US2434571A

US2434571A - Ball actuated toy

Info

Publication number: US2434571A
Application number: US613283A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sidney L Long
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-08-29
Filing date: 1945-08-29
Publication date: 1948-01-13
Anticipated expiration: 1965-01-13

Description

S. L. LONG BALL ACTUATED TOY Jan.13,194s.

Filed Allg. 29, 1945 Patented Jan. 13, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My present invention relates to toys and, more particularly, to a toy in which a plurality of actions successively take place during each cycle of operation of the toy, and in which the cycles are successively and automatically repeated a predetermined number of times.

The principal object of this invention is to provide upper and lower ball runways and for successively and automatically transferring a plurality of balls on the upper runway to the lower runway.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the drawings.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combination of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the invention, some parts being broken away and sectioned and other parts shown in diierent positions by means of broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views partly in plan and partly in section taken on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 1, respectively; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the frame in its lowermost position, with the inanimate iigure in the same relative position as shown in Fig. 1.

The improved toy includes two laterally spaced duplicate side members 5 having the delineation of an ox A. These side members 5 are rigidly connected in the body of the ox A by upper and lower horizontally disposed bars 6 and 1, respectively. The upper edges of the side members 5 are forwardly and downwardly inclined to aord an upper ball runway 8. The horns 9 oi' the ox A project forwardly and form continuation of the runway 8. Said horns 9, at their outer ends, are upwardly curved to form a ball barrier I0 at the low end of the runway 8. The horns 9 at their outer end portions are connected by a pin 9a and a spacing sleeve 9b. It is important to n-ote that the bar 6 terminates short of the horns 9 to leave a passageway II between said horns.

The rear end portion of the bar 6 extends rearwardly of the ox A and is bifurcated to afford a pair of prongs 2. The tail I 3 of the ox A extends between the prongs |2 and is pivoted thereto .at

A lower inclined ball runway |5, comprising a front section I8 and a rear section 1, extends longitudinally of the ox A in the same vertical plane as the runway 8. The front runway section I6 is straddled by the ox A and rigidly se- 'cured to the legs I8 of said ox and supported thereby. The runway sections I6 and I'I are detachably connected by a coupling I9. The runway I5 is reversely inclined relative to the runway 8. It will be noted that the runway section 1 is narrower than the section I 6 and can be stored or packed therein. In the front end of the runway section I6 is a ball-dellecting block 20 and the rear end of the section |1 is closed.

A horizontally disposed rectangular frame 2| is fulcrumed1 on the ox Arfor oscillatory movement in a vertical plane. This frame 2 I, in which the ox A stands, comprises a pair of long bars 22 rigidly connected by a front block 23 and a rear block 24. The bars 22 are intermediately pivoted on the outer end portions of a pin 25 that extends transversely through the side members 5 and the bar 1.

In the outer face -of the rear block 24 is a guide notch 26 in which the tail I3 extends. Said tail I3 is yieldingly held against the block 24 by the force of gravity.

A member 2'I, simulating a man B, is supported between and on the bars 22, forward of the front block 23, by a pin 28 for pivotal movement. Spacing sleeves 29 on the pin 28 keep the man B centered between the bars 22. The pivotal connection between the man B and the bars 22 and the preponderance of the weight of said man is such as to tend to tilt the man B backwardly against an adjustable stop 30. This stop 30, as shown, is a screw in the front block 23.

On the head of the man B is a cap 3| in the form of an inverted wedge, the edge of which extends transversely of the runway 8. The arms 32 of the man B are out-stretched for carrying a ball, as will presently appear. When the frame 2|, with the man B engaging the stop 38, is in its lowermost position, the upper edges of his arms 32 are slightly outwardly and downwardly inclined. Heels 33 on the man B engage the block 23, when said man is positioned as shown by 3 as shown, comprises a receptacle 35 having therein shot or other heavy pellets 36. A cork 31 affords a closure for the receptacle 35. The receptacle 35 is secured between the bars 22 close to the block 24.

When a ball is deposited on the arms 32 of the man B, the preponderance of weight is shifted on the frame 2| and thereby oscillates said frame, which lowers the man B and raises the rear end portion of the frame 2 I, as shown by broken lines in Fig. 1. In this position of the frame 2|, the same is automatically held by a tooth 38 on the tail I3 and which tooth projects under the block 24. This prevents return movement of the frame 2| under the action of the weight A3II vwhenith'e ball rolls from the arms 32 of the man B.

