US2923345A - Rocker device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2, 1960 A. K. STRAUSS ROCKER DEVICE Filed NOV. 10, 1958 F'IG.2

FIGJ

FIG. 5

INVENTOR, ALVIN K. STRAUSS F'IG.9

United States Patent ROCKER DEVICE Alvin K. Strauss, Memphis, Tenn. Application November 10, 1958, Serial No. 772,775 7 Claims. (Cl. 155-75) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rocker devices, and particularly rocker devices of the general type and kind adapted for the amusement and entertainment of small children.

There have heretofore been many attempts to provide a wide variety of kinds and types of rocker devices for use by children. Many of these devices have proven to be unsatisfactory in use on account of a lack of inherent stability, and have additionally proven to be difficult of storage, and in View of a relatively inflexible arrangement and organization of the parts of such prior devices, have proven of relatively short life, particularly since prior devices have lacked an interchangeability or reversibility for enhancing the wear period during which the device may be used.

The present invention contemplates the solution of the problems which have heretofore been encountered in this field, and in so doing contemplates the provision of a rocker device which is supported upon means capable of substantially universal rocking motion, yet which are of a relative stability under such rocking so as to prevent accidental overturning of an undesired character.

The present invention further contemplates the utilization of rocker means for supporting the device, to which a seat is detachably connected, with the seat and the rocker means cooperating for the support of the seat and the maintenance of the rocker means in desired rocking position. The device further contemplates that the supporting means of the present invention may be collapsed in order to provide for the storage of same in a relatively small space, with the seat being detachable therefrom, and further contemplates that the supporting means as and when desired may be inverted in order to provide a new floor or ground contacting set of surfaces.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel rocker device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a rocker device including a plurality of circumferentially spaced rocker fins connected to a central support and having a seat mounted thereupon.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which at least a part of the rocker fins are hingedly connected to the central supporting post in order that the hingedly connecting rocker fins may be hingedly swung about the post to a collapsed position for storage.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the seat member is provided with brackets for engaging the hingedly connected rocker fins in order to maintain the same in properly extended rocking position.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the seat member is detachably connected with the supporting post for ready placement and removal therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the rocker fins are provided with upper and lower substantially identical rocker surfaces in order,

that the rocker fins may be inverted for the presentation 2,923,345- Patented Feb. 2, 1960 of new or different rocker surfaces to a floor or ground support; and

A further object of the invention is generally to improve the design, construction and efi'iciency of rocker devices.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the device as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the rocker and post elements of the invention in collapsed or folded position.

Fig. 5 is a separated view of a preferred embodiment of the foot-rest member of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the seat member.

Fig. 7 is a separated view of the bolt and nut means of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a vertical fragmentary view on an enlarged scale taken as on the line VIIIVIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary inverted sectional plan view on a further enlarged scale taken as on the line IX--IX of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, the present device is rockably mounted upon a plurality of rocker fins which are connected with a central supporting post 11. Preferably two of the fins, such as the fins 13, 15, are rigidly fixed to post 11, being inset therein in the preferred embodiment as best shown in Fig. 9, and extend in diametrically opposite directions so that the fins 13, 15 are in longitudinal axial alinement. In the preferred usage of the invention such rigidly affixed fins, as the fins 13, 15, are to be disposed in fore and aft relationship, and in effect define the fore and aft longitudinal center line of the device.

To one side of the center line of the device, and respec tively equally circumferentially spaced from themselves and from the fins 13, 15, are a pair of side fins 17, 19, and at the opposite side of the fins 13, 15, and also respectively circumferentially equally spaced from themselves and from the fins 13, 15, are a second pair of side fins 21, 23. Each of the side fins 17, 19, 21, 23 is preferably hingedly secured to post 11, as by suitable hinge means 25, similar hinge means 25 being utilized for attaching each of the side fins to the post, in order that the side fins may be swingably connected with the central post for movement to and from a collapsed or folded position, such as is shown in Fig. 4, from and to an extended rocking position, such as is shown in Figs. 3 and 9.

