US3046030A - Galloping toy horse - Google Patents

Description

July 24, 1962 K. o. BRAUER GALLOPING TOY HORSE Filed July 7, 1961 FIG.5

Z4410. 75mm, 0 79 INVENTOR FIG.2

United States Patent 3,046,030 GALLOPIN G TOY HORSE Karl Otto Brauer, Mountain View, Calif. (424 Middle Turnpike W., Manchester, Conn.) Fiied July 7, 1961, Ser. No. 122,500 2 Claims. (Cl. 280-1177) This invention relates to what I term a galloping toy horse which can, in reality, be a galloping toy device or vehicle, characterized in any desired manner. The invention is more particularly related to such a galloping toy horse which is propelled by the rider thereof, and it is especially related to movable animal toy devices which simulate the natural movement of some animals, such as the gallop of a horse, the jumping of a dog or cat, or the leap of a deer.

The object :of the invention is to provide a galloping toy horse which may be operated by the rider to propel the toy horse in such a way simulating the gallop, the jumping, or the leap of a natural animal. Another object of the invention is to provide a galloping toy horse the front legs and the hind legs of which are equipped with a separate pair of rockers. A further object of the invention is to provide a galloping toy horse the front legs and the body with the hind legs of which are formed as separate units, pivoted together, the front legs having an upper arm extending vertically through an aperture in the body of the toy horse and carrying the saddle or seat. A still further object of the invention is to provide a galloping toy horse the front leg unit of which is swingable to both sides about the vertical axis, for steering purposes. A still further object of the invention is to provide a galloping toy horse as described, wherein parts are detachably assembled in order to make compact packaging possible for economical shipping and storage. Other objects of the invent-ion are to provide a galloping toy horse of simple, practical construction, which will be neat and attractive in appearance, rugged and durable in use, easy to operate, and a device which is Well suited to the requirements of economical manufacture and to safety requirements for the prevention of accidents.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a toy horse made according to my invention, dot-and-dash lines indicating movements of parts.

FIG. 2 is a transverse vertical section on line II-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical section on line 'III-III of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a transverse section on line IV-IV of FIG. 1, showing the pivotal mounting of the front leg unit in the body unit, together with the cardan joint for steering.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section on line V-V of FIG. 1, showing the spring mounting and the spring adjustment parts.

My improved galloping toy horse is formed of three primary detachable units, namely the body unit 10, the front leg unit 11, and the spring unit 12. The body unit comprises a partly hollow body with the head 13 and the pair of hind legs 14 the lower part of which is equipped with or formed as a pair of aft rockers 15. The front leg unit 11 comprises a pair of front legs 16 the lower part of which is equipped with or formed as a pair of front rockers 17, and the upper arm 18 on which the saddle or seat 19 is mounted. The front leg unit 11 is swingable about the pivot pin 20 which is mounted in the 'ice body unit 10. The pivot pin 20 is the horizontal axis of a cardan joint, and it is mounted transverse the vertical steering axis 21. An elongated hole or slot 22 in the front leg unit 11 provides clearance for turning the front legs and the front rockers 17 a short distance to the right or to the left side, about the vertical steering axis 21, for steering purposes. The vertical steering axis 21 is supported in the front leg unit 11 by two flanges 23-, as shown in FIG. 1. Rubber bumpers 24 and 25 are mounted in the aperture of the body unit 11 for limiting the forward and backward movements of the front leg unit 11.

The spring unit 12 comprises a tension spring 26, an adjustment screw 27, an adjustment nut 28, and a bearing 29. The bearing 29 which supports the adjustment nut 28 is mounted in a countersunk hole in the neck of the body unit 10, as shown in FIG. 5. The adjustment nut 28 has a square or hexagonal head 31 and can be tightened or loosened, using a conventional wrench. The lower end of the spring 26 is attached to the upper arm 18 in a slot by means of a cross pin 30 or by similar means.

Two stirrups or foot rests 32 are attached to the body unit 10, one stirrup at each side. A short rein, made from flexible or stiff material, is mounted at the head 13, as shown in FIG. 1.

In operation, the rider sits on the saddle 19, puts his feet on the stirrups 32 and holds the rein 33 with his hands. Both rocker pairs, the front rocker pair 17 and the aft rocker pair 15 are on the ground. The rider begins to rock by moving the Weight of his body forward and backward. When the front rocker pair 17 is raised, and only the aft rocker pair 15 is on the ground, the saddle 19 moves downwards, and the front rocker pair 17 moves forward, caused by the moment of force of the backward movement of the riders body on the saddle 19 and on the arm 18 over the pivot pin 20. At the same time, the spring 26 is expanded. The movement of the front leg unit 11 is limited by the rubber bumpers 24 and 25 in the aperture of the body unit 10. As the rocking movement of the toy horse proceeds, the front rocker pair 17 is on the ground, and the aft rocker pair 15 is raised. tA-t this instant, with the weight of the riders body moved forward causing less moment of force on the arm 18 than during the backward movement, the spring 26 draws the body unit 10 and the front leg unit 11 together, causing the aft rocker pair to move a step forward, the same distance as the front rocker pair has moved before. As the rocking movement further proceeds, the aft rocker pair 15 comes down on the ground after making this step forward, and the front rocker pair goes up again and moves forward. Thus, the operation continues, the toy horse rocking and moving forward, step by step, simulating the gallop or the jumping or the leap of a natural animal.

The steering is accomplished by applying light pressure against that side of the saddle to which the rider wants to turn, using his knee or thigh. The spring 26 pulls the front leg unit always back into the normal straight forward position, after a turn. The initial tension of the spring 26 can be adjusted according to different weights of riders, by tightening or loosening the adjustment nut 28.

By reason of the simplicity and economy of construction, a toy device of the character described can be produced at a nominal cost, thus minimizing the retail price. Notwithstanding its simplicity and economy, the toy device will be strong, durable and relatively light in construction. Furthermore, it will be understood, that, by detachable mounting of the units, the toy device can be conveniently packed, stored and shipped in a condition requiring a minimum space.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction, and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising three detachably coupled units, namely a body unit, a front leg unit, and a spring unit, said body unit comprising a partly hollow body, a characterized head, and a pair of hind legs, said hind legs having a pair of aft rockers at the lower end, means pivotally mounting said front leg unit in the forward part of said body unit, said front leg unit comprising a pair of front legs having a pair of front rockers at the lower end, and an arm at the upper end extending through an aperture in the body in vertical direction, said arm extending above the upper surface of the body and carrying a saddle for supporting a rider, said spring unit for normally maintaining said saddle in raised position and for normally maintaining said front leg pair in aft position, said spring uni-t comprising an extension spring and a tension adjustment device at the upper end, said adjustment device mounted in an opening in said head of the body, the lower end of said spring attached to said arm of the front leg unit by a cross pin, a pair of stirrups for feet support attached to said body at both sides below the saddle, and a rein or a handle attached to said head.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the pivoted coupling of the front leg unit the body unit comprises a cardan joint, having a detachable pin in nearly vertical direction mounted in the front leg unit, said pin supported by two flanges mounted on the upper and lower surface of said arm of the front leg unit, and a horizontal pivot pin through said vertical pin across the front leg unit and the body unit, said body having a wide enough aperture to both sides to permit the front leg unit to swing about the vertical axis pin for steering purposes, said front leg unit having an elongated hole in nearly horizontal position to both sides of the horizontal pivot pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Images