US2875554A

US2875554A - Toy engine starter

Info

Publication number: US2875554A
Application number: US643098A
Authority: US
Inventors: A C Boultinghouse
Original assignee: WEN MAC CORP
Current assignee: WEN MAC CORP; WEN-MAC Corp
Priority date: 1956-02-20
Filing date: 1957-02-28
Publication date: 1959-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 1976-03-03
Also published as: US2800744A

Description

March 3, 1959 A c BOULTINGHOUSE 5 TOY ENGINE STARTER Original Filed Feb. 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i; INVENTOR, A. C. BOULT/NGHOUSE,

' l4 fforngy TOY mournI STARTER A C Boultinghouse, Northridge, "Califl, assignor to Wen- MacCorporatiomLos Angeles, Calif, a corporation of 14 Claims. (31. 46-78) My invention relatesto a toy power plant assembly for engine driven toy vehicles, incorporating a toy internalcombustionengine, and a toy rewind starter.

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 566,721, filed February 20, 1956, for Toy Engine Starter and since matured into Patent No. 2,800,744, and a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 484,447, filed January 27, 1955, forToy Engine Starter, and since abandoned.

In the toy vehicle art such, for example, as toy or scale model airplanes, such toy airplanes have been for the past 19 years provided with miniature or toy internal combustion engines. Such toy airplanes weigh from 2 ounces to 6founces and the toy engines are of a weight in the neighborhood of 1 ounce to ounces. They are capable of free flight or captive fiight under the skill and manipulation of the operator from the ground.

Such toy aircraft engines are commonly started by a propeller-flipping technique which is diflicult' to learn and which cannot be learned by many children and some adults, who do not possess the requisite mechanical aptitudeQ Also there is entailed danger of finger cuts and bruises from repeated contacts with the propeller edge and danger from accidental engagement with the Ipropeller spinner or other rapidly rotating parts.

Many attempts have been made over the years to provide a starter which would overcome the disadvantages and dangers referred to in the preceding paragraph. For example, there have been removable extraneous starter mechanisms known as spinners, egg beaters, mouse traps, etc., and even electric drills and top spinners have been used as attempted makeshift starters. There has been an urgent need for a toy starter which could be mountedin'thefuselage of a toy airplane and which could be operated by anyone, child or adult, without requiring any particular experience or mechanical aptitude. i

Until the present invention no practical successful toy rewind starters for toy engines have made their appearance on themarket despite the long and pressing need for such adevice.

Such a toy starting means must meet limited space, weight and balance factors, must operate successfully in an environment of sticky fuels and in the presence of rather high vibrations caused by toy engine revolutions ranging from 14,000 to 18,000 revolutions per minute. Also, such a toy starting means must be of simple design and function, must be economical to manufacture and assemble. Also, it must be dependable under all conditions and must be rugged to withstand abuse by children. Furthermore, such a toy starter must be removable as a unit for replacement or repair. It must also be capable of consistentquality control notwithstandingclose tolerances of one-half to one thousandths of an inch, which tolerances are necessary, in enginedriven toy constructions. ,Q Thcpresent invention hasusat isiied all of these requirements and applicant has provided a combination 2 of a toy engine anda toy starter having a starter pull cord which extends to the exterior of thefuselage ofthe toy airplane or the body of the toy vehicle, which may be pulled to turn the toy engine anumber of revolutions, which pull cord will, when released, be automatimeans in which a starter pull cord extends to thefexterior of the vehicle for manual pulling-and which, when released, will return to an initial position where it willat all times beready to perform a subsequent starting operation. c i i It is an object of my invention to provide a toy propeling assembly which includes aftoy engine mounted in the fuselage, a propeller at the forward end and exterior of the fuselage, and a toy rewind starting'means positioned within the fuselage and having a pull cord extending through an opening in the fuselage for manipulation by the operator, whereby the toy engine may beturned a number of starting revolutions,"and in which thepull cord, upon being released,will be automatically rewound to its initial position ready fo su bsequent starting operati T w L7 i {.1 Si 1 l It is an object of my invention" to providecagtoy power plant assembly for an engine driven toy in there is a toy recoil starter having a'driveelement and a win'ding means operable by a pull Leora, thewinding means being assjociatedwitha platewhich islseparate from but driven by the winding means; Cooperating between the plate and the drive element is connectingmeansjwhere by the drive element may be driven in afo'rward. direction upon pulling the pull cord of the starter; L i

