US2765584A

US2765584A - Toy cars with raised transparent dome

Info

Publication number: US2765584A
Application number: US388325A
Authority: US
Inventors: Zion Moses
Original assignee: Lionel Corp
Current assignee: Lionel Corp
Priority date: 1953-10-26
Filing date: 1953-10-26
Publication date: 1956-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 1973-10-09

Description

M. zloN 2,765,584

Toy CARS WITH RAISED TRANSPARENT DOME Sheets-Sheet l Filed oct. 2e, 1955 :NVENTOR //asf's Z/a/v 'BY mai QATTORNEY M. ZlON TOY CARS WITH RAISED TRANSPARENT DOME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1953 gli! INVENTOR Mas/5s Z/a/v ff Sg.

ATTGRNEY TOY CARS WITH RAISED TRANSPARENT DOME Moses Zion, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to The Lionel Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 26, 195B, Serial No. 388,325

6 Claims. (ol. t6-21s) The present invention relates to toy cars with raised transparent domes.

In the railway art certain railway cars have been provided with an upper deck of seats above the usual level of seats in the car and this portion of the ca-r has been covered by a dome to accommodate the passengers in these seats. The dome has windows which permit these passengers to observe the surroundings.

The present invention contemplates toy cars which, in general appearance simulate such cars. In the toy cars interior illumination is provided for the elevated windows and the upper deck may or may not be employed.

In carrying the present invention into practice the preferred construction utilizes an extruded metal car body having the roof of the car cut away for a portion of the length of the car to provide an open spa-ce and this open space receives a transparent insert provided with windows to simulate the windows of full sized construction. To set ofI the windows and improve the appearance of the device the non-window portions of the transparent inserts are rendered opaque.

The present invention also contemplates associating with the elevated dome of the toy car a deck-like construction below the dome which carries seat-simulating portions so that when the interior of the car is observed through the transparent dome, the seats appear. Where the seat simulating member is to be employed it is preferably made of separate plastic molding and cemented to the roof insert. It may be coated to render it opaque or not, as desired.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the present invention one embodiment in which it may take form, together with modifications of certain parts, it being understood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a toy car with the raised dome;

Figure 2 is a side elevational toy car with parts in section along the line 2 2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a transverse, sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an end elevational View of the dome forming element;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary inverted plan view of the end of the dome forming element;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 7 7 of Figures 4 `and 5 showing the alignment of the roof insert and the seat simulating element;

Figure 8 is a sectional view similar to Figure 6, illustrating a modified form of construction; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the clip of Figure 8.

The toy car generally indicated at C in the drawings has a body 10 made from a suitable length of inverted channel-shaped extrusion. This extrusion has a domed roof portion 11 provided with a rib 11' and

side wall portions

12, 21. The side wall portions have

ribs

13, 13 adapted to receive window insert strips 14 and slots 15 adapted to receive `a floor plate 16. Suitable window openings 17 are punched in the side walls. The floor plate 16 is secured to suitable trucks generally indicated at T, whereby the car may be guided along the toy railroad track. The trucks are arranged to collect current from the third rail and light a lamp L, such truck structure, however, forming no part of the present invention.

In manufacturing the car body for the lighted dome con-struction herein, the extrusion is cut away for a portion of its length so Ias to remove the entire roof for this length of the extrusion. As shown in the drawings, this cutting away is at the center of the ca-r, but it could be anywhere along the length of the car.

The ends of the cut out portion are indicated at 20, 20 and the upper edges of the edges of cut out portions of the wall are indicated at 21, 21. This cut out provides an open space in the opaque body of the car into which is placed the dome construction.

As shown in the drawings this construction utilizes two moldings 30 `and 31, preferably made of clear polystyrene. The upper or dome forming molding 30 may be used .alone or with the lower, or floor forming molding 31. When the two moldings are used at the same time they are cemented together along the joint indicated at 32, the parts being 'accurately aligned by pins 33 entering recesses 34.

