US3407531A - Wobble wheeled toy - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 29, 1968 R. w. CRAWFORD 3,407,531

WOBBLE WHEELED TOY Filed March 1, 1965 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR RALPH W. CRAWFORD HIS ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 29, 1968 R. w. CRAWFORD WOBBLE WHEELED TOY I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1, 1965 R D W m T mm m s H P M M HIS ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,407,531 WOBBLE WHEELED TOY Ralph W. Crawford, East Aurora, N.Y., assignor to Fisher-Price Toys, Inc., East Aurora, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 435,810 9 Claims. (Cl. 46104) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pull toy provided with axles having bent extensions on which wheels are mounted to wobble relative to the toy body. The wobble wheels also turn the bent axles to raise and lower or rock the body of the toy. The wheels are relatively large and spaced from the body to provide an attractive action as the toy is rolled along and moving head, ears, and tail parts add to the entertainment.

This invention relates to-a wheeled toy, and more particularly, an action toy having wobbling wheels which not only produce entertaining motions themselves, but move or actuate the body of the toy as they roll over a supporting surface.

Many action toys are known having eccentrically mounted circular wheels, elliptical wheels, or crank type axles arranged so that the toy rocks from side to side as it is pulled or pushed by a child. There has been a constant search for years for wheeled action toys that can produce a new, more entertaining, or more amusing action as they are rolled along. This invention is a realization of an attempt to make the action of a wheeled toy more entertaining, interesting, and educational to children.

An object of this invention is to provide a wheeled toy having an improved action that is more entertaining, and amusing, and to provide such action by a simple, economic, and easily manufactured arrangement of parts that is rugged, and durable, yet attractive.

Another object of the invention is to incorporate wobble wheels into an action toy in such a way that the wheel motions are amusing and entertaining and also cooperate with the body of the toy to move the body in a variety of action patterns as the toy is rolled along.

Another object of the invention is to give versatile action motions to a wheeled toy, so that the toy performs a variety of unpredictable actions as it is rolled along.

Another object of the invention is to make a durable and simple action toy that can withstand rough usage and miles of travel without deterioration and which performs amusing, entertaining, and variable motions as it is operated.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims. To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will hereinafter be more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a wobble wheeled toy according to the invention being actuated by a child;

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation of a wobble toy according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a wobble toy according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a front elevation of a wobble toy according to the invention;

3,407,531 Patented Oct. 29, 1968 FIG. 5 shows a rear elevation of a wobble toy according to the invention;

FIGS. 6 and 7 show two basic action motions performable by wobble toys according to the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a partial cross section of the wobble wheeled toy of FIG. 6 taken along the line 8-8, and showing wheel and axle motion.

Generally, the inventive action toy is provided with wheels that wobble by virtue of bent axles, the axes being straight in their central portions which are journaled in the toy body and having bent extensions extending outward from the toy body. The wheels are fixed on the extensions at a distance from the body, and are preferably large relative to the body of the toy so that the wobble motion of the wheels contributes significantly to the complete action pattern of the toy. The inventive wobble wheels also cooperate with the body of the toy to actuate the body in a variety of unpredictable patterns or motions as the toy is rolled along. Preferably movable elements are mounted on the body for accentuating this action as the toy is operated.

The inventive wobble toy is adaptable as an animal simulation such as a dog as illustrated in the drawings, but can be formed as other animal simulations or vehicles within the spirit of the invention. Thus, the illustrated dog toy is merely one preferred embodiment of wobble wheeled toys according to the invention. Throughout the drawings, corresponding parts of toy are identified by the same reference numerals.

As best shown in FIGS. 25, the illustrated preferred wobble toy according to the invention is formed with a rigid body 10 supported by wheels 12. The body 10 is preferably provided with a head 13 having a loosely dependent ears 14 and suitably decorated for simulating an animal such as by including tongue 21. Further decoration of the toy is preferably accomplished by simulated collar 15 and tail 16. The toy is adapted to be pushed or pulled over a supporting surface, and to this end is preferably provided with a cord or pull strap 11.

The basic component of the inventive toys action is the wobble wheels 12 and their associated axle 17 as best illustrated in FIG. 8. Axle 17 is formed with a straight central portion journaled in body 10 of the toy, and this central portion is preferably disposed parallel to the supporting surface over which the toy is adapted to be moved so that body 10 is constantly supported in an upright position.

Adjacent the sides of body 10,- axle 17 is provided with a pair of bends 18 to form extensions 19 that are downwardly directed in the solid line view of FIG. 8. Extensions 19 preferably form substantially equal obtuse angles with the center section of axle 17, and extensions 19 are preferably substantially co-planar and obtusely angled relative to each other.

