US2852887A

US2852887A - Articulated wheeled toy

Info

Publication number: US2852887A
Application number: US592041A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nathaniel W Washington
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-06-18
Filing date: 1956-06-18
Publication date: 1958-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 1975-09-23

Description

P 1958 N. w. WASHINGTON 2,852,887

ARTICULATED WHEELED TOY Filed June 18, 1956 INVENTOR. NATHANIEL W. WASHINGTON BY M AM ATTOR N YSi Patented Sept. 23, 1958 ARTICULATED WHEELED TOY Nathaniel W. Washington, Ephrata, Wash. Application June 18, 1956, Serial No. 592,041

3 Claims. c1. 46--201) The present invention relates to an articulated toy of the general type shown in my co-pending application Ser. No. 258,386, filed Nov. 27, 1951, now Patent 2,751,634 and namely, one in which a plurality of block-like link members are pivotally connected together in such a manner that a vast variety of different shapes may be formed. Such a toy is intended for educational purposes to provide a means by which the imagination of children may be expressed, the individual articulated members being adapted to be easily manipulated to form animal-like, bird-like, or other shapes.

The present invention aims to provide such a toy which can be readily made mobile.

Furthermore, the invention aims to provide an arrangement whereby the toy has detachable wheels which can be readily relocated to orientate them with respect to whatever shape is formed from the toy.

With yet additional objects and advantages in view which, with the foregoing, will appear and be understood in the course of the following description and claims, the invention consists in the novel construction and in the adaptation and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a group of the link members of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my invention manipulated into a bird-like design.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of my invention manipulated into an animal-like design; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through a pair of the wheels and the related links.

Referring to Fig. 1, an individual block-like link 21 is interposed as respects one end portion between paired

links

22, 23, and likewise, as respects the other end portion, between one end of paired

links

24, 25. A second individual link 26 is interposed by one end between the other end portions of

links

24, 25, and may have its other end similarly related to respective ends of another pair of links, and so forth. All of these links have holes 27 through their opposite ends for receiving rivet-like connector pins 28 which pivotally interconnect the individual links between the paired links so that a continuous chain of alternating single and paired links results. The pins 28 are hollow to provide axial through-openings 29 and have enlarged heads 30 at each end clamping the related links together so that there is suificient frictional contact between the links to hold them at manipulated angles and positions relative to one another.

The purpose of the openings 29 is to selectively receive detachable axles 31, each of which is adapted to carry a pair of wheels 32 at its opposite ends. A snug fit between the axles and wheel hubs can be utilized to hold them together while the axle turns within the related connector or the axles can have an enlarged head 33 at one end as shown and receive a cotter 34 or some other locking device at the other end.

In Fig. 2 my invention is manipulated into the design of a bird. For this design the pair of wheels 32 and their related axles are mounted on the hollow connectors at the ends of

links

22, 23 as to support the bird and permit it to be rolled along. As a further example, in Fig. 3 the blocks are shown manipulated into the general form of a dog. In this case the Wheels at the free ends of

links

22, 23 have been moved to a new location so as to give balanced mobile support for the dog.

If desired, the connectors .can perforce: be of two-piece construction so that the toy may be provided as a package of unassembled blocks thereby affording opportunity for a child to develop his constructive ability in assembling the toy.

The advantages of the invention, it is thought, will have been clearly understood from the foregoing detailed de scription of the illustrated preferred embodiment. Minor changes will suggest themselves and may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention, wherefore it is my intention that no limitations be implied and that the hereto annexed claims be given a scope fully commensurate with the broadest interpretation to which the employed language admits.

What I claim is:

1. In a toy, a chain of articulating links having a single said link alternating with pairs of said links, each articulation comprising a connecting pin, the connections made by such pins being such as to create a sufiicient friction to yieldingly hold the links of the chain in any position in which the same may be placed, most of said connecting pins having a longitudinal opening therethrough, and a pair of Wheel assemblies each comprising an axle and a pair of wheels mounted on the ends of the axle, at least one of said wheels of each pair being detachable from its axle, said axles being received in two of said longitudinal pin openings there being several more of said pins with a longitudinal opening therethrough than the number of wheel assemblies.

2. In a toy, a chain of articulating links having a single said link alternating with pairs of said links and characterized in that each of said links is quite long by comparison with its width, each articulation comprising a connecting pin located adjacent a respective end limit of the concerned link, the connections made by such pins being such as to create, between the pivoted nose of each single said link and the noses of the paired links which connect therewith, a suflicient friction to yieldingly hold the links of the chain in any position in which the same may be placed, most of said connecting pins having a longitudinal opening therethrough, and a pair of wheel assemblies each comprising an axle and a pair of wheels mounted on the ends of the axle, at least one of said wheels of each pair being detachable from its axle, said axles being received in two of said longitudinal pin openings there being several more of said pins with a longitudinal opening therethrough than the number of wheel assemblies.

3. In a toy, a chain of articulating links having a single said link alternating with pairs of said links and characterized in that all of said links are correspondingly shaped to each define, in plan, an oblong figure bordered by a base margin and a generally arcuate top margin with the are which forms the top margin being fairly flat so that the figure is quite long by comparison with its width, each articulation comprising a connecting pin located in such close proximity to the adjacent end limit of the concerned link that the nose extremity of said link projects to little or no degree beyond the marginal limits of an articulating link or links when the articulating links are swingably moved one in relation to the other, the connections made by such pins being such as to create, between the pivoted nose of each single said link and the noses of the paired links which connect therewith, a sufiicient friction to yieldingly hold the links of the chain in any position in Which the same may be placed, each of said connecting pins having a longitudinal through-opening for receiving an axle, and a pair of wheel assemblies each comprising an axle and a pair of Wheels mounted on the ends of the axle, at least one of said wheels of each pair being detachable from its axle, said axles being received in two of said longitudinal pin openings, there being several more of said connecting pins than the number of Wheel assemblies.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Martin Jan. 15, 1946 Nerrie Feb. 7, 1950 Bolger Dec. 4, 1951 Washington June 26, 1956