US1494299A - Merry-go-round - Google Patents

Description

May 13 1924. I 1,494,299

' W. l. WILLIAMS MERRY-GO-ROUND Filed June 24 2'122' 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSLP. ATTORNEY May 13 1924. 1,494,299

w. I. WILLIAMS MERRYGO-ROUND Filed June 24 MP2 3 Sheets-Shae 2 jflfiilliama INVENTOR w TNE W n ATTORNEY May 13, 1924. 1,494,299

W. l. WILLIAMS MERRY -GOROUND Filed June 24 15192 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 jzzmzziama v v INVENTOR 3 ayfleaj m ATTORNEY Y Patented May 13, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WESLEY I. WILLIAMS, OF CALDWELL, KANSAS.

' MERRY-GO-ROUND.

Application filed June 24, .1922. Serial No. 570,588.

Caldwell, in the county of Sumner and- State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Merry-Go-Rounds, of which the following'is a specification.

The object of my said invention is the provision of a merry-go-round embodying a peculiar and advantageous construction whereby children seated on the rotary frame of the apparatus are enabled by oscillating levers, one lever to each child, to rotate the rotar frame about a center. The speed of rotation of the rotary frame is controlled by the speed ofthe said levers, and the apparatus as a whole is adapted to afford great amusement as well as exercise to a group of children. I

To the attainment of the foregoing, the invention consists in the improvement as hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification Figure 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus constituting the best practical embodiment of my invention that I have as yet devised.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same. F i ure 3 is a detail elevation of one of the c ild-operated levers of the apparatus.

Figure 4 comprises detail views of the rotary head to which the lever bars of the apparatus are connected.

Figures 5, and 6 are views of details hereinafter explicitly referred to.

Figure 7 comprises detail views of a modified rotary head.

Similar numerals designate corresponding parts in Figures 1 to 6 to which reference will first be made.

In furtherance of my invention I employ a base 1 of concrete or other appropriate material, and on the base 1 I fix a pedestal 2 of metal, the said pedestal 2 carrying a central post 3 which is fixed in and to the pedestal 2 and rises therefrom as illustrated.

The upper end portion 4 of the post 3 is of angular form in cross-section and is preferably stepped, the latter as indicated by 5 The portion of the post 3 between the pedestal 2 and the portion 4 is of circular form in cross-section.

In association with the central post 3 I employ a frame that is rotatable about the.

post as a center. This rotatable frame comprises a sleeve 6, radial bars 7, and stays 8. At its lower end the sleeve 6 is provided with a radial enlargement 9 in which are sockets 10. At its upper end the sleeve 6 is provided with a cup-shaped enlargement 11, sald enlargement 11 having a drain aperture 12in its bottom. The enlargement 9 is chambered at its underside as indicated by 13 for the reception of an appropriate anti.- frlction equipment 14 which is interposed between the post 3 and the enlargement 9 and preferably includes an annulus 15 of felt, and felt retaining member 16. At 17 and 18 oil cups are preferably connected with the sleeve 6 as shown in Figure 2. An anti-friction equipment 19 is arranged in a chamber of the upper enlargement 11 and is interposed between said enlargement 11 and the post 3. Manifestly in virtue of the construction described the sleeve 6 is adapted to freely turn about the post 3. The frame bars 7 are preferably tubular and are equipped by preference with reenforcing sections 7 riveted in the bars 7, as indicated by 20 in Figure 2. The said rivets 20 also serve to fix to and on the bars 7 standards 21 for a purpose hereinafter set forth. The outer end portions of the frame bars 7 are directed upwardly as clearly brought out in Figure 2, and in the said upwardly directed ends of the bars seat bases 22 are socketed and preferably connected at 23, the. said seat bases 22 being flanged at their upper ends and connected to seats 24 which are superimposed on the bases 22 as illustrated. The stays 8 are interposed between the standards 21 and the sleeve enlargement 11 and are appropriately connected thereto as illustrated. It will also be noted that the frame bars 7 are connected to the sleeve enlargement 9 by bolts 25, though other approved connections may be employed without involving departure from the scope of my claimed invention. \Vhen desired the sleeve enlargement 11 may be utilized to contain lubricant in which event the drain 12 will of course be properly valved. Arranged over the said sleeve enlargement 11 is an annular cap 26 on which is a skirt flange 27 to surintermediate point of its length on each standard 21 and arranged between said standard 21 and the'adjacent seat 24 is a lever 28. The said levers 28 are identical in construction and therefore a detailed description of the lever 28 shown in Figure 3 will suifice to impart a definite understanding of all. By particular reference to Figure 3 it will be noted that the lever 28 therein shown comprises a body 29 formed of side by side portions of metal which portions are riveted or otherwise connected together as indicated by 30. At their upper ends the said portions 29 are provided with offsets 31 to receive a rod 32 on which is retained tubular and rotary hand grasps 33, the said hand grasps 33 being disposed at opposite sides of the offsets 31. A similar handle 34 is carried by the body portions 29, the said handles being adapted to be used alternately by the same child, and being also designed for use by children of different ages and sizes. At their lower ends the body portions 29 are provided with pendent offsets 35 which terminate at their lower ends in pedals 36, connected together by a brace bar 37. It Will also be noticed that the said offset portions 35 are provided at intermediate points in their lengths with pedals 38. In this connection it will be understood that the pedals 36 and 38 are to be used by children of different ages and sizes; it will also be understood that the levers 28 are to be oscillated through the medium of the hands and feet of children disposed in the seats 24.

