US2651527A - Rider propelled toy vehicle - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1953 R. E. THOREN 2,651,527

RIDER PROPELLED TOY VEHICLE Filed June 6, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 1' ROBERT E. THOREN INVENTOR. REYNOLDS 5 BEACH ATTORNEYS Sept. s, 1953 R. E. THOREN 2,651,527

RIDER PROPELLED TOY VEHICLE Filed June 6, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ROBERT E. THOREN mmvrox.

REYNOLDS E BEACH ATTORNEYS Sept. 8, 1953 R. E. THOREN 2,651,527

RIDER PROPELLED TOY VEHICLE Filed June a, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet s Poss/e1- E. THOREN INVENTOR. REYNOLDS & BEACH ATTORNEYS BY m MW Patented Sept. 8, 1953 [UNITED STATES PATENT orrics RIDERPROPELLED TOY VEHICLE Robert Edward Thoren, Moses Lake, Wash.

Application June 6, 1949, Serial No. 97,431-

. 1 p Claims.

I'his invention relate to improved vehicular exercising toys, and more particularly to those ofa type having propelling mechanism actuated, for example, by shifting of the'operators weight back and forth, as in one herein illustrated form of the invention, or, in an alternative illustrated form thereof, 'by reciprocation of a control part manually without necessity for'weight shifting. A- general object of the invention is to devise a vehicularexercising toy which will afford a minimu n deg'ree' of; pleasure and healthful exercise to children, and one of a construction lendin itselfto inexpensive, sturdy and durable manufactured forms. 1

In more specific terms, the type of toy referred to-=is propelled-by-causing-the front and rear carriage sections thereof to spread and contract relatively-in alternate sequence.w During spreading of the carriage sections one is automatically stop ed or held against absolute travel in the direction away from the other, while the second carriage section is not then so held but is free to'move in thedirection away from the former carriage section. As a result the toy then advances by an'increment in the direction of movement of the second'carriage section during relativespreading of the two sections. Thereupon during the succeeding operation 1 of relatively contracting the carriage sections, the holding or stoppingaction applied to'the' two carriage sections is reversed, so that the first-mentioned carriage "section is now free to move in the absolute sense in a direction toward the second carriage section, while the latter at the same time is held stationary or against retrograde movementtoward the first-mentioned section. Consequently, the toy also advances by a further increment during the contraction phase. of the operating cycle. If the operator continues to effect relative spreading and contraction of the carriagesections the toy moves progressively by increments in one direction 'or another, determined by' the'posi'tionorsetting of its automatic stop means, as will be explained hereinafter.

A more specific object relating to such toys is to provide in;themsimple and inexpensive automatic stop or holding means of a type which will be more'effective orreliable controlling movement of the individual carriage sections selectively' i Moreover, quick reversibility of the oprative position' 'of such stop means cooperating with each ca'rria'gesect'ion is attained, enabling the toy to beread-ily adjusted fortraveling forweirdly or inreverse, as may be; desired.

.such s p means is of the ground-engagin type and is so constituted that an .increase in impelling force to be resisted by thestop means causes an increase in the pressure of contact and. therefore, the frictional resistance, of the groundengaging element of such stop means. A further advantage of the novel unidirectional'stop means is its adaptability to operate eflect-ivelyon ground which is somewhat uneven, .oras well indoors on a rug or polished floor, for example.

A very important object of the invention is to provide a toy of this type capable of being steered by turning of one of the carriage-sections, the stop means for suchv carriage section being so constituted and so located thereon as tc-impose negligible resistance to such turning. Previously toys of this general type were not readily-steerable, and many were not steerable atall; because of limitations imposed by the chock or ratchet wheel control mechanisms incorporated therein. c i

. A principal feature of my invention-in toys of the type described is the combination of relatively movable front and rear carriage; sections, to each of which is pivotally connected groundengaging stop means swingable ibetween alternate, forwardly or rearwardly inclined, groundengaging positions to stop movement of-the respective carriage sections in one direction or the other; Thesestops are readily reversed for reversal of travel of the toy. Preferably one carriage sectionis mounted for turning about an upright axis; and its ground-engaging stop means. connected thereto at a location for engaging the traveledsurface in the vicinity of the turning axis, rather than having, as in prior devices, two separate brake or look elements directly engaging with the wheels or other support elements of the steerable carriage section. Other features or advantages reside in the provision of ground-engaging stop means actuated without use of springs, drive mechanism which operates silently and withoutappreciabl'e wear, and generally an inexpensive toy of the typedescribed havinga minimum number'ofparts.