Each of the fins 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, outwardly from post 11 is of substantially identical shape and dimension,

' and it will be observed that in the extended rocking position, such as is shown in Fig. 3, each of the fins extends radially away from the post 11 a substantially Each of the front, rear and side fins is provided with opposed rocking surfaces 27, 29, these surfaces being respectively curvingly converging away from post 11, and at their outer ends being joined by a rounded end nortion 31. Thus the fins are respectively provided with substantially uniformly curved rocking surfaces extending away from the upper and lower ends of the central post 11, so that whether the central post is positioned Y in one vertical position or an opposite inverted vertical position the rocking surfaces of the fins as presented to a supporting surface, such as a floor or ground ,sur-- face not shown, is substantially identical. As a result the rockingsupport, comprising the fins and central post, may be employed either in the upright position shown in the drawings or in an inverted position which is of equal and substantially identical disposition.

At-its opposite ends post 11 is provided with recesses 33, 35 for the selective reception and housing of a nut 37 adapted for connection and engagement with an elongated bolt 39 for the attachment of a suitable seat 41 to post 11. As is apparent, bolt 39 is of a length in excess of the length of post 11 in order that it may extend above the post 11 for engagement into the seat 41 and to extend downwardly through a central bore 43 in the post to the opposite recess for engagement by nut 37. In order to prevent undesired contact with the head of bolt 39seat 41 maybe providedwith an upwardly open recess 45. Preferably seat 41 is provided with sides 47 and a back member 49, as well as with a handle 51.

Preferably one of the rocker fins, such as fin 13, is apertured to receive a foot rest which is preferably a divided'foot rest 53, such as is shown in Fig. 5, and which is provided with divided portions, one of which having an extending threaded male portion, and the other of which having a receptive female socket (not shown), in order that the foot rest may be extended through the fin member and threadedly engaged into the position such as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In the preferred structure, seat 41 on its under side is provided with means for engaging the rocker fins in order rigidly to attach the fins to the seat against relative rotational or folding movement during rocking use. Thus as shown in the present drawings, the means involve a plurality of clips 55 attached to the underside of seat 41 and comprising pairs of angle members disposed with downwardly projecting flanges in relatively spaced apart position, the receptive clips each comprising a pair of the angle members being positioned about the underside of seat 41 in circumferentially spaced apart relationship in order to match with the circumferential spacing of the respective fins upon extension of the fins into the rocking position as shown in Fig. 3.

Each of the clips 55 comprising a pair of angle members is so spaced apart as to closely and snugly embrace the uppermost edge of a fin presented thereto in order to hold the seat 41 in relative relationship to the fins in extended rocking position, and at the same time to permit the ready detachment of the seat from the rocking fins upon disconnection of the bolt 39 from post 11. In the preferred embodiment there are clips 55 provided for the engagement with the rigidly fixed fins 13, 15, thus additionally fixing the seat against any relative rotation, and the further clips 55 each respectively engage one of the side fins 17, 19, 21, 23 in order to maintain the side fins in extended rocking position.

It will be observed that when the side fins 17, 19, 21, 23 are extended into the rocking r unfolded position that the ends of each of these fins abuts against the periphery of post 11, as best shown in Fig. 9, thus providing a firm abutment for the ends of the fins and limiting the outward swinging movement of the fins about their hinge connections 25.

As readily can be seen, the device is one of very quick and ready assembly and also is of equally quick dissembly as for storage purposes. When the device is taken from storage, as for example as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, the folded rocking fins in the position as shown in Fig. 4 may be moved outwardly to a radially extending circumferentially spaced position such as that shown in Fig. 3. Seat 41 may be seated on the selected upper end of the structure and bolt 39 extended downwardly through the opening in seat 41 into the bore 43 for engagement at the lower end by nut 37 inserted into one of 'the recesses such as the recess 33 in post 11. The head of bolt 39 will then be engaged with the recess 45 in seat 41, and at the time of the seating of seat 41 upon the upper end of post 11, the respective clips 55 are engaged over the uppermost edges of the fins 13, 15, 17, 19, 21,13. Thus when the bolt and nut 37, 39 are tightened together through the bore or post 11 the seat 41 is drawn down tightly onto the uppermost portions of post 11 and of the rocker fins, thus in effect locking the seat in position thereupon and providing a rocking device with a seat member thereon for the reception of a user which is of an extremely stable nature in virtue of the substantially uniform rocking surfaces extending on circumferentially equally spaced curving surfaces.

