US2252308A

US2252308A - Recoiling toy cannon

Info

Publication number: US2252308A
Application number: US267700A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jess C Sherrick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-04-13
Filing date: 1939-04-13
Publication date: 1941-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 1958-08-12

Description

1941- J. c. SHERRICK 2,252,308

RECOILING TOY CANNON Filed April 13, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 12; 19 41.

J. C. SHERRICK RECOILING TOY CANNON Filed April 15, 1939' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 aw WM Patented Aug. 12, 1941 1 j UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE \RECOILING TOY CANNON Jess C. Sherrick, Canton, Ohio ApplicationApril 13, 1939, Serial No. 267,700

' 9 Claims. (o1.124 2'9) This invention relates to toys 'andis particularly directed to atoy representing and operatin in a manner similar to a cannon or otherarticle of field artillery.

The primary object of'the invention resides in the provision of a toy cannon which will discharge powder caps and, at the time of such discharge, recoil in a manner similar to an actual cannon which-the toy represents.

Another object rests in the provision of a toy cannon with recoil mechanism which will be operated simultaneously with or immediately following the discharge of the cannon.

A further object is the provision of connecting means between the firing mechanism or hammer whereby the recoil producing means will be placed in condition for operation upon movement of the hammer to a cooked position.

It is also an object to provide a toy with a body portion shaped to simulate a cannon and having supporting Wheels which are connected with the body portion by means of a crank-shaped axle shaft, the body being carried by the offset portion of the shaft 50 that rotary movement of the wheels will cause the body to raise and lower. When the body is elevated, its weight resting on the offset portion of the axle shaft will, by the force of gravity, cause the shaft to rotate and impart similar movement to the wheels. By providing controlled means to engage and rotate the shaft in one direction at the proper time, the toy may be made to move rearwardly a limited distance when the cannon is discharged and at the completion of the rearward movement, the body will be in an elevated position.

The means for rotating the axle shaft is so operated as to be disengaged from the shaft when the body reaches the end of its recoiling movement and the weight of the-body will cause the axle to rotate and move the toy forward to its original position.

A further understanding will be had from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which 'theinvention has been illustrated in its preferred form.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toy cannon formed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the cannon illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the cannon in a cocked position ready for action;

A Fig. 4 isa iragmentarysectional viewillustrating the operative mechanism of the cannon.

- out of engagement with the hammer.

immediately prior to the completion of its movement in the firing and recoiling operation;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a similar view on the plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 8--8 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral [designates the body of the toy formed of sheet metal and shaped to simulate a cannon. or other article of field artillery. The upper portion of the body is provided with an elongated barrel 2 formed of tubing or the like and having open ends. The rear end is formed with an upwardly extending lip 3 to stop an imitation projectile 4 in position to be engaged by a pivoted hammer 5.

Immediately below the rear end of the barrel, the body is provided with a plate 6 having its side edges formed with grooves I for the reception of toy powder caps which the cannon is adapted to discharge. The plate 6 is formed with an open-- ing 8 through which smoke from the burning powder passes when the caps are discharged. This smoke, after passing through the opening 8, moves upwardly through an opening 9 in the barrel 2 after which it may move longitudinally of the barrel and pass outwardly through the forward end of the barrel to make the toy seem more natural.

The hammer 5 has a projection H) which registers with the plate 6 when the hammer moves to a discharge position. The hammer is mounted on a transversely extending pin II and its rear surface is provided with a notch to engage a pivoted trip member 12 mounted with the body member at the rear of the hammer; Thelower end of the hammer is formed with an opening to receive the looped end of a spring l3, the opposite end of this member being disposed in engagement wth the trip to yieldably hold it against a stop l4 formed on the inner side of the body. The extreme upper end of the hammer terminates above the barrel and is formed for engagement by the finger of the operator of the cannon in the operation of moving the hammer to a cooked position.

By engaging the hammer in moving it rearwardly on its pivot, the notch on the back of the hammer will be moved into engagement with the trip against the action of the spring l3. It will be held in this position until the trip I2 is moved The release of the hammer is accomplished by formin the trip member with an arm 15 arranged exteriorly of the body.

