US2978832A

US2978832A - Swimming duck toy

Info

Publication number: US2978832A
Application number: US833319A
Authority: US
Inventors: Otto W Berberich
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-08-12
Filing date: 1959-08-12
Publication date: 1961-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 1978-04-11

Description

April 11, 1961 o. w. BERBERICH 2,978,832

SWIMMING DUCK TOY Filed Aug. 12. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS April 1961 o. w. BERBERICH 2,978,832

SWIMMING DUCK TOY Filed Aug. 12, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR QZZOWE TZ'ET'Z'C A BY (R ATTORNEYS United States Patent"() SWIMMING DUCK TOY Otto W. Berberich, Rte. 1, Sandy Lane, Richmond, Va.

Filed Aug. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 833,319

7 Claims. (Cl. 46-107) This invention aims to provide a simple and inexpensive wheeled toy embodying duck simulations (or other simulations) mounted on a platform and having oscillatory movements about vertical axes when the toy is pulled. When the simulations represent ducks or the like, they will thus give the appearance ofswimming.

Another object is to provide the toy with one simulation of an adult duck or the like and with a plurality of ducklings or the like, thereby well representing a mother and her brood, all swimming.

A further object is to provide in a simple and inexpensive manner for oscillating two longitudinal rows of the ducklings or other simulations.

A still further object is to provide, simple, inexpensive and novel means for oscillating the simulation of the adult duck or the like.

Yet another object is to provide a novel construction which may be expeditiously manufactured and will allow no jamming of elements regardless of the rough tolerances inevitable in rapid toy manufacture.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be presently apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly claimed.

In the drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and

Figure 1 is a top View of the toy;

Figure 2 is a side view;

Figure 3 is a bottom View;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section on lines 4-4 of Figures 1 and 3; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary disassembled perspective view showing elements of the simulation actuating means.

The construction shown in the drawings will be rather specifically described, but it is to be understood that variations may be made.

A rectangular platform 6 is provided at its lower side with front bearings 7 and rear bearings 8. A front axle 9 is rotatable in the bearings 7 and has wheels 10 secured to its ends. A rear axle 11 is rotatable in the bearings 8 and has wheels 12 secured to its ends. This rear axle has a crank 13 centrally between its ends.

Two rows 14 and 14a of duckling simulations are disposed over the platform 6, said rows extending longitudinally of said platform at opposite sides of its longitudinal center. The simulations of the row 14 are denoted at 15, and those of the row 14a are denoted at 15a.

The simulations 15 of the row 14 are secured to the upper ends of vertical shafts 16 which extend through openings in the platform 6. The lower ends of these shafts 16 have crank arms 17 which are provided with downwardly projecting crank pins 18. These crank pins 18 pass through openings in a first longitudinal link 19 and have nuts and lock nuts 20 threaded on their lower ends.

The simulations 15a of the row 14a are secured to the upper ends of vertical shafts 16a which extend through openings in the platform 6. The lower ends of these shafts 16a have crank arms 17a which are provided with downwardly projecting crank pins 18a. These crank pins 18a pass through openings in a second longitudinal This cross link 21 underlies the links 19 and 19a and has slots 22 through which the foremost of the crank pins 18 and 18a extend. The slots 22 permit the necessary movements of the links 19 and 19a toward and from each other as these links are longitudinally moved to swing the crank arms 17 and 17a, by the means hereinafter described.

A longitudinal pitman 23 is disposed centrally between the links 19 and 19a. The front end of the pitman 23 has ears 24 which straddle the central portion of the cross link 21 and are pivoted thereto by a bolt 25. The rear end of the pitrnan 23 has a longitudinal slot 26 engaged with the axle crank 13. The slot 26 is formed by notching the pitman 23 and securing a metal strap 27 to said pitman across the open side of the notch. The said slot 26 and the slot 22 allow smooth operation of elements, without jamming, regardless of the rough tolerances which are inevitable in rapid toy manufacture.

