US2558795A - Bird animal figure toy - Google Patents

Description

July 3, 1951 A. J. STEPHENS BIRD ANIMAL FIGURE TOY Filed March 14, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVESTOR AQTHUQ J. STEDHENS ATTORNEYS Patented July 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to a mechanical toy.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a wheeled pull toy which embodies a novel and highly simplified mechanism, driven by the wheels, and connected with movable parts of figures for imparting life-like motion to the figures.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wheeled pull toy having a plurality of separate figures mounted thereon, and including movable parts which are actuated so that the figures will simulate a live flock of chickens, or the like.

A further object is to provide a toy of the above mentioned character which will be highly amusing to children, and which is highly simplified, compact, sturdy and durable in construction and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a wheeled pull toy embodying my invention, part in section,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the toy, parts broken away,

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the toy, part broken away, and parts in section,

Figure 4 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2, and,

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Figure 4.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I9 designates a flat horizontal rectangular platform which is longitudinally elongated, as shown. The platform It has rigidly secured to its bottom side laterally oppositely disposed depending bearing blocks H and 52, which are arranged near and rearwardly of the longitudinal center of the platform l0. Suitable aligned bearings 13 are secured to the bottom of the blocks H and I2, and a transverse horizontal axle or shaft I4 is journaled within the bearings l3, and extend across the platform land is spaced from the bottom of the platform, as shown. The axle or shaft I4 is provided near its longitudinal center, and near the transverse center of the platform lfl with an eccentric portion or crank l5, integral therewith. Wheels- !6 are secured to the opposite ends of the axle or shaft M, for rotation therewith, and these wheels are preferably arranged substantially adjacent to the opposite sides of the platform H3.

Suitably rigidly secured to the top of the platform it are a plurality of spaced upstanding vertical pegs or posts H, and the pegs H are preferably arranged in staggered relation, as shown clearly in Figures 1 and 2. FiXedly secured to the tops of the pegs I! are relatively stationary blocks or bodv portions I3, which'are shaped to simulate the bodies of chickens. As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, the blocks l8 are relatively narrow, and somewhat elongated longitudinally. The blocks it are preferably disposed in parallel relation, as shown, and the blocks assume the spaced staggered relationship of the pegs I! which support them. Each block I 8 is provided in its forward end and bottom with a recess 9, and each block has a transverse pivot pin 26 mounted upon its forward end and extending through the recess l9. Pivotally mounted upon each pin 20 is a vertically swingable elongated curved member or neck 2!, shaped to simulate the neck of a live chicken or the like, and provided at its forward end with a head 22 which likewise simulates the head of a chicken or the like.

The necks 2| extend longitudinally forwardly of the blocks or body portions I8, and the rear portions of the necks 2| are disposed within the recesses I9, and substantially concealed therein. The necks 2! are freely swingable vertically, and tend to remain in depending or lowered positions, under the influence of gravity, wherein the tips of the heads 22 contact the top of the platform I8, Figure 4. The rear ends of the necks 2| are preferably provided with narrow arcuate grooves 23, which receive and guide the upper portions of flexible elements for cords 24. The tops ends of the cords 24 are permanently securely anchored within openings formed in the tops of the necks 2!, within the recesses l9, as shown at 25. The cords 24 pass about the rear ends of the necks 2|, rearwardly of the pivot pins 20 and downwardly through the bottoms of the recesses 59. Small openings 26 are formed in the horizontal platform l9 substantially directly below the recesses l9, and the cords 24 pass through these small openings, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The arrangement is such that when the cords 24 are pulled downwardly through the openings 26, that the necks 2i and heads 22 are elevated or swung upwardly. When the cords 24 are released, so that they may pass upwardly through the small openings 26, the necks 2| will again descend due to gravity. This mode of operation is continuous, as the toy travels forwardly, as will be more fully explained, and the action of the necks 2| simulates the well-known pecking movement of chickens in a life-like manner.

Longitudinally forwardly of the group of blocks 18 and pegs ill, and substantially at the transverse center of the platform In, the same has rigidly secured to its bottom side a depending bearing block Zl, provided with a vertical opening or bore 28 which registers with an opening 29 formed in the platform I above the block 21. A vertical pin or peg 39 is journaled within the openings or bores 28 and 2S, and the top end of the peg 8!] extends above the top of the platform, while its bottom end projects below the block 2i, Figure 4. A block or rooster body portion 3| is rigidly secured to the top of the peg 35, for rotation therewith, and a short tubularspacer 32 surrounds the peg 38 between the bottom of the block 3! and the top of the platform Iii. This spacer 32 contacts the bottom of the block 3| to hold the block and peg against downward movement. The block or rooster portion 3| is provided in its forward and bottom with a slot or recess 33, similar to the recess l9. A transverse pivot pin 54 is mounted upon the forward end of the block 3| and extends across the recess 33, as shown. An elongated curved neck 35 has its rear end pivotally mounted upon the pin 34 and disposed Within the recess 33, and the neck 35 is provided at its forward end with an extension or head 36, which simulates the head of a live rooster. The neck 35 like the necks 2| is freely swingable vertically, and tends to remain in the lowered position, Figure 4, due to gravity. The rear end of the neck 35 is preferably provided with an arcuate groove 3?, for receiving and guiding a flexible element or cord 38, similar to the cords 24. The top end of the cord 38 is permanently anchored within a small opening 39, formed in the top of the neck 35. As shown in Figure 4, the cord 38 passes about the rear end of the neck 35 and downwardly through the bottom of the recess 33, and rearwardly of the pivot pin 34. The platform It? is provided slightly rearwardly of the peg 38 with a small opening 4@, slidably receiving the cord 38 therein. The cord 38 and all of the cords 24 extend below the platform Iii, as shown.