It is a further object'lof my invention to. provide a toy power plant assembly in which there is a drive element and a Winding means or rotationmeans and inlwhich engagement between the two in a forward direction'fis accomplished by aninertia responsive, means. U

It is another object of my invention to provide a power plant assembly comprising a, toy engine having a shaft projecting from it, a propeller mounted on the, shaft ad: acent to the engine and a toy rewind starter positioned between the engine and the propeller, the rewind starter having a pull cord extending to the ex'terior thereoflandl having an end in position formanual engagement It is a further object, of my invention to provide, aio' power plant assembly having a toy engine having ashaft projecting therefrom, a propeller secured to theshaft ad jacent to the engine. and in which there isan auxiliary shaft projecting from the engine in. an opposite direction which has a :rewind or recoil starter operatively'con nected to it. l l

It. an object of my invention to provide a toy starting devicefor a toy engine having a drive member, se-, cured to. the shaft, arotatable member supported concentric to the shaftand drive member, and in whichthere it is inertia means operable between thedrive member and the rotatable member whereby the drive membermay be driven by the'rotatable member in a forward direction.

It is a still further object of invention to: provide a toy power plant assembly having a toy engine with a; L shaft projecting therefrom and a toy rewind or recoil;

Patented Manx-3, 1959 starter having its parts supported by and held in proper operating alignment by the shaft and by the engine.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a toy recoil starter for a toy engine which is particularly designed to be of light weight and compact and having unique details of construction which render the starter of simple design, of low production cost, andof economical replacement and repair.

It is an object of my invention to provide such a toy starter in which all of the parts except a single disc-like drive member which is secured to the shaft of a toy engine, remain stationary when the engine is being driven under its own power.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be made evident in the course of the following detailed description of forms of my invention chosen for the purposes of illustration.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing a toy airplane having a toy engine, toy starter and propeller assembly mounted therein according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the forward end of the fuselage of the toy aircraft showing the toy power assembly of the present invention, parts being broken away and sectioned substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 3 to disclose the cooperative relationship of the parts;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view showing the details of mounting and manner in which the flexible pull 2 member is brought to the exterior of the fuselage; taken substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view showing details of the cam actuated clutch mechanism, taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view showing details of the rewind spring and its operative connections, taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified arrangement in which the starter mechanism is mounted on the opposite side of the crankcase from the main shaft; and

Fig. 7 is a view diagrammatically illustrating a reed type of valve for controlling fuel admission to the engine.

Referring now generally to the drawings, there is illustrated in Fig. 1, a toy or miniature aircraft embodying the features of the present invention, this aircraft comprising a fuselage body 10 having

wings

12 and 13 and tailstmcture 14 at one end of the fuselage. The other end of the fuselage is of hollow construction and provides an engine compartment, this end of the fuselage being streamlined and associated with a forward spinner 15. The power plant as generally indicated at 16 is mounted in the engine compartment and has a driving connection with a propeller 17. Fuel control 18 is brought out through an opening 19 in the fuselage of the engine compartment, while a flexible pull cord 20 is brought out through an opening 21 in the wall of the fuselage, the

openings

19 and 21 being positioned rearwardly of the propeller 17.