The foregoing and other features, objects and advantages of the invention, including'certain details of construction of preferred forms thereof herein illustrated, will be made apparent from the following detailed description based upon the accompanying drawings. g Y, Figure 1 is a longitudinal verticalgsectional view of one form of the toy taken on linefl-l inFigure 2. r V g a Figure 2 is a plan view of the same with. part of the seat broken away to show a spring connection.

Figure 3 is a front view of the same form with its upper portion broken away.

Figure 4 is a detail rear View of the central portion of the front carriage section of the toy appearing in Figure 3 drawn to a larger scale and with parts broken away.

Figure 5 is a side view of a fragmentary rear portion of a modified form of toy with parts broken away.

Figures 6 and 7 are operational views of the form of toy illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, showing relative positioning of its functional parts in different stages of its operating cycle.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of a modi fied form of toy, the view being taken on a longitudinal cutting plane corresponding" in location to line I-l in Figure 2 of the first-described form.

Figure 9 is a rear view of a fragmentary portion of the rear carriage section of the type illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a plan view of a different form of toy illustrating the invention.

Figure 11 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same form taken on line HIl in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a front view of the same with an upper portion thereof broken away.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary side view of a preferred form of ground-engaging friction stop employed in all three illustrated forms of the toy, with parts of such stop broken away, and Figure 14 is a corresponding view of a variation in the form of the friction stop used.

In its form shown in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, the improved vehicular exercising toy has a body portion resembling, for example, a horse or any other toy body form. Such body portion is provided with fixed front and rear legs 22 and 24; respectively, and a tail 2B. The operators seat 28 mounted thereon may be of the bicycle type, as shown.

Preferably the toy body portion 20 is of parallel plate construction comprising spaced parallel side plates 2| suitably interconnected at their marginal edgesby spacer strips l0, shown in Figure 5. Such body portion is supported from wheeled front and rear carriage sections 39 and 32, respectively. Front axle 35, carrying wheels 34, is mounted anti-rotationally, as by any suitable non-rotative connection, in a frame member 38, as seen in Figure' i. This frame member is connected to the lower element 46 of a pivot bearing 40 for turning about an upright axis to enable steering the toy. Two apertured parallel lugs project downwardly from the crotch portion of the frame member 38 at either side of the bearing axis to receive the front axle and brace it centrally from such frame member.

As detailed in Figure 4, the upper or stationary part 42 of bearing 40 is connected to, and supports, the lower end of an upwardly bowed carriage spring 44, which at its upper or opposite end directly carries the toy body portion 20 to which it is connected at a generally intermediate location along the latters lower edge. The lower or rotatable part 46 of the bearing 40, its 00- operating upper fixed part 42, the carriage support spring 44, and the central crotch portion of the turnable front carriage section frame member 38 are all interconnected by a central pivot pin or bolt 48.

Frame member 38 carries at each side thereof footrests 52, seen best in Figure 3. By resting his feet on these footrests the operator is enabled to turn the front carriage section about its pivot axis, defined by pin 48. Preferably the front carriage mechanism additionally includes a pair of helical tension springs 54, the lower ends of which are connected to member 38 at spaced locations respectively adjoining the footrests 58. These springs incline upwardly, rearwardly and convergently to their upper ends fastened to the fixed U-shaped anchor element 56, which in turn is secured to the mounting bracket 4'! bolted to the lower midportion of the toy body 20.

