US2190800A - Advertising device or toy - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1940.. a. K. MURPHY ADVERTISING DEVICE OR TOY Filed JaIl. so, 1939 2 Sheets-Shaet 1 v IN V EN TOR.

Feb. 20, 1940. K MURPHY $99,809

ADVERTISING DEVICE OR TOY Filed Jan. '30, 1959 2 Sheet-$heef 2 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Feb. 20, 1940 UNITEDSTATES PATENT- ADVERTISING DEVICE 0a TOY u Harry K. Murphy, Stanford, Ill. Application January 30, 1939, Serial No. 253,680 SQlaims. 11. 46- 131) This invention relates to an advertising device ortoy, and particularly to a balanced or balancing, type of supporting device. adaptedforuse. as an advertising device or toy.

One. object ,o-ffithe invention is to provide a device of this character whereby one or more articles whichare to be displayed for advertising purposes or sale may be displayed in an interesting and attractive manner. a

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be employed as a toy of interesting and instructive character for the amusement of children and others.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be used, by a manufacture or dealer to display articles on sale, and also given away by him as premiums for use as toys to purchasers of the article. I

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character, one or more of I which may be used for advertising purposesto support articles in various artistic or geometrical ways-or designs for display, or used as instructive toys to support or balance one or more articles in various positions) sun another object of the invention is toprovide a device of this character which may be used as a figure toy. I

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

Figs. 6 and 7 are views showing modified forms of the device.

Fig. 8. is a view showing the application to.

the device of articles to be supported ,for advertising display. r

Fig. 9 is a view illustrating another mode of mounting such articles by theuse of a plurality of the devices shown balanced upon a supporting stand.

Fig. 10 is a view illustrating another mode of mounting one or more of the devices and articles carried thereby upon a supporting stand.

Fig. 11 is a. view showing a mode of supporting a plurality of devices and articles carried a more or less sharp point.

body member I.

practice, the body member I may be made of fully painted or. not, as desired. I

.thereby through theme of a supporting bracket mounted on the supporting stand. w i

Fig. 12 is a view showing a capability of balanced mounting of the device and articles car suitable size and weight and made of any suitable material or materials. This stand is pro vided at its top with a stationary supporting tip" or spindle A, preferably of a form t'apering to The stand may. be securedto. the surface on which it rests or may be of sufficient weight to maintain its stability without being secured thereto. As a substitute for a special .and more or less ornamentalstand. a bottle of suitablesize and weight with a stout v needle, wire nail orthe like carried by its stopper to serve as a spindle, may be employed.

The advertising device or toy comprises an elongated generally oblong rectangular shaped One end 2 of' this member, which may. for convenience, be termed its head end, is imperforate except for a transverse open ing 3 passing therethrough, while the other ema 4 of the member, which may, for convenience, be termed itsfoot end, is bifurcated or forked by the formationoi a slot 5 therein. This slot extends nearly the length of the foot half of the member and opens through its extremity, thus producing parallel legs 5. The end 2 may be shaped to generally simulate the upper portion v of a human figure, and the end 4 may be shaped generally to simulate the lower, portion of a human figure, so that the device may be em ployed as a figure toy. For this purpose the body. member I may be used in a plain form as shown, or it may be painted to represent a police.

man, firman acrobat or other character. In;

wood, metal or other material, plainly or Carried by the body I is a hangeror suspension member TI. This member maybe formed of wire or the like and as generally used is U-shaped or bail-shaped, said member comprising abody or crossportionil having at the ends thereof similar outwardly diverging arms 9. The cross portion 8 passes through and is journaled or pivot- 5- ally mounted in the opening 3 or" the body member I so as to dispose the arms 9 at the opposite .sides of said body member. The free ends of the armsterminate in threadedportions Iii or are otherwise formed or constructed for detach 55 able connection with articles to be attached The portions Ill are also said arms to be swung longitudinally of the member I to different working or balancing angles relative thereto. In general the arms 9 of a member extend in the same direction fromthe cross portion 8 divergently at equal angles thereto and the arms are of equalllength. For special purposes, however, the construction of the suspending device and arrangement of its arms maybe rhodifiedr Figs .6: and 7 show-two such modifications. In Fig. 6 the body member Ia has itssuspending member Ia formedwith arms 9a and 91) extending at oblique angles to its cross portion but beyond opposite sides thereof. In Fig. l the body member II) has itssuspending member 'Ib formed with an arm 90 which is arranged at an oblique angle to its cross portion and with an'arm 9b which is longitudinally continuous with its cross portion. These andiother modified'forms of the suspending member may be employed to allow different suspending arrangements to be made, which. may be of different designs or {351 may be attached weights or weighted objects or geometric r formations;