Hub members 20 are fixed on each extension 19 and are preferably arranged so that extensions 19 cannot rotate relative to hubs 20. To this end, splines or other wellknown devices can be employed, and hub 20 are preferably formed of wood so that extensions 19 can be driven into hubs 20 for a strong and rigid fit.

Hub members 20, in addition to forming a secure mounting for wheels 12, preferably surround extension 19 and extend inwardly to adjacent bends 18 so as to space wheels 12 evenly on opposite sides of body 10. Use of hubs 20 as spacers allows axles 17 to be inserted through abore in the body 10 after which hubs 20 are attached to extensions 19 for receiving and holding wheels 12 in place.

In cooperation with hubs 20, wheels 12 are preferably spaced a sufficient distance from body 10 to allow a relatively high degree of wobble for the most entertaining action. The spacing of wheels 12 from body 10 is related to the radius of such wheels, and the angle of the extensions 19 relative to the straight portion of axle 17. For a pronounced wobble having optimum entertainment and amusement value, it is preferred that wheels 12 be relatively large and the plane of their mounting on hubs 20 be spaced from body by at least one half the radius of the wheels. Of course, a greater spacing is possible, and often desirable.

Wheel 12 are preferably blow-molded of a synthetlc plastic resin to form a relatively large and preferably balloon-tired wheel that can be snap fitted over hubs to be held in place in non-rotational relation on hubs 20. It is preferred that wheels 12 not be rotatable relative to hubs 20 and that hubs not be rotatable relative to extensions 19, so that axle 17 is rotated in fixed relation to wheels 12. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the center section of axle 17 rises and falls with each rotation of wheels 12 to give vertical motion to body 10. Also, by virtue of obtusely angled extensions 19, wheels 12 are not coplanar, but are acutely angled relative to each other. Thus, wheels 12 as they rotate through a revolution move from their solid line dished-in position through intermediate positions to their broken line dished-out position. This motion produces an amusing and unexpected wobble wheel effect. Such motion is particularly entertaining if the wheels are large relative to the body of the toy as preferred.

With two sets of wobble wheels 12 and corresponding axles 17 mounted on the body 10 of a toy, body motions such as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 are produced. Thus, if a toy actuation is started from the broken line position in FIG. 6 in which the central portion of each axle is in its lowermost position so that the wheels are in phase and dished-out as illustrated by the broken line view of FIG. 8, the body 10 rises to its solid line position of FIG. 6 as the wheels are rotated together for one half revolution. In this solid line position, the journaled portions of the axles are at their highest elevation, and the wheels 12 are dished-in as illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 8. The body action of FIG. 6 is thus a straight rising and falling of the body with the body maintaining an even or level orientation during such rise and fall. Of course, this body action is accomplished by the wobble wheel motion as previously described, the two sets of wheels in this instance wobbling uniformly and in phase with each other.

If the toy is started in motion from the broken line position of FIG. 7 with the journaled portion of the front axle at its lowest position and the journaled portion of the rear axle at its highest position, the wobbles of the front and back wheels will be out of phase or opposite to each other so that in one half revolution of the wheels, the body 10 of the toy will be moved to the solid line position illustrated in FIG. 7 in which the front end of the body is elevated to its highest position, and the rear end of the body is lowered to its lowest position. Thus, continued motion from the position illustrated in FIG. 7 results in a longitudinal rocking motion of the toy body 10 which, of course, is accompanied by the out-of-phase wobble of the two sets of wheels.

The variations of movement of body 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 are merely two extremes of body motion. The illustrated front and back wobble wheels can have any phase relationshp between the illustrated direct- -ly in-phase and directly out-of-phase relationships. Thus, the mode of body action can be any of a variety of modes of combinations of the modes illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. For example, a, predominantly rocking motion with a slight rise and fall or a predominantly rising and falling motion with a slight rocking motion can be performed by the toy.

In play, a child will pick up and set down the toy and move it in various patterns so that the phase relationship of the wobble wheels is often varied. This means that the variable body motions produced by the toy are not predictable unless the phase relationship of the wheels is carefully set which seldom occurs during play.

Another interesting variation of the motion produced by the inventive toy is best illustrated in FIG. 6. The straight rising and falling motion there illustrated, or any body motion that is predominantly the illustrated rise and fall tends to move more rapidly in its downward travel and more slowly in its upward travel under the influence of gravity. The result is a hesitating or pulsating fast and slow motion as the toy is pulled along, so that the toy slows down on its upward rise, and rushes forward on its downward fall. Furthermore, the toy will rock back and forth to seek an equilibrium position if it is not coincidentally stopped in such a position by the child playing with it. These variations in the inventive toys action are not only a source of amusement or entertainment to a child, but provide an interesting and educational puzzle which children enjoy solving by experimental play with the toy.