A flexible cable I6 is connected with the upper end of the arm I to enable the cannon to be fired from a remote location. When the hammer is released, the spring 13 will cause it to move into forcible engagement with the plate 6 and if a cap is positioned on the plate, it will be discharged by the blow. ,At the same time, a projection I! formed on the hammer above that engaging the plate 6 will enter the rear end of the barrel and strike the projectile 4, causing it to move through the barrel and be discharged from the outer end.

The body I has an axle shaft 18 journaled in its lower portion to receive ground engaging wheels I!) rigidly connected to the ends of the shaft. The intermediate portion of the shaft is bent as at 2!! to provide a pair of offset crank portions which receive and support the body. When the weight of the body is positioned directly on the offset portions of the axle shaft, the toy will assume the position shown in Fig. 2 with the offset portions of the shaft in the lowermost position. The center of the axle shaft is disposed substantially in registration with the outer ends and the axle may be rotated in its bearings by imparting movement to the central portion thereof. Stop means 2| are provided adjacent the offset portions of the axle shaft to limit the degree of rotation of this member.

To impart rotation thereto, the body portion is provided with a floating wheel rotating member 22 which is formed of sheet metal and is U-shaped in cross section and is connected at its rear end by a link 23 with the pivot for the hammer. The outer end of the member 22 is curved as at 24 and is provided with a shoulder 25 at the rear of the curved portion. This shoulder constitutes a hook which, when the member 22 is moved a sufficient distance forwardly, will engage the central portion of the axle shaft. By drawing the lever 22 toward the rear, rotary movement will be imparted to the axle. When the latter member has approximately reached the rear stop 2|, the forward end of the member 22 will engage a transversely extending pin 26 and further movement of the member 22 will cause the shoulder 25 to move out of engagement with the axle. At this time, the body will be elevated with respect to the centers of the wheel and the release of the axle will permit the weight of the body to cause the axle to rotate in the opposite. direction until the crank portions are at their lowermost. positions as indicated in Fig. 2.

A coil spring 21 extends between the rear end of the hook carrying member 22 and a, transversely extending rivet 28 and furnishes the power to draw the member 22 rearwardly after it has engaged the axle. The member 22 is moved forwardly through the engagement of the lower end of the hammer with the link 23 when the hammer is moved to a cookedposition. The rear end of the body I is held in spaced relation from the ground by providing a roller 29 on one arm of a bell crank 30 pivoted as at 3| to the body. The second arm of the bell cranklever projects through an opening in the body and may be manually moved to raise or lower the roller 29 and change the angularity of the barrel with respect to the ground surface.

The operation, of the device is as follows:

The hammer 5.,is moved rearwardly by a manaesasoe ual operation until the notch on the rear thereof engages the trip member l2. The cap is then positioned in the slots 1 of the plate 6 and the cannon is ready to be fired. The operation of moving the hammer rearwardly causes the lower end to engage the link 23 and move the wheel rotating member forwardly against the action of the spring 21 where it will be held until the hammer is released. The parts are shown in this position in Fig. 3. The hook 25 is in engagement with the central portion of the axle.

When the arm I5 is moved toward the rear, the hammer will be released and permitted to move to the firing position. As the lower end of thehammer moves away from the link, the spring 21 will draw the member 22 toward the rear and the wheels will be rotated to cause the entire toy to move rearwardly and the forward end of the barrel upwardly. When the mechanism reaches the position shown in Fig. 4, the shoulder 25 will be freed from engagement with the axle and the weight of the toy by reasonof gravity will cause the Wheels to rotate to move the toy forwardly to the position shown in Fig. Zat which time, the device will be in condition for the next operation. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that a toy has been provided which resembles an actual cannon both in appearance and operation. While but asingle modification has been illustrated and described, it is obvious that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the inven tion as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A toy comprising a body shaped to simulate a cannon, supporting wheels for said body, the latter being mounted eccentrically on said wheels, hammer means pivotally supported by said body, and spring operated means for partially rotating said wheels, said last-named means being set for operation by movement of said hammer means to a cooked position.

2. A toy comprising a body shaped to simulate a cannon, crank-shaped axle means extending transversely of said body, a supporting wheel rigidly, secured to each end of said axle, hammer means pivotally supported by said body, spring pressed crank operating means, said last-named meansbeing placed in condition for operation by the. movement of said hammer to a cocked position, and means for releasing said crank operating means from engagement with said crank after movement has been imparted to said wheels.

