US3091212A

US3091212A - Toy automobile direction indicator

Info

Publication number: US3091212A
Application number: US167541A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert J Mccauley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-01-22
Filing date: 1962-01-22
Publication date: 1963-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 1980-05-28

Description

H. J. M CAULEY TOY AUTOMOBILE DIRECTION INDICATOR May 28, 1963 Filed Jan. 22, 1962 INVEN TOR. H5255? 7 J. /7c C4 (/4 5y ATTORNEYS United Sttes 3,091,212 TOY AUTOMOBILE DIRECTION INDICATOR Herbert J. McCauley, 731 W. Ferry St., Buffalo, N.Y. Filed Jan. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 167,541 4 Claims. (Cl. 116-50) This invention relates to vehicle direction signal means which is incorporated directly in the steering mechanism of the vehicle and operates as a part thereof.

The direction signal means of the invention is intended particularly for use in toy vehicles of the velocipede type and more particularly for pedal-operated toy automobiles. The present invention provides automatic direction indicating means in such toy vehicles which operates as a part of the steering mechanism and may be incorporated in the vehicle at a negligible increase in production costs and with no added moving par-ts, assembly operations, or other mechanical complications.

In the form of the present invention shown herein by way of example the vehicle has front wheel steering mechanism generally similar to conventional automobile steering arrangements and includes a cross link extending transversely of the vehicle to connect the steering arms of the two front wheels. The body of the vehicle has lateral openings registering with the steering cross link and the latter has end portion extensions which are so proportioned that steering movement to the right, for instance, projects the right hand end portion extension of the cross link through the right hand body opening to signal a right turn, and vice versa.

A single specific embodiment of the principles of the present invention is illustrated in the drawing and described in detail in the following specification. However, it is to be understood that such embodiment is illustrative of the principles of the invention and various modifications may be made without departing therefrom, the scope of the invention being limited only as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. '1 is a side elevational View of the steering and drive mechanism of one form of the toy vehicle of the present invention with portions thereof shown in crosssection and with the vehicle body generally indicated in dot and dash lines;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view :of the steering and drive structure of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the combination steering cross link and direction indicating member of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Like characters of reference denote like parts in the several figures of the drawing and, referring particularly to FIG. 1, the vehicle comprises a sheet metal body shell provided with front and rear ground wheels 11 and 12, respectively. A transverse generally upright brace wall 13 is fixed at its opposite side edges to the interior surfaces of the side panel portions of body 10.

A conventional velocipede drive arrangement comprises a rear driving axle 14 having double crank throws formed therein in the usual manner. A pair of

longitudinal drive links

15 and 16 are pivoted at their rear ends to the crank throws of rear axle 14 and are pivotally connected at their front ends to the lower ends of arms 17 and 18 which are pivoted at their upper ends to the rear face of wall 13, as indicated at 19 in FIG. 1. Pedals 22 and 23 pivotally attached to

links

15 and 16 are operated in the usual manner by an occupant seated on a seat 25 associated with body 10.

The front wheels 11 are carried by steering post members designated generally by the reference numeral 26. Steering posts 26 have general-1y upright medial portions 27 pivotally supported by wall 13 as at 28 and the lower $591,212 Patented May 28, 1963 end portions of steering posts 27 extend laterally outwardly as at 30 to furnish rotatable support for front wheels 11. Upwardly of the medial journal portions 27 the steering posts extend forwardly as indicated at 31 and then upwardly as indicated at 32.

Across link 33 is perforated to receive the two upward terminal portions 32 of the steering posts 26 and a steering link 35 is pivotally attached at one end to one of the upward steering post terminal portions 32.

A steering post 36 passes through a perforation in wall 13 and a perforation in an upper panel portion 37 of body 1% to be thus rotatably supported. Steering post 37 has -a steering wheel 38 at its upper end and an offset crank formation 39 at its lower end, such crank formation being pivoted to steering link 35 whereby rotation of the steering wheel 38 moves the cross link 33 substantially in the direction of its own length transversely of the vehicle to steer the wheels 11.