The springs 54 are balanced or of equal stiffness and resilience, and act oppositely on turnable frame member 38, normally maintaining the axle 36 positioned at right angles to the longitudinal plane of the toy, so that the toy is normally set for rectilinear travel. However, the springs yield readily to the foot pressure of a child operator so that he can easily turn the front carriage section for steering the toy, whether it is moving or at rest.

It will be evident that, for instance, upon an increase in the application of weight to the toys seat, the resulting deflection of bow spring 44 will cause an increasing length off it to lie or press against the lower forward edge or chest portion of the toy body, a reaction which reduces the free length of and thereby stiifens the carriage bow spring progressively. The weight received by the front carriage section 30 is carried by this curved support spring. However, a downward force applied to the body 20 causes some straightening of the spring and an accompanying forward shifting of the front carriage section relative to the body portion. This shifting stretches or is resisted by the helical springs 54.

The main support of rear carriage section 32 comprises a fork member 58 formed by bars or strips, the upper ends of which lie closely parallel and are pivoted for conjointly swinging in a vertical plane on a transverse pin 60 which passes through the rear lower quarter of the toy body portion. These strips diverge downwardly from their pivoted upper ends and terminate in parallel spaced relationship to provide apertured supports for rear axle 62 carrying wheels 34, as shown best in Figure 2. Because the rear carriage section fork 58 inclines upwardly and forwardly from axle 62 to its pivot support 60, it follows that descent of the toy body is accompanied by or causes the upper end of the rear carriage section fork to swing downwardly about the rear axle. Such swinging of the fork is resisted increasingly over its range of swing by a pair of helical tension springs 64 interconnecting the rear axle 52 and the central U-shaped anchor element 56. Swinging of the rear fork 53 is limited by front and rear stop pins 66 and 58, respectively, which pass through the body side plates 21 and hind legs 24, as shown in detail in Figure 5.

By rocking on the toy, or by shifting his weight between the footrests and seat periodically, the operator causes the toy body portion 20 to oscillate up and down resiliently, accompanied by relative spreading and contraction of the front and rear carriage sections. This oscillation is converted by the novel front and rear unidirectional ground-engaging stop means 12 and 18, respectively, into absolute longitudinal movement of the toy. The respective stops are pivotally connected' to front; and rear carriage sections-30 The front friction stop 12 'com'prises a Tas'haped arm member '14 (Figures'3'and 4) having a'trans verse element or cross-bar pivoted 'in'apertures formed in the lugs 50 at a location below .the front axle 36. The arm memberjcarries at its. swinging lower end a ground-engagin friction element or shoe [6 preferably of rubber, "or other material of high coefficient of friction, molded around a metal core 19 rigidly isecured to the swinging lower end of the""arin' l;(Figure 13)". The rear friction stop 18 is similarly constructed and pivotally connected to therear carriagese'ction, as by means of a pair of spaced parallel lugs fill carried by the rear axle 6 2. t 1 f i The swinging length of? eachfrition stop causes it, when lowered of its own weight into contact with surfaces S, to define an acute angle relative to such surface. Preferably this angle is in the vicinity'of between 50' an'd ,701degrees, although it is not especiallyicritical in thejop'er ation of the toy. As a child swings on the toy, causing relative spreading and contraction of the carriagesections, if thestops are both inclined in the same direction the'toylwill be set into motion, traveling an increment during relative spreading and a further increment during relative contraction of the two'carriage sections. The direction of travel resulting is always such that the stops occupy a trailing position. Their operative position, hence the direction of travel of the toy, is easily reversed by swinging the entire toy-0n the stops as pivots.

