US2872205A

US2872205A - Coaster wagon

Info

Publication number: US2872205A
Application number: US627904A
Authority: US
Inventors: James A Waddell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-12-12
Filing date: 1956-12-12
Publication date: 1959-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 1976-02-03

Description

Feb.'3, 1959 J, A. WADDELL 2,872,205

COASTER WAGON Fi led Dec. 12, 1956 INVENTiI.

James A.Wodde|l United States Patent COASTER WAGON James A. Waddell, Royal Oak, Mich.

Application December 12, 1956, Serial No. 627304 1 Claim. (Cl. 28087.01)

This invention relates generally to the class of wheeled vehicles and is directed particularly to improvements in body structures for the same.

The new and improved vehicle body structure of the present invention is designed primarily for coaster wagons. small and light articles conventionally embody a bottom surrounded by an upstanding wall and the body is mounted directly upon supporting bolsters which, in turn, are mounted on wheel supported axles. In such conventional wagon structures, the supporting wheels are disposed outside of the width of the body. is straight on its two sides or, in other words, is of the same width from front to rear.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and novel coaster wagon body wherein the sides are formed in a new way to facilitate the carrying of wide baskets or objects and the maintenance of the same against shifting lengthwise of the body.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new coaster wagon body and under carriage structure wherein the body is designed to cooperate with the under carriage structure in such a manner as to cover the supporting wheels.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification with the understanding that the invention is not confined to a strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a view in top plan of the new body structure of the present invention, which view may also be described as a top plan view of a coaster wagon having a body structure designed in accordance with the inventron;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of a coaster wagon having the present improved body structure; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the present new and novel wagon body is generally designated 10. This body is here shown as being formed in one piece or from a single piece of material which may be sheet metal of desired weight and rigidity or any other material suitable for such use. When formed of sheet metal in one piece, it wil be seen that the body may be shaped and formed by stamping. However, it is within the purview of the present invention to form the new body structure in more than one piece or section if this may ,be found preferable.

The body structure will be described as comprising Coaster wagons such as are used for hauling Also, the body 2,872,205 Patented Feb. 3, 1959 a single sheet of material and, accordingly, the numeral 12 designates the bottom or floor of the body which is of generally elongate rectangular form and has each of its longitudinal sides provided at spaced locations with the outwardly extending portions or areas 14. These portions or areas 14 are illustrated as bowed or arcuate and the two areas on each side of the body are separated by a straight side portion 16 of the bottom or floor 12. Also,

on each side of the body the outwardly extending portions or areas 14 are separated by the shorter side portions 18 of the bottom from the adjacent straight transverse front and back edges, 20 and 21respectively.

The bottom or floor 12 is enclosed by the upstanding side wall 22 which is here shown as being continuous with the bottom and, therefore, it embodies the vertical front and

back portions

23 and 24 respectively which border the edges 20 and 21 and the front, rear and intermediate

upstanding portions

25, 26 and 27 respectively. The center or intermediate portions are joined with the adjacent front and

rear portions

25 and 26 by the upstanding outwardly bowed portions 28 each of which, of course, follows the contour of theouter edge of an outwardly projecting part or area 14 as will be readily apparent.

.the oppositeside of the body and the bow or curvature of the two opposite areas 14 and wall portions 28 thereof are struck from the same radius point so that they form opposite parts of an imaginary circle. Consequently this imaginary circle may receive the bottom portion of a conventional circular basket, such as the well known bushel baskets which are commonly used for marketing fruits and vegetables and which are subsequently commonly used by housewives and other persons for transporting their marketing purchases. It will be seen from this that when the wagon is used for carrying receptacles of this type, they will stay in place in the wagon body on the bottom or floor 12, eventhough the body may be tipped or inclined as would be the case in going up and down very steep grades or raising the wheels of the wagon over curbs and the like.

The top edge of the wall 22 of the body may be provided with a suitable rim as indicated at 29 which gives a finished appearance to the body as will be readily apparent and has other advantages, one of which is-that where the body is formed of sheet metal, such a rim may be in the form of a rolled bead and will materially stiffen or strengthen the side wall.