To the suspending arms of a device I, or'to certain arms of a plurality ofconnected devices I,

articles I-I forbalancing purposes or for balancing anddisplay purposes. The weights used for balancing purposes, in the use of the device as a toy,

may be of any. preferred type adapted for connection with" the threaded ends of the suspending arms, or theymaybe articles or objects to be exhited-or displayed for sale. In Figs. 6, 8; 10, 11

and 12 of the drawings isparkplugs are shown as attached to the devicesto serve the function of balancing weights and Figs. 9, 10, 11. and 12 show some of many ways in which they may be balanced and displayed by a dealer for advertising purposes.

Fig. 9 shows one manner of makingan ornamental symmetrical display. Here one of the devices I disposed vertically. head downward, and

with its suspending member arranged as in Fig.

:5, is shown bearing at its head end on the spindle A of support A. To the arms of the suspending member of this device I are coupled, by threaded couplings I I, the arms 9b of suspending members of a pair of the modified devices, which are thus symmetrically suspended at opposite sides of the on spindle A. 'the other arms of devices I a and'act as countersupport A from the head end of device I resting Spark plugs I I are attached to balances to balance device I on its pivotal support A. If spark plugs of like size and weight are used the balancing action will be so perfect that the chain of .devices I,- Ia may berocked to a certain degree or rotated without displacement. If the body of device I is made of wood and the point of spindle A is made sufficiently sharp to slightly indent the wood to form a recess for its reception, the chain of devices maybe rocked to a pronounced degree and rotated without liability of displacement. The support of spark plugs in this manner'will cause attraction and create interest and thus give great advertising value to the display.

Fig. 10 shows a. manner in which a single or plural number of unconnected devices I and spark plugs carried thereby may be supported in a balanced manner from the support. Here four devices-I and-theispark-plugs carried thereby are arranged in balanced relation to each other and to the support. In so arranging them the bottom device I is disposed horizontally with the suspending arms 9 bent downwardly, the lower face of member I of said device brought to rest .at a proper. point on the spindle A and the arms 9 carrying the spark plugs II adjusted to abalancing postion. In this operation the arms 9 are swung to a point in rear of-their pivotal attachment such that the weight of the spark plugs atpneside ofthe .pivot will'balance the weight of the part of the member I, andany weightresting thereon, .on the opposite sideofthe pivot. The other devices I are then successively placed in position, in'superposed and lapping orderand their suspending'devices and'spark plugs adjusted to maintain a balancing of the stackof display devices. This also provides an attractive. and=interest creating way of displaying'the spark plugs and'giving advertising value;

Fig; 171;. shows the use of. a substantially shaped bracket I2 in balancing'relation with a number: of'devices I for/supporting a plurality. of pairs of spark plugs. This bracket I2 comprises two rods I3 and I 4' arranged at right angles to each other and united: to. each other at' a central point ofcrossing" I5. Themain or intermediate portions of these rods are in the form of an inverted U and frombases of these U-portions I6 the free ends or arms II of the rods extendrradially outward, in. ahorizontal plane.- Four such'ends or arms I! are thus-providedwhich are arranged'at angles of 90 apart. On each of these arms I! is supported a device-I to the suspendingrnember of each-of which are attached two sparkplugsl These devices I; are mounted vertically with'their slotted ends straddling the arms I! and the suspending devicesand spark plugsadjustedto liein the same vertical plane as'the body members so thatthe. sets of.

spark plugs on oppositearms I! will balance each other. At the crossing point I5 the bracket I2 is suitably formed or constructed to rest on the pointed spindle. This entire organization will thus be so balanced that it may. be rotated or rocked.

to a considerable degree without displacement from the spindle. v

Fig. 12' shows that in the horizontal arrangement of the device its'point of support onthe spindle A may be varied as desired while-maintaining it in balance. This" is allowed through adjustment of the weighted suspension member backward or forward, accordingto the point of support, in order to maintain a state of balance. Fig. 12 shows the position to which the suspension member is adjusted to maintain a stateof bal ance when the body I is engaged at the tip of its head portion 2 with the spindle A. With the arrangement shown in-Fi'g. 10 the adjustment of the several suspension members will be such as to maintain a'state of balance of'thestack of devices.

