US2108726A

US2108726A - Mechanical toy

Info

Publication number: US2108726A
Application number: US119846A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rocuskie Edward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-01-09
Filing date: 1937-01-09
Publication date: 1938-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 1955-02-15

Description

Feb, 15, ma E RQC SK E mowm MECHANI CAL TOY Fiied Jan. 9, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Edward Rom/ k z'e INVENTOR v ATTORNEYS E. ROCUSKIE MECHANICAL TOY Feb. E5, 393.,

Fil ed Jan. 9, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Edward Focus/r z'e Patented Feb. 15, 1938 NETED STATES ATET orics Application January 9,

'7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a new and improved mechanical toy.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a mechanical toy vehicle supported on a turn-table or the like, with means provided for controlling rotation of the turn-table and the steering of the vehicle thereon.

A further object is to provide a rotatable turntable with a mechanical toy vehicle supported thereon, the surface of the turn-table having a series of hazards forming a part thereof, remote control means being provided for steering the vehicle so as to avoid the hazards during the rotation of the turn-table.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of the application.

.In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the mechanical toy with parts broken away to illustrate the interior mechanism thereof.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the means for steering the vehicle; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the toy vehicle.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description thereof, the numeral 5 indicates the box-like structure of the toy, the same being substantially rectangular shaped and the Interior thereoi adapted to retain and conceal the mechanism for operating the toy. A rotatable turntable 8 is mounted. on the top surface of the structure 5 and is keyed to the shaft 6, said shaft extending within the interior of the box. Carried by the shaft 6' is a gear wheel 'i in mesh with the worm gear 8 mounted on a longitudinal shaft 9. The longitudinal shaft 9 has one end supported in a bracket in extending from the side wall i l of the box and the other end thereof extends thru the end wall i2 of the box and is journalled therein. As is understood, the shaft 9 is rotatablymounted and for assisting in the rotation thereof there is provided a flywheel l3 carried by the shaft and mounted between the worm gear 8 and the end wall [2 of the box. Various means may be provided for causing rotation of the shaft, but for purposes of illustration there is disclosed a handle M secured to the shaft for manual operation. A spring motor or any other means may be provided for rotating the shaft 9 without departing from the spirit of the invention. Rotation of the shaft 9 thru operation of the handle I4 rotates the worm gear 1937, Serial No. 119,846

8 which, thru the wheel gear I and shaft 6, causes rotation of the turn-table 6.

A toy vehicle i5 is supported on the turn-table 6 and by means of the steering mechanism, to be later described, is movable across the turntable as the same is rotated. The steering of the toy vehicle I5 as the turn-table is rotated either clockwise or counter-clockwise thru the shaft 9, causes the vehicle to avoid the series of hazards I 6 placed on the surface of the turntable. The hazards are so positioned that by skillful steering of the vehicle it will follow the highways and avoid contact with the hazards.

The means for steering the toy vehicle is more clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. A transverse slot H is provided in the top of the box 5 thru which extends, and is adapted to move therein, a rod it, said rod being attached to the front end of the vehicle 15 by a universal joint connection l9. It is to be noted that the rod it extends above the turn-table and has its end bent for attachment to the vehicle, the universal joint connection i9 permitting free movement of the front end of the vehicle should the same contact one of the hazards.

A transverse rod 20 is disposed beneath. the slot ii and has each end thereof secured to the side walls of the box 5. The end. of the rod it which moves within the slot I! is anchored to a bearing 2 i, said bearing being freely movable on the rod 20 and adapted to move thereon during the steering of the vehicle. For steering the vehicle there is provided a shaft 22 having one end thereof freely mounted in a bearing plate 23 secured to the end wall of the box 5 and the opposite end carrying a steering wheel 25. Supported intermediate the ends of the shaft 22 is a block 25 around which is wound an endless cable 26, said cable riding over pulleys 2'5 secured to each side wall of the box 5. Extending down- Wardly from the bearing 2! is an arm 28 from which extends at right angles thereto an arm 29 thru which the cable 26 is threaded, said arm 23 being adapted to move with the travel of the cable,- thereby moving the bearing 21 along the rod 2i). Movement of the bearing 2! causes movement of the vehicle IE tothe right or left along the surface of the turn-table.