The main body portion of cross link 33- is disposed substantially horizontally and opposite end portions thereof are bent as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to extend laterally outwardly in a substantially vertical plane, such vertically disposed lateral extensions being designated 40. The side panel portions of the body 10 are perforated as at 41 in general registry with cross link 33- so that the end extensions 48, which are normally mainly contained within the confines of body 10, are projected laterally beyond one side or the other of the body 10 upon steering movement and consequent lateral movement of cross link 33.

Thus a simulation of direction signal operation is provided without any substantial increase in the cost of production and with no [additional moving parts or connections over and above those normally required for a steering mechanism of the kind herein shown and described. If desired the flat surfaces of the extensions 40* may be provided with light reflective material or may be colored in a contrasting manner with respect to the vehicle body.

I claim:

1. In an occupant-propelled toy vehicle, a pair of laterally spaced steerable ground wheels and a steering wheel for controlling the same, steering mechanism connecting between said steering wheel and said steerable wheels including a cross link adapted to move lengthwise in a direction transversely of the vehicle upon steering move ment, direction indicating extensions at opposite ends of said cross link, said vehicle including lateral body panel portions having perforations in registry with said cross link whereby upon steering movement in a given direction the end extension of said cross link at said side of the vehicle is projected through the body panel perforation to provide a turn signal.

2. In an occupant-propelled toy vehicle, a body, a pair of laterally spaced steerable ground wheels and a steering wheel for controlling the same, steering mechanism connecting between said steering wheel and said steerable wheels including a cross link adapted to move lengthwise in a direction transversely of the vehicle upon steering movement, integral direction indicating extensions at opposite ends of said cross link adapted upon steering movement to project laterally beyond said body to provide a turn signal.

3. In a toy vehicle, a pair of laterally spaced steerable ground wheels and a steering wheel for controlling the same, steering mechanism connecting between said steering wheel and said steerable ground wheels including a cross bar adapted to move lengthwise in a direction transversely of the vehicle upon steering movement, direction indicating extensions at opposite ends of said cross bar comprising vertically disposed plate portions, said vehicle including lateral body panel portions having perforations in registry with said cross bar whereby upon steering movement in a given direction the end extension of said cross bar at said side of the vehicle is projected through the body panel perforation to provide a turn signal.

4. In a toy vehicle, a pair of laterally spaced steel-able .ground wheels and a steering wheel for controlling the same, steering mechanism connecting between said steering Wheel and said steerable ground Wheels including a cross bar adapted to move lengthwise in a direction transversely of the vehicle upon steering movement, integral direction indicating extensions at opposite ends of said 4 7 cross bar comprising vertically disposed plate portions adapted upon steering movement in a given direction to project laterally beyond said body in such direction to provide a turn signal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Iacobus Dec. 4, 1923 Kraeft Jan. 4, 1938

Claims

1. IN AN OCCUPANT-PROPELLED TOY VEHICLE, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED STEERABLE GROUND WHEELS AND A STEERING WHEEL FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME, STEERING MECHANISM CONNECTING BETWEEN SAID STEERING WHEEL AND SAID STEERABLE WHEELS INCLUDING A CROSS LINK ADAPTED TO MOVE LENGTHWISE IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSELY OF THE VEHICLE UPON STEERING MOVEMENT, DIRECTION INDICATING EXTENSIONS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID CROSS LINK, SAID VEHICLE INCLUDING LATERAL BODY PANEL PORTIONS HAVING PERFORATIONS IN REGISTRY WITH SAID CROSS LINK WHEREBY UPON STEERING MOVEMENT IN A GIVEN DIRECTION THE END EXTENSION OF SAID CROSS LINK AT SAID SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS PROJECTED THROUGH THE BODY PANEL PERFORATION TO PROVIDE A TURN SIGNAL.