US991275A - Mechanically-operated toy. - Google Patents

Description

11. P. CLARK. MEGHANIGALLY OPERATED TOY.

- APPLICATION FILED HAYG, 1909. 991,275. Patented May 2,1911.

2 SHBET8SHEET 1.

D. P. CLARK. MEGHANIGALLY OPERATED TOY.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1909, 991,275. Patented May 2, 1911,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1m: mmms FEYERS co WASHINGTON, D. 51

UNITED srarns DAVID P. CLARK, OF DAYTON,

OHIO.

MECHANICALLY-OPERATED TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1911.

Application filed May 6, 1909. Serial N 0. 494,439.

'10 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID P. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at ayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanically- Operated Toys, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to mechanically operated toys, and more particularly to that type of toys wherein an inertia wheel is utilized to constitute the motor.

The first object of my invention is, broadly speaking, to provide such a toy with one or more traction wheels, with what may be termed an amusing device, 2'. a, to say, an attachment to be carried by the toy proper and to produce amusing effects either visually or by sound, and to combine therewith an inertia wheel motor which shall have the common function of operating both the traction devices and the amusing devices, so that the toy will have both locomotion and the additional feature of the amusing device, visual or audible.

A further and more specific object of my invention is, in such an organization, to make the motor shiftable from one position to another, whereby, while in one position, it will operate or drive the toy and give it locomotion, and whereby, in the other position, it will actuate the amusing devices and afford additional amusement or pleasure to the juvenile.

In illustrating my invention I have disclosed a preferable form of organization, but it will be understood that it is only one of many contemplated forms and this applies as well to that part of the organization embodied in the relation of the inertia motor to the traction and amusement devices as to the type of body of the toy, which may make it an automobile-like toy or otherwise. I have also illustrated a friction drive between the motor and the devices to be driven but it will be understood that I do not limit myself to a friction drive for either of these purposes since the invention does not lie in the particular mode of transmitting the power from the motor to the things to be driven, but rather in the broader sense that they are driven, though they are radically unlike in type and purpose, by the one motor.

.VVith these objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features and in certain combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter to be described, and then more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a toy embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the rear portion of such a toy; Fig. 3 is a detail view of the driving mechanism in operative relation to the ground wheels; Fig. 4 is a detail view of the driving mechanism in operative relation with the second driven mechanism; Fig. 5.is a detail view of a slightly modified form of power transmission device and Fig. 6, a detail inverted plan View showing the manner of mounting the front wheels and their axles.

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same as comprising a body portion 1, which may be of any suitable design, but preferably is in the form of the body of an automobile or other machine which the toy represents. In the present instance, the toy represents an automobile fire engine and the body conforms to the conventional design of the body portion of such an en- This body portion is mounted upon ground wheels 2 and 3. The front ground wheels, or steering wheels, 2 are mounted upon pivoted axles 4, to which are operatively connected a hand wheel 5, by means of which they may be moved about their pivotal axes, and, if desired, set in such a position as to cause the toy to travel in a circle. The rear ground wheels or traction wheels are mounted upon the outer ends of an axle 6, which is journaled in the oppo site side members of the body portion of the toy and has its ends projecting beyond said side walls. The shaft 6 is preferably mounted in a downwardly and rearwardly extending slot 7, whereby the body portion will tend to move downwardly and rearwardly relatively to the axle when the weight thereof rests 'upon that axle. These ground wheels comprise the two rotary members of the rear operative or driven mechanism.

The amusing device or second driven mechanism may be mounted portion of the machine in any suitable position, and, in the present instance, this second mechanism consists of two rotary members or crank wheels 8 arranged on opon the body posite sides of the body portion 1 and mounted onthe opposite ends of a shaft 9, which is journaled in the opposite side members of said body portion. These crank wheels 8 are connected by pitmen 10 with pump cylinders 11. These pump cylinders may be either operative cylinders or mere imitations thereof. In the present instance they consist only of cylinders within which the upper ends of the pitmen move, and, which, while inoperative, have the appearance of operating pumps.

It will be apparent that each operative mechanism has one driven member or wheel on each side of the-body portion of the toy and that those wheels lying on the same side of the toy are arranged in substantially longitudinal alinement.

The driving motor is preferably mounted on the .body portion of the toy between the side walls thereof and is capable of being moved from one position to another to bring the same into operative relation with one or the other of the driven mechanisms. This driving motor may comprise a driving member of any suitable character, and, in the present instance, I have shown the motor as comprising an inertia wheel 12 which is mounted on a shaft 13, which, in turn, is journaled in the side members of a frame 14, which frame is movably mounted upon the body portion of the toy between the side walls thereof. The ends of the shaft 13 extend beyond the side members of the frame 14 and beyond the side members of the body portion of the toy and are provided with suitable power transmission devices, by means of which power, stored in the inertia wheel, may be transmitted to the traction wheels or to the crank wheels. These power transmission devices may be of any suitable character, but I have here shown the same as consisting of friction members or pinions 15 which are arranged in alinement with the two driven members on the corresponding sides of the toy and are adapted to be moved into frictional engagement with either of said driven members. I have here shown the ground wheels 3 and the crank wheels 8 as having their opposite edges beveled and adapted to fit within a tapered groove 16 formed in the friction members or pinions 15, thereby providing a wedging contact between the friction members and the driven member.

