US3051481A

US3051481A - Child's teeter

Info

Publication number: US3051481A
Application number: US107360A
Authority: US
Inventors: Johnson Fred
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-05-03
Filing date: 1961-05-03
Publication date: 1962-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1979-08-28

Description

F. JOHNSON CHILD S TEETER Aug. 28, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 3. 1961 m, N o .A nm nl lv w1 1, n J Wn L d LH W .wm l. o 4/ f//wV/ Ml W f QQ w Allg' 28, 1962 F. .JOHNSON 3,051,481

cmLn's TEETER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1961 I n JY@ Fred Joh/1.5% VENTOR.

United States Patent tiice Pague, Aw, ,8, 62

3,051,481 CHILDS TEETER Fred Johnson, 1925 N. Water St., Decatur, Ill. Filed May 3, 1961, Ser. No. 107,360 6 Claims. (Cl. 272-54) This invention relates to a teetering device for amusement and exercising purposes and in particular to teetering devices for children.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a teetering device for children which will accommodate occupants of unequal weight within a predetermined weight differential enabling the heavier occupant to readily apply all of the necessary displacing force in order to rock the teeter or rocking -beam mem-ber.

Another object of this invention is to provide a teetering device which is particularly adapted for children inasmuch as it is not physically tiring for operation thereof to any great extent and is operative with reduced relative movement of the actuating linkage so as to provide a safely operating teetering device.

A further object of this invention is to provide a teetering device requiring no adjustment for accommodating occupants of unequal weight and which is so constructed as to be relatively harmless and less costly to manufacture.

n 1In accordance with the foregoing objects, the teetering device of the present invention includes a support providing a fixed fulcrum about which a rocking beam or teetering member is pivoted. Seats are accordingly lixed to the opposite ends of the 'rocking beam for receiving the occupants. Located in front of the seats are handle members pivoted to the rocking beam within easy grasp of the occupants. A vertical lever is pivotally mounted by the support above the fulcrum for the rocking beam with the lower end of said lever being in spaced close relation above the fulcrum and link connected to the. rocking beam at spaced points on either side of the rocking beam fulcrum. The upper end of the lever is link connected to the pivoted handles on opposite sides of the rocking beam. Accordingly, pivotal displacement of the rocking beam will cause or may be caused by pivotal displacement of the handle members relative to the rocking beam which in turn will cause pivotal displacement of the lever so that the lower end thereof will be displaced in one direction or the other with respect to the rocking beam which can only be accommodated by pivotal displacement of the rocking beam relative to its fulcrum. The rocking beam displacing mechanism is therefore disposed entirely above the rocking beam and between the handle members providing an' arrangement which is safer for children by virtue of its locational disposition and the reduced amount vof relative movement necessary to effect or accommodate pivotal movement of the rocking beam. Also, the arrangement lends itself ideally for less -costly manufacture of the teetering device. lThese together with other objects and advantages which will Ibecome subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a top plan View of the teetering device in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the teetering device illustrated in FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken through a plane indicated by section line 3 3 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken through a plane indicated by section line 4 4 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view taken through a plane indicated by section line 5 5 in -FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional View taken through a plane indicated by section line 6 6 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken through a plane indicated by section line 7 7 in FIG. 2.

FIGURE 8 is a partial side elevational view of the teetering device shown in a pivotally displaced position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed that the teetering device which is generally referred to by reference numeral 10 is constructed primarily of tubular frame members where substantially elongated members are required. The teetering device consists primarily of a support assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 12 which pivotally mounts about a fixed axis in spaced relation above the ground, a rocking beam or teetering assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 14. A rocking beam displacing mechanism generally referred to by reference numeral 16 is operatively connected to the support assembly and rocking beam 14 and as indicated in FIGURE 2 is locationally disposed above the rocking beam assembly 14.

As more clearly seen in FIGURES l and 2, the support assembly 12 includes a pair of triangular shaped tubular frame members =18 and 20 which are spaced from each other at the

base portions

22 and 24 by means of a pair of parallel connecting

base members

26 and 28. The apex portions of the

triangular members

18 and 20 are spaced closer t-o each other than the base portionsv22 and 24 thereof and support therebetween a'tubular shaft member 30 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 4 which constitutes the fulcrum for the rocking beam assembly 14. The shaft 30 is connected to the

triangular support members

18 and 20 through a pair of

sleeve members

32 and 34 which are bolted by bolt members 36 to the shaft 30. The sleeve members I32 and 34 are connected as by welding to a pair of upstanding arm members 38 and 40 respectively connected to the apex portion of the

triangular base members

18 and 20. Centrally disposed on the shaft member 30 and rigidly connected thereto as by welding are a pair of spaced arms 42 and 44 which project upwardly in a vertical direction and are rigid with the support assembly 12 so as to provide a second lixed fulcrum or pivot axis through the bolt member '46 which extends between the upper ends of the arms 42 and 44.

The rocking beam assembly 14 is formed by a pair of

tubular sections

48 and 50 which are rigidly interconnected by means of a pair of pivot bracket members S2 and 54 secured to the

tubular sections

48 and 50 by bolt members 56 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 3. The

bracket members

52 and 54 are respectively provided with spaced sleeve members 5'8 and 60 for the purpose of pivotally mounting the rocking beam assembly 14 about the fulcrum shaft 30' rigidly supported by the supporting assembly 12. Sleeve bearings 62 are therefore provided between the

sleeve portions

58 and 60 connected'to the

bracket members

52 and 54 and the shaft 30. Pivotal displacement of the rocking beam assembly 14 is thereby accommodated. The opposite outer ends of the rocking beam assembly 14 therefore also has mounted thereon seats 64 and 66.