For operating the toy, a plurality of balls 39, preferably but not necessarily colored glass :marbles, are placed on the runway 8 with the foremost held by the .barrier IfIl. At this time the frame 2| is being lheldby the tooth 38, :asshown by .broken lines in Fig. l, .and the man i13 .is .in engagement with the :stop y3l). To start operation of the toy, the tail I3 .is manually moved to withdraw the `tooth 38 from :under the .block 22|. The weight 34 then oscillates the frameZI which lifts .the -man fB .and .projects .the .upper .portion of `his .body through the Vpassageway f| I. As the man .-B moves Aupwardly in the v.passageway his wedge-shaped .cap Y.3| `enters between vthe two foremost `balls ,39 and lifts Vthe foremost ball -39 over Vthe barrier Il) vwhen :itdrops ionto .the arms 32. It is highly important to note that Vthe hall 39 .on the arms .32 .is back Aof dead center relative toa vertical -line .passing through Vtheaxisof the pin'Se. The bal139 on thearms 32 is held'from rolling Yby said ,arms which are 4upwardly inclined and .the body of the man .B. .As -the 4ball 39drops{on the `ar.ms-32, .it overcomes the action ofthe weight 34, voscillates the frame 2I which,

in turn, lowers -the man B. When the 1frame 2I reaches its lowermost position, the ball 39 rolls outwardly on -the arms 32, as shown .in -Fig. 5 fromapositionback of dead -center to a position forwardly thereof. This movement of :the .bal-l 39 on the arms 32 shifts the preponderance Iof weight which rocks the :man B forwardly into a .position `in -which his larms 32 are downwardly inclined at a sharpangle, and-said ball rolls therefromanddropsonto the deflecting blockl. From the block 2B, ythe ball 39 rolls into a runway I5 and downwardly therein. .During the .rolling of the .ball 39 .in the runway d5, it-strikes Ythe 4lower end .of the tail I3 and swings the same outwardly. This movement-of the tail .I 3 withdraws the tooth 38 from under Ythe block ,24 and again releases the frame 2| vto .repeat the first cycle of the operation .of .the toy just described.

At `the -time .the ball 39 rolls from ythe arms 32, the .preponderance of weight is again `shi-fated and the .man 21 rocks backwardly into normal rposition in which .he .engages the stop 39, 'as yshown in Fig. 5, and .of course, with the ball 39. It will thus be .seen that from `the time the bal-1 39 rolls from the arms 32 and .the man 2l' resumes his normal position, .there is no action in the toy., until the rolling -ball `.'52 tri-ps the tail I3 which releases the frame 2| .and starts the next `cycle of operation,

The cycle of operation of the toy is .successively and automatically repeated until all Yof the balls 39 have been removed from the upper runway 'I and deposited in the lower runway I5. The balls 39, as they are stopped in .the lower :end of the runway I5, may be manually replaced on the runway 8 so that the toy may be automatically operated as long as desired.

Obviously, from the time a ball 39 is deposited in the runway I5 until it reaches the tail I3 and trips the same, there is no action in the toy whatsoever.

From what has been said, it will be understood that the toy described is capable of modications as ito details 'of construction and arrangement with'inthescope of Nthe invention herein disclosed and claimed.

What I claim is:

.11. In Ia toy of the class described, upper and -lower inclined runways, balls on the upper runway, ,saidupper runway having at its low end aball barrier, a carrier, means mounting the carrier for oscillatory movement between the low end-of the upper runway and the high end of the lower runway, and a variable weight for operating .said .means to .lift the carrier, said carrier being vconstructed and `arranged to lift .the vforemost 'hall on the upper runway over the barrier during its .upward movement, and catch and hold said ball, `the weight of .thefballheld by the carrier being suiiicient to operate said means and lower the carrier, said .carrier being constructed and arranged 'torlease the held balland deliver 'the same to thellower runway at the time said 'carrier reachesits lowermos't position. f

