US3050901A

US3050901A - Toy lariat

Info

Publication number: US3050901A
Application number: US3544A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul H Maffet
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-01-20
Filing date: 1960-01-20
Publication date: 1962-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1979-08-28

Description

Aug. 28, 1962 P. H. MAFFET 3,050,901

TOYLARIAT Filed Jan. 20, 1960 Paul H. Maffef 1N VEN TOR.

United States Patent Ofitice 3,050,991 Patented Aug. 28., 1962 3, %,9d1 TBY LAREA'I Paul H. Matfet, Woodiand Park, Colo. Filed Jan. 20, 1969, Ser. No. 3,544 6 Claims. (CI. 46-51) The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a toy lariat and has reference in particular to a handle of structurally distinct form. 1

Toy lariats are, of course, popularly sold at all toy and department stores, particularly those where cowboy suits and similar paraphernalia and equipment are generally handled. However, a well known market for the sale of lariats and lassos is recognized wherever western rodeos are playing. The demand is for a lariat embodying a rope or the like which providesa good expansible and contractible noose or loop. In addition, the end of the rope opposite to that in which the usual slip-knot is provided must be readily connectible with handle means. Then, too, the connection between the rope and handle means should be such that relative movement in the nature of a simple swivel is present.

It follows that an object of the instant invention is to provide an improved handle. Experimentation and practice has shown that the type of handle which is usefully, economically and otherwise advisable and desirable is one which provides for quick connection. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel handle. The embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is a preferred one in that the handle is constructed from bendable but amply rigid sheet material, for example, a simple strip of aluminum or suitable plastic material.

In carrying out the principles of the invention the handle comprises a strip of aluminum of requisite length and width which is bent between its ends to provide a'substantially U-shaped portion. The U-shaped portion provides a pair of elongated opposed limbs and intervening bight portion. The bight portion has a suitable hole therein which makes it possible to thread the end of the rope therethrough and to shorten the length of the rope depending on the size of the child user and to then tie a simple knot therein to provide a separable swivel connection. With this construction the effective length of the rope can be readily adjusted on the spot by the seller and the knot tied and given to the youngster to suit his particular needs.

The handle also has its limbs in opposed relation and bent into slight channel-shaped cross-sectional form for rigidity. Then too, the limbs, downwardly from the upper free ends of the limbs, the portions providing the hand-grips, are struck-out and formed with tongues and the tongues bent laterally into overlapping relationship and provide satisfactory stops or stop-lugs which limit the movement of the limbs or handles toward each other and insure suflicient rigidity in the handle portions that firm squeezing will not distort or disalign the handles.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a toy lariat constructed in accordance With the invention and showing how it is constructed and used;

FIG. 2 is a larger. view of the handle with portions broken away and shown in section; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view on a small scale of the aluminum strip or equivalent strap metal or sheet material from which the handle is made and which promotes acceptable mass production needs. I

Referring to the drawing, particularly to FIG. 1, the

numerfl 4 designates the rope which may be of appropriate material usable in toy lariats. Because this overall lariat can be turned out inexpensively, a good quality rope which slides and enables the performer to do tricks so-called, may be reasonably high quality. In any event, one end of the rope is provided with a slip-knot as at 6 and the adjacent portion 8 is threaded therethrough to define and expansible and contractible noose or loop 10. The other end portion 12 of the rope'is connected to the handle means referred to generally by the numeral 14. This handle means comprises an elongated U-shaped member having a bight portion 16 and opposed spaced elongated limb portions 18, the median parts of which are channel-shaped in cross-section as at 20 for rigidity and also to provide convenient finger-grips as illustrated in FIG. 1. In other words, by turning in the opposite lengthwise edges of the limbs and having the convex sides of the channels facing outwardly, satisfactory grips are provided. The free end portions 22 have tongues 24 struck out therefrom and these tongues are bent laterally inwardly and in overlapping relationship and provide stop lugs. In other words, the free ends of the lugs engage the opposite limbs to prevent the otherwise too-flexible handle portions of grips from being squeezed so close together that the limbs might become disaligned and otherwise distorted. Also, this arrange- IIlfiIIlZ prevents the youthful users fingers from getting trapped and squeezed between the limbs when they are pressed together in carrying out vigorous spinning and other tricky maneuvers with the rope. The bight portion has a hole 26 therein and it is through his hole that the free end portion 12 of the rope is passed and then tied in to a retaining knot' 28. This knot may be tied in such a way that the length of the rope can be adjusted. The fact that the knotted end of the rope is in a fairly open space between the limbs or portions 18 makes it possible to get at the rope and-make the adjustments as desired. Also, with this construction one can use an extra rope inasmuch as the novel handle is detachably connected with the rope.

