US2209320A - Hobbyhorse - Google Patents

Description

B. F. clsoR HOBBYHORSE July 30, 1940.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 8, 1938 wmf i m M M i July 30, 1940. a F, clsoR 2,209,320

HOBBYHORSE Filed June 8, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 www l40 and the legs.

Patented July 30, 19740 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 claims.

My invention relates to a hobbyhorse of the type in which the user can manipulate the construction to travel over the ground both in a forward and a backing direction, can have the de- Vice turn and can develop gaits of movement simulating those of a horse in some respects. The particular gaits of a horse simulated are those of a gallop or fast canter or by a slight rearrangement of the parts, a pacing movement.

An object and feature of my invention is to develop a hobbyhorse which will not only give the user considerable exercise and amusement but will closely simulate the actions of a horse and to add interest, the hobbyhorse may be made to travel over the ground as manipulated by the rider giving different gaits and speeds such as simulating the galloping movement or a pacing gait and other movements and gaits of a horse may also be simulated. Due to the ability of the hobbyhorse to travel, racing or other contests between competitors add interest to its use.

A further object and feature of my invention is in the provision of the hobbyhorse with four distinct leg structures, that is, two fore and two hind legs, each independently operated except for an interconnection between the fore and the hind legs on each side. Each leg is provided with a rocker of quite considerable length, hence due to the rocking .action which may develop by tilting or inclining the body of the hobbyhorse together with the shift of the weight of the rider, the hobbyhorse may be made to travel with the various gaits simulating those of a horse. A further characteristic of my invention is the use of stirrup-like devices which may be connected to the fore leg construction of the hobbyhorse, the rider by shifting his weight on the saddle and in reference to the stirrups, may develop a swinging movement of the body of the horse A further object is to provide a hand grip device simulating the reins, this however being stiif and rigid bars so that the rider may exert a pull on these reins when shifting his weight towards the rump of the horse in order to raise the head and neck or he may thrust with his arms or hands on the reins when shifting his weight forwardly to tilt the head and neck of the horse downwardly. This action together with the shifting and transference of weight to the stirrups may be used to develop the dierent gaits, the individual legs having a rocking movement on therockers contacting the ground.

Another characteristic of my invention resides in a link connection between the fore and hind -*1egs on each side. For instance these legs are pivoted to the body of the horse and the fore legs may have the link connected below the pivot and the hind legs having the same link connected above the pivot, therefore in the rocking movement this develops an opposite directional movement of the legs, that is, as the rocker of the fore legs is shifted forwardly, the rocker of the rear legs is relatively shifted rearwardly and vice versa and thus by positioning the legs out of longitudinal alignment, the rockers may be caused to overlap, the rocker of the hind legs reaching forwardly of the rocker on the fore legs, this movement being accompanied by a tilting of the body of the horse and thus simulating In this shift of weight the rockers of the fore and hind legs may be alternately raised above the ground so that at any particular instant of travel of the hobbyhorse the weight is on the rockers of either the fore or the A further characteristic of my invention is providing for shifting the link connection between the fore and hind legs and fo-r instance having the connection below the pivot as to both the fore and the hind legs, thus causing the legs on each side to swing in the same direction, thus for instance as the fore and hind legs on one side swing forwardly, relative to a rearward swing of the legs on the opposite side and this being accompanied by a sidewise rocking movement of the body of the rider, a pacing gait may be developed. In view of the fact that the legs on each side are independently actuated, if the rider controls the length of the stroke or what might be termed a step, the hobbyhorse may be caused to make a turn, the sharpness of the a galloping gait.

hind legs.

angle depending on the actions of the rider.

Various detail features of my invention relate to the resilient or spring mounting of the saddle, a` resilient mounting for the pivots of the legs and a friction reducing journal assembly for the leg pivots and other vdetail features described in the specification and claims.

My invention is illustrated in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly broken away of the hobbyhorse illustrating it in the normal standing position and showing the legs on one side only.

Fig, 2 is a vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows to illustrate the journals for the legs.

Fig. 4 isa section on the line 4 4 of Fig.

1 illustrating the adjustable seat.

