US2423198A

US2423198A - Mechanical toy

Info

Publication number: US2423198A
Application number: US645136A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Daniel R Mcclure
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-02-02
Filing date: 1946-02-02
Publication date: 1947-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 1964-07-01

Description

July 1947- D. R. MOCLURE, JR 2,423,198

' MECHANICAL TOY Fi led Feb. 2, 1946 Patented July 1, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MECHANICAL TOY Daniel R. McClure, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 2, 1946, Serial No. 645,136

4 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement devices and has particular reference to improvements in mechanical toys. It is the object of the invention to provide a simple and inexpensive toy which may be operated by anyone, young or old, without danger of causing injury to anyone by damaging any nearby object. To this end the invention resides in the combinations hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, of which Fig. l is a side elevational view of an amusement device embodying the invention, and Fig. 2 is a correspondingly plan view of the device.

As illustrated in the drawings the structure of the invention includes, a stem 1 which preferably is square in cross section as shown and in which is cut a continuous helical groove 2, an annular disc 3 which is perforated as indicated at 4 to receive an elastic band 5, and a soft rubber ball 6 attached to the end of this band. It is important to note that, as indicated in the drawings, the inner diameter of the disc is much larger than the stem of the device.

In order to operate the device it is merely required to slip the annular disc onto the stem l and to grip the handle portion 1 of this stem. When the stem is held upright in the hand it is found that a disc 3 will slide down the incline of the helix and come to rest on the hand. When thereupon the stem is swung about gently without at the same time axially rotating the stem, it is found that the disc will commence to rise in the windings of the helix. If the swinging movement is stopped before the disc reaches the top of the stem, or at least slowed down, it is found that the disc will again gradually sink to the bottom andin doing so will continue rotating about the stem until it comes to rest in the hand. The speed with which the disc and ball swing about and rise on the stem depends entirely upon the speed with which the stem is swung about. If the speed is further increased it is found that the disc will slip over the top of the stem and fly off into space, but as both the .disc and ball are made of very light and soft material no damage will result from such escape from the stem. However, if found desirable, it is possible to provide means for limiting the upward movement of the disc and such means may take the form of a cap 8 which, by means of a screw 9, is seated on the upper end of the stem.

In this manner a very useful and entertaining mechanical toy is provided, and while the structure illustrates a preferred form of the invention I wish it understood that I may embody modifications thereof within the scope of the claims hereto appended. It would for example be possible, in order to provide a more economical toy, to omit the ball 6 and the band 5, and the annular disc will still function in the same manner, but it would, of course, materially detract from the entertainment value of the device.

I claim:

1. The combination with a stem having a helical groove sunk into the surface thereof and extending through the major portion of the'length thereof, of an annular disc of much larger internal diameter having a perforation near the outer edge thereof, an elastic band seated in and extending from said perforation, and a rubber ball secured to the end of said band, said disc being freely mounted on the stem and caused to rise along the helical groove thereof in response to swinging movement of the stem while the latter is held against axial rotation.

2. The combination with a square stem having a helical groove extending from one end thereof, the other end of the stem forming a hand grip, of an annular disc freely mountable on said stem to ride in the groove thereof, said disc having a much larger internal diameter, a light rubber ball, and an elastic band extending from said ball and anchored in the outer edge of said disc, the swinging movement of the stem while it is being held against axial rotation causing the disc and. ball to rotate thereabout and to rise in said groove.

3. The combination with a square stem having a helical groove extending from one end thereof, the other end of the stem forming a hand grip, of an annular disc freely mountable on said stem to ride in the groove thereof, said disc having a much larger internal diameter, a light rubber ball, an elastic band extending from said ball and anchored in the outer edge of said disc, the swinging movement of the stem while it is being held against axial rotation causing the disc and ball to rotate thereabout and to rise in said groove, and a cap mountable on the upper end of the stem to limit upward movement of the disc therein.

4. The combination with a stem having a hellcal grove sunk into the surface thereof and extending through the major portion of the length thereof, one end of said stem forming a hand grip, of an annular disc freely mountable on said stem for engagement with the groove thereof, the internal diameter of said disc being of much larger diameter, the stem being held in the hand against axial rotation therein, the hand holding the stem being swung gently about in a relatively large circle to cause the disc to engage the groove of the stem and slowly to rise in said groove.

DANIEL R. MCCLURE, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 465,162 Coe Dec. 15, 1891 1,195,938 Andreas Aug. 22, 1916