US2570834A - Wheeled animal figure toy - Google Patents

Description

5 M. METH WHEELED ANIMAL FIGURE TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 20, 1950 INVENTOR. MAURICE METH BY fr 4 Q l, o AIIZH VW Oct. 9, 1951 M, METH 2,570,834

I WHEELED ANIMAL FIGURE TOY Filed March 20, 1950 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MAURICE ME 'IH animalsxhead andhas secured to'iits upper end a handlebar [4 of ordinary construction.

Patented Oct. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT O'FFlCE WHEELED FIGURE TOY .Maurice Meth, Bronx, .N..Y.

Application March-20, 1950,'Serial N0. 150,577

"This invention relates to new and useful improvements in toys, and, more particularly, a wheeled toy on which a child-can ride. 7

One object of the invention is the provisio of a wheeled animal figuretoy on whicha child can ride, and which has imparted to it b the rotationof its wheels'a hopping motion peculiar to the animal which it represents.

.Another object of the invention "is the "provision ofm-eans whereby the rider can steer the toy.

Still another object of :the invention is to construct the toy so that only the rear portion thereo'i is moved up and down to provide'the hop-pin motion. .-A still further object of the invention is the provision of meanswhereby the toy can either be pushed or pulled along .by a person other than the rider.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel fea- 'tures of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the toy of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the chassis of the'toy with the animal figure removed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional viewof thechassis on li-ne 3-- 3 of Fig. 2. 4

Fig. 4 is a sectional View of the-chassisonline '4-4 of'Fig. 2. a

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view from beneath'the front end of the chassis.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but 'with-the mechanism concerned with steering the toy in an altered position. i Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentar sectional view on line 8-8 of'Fig. 4 showing the cranl -turned"180.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view'similar toFig.

1 but illustrating means forpushingthe toy.

"The wheeled toy, according to'the first'form 16 :LGlaims. (Cl. 280-147)' of the present invention illustrated in Figsfll "supporting a child thereon. A steering column 13 projects upwardly through the rear of the The legs I5 of the =animal aremounted on.substar-Itially parallel front to rear strap metal frame members 16 of the chassis of the toy, see also Fig. 2. At their front ends, see Fig. 3, the .frame members 16 are secured by bolts II to a cross piece l8 whose ends are turned down andsecu'red by bolts 20 to the upturned ends of a second cross piece 2!. Also secured to the cross piece 2| are the front ends ofthe main chassis frame members '22 which at their rear ends are joined together by a cross bar 23, and have the rear axle'fl journaled therein.

Referring now to Figs. 2,3, 5 and Bathe cross piece "21 has pivoted centrally thereto zbytabolt 25 a longer cross member 26 in whose downturned ends "the 'f-rontaxle 271 is journal'led. Preferably a washer 2'9 is providedb'etween members 21 and M5. Wheels 28 of :any suitablelsort are secured on the outer ends :of the front and'rear axles 21 and 24 preferably by squaring the ends of the axles. 'On either side of the pivot bolt 25 the cross member 16 has pivoted thereto in .anyusuitable mannersuchas by rivets3ll, a :rearwardly ex.- tending steering frame member 3|. The frame members are pivoted at their rear ends to across piece'32. Located above the .crosspiece 32 is another cross bar 33 secured'at its ends to the :main frame members'22 and having the steering column I3 journalled in the center thereof. The lower end ofisaid column is squared as best shown at '3 l -insFig. 7 and fixed in the center of steering frame cross piece-32. A cotter pin 35 is provlded to prevent the column it from being pulled up'out of engagement with the cross "piece 32.

' The construction is such that normally the irontwvheels 2B are in 'tl'ieposition of Fig. '5 to provide straigh t'line travel of the toy, but by turning the handle bar 14 and thereby the steering column l3, the cross 'pieoe'32 is shifted to a position such as that shown in Fig. 6 which by means of the frame members '3] shifts the cross member 26 and thereby the wheels 28 to the turning position of Fig. 6. Thus, the toy can be steered by "the rider thereof through the medium of the handleba l4.

' Means is provided for limiting pivoting of the cross member 26 in either direction for preventing the front wheels 28 from being turned too 'far under the wheeled toy unbalancing the front end thereof resulting in the toy spilling its rider. That means is characterized by pins 22*, see Figs. .2, 3 and 5130 "7, which depend from the bottom faceofthe main frame members '22 in the path of pivotal movement of the cross member 26. Whenthe "cross member "215 "is pivoted in either direction it strikes one of the pins 22 see particularly Fig. 6, limiting pivotal movement of the cross member 26 in that direction.

