US2781193A - Teeter-totter - Google Patents

Description

M S. GOWING TEETER-TOTTER Feb. 12, 1957 Filed March 3, 1954 0 Qm 0 3 a 3 f 6 4 m W 2 z fl 8] z a r" i W INVENTOR.

Mary/37 J. Gor /n5 Unit 3 Claims. (Cl. 272-30) This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in teeter-totters or similar amusement devices which are also commonly known as see-saws, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a device of this type which is simple in construction, durable in use and which readily lends itself to convenient and economical manufacture.

More specifically, the invention concerns itself with that type of a teeter-totter wherein the customary beam or board is rockable as well as rotatable about its supporting member, whereby the device combines the functions of a teeter-totter with those of a merry-go-round.

As is well known, devices of this nature usually embody in their construction some form of a support member, commonly an upright post having its lower end portion embedded in the ground, a mounting head which is rockably and rotatably positioned at the upper end of such a post, and a beam or board carried by and rockable as Well as rotatable with the mounting head.

An important feature of this invention resides in the provision of what may be called a ball and socket connection between the mounting head and its supporting post, whereby the desired movements of the beam are efliciently facilitated. However, inasmuch as a ball and socket connection of this nature would also permit lateral tipping or rocking of the beam, that is, tipping or rocking in a plane transverse to its longitudinal axis, another feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for permitting rocking of the beam in the plane of its longitudinal axis only.

As is also known, it a common expedient in devices of this type to adjust the beam longitudinally with respect to its mounting head, whereby the balance of the beam may be varied in accordance with the weight of difierent persons such as may occupy the seats with which the ends of the beam are usually equipped. In this respect, another feature of the invention resides in the provision of novel means for engaging and frictionally clamping the beam in a pre-adjusted position in the mounting head, the arangement being such that the beam may be quickly and easily shifted when so desired, to eifect the required amount of balance or unbalance, as the case may be.

Inasmuch as the required adjustability of the beam with respect to the mounting head eliminates the possibility of rigid securing means between the two, a further feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of the beam clamping means so that the beam cannot be separated from the head by unauthorizec persons.

A still further feature of the invention resides in the structure of the mounting head per se, the same being formed from two similar and complemental half-sections which are separably connected together so as to facilitate convenient and expeditious installation or removal thereof on or from the ball of the supporting post member.

With the above more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention re sides in the details of construction and arrangement of Z,78l,l93 Patented Feb. 12, 1957 parts as shown in the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like components and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken substantially in the plane of the line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the support member, mounting head, clamping plate and beam, the clamping plate being shown without its fastening means and in a fully open position while the beam is shown by dotted lines;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the mounting head with the clamping plate closed and the beam shown in section; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating one of the half-sections of the mounting head, together with its associated guide.

With reference now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the teeter-totter is designated generally by the numeral 10 and embodies in its construction an upright support member such as a post 12 which has its lower end portion embedded in a suitable foundation 14 in the ground, while the upper end of the post is provided with a ball 16.

A mounting head 18 is formed with a socket 263 having the ball 16 disposed therein, so that the mounting head may rock as well as rotate with respect to the post 12. To facilitate assembly, the head 18 is composed of two similar, complemental half-sections 18a and ltlb having abutting faces 18c disposed in a plane which bisects the socket 20. The two half-sections, of the head are held assembled by means of a plurality of dowel pins 22 pressed in registering bores 24 with which the half-sectionsv are equipped.

The upper portion ofthe head 18 is provided with an open-ended channel or recess 26 which has slidably positioned therein an intermediate portion of a beam or board 28. The ends of this beamor board are provided with suitable seats 30, including handle bars 30a.