The operation of the toy from the above description is believed to be clearly obvious. The player causes rotation of the turn-table by moving the shaft 9 either clockwise or counter-clockwise by rotation of the handle 14. As the turntable'is rotated, the steering wheel 24 is grasped by the player and by turning the same either to the right or to the left, the rod It may be caused to move within the slot I! so as to move the vehicle to either the right or the left to avoid the hazards positioned on the turn-table. Rotation of the steering wheel causes the cable 25 to move over its pulleys 21 and during its movement to urge the bearing 2i along the shaft 26.

. In order to maintain the vehicle E5 in constant contact with the surface of the turn-table 6 there is provided a counter-weight 30 which extends at right angles from the bearing 2| and is substantially parallel to the rod 18. It is to be understood that the counter-weight 30 will permit the vehicle to move in a vertical manner as it contacts the hazards but thru the counterweight will return the vehicle to the surface of the turn-table after its contact with the hazard.

The front end of the toy i5 is shown as being supported on a ball bearing 3| mounted in a receptacle 32. The ball bearing 3| permits free movement of the vehicle over the surface of the turn-table. The rear of the vehicle may be provided with wheels in the usual manner.

It is to be understood that this improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expresed in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A mechanical toy of the character described, comprising a substantially rectangular box-like structure, a turn-table mounted for rotation on said box, means within said box for rotating said turn-table, a miniature vehicle supported on the surface of said turn-table, and remote control means for guiding said vehicle in a manner to avoid impacting articles held on said turn-table as same is rotated.

2. A mechanical toy of the character described, comprising a substantially rectangular boxlike structure, a turn-table mounted for rotation on said box, said turn-table being supported on a shaft carrying a gear, a transverse shaft rotatably mounted Within said box, a worm gear carried by said shaft for engagement with said Wheel gear for imparting rotation to said turn-table, a miniature vehicle supported on the surface of said turn-table, and remote control means for guiding said vehicle in a manner to avoid impacting articles held on said turn-table as same is rotated.

3. A mechanical toy of the character described, comprising a substantially rectangular box-like structure, a turn-table mounted for rotation on said box, means within said box for rotating said turn-table, an arm extending thru a longitudinal slot in one end of said box and supporting a miniature vehicle in contact with the surface of said turn-table, and remote control means for causing movement of said arm whereby the vehicle is guided as said turn-table is rotated.

4. A mechanical toy of the character described,

comprising a substantially rectangular box-like structure, a turn-table mounted for rotation on said box, means within said box for rotating said turn-table, an arm extending thru a longitudinal slot in one end of said box and supporting a miniature vehicle in contact with the surface of said turn-table, a longitudinal shaft supported within said box and substantially parallel with said slot, means for slidably connecting said arm to said longitudinal shaft and remote control means for actuating said slidable connecting means whereby the vehicle is guided as said turntable is rotated.

5. A mechanical toy of the character described, comprising a substantially rectangular box-like structure, a turn-table mounted for rotation on said box, means within said box for rotating said turn-table, an arm extending thru a longitudinal slot in one end of said box and supporting a miniature vehicle in contact with the surface of said turn-table, a longitudinal shaft supported Within said box and substantially parallel with said slot, means for slidably connecting said arm to said longitudinal shaft, remote control means for actuating said slidable connection for guiding said vehicle as said turn-table is rotated, said means including a shaft journalled in one end of said box, a steering Wheel attached to the other end of said shaft and an endless cable movable for actuating said slidable connection as the steering wheel is operated.

6. A mechanical toy of the character described, comprising a substantially rectangular box-like structure, a turn-table mounted for rotation on said box, means within said box for rotating said turn-table, a miniature vehicle supported on the surface of said turn-table, means for normally maintaining said vehicle in constant contact with the surface of said turn-table, and remote control means for guiding said vehicle in a manner to avoid impacting articles held on said turn-table as same is rotated.

7. A mechanical toy of the character described, comprising a substantially rectangular box-like structure, a turn-table mounted for rotation on said box, means within said box for rotating said turn-table, an arm extending thru a longitudinal slot in one end of said box and supporting a miniature vehicle in contact with the surface of said turn-table, a longitudinal shaft supported within said box and substantially parallel with said slot, means for slidably connecting said arm to said longitudinal shaft, remote control means for actuating said slidable connection for guiding said vehicle as said turn-table is rotated, said means including a shaft journalled in one end of said box, a steering Wheel attached to the other end of said shaft, an endless cable movable for actuating said slidable connection as the steering wheel is operated, and a weighted arm extending at right angles to said longitudinal shaft for normally maintaining said vehicle in contact with the surface of said turn-table.

EDWARD ROCUSKIE.