The combination of the toy vehicle propelling assembly comprising a toy engine, the propelling means and toy rewind starting means will be subsequently described in detail, but is generally of a construction in which the parts. are compactly arranged in axial alignment and proper weight balance, the rewind starter means having a one way clutching mechanism for starting the motor or engine in a driving direction by pulling upon the pull cord 20. Placing of the pull cord rearwardly of the propeller provides a safety feature which is of great importance in small aircraft of this type in that the air stream from the propeller acts to blow the pull cord away from the propeller so that it may be rewound without becoming entangled so as to create an 4 r unsafe hazard for the young people who usually fly this type of plane. I

Referring to Fig. 2, the toy engine of the power plant 16 has a crankcase 22 formed with a tubular sleeve 23 that provides a bearing support for a projecting main or power shaft 24. At its outer end, the main shaft is fitted with the propeller 17 of conventional construction and is also connected with the spinner 15 which extends over the hub portion of the propeller. The shaft 24 is connected to the pin and connecting

rod parts

61 and 62 respectively, as shown in the modification of the invention illustrated in Fig. 6. The toy engine is of a conventional design, the moving parts thereof having low mass for high revolution per minute operation and having relatively low flywheel action for starting.

The conventional power assembly of toy or model aircraft includes a toy engine, a propeller, and streamlined spinner. It is thus customary to start the engine in such prior arrangements by manually flipping the propeller.

As pointed out heretofore, many persons are unable to learn the starting technique and are thus deprived of the pleasures and satisfying experiences of maneuvering toy engine driven vehicles; and also, as pointed out heretofore, there is the possibility of injury particularly in the event that the operators hands are not quickly removed from a path of movement of the propeller, or in the event that the engine should backfire and cause reverse movement of the propeller.

In order to overcome the disadvantages and hazards referred to heretofore, the present invention seeks to eliminate in so far as possible the inherent danger attending the starting of miniature engines of this type, and particularly in the case of toy and model aircraft. Although the starter, which will subsequently be described in further detail, finds particular advantageous use in connection with the engines of models and toy aircraft, the starter is also usable with the engines of model boats, automobiles, etc.

As shown clearly in Fig. 2, the toy or miniature starter of the present invention is positioned between the engine crankcase structure and the propeller, and comprises a two-part housing as generally indicated at 25. One part of the housing is formed by means of a cupped member 26 which is arranged at its centeral position with an annular flange 27 adapted to surround the tubular sleeve 23 upon which it is retained against movement by means to be hereinafter described. The periphery of the cupped member is formed 'by an annular flange 28 so that the cupped member has an open end defined by the rim edge 29.

The other part of the housing is formed by a drive plate or drive element 30 centrally provided with a cylindrical hub 31 arranged to have a spline or other suit-' able interconnection with the shaft for rotation therewith. At its periphery, the drive plate 30 has an axially extending flange 32, the edge of which registers with the rim edge 29 of the cupped member 26.

Mounted within the housing 25 is a rotation member of means which includes a winding means in the form of a winding drum 33 having a tubular hub 34 adapted to be rotatably supported upon the outer surface of the tubular sleeve 23. The inner end of this hub also has its bore slightly enlarged so as to extend over and bear upon the flange 27. The opposite end of the hub is arranged to extend over the hub 31 of the drive member, and extend into an annular groove 35 in the adjacent face of the drive member.

Between the ends of the hub 34, the winding drum has integrally formed with the hub a circumferentially extending flange 36 which is grooved peripherally to form a circumferentially extending groove 37 which is adapted to Windingly receive the flexible pull member 20. The inner end of the pull member is knotted and anchored in an opening 39 provided in the flange 36 below the groove 37. The free end of the pull member extends through an arrests openings provided-in the flange. 28 and. through. the opening 21 provided in the fuselage to the exterior of the cupped member 26, where thepull member is provided with an end loop 41 to facilitate manual manipulation by an operator. .Inwardly spaced from this looped end, the pull member may be-knotted as indicated at 42 so as to limittthe rewind mo vement of: the pull member.

