US2499085A - Coaster wagon - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 28, 1950 w. M. BAKULA l2,499,085

coAsTER wAGoN Filed March 26, 1946 `-i IM f 1\ Figi rl "y i WW/mM--',

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Patented Feb. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES -PATENT QFFICE` vGOASTER WAGON Walter M. Bakula, Denver, Colo.

Application March 26, 1946, Serial No. 657,199 2 Claims. (o1. 28o-87.01)

This invention relates to improvements in coaster wagons and has reference more particularly to an improved construction of the front axle assembly.

There have been andis on the market today a variety of coaster wagons for use mostly `by children. Such wagons are nearly always constructed in .a imsy manner and not suitable for use except as toys or playthings.

It is the object of this invention to produce a coaster wagon of a substantial .and sturdy construction that can be used for transporting heavy loads, as well as for ordinary play wagons.

The improved construction that forms the subject of this application relates, as above stated, more particularly to the front axle assembly and the object thereof is to produce a sturdy and substantial construction that Will guarantee long life and usefulness of the wagon.

Another object is to produce a front axle assembly that is complete in itself and which can be attached to any wagon having side members.

Having thus, in a general way, set out the objects of the invention, the construction of the wagon and the parts to which this invention relates, will now be described in greater detail and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated in its preferred form, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wagon;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan View of the chassis frame looking in the direction of arrows 2 2,

Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3 3, Figure 1, showing the front axle with the wheel removed;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4 4, Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view looking through plane 5 5, Figure 3.

In the drawing reference numeral Ill designates the wagon box that may have any shape and desired appearance and which rests on a chassis frame that is shown in bottom plan view in Figure 2 from which it will be seen that it comprises two side frame members I I that are connected at their front ends by means of transverse pipes I2 that are upwardly bowed and form a bolster. Secured to the under' surface of the bolster at its middle point, is a' bearing plate I3 that forms a ball race. This -plate may be and preferably is, secured to the bolster by welding. Extending downwardly from each of theside frames near the rear ends thereof are pipes I4 whose lower ends are connected to upwardly and forwardly inclined braces l5. Pipes i4 and :I 5 have .their upper ends welded to the side members and form triangles to the lower vertices of which the rear axle i6 is attached by welding. The shaft extends outwardly beyond the r`chassis frame, as shown in Figure 2 where the portions on which the wheels Il are journaled have been designated by reference ynumeral I8.

It will be seen that the rear axle serves to hold the side members in spaced relation. In the drawing the chassis side frame members .Il -have been shown as connectedat their rear end by means of a pipe I 9 and at the front .end by a pipe 2D. The transverse frame members may,

' however, be omitted, if desired, because the construction of the frame is such that they are not required for strength. A king pin 2lk projects downwardly from the bearing plate 1.3 as shown in Figure 4. l

The front axle has been designated 'by reference numeral 22 and is formed from a straight steel bar or ka steel tube and is provided with laterally extending portions 23 on which the .front wheels are mounted.

The specific construction of the front wheels has not been shown as ordinary wheels now on the market are employed. The front axle is reenforced by means of an upwardly bowed truss formed by two tubular members 24 whose ends are welded to the axle at points 25. The trussmembers are upwardly diverging so as to be spaced a considerable distance at their highest point. Secured to the truss at its middle position is a bearing plate 26. In the drawing the two plates I3 and 26 have been shown as separated by balls 2l which is the preferred construction. However, it is evident that two iiat plates properly lubricated can be employed. lThe king bolt passes through the two bearing plates in the manner shown in Figure 4 and secures the front axle in operative position. The front axle is provided at its middle point with an upwardly extending pivot 30. For the purpose of bracing the iront axle to resist forces acting longitudinally of 'the wagon a U-shaped brace is provided which comprises two curved tubular members 28. These members have one end connected to a bearing 29 through which the pivot 3i) extends. The two brace members are upwardly divergent and their upper ends extend across the bolster as shown in Figure 1 and are welded to the two bolster bars. When this brace is in position it resists forces tending to turn the axle rearwardly or forwardly.

A tongue, which has been indicated by reference numeral 3|, is connected to the front axle assembly by means of forwardly extending brackets comprising spaced bars 32 that extend across the truss bars 24 and are welded to them as shown in Figure 3. The iront ends of these bars are welded at points 33 to upwardly and forwardly extending tubular bars 34. A spacer rod 35 extends between the front ends of the two triangular assemblies, just described, and the front ends of bars 32 are provided with openings for the reception of a pivot bolt 30 to which the tongue 3| is pivotally connected.

The pivotI bolt 36 is positioned a sufficient distance in front of the wagon box to permit the tongue to be turned rearwardly for steering when the wagon is employed for coasting.

From the above description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be evident that a wagon constructed in the manner sho-wn and described is very strong and substantial and can therefore be employed for transporting heavy loads, as well as for coasting. A wagon like the one described is useful around any house or residence as it is not a toy but can be used wherever material of any considerable weight is to be transported. The

box is readily removable from the chassis frame and can be replaced by boxes of other shapes and constructions better suited for some particular purpose.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A iront axle assembly for use with wagons having a chassis comprising two spaced side members and a rear axle; a bolster formed from two spaced bars positioned near the front end of the frame and welded to the side members, a bearing plate welded to the under surface of the bolster at its middle point, a king bolt extending through the plate, a front axle, an upwardly curved truss element positioned along the upper side of the axle and attached at its ends thereto, the truss comprising two rod-like members spaced along their middle points with their ends welded to the front axle, a bearing plate secured to the convex upper side of the truss, at its middle, and provided with an opening for the king bolt, and a U-shaped brace formed from two members connected at one end and diverging, the spaced ends being welded to the bolster, the interconnected ends being pivoted to the center point of the axle, the axle having means for attaching a tongue thereto.

2. A chassis frame for coaster wagons, comprising two parallel side frame members, each frame member having a downwardly extending axle supporting bracket near its rear end, a rear axle welded to the brackets, a bolster near the front ends of the frame members, comprising two downwardly bowed tubes positioned in parallel spaced relation on the same side of the frame REFERENCES GITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

NITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 256,820 Comstock Apr. 25, 1882 850,971 Schildwachter Apr. 23, 1907 1,434,839 Palmer Nov. 7, 1922 1,654,072 Ewald Dec. 27, 1927 1,771,813 Norman July 29, 1930 1,816,691 Notzke July 28, 1931 2,015,726 Pasin Oct. 1, 1935

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