US2028797A

US2028797A - Suspension rubber toy

Info

Publication number: US2028797A
Application number: US756597A
Authority: US
Inventors: Layard D Miller
Original assignee: LEE TEX RUBBER PRODUCTS CORP
Current assignee: LEE TEX RUBBER PRODUCTS CORP; LEE-TEX RUBBER PRODUCTS Corp
Priority date: 1934-12-08
Filing date: 1934-12-08
Publication date: 1936-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 1953-01-28

Description

Jan, 285, N36. 1.. D. MILLER SUSPENSION RUBBER TOY Filed Dec. 8, 1934 Patented Jan. 28, 1936 PATENT OFFICE 2,028,797 H SUSPENSION RUBBER TOY Layard D. Miller, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Lee- Tex Rubber Products Corporation, Chicago, 111., a. corporation of Delaware Application December 8, 1934, Serial No. 756,597

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a rubber toy constructed with a view to suspension in use. It is somewhat in the nature of a balloon adapted to be filled or inflated with air or other gas. More particularly the present improvements are directed to certain features in the way of looped tubular protuberances on the surface of the balloon, and to the method of their manufacture. These projections may take various forms, and the toy itself may be so shaped as to simulate almost any desired object in whole or in part a human figure, an animal, a grotesque character, etc.

It is a primary purpose of my invention to devise for such a rubber toy a strong, simple and practical means of suspension whereby the toy may be hung up to view and withstand the customary handling and usage. In addition, the suspension feature herein to be described is ad- 20 vantageous in that the means employed for this purpose is integral with the toy itself, is tubular and in communication with the interior of the body so as to receive therefrom air or other gas used to fill or inflate the toy, is reinforced to 25 better sustain the load depended therefrom, and

also to restrain any but a minor amount of inflation of such suspension means, and is opaque as distinguished from the body of the toy which may be and usually is endowed with a considerable degree of translucency.

An exemplification of this invention is set forth in the accompanying drawing wherein- Figure 1 is a view in plan of a suggested form or core;

35 Fig. 2 is a similar view of the form with a rubber coating applied thereto;

Fig. 3 is a view in section through the rubber coating with a portion, but not all, of the form removed; and

40 Fig. 4 is a view of the completed rubber toy,

as when air-filled or inflated.

In the ensuing description I shall discuss by way of exemplification a rubber toy adapted to be air-filled or inflated in accordance with usual practice. Toys of this kind may be produced with the aid of forms having an infinite variety of shapes whereby the completed toy body may simulate almost any desired figure, animal, object, etc. The toy B shown best in Fig. 4, is of generally spherical shape to resemble a grotesque head having certain facial markings f. Additionally it is provided with tubular external protuberances, such as ears E, prongs P, and a central stem S formed to provide a loop or eye e.

The form or core for producing an article, such as shown in Fig. 4, may be made of paper or other material which will meet the requirements of this invention. It is desirable that the form be discerptible or disintegrable following the several 5 operations to which it is subjected. As shown, the form is provided with a central head 5 of generally circular shape having a depending neck 6 and opposed side extensions 1, also a pair of diverging fingers 8 between which is a central 10 finger 9 terminating in an eye In.

A paper form or core having a shape appropriate for producing the desired article is covered with a liquid rubber composition to provide a coating Which, upon solidification, may be removed from the form. In this operation the form is severed along the lines II, as indicated in Fig. 3, whereby the core pieces 1, 8 and 9 remain confined within the coating. To the lower end of the neck may be applied a mouthpiece I2, and, if desired, the neck may be equipped with a valve l5, as shown.

A rubber toy which is produced in the manner described is provided with certain tubular external protuberances, each reinforced by a core piece of corresponding size and shape. This is advantageous because, when inflated, it is these protuberances or the places where they join with the main body of the toy that are weakest, and so require reinforcement. The core pieces within such protuberances furnish an adequate reinforcement. In addition, the presence of these core pieces acts to restrain inflation of the tubular protuberances which are integral with the toy body and in communication therewith.

The center protuberance at the top of the toy body is equipped with a loop or eye e, as above noted. Unless reinforced, this loop would probably be valueless for suspension purposes. Owing to the presence of the corepiece which extends around the loop, this latter element is sufliciently strong to serve as a point of suspension for the toy when depended from a cord I6 of rubber, string, or other desired material.

The attractiveness of such a rubber toy is en- 5 hanced by having effective decoration applied to its surface. The rubber of which the toy is formed may be fairly clear and translucent so that light will pass therethrough to enhance the effectiveness of the decoration upon its surface. A pleas- 5O ing contrast is afforded by the opaque character of the external protuberances, due to the presence in each of the core pieces severed from the remainder of the form about which the toy is made. These several advantages, separately or together,

all contribute to the improved character of the present toy for which I desire protection as set in communication therewith, and a core piece confined within the tubular protuberance and extending through the loop to restrain inflation thereof. ,7

' 2. In a rubber toy, the combination of a main inflatable body, a tubular external protuberance integral with the body in communication there with and formed to provide a loop, and a core piece confined within thetubular protuberance and extending around the loop acting both to re: inforce the loop and restrain inflation thereof.

3. In a rubber toy, the combination of a main inflatable body, a tubular external protuberance integral with the body in communication with the interior thereof and formed to provide therefor a suspension means, and a reinforcement 10 within the tubular protuberance acting topermit a restrained inflation thereof. it 1 LAYARD D. MILIER.