Oh one side of the flange 36, there is positioned within the cupped member 26 a coiled spring 43, one end of this-spring being positioned in a slot 44, in the flange 28, so as to anchor this end of the spring to the cupped member, as-shown in Fig. 5. The inner end of the coiled spring is; anchored inthe adjacent wall of-the tubular hub 34 by positioning the spring end in a slit 45. The spring 43 is spiraled in a proper directionto actuate the winding drum 33 so as to rewind the pull member automatically. 1

Onlthe opposite side of the winding drum,.there is a projection33iz. having flat sides 33b on which isrplaced a carnp'late 46 having a similarly shaped opening 46:!

As shown in Fig. 4, the cam plate 46 is provided on diametrically opposite sidesvwith inclined recesses 47, these recesses being formed by an edge 48 and an edge 49 at right angles thereto. The inclined recesses-47, subtend the flange 32 ofwthe drive plate 30, and within each recess there ispositioned a disc 50 which-is adaptedto roll edgewise within the associated recess, As so arranged, when the disc 50 isagainst the edge 49, the drive plate willbedisconnected with-respect to the cam plate 46. However, when .the .pull member 20 is .pulledby graspingthe end loop 41, the cam plate will be rotated to produce relative rotational movement between said rotation member. and s aid drive element in alocking direction, but due to theinertiaof the disc 50 these discs will tend, to remain stationary and will assume a wedging position between the associated edge 48 and the adjacent surface ofthehflange 32. When the discs are in this wedging position,,.frictiori or frictional engagement 'between the diseand theinner surface-of the rim 32 andthe surface 48 will prevent relative movement between the rotation memberand the drive element, so as tointerconnect the cam platelanddrive plate for unitary movement, thereby causing r otatibnl of the. crankshaft to start the engine, The "disc or Idiscs .50 taken in connection with a the surfaces-which theylfrietionally engage comprises a friction operated means or-friction gripping. means or element.

As 'soonas .theengine starts, the drive plate movement w nrevarmn, and this action. will tend to move the discs 50. to afnon-wedging position and permit free operation of the engine. .Upon -releasing -,the pull member, the spi'ing 413 lactsflto return the pull member to the winding drain. 3 j I q it 'Ihe port on of thepnlltmemberflwhich .iscxterior of theh'ousing 15, upon, starting the "engine; will be blown aniay .fiQI the .pr opeller by: the propeller air stream, thus permitting return of the .pull member to the; winding druin Without danger of becoming entangled in the prop'eller, when the pull member is released for rewind.

ment therewith. a i a Referring now to Fig. 6,,a modified, starter construcill'be described, whichis arranged for mounting on s1 sid f th efc rankcase from the position shown vionslyYdnsc bed The modified arrangement -is coni t tma wj'bejmqunted po f is ng e the., propeller hub and form a friction non-slip engager e modified arrangement, similar parts indicate y the same numerals as in the form prehedas aa a tachmentwhi h may be positioned,

herein is of particular advantage and removes the hazard h fcuppedmember,26 is retained against axial and 6 -rMore'specifically, as shown in provided with a threaded opening 54 which receives the threaded end of a tubular bushing 55, this end of thebushing being provided with a circumferentially extending flange 5 6 which is adapted to bear against asealing gasket 57 was to sealingly-mount the bushing in the crankcase opening. I I r 1 i i I Instead of mounting the starter parts in connection with the main shaft, in the modified arrangement use-is madeof an auxiliary shaft 58 which is rotatably mounted within the tubular bushing 55. Thej auxiliaryjshaft is lon gitudinallyretained in position within 'the bushing by the drive "plate 30 secured at one end by a securing screw 59, and by means of an end flange 60 at the opposite end" ofthe auxiliary shaft. As shown, the mainshaft 24 main difierence being that in the modified construction provision is made for mounting the modified construction on the rear side of the crankcase in which position it may be readily. used as an attachment for an existing engine, a

minimum of changes in the engine construction being required in order to utilize the starter therewith.

