US2298431A

US2298431A - Toy

Info

Publication number: US2298431A
Application number: US304398A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles J Sullivan; Hattie T Leister
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-11-14
Filing date: 1939-11-14
Publication date: 1942-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 1959-10-13

Description

1942- c. J SULLIVAN ET AL 2,298,431

TOY

Filed Nov. 14, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 13, 1942. c J SULLIVAN ETAL 2,298,431

TOY 1 Filed Nov. 14, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 13, 1942 UNITED STATES ;ATENT OFFICE TOY Charles J. Sullivan and Hattie T. Leister, Arlington County, Va.

Application November 14, 1939, Serial No. 304,398

10 Claims.

This invention relates to toys and has more particular reference to toys simulating an automotive service station and vehicles to be used in connection therewith.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved toy of the class described in which the appearance and operation of the elements included therein are highly realistic and adapted to appeal to children of all ages.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide in a toy combination of this kind means for storing and dispensing to the toy vehicles an innocuous liquid, preferably colored to imitate the various brands of motor fuel or lubricant on the market, and also to provide means for readily returning this liquid from the vehicle to the storage means, this return of the liquid being in lieu of consuming the liquid as fuel or lubricant as in a real car.

In its preferred embodiment, the invention contemplates the provision of a platform or base upon which is mounted a simulated building representing the service station proper, and one or more structures simulating gasoline or oil pumps of conventional construction. The base or platform is preferably hollow and adapted to contain a storage tank for the liquid, together with suitable tubing for connecting the tank to the pumps and to suitable filling arrangements associated with the platform.

Within each pump structure there is installed a small operative pumping unit, preferably arranged for manual operation for economy in construction, and in the preferred form each pump is provided with a container for the liquid and a length of flexible tubing providing a hose through which the liquid may be discharged.

The motor vehicles employed in the combination toy may of course be of any number and designed to imitate any type of car, truck, bus, aircraft, or the like. Each one is provided with a tank having a filling opening into which the liquid may be discharged from the gasoline pumps. Since obviously the liquid cannot be consumed by the toy vehicles, means must be provided for emptying the tanks, and for this purpose each tank is provided with a discharge opening controlled by a valve which may be actuated either manually or'electrically. The platform or base is provided with an opening preferably located upon a portion thereof which represents a roadway or driveway, and the opening is connected by suitable tubing with the storage tank. In order to insure that the vehicle tank discharge valve is operated only when the outlet of this tank is above the storage tank inlet opening. electromagnetic means may be provided on the base for opening the valve on the vehicle tank. This magnet may be energized by means of a manually operable switch or the actuation may be effected automatically by means of contacts adapted to be closed by the wheels of the vehicle.

Other features of novelty involve the provision of a transparent Walled container in the gasoline pump and novel illuminating means in connection therewith.

Further objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments ofthe invention are illustrated by way of example.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the service station unit of one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a'view in front elevation of the same; 1

Figure 3 is an end elevation;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of one of the gasoline pump structures; 7

Figure 5 is a vertical section through a portion of the base of the service station unit and through one of the motor vehicles, showing one form of apparatus for emptying the tanks of the vehicles;

Figure 6 is a similar view showing another way of actuating the vehicle tank discharge valve; and

, Figure 7 is a sectional view of a portion of a vehicle showing a manually operable valve mechanism.

In the drawings, the unitary service station element of the combinationtoy is indicatedgenerally by the reference numeral Hi, this unit come made of sheet metal and of hollow construction so as to be adapted to enclose certain auxiliary devices of the combination. Upon the base I2 there may be secured a small building structure I4 provided with doors and windows, and ornamented in any suitable fashion. In front of the building there may be disposed any desired number of gasoline pump structures l5, two only being shown in-the illustrated embodiment.

In front of the filling station, represented by the building l4 and the tanks I5, there is formed in the upper surface of the platform l2 a depressed roadway or trackway I6. This trackway is adapted to guide the vehicles past the pumps and is preferably provided with ramps 11 at the ends thereof, so that the vehicles may be more readily moved onto the platform from the floor or ground upon which the toy rests. At the rear of the filling station there is provided another driveway in the form of a depressed trackway which is designated l8, and the purpose of which will be more fully brought out at a later point in the specification. This trackway is also preferably provided with ramps such as shown at I9. Curved connecting drives or tracks 20 and 2| may be formed at the ends of the filling station for connecting the front and rear driveways.