Near and forwardly of the rear end of the platform 50, the same has rigidly mounted upon its bottom side a depending tubular guide or bearing 4!, disposed near the transverse center of the platform. A similar depending guide or hearing 43 is rigidly secured to the bottom of the platform It adjacent to one side of the bearing block 27, and near the forward end of the platform. The guides 4| and 43 are arranged in axial alignment, and an elongated horizontal straight reciprocatory bar or rod 44 is slidably supported within the bearings 4| and 43 and adapted to reciprocate longitudinally therein. The elongated rod 44 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line of the platform H], as shown, and this rod extends throughout the major portion of the length of the platform .and longitudinally forwardly and rearwardly of the bearings 43 and 4| respectively, Figure 3. A suitable longitudinally extending connecting rod 45 is arranged beneath the rod 44, and is provided at its rear end with a loop or eye 45, pivotally receiving the crank l therein. Tubular spacers 4? and 48 are mounted upon the crank I5, upon opposite sides of the loop 46, Figure 3, and these spacers serve to maintain the connecting rod 45 centered beneath the rod 44. The connecting rod 45 further includes a forward upwardly inclined bifurcated extension 45, pivotally connected as at 50 with the reciprocatory rod 44 longitudinally forwardly of the axle l4.

A short horizontally swingable arm 5| is rigidly secured to the bottom end of the pin or peg 353, and disposed beneath the bearing block 21. The outer end of the arm 5| is pivotally connected as at 52 with a longitudinal connecting rod or ,24 of the central link 53, formed of wire or the like, and the rear end of this link 53 is pivotally connected as at 54 with the bifurcated extension 49 of the connecting rod 45. The link 53 lies adjacent to one side of and below the'reciprocatory rod 44.

The bottom end of the flexible element or cord 38 is permanently secured or tied to the rear end of the link 53, adjacent to the bifurcated extension 49, as shown at 55. The cords 24 of the forwardmost pair of necks 2| are tied or secured together, and passed through a small transverse opening 58 formed in the reciprocatory rod 44 near its longitudinal center. The cords 24 of the rearmost pair of necks 2| are secured or tied together below the reciprocatory rod 44, as at 51, and a shortlongitudinally extending cord or flexible element 58 connects the rearmost pair of cords 24 with the reciprocatory rod 44 forwardly of the rear bearing M, as at 59. The cord 24 of the centrally located intermediate neck 2|, shown in cross section in Figure 4, is also tied or secured to the rod 44 at 59. The other intermediate neck 2|, arranged adjacent to one side of the platform ID, Figure 2, has its cord 24 secured or tied with a small transverse opening of the rod 44, at a point longitudinally forwardly of the loop 59, as shown at 65.

A suitable handle 5|, is secured to the forward end of the platform it] at the transverse center of the platform, and this handle is employed for pulling the wheeled toy over the floor or the like.

So that trash or other objects will not become entangled in the working mechanism below the platform If], I provide a bottom casing or cover 52, which is suitably rigidly secured to the bottom of the platform l8, and substantially completely enclosing all of the mechanism below the platform. The casing 62 preferably extends for the entire length of the platform It), and the sides 53 of the casing are disposed laterally inwardly of the wheels l6 and provided with openings for rotatably receiving the axle l4. Adjacent to the axle M, the casing 52 is provided in its bottom with a rectangular opening 54 to provide clearance for the rotation of the crank l5 and connecting rod 45.

The operation of the toy is as follows:

The toy is pulled over the floor or ground by means of the handle 51. This causes the wheels E5 to rotate, rotating the crank l5. This causes the connecting rod to oscillate, for reciprocat ing the elongated rod 44. Each time the connecting rod 45 is shifted longitudinally forwardly and rearwardly, the horizontal arm 5| swings forwardly and rearwardly and turns the vertical peg or pin 35. This causes the block 3| to swing horizontally from right to left, above the platform l5. This swinging movement of the block 3| will be continuous, as long as the toy is pulled by the handle 6|. The blocks it do not swing, but are fixedly secured to the pegs IT, as previously stated.