The shift in Figure 6 fromv thebroken-line to the solid-line position by descent of the toy body and accompanying relative spreading of the two carriage sectons causes the toy to advance bodily by an effective increment d1. In Figure 7 reelevation of the toy body and relative contraction of the carriage sections, from thebroke'n -line to the solid-line position, effected by spring reaction, causes a further incremental bodily advanced dz in the same direction. Y During the relative sprea dingphase (Figure 6) the rear carriage section isstopped by rear stop 18 against rearward movement, while the front carriage section is free to advance; whereas'in the relative retraction phase (Figure 7)" the front carriage section is stopped by stop 12 against rearward movement and therear section is then free to advance. In exerting a holding force unidirectionally on its carriage section each stop frictionally engages the traveled surface S .by a contact force or pressure which increase sf'with the impelling force resisted] That result obtains from the proper selection of 'the' length ofthe stop, determining its angle of .inclinationjrelative to the surface S when in contacttherewith. While, as previously mentioned,jthis"anglel{se lected is not especially critical, it fsho uld be noted that an angle which is too small results in fan insufiicient downward component. of forcepressing the stop against surface S s o that thestop tends to slide instead of gaining a f rrn purchase thereon and holding. Onthe other hand, if the angle selected is too great, while the stops willnot tend to slide, they nevertheless will be ineffective' to hold the respective carriage section aga nst travel because such carriage s66 :will then swing too readily about the st'opsfas "piyots', ievers ing the latters position 'when' appreciable'im pelling force is applied to the carriagesections An alternate form of stop is shown in Figure' 'l l, in which the disk-like frictionelement ofthe first-described formlFigure 13) is replac'ed'by a generally triangular element 16' designed for increased area of contact with the s'urfacetraveled, hence greater frictionalresista'nce. This form of friction stop likewise comprises a metallic core covered by rubber or similar material having a high coefii cient of friction. The arm [4 is constructed and mounted in a manner similar to the arm 1 in the earlier-described form. The element 18 has two flat relatively inclined frictional surfaces alternately engageable with the traveled surface S in the alternate operative positions of the friction stop. The angle formed between these faces f is substantially equalto the supplement of the angle defined between the forwardly and rearwardly inclined operative positions of arm M, so that the area of contact betweenthe traveled surface and a face I of the friction element H5 will be maximum. Because ofthe greater area of contact of this form of stop" with surface S'than with the earlier-de scribed form of stop, greater frictional resistance is obtainable and more effective holding action on smooth floors, for instance. Still other types of friction shoes or other g'round-engagingstop devices might be usedin lieu' of stops M or Hi.

Of particular importance to the steerability of the toy is the feature of employing a single ground-engaging stop means pivotally connected to the front or turnable carriage section 3i) at a location generally midway between its wheels, viz. substantially at the location of its turning axis. The utility of this arrangement is best appreciated by observing the effect on steerability in prior art devices having two chocks or brakes mounted on a carriage section sought to be steered, one engaging each of the opposite wheels thereon. In those cases any attempt to turn the carriage section would be resisted by one or the other of the wheel locks, depending upon the direction of attempted turning. If the toy were stopped, for example, it would be necessary, in order to turn a pivoted carriage section, to move the entire toy in the process because of a locked wheel." In the present invention, by having the stop means so located that its ground-engaging element 16 contacts the traveled surface S'in'the immediate vicinity of the vertical turning axis of the frame 38, it offers negligible resistance to turning. The reason is that the wheels are both free to rotate in either direction.

An additional feature that may be incorporated in the general form of vehicular exercising toy illustrated in Figures" 1 to 7, inclusive, is the novel mechanism shown particularly in Figure 5 for' swinging up and down the tail of the horse toybody duringoscillations of such body. This is'accomplished by pivoting the tails root on a horizontal pivot pin and providing it with a cam extension 2% having an upper cam edge slidably engaged by a transverse pin 82 carried at the upper end'of an upward extension 58 of the swinging fork 58. Swinging of the extension 58 by the fork in the clockwise direction about the axis of pivot pin 60, as viewed in Figure 5, deflects the tail 26"'upward, whereas reverse swinging causes the tail to descend of its own weight. Continued oscillation of the toy is, therefore, accompanied by swinging of the tail, a feature attractive to children.

