US2071129A - Dancing toy - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 16, 1937. G, s, KNlCKE-RBQCKER I 2,071,129

vDANCING TOY File d Feb. 16v, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 16, 1.937. s. s. KNlcKr-:RBOCKER I 2,071,129

DANCING TOY Filed Feb. 16, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 #Hom Py Patented Feb. 16, 1937 PATENT OFFICE DANCING TOY George S. Knickerbocker, Minneapolis, Minn., as-

signor of fifty per cent to James G.Bem1ett,

Minneapolis, Minn.

Application February 16, 1935, Serial No. 6,906

Claims.

This invention relates to a toy device and particularly to a toy4 device comprising a figure adapted to dance.

It is an object of this invention to provide such 5 a toy device which can be very easily, quickly and inexpensively made.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such` a toy device comprising a platform and a figure vhaving pivoted leg portions with feet substantiallyy engaging said platform, the platform being adapted to vibrate to cause said figure to dance and said'iigure being so mounted that it may jump on said platform.

kIt is still another object of the invention to provide a ytoy device comprising a base, a platform, a gure and means resiliently supporting said platform and ligure which are quickly detachable from said base and figure so that all parts may be compactly packed for transportation.v Y

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accom- 4 panying drawings, in which like reference char- 2 acters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the toy device; Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation thereof; y F'ig. 3 is a top plan View of the device with the ligure removed;

Fig. 4 is a partial view of the gfure and sup.- porting means in rear elevation; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the figure-sup l porting member.

Referring to the drawings, a toy device is shown comprising a base I0. While this base may be variously formed and made of various materials, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as a board or plate substantially rectangular in form with slightly rounded corners and of considerable thickness so that it will have some weight. Said base has secured to its under side four buttons II which will preferably be made of rubber or some other suitable yielding material. The base I0 is shown as having a substantially at top and a pair of apertured members I2 are secured in said top adjacent the forward portion of said base, said members being alined transversely of said base. While different members may be used, members I2 are illustrated as staples driven into said base. A pair of headed members I3 are secured in the top of said base in the rear respectively of members I2, said members projecting some distance above the top of said base.' A member I4 is provided made of a resilient wire or rod, said member having sub'- stantially parallel portions I4a having terminal Darts IMJ of comparatively short length, said parts being bent substantially at a right angle to extend away from each other. The parts Mb are detachably or removably received in the members I2 and portions Ida are then sprung to extend along the outside of members I3, being held under the headsthereof. Member I4 is thus firmly secured to base I0 but may be very quickly detached therefrom. Members Ilia extend rearwardly from members I3 above base I0 for a considerable distance and are then reversely bent to extend forwardly over said base, said portions` being united by a bight or curved portion Illc. A platform I5 is provided and is secured to the upper parts of members Ilia. by the staples I6. Another pair of apertured members I'I are secured in the rear of base I, the same being alined transversely of said base and while these members may take various forms, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated they are also shown as staples driven into base Iii. A member I8 is provided macle of a resilient wire or rod, the same having' spaced portions Ia resting on base I0, said portions having terminal partsv Ib of short length bent substantially at right angles to extend away from each other. Portions |81)` are received in members I1. Portions I8a are moved toward each other against the resiliency of member I8 and are then allowed'to separate so that portions Ib are kept in place. Portions l8a eX- tend upwardly and somewhat rearwardly from base Il) and then have forwardly extending portions I8c. Portions I8c are then bent upwardly substantially at a right angle and are joined by a bight IBd. A figure I9 is provided formed of rather thick sheet or plate-like material. While figure I9 may take vario-us forms of animals and other creatures, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as the figure of a man having arm portions I9a with his hands Ib resting on his hips. Said figure has thigh portions ISc, each having a tongue portion ISd received in a slot in the body portion of the figfure. ASaid body and tongues I9d are pivotally connected by pivot members 2D. Said thigh portions i at their lower ends are pivotally connected to the leg portions ISe, the latter having tongues I9f received in slots in the lower ends of portions ISC and connected thereto by the pivots 2 I. The leg portions ISe are each provided with a comparatively large foot portion Ig, the lower surface of which is normally substantially in contact with the top surface of platform I5. The

figure I9 has secured in its rear upper portion three headed members or screws 22 and the biglht portion Id extends over the top member 22 and is sprung to have its side portions resiliently engaging the other two members 22. Said bight portion Id is held beneath the heads of members 22. The platform I5 has a substantially at top and has a projecting narrow front I5a.

In operation, with the toy assemblied as shown in Fig. l, the operator will press down on the front portion I5a o-f the platform I5 and then release the same quickly. 'Ihe platform is depressed against the tension of member I4 where it is bent at the rear. Platform I5 springs upwardly when released and vibrates rapidly due to the resiliency of member I4, said vibrations beingl substantially vertical. An efficient vibration is secured by having the member I4 extend quite a long distance to the rear so that long resilient arms are obtained for supporting platform I5.V

In its upward movement the platform strikes the feet I9g and the figure I9 is given an impulse, causing it to vibrate due to the resiliency of member I8. 'Ihe figure bends about the pivots 20 and 2| and dances on the platform I5. The portion I5a can be engaged and released by the operator in rhythm with a certain tune and the taps of the feet on platform I5 will also keep time or be in rhythm with the tune. The gure thus dances or clogs to music. When a direct impulse is given to the figure when it is in the straight position as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 the figure is moved upwardly, moving member I8 which swings about the axis of portions I8b as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The gure thus simulates a jump on the platform which greatly heightens the effect of its dancing. This function is, as stated, made possible by having member I8 pivoted to swing rearwardly. The figure is balanced so that it immediately returns to the position with members I8a. in contact with base member I8. Such jumping occurs at intervals during the dance.