The frame 14, which carries the inertia wheel, is preferably pivotally mounted on the side members of the main frame, as shown at 17, and that portion of each side member of the body portion lying above and adjacent to the pivotal center of the frame 14 is cut away to form a semicircular opening 18, inwhich the shaft 13 moves. The pivotal center of the frame 14 is so arranged relatively to the two driven mechanisms that, when said frame is in its rearmost position, i. 0., in a substantially horizontal position with the shaft 13 in the rear of the pivotal center of the frame, the friction members 15 will be in operative engagement with the rear driven members or ground wheels 3, and when the frame is in its foremost position, 2'. 6., with the shaft lying be tween the pivotal center of the frame and the forward driven members or crank wheels 8, the friction members 15 will be in operative engagement with said driven members 8. When in this position the frame extends at an angle to the horizontal and the weight of the inertia wheel retains the same in position with the friction members in contact with the driven members. In the rearmost posit-ion, however, I have provided stops 19 which support the frame in a substantially horizontal position.

Any suitable means may be provided for moving the inertia wheel from one position to the other. In the present instance I have shown a lever 20 pivotally mounted on the body portion of the toy near the drivers seat and have connected the same by means of a link 21 with the frame 14 in such a manner that, when the lever 20 is moved forwardly or rearwardly, the frame 14 will be moved about its pivotal center and the power transmission devices moved from one position to another.

In the operation of the device the initial movement is imparted to the inertia wheel in the manner usual with this class of toys. As soon as the wheel has attained the desired degree of speed, the toy is released and permitted to move over the floor. When it has moved the desired distance, and is sup posed to have arrived at the fire, the lever 20 is reversed and the frame 14 swung about its pivotal center, thereby moving the friction members out of contact with the rear ground wheels and into contact with the crank wheels operating the pumps. Thus, the forward movement of the toy ceases and the pumping mechanism begins its movement, which can be continued until the power stored in the inertia wheel is exhausted, or, after operating for a short time, the inertia wheel can again be moved into operative relation with the ground wheels and forward movement again imparted to the toy as a whole.

While I have here shown and described the invention as applied to an automobile toy in the form of a fire engine and have shown the two driven mechanisms as comprising the traction wheels for the automobile and the crank wheels of the pumps, it will be obvious that this special toy is merely incidental and that the invention may be applied to toys of any character whatever embodying two driven mechanisms or members, and that the invention consists broadly in providing a toy with two or more operative or driven mechanisms and a single driving mechanism which will operate both of said driven mechanisms. It will also be apparent that, while I have shown and described the driving mechanism as comprising an inertia wheel movably mounted on the body portion to enable the same to be moved into operative relation with the two driven mechanisms, 2'. 6., the traction wheels and the amusing device, the driving motor or inertia wheel may be connected with the driven mechanisms in any suitable manner and it is not essential that the inertia wheel should be capable of being disconnected from either of these mechanisms.

So far I have described only a friction drive, but it will be noted from Fig. 5 that I have shown a toothed pinion at 22, a gear at 23 connected with the traction wheels, (one or more of them), and a gear at 24 connected with the other driven member or that which operates the amusing device, which may be the pump before referred to or any other attractive feature which will constitute an amusing device or figure. It will further be understood that, while I have shown the driving member as applied to both traction wheelsand to both wheels of the other driven member, it is obvious that, if the driving device engaged but one traction wheel and but one wheel of the other driven member, the same would be within my invention. 1

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details of construetion shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

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

1. In a toy of the character described, the combination, with a body portion, and a plurality of driven members mounted thereon, one of which propels the toy bodily and the other of which propels an amusing device on the toy, of a motor, and means for operatively connecting said motor with either of said driven members.

2. In a toy of the character described, the combination, with a body portion, and a plurality of driven members mounted thereon, one of which propels the toy bodily and the other of which propels an amusing device on the toy, of a motor adapted to be operatively connected with either of said driven members without interruption of its own motion, and means for so connecting it.

3. In a toy of the character described, the combination, with a body portion, and a plurality of driven members mounted thereon, of a motor movably mounted on said body portion, and a power transmission device connected to said motor, and adapted to be successively connected to said driven members when said motor is moved from one position to another.