Figs. 5, 6 and? are side elevations in diagram illustrating a sequence in the movements when -the progression of the horse is somewhat in the termed the horse body II, this being illustrated,-

as constructed of a thick plank Aand. may be vde ned as having the back I2', neck I 3-, head I4, rump I5 and the sides of thel body 16,. The fore or front shoulder is designated I1. This plank or board has a stiff side covering forming a flank I8, the purpose vof this being to give acontour simila'r to horseand to cover some of the operating parts such as the pivots or hinges of the legs, etc. Itis 'manifest that the body of the horse may be painted andcarvedto simulate a horse as much aspossible and be provided with aV mane, tail,

' 4l. This is indicated as havingy aboard 2| with a ears, eyes, etc. y t

Infmy invention while of course the rider may sit onxthe top of the board, nevertheless it is desirable to provide a'saddle yassembly 20 (note Fig.

pad 22V. A plurality of coil springs 23 extend downwardly fromrthe board and arer provided with a stem 24 which ts into ay metal socket 25 .located in the board. The heighth of the saddle as to each spring may. be adjusted through the medium ofthe set screw 26. By this construction the saddle may be adjusted as to heighth andrnay be tilted to sutthe rider. The saddle isv l, preferably in valignment asto its top surface from "end to end to allow the rider to shift his weight f readily forwardtowards the shoulders or rearwardly towards the rurnpl of the hobbyhorse. Of

course itis manifest thatl if desiredfthe saddle may simulate conventional shapes.

The reins 30 are formed of two curved metal handlebars 3|, these being similar and each preferably fastened vat its upward end 32 to the head of'the horse and at the rear end 32 slightly lx,rearwardly of the shoulder. These reins are spaced on Opposite sides of thev hobbyhorse and divrgeoutwardly asshown in Fig. V.2. They thus provide a raised bow section 33 for theready grasping in the hands `of the rider. In orderl to carry ,out the design a bridle is indicated at 34 on the Vhead of the horseand the reins merge into the devicesforming the bridle. Suchrbridle may` be painted on the head of the horse or made of leather or other material in imitation of la bridle. The essential characteristics of the reins 30 in the handle bar type is that these are quite rigid in order that the rider may exert a considerable pull on the head portion and also a ythrust depending on` the .movement he desires and the shifting. of his body weight as hereunder described.

The hobbyhorse provided with'the leg assembly 40 in which there are the fore legs 4I and the hind legs 42.

The particular -type of Ypivoted m'ountings forrthe leg is not essential. The pivot "mountingisindicated at 43 and isv substantially similar .for both Vfore and hind legs.l Iy nd that a"satisfactory pivot mounting includes a sleeve Mextendingrthrough theboard vformingY the body of the horse, this .havin'gjflangesdfw at each/Mend Y.

connected by tie bolts 46. The sleeve has a rub-- ber or other resilient core 41 through which eX- tends the pivot pin 48. This is in the form of a bolt. Each leg construction has what might be termed a hub section 5B with a bushing or antifriction bearing 5I. There are two antifriction ball carriers 52 and 53 and associated with the outer carrier 43 `there is an outer ball race 54. A washer 55 and a nut 56 on the pivot bolt 43 holdv the assembly in position. The balls-in the anti-friction ball carriers thus have an operating contact with the anges 45 on the ends of the sleeve, the hub section of the legs and the outer race 54. It is advisable to have the face area of the antifriction bearings of quite large size in order to prevent rubbing friction of the legs on the body part of a horse and to provide stiffness j in a lateral directionV as in some of the gaits of the hobbyhorse hereunder described a sidewise rocking is necessary.

The leg construction may bev substantially similar for both the fore and hind legs. For instance as to the fore legs 4I, from the central orY hub portion there is afront bow 60 and a rear bowV 6I, These diverge from a position 62 below the hub. These bows, have quite a decided outward curve adjacent their bottom portions indicated at 63 and 64 where they connect to the rockers 65.r Onthe rear bow 6I I provide stirrups 66. These.

may beadjustable by providing a clamp 61 so that the stirrups may be raised and lowered by beingV shifted on the rear` bows. It is however desirable y that the stirrups be substantially below the center of the saddle when the hobbyhorse is in its normal or rest position as shown in Fig. l. While.

these stirrups are illustrated for simplicity as bars, they may be, made intheform of bicycle pedals or simulate the characteristics of stirrupsV usedin horseback riding. Inthe illustrations and for simplicity I have made no. attempt to dis,- guise the leg constructions or present a, characteristic of the leg of a horse, It will be apparent however that legs somewhat similar to a horses leg in `shape lcould be used with the rockerscon,

nected to the foot portions. It will be noted that as to the fore legs that there is an upward projection 68 yabove the hub section.

