US2593941A

US2593941A - Reversing toy trolley car

Info

Publication number: US2593941A
Application number: US171680A
Authority: US
Inventors: Earl T Van Sciver
Original assignee: BACHMAN BROS Inc
Current assignee: BACHMAN BROS Inc
Priority date: 1950-07-01
Filing date: 1950-07-01
Publication date: 1952-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 1969-04-22

Description

April 22, 1952 E. 'r. VAN SCIVER 2,593,941

REVERSING TOY TROLLEY CAR Filed July 1, 1950 INVENTOR. [ar/ T VazzfC/rer QifofweV Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Bachman Bros.,

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a toy that simulates a trolley car and is concerned primarily with such a toy that is self-powered.

At the present time there are various toys that are driven by electric motors. A good example of such toys is the well-known electric train. However, in toys of this type the power is derived from the track on which the toy operates. The present invention proposes to depart from this practice by providing a toy which includes as an essential element a small dry cell which affords the necessary motive power.

An important object of the invention is to provide a toy trolley of the type indicated in which the dry cell is removably positioned in the trolley car. Such an arrangement permits of ready replacement after the dry cell is run down.

Another highly important object of the invention is to provide a toy trolley car of the type indicated which is automatically reversible upon engaging some fixed object. Thus, the toy may be placed on a flat surface and started in operation. Upon hitting any fixed object it will automatically reverse itself and run in the opposite direction until it hits another fixed object. It will run back and forth between these two fixed objects as long as the operator desires.

In carrying out this idea the toy trolley car is provided with a main frame which supports the wheels, the motor that drives the wheels, and the dry cell. The motor includes an armature having a pair of terminals. A U-shaped conductor strip is interposed between'the dry cell and the motor. A pair of contacts are carried at the free ends of the U-shaped strip and arranged so that the grounding of one armature terminal and the connection of the other with a contact on the U-shaped strip will cause current to flow through the armature in one direction, while the grounding of the other armature terminal and the connection of the remaining terminal to the U-shaped strip contact associated therewith will cause current to pass through the armature in the opposite direction.

A contact actuator is slidably mounted on the main frame and has end portions projecting beyond both ends of the main frame. This actuator is provided with a pair of cams, each of which is adapted to engage one of the armature terminals aforesaid and ground that terminal, at the same time breaking the connection of that terminal with the contact associated therewith.

The actuator projects well beyond the superstructure which may be mounted on the frame so that definite assurance may be had that it will Inc.,

strike against a fixed object which may be in the path of the toy in advance of any other part of the car.

Various other more detailed objects and ad.- vantages of the invention such as arise in connection with carrying out the above noted ideas in a practical embodiment will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention therefore comprises a toy trolley car which includes an electric motor for driving the wheels thereof, which electric motor is powered by a dry cell. Means are included for automatically reversing the direction of the drive of the motor upon the car encountering a fixed object.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the main body of the toy trolley car that is designed in accordance with the precepts of this invention, with the superstructure shown in phantom outline;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view;

Figure 3 is a top plan view with the dry cell removed;

Figure 4 is a view in end elevation with the parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing the contact actuator locked against sliding movement; and

Figure 6 is a detailed section taken about on the plane represented by the lines 6-6 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, the trolley car of this invention is shown as comprising a main body or platform ID having depending side flanges I I, with each end of each flange I I carrying an inwardly turned tab I2. This platform Ill is of metal having good conducting properties and may be considered as the ground of the motor circuit to be later described. The flanges I I include central enlarged portions i3 which are formed with two pairs of aligned openings which receive axles l4 and I5. Wheels shown at It are mounted on the axle I5, while driving wheels II are keyed to the axle I4. Also keyed to the axle I4 is a transmission member in the form of a rubber disk I8. This disk l8 bears against one of the driving wheels I l as shown in Figure 4 and a thrust bearing 30 is interposed a between this wheel I! and the enlarged portion i3 of the flange I I on that side.

motor I9 is a direct current Supported on the platform i substantially directly above the axle Hi is an electric motor l9 having a drive shaft 2a. This drive shaft 29 extends downwardly through an opening in the platform It and its lower end engages one face of the rubber transmission member it. This engagement is created by a force normal to the axis of the shaft 22 and which force is resisted by the thrust bearing 80. Obviously, the rotation of the drive shaft 29 will rotate the rubber member l8 and thus wheels l1.

Enclosing the electric motor 29 is a U-shaped piece of copper sheet metal designated 2! which conducts current from the dry cell (to be later described) to the motor. This member 2| .is formed with two downwardly extending

arms

22 and 23, each of which has a turned in end

flange providing contacts

29 and 29 such as shown in Figure 6.