A variation of the vehicular toy form previously described appears in Figures 8 and 9, wherein the rear carriage fork construction'is replaced by a bow spring support similar to that supported by the front carriage section. Preferably this modified construction involves the use of a single, continuous, upwardly-bowed or convex carriage spring 84 extending between front and rear carriage sections and fastened to the belly portion of the toy body 20 generally intermediately between the downwardly curved ends of such spring. The rearward end of the spring 84 is bent at a sharp angle, and bolted to a U-shaped support element 86. Such element has parallel flanges apertured to pass and support the rear axle 62 and extends below such axle to provide a pivotal support for the rear ground-engaging frictional stop 78. An inverted V -shaped twisted bracing strip 88 is fastened centrally to the spring 84 at a location near the latters down-curved rearward end and extends oppositely to spaced points of connection to the axle 62' near the wheels 34' to brace such axle. In all other respects the toy of this modified form operates and is constructed in a manner similar to the form previously described herein. Parts thereof which correspond to those employed in the first-described form are designated by the same numerals primed.

A third form of vehicular exercising toy embodying my present invention is illustrated in Figures 10 to 12, inclusive. In this case motivation of the toy is achieved not by weight-shifting or swinging up and down upon its seat, but by reciprocation of drive means by the hands or feet. In this case the toy assumes generally the form of a wagon, comprising a seating platform 90 Wide over approximately the rear half of its length and relatively narrow over the front half thereof, a curved upright member 92 forming sides and back, a rear carriage section 94 supporting the seating platform at the rear end thereof, a front carriage section 96 supporting it at the front end and guided thereon for longitudinal sliding movement relative to such p1atform, and a handle frame 98 connected to the front carriage section to enable effecting such relative longitudinal movement by hand.

The rear carriage section comprises the opposite parallel supports I00 in the lower ends of which the axle I02 is mounted to carry the rear wheels I04. A pair of lugs I06 are secured antirotationally to the central portion of the axle and depend therefrom to provide a pivotal support for the rear ground-engaging frictional stop I08, similar to that employed in the two earlierdescribed forms herein.

The front carriage section includes the frame member H0, Whose opposite ends are downturned to provide supports for the front axle I I2. Parallel lugs or strips II4 project downward from the central portion of the frame member IIO to interconnect the axle and such member, and to provide a pivotal support for the front frictional stop H6, similar to the rear stop I00. This assembly is mounted on a bearing II8 for turning about a vertical axis defined by the pivot pin or bolt I 20 interconnecting the upper and lower relatively rotatable elements of such bearing. The upper element of the bearing carries and is connected to the opposite flanges of a central U-shaped support member I22 bolted to the lower side of a slider I24. The latter is retained and guided for longitudinal movement between the parallel guides I26 mounted on the bottom side of seating platform 90, as shown.

Front and rear handle frame members I28 are anchored at longitudinal spaced locations to the upper side of the slider I24, and converge together upwardly, extending through a longitudi nal slot I34 in the seating platform 90.-v At their upper ends theseframe' members carry a collar I30 receiving a transverse handle I32 (Figure 10). The guides I26 and the longitudinal slot I34 extend over a substantial fraction, such as approximately the front one-half, of the length of the seating platform, to permit substantial longitudinal movement of the front carriage section and handle support I28 thereon relative to the toy body or seating platform.

Preferably this form of toy also includes a pair of helical tension springs I36 interconnecting stationary brackets 138 on the seating platform and parallel brackets I40 projecting upward from the top of the frame member H0, for the purpose of applying longitudinal force to the front carriage section tending to draw it rearward to its stop position relative to the seating platform, determined by engagement between the rear handle frame member I28 and the rearward end of the slot I34. However, when the toy is in use the front carriage section can be pushed forwardly by pressure from the hands and feet of the operator against the tension of springs I36 progressively until the forward handle frame member I28 contacts the forward end of the slot I34. The movable front carriage assembly including the handle frame members I28 is shown in its rearward position by broken lines and in its forward position by solid lines in Figure 11. The length of the toy seating platform should be such that a child seated upon the rear portion thereof over the rear carriage section, with his back against the seat back 92, will be able to rest his feet upon the frame member I I0 of the front carriage in a forward position thereof.