It is to be understood that the body members I may be made ofwood or metal, andpainted or otherwise provided with a protective or decorative coating or not, as desired. They may be made in suitable shapes other than that shown and each may bepainted in a single color or a variety of colors. The general form of device shown is that of a manikin having adjustable arms, and in the use of this general form the bodies Imay be painted or costumed to represent soldiers, sailors, policemen, or acro'bats for attractive display effects and to more effectively adapt the individual devices for use as childrens toys. The, devices mayalso be made in diiferent sizesand different lengths of bodies and the arms of the suspension devices may be varied in length and relative positions to support diiierent weights of articles and to adapt the devices to be arranged in difierent ways or to be assembled to form different display designs for advertising and general display purposes. If the body I is made of wood and the spindle point of suitable sharpnessto slightly penetrate the wood liabilityhof slippage of the body out of engagement withthe spindle, will be avoided even when the body is enameled or covered with a smooth coat of paint.

If the body is made of hard metal pivoting spindle receiving recesses maybe formed therein at suitable points to secure a non-slipping engage ment.

As stated, the device maybe used for an artistic or pleasing and interesting display of spark plugs or other like articles to be displayed for advertising purposes or immediate sale. Any kind of articles may be so displayed which are capable of being applied to the suspending arms and utiform of r a bottle having a spindle A embedded in and projecting upward from its stopper or from a cap or the like fitted on the stopper or neckof the bottle, allowing in this manner a simple and readily obtainable form of support to be provided or two kinds of articles to be displayed for advertising purposes at the same time. The invention provides an effective means for advertising and promoting the sales of spark plugs and various other articles by utilizing the devices as goods display devices and also aspremiums to be given to purchasers of the articles. For instance, with each spark plug sold the dealer maygive'the purchaser one or more of the devices bearing thereon suitable advertising matter,

to be used by the purchaser or given by him to children for use as advertising toys. The devices away a support, which he may advertise to do with a number of balancing devices in the event that the purchaser buys a number of spark plugs at'a time, the purchaser or user may readily contrive a bottle form of support in the manner suggested by simply inserting a stout needle or wire nail torserve as a spindle in a cork stopperof a size to snugly fit the bottle neck. As the balancing devices may be furnished to a manufacturer or dealer at low cost, the invention provides an economical way of both advertising goods by attractive. display and promoting sales by the giving away of premiums of an interesting type.

, It is to be understood that while the structures shown herein are preferred, they are disclosed merely as exemplifications, and that changes in i the, form, construction and arrangement of the parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. n i

What I claim is: i

l. A device of the character described corn- 5 prising an elongated bodyImember adapted to be pivotally rested at one end on an underlying support and having its opposite end forked, and a bail-shaped suspending member having its cross portion extending transversely of and axially rotatable in the body member at a point adjacent to the first-named end of said body member and having its arms fixed with. relation to its cro'ss portion and projecting beyond opposite sides of the body member at an angle thereto, of said arms being threaded and load weights threaded for detachable coupling connection with the threaded ends of the arms. M 2. In a toy, an elongated figureformed at its head end to rest pivotally on a support and provided adjacent to said end with a bore extending from side to side thereof, a rod-like suspending member having a central portion and arms rigid therewith, said central portion of the suspending member extending through and being rotatable in the bore and said arms extending on opposite sides of the figure at an angle thereto, and an individual weight attached to the free end of each arm.

3. In a toy, a supporting standard having an upper supporting end portion, an elongated figure having a transverse bore and formed at its head end to pivotally engage the supporting end portion of the standard, a rod-like suspending mem ber having a central portion and. arms rigid therewith, said central portion of the suspending member extending through and being rotatable in said bore and said arms being rigid with said central portion and extending beyond opposite sides of the figure at an angle thereto, the arin a horizontal position on the standard, and balancing Weights individually mounted on the respectivearms and adjustable by adjustment of said member to perform said balancing functions.

head end to rest pivotally on a support and provided adjacent to said end with a bore extending from side to side thereof, the opposite end of said figure being longitudinally forked, a rod-like suspending member having a central portion and arms rigid therewith, said central portion of the suspendingmember extending through and being rotatable in the bore and said arms extending on oppositesides of the figure at anangle thereto, and an individual Weight attached to the free en of eacharm.

5. In a toy, an elongated figure having a headed end and a foot end, the former having a trans verse bore and the latter having a longitudinal slot extending therethrough, and arod-like member having a central portion extending. through and journaled in said bore and arms rigid with 4. In a toy, an elongated figure formed at its

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