Upstanding from one end of the platform I0 is a vertical support 26. The support 26 has side flanges 21 which support the motor i9. The motor of a well known type having a field provided by a permanent magnet and an armature. This armature has a pair of terminals shown at 24 and 25. These armature terminals 29 and 25 overlie the

contacts

28 and 29 with which they are adapted to engage. Either one of them may be pressed out of this engagement by an arrangement to be later described.

Upstanding from the other end of the platform I9 is a spring clip 3!. Between the spring clip 3| and the U-shaped member 2| the platform I0 is formed with a depression 32 which is curved to conform to the contour of the dry cell shown at 33. This dry cell 33 has an electrode 34 at one end thereof, with the other electrode taking the form of the casing as indicated at 35. The electrode 35 engages the spring clip 3| and is thus grounded to the platform ill. The electrode 34 engages the bend of the U- shaped member 2i and current passes through one side or the other of this U-shaped member, depending on which of the contacts, 28 or 29, is in engagement with its complemental armature terminal, 24 or 25.

A contact actuator is designated 36 and takes the form of a slide which underface of the platform It and is retained in its sliding position relative thereto by the inturned tabs l2. The actuator 36 is in conductive engagement with the platform It and hence is grounded. This actuator 36 projects well beyond each end of the platform It! and has downturned end flanges 3i. Struck from the actuator 36 are a pair of

tongues

38 and 39. These

tongues

38 and 39 are adapted to function as cams with respect to the contacts 24 and 25. Thus, whenthe slide 36 is actuated to cause the tongue 38 to engage the underface of the armature terminal 24, the camming action lifts the free end of the termina1 24 from the contact 28 to break the circuit to the armature terminal 24 at that point, and ground the armature terminal 24. At the same time, however, the tongue 39 will be removed from beneath the armature terminal 25 to permit the latter to come into engagement with the contact 29. Thus the direction of current through the armature of the motor I9 is controlled by which of the terminals 29 or 25 is in engagement with one of the

contacts

28 or 29 and which is grounded. The direction is positioned on the the axle l4 and driving of current through the armature determines the direction of rotation of the motor shaft 20.

It is desirable to provide means for locking the actuator 36 in a neutral position relative to the platform iii. That is, it must be locked in a position in which the circuit through both of the armature terminals 24 and 25 is broken. To this end a spring keeper 49 has its upper end received between a pair of metallic loops 4| which are struck from the vertical support 26. This keeper 4-9 extends down through an opening shown at 42 in the actuator 36 and its lower end is formed with a manipulating loop 43. This opening 42 is formed with a notch at 44 which is adapted to snugly receive the keeper 49 immediately abovethe loop 43. When the keeper is so received in the notch 44, the actuator 36 is held against sliding movement relative to the platform Iii.

Obviously the platform [9 may carry any superstructure which is desired for appearance efiects. Thus, the superstructure may be made to simulate a trolley car which is depicted in the phantom outline in Figure 1. Other representations of moving vehicles could also be carried by the platform i9.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact constructions, mechanisms and devices illustrated and described, because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toy trolley car, a metallic platform. wheels supporting said platform including a pair of driving wheels, a metallic clip upstanding from one end of said platform, a U-shaped metallic strip on said platform adjacent to the other end and in insulated relation with respect thereto, said U-shaped strip being arranged with its bend confronting said clip, a dry cell detachably po- 1 sitioned between said clip and U-shaped strip and having an electrode engaging said U-shaped strip, the other electrode of said dry cell engaging said clip, an electric motor within said U- shaped strip having an armature with a pair of terminals, each of said terminals being adapted to be connected to one end of said U-shaped strip while the other terminal is grounded to said platform, a vertical drive shaft included as a part of said motor, and means for operatively connecting the lower end of said drive shaft to said driving wheels.

2. In a toy trolley car, a metallic platform, wheels supporting said platform including a pair of driving wheels, a metallic clip upstanding from one end of said platform, a U-shaped metallic strip on said platform adjacent to the other end and in insulated relation with respect thereto, said U-shaped strip being arranged with its bend confronting said clip, a dry cell detachably positioned between said clip and U-shaped strip and having an electrode engaging said U-shaped strip, the other electrode of said dry cell engaging said clip, an electric motor within said U- shaped strip and having an armature with a pair of terminals, each of said terminals being adapted to be connected to one end of said U-shaped strip while the other terminal is grounded to said platform, a vertical drive shaft included as a part of said motor, means for operatively connecting the lower end of said drive shaft to said driving wheels, a pair of contacts carried at the free end of said U-shaped strip, means adapted to connect either of said contacts with one of said armature terminals, a contact actuator slidably mounted on said platform and extending from opposite ends thereof, and a pair of cam elements carried by said contact actuator, each of which is adapted to engage one of said armature terminals to break the electrical connection thereat.