Oneof the problems otproviding a starterof the herein described -type-for engines used in theactuation of toys, resides in the difficulty of making the starter small enough I to fit withinconfined spaces, particularly in the caseof;

toy aircraft, -and yet have parts which will operate ethcientlygand'which instead of,merely'turning the engine throughfdead center position wil with equal facility in reversed directions, thatis, in either a forward or reversed direction. For example, reed .type

valves are conventionally being utilized in these. small enginessuch as disclosed infFig; 7. As thereinshown the fuel supply conduit 64 is shown as incorporating a partitiorr65 having an opening 66 therein to permit flow of fuel to the engine. This opening is controlled by a reed 67. in the form of a flat spring or other flexible means which. is

arranged to open under the suction created in the engine. In this. type of engine, there is an absence of the timed.

admission of fuel as sometimes incorporated in these smaller engines. Thus, a starter of the type described of starting these engines by flipping the propeller, since a kickback may cause the propeller to go in the opposite di-I rectionand thus constitute a dangerous condition, particularly where the engine is being operated by youngsters.

Yarious modifieationsmay sugge'stthemselves to those. skilled in the" art without departing from the spirit of .my invention, and, hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the 1 specific form or forms shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

1. In a toy power plant for an engine-driven toy, .the combination of: a toy engine having a crankcase, and. a crank pin carried by a main shaft, said crank pin having connectionwith a driving pistonrod; a tubular bushing mounted inan opening insaid crankcase adjacentthe, crank pin; a member rotatablysupported in said bushing; means at one end of saidmember engageablewith said. crank pin so asto drive said member; a drive plate, s ecnred to said memb er for rotation therewitht arotatab le windingj drum surrounding said member; a flexible pull member wound on said drum; a rewind spring connected carries a :crank pin 61- which connects with the engine piston rod. 62 Provision is made foralso driving the auxiliary shaft 58 in concert withthe main shaft 24 bythe provision of a slot or open- 1 impart a pluralityof turns in thedesired-direction. This latter feature is {of particular importance in these model or smallengines which are in certain constructions designed. to operate to said drum; and means actuated by the movement of said drum, upon pulling said pull member, to releasably interconnect said drum and drive plate for unitary movement.

2. In a toy power plant assembly for an engine-driven toy, the combination of: a toy engine having a shaft projecting from said engine, the moving parts of said engine having low mass for high revolutions per minute operation, and, therefore, relatively low flywheel action for starting; a drive element connected to said shaft; starter rotation means between said drive element and said engine and adjacent said drive element and rotatable in forward and rearward directions around the axis of said shaft; one-way overunning clutch means, said clutch means including a friction operated element frictionally operable between said rotation means and said drive element to establish driving connection therebetween when said rotation means is rotated in forward direction, to rotate said drive element in forward direction; a pull cord wound on said rotation means having one end connected to said rotation means to rotate said rotation means in one of said directions of rotation as said pull cord is unwound from said rotation means; spring means having one end thereof connected to said rotation means so as to be wound as said pull cord is unwound from said rotation means, said spring as it unwinds, rotating'said rotation .means in the other of said directions; walls forming a guide means for guiding said pull cord relative to said starter rotation means, said pull cord having one end guided by said guide means, said pull cord, upon release after actuation, being rewound onto said rotation means with said end of said pull cord exposed for subsequent starting operations; and means mounted on the. engine for connecting said walls forming said guide means and the other end of said spring means to restrain relative movement.