The sides of the dome part 30 are provided with flanges 35 adapted to overlie the

edges

21, 21 of the

walls

12, 12 of the car body. The length of the

plastic moldings

30, 31 is the same as the length of the opening provided by the cut out of the car roof. The ends of the insert are Hush with the roof of the car and the fenestration appearance is provided by suitably coating the parts of the molding which are to be opaque, as indicated by the stippling in Figure l. A convenient construction for facilitating the securement of the inserts in place is shown herein. The end walls 36 of the upper molding 30 are relatively thin and exible. They are provided with

vertical slots

37, 37 and horizontal openings 38. The slots 37 lare bridged by a thin walled element indi cated at 39 having a beveled lower edge 40. When one wishes to place the upper member (with or without the lower member 30 secured to it) in the car body, it is merely necessary to press down on the top of the piece 30, whereupon the

cam elements

40, 40 cause the

thin walls

36, 36 to bend in so that the parts can pass by one another. Then the thin walls return to position and bring the upper edges of the bridging elements 39 under the r-ib 11. To facilitate the entrance of light from the lamps L into the construction, holes 42 are provided in the deck forming piece 31.

In the modied construction shown in Figures 8 and 9, the

parts

30 and 31 `are made as before and a small clip 50 is arranged to slide Ialong the rib 11. This clip is made of very thin metal and adapted to pass through the space which separates the upper edge of the bridge 39 from the lower face of the rib 11.

Since it is obvious that the invention may be embodied in other forms and constructions within the scope of the claims, I wish it to be understood that the particular form shown is but one of these forms, and various modifications and changes being possible, I do not limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a toy railroad car body in the form of a length of inverted channel shaped metal extrusion having sides and an arched roof, la portion of the arched roof portion being cut away to provide a rectangular opening defined by spaced ends of the arched roof and by the upper edges of the side walls, an insert of the same length and width of the opening, the insert having flanged side edges which t the upper edges of the side walls, end portions of substantially the same arched contour as the top of the roof of the car body and a more highly arched portion interconnecting the end portions, the more highly arched portions having transparent windows for transmission of light, and means to secure the insert in place.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the securing means include a car body and insert carried cooperative elements adapted to snap past one another when the insert is pressed downwardly in place.

3. The combination of claim l, wherein the securing means includes insert carried yieldable ends with cam faced elements having stop shoulders and body carried elements past which the cam element and shoulders move when the insert is pressed downwardly into place.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the insert has apertured ends and the roof of the car body has a longitudinal rib, and the securing means includes clips slidable along the ribs and moveable into the apertured ends of the insert.

5. A toy railroad car body having vertical sides and an 'arched roof, a portion of the upper part of each side of the car body and of the roof being cut away for the full width of the car to provide an elongated opening, and an elongated, observation dome-simulating member inserted in the opening, the member having lower side por- 30 tions which occupy the space cut out of the car body and lit the sides of the body, the member having yieldable ends which lit the ends of the opening and have catch elements normally more widely spaced than the length of the roof opening, the member being substantially llush with the roof, the car roof having stops past which the catch elements may be forced to bring said elements beyond the stops so that the catch-forming elements snap under the stop, the sides and ends of the member above the roof portion of the car body having transparent window-like areas to simulate the fenestrated dome of a railway car.

6. A toy railroad car body having vertical sides and an arched roof, 'a portion of the upper part of each side of the car body and of the roof being cut away for the full width of the car to provide an elongated opening, an elongated observation dome-simulating member inserted in the opening, the member having lower side portions which occupy the space cut out of the car body and fit the sides of the body, the member having ends which fit the ends of the opening, the member being substantially flush with the roof, the sides and ends of the member above the roof portion of the car body having transparent window-like areas to simulate the fenestrated dome of a railway car, and a floor plate carried by the domesimulating member of a size to be received in the car roof opening and provided with seat-simulating elements.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,587,142 Gray et al Feb. 26, 1952