3. A toy comprising a body shaped to simulate a cannon, supporting wheels for said body, hammer means pivotally supported by said body, means for holding said hammer means in a cocked position, and means connected with said supporting wheels and operable upon the release of said hammer holding means to effectrotation of said wheels.

4. A toy comprising a body shaped to simulate a cannon, axlemeans extending transversely of said body, said axle having crank-shaped end and intermediate portions, supporting wheels rigidly secured to theends of said axle means, floating hook means in registration with the crankshaped intermediate portion of said axle means, spring means for moving said hook means when the latter is in engagement with said axle means, a hammer pivotally supported by said body, trip means for maintaining said hammer in a cocked position, and means for transmitting movement from said hammer to said hook means to cause the engagement of the latter with said axle means when said hammer is moved to a cocked position, said hook means imparting movement to said axle and wheels upon the actuation of said trip means to release said hammer.

5. A toy comprising a body shaped to simulate a cannon, an axle shaft extending transversely of said body, the end and intermediate portions of said shaft being crank-shaped, supporting wheels secured to the ends of said axle shaft, a supporting roller provided at the rear of said body, a hammer pivotally supported by said body, spring means for moving said hammer to a firing position, a link mounted for swinging movement about the axis of the pivot for said hammer, hook-shaped wheel rotating means connected at one end to the free end of said link, the opposite end of said wheel rotating means being supported for sliding movement over the crank-shaped intermediate portion of said axle to cause the engagement of the hook on said wheel rotating means with said axle, said wheel rotating means being initially operated by movement of the hammer to a cooked position, and spring means for moving said wheel rotating means to its original position upon movement of said hammer to a firing position, the movement of said wheel rotating means in response to the action of said spring serving to impart rotary movement to said wheels.

6. A toy comprising a body shaped to simulate a cannon, an axle shaft extending transversely of said body, the end and intermediate portions of said shaft being crank-shaped, supporting wheels secured to the ends of said axle shaft,

a supporting roller provided at the rear of said body, a hammer pivotally supported by said body, spring means for moving said hammer to a firing position, a link mounted for swinging movement about the axis of the pivot for said hammer, hook-shaped wheel rotating means connected at one end to the free end of said link, the opposite end of said wheel rotating means being supported for sliding movement over the crank-shaped intermediate portion of said axle to cause the engagement of the hook on said wheel rotating means with said axle, said wheel rotating means being initially operated by movement of the hammer to a cooked position, spring means for moving said wheel rotating means to its original position upon movement of said hammer to a firing position, the movement of said wheel rotating means in response to the action of said spring serving to impart rotary movement to said wheels, and means for releasing the hook on said wheel rotating means from engagement with said axle shaft immediately prior to the time said wheel rotating means reachesits normal position.

'7. A toy comprising a body shaped to simulate a cannon, supporting wheels for said body, hammer means pivotally supported by said body, means for holding said hammer means in a cooked position, means connected with said supporting wheels and operable upon the release of said hammer holding means to efiect rotation of said wheels, and means for limiting the degree of rotative movement of said wheels. A

8. A toy comprising a body shaped to simulate a cannon, supporting wheels for said body, hammer means pivotally supported by said body for movement from a firing position to a cooked position, means for holding said hammer in the latter position, means connected with said hammer means for forcibly moving the same from a cooked position to a firing position, wheel rotating means carried by said body, and means for actuating said wheel rotating means upon the release of said hammer from a cocked position, the operation of said actuating means being delayed with respect to the operation of said hammer.

9. In a toy, a cannon-shaped body, a crankshaped axle carried by said body, ground engaging wheels secured to said axle, the rotation of said wheels serving to raise and lower said body as it moves over a supporting surface, a hammer pivotally supported by said body, a link carried by said body for pivotal movement about the axis of movement of said hammer, a hook member connected with said link, said hook member being engageable with said axle at one position of movement of said link, spring means for moving said hammer and link, movement of the latter serving to impart movement to said axle through said hook, and means for automatically releasing said hook from said axle at the termination of the movement of said link in response to the action of said spring means, the weight of said body serving to effect the rotation of said wheels upon disengagement of said hook from said axle.

JESS C. SHERRICK.