The mechanism 16 is mounted above the rocking beam assembly 14 and is safely operative under the control of the occupants on the seats 64 and 66 to pivotally displace the rocking beam. assembly relative to its fixed fulcrum shaft 30 on the support assembly 12. Accordingly, the bolt member 46 which is mounted between the arms 42 and 44 in vertically spaced relation above the fulcrum shaft 30 rotatably receives a sleeve member 68 to which the lever member 70 is connected as more clearly seen in FIGURE 4. It will be observed that the portion 72 of the lever member 70 extends above the bolt member 46 a greater distance than the lower portion 74. Connected to the lower end of the lever member 70 by means of bolt 76 are pairs of connecting

link members

78 and 80 which extend from the lower end of the lever member 70 in opposite directions by equal amounts for pivotal connection to upstanding projections 82 and 84 lixed to the

tubular sections

48 and 50 respectively of the rocking beam assembly 14. It will be apparent therefore, that when the lever member 70 is pivotally displaced about the pivot bolt member 46 the lower end thereof which is connected to both the connecting

link members

78 and 80 will be shifted in one direction or the other with respect to the rocking beam 14 so as to cause the rocking beam to be pivotally displaced as more clearly seen in FIGURE 8.

Pivotal displacement of the lever member 70 is elfected by providing a pair of

handle members

86 and 88 adjacent to the seats 64 and 66. The handle members as more clearly seen in FIGURE 7, are constructed from a pair of rod members 90 and 92 which are welded to each other along an upper portion thereof with the lower portions thereof straddling the rocking beam assembly and pivotally connected thereto by means of bolt members 94. The upper ends of the rod members 90 and 92 form handlebars 96 while the lower ends of the rod members form footrest portions 98. Projecting members 100 and 102 are connected to the welded portions of the rod members 90' and 92 by means of which the

handle members

86 and 88 are pivotally connected to connecting rod members 104 and 106 respectively. The other endsof the connecting rod members 104 and 106 are pivotally connected by the bolt member 108 to the upper end of the lever member 70. Accordingly, pivotal displacement of the handle members 186 and 88 in the same direction with respect to the rocking -beam assembly 14 to which they are pivotally connected, will cause pivotal displacement of the lever member 70 with respect to the fixed pivot bolt 46 in order to pivotally displace the lower end of the lever member as hereinbefore indicated.

From the foregoing description, operation and utility of the teetering device of the present invention will be apparent. It will therefore be appreciated, that the occupants of the seats may impart a displacing force to the rocking beam assembly 14 by pivotal displacement of the

handle members

86 and 88 which will apply the displacing force to the lower end of the lever member 70y at a mechanical advantage in view of the greater length of the upper por-tion 72 of `the lever member than the lower portion 74. The displacing force applied to the lower end of the lever member 70 will however apply a reduced turning moment to the rocking beam assembly 14 in view of the close spacing to the fulcrum shaft 30. Accordingly, the pivotally displacing force may be so arranged with respect to the Weight differential between the occupants of the seats `64 and 66 as to restrict use of the teetering device of the present invention to two children within a predetermined age range. It will furthermore be appreciated, that the arrangement of the mechanism 16 is such that there will be a small amount of relative movement between the link elements thereof as compared to the pivotal displacement of the rocking beam assembly 14 effected. The mechanism for displacing the rocking beam will therefore be operated in a relatively safe manner reducing the tendency of children to be injured thereby and is further rendered safer by virtue of its disposi- 4 tion above the rocking beam assembly between the

handles

86 and 88 thereof.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modiications 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:

l. A teetering device comprising, a support, a teeter member centrally pivo-ted about a first fulcrum xedly mounted by the support in spaced relation above the ground, a second fulcrum fixedly mounted on the support in vertical spaced relation above the rst fulcrum, lever means pivotally mounted on the second fulcrum and disposed entirely above the teeter member, handle means pivotally mounted on the teeter member adjacent opposite ends thereof and operatively connected to an upper end of the lever means, and connecting means operatively connecting a lower end of the lever means to spaced points on the teeter member for pivotal displacement of the teeter member about the iirst 4fulcrum only in response to a displacing force applied through the handle means to the upper end of the lever means in excess of an amount proportional to a predetermined load differential at the opposite ends of the teeter member.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the upper end of the lever means is spaced a larger distance from the second fulcrum than the lower end and the lower end is disposed in close spaced relation above the rst fulcrum.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said connecting means include a pair of equal length connecting rods pivotally connected to the lower end of the lever means andV extending in opposite directions` therefrom for spaced pivotal connection to the teeter member between the handle means to apply a reduced pivotally displacing moment to the teeter member.

4. The combination of claim 3, including a pair 0f link members pivotally connected between the handle means and the upper end of the lever means to transmit the displacing force from the handle means to the lower end of the lever means with a mechanical advantage.

5. The combination of claim l, wherein said connecting means include a pair of equal length connecting rods pivotally connected to the lower end of the lever means and extending in opposite directions therefrom for spaced pivotal connection to the teeter member between the handle means to apply a reduced pivotally displacing moment to the teeter member.

6. The combination of claim l, including a pair of link mem-bers pivotally connected between the handle means and the upper end of the lever means to transmit the displacing force from the handle means to the lower end of the lever means with a mechanical advantage.

References Cited in the file ofk this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,258,578 Kintzel Mar. 5, 1918