The motions of body 10 are preferably accentuated by mounting movable parts on body 10. Thus, head 13 is preferably pivotally mounted on a generally vertical pin 22 extending through collar 15 and fixed in body 10. Head 13 is preferably allowed to swing freely about vertical pin 22 so that as the toy is rolled along, head 13 can wag from side to side or spin around as variations in the body action impel it.

Ears 14 are preferably mounted on head 13 by pins 23 from which they loosely hang so as to add an entertaining source of motion to the toy. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, cars 14 are free to swing and rotate relative to head 13 as the toy is operated.

Another source of entertaining motion is tail 16 which is preferably formed of a resilient member 24 such as a coil spring or rod of resilient material that is mounted in body 10 but which swings back and forth as best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7 as the toy is rolled along.

I Thus, it can be seen that a toy according to the inventron accomplishes a variety of interesting action mo- '[IODS including an amusing wheel wobble the phase relationship of which may vary from axle to axle and longitudmal rocking or rising and falling motions and combinations thereof when actuated. These motions combine to produce a toy having greater entertainment value than prior art action toys, and such motions are accomplished by simple devices having ahe ruggedness and durability that is desired for childrens toys which are often subject to rough play.

While the invention has been disclosed herein by reference to the details of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an ilustratrve, rather than a limiting sense, and it is contemplated that various modifications of the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention, and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A wobble wheeled toy comprising:

(a) a body;

(b) an axle journaled in said body for free rotation, sa d axle having a straight central portion housed in said body and extending to the sides of said body;

(c) said axle being bent adjacent each side of said body to form a pair of extensions extending outward from sa d body at substantially equal obtuse angles from said straight central portion and obtusely angled relative to each other; and

(d) a pair of wheels one of which is fixed on the end of each respective one of said extensions for rotation therewith in spaced relation from said sides of said body so that said wheels wobble relative to said body as said toy is moved over a supporting surface.

2. The toy of claim 1 wherein said wheels are of relatlvely large radius and are spaced from said body sides by at least one half said radius.

3. The toy of claim 2 including a pair of hubs one of which is fixed on the end of each respective one of said extensions and wherein said wheels are fixed on said respective hubs.

4. The toy of claim 1 including two of said axles and two of said pair of wheels.

5. A wobble wheeled toy comprising:

'(a) a body;

(b) a plurality of axles each of which is journaled in said body for free rotation and each of which has a straight central portion housed within said body and extending to the sides of said body;

(c) each of said axles being formed with a pair of bends adjacent each respective side of said body to form a pair of substantially co-planar extensions extending outward from said body at substantially equal obtuse angles from said straight central portion and obtusely angled relative to each other; and

(d) a plurality of wheels one of which is fixed to the free end of each of said extensions for rotation therewith so as to wobble relative to said body as said toy is moved over a supporting surface.

6. The toy of claim 5 wherein said wheels are of relatively large radius and are spaced from said sides of said body by a distance of at least one half said radius.

7. The toy of claim 6 including a plurality of hubs each of which is fixed to a respective one of said extensions for rotation therewith and on each of which a respective one of said wheels is fixed for rotation with said respective hub, said hubs extending to adjacent said sides of said body to space said respective wheels from said body.

8. A wobble wheeled toy comprising:

(a) a body simulating an animals body;

(b) two axles each of which is journaled for rotation in said body and each of which has a straight central portion housed within said body and extending to the side surfaces of said body;

(0) each of said axles being formed with a pair of bends adjacent each respective side of said body to form a pair of substantially co-planar extensions extending outward from said :body at substantially equal obtuse angles from said straight central portion and obtusely angled relative: to each other;

((1) four hubs one of which is fixed to the free end of each of said extensions for rotation therewith, said hubs surrounding said extensions and extending to adjacent said respective side walls;

(e) four wheels of relatively large radius each of which is fixed on said respective one of said hubs for rotation therewith, the area of juncture between said wheels and said hubs being spaced from said respective side of said body by at least one half of said radius so that said wheels wobble relative to said body and said axles move said body vertically as said toy is moved over a supporting surface.

9. The toy of claim 8 incuding a head, a generally 20 vertical pin on which said head is mounted and about which said head is freely pivotal, a tail movable with motions of said toy, and a pair of ears dependent from said head for free swinging motion.

References Cited ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

T, ZACK, Assistant Examiner.

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