It will be understood, of course, that the new and novel body structure of the present invention may be mounted upon any desired carriage structure but by placing the body upon a carriage structure proportioned as about to be described with relation to the width of the body, certain desirable advantages are attained.

The carriage structure here illustrated comprises a rear bolster of conventional form which is designated 30 and which is of approximately U-shape and embodies two side legs 31, each of which is riveted or otherwise suitably secured at its top end to the underside of the bottom of the body 12 as indicated at 32 and between the lower ends of the legs 31 a transverse axle 33 is mounted upon the ends of which are rotatably mounted the rear Wheels 34.

The front portion of the carriage structure comprises a similarly formed U-shaped bolster which is generally designated 35, having the upstanding side legs 36 which are riveted as indicated at 37 to the bottom 12 and the lower ends of the legs are connected by the cross bar 38. Disposed against the underside of the cross bar 38 is the conventional fifth wheel 39 which is pivotally connected as at 40 to the center of the bolster bar 38. This fifth bowed walls "28 form a part.

wheel is also in the form of a flat bar of approximately the same length as the bar 38 and has downturned bearing arms 41 through which extend the ends of the front axle 42 and thisaxle carries on its outer ends the front wheels 43.

The numeral 44 generally designates the draft tongue which is attached in conventional manner by the outer ends of a coupling fork '45 to the ,front axle 42.

imaginary circle hereinbeforereferred to and which the opposite outwardly extendingportions 14 and outwardly Thus it will be seen that when the rear and front bolsters are disposed in these planes the rear and front wheels will lie beneath the outwardlyextending portions 14.

Wagons of the character here described are also quite commonlylused by children for riding, the practice being tokneel on one leg in the wagon upon the bottom 12 and use the foot of the other leg to propel the wagon along.

By the provision of the upstanding portions of the wagon body and the disposition of the Wheels of the underlying carriage structure in the manner illustrated, it will be apparent that when the wagon is used in this manner, the danger of the childs clothing becoming entangled in the wheels or the danger of the child suffering injury through striking the outer leg against one of the wheels is eliminated.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there is provided by the present invention a new andnovel wagon body structure and over all a new andnovel coaster wagon having very desirable advantageous features.

I claim:

A wagon. structure of the character described comprising an elongate substantially rectangular bottom and an upstanding wall integral with the periphery of the bottom, said bottom including at each longitudinal side at "projecting portions on one side being opposite to the outwardly projecting portions at the other side and said wall being contoured to follow the contour of said outwardly projecting portions, and a carriage structure comprising a rear bolster, a transverse axle and wheels on the axle and a forward bolster, an axle and wheels on the latter axle, said Wheels being disposed beneath and inwardly of the outer sides of the outermost portions and the wall forming a part thereof, the said outwardly projecting portions and the contoured portions of the Wall being adapted to receive .portions of opposite sides of a circular basket or the like and cooperating to provide longitudinally spaced enlarged areas for receiving such baskets or the like between the opposite sides of the wall whereby such objects are held against shifting their position, the outwardly projecting portions at the sides of the body and the portions of the Wall bordering the same being outwardly bowed and of semi-circular form with the curvature of the bows of the oppositely positioned portions being struck from a common center located in the longitudinal center of the bottom, said forward bolster being pivotally mounted about a vertical axis directly below the center of curvature of the forwardly disposed outwardly projectingportions with the Wheels thereof lying along opposite sides of said bottom, and the radius of curvature of said forwardly disposed outwardly projecting portions being such as to elfect longitudinal lengths of saidoutwardly projecting portions which are greater than the diameter of said forward wheels whereby as the ,forwardbolster is swiveled for steering purposes, the

wheels thereof are maintained in underlying relationship to said forwardly disposed outwardly projecting portions.

References-Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 94,975 Kraeft Mar. 26, 1935 D. 108,232 'Garton Feb. 1, 1938 1,923,049 Blackmore Aug. 15, 1933 2,077,543 Barthel Apr. 20, 1937