US3122377A

US3122377A - Hobby horse

Info

Publication number: US3122377A
Application number: US96161A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold A Mortenson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-03-16
Filing date: 1961-03-16
Publication date: 1964-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 1981-02-25

Description

Feb. 25, L A. MORTENSON HOBBY HORSE Fi1ed March '16. 1961 ATTO RN EVS United States Patent O 3,122,377 HBBY HGRSE Harold A. Mortensen, 10636 Myers Way, Seattle, Wash. Filed Mar. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 96,161 4 Claims. (Cl. 23o- 1.13)

This invention relates to a childrens amusement apparatus and more particularly to a mobile hobby horse.

The general object of my invention is to provide a mobile hobby horse which has resilient mounting feet.

A more particular object is to provide a hobby horse which can closely simulate both the galloping motion and bucking movements of an actual horse.

A further particular object is to provide a relatively safe mobile hobby horse with no sharp corners or edges to harm a child.

Yet another specific object is to provide a mobile horse which will not scnif the oor or damage the walls of a room in which the hobby horse is being used. These together with other more particular objects and advantages will appear and be understood in the course of the following description and claims, the invention consisting in the novel construction and in the adaptation and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a hobby horse embodying preferred teachings of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the mounting means of one embodiment of my invention.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the mounting means of a second embodiment thereof; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the mounting means of a third embodiment.

Referring to FIG. l, numeral designates generally a hobby horse having two front legs 11 and right and

left hind legs

12 and 13 respectively. The horse is equipped with a saddle 14 to support the rider, and reins 17 and a handle 18 on the upper neck 2i) which admit of being selectively grasped by the rider. The hoofs of the front legs are preferably joined to integrate the same in a single member 21. This single member is supported by a front resilient foot 22, and the

hind legs

12 and 13 each have attached to their

respective hoofs

23 and 24

resilient feet

26 and 27 respectively. The two hind legs desirably reach well to the rear in a galloping stretch andthe three

hoofs

21, 23 and 24 produce a substantial isoceles triangle, an imagined line between the rear feet forming the base thereof. The horse, when at rest on its three ground bearings, places the body of the horse generally level with the supporting iloor.

FIG. 3 shows one of the three similar

resilient feet

21, 23, and 24, as the case may be, of the iirst embodiment of my invention. Threaded into a socket 31 firmly fixed in a hoof of the horse is one end of a stud screw 32 which has its opposite end threaded into a foot socket 33. The socket 33 is formed in a piece 29 vulcanized in the neck 30 of an inflatable ball-forming balloon 34. It will be understood that the lower portion 37 of the ball is the only portion thereof which makes contact with the floor and that of said contact portion has considerable resiliency with respect to the mounting portion. For inflating the ball, the ball is formed in a wall portion thereof with an opening 3S which accommodates the insert needle (not shown) of a conventional athletic pump. Lips 39 prolonged inwardly act by air pressure within the ball to ICC normally seal the opening. The ball is composed of a plastic or rubber material which will not scui or abrade a lioor or wall.

The second embodiment of a foot shown in FIG. 4 is designated generally by 40. As in FIG. 2 there is the hoof socket 31 with the mating stud 32 and the foot socket 33 formed in the socket-piece 29. Extending down from the foot socket is a resilient spring `44 generally shaped as an inverted question mark. The upper or straight portion 46 of the spring performs the function of a mounting stem and is attached to the foot socket. The lower or curved shoulder portion 47 contacts the door. The spring is coated with a plastic or rubber sheathing to prevent scuiiing or abrasion of the walls or floor.

In the third embodiment of FIG. 5, the foot incorporates a ball 50 quite similar to that of the first embodiment and augments compressed air pressure within the ball of a helical compression spring 5g invested by the ball. This spring is attached at its upper end to the foot socket 53, with its lower end engaging the bottom wall of the ball 54, being stepped upon a pad 6i) which reinforces the bottom wall. In this embodiment the air pressure within the ball need not be high and could be readily supplied by mouth, using a suitable removable fitting for this purpose.

In operation the rider mounts the horse and rocks the horse forward and backward by his own body motion. With moderate rocking the horse will oscillate back and forth in the same place. With more forceful body movements of the rider the horse can be made to move along the floor, forwardly, rearwardly and laterally, and can be guided with considerable accuracy through skilled control.

It is believed that the invention will have been clearly understood from the foregoing detailed description of my now preferred embodiments. Changes in the details of construction Will suggest themselves and it is accordingly my intention that no limitations be implied and that the hereto annexed claims be given the broadest interpretation to which the employed language fairly admits.

What I claim is:

l. A hobby horse having front and back legs, only a single resilient support being connected to both said front legs, two resilient supports each being connected to a respective one of said back legs, each of said supports having a mounting portion which is secured to its respective leg, each support also having a contact portion to contact a floor, the contact portion being resiliently connected to its mounting portion, said supports being secured to the legs of the hobby horse only through their respective mounting portions.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, each of said supports being a resilient inflatable ball.

3. The device as recited in claim l each of said supports being a leaf spring with a protective coating over the bottom portion of the leaf spring.

4. The device as recited in claim il, each of said support means being a resilient spring enclosed in an inatable ball.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,152,639 Isaacs Sept. 7, 1915 1,687,693 Pratt Oct. 16, 1928 2,884,247 Johns Apr. 28, 1959

Claims

1. A HOBBY HORSE HAVING FRONT AND BACK LEGS, ONLY A SINGLE RESILIENT SUPPORT BEING CONNECTED TO BOTH SAID FRONT LEGS, TWO RESILIENT SUPPORTS EACH BEING CONNECTED TO A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID BACK LEGS, EACH OF SAID SUPPORTS HAVING A MOUNTING PORTION WHICH IS SECURED TO ITS RESPECTIVE LEG, EACH SUPPORT ALSO HAVING A CONTACT PORTION TO CONTACT A FLOOR, THE CONTACT PORTION BEING RESILIENTLY CONNECTED TO ITS MOUNTING PORTION, SAID SUPPORTS BEING SECURED TO THE LEGS OF THE HOBBY HORSE ONLY THROUGH THEIR RESPECTIVE MOUNTING PORTIONS.