface adapted for rolling;.contact with said? floor, each successive I3 increment of lengthof eachsaid-supporting surface; in a direction opposite .-to ithe1nor mal direction of rotationfot said supporting member, increasingin radial distance from theline of. pivot ofsaidsupponting member,- over. themajor portion of .thelength. of. said surface.

{Jr-In. a toy-or the like,.incombination, a mainmember, andaplur-ality of. rigidlyfiniterconnected. members adapted to. support saidlmain. member. fromai-fioorz'or the like,

amaze said floor and; each formed asi an approximate spiral approximately axially concentric: with said" line not pivots.-

EROHMAN ANDERSON:

said supportingmembers:beingpivoted rela-.-

titeto said. main member andbeing. provided with a supportingsurface adapted for roll ingp. contact. with, said floor, .eachlsuccessive increment of length of'eachsaid supporting surface, in. awdirectionaopposite to the normaijdi rectionof rotation. ofsaid supporting member, increasing. in radial distance from thelineiof pivot of said supporting member, over the entire length of said surface:

10. In a. toy or the like, in combination, a mainmember, and a leg member mounted for pivotal movement relative thereto; a:plurali-' ty of leg portions :on. said. leg member. for equal rotation; therewith each having a foot, the sole of each. of: said feetadapted for con-- tact with a floor or. the like. over substantially. its entire length,.and :the. radial distance-of: the 1 succe'ssiwe increments in the length of each of: .said. isolesaconti-nuousl y varying: in-