US3060634A - Amusement device - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 30, 1962 B. L. FISHER AMUSEMENT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 19, 1959 Fig.

Barney L. Fisher INVENTOR.

Oct. 30, 1962 B, L, I E 3,060,634

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Nov. 19, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 7

Barney L. Fisher 1N VEN TOR.

BY WFW United States Patent Okla.

Filed Nov. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 854,102 Claims. (Cl. 46-267) This invention relates generally to amusement devices or toys and more particularly to a toy which may be rolled along the ground and which will automatically return to the point from which it is initially rolled. A childs toy, in order to have maximum utility, must be entertaining and durable. Various means of course may be utilized to entertain the child and captivate his interest. One of these means is to mystify a child by motion of an object so as to arouse his curiosity. If this means is properly employed, a toy of simple construction may be relied on to hold the child engrossed with the device. In view of this, it is the principal object of this invention to provide an amusement device which may be rolled forwardly on a flat surface and which will return to the initial point of rolling after completion of its forward movement.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an amusement device which is relatively simple in construction and accordingly inexpensive to manufacture. Further, the device is durable and will perform for long periods Without malfunctioning. However, if a malfunctioning does occur, it is extremely simple to repair the device inasmuch as easy access is provided to all of the working parts.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an amusement device which is attractive in appearance, thereby enhancing the entertaining and captivating effect thereof.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become 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 1 is a fragmentary view in section and elevation illustrating a rollable toy constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and which discloses one embodiment of the overall concept.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view in perspective detailing certain of the component parts illustrated in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view showing a modified embodiment of the invention with the component parts assembled and in normal relationship;

FIGURE 4 is a crosssection taken on the section line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a view in perspective of another modified embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the plane of the line 6--6 of FIGURE 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

' 'FIGURE 7' is a view in section and elevation taken on the plane of the section line 77 of FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a detail view with parts in elevation illustrating the manner in which the elastic bands are twisted around each other when tensioned.

Briefly and generally described the invention has to do with a rollable hollow housing having openable and closable ends normally closed by attachable and detachable end walls, a plurality of hooks supported, in one manner or another, in the hollow portion of the housing, individual elastic bands confined for simultaneous winding and un- "ice winding in the area of the hollow portions, certain end portions of the bands being detachably joined to their respective hooks, and a weight, said weight having an arm and said arm being supported in said hollow portion and operatively cooperable with the elastic bands rolled along a floor or a similar supporting and rolling for twisting and tensioning the same when the housing is surface.

With initial reference to the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIGS. 58, the numeral 10 generally represents the amusement device comprising this invention and including a cylindrical housing ill 2. formed of metal, plastic, or any desirable material. The exterior surface of the housing 12 is preferably attractively colored and has indicia I i thereon. Received on either end of the cylindrical housing 12 are circular rubber guards 16 and 18 which act as bumpers to prevent the amusement device 10 from damaging articles, as furniture. On each end of the cylindrical housing 12 is received a removable flat end wall 20 and 22. Cooperative mating endless annular flanges as at 24 and 26 are provided respectively on the end walls and ends of the housing for retaining said end Walls removably secured to the housing 12. The end surfaces or walls 20 and 22 are also preferably colored and preferably have indicia 30 on the exterior surface thereof so as to increase the attractiveness of the device.

On the inner surface of each of the end surfaces or walls 20 and 22 are secured pairs of hooks as 3 2, 34 and 36, 38, a weight 40 is provided and has an arm 42 rigidly secured thereto. The arm 42 has apertures 44 and 46 which pass resilient bands 48 and 50 therethrough. The resilient band 48 is secured between hooks 32 and 36 while the resilient band 50 is secured between hooks 34- and 38.

In use, when the device 10 is placed on a flat surface, the housing 12 may be pushed forwardly so that the housing rolls on the rubber bumpers 16 and 13. The weight 40 will tend to remain in the hanging position illustrated in FIGURES 6 through 8 and accordingly the band 48 and 50 will become spiralled or twisted as indicated in FIGURE 8. The bands 48 and '50 are flexible and resilient, as of rubber. Accordingly, whenthey are spiralled or twisted as in FIGURE 8, they will have a tendency to untwist and accordingly revert to the parallel disposed position illustrated in FIGURE 7. In untwisting, the resilient bands cause an opposite reaction on the housing 12 so that the housing will roll in a reverse direction so as to return to the point from which it is initially rolled. .It will therefore be appreciated that the energy originally provided by manually rolling the device forwardly is stored in the resiliency of the bands 48 and 50, which release the energy upon a cessation of the forward movement of the device. The released energy reverses the amusement device so as to return it to its point of origin.

Attention is now directed to the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein narrow slits 60 and 62 are provided in the flat disk-like end surfaces or walls 64 and 66. Flat triangular head members 68 and 70 are secured to the ends of an axle or shaft 72 and are received or keyed in the slots 60 and 6 2. Accordingly, the shaft 72 is prevented from turning when the amusement device is rolled. Perpendicularly secured to the shaft 721 is a rod 74 having hooked end portions 76 and 78. Further, the shaft 72 is flanged as a it A weight 82 has an arm 84 secured thereto with the arm 84 defining a circular opening 86 therein passing shaft 72. Resilient bands 88 and 90 are secured between the hooked end portions 76 and 78 and the arm 84. When an amusement device utilizing this internal construction is rolled, the weight 82 will tend to remain at its lowermost position and the bands 88 and 90 will become spiralled or twisted as the housing turns. Accordingly, when the forward motion of the amusement device is halted, the spiralled band will release the energy stored therein to return the amusement device to its point of origin.