The Ahind legs` 42 are constructed in the saine` manner as the fore-legSaS to the bows and the rockers. For sake of denition the hind legs are indicated ashaving front bows 10 and rear bows 1I .connecting to the rockers 12. The portion adjacentthe hub has an-upward extension 13, rthese portions `beingilat and there is a perforation v14 at the upper part of this upward extension. A

similar perforation 15 belowv the hub, the frontl legs are also provided with a perforation 16. A linkl 11 forms a connection to the perforations 14 and 16 as illustrated, this being by providing journal bolts 18 in the perforations with antifrictionl bearings 19 connected adjacent hub sections of the links. The linkl 10 also has a plurality of perforations 8| and may be shifted-from the full line position of Fig. 1 to the dotted line position- Y It is to be noted byreference tothe cross section of Fig. 2lthat the hind legs are set` inwardly from-the fore legs, thisarrangement being accomplished by providinga greater outward curve l indicatedat in the bowsrof the fore legs than; the outward-curve A86 :of the bows of thehind legs.l

Thus it will be seen that when Athe hobbyhorse is normally` at rest-inthe position o f Fig. 1 that the lmlltlv OVerlafD, ,that is.Y the. reali RJrtion 0f the. for@ .rglers .extends ...onsiderablr rearwardly; 10.@-

removed from the fore legs and their rockers,

'the same heighth above the ground.

yond the front end of the hind rockers. The rockers also it will be noted are quite long. By the connection of the link 11 it will be apparent that the fore and hind legs are caused by the linkv to move in opposite directions, that is, when the fore legs reach forwardly the hind legs are extended rearwardly due to the pull or thrust on the link 11.

In the operation of the hobbyhorse, presuming a rider starts from the position shown in Fig. 1, the rider is sitting on the saddle and having his feet on the stirrups. The rider first exerts a pull on the reins indicated by A and the arrow of Fig. 5 and at the same time the weight of the body is thrown rearwardly indicated by the arrow B. A downward thrust is exerted on the stirrups by the feet and legs in the direction of the arrow C. This action transfers the weight of the rider to the rockers of the hind legs and as the weight is these fore legs may be thrust forward a considerable distance. In this action the body of the horse tilts considerably, the head and fore shoulders rising and the rump remaining at substantially Following this movement the hobbyhorse rocks forwardly on the hind rockers and in the movement the fore rockers are thrust forwardly and by the interconnection with the links 11 the hind I rockers and hind legs extend rearwardly somewhat as shown in Fig. 6 with the body of the hobbyhorse inclined in an opposite direction, the fore shoulders being as substantially the normal heighth above the ground, the head lowered and the rump raised. The rider then exerts a thrust on the reins indicated by the arrow D and shifts the weight of the body forwardly as indicated at the arrow E. In this action the rider may retain a certain amount of weight or normal weight on the stirrups. The momentum and impetus given to the horse further carries on the rocking motion, the whole weight of the horse and the rider being carried by the fore rockers in a movement through the position illustrated in Fig. 6 and carrying through to a position indicated in Fig. '7. This rocking action together with the action of the link causes the hind rockers to reach forwardly in reference to the fore rockers. This action causes the riders feet to be pulled back as indicated by the position of the stirrups F. The weight of the rider is substantially downwardly as indicated at G as to the saddle and there need be no particular pull or thrust on the reins indicated by the reverse arrows I-I. However, as the hind legs reach forwardly, the weight of the rider is swung rearwardly with a pull on the reins somewhat as illustrated at A and B in Fig. 5, thus transferring the weight to the rockers of the hind legs. This action removes the weight from the fore rockers allowing these to swing forwardly and the rider may exert a forward pressure on the stirrup indicated by the arrow I of Fig. '7, thus aiding in the forward swing of the fore legs and their rockers.V The movement may be continued, the rate of progress and the amount of tilting of the body of the hobby horse of course being dependent on the skill, the strength and the violence of the action of the rider but it will be seen that quite a long stride can be made and quite a moderate speed developed in moving over reasonably smooth ground.

