US2234137A

US2234137A - Child's rattle

Info

Publication number: US2234137A
Application number: US287943A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank M Hoover
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-08-02
Filing date: 1939-08-02
Publication date: 1941-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 1958-03-04

Description

M h 4, 1941. F. M. HOOVER 37 CH'ILDS BATTLE Filed Aug. 2, 1939 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 2,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in childrens rattles that consist of a plurality of plates of resonant and highly elastic material loosely strung upon a flexible strand-like carrier.

In Letters Patent of the United States, 2,130,427, I have described such a rattle, consisting of concavo-convex plates formed of urea formaldehyde centrally perforate, with flanges surrounding the perforations upon the concave side, strung upon an endless chain of bead-shaped links. My present invention is found in refinement in the shape of the plates of such a rattle.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. I is a view in side elevation of a rattle that embodies the present invention; Fig. II is a view in perspective of one of the plates, as seen from the convex side; Fig. III is a view in section of one of the component plates; and Fig. IV is a view in ele vation of the back of one of the plates.

The rattle consists of a. plurality of identical perforate plates 1 (in this case fourteen in number), strung upon a flexible strand-like carrier (in this case an endless metal chain 2 of headshaped links).

The plates are identical in form; they are of such size as to afford a plaything that may readily be handled by a child and of such size as to forbid accidental swallowing. I find it best to make them about two inches across. In details of shape they are preferably concavo-con- Vex and of circular outline, constituting in their shape (with further refinements to be described) circular sections from spherical shells. They are preferably strung upon the chain 2, all facing the same way. As shown in Fig. I, all are convex to the left.

The plates I are perforate for the passage of the organizing chain 2. The perforation 3, instead of being placed at the centre of the plate (as in my earlier patent named), is eccentric in position, and near the periphery. The perforation is encircled by a flange 4 whose rim extends in a plane parallel with the plane in which the rim of the plate extends (cf. Fig. III) but it does not rise from the concave face of the plate as far as to the plane of the rim; and, as will be perceived on comparing Figs. III and IV, it is in this instance an incomplete flange, of greatest height toward the centre of the plate, of diminishing height toward the rim, and merging in the general surface of the plate and disappearing before complete encirclement of the perforation.

The plate is embossed with a design 5 that .,5 rises in relief upon the convex surface; and

this design may be such as to be attractive to a childthe design of a dog, for example, or the ill 1939, Serial No. 287,943

designs on the several disks may be of different animals or birds or other attractive figures. It will be noted that the body of each disk is offset from the surface of the sphere to which it conforms, providing in the disk body on its concave side a recess 50. The recess corresponds in position within the concave side of the disk to the design rising in relief from the convex side of the disk. While the provision of such recess may simplify the molding of the disk, -"the principal &

utility of the recess is found in the fact that it augments the resonance of the disk and the rattle, and thus co-operates with the features above described in gaining the desired ends.

The plates are made of resonant,'highly elastic material, typically urea formaldehyde.

When the rattle is picked up by the chain and held suspended the plates gravitate to approximately parallel and aligned positions; they bear one upon another at their upper edges and with the flange of one plate engaging the convex surface of the next adjacent plate; and from such region of abutment they flare apart downwardly. The embossed areas of surface stand apart. When the rattle then is shaken the adjacent plates strike one another over areas of small extentareas that are diminished substantially to points, as distinguished from surfaces, of contact; and, since normally the plates stand apart, the plates come to such points of contact under some appreciable impulse or momentum; and the result and effect are that the rattling is enhanced in resonance and loudness, and the plaything rendered more interesting and attractive.

Metal and urea formaldehyde are preferred materials, because the surfaces may be of a high degree of smoothness, and the rattle so constituted may without injury or loss of brilliance of appearance be sterilized in boiling water. Urea formaldehyde being essentially colorless, bright color in pleasing variety may be given to the component plates of the rattle.

I claim as my invention:

A child's rattle comprising a plurality of resonant disks strung loosely upon a flexible strand-like carrier, each disk including adjacent to its rim a perforation through which in the assembly the carrier extends, the disk carrying an outstanding flange at the rim of the perforation, the body of the disk bearing on one side a design that rises in relief and including in substantially corresponding position on the opposite side a recess, whereby, when the rattle is agitated, the disks clash under momentum at points of contact with maximum resonance.

FRANK M. HOOVER.