The member I4 is quickly removable from the base member I0 by springing portions I4a and removing them from engagement with members I3 and then removing portions |42;` from members I2. When secured in position as shown member I4 is firmly held due to its resiliency and there is no movement to cause any noise while the figure is dancing. The member I8 may also be quickly removed by pressing portions I8a together and removing portions I8b from members I'I. Member I8 can also be quickly removed from figure I9 by pressing together the sides of the bight portion I8d and releasing it from members 22. With members I4 and I 8 thus removed the toy can be packed in comparatively small space so as to be conveniently placed in a box. The position of the figure in having its hands on its hips is desirable and important as it apparently adds to the diiiiculty of the dance.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a very simple and easily operated toy. 'Ihe parts are of simple construction Y and can be readily assembled and disassembled.

The operation of the figure in dancing is very entertaining and amusing and the platform l5 can be vibrated in different frequencies togive different steps to the gure. The figure is decorated and painted to simulate an attractive costume which gives a great appeal to the toy. The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very successful and efcient.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed iszl. A toy device having in combination, a base, a resilient means secured to said base, a platform secured to said resilient means and supported in substantially horizontal position above said base, a resilient member supported by said base and upstanding from the rear portion thereof normally resting thereon but pivotally mounted to swing rearwardly and having a forwardly extending portion and a figure supported by said last mentioned portion and depending therefrom having portions pivotally connected about substantially horizontal pivots, said figure having footportions substantially engaging said platform whereby upon vibration of said platform and resilient means said figure will dance and may jump by said member swinging rearwardly.

2. A toy device having in combination, a base having a substantially flat top, a pair of members having openings secured to said base alined transversely thereof adjacent its front portion, a pair of members having overhanging portions secured to said base in the rear of said members, a platform supporting member made of a resilient wire or rod having substantially parallel portions with terminal parts removably received in said openings, said portions being sprung to engage said second mentioned members and retained in such engagement by their resiliency, said portions extending rearwardly and being reversely bent to extend forwardly over said base member, a platform carried by said portions spaced above said base, means supported on the rear of said base and extending upwardly and then forwardly at a slight angle to the horizontal, a gure suspended from said means having leg portions pivoted about substantially horizontal pivots whereby said platform and first mentioned member may be vibrated with substantially vertical vibrations and said last mentioned means will vibrate said figure substantially vertically so that said figure will tap said platform with great frequency and Y said first mentioned member and platform may be quickly detached from said base.

3. A toy device having in combination, a base having a substantially iiat top, a pair of members having openings secured to said base alined transversely thereof adjacent its front portion, a pair of members having overhanging parts secured to said base in the rear of said members, a platform supporting member made of a resilient wire or rod having spaced portions extending longitudinally of said base with terminal parts removably received in said openings from the adjacent sides of said first mentioned members and held in said openings by the resiliency of said portions, said portions being sprung to engage the remote sides of said second mentioned members and disposed under said overhanging parts, said portions extending rearwardly and being reversely bent to extend forwardly over said base member, a platform carried by said portions spaced above said base, a pair of spaced members having openings secured to said base and transversely alined at the rear thereof, a member made of resilient wire or rod having substantially horizontally disposed portions resting on said base, said latter portions having terminal parts removably and pivotally received in said last mentioned openings from the adjacent sides of said last mentioned spaced members and held therein by the resiliency of said last mentioned member, said portions extending upwardly and then forwardly, a figure suspended from said latter portions over said platform, said iigure having sections pivoted about substantially horizontal pivots and having foot portions substantially engaging said platform whereby said first mentioned member and platform can be quickly detached from said base and said second member may be quickly detached from said base.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3, said gure having a plurality of headed members secured in the rear thereof, said second member having said portions thereof extending forwardly thereof connected by a bight which extends over one of said last mentioned members and has its sides sprung to engage other of said last mentioned members whereby said gure is detachably connected to said second 'member and may be quickly detached therefrom.

5. A toy device having in combination, a base, a resilient means secured to said base, a platform secured to said resilient means and supported in substantially horizontal position above said base, a resilient member pivoted about a horizontal axis at the rear portion of said base, said resilient member normally resting on said base and having an upwardly extending portion and a for# wardly extending portion projecting therefrom, a gure supported on said forwardly extending portion and depending therefrom, said figure having substantially horizontal foot portions substantially engaging the top of said platform whereby upon vibration of said platform said first mentioned member will flex and vibrate owing to its resiliency and said figure will dance, said first mentioned member occasionally swinging bodily about said axis with said figure giving the eifeot of a jump by said figure.

GEORGE S'. KNICKERBOCKER.

Images