3. In a power plant for a toy propeller driven vehicle, the combination of: a toy engine having a projecting shaft, the moving parts of said engine having low mass for high revolutions per minute operation, and, therefore, relatively low flywheel action for starting; a propeller secured to said engine shaft; a drive element positioned between said propeller and said engine secured to said shaft; starter rotation means positioned between said propeller and said engine adjacent said drive element and rotatable relative to said shaft; one-way overrunning clutch means positioned between said propeller and said engine for connecting said drive element and said rotati'on means when said rotation means is rotated'in forward direction, to rotate said drive element in forward direction; means for rotating said rotation means in forward and rearward directions comprising a pull cord wound on said rotation means having one end connected to said rotation means to rotate the same in one of said directions; guide means positioned adjacent said starter rotation means for guiding said pull cord relatively to said starter rotation means, said pull cord having one end extending from said rotation means through said guide means into a position for manual engagement; spring means positioned between said propeller and said engine having one end connected to said rotation means for rotating said rotation means in the other of said directions, said pull cord, upon release after actuation, being rewound onto said rotation means with said manually engageable end exposed for subsequent starting operations; and means for securing the other end of said spring means relative to said rotation means.

4. In a toy power plant assembly for an engine-driven toy, the combination of: a toy engine of a weight in the neighborhood of one ounce to five ounces and including a crankcase, a sleeve on said crankcase, and shaft means extending from said crankcase through said sleeve and connected for driving engagement with the connecting rod of the engine, the moving parts of said engine having low mass for high revolutions per minute operation, and,

8 therefore, relatively low flywheel action for starting; and toy starter means supported concentric to said shaft means, said toy starter means having a drive element secured to said shaft means, rotation means on said sleeve adjacent to said crankcase rotatable in forward and rearward directions around said shaft, one-way clutch means operable between said rotation means and said drive element, said one-way clutch means including friction means frictionally, engageable between said rotation means and said drive element for imparting engine starting rotation from said rotation means tosaid drive element whensaid rotation means is rotated in said forward direction, and

means for rotating said rotation means in said forward and rearward directions comprising a pull cord wound upon said rotation means so that as said pull cord is un wound from said rotation means it will rotate the same in one of said directions, and a spring connected to said rotation means so that it will be wound as said pull cord is unwound from said rotation means, said spring 'as it unwinds rotating said rotation means in the other of said directions.

5. In a toy power plant assembly for an engine-driven toy vehicle, the combination of: a toy engine having a shaft; and toy starter means concentric to said shaft, said toy starter means having a drive element secured to said shaft, winding means rotatable around said shaft, :1 plate drivably carried by said winding means, disc means between said plate and said drive element, operable upon rotation of said winding means, to drivably connect said Winding means and said drive element, a. housing mounted on said toy engine cooperating with said drive element to enclose the other of said toy starter means parts, a starter pull cord connected to said Winding means for rotating same, and rewind means for rotating said winding means to its initial position and for returning said pull cord to its element secured to said auxiliary shaft; power rotation means rotatable relative to said auxiliary shaft; oneway overrunning clutch means for connecting said drive element and said rotation means when said rotation means is rotated in a forward direction, to rotate said drive element in forward direction; means for rotating said rotation means in forward and rearward directions comprising a pull cord wound on said rotation means, having one end connected to said rotation means to rotate the same in one of said directions; guide means positioned adjacent said starter rotation means for guiding said pull cord relatively to said starter rotation means,

said pull cord having one end extending from said rotation means through said guide means into a position for manual engagement; spring means connected to said rotation means for rotating said rotation means in the other of said directions, said pull cord, upon release after actuation, being rewound onto said rotation means with said manually engageable end exposed for subse quent starting operations; and means for securing the other end of said spring relative to said rotation means.