As the use of the device is continued over an extended period it is found that the rocking surfaces will from use become worn, and this wearing feature is particularly true if the rocking surfaces are provided with a tread. which is not here shown, but which is often desirable for the purpose of covering the extreme edge of the rocker fins. Upon the occasion of the wearing of the rocking surfaces a simple inversion of the unit may be accomplished by detaching the seat from its attachment to the central post, inverting the rocker fins and post, and replacing the seat together with its fin-engaging clips upon the now uppermost portion of the post and fins, reengaging the seat therewith, and thus presenting to a supporting surface, such as a floor or other surface, new and unworn rocker surfaces comprising the previously uppermost edges or the rocker fins.

Thus it will be seen that the present ,device comprises a rocker portion comprising a post and plurality of fins connected therewith which may be folded for storage and which may be unfolded into substantially radially extending position for rocking use. A seat is provided which may be detachably connected therewith and includes means for engaging the uppermost edges of the rocker fins above the surface-contacting rocker portions or edges, preferably in the form of clips here shown. Accordingly, the present device provides a new and novel rocker means which is adapted for a substantial period of use,-

providing means for the inversion of the device for the presentation of a new set of surfaces to a supporting surface such as a floor as heretofore described.

I claim:

1. In a rocker device, an upright support, a fin, a second fin, said fins being rigidly fixed to and projecting oppositely from said support in longitudinal alinement, a

pair of fins at one side of said rigidly fixed fins, an addi-' tional pair of fins at the other side of said rigidly fixed fins, said pairs of fins being hingedly connected to said support for movement to and from a folded storage position in which said hinged fins extend alongside said fixed fins from and to an extended rocker position in which said hinged fins extend outwardly from said sup-- port and said hinged fins and said fixed fins are circumferentially equally spaced about said support with the inner ends of said hinged fins abutting said support and limiting outward hinged movement of said hinged fins,

a seat mounted on the uppermost end of said support and fins in said extended rocker position, means detachably connecting said seat to said support, the underside of said seat carrying clip means, said clip means removably embracing portions of the uppermost edges of said fins to limit relative movement between said seat and said fins, each said fin having opposite symmetrically curved edges adapted for rocking contact with a supporting surface whereby said fins and support may be inverted upon detachment of said seat therefrom.

2. in a rocker device, an upright support, a fin, a second fin, said fins beingrigidly fixed to and projecting oppositely from said support in longitudinal alinement, a.

pair of fins at one side of said rigidly fixed fins, an

additional pair of fins at the other side of said rigidly,

fixed fins, said pairs of fins being hingedly connected to said support for movement to and from a folded storage position in which said hinged fins extend alongside said fixed fins from and to an extended rocker position in which said hinged fins extend outwardlyfrom said supg port and said hinged fins and said fixed fins are circumferentially equally spaced about said support, a seat mounted on the uppermost end of said support and fins in said extended rocker position, a means detachably connecting said seat to said support, the underside of said seat carrying clip means, said clip means removably embracing portions of the uppermost edges of said fins to limit relative movement between said seat and said fins, each said fin having opposite symmetrically curved edges adapted for rocking contact with a supporting surface whereby said fins and support may be inverted upon detachment of said seat therefrom.

3. In a rocker device, an upright support, a fin, a second fin, said fins being rigidly fixed to and projecting oppositely from said support in longitudinal alinement, a pair of fins at one side of said rigidly fixed fins, an additional pair of fins at the other side of said rigidly fixed fins, said pairs of fins being hingedly connected to said support for movement to and from a folded storage position in which said hinged fins extend alongside said fixed fins from and to an extended rocker position in which said hinged fins extend outwardly from said support and said hinged fins and said fixed fins are circumferentially equally spaced about said support with the inner ends of said hinged fins abutting said support and limiting outward hinged movement of said hinged fins, a seat mounted on the uppermost end of said support and fins in said extended rocker position, means detachably connecting said seat to said support, the underside of said seat carrying clip means, said clip means removably embracing portions of the uppermost edges of said hinged fins to limit relative movement between said seat and said hinged fins, each said fin having opposite symmetrically curved edges adapted for rocking contact with a supporting surface whereby said fins and support may be inverted upon detachment of said seat therefrom.