In operation of this form of toy, as in the earlier-described forms, translatory bodily motion is achieved by effecting relative spreading and contraction of the front and rear carriage sections accompanied by automatic stopping action of the ground-engaging unidirectional friction stops I08 and I I6. With the stops positioned as shown in Figure 11, for example, the operator pushes forward on the front carriage section with hands and feet, or either, to displace the same forwardly against resistance of springs I36. During such displacement the first friction stop IIB imposes no resistance against forward movement of the front carriage section, while the rear carriage section is held by stop I08 against rearward movement. Thereafter by relaxing the forwardly directed force applied to the front carriage section the operator thereby allows the springs I36 to pull forward the seating platform and rear carriage section, the front carriage section then being held by stop I it against reverse movement. The toy thus advances by an increment once each cycle of relative spreading and contraction of front and rear carriage sections.

It will be seen that follow-up movement of the rear carriage section may be accom lished without the aid of the springs 136 to contract front and rear carriage sections following relative spreading thereof. Thus the operator himself may accomplish that result by drawing his body forward with the aid of the handle I32 and dragging with it the rear portion of the toy. To further that end a strap I42 may be connected between the opposite sides of the curved back member 02, so that as the child draws his body forward, the rear portion of the toy is pulled forward positively with him by engaging the strap with his body.

In this modification, as in the preceding forms herein described, the toy is steered preferably with the feet, by turning the front carriage section about its central axis defined, in this case, by the pivot pin I20. As before, the front friction stop I 16 is pivotally connected to the turntable front carriage section ata central location and contacts the ground in the vicinity of the turn axis, so that it does not noticeably interfere with steering of the toy. 7

I claim as my invention: a

1. A vehicular exercising toy comprising a body portion to be ridden upon, front and rear carriage sections carrying said body portionandconnected thereto for relative movement of said sections toward and'away from-each other, eachof said carriage sections including wheels spaced apart a substantial distance, means guidin one of said carriage sections for tu'rning about an upright axis for steering the toy, ground-engaging unidirectional stop means carried by said turnable carriage section at a generally central location thereon and disposed to engage the ground only in the vicinity of such uprig t turning ax s, and ground-engaging unidirectional stop means carried by the other carriage section, said two unidirectional stop means being operable, by engagement with the ground, to restrain movement of their respective carriage sections in one direction along the ground while permitting such movement in the opposite direction and permiting unrestrained turning of said turnable carriage section about such axis unaccompanied by forward movement of said body portion.

2. The vehicular exercising toy defined in claim 1, wherein each unidirectional stop means comprises a ground-engaging element, and arm means carrying said element and pivotally connected to its carriage section for swinging of such ground-engaging element and arm means about a generally horizontal axis transverse to the direction of movement of the carriage section, between alternate operative positions, inclined from its pivot end forwardly and rearwardly, respectively, to restrain movement of the carriage section in one direction or the other in the alternate positions of said ground-engaging element.

3. The vehicular exercising toy defined in claim 2, wherein each ground-engaging element comprises a friction shoe of a material such as rubber having a high coefiicient of friction.

4. A vehicular exercising toy comprising a body portion to be ridden upon, front and rear carriage sections, each including wheels spaced apart laterally a substantial distance, means supporting said body portion from said front and rear carriage sections and guiding such sections for relative movement toward and away from each other, means under control of the operator to effect such relative movement of said carriage sections cyclically in alternate sequence, means guiding the front carriage section for turning about an upright axis for steering the toy, and ground-engaging, reversible, unidirectional stop means for each carriage section, comprising a ground-engaging member of slight extent transversely of such relative movement of said sections, and arm means connected pivotally to the center of the carriage section and carrying said groundengaging member on the lower end thereof for swinging about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of relative movement of such sections, between a ground-engaging position inclined forwardly and downwardly from its pivot preventing forward travel of the toy upon relative movement of said carriage sections toward or away 10 from each other, resulting in rearward motion of the toy", and a position inclined rearwardly and downwardly from its pivot preventing motion of the toy upon relative movement of said carriage sections toward or away from each other, resulting in forward motion of the toy.