4. In a toy of the character described, the combination, with a body portion, and a plurality of driven members mounted thereon, one of which propels the toy bodily and the other of which propels an amusing device on the toy, of a motor movably mounted on said body portion, a shaft connected to said motor, and a power transmission device carried by said shaft and arranged to be moved into operative relation with one or another of said driven members, when said motor is moved from one position to another.

5. In a toy of the character described, the combination, with a body portion, and a plurality of driven members mounted thereon,

one of which propels the toy bodily and the other of which propels an amusing device on the toy, of a frame movably mounted on said body portion, a motor mounted on said frame, a power transmission device carried by said frame, connected to said motor and so arranged that the movement of said frame from one position to another will move said power transmission device into operative relation with one or another of said driven members.

6. In a toy of the character described, the combination, with a body portion and two driven members rotatably mounted thereon, one of which propels the toy bodily and the other of which propels an amusing device on the toy, of a frame mounted on said body portion and movable relatively thereto, a shaft journaled in said frame, a motor operatively connected to said shaft and movable with said frame, and a power transmission device mounted on said shaft in alinement with said driven members.

7. In a toy of the character described, the combination, with a body portion, and two driven members mounted thereon and having friction surfaces, one of which propels the toy bodily and the other of which propels an amusing device on the toy, of a frame mounted on said body portion and movable relatively thereto, a shaft mounted on said frame, a motor operatively connected to said shaft and movable with said frame, and a friction member mounted on said shaft in alinement with the friction surfaces of said driven members.

8. In a toy of the character described, the combination, with a body portion and two driven members carried thereby, one of which propels the toy bodily and the other of which propels an amusing device on the toy, of a frame pivotally mounted on said body portion, a motor carried by said frame, and means for operatively connecting said motor with either of said driven members.

9. In a toy of the character described, the combination, with a body portion, and two mounted on said shaft and arranged to nor- &

driven members mounted thereon, one of of said body portion, a power transmission which propels the toy bodily and the other of which propels an amusing device on the toy, in substantially longitudinal alinement, of a frame pivotally mounted on said body portion, a shaft journaled in said frame, a motor connected to said shaft, and a power transmission device carried by said shaft in alinement with said driven members.

10. In a toy of the character described, the combination, with a body portion, and two driven members mounted thereon, one of which propels the toy bodily and the other of which propels an amusing device on the toy, of an inertia wheel mounted on said body portion, and means for operatively connecting said inertia wheel with either of said driven members.

11. In a toy of the character described, the combination, with a body portion, and two driven members rotatably mounted thereon, one of which propels the toy bodily and the other of which propels an amusing device on the toy, of a frame pivotally mounted on said body portion, a shaft journaled in said frame, an inertia wheel mounted on said shaft, and a power transmission device mally engage one or the other of said rotary driven members.

12. In a toy of the character described, the combination, with a body portion, and two driven members rotatably mounted thereon, one of which propels the toy bodily and the other of which propels an amusing device on the toy, of a frame pivotally mounted on said body portion, a shaft journaled in said frame, an inertia wheel mounted on said shaft, a power transmission device mounted on said shaft and arranged to normally engage one or the other of said rotary driven members, a lever mounted on said body portion, and means for operatively connecting saidlever to said frame.

13. In a toy of the character described, the combination, with a body portion, drive wheels supporting the rear end thereof, a pump arranged on said body portion, and a crank wheel mounted on said body portion and operatively connected to the pump, of a. frame pivotally mounted on said body portion, a shaft journaled in said frame and having its ends extending beyond the sides device carried by said shaft and arranged in longitudinal alinement with a drive wheel and crank wheel, an inertia wheel mounted on said shaft, and means for moving said frame about its pivotal center.

14:. In a toy of the character described, the combination, with a body portion, and two driven members mounted thereon, one of which propels the toy bodily and the other of which propels an amusing device on the toy, of a driving member carried by said body portion, a power transmission device connected to said driving member, and means for moving said power transmission device into operative relation with either of said driven members.

15. In a toy of the character described, the combination, with the inertia wheel having a driving device shiftable from one position to another, of traction wheels adapted to be operated by the driving device to run the toy when the inertia wheel is in one position, and means to actuate an amusing device adapted to be operated by the driving device when the inertia wheel is in the other position.

16. In a toy of the character described, the combination, with the inertia wheel having a friction drive shiftable from one position to another, of traction wheels adapted to be operated by the friction drive to run the toy when the inertia wheel is in one position, and means to actuate an amusing device adapted to be operated by the friction drive when the inertia wheel is in the other position.

17. The combination, with a body portion, an inertia wheel, and a shaft for said inertia wheel, of a propelling device adapted to be actuated from said inertia wheel to propel said toy, an amusing device carried by said body portion, and means to actuate said amusing device from said inertia wheel independently of said propelling device to operate said amusing device when the toy is not running.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID I. CLARK.

lNitnesses E. O. HAGAN, EDWARD L. REED.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G.

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