7. In a toy power plant assembly for an engine-driven toy, the combination of: a toy engine having a drive shaft projecting therefrom; toy propelling means secured to said shaft and rotatable in axial alignment therewith;

and toy recoil starter means surrounding said shaft between said propelling means and said engine including, starter rotation means adjacent said toy engine and rotatable in forward and rearward directions around the axis ofsaid shaft,supportmeans secured to said ,engine fonro'taltably "supporting said starter rotation "means, a drive element secured to said shaft outwardly of said starter rotation means, one way overrunning clutch means for connecting said drive element and said rotation means when said rotation means-is rotated in a forward direction, torotate said drive element in forward direction, a pullcord "wound-on said "rotation means having one end connected to saidrotation means to rotate said rotation means mode of said directions of rotation as said pull cord is unwound from said rotation means,and spring means positioned betweensaid engine and said drive element having oneend thereofconnected to' said rotation means so as 'to"be "woiind as' Sara plill cord is unwound from saidrotation means, said spring means as it unwinds rotating said rotation means in the other of said directions.

t 8.; In a toy .power plant assembly for'an engine-driven toy, the-combination of: a toy engine of a weight in the neighborhood of one ounce to five ounces and having a shaft projectingtherefrom; and recoil, toy starter means snrrounding said shaft including starter, rotation means adjacent said toy engine and rotatable in forward and rearward directions around the axis of said shaft, supportlmeans. securedto saidenginefor rotatably supporting said starter rotation means, a drive element secured to said shaft outwardly of said starter rotation means with'said starter rotation means between said drive element andsaid engine, one way overrunning clutch means including friction 'means operable by frictional engagement to drivably connect said drive element and said rotation means when said rotation means is rotated in a forward direction, to rotate said drive element in forward "direction and operable by friction upon relative movement of said rotation means and said drive element in the opposite direction to release the connection be-- tween said rotation means and said drive element, a pull cord wound on said rotation means having one end connected to said rotation means to rotate said rotation means in one of said directions of rotation as said pull cord is unwound from said rotation means, and spring means positioned between said engine and said drive element having one end thereof connected to said rotation means so as to be wound as said pull cord is unwound from said rotation means, said spring as it unwinds rotating said rotation means in the other of said directions.

9. In a toy power plant assembly for an engine-driven toy, the combination of: a toy engine of a weight in the neighborhood of one ounce to five ounces and havinga shaft projecting therefrom; and recoil toy starter means surrounding said shaft including, starter rotation means adjacent said toy engine and rotatable in forward and rearward directions around the axis of said shaft, support means secured to said engine for rotatably supporting said starter rotation means, a drive element secured to said shaft outwardly of said starter rotation means with said starter rotation means between said drive element and said engine, one way overrunning clutch means, said clutch means including a friction operated clement frictionally operable between said rotation means and said drive element to establish driving connection therebetween when said rotation means is rotated in a for ward direction, to rotate said drive element in forward direction, a pull cord wound on said rotation means having one end connected to said rotation means to rotate said rotation means in one of said directions of said rotation as said pull cord is unwound from said rotation means, and spring means positioned between said engine and said starter rotation means having one end thereof connected to said rotation means so as to be wound as said pull cord is unwound from said totation means, said spring as it unwinds rotating said rotation means in the other of said directions.

1051p a toy power plantfassenibly for an enginedriven toy, the combination of: a toy engine having a shaft projecting therefrom; propelling means secured to said shaft; a drive element positioned between said pro pelling'means and said engine secured to said shaft; starter rotation means positioned between said propelling means andsaid enginevadjacent said drive element and rotatable relative to said shaft; one way overrunning clutch meanspositioned between said propelling means and said engine forf'connectingsaid drive element and said rotationLmeafis whenvsaid rotation means is rotated in a forward direction, torotate said drive element in a forward direction; and means for rotating said rotation means inforward and rearward directions comprising a pull cord wound on said rotation means having one end connected to said rotation means to rotate the same in one'ofsaid" directions, said pull cord having one end extending from said rotation means into a position for manual engagement, and spring means positioned be tween saidpropelling means and said engine connected to said rotation means for rotating said rotation means in the other of'said directions, said pull cord, upon re lease after actuation, being rewound onto said rotation means with; said manually engageable end exposed for extension from the crankcase of said engine and sur-j rounding a portion of said shaft;jrotation means supported onjs'aidsleeve for rotation in forward and rearward directions aroundthe axis of said shaft; a spring having 'oneTofits ends connected to said rotation means so thatfl'said spring will be wou'nd when said rotation memberj is rotated inio'ne of said directions and in ou winding"will rotate said rotation means in the other of said directions; a drive element connected to said shaft adjacent the end of said sleeve; and one way clutch means between said rotation means and said drive element including a frictional engaging means for connecting said rotation means and said drive element so that relative forward rotation of said rotation means will cause said frictional engaging means to frictionally drive said drive element so as to rotate said shaft in forward, engine-starting direction, said clutch means being released when said drive element rotates in forward direction relative to said rotation means.