In the simplest form of the invention the toy may be provided with a pull rope 36 attached to cross piece I8 by means of a hole 31 provided therein, see Figs. 1 and 2, so that the toy, with a child seated thereon, can be pulled along by a second person.

In order that the animal l0, here shown as a horse, can be provided while the same is traveling along on the wheels 28 with a gait similar to that of a horse, the following means are provided.

The rear axle 24, as described hereinbefore, is journalled in the main frame members 22 and has a wheel 28 secured, on either end thereof. The ends of the rear axle 24 are rotatively extended through tubular bushings 38 fixedly mounted through the frame members 22, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8. The axle 24 is offset just inside the frame members to provide a crank, and the offset portion has journalled thereon a pair of connecting rods 40 pivoted each to the inverted U-shaped portions of a one-piece cross frame member 4| by a bolt 42, see also Fig. 8.

The ends of the frame member 4 I, exteriorly of the connecting rods 40, have secured thereto the rear ends of the front to rear frame members [6, which it will be remembered are the ones on which the legs I5 of horse [0 are secured.

The construction is such that members 4| comprise a reciprocating frame moved up and down by the connecting rods 40 as the rear axle 24 rotates.

It will be seen therefore, that as the toy rolls along on wheels 28 the rotation of rear axle 24 will reciprocate the rear portion of the horse up and down through the connecting rods 40, the

frame members 4| and I6 and rear legs l5, so

that a hopping motion similar to the gait of a horse is imparted to the horse-like figure [0.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 9, the toy is provided with a handle whereby it can be pushed about rather than pulled as in the previous form of the invention. The toy is illustrated as having a tubular handle 44 similar to that of a baby carriage, the ends of the handle being flattened as at 45 and secured to the frame bars 22. Struts 46 having one end secured to handle 44 and the other to frame bar 23 preferably are provided to brace the handle.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

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

1. A toy on which a child can ride comprising an anima1 figure, a frame on which said figure is secured, said frame being reciprocable up and down at its rear end to reciprocate the rear portion of the figure up and down and comprising a pair of front to rear members, a cross frame member connecting the rear ends of said front to rear members, a main frame on which the first mentioned frame is mounted at its front end, an auxiliary steering frame pivotally secured to said main frame at the forward end of the latter, a rear axle journalled in said main frame, a front axle journalled in said auxiliary 4 frame, wheels secured on the ends of said axles, steering means including a steering column secured to said auxiliary frame and projecting through the said figure, and a handle bar secured on the upper end of the column, and means actuated by the rotation of the rear wheels to reciprocate the rear end of the figure supporting frame up and down.

2. A toy on which a child can ride comprising an animal figure, a frame. on which said figure is secured, said frame being reciprocable up and down at its rear end to reciprocate the rear portion of the figure up and down and comprising a pair of front to rear members, a cross frame member connecting the rear ends of said front to rear members, said cross frame member having spaced inverted U-shaped members, a main frame on which the first mentioned frame is mounted at its front end, an auxiliary steering frame pivotally secured to said main frame at the forward end of the latter, a rear axle journalled in said main frame, a front axle journalled in said auxiliary frame, wheels secured on the ends of said axles, steering means including a steering column secured to said auxiliary frame and projecting through the said figure, and a handle bar secured on the upper end of the column, and means actuated by the rotation of the rear wheels to reciprocate the rear end of the figure supporting frame up and down, said reciprocating means including a crank-like offset portion of said rear axle and a pair of connectin rods journalled on said offset portion and pivoted to and working between the arms of the U-shaped portions of said cross frame member.

3. A toy on which a child can ride comprising an animal figure, a frame on Which said figure is secured, said frame being reciprocable up and down at its rear end to reciprocate the rear portion of the figure up and dOWn and comprising a pair of front to rear members, a cross frame member connecting the rear ends of said front to rear members, a main frameon which the first mentioned frame is mounted at its front end, said main frame comprising a pair of front to rear members, and front and rear lateral members and a substantially centrally disposed lateral member connecting said front to rear members, an auxiliary steering frame pivotally secured to the cente of said front lateral member, a rear axle journalled in the front to rear members of the main frame, a front axle journalled in said auxiliary frame, wheels secured on the ends of said axles, steering means including a steering column secured to said auxiliary frame and projecting through the said figure, and a handle bar secured on the upper end of the column, and means actuated b the rotation of the rear wheels to reciprocate the rear end of the figure supporting frame up and down.

