US3019550A

US3019550A - Racing horse toy

Info

Publication number: US3019550A
Application number: US833317A
Authority: US
Inventors: Otto W Berberich
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-08-12
Filing date: 1959-08-12
Publication date: 1962-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 1979-02-06

Description

Feb. 6, 1962 o. w. BERBERICH 3,019,559

RACING HORSE TOY Filed Aug. 12, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 0570 WBer$e7-icZa BY Q ATTORNEYS Feb. 6, 1962 o. w. BERBERICH RACING HORSE TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 12, 1959 INVENTOR 6 0270 WZererz'ck ATTORNEYS United titres 3,019,550 RAtIING HORSE TQY Otto W. Berherich, Rte. 1, Sandy Lane, Richmond, Va. Filed Aug. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 833,317 3 Claims. (Cl. 46-107) This invention aims to provide a simple and inexpensive wheeled toy embodying race horse simulations (or other animal simulations) mounted in a novel manner and so actuated as to represent a race.

A further object is to mount the front ends of the simulations on cranks of a front rotatable axle and the rear ends of said simulations on cranks of a rear rotatable axle; whereby, the simulations will be stably supported and, upon simultaneous rotation of the two axles, said simulations will well represent galloping animals.

A further object is to so offset some of the cranks of each axle as to cause relative movements of the simulations, for more realistic representation.

Another object is to provide for movement of the simulations, by momentum, beyond the throw of the cranks, for still more realistic representation.

Yet another object is to provide a novel wheeled base having longitudinal slots in which the simulations are operable.

A still further object is to provide a toy which may inexpensively and expeditiously be 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 side elevation;

FIGURE 2 is a top view, partly broken away;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal section on lines 3-3 of FIGURES 2 and 4; and

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view.

The construction shown in the drawings will be rather specifically described, but attention is invited to the possibility of making variations.

A front axle 5 and a rear axle 5a are provided, said axles having wheels 6 and 6a, respectively, secured to their ends. The front axle 5 has four cranks 7 spaced apart longitudinally thereof; and the rear axle 5a has four cranks 7a spaced in the same manner and of the same length as the cranks 7. Two of the front cranks 7 are offset 90 from the other two of the front cranks; and two of the rear cranks 7a are ofiset in the same manner from the other two of the rear cranks.

A base 8 overlies the axles 5 and 5a and has bearing blocks 9 by means of which it is mounted on said axles. This base 8 comprises a four-sided frame 10, and longitudinal bars 11 secured by nails or the like 12 upon the front and rear members of said frame. The bars 11 are laterally spaced apart to provide slots 13 between them.

Cut-out horse simulations 14 are movable in the slots 13 and have elongated base portions 14a. The front ends of these base portions 14a are mounted on the front cranks 7; and the rear ends of said base portions are mounted on the rear cranks 7a.

The base portions 14a have short longitudinal slots 15 and 15a loosely engaged with the cranks 7 and 7a, respectively. Each slot 15 or 1511 preferably comprises a notch in the base portion 14a, and a metal strip 16 is secured across the open side of said notch.

3,01%,559 Patented Feb. 6, 1962 Pull cords 17 are secured to the front end of the base 8 and preferably extend to a ring (not shown).

Operation When the toy is pulled, the Wheels 6 and 6a drive the axles 5 and 5a, and the cranks 7 and 7a cause: such movements of the simulations 14 as to give the appearance of galloping horses. The offset relation of the cranks causes relative movements of the simulations M, for better representation of a race than if said simulations moved only neck-to-neck. Then, too, for still better representation, the slots 15 and 15a allow movement of the simulations 14, by momentum, beyond the throw of the cranks. The slots 15 and 15a also allow for crude tolerances which are inevitable in rapid toy manufacture and prevent any jamming of elements.

The toy may be rapidly and inexpensively manufactured from Wood, wire, short sheet metal strips, and common nails, 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 animals other than horses.

I claim:

1. A toy comprising a frame, a front rotatable axle, a rear rotatable axle, both of said axles having cranks spaced apart longitudinally thereof, wheels supporting said axles and operative to drive the same, each of said cranks on said rear axle being in alignment longitudinally of the frame with a corresponding crank on the said front axle to form a plurality of aligned pairs of cranks, each of said pairs of cranks having an animal simulation pivotally connected thereto, said animal simulation being rigid and bridging said pair of cranks, whereby when said axles are rotated, said simulations will represent animals racing, each of said pivotal connections comprising a longitudinal slot loosely engaging said cranks, said slots permitting movement of said simulations by momentum beyond the throw of said cranks.

2. A toy comprising a frame, a front rotatable axle, a rear rotatable axle, both of said axles having cranks spaced apart longitudinally thereof, Wheels supporting said axles and operative to drive the same, each of said cranks on said rear axle being in alignment longitudinally of the frame with a corresponding crank on the said front axle to form a plurality of aligned pairs of cranks, each of said pairs of cranks having an animal simulation pivotally connected thereto, said animal simulation being rigid and bridging said pair of cranks, each of said pair of cranks being angularly offset relative to said other pairs, said simulations having the appearance of animals racing with the lead cyclically changing, each of said pivotal connections comprising a longitudinal slot loosely engaging said cranks, said slots permitting movement of said simulations by momentum beyond the throw of said cranks.

3. A toy as set forth in claim 1, each of said slots comprising a notch and a strip secured across the open side of said notch.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 666,527 Kingsbury Jan. 22, 1901 1,603,038 Ferguson Oct. 12, 1926 2,772,513 Hagen Dec. 4, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 208,064 Great Britain Dec. 13, 1923