Beneath the hollow base there is disposed a tank 25 which may be secured to the base by soldering or by any other suitable means. This tank is adapted to provide storage means for an innocuous liquid which simulates the fue] and which is to be delivered to the toy vehicles. This liquid may be water which has been colored with suitable harmless dyes in imitation of the various brands of motor fuel or lubricant on the market. The tank is connected by means of the tubing 26 with each of the gasoline pumps l and is also provided with tubing 21 leading to a normal filling opening adapted to be covered by the cap 28 and situated at an appropriate point on the base. Another inlet conduit for the storage tank is provided by the tubing 29 leading from a funnel-like opening 30 provided in the rear driveway IS. The purpose of this arrangement will be later described.

The pumps I5, as more clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, are preferably provided with a hollow body portion 32 made of sheet metal and secured to the base by soldering or by interfitting tongues and slots in a manner well known in the sheet metal toy art. The top of the sheet metal portion 32 is provided with an opening, the internal rim of which is threaded as at 33. Into this opening the threaded neck 34 of the cylindrical transparent container 35 is screwed. The opening is covered by means of a disc or plate 36 and the connection between the container 35 and the base portion 32 is made liquid-tight by means of a gasket 31. Within the body portion of the pump structure there is installed an actually operable pumping unit. In the illustrated form there is provided a pump cylinder 40 into the bottom of which the supply conduit 26 leads. A short tube 4| leads from the top of the pump cylinder through the plate .36 into the container 35. An outlet tube 42 leads through this same disc, and to the end of the tube 42 there may be connected a piece of flexible tubing 44 to represent the flexible delivery hose of the usual gasoline pump. A suitable valved nozzle member 45 may be carried by the end of this tubing.

The pumping unit is of a very simple construction and may consist of a piston 4! provided with a flap valve 48 which cooperates with the flap valve 49 covering the inlet opening from the tube 26. An operating handle 50 is fulcrumed as at SI and connected by means of a link 52 and a bail 53 with the piston 41. The pump may be operated by means of a small electric motor or it may be manually actuated. For the sake of simplicity of illustration, the latter form is illustrated in the drawings. The container 35 may be filled with liquid by a few strokes of the handle 50 of the pump. Upon filling the container 35 the liquid may be discharged into the tanks of the toy vehicles through the valved nozzles 45. Upon the top of the container 35 there is clipped a sheet metal cap or dome 55 within which a tiny electric light bulb 56 may be secured. A wire 51 leads from the socket 58 of the bulb downwardly through the body 32 of the pump structure, to a suitable source of current. This source of current may be a small battery, such as indicated diagrammatically at B0, or it may be a bellringing transformer provided with suitable terminals for connection with the electric lighting circuit.

In Figure 5 of the drawings there is shown at 65, in transverse vertical cross section, one of the automotive vehicles adapted to be employed in connection with the toy. This vehicle is an automobile of the passenger type and is provided with wheels, two of which are indicated at 66 and 61. These wheels are carried on an axle 68 having hearings in the sheet metal structure of the vehicle. A fuel tank 10 is secured as by means of the brackets 1| beneath the upper surface of the sheet metal body and a filling tube 12 extends through the surface of the car and is provided with a cover or cap 13. When the vehicle 65 is moved along the driveway l6, it is halted in front of one of the tanks I5, and the nozzle 45 is inserted in the filling opening 12 of the vehicle tank. A few strokes of the pump 40 will fill the container 35 with the colored fluid and the ornamental effect of the device will be greatly enhanced by the light shining downwardly through the fluid in the transparent container. When the container 35 is full, the valve at the nozzle 45 is opened and the fuel tank 10 of the car is filled.

As an alternative feature, a colorless fluid, such as plain water, may be used and the color effect obtained by using tinted glass containers 35 on the pumps. In this way different colored containers may be used on the several pumps in simulation of different brands or grades of fuel, the liquid still being drawn from a single supply tank.

After leaving the driveway l6 by means of one of the ramps I! or through one of the side drives 20 or 2|, the vehicle may be brought into the rear drive I8 for emptying the vehicle tank. The tank is provided with a cylindrical downwardly extending portion 15, through an opening in the side wall of which extends a discharge tube 16 which is spaced laterally from the margins of the vehicle a distance corresponding to the spacing of the funnel-like inlet opening 30 from one wall of the trackway l8. Within the cylindrical portion 15, a valve body 18 is disposed and is held in an upward position covering the opening into the discharge tube 16, by means of a very flexible spring 19. Within an opening in the base l2 within the driveway l8 and spaced laterally thereof so as to be directly beneath the valve member 18 as the vehicle passes thereover, there is disposed an electromagnet 80, this magnet being energized by current from the battery or transformer 68 whenever the push-button 8! of the switch 82 is depressed. Thus, when the vehicle is disposed as indicated in the drawings with the discharge opening 16 over the catch funnel 30 and the valve body 18 over the magnet 80, the making of contact at the switch 82 will cause the magnet to move the valve body 18 downwardly until the opening in the discharge tube 16 is uncovered. Then the fluid will flow from the tank 10 into the funnel 30 and thence through the tubing 29 to the storage tank 25.

Instead of the manually operated means for actuating the discharge valve of the vehicle, there may be provided an automatic device such as illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. The wheels 66 and 61 connected by the axle 68 are made of metal in this embodiment and are adapted to rest respectively upon the

electric contacts

85 and 86 set in the driveway l8 and suitably insulated from the base structure. A wire 81 connects the contact 86 with the magnet 80 which is in turn connected by means of the wiring 88 with one pole of the battery. A wire 89 connects the contact 85 with the other pole of the battery and it is obvious that the circuit will be completed to actuate the valve, through the wheels and axle of the car when the wheels rest upon the contacts. Obviously the

contacts

85 and 85, the magnet 88, and the catch funnel 30 are all disposed in a definite spacial relationship to each other for the actuation of the valve at the proper time when the discharge tube is over the funnel and the valve 18 is directly above the magnet 88.

In a cheaper construction, the outlet valve member, designated 18' in Figure 7 of the drawings, may be manually operated. For this purpose a stem 98 is secured to the valve body 18' and extends through an opening 9| in the upper part of the tank and is guided through another opening 92 in the top of the car body. The upper end of the rod 90 may be provided with a knob or button 93 which may be depressed to move the valve against the tension of the spring 19 to open position.

By means of the present invention there has been provided a novel and attractive toy combination which through its accurate simulation of actual procedures exerts a strong appeal to children, and which also embodies certain novel details of construction and operation which render the device easy to construct and operate.

Various changes may be made in the embodiments illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A toy automotive combination comprising a simulated automotive vehicle and a service station therefor, said vehicle being provided with a tank with inlet and outlet openings therein, said service station comprising a simulated gasoline pump structure and storage tank, an innocuous liquid adapted for transfer from the storage tank to the pump and thence to the vehicle tank, a conduit leading from said storage tank to said pump, actually operative liquid pumping means in said simulated pump structure, and discharge connections for transferring said liquid from said vehicle tank to said storage tank.

2. A toy automotive combination comprising a simulated automotive vehicle and a service station therefor, said vehicle being provided with a tank with inlet and outlet openings therein, means for controlling said outlet opening to empty said vehicle tank, said service station comprising a pump simulating in appearance the conventional gasoline pump structure and a storage tank, an innocuous liquid adapted for transfer from the storage tank to the pump and thence to the Vehicle tank, and means for effecting said transfers, an inlet connection for said storage tank and means for disposing said vehicle in proximity to said inlet connection for return of said fluid from the vehicle to said storage tank.

3. A toy automotive combination comprising a simulated automotive vehicle and a service station therefor, said vehicle being provided with a tank with inlet and outlet openings therein, means for controlling said outlet opening to empty said vehicle tank, said service station comprising a supporting base, a pump on said base simulating in appearance the conventional gasoline pump structure, a storage tank supported by said base, an innocuous liquid adapted for transfer from the storage tank to the pump and thence to said vehicle tank, liquid transfer connections between said pump and said storage tank, an inlet connection for said storage tank', atrackway for guiding said vehicle across said base and past said pump for transfer of liquid to said vehicle tank, and a trackway for guiding said vehicle across said base in close proximity to said storage tank inlet connection. whereby said liquid may be readily returned from said vehicle to said storage tank.

4. A toy automotive combination comprising a simulated automotive vehicle and a service station therefor, said vehicle being provided with a tank with inlet and outlet openings therein. means for controlling said outlet opening to empty said vehicle tank, said service station comprising a hollow supporting base, a pump on said base simulating in appearance the conventional gasoline pump structure, a storage tank within said base, an innocuous liquid adapted for transfer from the storage tank to said pump and thence to said vehicle tank, liquid transfer connections between said pump and said stora e tank, an inlet connection for said storage tank, ramps and a trackway for guiding said vehicle across said base and past said pump for transfer of liquid to said vehicle tank, and ramps and a trackway for guiding said. vehicle across said base in close proximity to and at a higher level than said storage tank inlet connection, whereby said liquid may be readily discharged from said vehicle into said storage tank.