The above action and gait has been predicated on the rider operating both his legs and feet s` ultaneously to have both of the fore legs and their rockers move in unison, however if he causes the legs on one side to have a greater swing than those on the opposite side, the hobbyhorse may be made to turn in a circle or partial circle, the sharpness of the turns being dependent on the difference in the leg movements on opposite sides of the hobbyhorse. A rider may develop such skill that he can be quite quick in his turns. It

is obvious that by a reverse movement to that described as a forward gallop or canter that the hobbyhorse may move rearwardly.

With the same set up of the links 11 and by the rider developing a certain amount of skill, the hobbyhorse may develop a gait somewhat similar to trotting. This. necessitates a side rocking of the body, shifting the weight alternately fromthe rockers the right side and as the fore rockers on one side extend rearwardly, the hind rockers on the same side extend forwardly.

Where it is desired to operate the hobbyhorse with a pacing gait the link 11 is shifted from the full line position of Fig. l to the dotted line position. This causes the link through the medium of the adjusting perforations, to engage both the fore and hind legs below the pivot bolt 48. Of course it is manifest that the link may be connected above this pivot bolt. Thus both the fore and the hind legs on the same side move simultaneously forwardly or rearwardly. In this case it is necessary for the rider to rock his body and weight from side to side and at the same time operate each leg and foot with a separate manipulation of the stirrups and the fore legs in order to simulate the pacing movement, which movement requires both of the legs on the left side to move forwardly followed by both legs on the right side moving forwardly. In this action a balance must be developed on the rockers on rst one side of the horse and then on the other. To produce such tain amount of skill and increases the pleasure in operating the hobbyhorse.

It is obvious that in order to make the action still more intricate the fore legs on one side for instance the left, may be connected to the hind legs on the opposite or rear side and vice versa in which case two links such as 11 would overlap, underneath the bottom of the body board Il. With this connection a peculiar shuffling motion of the hobbyhorse may be obtained, the rider of coursehaving to manipulate the stirrups and the fore legs by a separate action of each of his legs and feet. There are many types of actions which maybe developed by the use of this hobbyhorse, these depending on the skill, strength and agility of the rider. It is believed that it will be obvious that occasionally the rider will be thrown from the horse which adds zest to the sport.

It is obvious that the rockers 65 and 12 are made on the radius from their respective pivots. It is believed quite apparent that the size of' the arc of a circle of each rocker may be varied within considerable limits. For instance, the rockers can be made very long up to about 1/3 of a circle. Again they can be made quite short. The length of the rockers depends considerably on the distance apart of the pivots for the fore and the hind legs, that is, the effective length of the body of the horse. When to the limit the horse is a substantially stifflegged horse with short rocker feet. In this case the operation is quite difficult but increases the factor from the interest in sport and the more` or less danger of being thrown. It will be realized on the left to those on a gait manifestly requires a certhe rockers are shortenedv horse. It isiobvious that when therockers `are that with' this hobbyh'orse that: it can be made torear so much that sometimes it will topple the rider voff backwards or again in a forward kpitchhewill be thrown over the head of the 1. A hobbyhorse having a rigid body structure f with portions simulating the fore shoulders, the

Y back and rump, an assembly of legs including a ffrom the other, means interconnecting the upper Y rigid body structuresimulating a horse having fore leg assembly with a rocker pivoted to the ffore shoulder portion and a hind .leg assembly with a rocker pivoted to therump portion, the said rockersbeing positioned to loverlap in intersecting curves andthe rockers of the two leg assembliesbeing entirely separate and disconnected one portion of the fore and hind leg assemblies to develop simultaneous pivoting movement,` the back being constructed and adapted for the rider to sit thereon; a stirrup construction for` the iriders feet with a connection to the fore leg assembly lwl'reby the rider may shift his weight forwardly or rearwardly relative to the fore shoulders or rump and apply or remove weight to thel fore lleg assembly whereby the horse may rock on and thus progress over the ground.