The arrangement is such that each time that the reciprocatory rod 44 is shifted longitudinally forwardly, the cords 24 of all of the necks 2| except the neck of the central intermediate chicken, shown in section in Figure 4, are tensioned for raising thenecks 2|. When the rod 44 is shifted longitudinally forwardly, the cord intermediate neck 2| is slackened, as is the cord 38. Accordingly, when the rod 44 is in the forward position the neck 35 When the rod 44 the central intermediate neck 2! is tensioned, as is the cord 35, and the necks connected with these cords are elevated, while the remainder of the necks 2! remain lowered. This operation is continuous, as long as the toy is pulled forwardly by the handle El, and the action of the necks 2i and 35 simulates the movement of a flock of chickens or the like while pecking at feed or grain.

The construction of the toy is highly simplified, compact, sturdy and durable. The various parts of the toy, such as the blocks I8 and Si, necks 2i and platform W are well adapted to be formed of wood, or some suitable plastics material. However, any suitable material may be employed which is light and suiliciently strong and durable. The blocks l8 and necks 2i and 35 may be decorated or colored as desired, and although I have shown the blocks 18 and 3| shaped like chickens, if desired, the figures could be shaped to represent other fowl, such as ducks, geese or the like. If desired, the figures could be also shaped to represent some small animal.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in shape, size and arrangement of :parts maybe resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subj oined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A pull toy comprising a substantially horizontal wheeled platform, a crank element arranged beneath the platform and connected with the wheels for rotation therewith, a group of separate spaced upstanding pegs mounted upon the top of the platform and projecting above the same, bird simulating blocks secured to the tops of the pegs, vertically swingable necks pivotally connected with the blocks and extending longitudinally of the blocks, the platform having a plurality of small openings, a forward substantially vertical rotatable peg journaled upon the platform near its forward end and extending above and below the platform, a bird simulating block secured to the top end of the rotatable pe a vertically swingable neck pivotally secured to the last named block, a substantially horizontal arm secured to the bottom of the rotatable peg and disposed below the platform, longitudinally spaced aligned bearings secured to the bottom of the platform near the opposite ends of the platform, a longitudinal elongated reciprocatory rod journaled within the bearings and spaced near and below the platform, flexible elements connected with the vertically swingable necks of all of the blocks and extending through the small openings of the platform and connected with the reciprocatory rod below the platform, a connecting rod arranged beneath the reciprocatory rod and having its forward end pivotally connected with the reciprocatory rod and its rear end !piVOtally connected with the crank element, and a link connecting the connecting rod and said horizontal arm of the rotatable peg.

2. A pull toy comprising a substantially horizontal wheeled platform, an eccentric crank element connected with the wheels and disposed below the platform and adapted to be driven by the wheels, a handle secured to one end of the platform for pulling it, a substantially vertical pin journaled upon the platform for rotation and extending above and below the platform, a bird simulating member secured to the top or" the pin and including a vertically swingable neck, the platform having a small opening, a flexible element connected with the vertically swingable neck and extending through the small opening of the platform and below the platform, a horizontal arm secured to the bottom of the substantially vertical pin for rotation therewith and disposed beneath the platform and spaced from the crank element, guide means secured to the botto n of the platform, a longitudinally shiftabie member connected with the guide means and disposed beneath the platform and connected with the crank element to be driven thereby, the flexible element being connected with the longitudinally shiftable member, and a link connecting the substantially horizontal arm and longitudinally shiftable member, the arrangement being such that rotation of the wheels and crank element causes the bird simulating member to swing horizontally above the platform while the neck swings vertically;

3. A bird animal figure toy comprising a horizontal wheeled platform, a crank element arranged beneath the platform and connected with the wheels for rotation therewith, a group of separate spaced upstanding pegs mounted upon the top of the platform and projecting above the same, bird simulating blocks secured to the tops of the pegs, vertically swingable necks pivotally connected with the blocks and extending longitudinally of the blocks, a longitudinal elongated reciprocatory rod positioned below and spaced from said platform and dependingly supported from the latter, flexible elements connecting the vertically swingable necks of all of said blocks to said reciprocat-ory rod, and a connecting rod arranged beneath the reciprocatory rod and having its forward end pivotally connected with the reciprccatory rod and its rear end pivotally connected to said crank element.

4. A bird animal figure toy comprising a. horizontal wheeled platform, a crank element arranged beneath the platform and connected with the wheels for rotation therewith, a vertical rotatable peg positioned near the forward end of said platform and extending above and below the latter, a bird simulating block secured to the top end of the rotatable peg, a vertically swingable neck pivotally secured to said block, a substantially horizontal arm secured to the bottom of the rotatable peg and disposed below the platform, a longitudinal elongated reciprocatory rod positioned below and spaced from said platform and dependingly supported from the latter, a

flexible element connecting the vertical swingable neck to the reciprocatory rod, a connecting rod arranged beneath the reci-procatory rod and having its forward end pivotally connected with the reciprocatory rod and its rear end pivotally connected with the crank element, and a link connecting the connecting rod and said horizontal arm of the rotatable peg.

ARTHUR J. STEPHENS.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,545,020 Strauss July 7, 1925 2,267,032 Jenkins Dec. 23, 1941

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