3. In a toy trolley car, a metallic platform, wheels supporting said platform including a pair of driving wheels, a metallic clip upstanding from one end of said platform, a U-shaped metallic strip on said platform adjacent to the other end and in insulated relation with respect thereto, said U-shaped strip being arranged with its bend confronting said clip, a dry cell detachably positioned between said clip and U-shap-ed strip and having an electrode engaging said U-shaped strip, the other electrode of said dry cell engaging said clip, an electric motor within said U-shaped strip and having an armature with a pair of terminals, a vertical drive shaft included as a part of said motor, means for operatively connecting the lower end of said drive shaft to said driving wheels, a pair of contacts carried at the free end of said U-shaped strip, means adapted to connect either of said contacts with one of said armature terminals, a contact actuator slidably mounted on said platform and extending from o-pvsite ends thereof, a pair of cam elements carried by said contact actuator, each of which is adapted to engage one of said armature terminals to break the electrical connection thereat, and means to locl: said sliding actuator in a fixed position relative to said platform and in which position neither of said contacts engages the armature terminal associated therewith.

4. In a toy trolley car, a metallic platform, Wheels supporting said platform including a pair of driving wheels, a metallic clip upstanding from one end of said platform, a vertical support upstanding from the other end of said platform, a U-shaped metallic strip carried by said support in insulated relation with respect to said platform and having a bend confronting said clip, said platform being formed with a depression between said clip and U-shaped stri a cylindrically shaped dry cell resting in said depression and detachably held by said clip and strip, said dry cell having a casing conductively engaging said clip and an electrode conductively engaging said strip, a reversible motor within said strip and having a vertically arranged drive shaft, and means for operatively connecting the lower end of said drive shaft to said driving wheels.

5. In a toy trolley car, a metallic platform, wheels supporting said platform including a pair of driving wheels, a metallic clip upstanding from one end of said platform, a vertical support upstanding from the other end of said platform, a U-shaped metallic strip carried by said support in insulated relation with respect to said platform and having a bend confronting said clip, said platform being formed with a depression between said clip and U-shaped strip, a cylindrically shaped dry cell resting in said depression and detachably held by said clip and strip, said dry cell having a casing conductively engaging said clip and an electrode conductively engaging said strip, a reversible motor within said strip and having a vertically arranged drive shaft, means for operatively connecting the lower end of said drive shaft to said driving wheels, and means for automatically causing current from said dry cell to pass through one side or the other of said strip and thereby reverse the flow of current through said motor, said means including an abutment member projecting beyond opposite ends of said platform and slidable relative thereto, said abutment member being adapted to engage a fixed object to reverse the direction of said current through said motor.

6. In a toy trolley car, a metallic platform, wheels supporting said platform including a pair of driving wheels, a metallic clip upstanding from one end of said platform, a vertical support upstanding from the other end of said platform, a U -shaped metallic strip carried by said support in insulated relation with respect to said platform and having a bend confronting said clip, said platform being formed with a depression between said clip and U-shaped strip, a cylindrically shaped dry cell resting in said depression and detachably held by said clip and strip, said dry cell having a casing conductively engaging said clip and an electrode conductively engaging said strip, a reversible motor within said strip having an armature with a pair of terminals and having a vertically arranged drive shaft, means for operatively connecting the lower end of said drive shaft to said driving wheels, a contact actuator slidably carried by said platform and projecting beyond the opposite ends thereof, a pair of contacts on the free ends of said U-shaped strip, each of which is adapted for engagement with one of said armature terminals, a pair of cam elements carried by said actuator and adapted to engage said armature terminals to cause one or the other of them to break the circuit through the armature of the motor, and locking means carried by said vertical support for locking said actuator in a fixed position relative to said platform.

7. In a toy trolley car, a platform, a horizontally arranged U-shaped strip carried by said platform and having two sides joined by a bend, an electric motor within said strip having a vertically arranged drive shaft and an armature, a dry cell on said platform having an electrode engaging said strip at the bend thereof, and means for causing electric current to pass from said dry cell from said bend through one side or the other of said U-shaped strip to said armature.

EARL T. VAN SCIVER.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,126,608 Woodruif Jan. 26, 1915 1,490,125 OLeary Apr. 15, 1924 1,887,823 Smith Nov. 15, 1932 2,179,913 Bess Nov. 14, 1939