4. A toy on which a child can ride'comprising an animal figure, a frame on which said figure is secured, said frame being reciprocable up and down at its rear end to reciprocate the rear portion of the figure up and down and comprising a pair of front to rear members, a cross frame member connecting the rear ends of said front to rear members, said cross frame member having spaced inverted U-shaped members, a main frame on which the first mentioned frame is mounted at its front end, said main frame comprising a pair of front to rear members, and front and rear lateral members and a substantially centrally disposedlateral member connecting said front to rear members, an auxiliary steering frame pivotally secured to the center of said front lateral member, a rear axle journalled in the front to rear members of the main frame, a front axle journalled in said auxiliary frame, wheels secured on the ends of said axles, steering means including a steering column secured to said axiliary frame and projecting through the said figure, and a handle bar secured on the upper end of the column, and means actuated by. the rotation of the rear wheels to reciprccate the rear end of the figure supporting frame up and down, said recpirocatin means including a crank-like offset portion of said rear axle and a pair of connecting rods journalled on said offset portion and pivoted to and working between the arms of the U-shaped portions of said cross frame member.

5. A toy on which a child can ride comprising an animal figure, a frame on which said figure is secured, said frame being reciprocable up and down at its rear end to reciprocate the rear portion of the figure up and down and comprising a pair of front to rear members, a cross frame member connecting the rear ends of said front to rear members, said cross frame member having spaced inverted U -shaped members, a main frame on which the first mentioned frame is mounted at its front end, said main frame comprising a pair of front to rear members, and front and rear lateral members and a substantially centrally disposed lateral member connecting said front to rear members, an auxiliary steering frame pivotally secured to the center of said front lateral member, and including a front member pivoted centrally to the main frame front member, a second located below the centrally disposed lateral member of the main frame, and connecting links between the ends of said second member and said auxiliary frame front member, a rear axle journalled in the front to rear members of the main frame, a front axle journalled in said auxiliar frame, wheels secured on the ends of said axles, steering means including a steering column secured to said auxiliary frame and projecting through the said figure, and a handle bar secured on the upper end of the column, and means actuated by the rotation of the rear wheels to reciprocate the rear end of the figure supporting frame up and down, said reriprocating means including a crank-like offset portion of said rear axle and a pair of connecting rods journalled on said offset portion and pivoted to and working between the arms of the U-shaped portions of said cross frame member.

6. A toy on which a child can ride comprising an animal figure, a frame on which said figure is secured, said frame being reciprocable up and down at its rear end to reciprocate the rear portion of the figure up and down and comprising a pair of front to rear members, a cross frame member connecting the rear ends of said front to rear members, said cross frame member having spaced inverted U -shaped members, a main frame on which the first mentioned frame is mounted at its front end, said main frame comprising a pair of front to rear members, and front and rear lateral members and a substantially centrally disposed lateral member connecting said front to rear members, an auxiliary steering frame pivotally secured to the center of said front lateral member, and including a front member pivoted centrally t0 the main frame front member, a second member located below the centrally disposed lateral member of the main frame, and connecting links between the ends of said second member and said auxiliary frame front member, a rear axle journalled in the front to rear members of the main frame, a front axle journalled in said auxiliary frame, wheels secured on the ends of said axles, steering means including a steering column passing through said centrally disposed lateral main frame member and secured to said second member of the auxiliary frame and projecting through the said figure, and a handle bar secured on the upper end of the column, and means actuated by the rotation of the rear wheels to reciprocate the rear end of the figure supportin frame up and down, said reciprocating means including a crank-like offset portion of said rear axle and a pair of connecting rods journalled on said offset portion and pivoted to and working between the arms of the U-shaped portions of said cross frame member.

MAURICE ME'I'H.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,357,110 Niemi Oct. 26, 1920 1,574,843 Nowak et a1. Mar. 2, 1926 1,676,062 Swanson July 3, 1928 1,721,093 Scully July 16, 1929 2,164,313 Duarte July 4, 1939 2,177,552 Ruble Oct. 24, 1939

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