5. The vehicular exercising toy defined in claim 4, wherein the ground-engaging stop means pivotally connected to'the front carriage section occupies a location thereon in the vicinity of the turning axis of such carriage section in either of the ground-engaging positions of said stop means to engage the ground in the vicinity of such turning axis, whereby the moment arm of said stop means about suchaxis is insufficient to resist appreciably turning of the front carriage section.

6. The vehicular exercising toy defined in claim 4, wherein the means supporting the body portion from the front and rear carriage sections, and guiding the latter for relative movement, includes means operable by application of weight to the body portion to effect relative movement of such carriage sections away from each other and simultaneous descent of such body portion, and conversely, by removal of weight from such body portion, to effect relative movement of said carriage sections toward each other and elevation of said body portion, and spring means cooperating with the carriage sections and body portion to resist resiliently descent of the latter and conjoint relative movement of the carriage sections away from each other.

'7. A vehicular exercising toy comprising a body portion, front and rear carriage sections, each including wheels spaced apart laterally a substantial distance, means supporting said body portion from said carriage sections for relative movement of said carriage sections toward and away from each other and accompanying up and down movements of said body portion, respectively, spring means resisting downward movement of said body portion and relative movement of said carriage sections away from each other, means guiding said front carriage section for turning about an upright axis for steering the toy, and balanced spring means interconnecting said front carriage section, at corresponding points on opposite sides of its turning axis, with said body portion at a location thereon spaced rearwardly from said carriage section, to resist turning of said carriage section in either direction about said upright axis.

8. The vehicular exercising toy defined in claim '7, and ground-engaging unidirectional stop means pivotally connected to the front carriage section at a location thereon in the vicinity of its turning axis, and operable by ground-engagement of said stop means to resist translatory movement of said carriage section in one direction.

9. A vehicular exercising toy comprising a body portion to be ridden upon, front and rear carriage sections, each including Wheels spaced apart laterally a substantial distance, separate means supporting said body portion from said front and rear carriage sections, respectively, means guiding said front supportmeans for longitudinal movement of said front carriage section relative to said body portion and to the rear carriage section, for relative movement of said carriage sections toward and away from each other, means engageable by the operator to effect such relative longitudinal movement of the front carriage sec tion, and ground-engaging unidirectional stop means pivotally connected to the front carriage section and including a ground-engaging ele- 11 merit and arm means carrying said element for swinging about a generally horizontal transverse axis alternatively between a forwardly swung ground-engaging position, in which said groundengaging element holds said front carriage section against forward movement while said rear carriage section moves away from said front carriage section to effect rearward movement of said body portion, and rearwardly swung groundengaging position, in which said ground-engaging element holds said front carriage section against rearward movement while said rear carriage section moves toward said front carriage section to effect forward movement of said body portion.

10. An exercising toy comprising a body portion, front and rear carriage sections, at least one of said carriage sections includin wheels spaced apart laterally a substantial distance, and means carriage sections and a substantiallyhoriaontal portion beneath and generally centrally between the front and rearends of said body portion, and means anchoringsuch generally horizontal portion of said leaf spring to the bottom of said body portion. I,

ROBERT EDWARD THOREN.

References Cited in the file patent UNITED STATES PATENT S Number Name 7 Date 7 930,265 Badger Aug. 3, 1909 1,383,468 Lagelbauer July,5, 1921 1,385,761 Tirado July 26, 1921 1,616,839 Arleigh Feb. 8, 1.927 1,977,317 Maypole Oct. 16, 1934 2,015,974 Stannard s Oct. 1', 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 473,396 Germany Mar. 20, 1929 342,495 Great Britain Feb. 5, 1931

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