US840913A - Toy automobile. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JAN. 8, 1907..

A. c. COOKE. TOY AUTOMOBILE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28. 1904.

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PATENTED JAN. 8, 1907.

, A. c. COOKE. TOY AUTOMOBILE. 'APPLIOATIQN FILED NOV; 28. 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADRIAN C. COOKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ACME TOY WORKS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TOY AUTOMOBILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it-known that I, ADRIAN C. CooKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Toy Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to improvements in the general construction of toy automobiles; and my primary object is to provide a machine of greatly-improved operation, durability, and compactness without sacrificing cheapness of construction.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents my improved toy automobile, in side elevation, with the near wheels removed and a portion of the earcasing broken away; Fig. 2, a front eTevational view with the steering-gear shown in section to illustrate the manner of mounting the front axle of the machine; Fig. 3, a section taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a bottom view of the power mechanism, the lower portion of the casing removed; and Fig. 5, a perspective view of a device for restraining the drive-wheel while the motive spring is being wound.

A description of the preferred construction is as follows:

A represents a body of usual construction provided at its rear portion with journalbrackets a for the rear axle; B, the front axle mounted in a steering-fork I), having a stem 1) journaled in the front portion of the body A and provided at its upper end with a hori zontal lever b B, the front wheels; B the rear axle equipped with a fixed drivingwheel B and a loose wheel B C, power mechanism connected with the rear axle, and D a wheel-locking device adapted for holding the drive-wheel while the motive spring is being wound. The body A has a dash with a rearwardly-curved upper end equipped with a notched segment a, over which the lever 6 works, enabling the steering-gear to be set as desired.

The steering-fork or steering-head 1) comprises a substantially horizontal member equipped centrally with a dependin beari'n b for the central portion of the ax e B an also equipped at its ends with verticallyslotted depending guides 6 in which the end portions of the axle play. Thus the axle'is tiltable about its central bearing in a vertical plane, enabling either wheel readily to override any small obstruction which it may encounter.

The power mechanism C comprises a casing having upper and lower sections 0 0, re-

equipped with a crank c and its lower end extending into the casing and equipped with a lateral stud or hook 0 a disk 0 through which the stem passes freely and which is equipped on its lower side with a circular steel band 0 provided at its lower edge with teeth, the disk and toothed band constituting a large gear; a clock-s ring 0 having its outer en secured to the disk 0 by means of a pin 0 and its inner end provided with a slot engaged by the hook c on the stem 0 a pin ion 0 secured on the shaft B and meshing with the large gear, and a depressible catch 0 serving to hold the crank c after the spring has been wound. The crank c has a surface of the top of the rear portion of the automobile-body, and the spring-catch presents an abrupt shoulder in one direction and an incline in the other direction, so that the crank may be moved freely in one direction, but will have its movement limited in the other direction. The casing-sections comprise flanged disks, with the flanges thereof telescopically connected. The upper section may be stationary or it may revolve with the large gear. The lower section has its upturned flange slotted to admit the axle and provided with ears c bent over the top of the upper section, thereby supporting the lower section. The toothed band a comprises a steel stamping curved into circular form and having lugs on its upper edge which extend through perforations in the disk 0 and are clenched above the disk. The large gear thus formed has downwardly-presented teeth and is spaced above the axle properly to enga e the pinion on the axle.

The ock .D comprises a wheel-engaging shoe (1, carried by a horizontal lever d, which extends through a slot in the left side of the body A and is connected by a pivot d with the bottom of the body, a link (i connected with the lever cl, and a vertical hand-lever 61 connected by a pivot (Z with the inner surspectively; a stem 0 having its upper end horizontal arm which moves over the upper face of the right side of the body, the frictional engagement serving to hold the handlever in any desired position.

The manner of use will be understood Without detailed description. The wheellook may be applied to the driving-wheel by shifting the hand-lever d rearwardly. The spring of the motive power may be wound by turning the crank to the right, the catch 0 yielding to permit passage of the crank in the winding operation. When the driving-wheel is released by swinging the hand-lever d forwardly, the spring, which is the connecting medium between the stem 0 and large ear, will drive the large gear, and thus prope the vehicle through the medium of the pinion, rear axle, and fast wheel. In case either front wheel encounters an obstruction it will readily override the same, owing to the oscillating axle, thus preventing stoppa e and the running down of the spring due to slippage of the driving-wheel. After the spring unwinds the inner end slips off the hook or catch with which the post 0 is provided, thereby permitting the machine to be carried forward under its acquired momentum without winding the spring in the opposite direction, and

thereby retarding the movement ofg the machine. When the spring is rewound, however, the inner end at once catches on the hook, so that it is held securely. I

It will be understood that the drivin mechanism is applicable to any self-propelled machine, whether an automobile or a selfpropelled boat, and the driving-shaft may constitute the axle, as shown, or any equivalent element.

Changes in details of construction are contemplated. Hence no undue limitation should be understood from the foregoing detailed description.

WVhat I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a toy automobile, the combination with a front axle, of a steering-forkhaving a central bearing in which the axle may oscillate vertically and having vertical guide-slots for r the end portions of the axle, substantially as and for the purpose setgforth.

ADRIAN O.-COOKE.

In presence of L. HEISLAR, 1 E. P. RIoH.

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