12. In a lightweight toy engine starting device for a toy engine of a weight in the neighborhood of one ounce to five ounces and, having shaft means projecting therefrom, the moving parts of said engine having low mass for high revolutions per minute operation and therefore relatively low flywheel action for starting, the combination of: starter rotation means surrounding said shaft meansand rotatable in forward and rearward directions around the axis of said shaft means; spring means having one end connected to said rotation means so as to be wound when said starter rotation means is rotated in one direction; and one-way clutch means positioned outwardly of said starter rotation means operable between said starter rotation means and said shaft means, said one-way clutch means including friction means operable by relative movement between said starter rotation means and said shaft means for establishing driving frictional connection between said starter rotation means and said shaft means and operable by friction when said shaft means moves in a forward direction relative to said starter rotation means, to release driving engagement between said starter rotation means and said shaft means.

13. In a lightweight toy engine starting device for a toy engine having shaft means projecting therefrom, the moving parts of said engine having low :mass for high revolutions per minute operation and therefore relatively low flywheel action for starting, the combination of: starter rotation means rotatable around said shaft means in forward and rearward directions; a housing non-rotat ably secured to'the crankcase of said engine. and surrounding said shaft means between the starter rotation means and engine; a spring positioned in said housing having one end secured to said housing and the other end secured to said starter rotation means; a drive element connected to said shaft means outside andadjacent said starter rotation means; and one-way clutch means operable between said starter rotation means and said drive element, said one-way clutch means including engageable surfaces on said drive element and said starter rotation means, and wedge element'means movable by relative movement between said rotation means and said drive element, into engagement with said surfaces for connecting said rotation means and said drive element so thatforward rotation of said rotation means will be transmitted to said drive element so as to rotate.- said shaft means in a forward direction, and beingmovable to release said starter rotation means and said drive element when said drive element rotates in 'a forward direction relative to said starter rotation means.

14. In a lightweight toy engine starting device for a I toy engine of a weight in the neighborhood of one ounce to five ounces having a shaft projecting therefrom, the moving'parts of said engine having low mass for high revolutions per minute operations and therefore relatively low flywheel action for starting, the combination of: rotation means surrounding said shaft and rotatable in forward and rearward directions; a spring having one end secured stationary relative to said engine and having the other end connected to said rotation means, said spring being wound when said rotation means is rotated in one direction and unwound when said rotation means is rotated in the other direction; drive element means secured to said shaft outwardly of said rotation means with References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,001,260 Evinrude Aug. 22, 1911 1,816,976 Kirkham Aug. 4, 1931 2,286,419 Krenzke June 16, 1942 2,564,787 Mack Aug. 21, 1951 2,585,850 Sager Feb. 12, 1952 2,656,829 Crippen Oct. 27, 1953 2,731,007 Benson Jan. 17, 1956 2,800,744 Boultinghouse July 30, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 27,190 .Great Britain 1898 OTHER REFERENCES Model Petrol Engines, by Edgar T. Westbury, pages 103-105 and 172174 cited, published by Percival Marshall & Co., Ltd., London, England.

The Model Engineer" for June 4, 1942, pages 546-549 cited, published by Percival Marshall & Co. Ltd., London, England.

The Model Engineer for October 29, 1942, pages 415-418 cited, published by Percival Marshall & Co. Ltd., London, England.