2. In a toy o'f the class described, upper an lower inclined runways, balls on the upper runway, said .upper .runwayhaving at its low end a ball barrier, a carrier, means 1mounting the carrier for `oscillatory movement between the low end of the upper runway .and the high end of the lower runway, a weight for voperating said means to 'lift the carrier, said carrier being constructed .and arranged to lift the ,foremost -ball on .the upper runway over the barrier during its upward movement, and catch andhold said ball, the weight of the ball .held by the carrier being sufficient -to operate lsaid means and lower the carrier, said carrier "being constructed .and arranged to release the held Yball and deliver the same lto thelower runway at the time said carrier reaches its lowermost position, anda catch constructed and arranged to 'hold .said means at vthe time xthe carrier reaches fits ylowermost position and be operated Aby a ball rollingon vthe lower runway to release said means.

3. 4In a toy o'f 'the class described, a frame, upper and lower inclined lrunways on the frame, balls on the upper runway, said upper runway having atits .low end a ball barrier, a horizontal-ly disposed v,bar intermediately pivoted to the frame, a 'carrier .pivotally supported on one end portion of the .bar and oscillated thereby between the low end of the upper runway and the high end of the lower runway, means for limiting the pivotal movement of the carrier relative to the bar, a weight on fthe opposite end of the bar from the carrier tfor 'operating said bar to raise the carrier, said fcarrier being 'constructed and arranged to lift 'the foremost ballon the upper runway over the barrier and catch and hold the same 'back of dead center, the weight of the ball held by the carrier lbeing suicient to operate the bar and lower 'the carrier, said .carrier being constructed and arranged to move pivotally and release the held ball and deliver 'the ,same to the lower runway at the .time .said Ycarrier reaches its lowermost position, .and .a catch constructed and arranged to hold the bar at the time the carrier reaches its lowermost position and be operated 5 by a ball rolling on the lower runway to release said means.

4. In a toy of the class described, a frame having the delineation of an ox, an inclined upper ball runway on the back of the ox, the horns of the X forming continuations of said runway, the end portions of said horns affording a ball barrier, a lower inclined ball runway straddled by the ox and secured to the legs thereof, a horizontally disposed bar intermediately pivoted to the body of the ox, a member simulating a man with outstretched arms pivoted to the front end portion of the bar and yieldingly held in a rearwardly inclined position, said man having a cap in the form of an inverted wedge, a weight on the opposite end of the bar from the man for operating the bar to lift the man and project the upper portion of said man between said horns and the cap between the two foremost balls and lift the foremost ball over the barrier Where it drops onto said arms and is positioned thereby back of a dead center relative to the pivotal support for the man, the added weight of the ball on said arms operates said bar and thereby lowers the man, said arms when the bar is in its lowermost position are slightly downwardly inclined whereby the ball rolls past dead center and thereby tilts the man forward materially increasing the inclination of the arms and rolls therefrom into the lower runway.

5. The structure dened in claim 4 in which the tail of the ox is pivoted and provided with a tooth that holds the bar inactive when the man is in his lowermost position, said tail being operated by a ball rolling on the lower runway to release the bar.

6. A gravity actuated, animated toy having in combination, an upstanding frame, a scale beam fulcrumed in said frame and having a weight mounted adjacent one end thereof for swinging said beam in one direction, a track at the top of said frame declined somewhat from the horizontal, abutment means at the lower and delivery end of said track and disposed above the non-weighted end of said beam, a series of rolling members adapted to be supported upon said track, a receiver member mounted adjacent the non-weighted end of said beam and having an upwardly extending ejecting element for displacing one of said rolling members from said abutment to discharge the same into said receiver member, said receiver member being mounted for shifting as the non-weighted end of said lever swings downwardly, to discharge the received rolling member, a second track disposed below the lowermost position of said scale beam and declined somewhat from the horizontal for receiving a rolling member discharged by said receiver member and a latch element having a free terminal portion disposed in the path of travel of said rolling elements along said last mentioned track and adapted to retain the weighted end of said scale beam in upraised position and thereafter, when moved by the travel of one of said rolling members along said roller track, to release said beam for gravity action due to said weight.

SIDNEY L. LONG.

REFERENCES CETED rThe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,244,457 Bain Oct. 30, 1917 1,385,517 Blackburn July 26, 1921