The beam 28, of course, is rotatable as well as rockable with the mounting head 18 on the ball 16 of the post 12. The ball and socket connection which is provided would ordinarily permit the beam to rock in all directions, but the invention provides means for permitting the beam to rock in one direction only, that is, in the plane of its longitudinal axis. These means consist of a pair of transversely spaced guides 32 which are disposed at the underside of the head 18 and are engageable with opposite sides of the post 12, whereby the beam is prevented from lateral rocking or tipping. Each of the guides 32 is formed integrally with one of the two halfsections of the head and underlies the other half-section without being secured to the latter, whereby the two half-sections may be separated when so desired.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that by virtue of the slidable positioning of the beam 28 in the channel 26, the beam may be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the head 18, so that the balance of the beam may be varied in accordance with the weight of different persons occupying the seats 3%. However, means are provided for frictioually clamping the beam in a pre-adjusted position in the head, these means consisting of a clamping plate 34 which is connected by hinges as to the head 18 at one side of the channel 25, While a fastener device 38 connects the plate 34 to the head at the other side of the channel. The plate is provided at the underside thereof with a resilient pad 41 to frictionally engage the beam when the fastener 38 is in its closed position as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

The fastener device 38 is of an expansible type and consists of a pair of brackets 42, 44 secured to the plate 34 and the head 18 respectively.

pivotedat 48 to the bracket 42 and is also pivoted at 59 to a second toggle link 52 which, in turn, is pivoted-to the bracket 44 at 54. The link 46 is provided with a finger-piece 56 and when the fastener is closed, the toggle links 46 52 are so disposed that the plate 34 is securely held in its clamping position. However, by simply. grasping the finger-piece 56 and pulling the toggle link 46 outwardly as shown by the dotted lines 38a in Figure 4, the clamping plate 34 will be swung upwardly on its hinges 36 to facilitate adjustment of the beam 23 in the channel 26 of the head 18. i

It is to be particularly noted that the length of the toggle links 46, 5 2 issuch that the clamping plate 34 cannot be fully opened, in other words, the toggle links at all times connect the 'free end-of the plate to the head 18. This arrangement is coordinated with the seats 30 and handle bars 30a at the ends of thesbeam 23, which seats and handle bars are "of such size that they cannot pass through the channel 26 even when the clamping plate'34 is released. In thisdmanner, the beam will be prevented from being separated from the mounting head by unauthorized persons.

Finally, it will be observed that one of the half-sections of the head 18 is provided with a bore 58 which extends outwardly from the socket 20 and is fitted in its outer end with a nipple 60, whereby lubricant may be injected into the socket to assure free movement ofthe head on the ball 16.

Although in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the spirit and scope of the invention, but various modifications may be resorted to, such as may lie within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new'is: r V, r

1. In a teeter-tottenthe combination of a ball-shaped support member, a box-like head rotatably and rockably positioned on said support member, said head being provided with a channel-shaped recesshaving an open top and open ends, a beam extending through and adjustable longitudinally in said recess, said beam having a flat upper surface substantially coplanar with the upper surface of said head, a clamping plate hinged at one side thereof to said head at one side of said recess and ex- A toggle link 46 is.

tending transversely across the open top of the latter, and means provided at the relatively oppositerside of said plate for releasably fastening the same to the head, said plate having a flat undersurface in frictional engagement with the upper surface of said beam, whereby to prevent the beam from shifting longitudinally in said recess when the plate is held in its clamping position by the fastening means.

'2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for releasably fastening said plate to said head comprises a quick-acting clamp including upper and lower brackets secured to said plate and to said head respectively, a pair oftoggle links pivoted to the respective brackets and pivotally connected together, said toggle links being swingable from a locked position adjacent said head laterally outwardly to an unlocked position wherein said plate is simultaneously raised out of frictional engagement with said beam, and a finger-piece provided on one of said links. a

3. In a teeter-totter, the combination of a support member including an upright post and a, substantially spherical ball thereon, a box-like mounting head rotatably and rockably positioned on said support member and formed in its' lower portion with a substantially References Cited'in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 666,992 Wright Jan. 29, 1901 818,079 Dickson Apr. 17, 1906 956,496 Miller Apr. 26, 1910 1,689,520 Dickson Apr. 30, 1928' 1,746,260 Kenney Feb. 11,1930 Bouchard Aug. 14, 1951 mini. a

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