The remaining embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 wherein housing 112 is illustrated having disk-like removable fiat end surfaces or walls .120 and 122. Projections 124 and 1-26 extend inwardly of the housing 112 on the interior sides of the end surfaces or walls 120 and 122. The projections 124 and 126 act as bearings for shaft 130. Hooks 1 32 and 134 are secured to the shaft while complemental hooks 136 and 1-38 are secured to the circumferential portion of the housing 112. Bands 140 and 142 extend between the hooks 132, 136 and the hooks 134, 138. The weight 150 has an arm 152 secured thereto with the arm '152 passing shaft 130. A collar 154 is also connected to the arm 152 and is provided with a setscrew 156. Accordingly, the setscrew 156 is able to secure the arm 152 to the shaft 130. When the housing 112 is rolled, it will revolve around shaft 130 and will be retained in a substantially fixed position inasmuch as the weight 150 will tend to remain extending downwardly as indicated in FIGURES 3 and 4. The bands 140 and 142 will again become spiralled and energy will be stored thereby. When the potential energy stored in the bands 140 and 142 is released, the reaction on the housing 112 will return it to the point of origin as the housing 112 turns about the shaft 130.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that an amusement device has been provided which is attractive and entertaining. Inasmuch as the housing 112 is to be opaque, the users of the device will be mystified as to the source of return power of the housing. Further, inasmuch as the end surfaces are removable, if by chance either of the resilient bands should break, it may be easily repaired.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles fo 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 comprising a hollow rollable housing having an axial shaft spanning the hollow portion of the housing and fixed at its ends to diametrically opposite walls of said housing, a rod confined in said hollow portion and fixed between its ends to an end portion of said shaft, said rod having its lengthwise axis disposed at right angles to the lengthwise axis of said shaft and having equal half-portions projecting equal distances beyond diametrically opposite sides of said shaft and terminating at free outer ends in elastic band anchoring and retaining hooks, a counterweight, an arm fixed at one end to said counterweight, said arm being disposed at right angles to said shaft and having a median portion mounted for free rotation on said shaft, 2. first rubber band on one side of the shaft with one end attached to one of said hooks and the other end attached to an end of said arm remote from said counterweight, and a second rubber band located on a diametrically opposite side of :the shaft and having one end attached to the other hook and the other end attached to said arm between the counterweight and said shaft.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, and in combination, a flange fixed on said shaft adjacent to and parallel with said arm and interposed in the space between the ends of said rubber bands which are attached to said arm.

3. A toy comprising a hollow elongated housing adapted to roll along a surface such as a floor or the like, said housing having closed ends provided centrally with axially aligned slots, a horizontal axial shaft having headed end portions with the heads anchored against relative rotation in the slots, a weight having a rigid arm rotatably mounted intermediate its ends on a portion of the shaft and disposed at right angles to said shaft, elastic bands having corresponding end portions operatively but removably connected with said arm, and hooking means carried by said shaft and having hooks, adjacent end portions of the elastic bands disposed on diametrically opposite sides of said shaft, removably attached to their respectively cooperable hooks.

4. A rollable toy adapted to roll on a floor or an equivalent surface and comprising a hollow housing provided in its hollow portion with an axial shaft, the ends of said shaft being fixed to end walls of said housing, a weight having an arm, said arm being mounted for rotation intermediate its ends on a portion of said shaft, a rod at right angles to and rigidly connected intermediate its ends with an end portion of said shaft, said rod being provided at opposite free ends with band attaching hooks, and a pair of elastic bands having corresponding end portions detachably connected to their respective attaching hooks, opposite end portions of said bands being detachably connected to said arm.

5. A rollable toy comprising a hollow housing having opposed end walls each provided at an axial central portion thereof with an aperture, the apertures at the respective ends being axially in alignment with each other, an axially disposed shaft spanning the hollow portion within the confines of said housing and having its end portions fitting into their respectively cooperating apertures, an arm disposed at right angles to said shaft and mounted on a portion of said shaft, a counterweight integral with a lower end of said arm, said arm and counterweight being disposed within the confines of the hollow portion of said housing, a pair of individual but like rubber bands also confined in said hollow portion and disposed one rubber band on one side of the shaft and the other rubber band on a diametrically opposite side of the shaft, at least two hooks spaced from each other and fixedly mounted to assume positions on diametrically opposite sides of said shaft, corresponding end portions of said rubber bands adjacent said hooks being detachably connected to their respective hooks, and means in said hollow portion cooperable with said hooks and said shaft for locating and operatively associating the other end portions of said rubber bands with said shaft and housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 508,558 Tate Nov. 14, 1893 672,889 Conant Apr. 30, 1901 967,352 Ecton Aug. 16, 1910 FOREIGN PATENTS 413,678 Italy May 21, 1946 810,605 Germany Aug. 13, 1951 1,029,487 France Mar. 4-, 1953

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