5. A toy automotive combination comprising a simulated automotive vehicle and a service station therefor, said vehicle being provided with a tank with inlet and outlet openings therein. means for controlling said outlet opening to empty said vehicle tank, said service station comprising a hollow supporting base, a simulated building on said base and a pump simulating in appearance the conventional gasoline pump structure in front thereof, a storage tank within said base, an innocuous liquid adapted for transfer from the storage tank to the pump and thence to said vehicle tank, liquid transfer connections between said pump and said storage tank, an

inlet connection for said storage tank, ramps and a trackway for guiding said vehicle across said base and past said pump and in front of said building for transfer of liquid to said vehicle tank, and ramps and a trackway for guiding said vehicle across said base behind said building and in close proximity to said storage tank inlet connection, whereby said liquid may be readily discharged from said vehicle into said storage tank.

6. A toy automotive combination comprising a simulated automotive vehicle and a service station therefor, said vehicle being provided with a tank with inlet and outlet openings therein, means for controlling said outlet opening to empty said vehicle tank, said service station comprising a supporting base, a pump on said base simulating in appearance the conventional gasoline pump structure, a storage tank supported by said base, an innocuous liquid adapted'for transfer from the storage tank to the pump and thence to said vehicle tank, liquid transfer connections between said pump and said storage tank, an inlet connection for said storage tank, a trackway for guiding said vehicle across said base and past said pump for transfer of liquid to said vehicle tank, a trackway for guiding said vehicle across said base in close proximity to said storage tank inlet connection, whereby said liquid may be readily returned from said vehicle to said storage tank, and means on said base for actuating said outlet opening controlling means only when said vehicle is in the proper position with respect to said tank inlet connection to discharge said liquid into said connection.

7. A toy automotive combination comprising a simulated automotive vehicle and a service station therefor, said vehicle being provided with a tank with inlet and outlet openings therein, a movable valve element for controlling said outlet opening to empty said vehicle tank, said service station comprising a supporting base, a pump on said base simulating in appearance the convention a gasoline pump structure, a storage tank supported by said base, an'innocuous liquid adapted for transfer from the storage tank to the pump and thence to said vehicle tank, liquid transfer connections between said pump and said storage tank, an inlet connection for said storage tank, a trackway for guiding said vehicle across said base and past said pump for transfer of liquid to said vehicle tank, a trackway for guiding said vehicle across said base in close proximity to said storage tank inlet connection, whereby said liquid may be readily returned from said vehicle to said storage tank, and an electromagbase and entirely beneath the level of said trackway, conduits connecting said storage tank and said pump, filling means for said tank opening adjacent said trackway, and discharge means on said pump.

9. A toy automotive combination comprising a simulated automotive vehicle and a service station therefor, said vehicle being provided with a tank with inlet and outlet openings therein, means for controlling said outlet opening to empty said vehicle tank, said service station comprising a supporting base, a pump on said base simulating in appearance the conventional gasoline pump structure, a storage tank disposed beneath said base, an innocuous liquid adapted for transfer between said vehicle tank and said storage tank, an inlet connection for said storage tank, a trackway for guiding said vehicle across said base and past said pump, a trackway for guiding said vehicle across said base in close proximity to said storage tank inlet connection, whereby said liquid may be readily returned from said vehicle to said storage tank, and means on said base for actuating said outlet opening controlling means.

10. A toy automotive combination comprising a simulated automotive vehicle and a service station therefor, said vehicle being provided with a tank with inlet and outlet connections therein, a movable valve element for controlling said outlet opening to empty said vehicle tank, said service station comprising a supporting base, a pump on said base simulating in appearance the conventional gasoline pump structure, a storage tank disposed beneath said base, an innocuous liquid adapted for transfer from said vehicle tank to said storage tank, an inlet connection for said storage tank, a trackway for guiding said vehicle across said base in close proximity to said storage tank inlet connection, whereby said liquid may be readily returned from said vehicle to said storage tank, and an electromagnet on said base for moving said valve element only when said vehicle is in the proper position with respect to said tank inlet connection to discharge said liquid'into said connection.

CHARLES J. SULLIVAN. I-lZATTIE T. LEISTER,