Mounted on the angular upper portion 4 of the central post 3 and held against rotation thereby is a cap 40 on which is a lateral arm 41 having a socket 42. Said cap 40 is secured on the post 3 by a headed bolt 43, the shank of which is let into a threaded socket 44 in the upper end of post 3.

Arranged in the socket 42 of the cap arm 41 and extending outwardly therefrom is a bar 45 on which is an upright 46 of circular form in horizontal section.

Mounted to rotate on and about the upright 46 is a rotary head 48 between which and the upright 46 is interposed an appropriate anti-friction equipment 49. It will be noticed here that theupright 46 is arranged considerably ofl' the center of movement of the sleeve 6, and it will also be noticed that lever bars 50 are interposed be tween and connected to the upper arms of the levers 28 and the head 48, the inner ends of the said lever bars 50 being arranged in sockets of the head 48 and pivotally connected thereto at 51. When deemed expedi cut or desirable the rotary head 48*, Figure 7, may be employed-in lieu of the rotary head 48.

In the practical operation of my novel merry-go-round or amusement and exercisraagaee ing apparatus it will be manifest that when the levers 28 are oscillated by children disposed in the seats 24, the rotary frame as a unit will be turned about the central post 3, this result being brought about by the pushing and pulling action of the bars 50 on the rotary head 48. It will also be understood that the speed of rotation of the rotary frame may be controlled by the children through the medium of the levers 28 and that in addition to affording amusement and exhilaration to the children the apparatus provides exercise that will call into play practically all of the muscles of the body.

I have entered into a detailed description of the construction and relative arrangement of the parts embraced in the present and preferred embodiment of my invention in order to impart a full, clear and exact understanding of the said embodiment. I do not desire, however, to be understood as confining myself to the said specific construction and relative arrangement of parts inasmuch as in the future practice of the invention various changes and modifications may be made such as fall within the scope of my invention as defined in my appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patcut, is

1. The combination in a merry-go-round, of a central fixed post, a frame rotatable about said fixed post, seats carried on the outer portion of said frame, levers mounted on the frame and positioned adjacent to the seats, a rotary head having a fixed center of movement off the center of movement of the rotary frame, and bars interposed between and connected to the said levers and the rotary head.

2. The combination in a merry-go-round, of a central fixed post, a frame rotatable about said fixed post, seats carried on the outer portion of said frame, levers mounted on the frame and positioned adjacent to the seats, an upright of circular form in horizontal section arranged off the center of movement of the rotary frame and connected with and supported by said fixed post, a head supported by and rotatable about said upright, and bars interposed between and connected to the levers and said rotary head.

3. The combination in a merry-go-round,

v of a central fixed post, a frame rotatable about said fixed post, seats carried on the outer portion of said frame, levers mounted on the frame and positioned adjacent to the seats, a cap fixed on said fixed post and having a lateral arm containing a socket, a bar arranged in said socket and terminating in an upright of circular form in horizontal section arranged off the center of movement of the rotary frame, a rotary upright, and bars interposed between the levers and the rotary head and connected ,to

the same.

4. The combination in a merry-go-round, of a pedestal, a fixed upright post carried by and extending above said pedestal, a sleeve mounted on the post, anti-friction equipments between the lower and upper portions of the sleeve and the post, frame bars connected to and extending radially from the lower portion of the sleeve, standards "on said bars, seats on the bars outwardly beyond said standards, levers fulcrumed on said standards, stays interposed between the upper portion of the sleeve and the standards, a rotary head connected with and supported by the post and arranged off the center of movement of the frame formed by the sleeve, bars, standards and stays, and bars interposed between and connecting the levers and the said rotary head.

5. The combination in a merry-go-round, of a pedestal, a fixed upright post carried by and extending above said pedestal, a sleeve mounted on the post, anti-friction equipments between the lower and upper portions of the sleeve and the post, frame bars connected to and extending radially from the lower portion of the sleeve, standards on said bars, seats on the bars outwardly beyond said standards, levers fulcrumed on said standards, stays interposed between the upper portion of the sleeve and the standards, a rotary head connected with and supported by the post and arranged off the center of movement of the frame formed by the sleeve, bars, standards and stays, and bars interposed between and connecting the levers and the said rotary head; the said bars of the rotary frame being tubular and being provided opposite the standards with interior reenforcements connected with the frame bars and the standards.

6. The combination in a merry-go-round, of a pedestal, a fixed upright post carried by and extending above said pedestal, a sleeve mounted on the post, anti-friction equipments between the lower and upper portions of the sleeve and the post, frame bars connected to and extending radially from the lower portion of the sleeve, standards on said bars, seats on the bars outwardly beyond said standards, levers fulcrumed on said standards, stays interposed between the upper portion of the sleeve and the standards, a rotary head connected with and supported by the post and arranged otf the. center of movement of the frame formed by the sleeve, bars, standards and stays, and bars interposed between and connecting the levers and the said rotary head; the said frame bars being tubular and having upwardly. directed outer portions, and the said seats being provided at their undersides with bases socketed insaid upwardly extending portions of the frame bars.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WESLEY I. WILLIAMS.

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