US563354A - Ibis peters co - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

A. BLU'M.

TOY. No. 563,354. ented July 7, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST BLUM, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

TOY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,354, dated July 7, 1896.

Application filed January 16, 1896. Serial No. 576,752. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUs'r BLUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at J acksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Toy, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to toys of the class known as mechanical, wherein a figure having movable parts is employed, motion being communicated thereto by the operation of rotary members adapted totraverse a surface, such as a floor; and the object in view is to provide a simple construction and arrangement of devices whereby when the toy is in use the figure is held in an/ approximately upright position, and when not in use the figure may be folded into a position in which the toy occupies the minimum space.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toy constructed in accordance with my invention, the figure being shown in the upright or operative position. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same with the figure in the folded position.

responding parts in all the figures of the drawin gs.

1 designates a frame comprising a cross-bar 2, forwardly-extending side bars 3, and a handle 4. The side arms of this yoke-shaped frame terminate in inturned spindles 5, upon which are mounted the rotary members or wheels 6, whereby said rotary members or wheels are between the planes of the side arms.

The figure illustrated in the drawings is that of a man having a body portion 7 and jointed legs 8, each leg consisting of upper and lower members 9 and 10, of which the upper extremities of the upper members are pivotally connected to the body portion, as at 11, while the lower extremities of the lower members are pivotally connected to inwardly-extending projections or blocks 12 on the rotary members or wheels, said projections or blocks 12 extending inwardly a distance in excess of the inner ends of the hubs of the rotary mem- Fig. 3 is a plan view of the frame. Similar numerals of reference indicate cor-' bers or wheelsavhereby clearance is provided between the lower members of the legs of the figure and the extremities of the hubs.

The means which I employ for holding the figure in an upright position when in use consist of a supporting rod or link 13, which is connected at one end to the frame in rear of the axes of the wheels and at the other end to the figure, and in the construction illustrated said extremities of the supporting rod or link are connected, respectively, to the frame and the figure by means of interlocking or hinged eyes 14 and staples 15.

When in use, the figure is arranged in a position above the axes of the wheels and slightly inclined forward, the forward inclination being limited by the supporting rod or link, and when the toy is not in use the figure may be folded back upon the handle, as shown in Fig. 2.

In operation the rotation of the wheels causes a movement of the legs of the figure similar to that of a person walking or runniug or jumping, and inasmuch as the wheels are independently mounted, and hence are capable of independent rotation, the pivotal points of the lower extremities of the legs 1 may be arranged in any desired relative position to vary the gait 'of the figure. The loose connection between the frame and the figure, consisting of the rod or link above de scribed, allows sufficient vibration of the body of the figure to correspond with the movement of the body of a person either walking or jumping, as described.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is' 1. A mechanical toy having a frame, independently movable rotary members or wheels mounted upon the frame, a figure having a body portion arranged above the plane of the frame, and pivotal parts, as legs, connected eccentrically to the rotary members or wheels, and a loose supporting device connecting the body portion of the figure to the frame to limit the forward and allow free rearward movement of said body portion whereby the IOC figure is held in an upright position by gravity when the frame is inclined forward, substantially as specified.

2. In a mechanical toy, the combination of a frame having rotary members or wheels disposed in contiguous planes with an unobstructed intervening space, a figure having jointed leg portions pivotally connected eccentrically to the rotary members or wheels and operating in said intervening space, and a loose connection between the body portion of the figure and the frame, whereby said figure may be arranged either in an upright or a folded position, substantially as specified.

3. A mechanical toy having a frame provided with rotary members or wheels, a figure having jointed leg portions pivotally connected eccentrically to the rotary members or wheels, and a loose connection between the frame and the figure consisting of a supporting rod or link loosely connected at its extremities, respectively, to the frame and the figure, whereby the figure may be arranged in either an upright or a reclining position approximately parallel with the frame, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST BLUM. Witnesses:

W. H. J EAGLE, O. J. GRANT.

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