US956838A - Amusement device. - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. TREANOR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES J. TREANOR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of the Bronx, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Amusement Device, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to amusement devices and is intended particularly for providing entertainment and exercise for children.

More specifically, the invention relates to an amusement device having movable hurdles or obstacles, and means for actuating the same so that a child can jump or skip over the hurdles as these travel, thereby providing a substitute for the ordinary jumping or skipping rope.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and durable amuse ment device for children, which affords means for entertainment and exercise, and constitutes a substitute for the skipping rope.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described, in which a plurality of hurdles are caused to rotate continuously, and over which children can jump as the hurdles pass them, the hurdles extending laterally from a common support which is actuated by clockwork or in any other convenient manner.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views, and in which- I Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my invention; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Before proceeding to a more detailed explanation of my invention, it should be clearly understood that while I prefer to employ a suitable spring-actuated motor or clockwork for actuating the hurdles of the device, any other suitable means can be employed for this purpose. The hurdles are preferably arranged tangentially or radially with respect to a common central hub which is driven by the motor. The hurdles them- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 22, 1908.

Serial No. 468,719.

selves may consist of any suitable elongated rods or members, preferably of flexible material such as ratan or the like. If the material is fiexible or pliable, the danger of breaking the hurdles through accidentally jumping thereupon is largely obviated, and at the same time there is not the slightest possibility of injuring or causing inconvenience to the children by the striking of the hurdles against their feet or legs.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I provide a suitable base 10 adapted to rest securely upon the ground, and of any convenient form and material. Upon the base 10 is arranged a base plate 11 secured in position by means of screws 12 or in any other suitable manner. A frame 13 is positioned upon the base plate and comprises posts 14 and an upper and a lower plate 15 and 16 res ectively.

A contra spindle 17 is suitably 'journaled in openings of the plates 15 and 16 and extends above the former, having the upper end threaded and carrying a suitable head 18. A hub 19 consisting preferably of a substantially cylindrical casing 20 fashioned from sheet metal or the like, and having a top 21, is arranged upon the base encompassing the frame 13' and the base plate 11, which is substantially circular. The top 21 has the periphery bent about a flange 22 at the upper rim of the casing or is secured thereto in any other convenient manner. The top 21 is rigidly fastened to the head 18 by means of rivets 23 or the like. At the sides the casin has cut away portions 241 which are severed from the casing at four (4;) sides and are rolled upon themselves to form sleeves 25. These sleeves, it will be understood, are substantially tangential to the casing and serve removably to receive the ends of the elongated members 30 constituting the hurdles, as is shown most clearly in Fig. 1.

A helical spring 26, is mounted upon a spindle 27, journaled in openings of the plates 15 and 16 and having an end 28 of angular section. Registering openings 29 through the top 21 and the head 18, permit the introduction of a key or other implement to engage the end 28 of the spindle 27 to wind the spring. A series of gears 32 is controlled by the spindle 27. One of the gears 32 is in mesh with a pinion 31 rigid with the spindle 17. By means of the earing, the spring serves, when wound, to rive the spindle 17 to cause the cylindrical casing Patented May 3, 1910.

or hub to rotate, and with the same, the hurdles 30.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A device of the class described having a movable cylindrical hub, means for actuating said hub, and hurdles extending tangentially from said hub.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a hub, means for rotating said hub, and hurdles secured to said hub and extending laterally from the same so that when said hub is rotated said hurdles can serve as moving obstacles over which a person can jump.

33. A device of the class described, comprising a base, a hub pivoted upon said base, means within said hub for causing the same to rotate, the said hub having sleeves, and elongated members constituting hurdles and removably mounted in said sleeves.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a base, a cylindrical hub pivoted upon said base, means within said hub for causing the same to rotate, said hub at the sides having cut away portions formed into sleeves, and elongated members constituting hurdles and removably mounted in said sleeves.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a hub, means for rotating said hub,

and hurdles secured to said hub and eXtending laterally from the same, so that when said hub is rotated sald hurdles can serve as moving obstacles over which a person can jump, said hurdles consisting of elongated members devoid of projections.

.In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES J. TREANOR.

Witnesses JOHN J. KENNY, E. J. DEVLIN.

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