It will be seen that the invention is such that it serves the purposes for which it is intended and is destined to appeal to the economical production needs of makers, low price sales charges of retailers, and will meet the expected needs of purchasers and users.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed-as new is as follows:

1. A toy-type lariat comprising, in combination, a length of rope having a slip-knot at one end with a portion of the rope slidingly cooperable and providing an adjustable noose, and a handle, said handle having a U-shaped portion including a bight portion and relatively long limbs, said limbs opposed to each other and conjointly providing a handling grip, said bight portion having a hole, and an end of the rope passing through said hole and being knotted in a manner to swivelly and separably connect the handle and rope, said handle being formed from a bendable and formable piece of strip material, and said limbs having lateral inwardly projecting overlapping stop lugs, the tip of one lug abutting one limb and the tip of the other lug abutting the other limb and thus preventing the free ends of the limbs from being squeezed and pressed too closely together.

2. A toy-type lariat comprising, in combination, a length of rope having a slip-knot at one end with a portion of the rope slidingly cooperable and providing an adjiisb.

able noose, and. a handle, said handle having aqU-shaped portion including a bight portion and relatively long limbs, said limbs opposed to each other and conjointly providing a handling grip, said bight portion having a hole, and an end of the rope passingrthi'ough said hole and being tied into a knot resting upon the bight portion and swivelly, separably and adjustably connecting the handle and rope, said handle being fashioned. from a single flat strip of bendable aluminum of requisite gauge and cross-section and Width, said limbs converging toward each other at their free ends and the portions adjacent the free ends having cooperating stop lugs to limit the movement of the limbstoward each other.

'3. I For use in conjunction with a length of rope having a slip-knot at one end portion with an adjacent portion ofthe rope proper slidingly cooperable with the slip-knot and defining an adjustable noose'and a hand-tied knot at 'theother end; the improvement comprising a readily attachable and detachablehandle' U-shaped in edge elevationand embodying a bight portion and a pair of opposed relatively long limb-s lateral to the ends of the bight portion, said limbs opposed to each other and conjointly defining a'grip, said'bight portion having a hole of predetermined diameter so that a portion of the ropemay be passed through 'the hole and the knotted end of the rope allowed to abut the bight portion so as to provide a separable and swivel connection between the rope and bight portion, the length of the bight portion being such that the limbs at the ends of the bight portion are adapted to be spaced on diametrically opposite sides of the knot formed in the portion of the rope that may be passed through the hole, said limbs having free end portions and said free end portions having tongues projecting therefrom, said tongues extending lat- 'erally and inwardlyitoward the respectivelhnbs and slidingly overlapping each other and constituting stop lugs,

"the free ends of the lugs being engageable with the opposite limbs to rigidifythe limbs and yet to allow suflicient freedom of action of the limbs in response to handling of the same by a user.

4. The combination of a length of rope having a'slipknot at one end portion with an adjacent portion of the defining an adjustablenoose and a hand-tied knot at the other end, a readily attachable and detachable handle- U-shaped in edge elevation and embodying a bight portion and a pair of opposed relatively long limbs lateral to the ends of the bight portion, said limbs opposed to each other and conjointly defining a grip, said bight portion 7 having a hole of predetermined diameter slightly greater than the cross-section of the rope so that a portion of the rope may be passed through the hole and the knotted end of the rope allowed'to abut the bight portion and in this manner provide a separable and swivel connection betwen the rope and bight portion, the length of the bight portion being appreciably greater than the largest diameter of the.

knot so that the limbs at the ends of the bight portion are spaced on diametrically opposite sides of the knot, :said limbs having free end portions and'said free end portions having tongues projecting therefrom, said-tongues extend-' ing laterally and inwardly toward the respective limbs and slidingly overlapping each other and constituting 'stop' 1 lugs, the free ends of the lugs being engageable with the opposite limbs to rigidify the limbs and yet to allow sufli cient freedom; of action of the limbs in response to han dling of the same by a user. i

5. The combination defined'in claim 4 whereinsaid free I end portions each have their outer surfaces. curved, and

their opposite end portions substantially flat, the curved surface of each free end portion being connected to'the flat portion of each limb by an abutment directed to an opposing limb, said abutment functioning as a finger rest.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said handle is composedof sheetmetal and said free end portions are channel shaped in cross-section for increasing the rigidity thereof. a r V I a References Cited in the file of this patent i UNITED STATES PATENTS Sweetman Apr. 11, 1950