2. A hobbyhorse as'claimed in claim 1, the stirrup having Va rigid connection to the fore leg assembly.V Y

3. A hobbyhorse comprising in combination a a head', fore shoulders, back and rump, a pair of fore and a pair of hind legs, each pair being fmounted on Va common pivot transverse to the ai body but the legs of each pair being independently pivoted, each leg having a rocker to engage `the ground, the rockers of the fore and hind legs being entirely separate and disconnected one from the other and adapted in the movement ,of the horse to overlap in intersecting: curves,

the back of` the horse being constructed andv adapted to support the weight of a rider, stirrups rigidly connected to each fore leg whereby the rider may shift his weight forwardly or rearl wardly towards the shoulders or the rump` and place or remove weight on or from thestirrups, a linkage connection betweenthe fore and hind legs on the Ileft and right'side of the body whereby a movement of the fore legs on one side communi- L, cates a movement to the hind leg on the same side and vice versa.

4. A'hobbyhorse as claimed'inclaim 3, the rockers of the fore and the hind legs being spaced a y'different'distance apart from ra vertical longitudinal planethrough the center ofthe bodyto thereby provide a spaced lateral support forv the ithe rockers ofthe fore leg or the hind leg assembly horse on either they rockers of thefore or'thei hind legs, the rockers on the pair ofthe fore legs j I being Y positioned outwardly from the vertical.

hind pair of legs;

vlongitudinal plane relativeto the rockersof the,

5. Ahobbyhorse comprising in combination a'.`

rigid bodystructure'simulating a horse and having a head, neck, shoulders, back and rump; 'a'. n

rigid hand grip rein connected forward of` the back, the back having `means for supportingrthev weight of a rider, left and right fore legs each with a rockerpivotally connected on a common.

pivotal axis, each leg having a rocker, left and right hind legs pivoted adjacent the rump each.l on. a common axis andeach havingja rocker,ga=- and hind legs. onl one side and the right fore` and hindY legs onlA the other side, a stirrup rigidly connectedn oneito" the fore legs on the left and the other to the fore.A

link interconnecting the left fore legs on the right side whereby the rider'by grasping the rigid rein may shift his weightforwardly or rearwardly of the body and place or remove weight on eitherof the stirrups, the said rockers ofthe fore andhind legs being each entirely separate and disconnected one from the other, the rockers of the fore and hind legs in their movementV being overlapped .in intersecting curvesv whereby the horse may progress over the ground. 6. A hobbyhorse having a rigid body structure:

with portions simulating the head, fore shoulders, back and rump, a fore leg assembly pivoted adjacent the shoulders, a hind leg assembly` pivoted adjacent the rump, each leg assembly having forwardly and rearwardly curved bows and a rockerconnected to the bows, the bows merging into the forward and rearward end of the rockers, the rockers of the fore leg. and of the rear leg assemblies being entirely separate andr disconnected one from the other and the arc4 of ,the v rockingmovement of the forey and. rearrockers` overlapping in the movement of the horse, the

back being constructed and adapted for a riderk tosit thereon, a link connection between the front andl reary leg assemblies, a stirrup construction'. rigidly connected to the fore leg assembly Wherev by the rider may shiftihis weight forwardly or rearwardly relative to the fore shoulders 'or rumpv and apply or remove weight to the fore leg assembly whereby the horse may rock on the rockers of the fore leg or the hind leg assembly and thus progress over the ground.

7. A hobbyhorse as claimed in claim 6, the: rockers of thev hindvleg assembly being spaced: apart relative yto a vertical plane through the, body and the rockers of the fore leg assembly` being spaced apart a greater distance than those of the hind legs whereby the rockers' of the fore'L and hind legs may overlap and intersect inthe. progression of the horse, the left and right legs of leach assembly being'pivoted for independent g movement wherebyy the rider may byshifting his Weight sideways tilt the horsevto progress on the' fore and hind legs on the left side alternately with'Y the .fore and hind legs on the right side.

BENJAMIN F. CISOR;y

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