4. In a rocker device, an upright support, a fin, a second fin, said fins being rigidly fixed to and projecting oppositely from said support in longitudinal alinement, a pair of fins at one side of said rigidly fixed fins, an additional pair of fins at the other side of said rigidly fixed fins, said pairs of fins being hingedly connected to said support for movement to and from a folded storage position in which said hinged fins extend alongside said fixed fins from and to an extended rocker position in which said hinged fins extend outwardly from said support and said hinged fins and said fixed fins are circumferentially equally spaced about said support with the inner ends of said hinged fins abutting said support and limiting outward hinged movement of said hinged fins, a seat mounted on the uppermost end of said support and fins in said extended rocker position, means detachably connecting said seat to said support, the underside of said seat carrying clip means, said clip means removably embracing portions of the uppermost edges of said hinged fins to limit relative movement between said seat and said hinged fins, each said fin having opposite curved edges adapted for rocking contact with a supporting surface whereby said fins and support may be inverted upon detachment of said seat therefrom.

5. In a rocker device, an upright support, a fin, a second fin, said fins being rigidly fixed to and projecting oppositely from said support in longitudinal alinement, a pair of fins at one side of said rigidly fixed fins, an

additional pair of fins at the other side of said rigdly fixed fins, said pairs of fins being hingedly connected to said support for movement to and from a folded storage position in which said hinged fins extend alongside said fixed fins from and to an extended rocker position in which said hinged fins extend outwardly from said support and said hinged fins and said fixed fins are circumferentially equally spaced about said support, a seat mounted on the uppermost end of said support and fins in said extended rocker position, means detachably connecting said seat to said support, the underside of said seat carrying clip means, said clip means removably embracing portions of the uppermost edges of said hinged fins to limit relative movement between said seat and said hinged fins, each said fin having opposite curved edges adapted for rocking contact with a supporting surface whereby said fins and support may be inverted upon detachment of said seat therefrom.

6. In a rocker device, an upright support, a fin, a second fin, said fins being rigidly fixed to and projecting oppositely from said support in longitudinal alinement, a pair of fins at one side of said rigidly fixed fins, an aditional pair of fins at the other side of said rigidly fixed fins, said pairs of fins being hingedly connected to said support for movement to and from a folded storage position in which said hinged fins extend alongside said fixed fins from and to an extended rocker position in which said hinged fins extend outwardly from said support and said hinged fins and said fixed fins are circumferentially equally spaced about said support, a seat mounted on the uppermost end of said support and fins in such extended rocker position, means detachably connecting said seat to said support, and means removably embracing portions of the edges of said hinged fins to limit relative movement between said fins, each said fin having opposite curved edges adapted for rocking contact with a supporting surface.

7. In a rocker device, an upright support, a fin, a second fin, said fins being rigidly fixed to and projecting oppositely from said support in longitudinal alinement, a pair of fins at one side of said rigidly fixed fins, an additional pair of fins at the other side of said rigidly fixed fins, said pairs of fins being hingedly connected to said support for movement to and from a folded storage position in which said hinged fins extend alongside said fixed fins from and to an extended rocker position in which said hinged fins extend outwardly from said support and said hinged fins and said fixed fins are circumferentially equally spaced about said support, a seat mounted on the uppermost end of said support and fins in such extended rocker position, means detachably connecting said seat to said support, and means removably embracing portions of the edges of said hinged fins to limit relative movement between said fins.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 226,420 Reiche Apr. 13, 1880 584.529 Starcher June 15, 1897 924,809 Maddox June 15, 1909 1,262,272 Sellner Apr. 9, 1918 1,782,763 Overbeg Nov. 25, 1930 2,434,748 Taylor Jan. 20, 1948

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