An adult duck simulation 28 is disposed between the front ends of the rows 14 and 14a of duckling simulations 15 and 15a. The simulation 28 is secured to a vertical shaft 29 which extends through an opening in the platform 6. The lower end of the shaft 29 has a crank arm 30 which is pivoted at 31 to the front end of a link 32. The rear end of this link 32 is pivoted on the foremost of the crank pins 18 and is thus pivotally connected to the longitudinal link 19 and cross link 21. A spacer 33 is preferably disposed between this cross link 21 and the link 19.

Pull cords 34 are connected to the platform 6 and may extend to a ring (not shown).

Operation As the toy is pulled, the axle crank 13 reciprocates the pitman 23, causing the cross link 21 to reciprocate the longitudinal links 19 and 19a, which actuate the crank arms 17 and 17a and oscillate the duckling simulations 15 and 15a. At the same time, the link 32 actuates the crank arm 30 to oscillate the adult duck simulation 23. Thus, the appearance of a mother duck swimming with her brood of ducklings is well represented.

The toy may be rapidly and inexpensively manufactured from wood, wire, short sheet metal strips, and conventional nuts, bolts, screws, etc. It may therefore be profitably marketed at a reasonable price.

Attention is again invited to the possibility of making variations, and particular attention is invited to the possibility of having the simulations represent creatures other than ducks.

I claim:

1. A toy comprising a platform, wheeled supporting means upon which said platform is mounted, said wheeled supporting means including a wheel driven axle having a crank, two longitudinal rows of simulations over said platform, individual vertical shafts secured to said simulations respectively and extending downwardly through said platform, the lower ends of said vertical shafts having crank arms respectively, the crank arms allotted to each of said rows of simulations extending toward those allotted to the other of said rows, a first longitudinal link pivotally connected to the crank arms allotted to one of said rows, a second longitudinal link pivotally connected to the crank arms allotted to said other of said rows, a cross link extending between and having connections with said first and second links, said connections being constructed to allow movement of said first, and secondlinks toward and from each other, and a longitudinal pitman between said first and second links and pivoted atone end to said cross link, the other end of said pitman being engaged with said crank of said axle; whereby rotation of said axle will causeoscillation of said simu lations.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, in which said connections comprise slots in said cross link and pivots extending through said slots from said first and second l nk 3. A structure as specified in claim 1, in which said pitman has a longitudinal slot loosely engaged withsaid crank of said axle.

'4. A structure as specified in claim 1; together with an additional simulation at the front end of said rows, an additional vertical shaft secured to said additional simulation and extending downwardly through said platform, the lower end of said additional shaft having a crank arm, and a link connecting said crank arm with one of said movable links below said wheeled supporting means to cause oscillation of said additional simulation.

5. A structure as specified in claim 1; together with an additional simulation at the front end of said rows, an additional vertical shaft secured to said additional simulation and extending downwardly through said platform, the lower end of said additional shaft having a crank arm, and a link connecting said crank arm with one of the said crank arms of said structure to cause oscillation of said additional simulation.

6. A toy eomprising a platform, wheeled supporting means upon which said platform is mounted, said wheeled supporting means including a wheel driven axle having a crank, at least two longitudinal rows of simulations over said platform, individual vertical shafts secured to said simulations, respectively, and extending downwardly through said platform, the lower ends of said vertical shafts having crank arms, respectively, a first longitudinal link pivotally connected to the crank arms allotted to one of said rows, a second longitudinal link pivotally-connected to the crank arms allotted to the other of said mws, a cross-link extending between and having connections with said first and second links, and a longitudinal pitman between said first and second links and pivoted at one end to said cross-link, the other end of said pitman being engaged with said crank of said vehicle; whereby rotation of said axle will cause oscillation of said simulations. a c

7. A structure as'set forth in claim 6, together with an additional simulation at the front end of said rows, an additional vertical shaft secured to said additional simulation and extendingidownwardly through said platform, the lower end of said additional shaft having a crank arm, and a link connecting said crank arm with one of said movable links below said wheeled supporting means to cause. oscillation of said additional simulation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS