US2234617A - Toy - Google Patents

Description

March 11, 19-41. J BECK ETAL 2,234,617

TOY

Filed May 24 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J 2.3262 ME.POZL'ZZZ J15. fiq yaod IN V EN TORS.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 11 1941 PATENT OFFICE TOY John D. Beck, Marshall E. Powell, and James E. Hagood, Montgomery, Ala.

Application May 24, 1939, Serial No. 275,546

1 Claim.

This invention aims to provide a novel toy in which a projectile or figure is discharged, for engagement with a swinging trapeze, novel means being provided for mounting the trapeze, and novel means being supplied for discharging the figure or projectile, the figure or projectile being so constructed that it will engage with the trapeze and cause the trapeze to turn end-forend.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangment of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in side elevation, a device construeted in accordance with the invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental bottom plan;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan of the projector;

Fig. 5 is an elevation showing one of the projectiles or figures.

The device forming thesubject matter of this application preferably is made of metal throughout, although some other material or construction might be used. The device includes an open bottomed, box-like base I, provided in its top with longitudinal slots 2. Inwardly of the slots 2, brackets 3 are secured to the top of the, base Standards 4 are connected by pivot elements 5 to the brackets 3, said pivot elements being located intermediate the ends of the standards, but nearer to the lower ends of the standards than to the upper ends of the standards. The lower portions of the standards 4 project downwardly through the slots 2 when the device is set up for use, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The upper ends of the standards 4 carry an axle or shaft 6, on which are mounted spacing collars I, abutting against the standards. The standards 4 and the axle 6 constitute a supporting frame for the trapeze hereinafter described.

An operating bar 8 is mounted for longitudinal movement, transversely of the base I, in the side Walls or flanges of the base, the operating bar being guided, also, in a combined bearing and stop 9, secured to the lower surface of the base. The operating bar 8 carries a transverse bracket in, and an anchor H is secured to the lower surface of the base. To the anchor H 5 and to the bracket H] are connected the ends of a pull spring I2.

Latch fingers M are secured to the operating bar 8 and extend transversely thereof, in the same direction as the bracket Ill. The latch 10 fingers M are provided with inclined edges i5, defining transverse shoulders Hi. The end surfaces of the latch fingers l4 engage the lower ends of the standards 4, and hold them in the upright position of Fig. 1, the latch fingers remaining engaged with the lower parts of the standards 4, because of the pull of the spring I2, which keeps the fingers I4 in the position of Figure 3, the bracket l0 engaging the stop 8.

The operator can shove the bar 8 in the directlon of the arrow in Fig. 3, thereby disengaging the ends of the fingers M from the lower parts of the standards 4, and the trapeze frame, including the standards and the shaft 6, can be swung down into approximate parallelism with the base, the device then being capable of being stowed in small compass. When the standards 4 and associated parts are folded, as described, the lower ends of the standards are out of engagement with the latch fingers l4, and above the base I.

In order to erect the standards 4 and connected parts, the operator swings up the standards into the position of Fig. l, the lower ends of the standards passing downwardly through the slots 2. The lower ends of the standards enter ahead of the shoulders I6 and ride along the inclined edges l5 of the latch fingers M, the operating bar 8 being carried in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3. Ultimately, the lower ends of the standards 4 ride off the edges l5 of the fingers l4, and under the impulse of the spring l2, the bar 8 is moved in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, the ends of the latch fingers l4 engaging the lower parts of the standards 4, as in Fig. 3, to hold the standards 4 erected, as in Fig. l.

A rigid, loop-shaped trapeze I1 is mounted midway between its ends, to rotate on the shaft 6, between the spacing collars I. The numeral 18 marks a figure of any desired form weighted at its lower end, as shown at l9, so that the figure will hang in an approximately vertical position, on the lower cross bar of the trapeze H, as shown in Fig. l. The figure I8 is sus pended from the lower cross bar of the trapeze I! by hooks 23, the shanks of which are secured to the plate-like figure l8, the lower ends of the shanks of the hooks having outstanding, rectangularly disposed abutments 2|. There may be as many or as few of the hooks 20 as is desired, but preferably there are two of them. The bill of each hook 20 is closed sufficiently so that the figure I'B cannot escape from the lower cross bar of the trapeze IT. The figure [8 acts as a counterweight, maintaining the trapeze H in the substantially upright position of Fig. 1.

Another figure 22 is provided, and this figure i constructed, in general, like the figure l8, the hook of the figure 22 being left open, so that, when the figure is projected upwardly and forwardly, by a means to be described hereinafter, the hook will engage with the upper cross bar of the trapeze l1. When the figure 22 is projected upwardly and forwardly, to cause its hook 2|] to engage with the upper cross bar of the trapeze ll, the abutment 2| is below the upper cross bar of the trapeze, and the figure or projectile 22 will not be likely to slide upward, clear of the upper cross bar of the trapeze. Considerable skill, however, is required to cause the hook 20 of the figure 22 to engage with the upper cross bar of the trapeze. When the figure 22 is engaged with the upper cross bar of the trapeze l1, there is an impact, which causes the trapeze to turn end-for-end on the shaft or axle 6, the figures l8 and 22 moving around in an orbit, and swinging on the respective cross bars of the trapeze.

It will be noted that the figures l8 and 22 are substantial duplicates, in general construction, saving as to the hooks 20. The hooks by bending, may be made to take the shape shown in connection with the figure l8 or the shape shown in connection with the figure 22. It is unnecessary, therefore, to have structurally different figures, for mounting on the lower cross bar of the trapeze H, or for engagement with the upper cross bar of the trapeze, and the cost of manufacture, therefore, is cut down appreciably.

As to the means for projecting the figure 22, supports 23 are secured to the upper surface of the base I, and in them, a shaft 24 is mounted. A catapult lever 25, of inverted trough shape, is provided, and is fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the shaft 24, for swinging movement between the supports 23. The catapult lever 25 is fulcrumed much nearer to its inner end than to its outer end. The catapult lever 25 is beveled at its inner end, and on its lower edges, as shown at 26, so that the outer end of the lever can have a proper amount of upward movement, before the edge 26 comes into contact with the upper surface of the base I.

The catapult lever 25 is swung from the solid line of position of Fig. 1 to the dotted line position of that figure, by a spring 21, engaged about the shaft 24, one arm of the spring having a bearing underneath the catapult lever 25, and the other arm of the spring having a bearing on the top of the base I. Adjacent to its outer end, the catapult lever 25 is provided with transverse retainers 28, defining a seat, in which the lower end of the figure or projectile 22 is detachably lodged. The catapult lever 25 is maintained releasably in the cocked position of Fig. 1, by means of a spring trigger 29, secured to the base I and engaging the outer end of the lever 25.

When the trigger 29 is detached from the catapult lever 25, the figure 22 is projected upwardly as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, under the impulse of the spring 21, the hook 211 of the figure 22 engaging the upper cross bar of the trapeze H, the trapeze being caused to turn endfor-end on the shaft or axle 6, the figures 22 and I8 being caused to move in an orbit, the said figures, each, retaining a substantially upright position on one of the cross bars of the trapeze, because the figures are counterweighted at their lower ends, as indicated at IS.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is simple in construction and may be turned out at small expense. Considerable skill is required in engaging the figure 22 with the upper cross bar of the trapeze H, but the abutment 2| on the figure 22 functions to prevent the playing of the game from being so difiicult a to discourage the player.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In a support for a toy trapeze, a base, a frame, means for mounting the frame on the base for folding movement, intermediate its ends, an operating member mounted for right line sliding movement on the base, latch fingers on the operating member and engaged terminally with the lower portions with the frame, to hold the frame upright, the fingers having inclined side edges wherewith the lower portions of the frame cooperate, as the frame is erected, thereby to move the operating member longitudinally and permit the lower portions of the frame to engage positively with the ends of the fingers, and spring means assembled with the base and with the operating member to hold the ends of the fingers engaged with the lower parts of the frame When the frame is erected, and to hold the lower portions of the frame in cooperation with the inclined edges, when the frame is folded.

JOHN D. BECK. MARSHALL E. POWELL. JAMES E. HAGOOD.

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