US2775462A - Simulated automobile body toy - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 25, 1956 LA VERNE R. BIASELL SIMULATED AUTOMOBILE BODY TOY Filed July 15, 1954 ulihom INVENTOR. Adi 6771a 2751x367] United States Patent 2,775,462 SIMULATED AUTOMOBILE BODY TOY La Verne R. Biasell, Detroit, Mich. Application July 15, 1954, Serial No. 443,571 7 Claims. Cl. 280-11) This invention relates to a toy which is capable of being mounted on a vehicular toy, as a conventional wagon, tricycle, or the like, and which may be adapted to have the appearance of an automobile, jeep, boat, train, or any other desirable configuration.

It is well known that children enjoy and. get much amusement from the use of toys which simulate vehicles,

.as for example, automobiles. However, the present high cost of such toys makes it impossible for many parents to buy them for their children. Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide an inexpensive device which may be easily and quickly mounted on a conventional Wagon, or the like, so as to convert it into a simulated vehicle, as an automobile, without alteration to the wagon.

It is another object of this invention to provide a toy camouflage construction, substantially composed of a lightweight material, as corrugated paper, fiber board, sheet metal, or the like, which is adapted to be assembled and installed on a toy vehicle without requiring any special skills. 7

It is a further object of this invention to provide a toy structure which will increase the enjoyment and us-ageof a toy vehicle, as a coaster wagon, thereby making it a multipurpose toy.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a camouflage means for a toy vehicle which may be sold in kit form, with the various parts being marked and formed for simple assembly.

It is another object of this invention to provide a toy camouflage comprising, a covering capable of being operatively carried by a toy vehicle, said covering being formed and disposed to simulate a desired configuration, said covering including an opening to permit access to the inside of the covering so that a rider may be seated on the vehicle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, showing a toy camouflage formed to simulate an automobile body and being mounted on a coaster wagon;

Figure 2 is a rear end view of the structure illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial vertical sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 1, taken along the line 3-3 thereof, and showing a typical tab and slot fastening means adapted for use with the illustrative embodiment;

Figure 4 is a partial horizontal sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 1, taken along the line 4-4 thereof, and showing a typical tab and slot fastening means adapted for use with the illustrative embodiment;

Figure 5 is a partial vertical sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 2, taken along the line 5-5 thereof; and

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Figure 6 is a partial vertical sectional view of structure similar to that illustrated in Figure 5, but showing a modification having clips holding the toy camouflage device to the coaster wagon.

While the invention is considered to include all types of desired configurations, the invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the drawing as an automobile. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to such specific automobile structure but is intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions and arrangements falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawing, and especially to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral 10 represents a conventional coaster wagon having a body member 12 upon which is suitably supported the illustrative toy vehicle camouflage structure 14. The camouflage structure 14 comprises a covering including a pair of spaced, substantially vertically disposed side members 16 and 18 which are formed to simulate the outline of the side of an automobile. As is best seen in Figure l, the side members 16 and 18 may be provided with designs on the outer side thereof representing fenders, doors and other appropriate parts of an automobile.

The sidemembers 16 and 18 are connected to a top member 20 by a suitable means, as by means of tabs and slots, as indicated at 22. It will be understood, that the tabs could be disposed on the top member 20 and the slots on the side members 16 and 18, or vice versa, as desired. It will also be understood, that the number of tabs and slots, and the location thereof, may be fixed as desired. As is best seen in Figure 2, the side members 16 and 18 are provided with integral fold-over flaps 25 to provide arm rests for the rider. The flaps 25 may be suitably fastened to the side members 16 and 18, as by tab and slots, as at 27.

The top member 20 may be formed with a front portion 24, hingedly connected thereto, as along the line 26. The top member 20 is preferably provided with designs on the outer side thereof representing an automobile engine hood and grille. A dashboard 28, which may be provided with the usual dashboard indicia, as shown in Figure 2, is hingedly connected to the top member '20, as along the line 30. The dashboard 28 may also be connected to the side members 16 and 18 by means of tabs and slots (not shown).

The illustrative embodiment may also be provided with a windshield 32, which may be suitably fixed to the top and side members, as by tab and slot fastening means 34.

Although the inventionis illustrated as having the front ortion 24 and dashboard 28 hingedly connected to the top member 20, it will be understood, that these parts could be made separately. Likewise, the side members 16 and 18 could comprise a plurality of portions arranged in various planes, if desired. The side members 16 and 18, and the top member 20 are preferably made from any suitable corrugated paper, however, these parts could also be made from fiber board, sheet metal or any other suitable lightweight material.

In order to make the toy camouflage structure rigid, the side members 16 and 18 are provided with extensions 36 and 38 respectively, along the lower side thereof, which are bent inwardly and suitably fastened to the side members, as by means of the tabs 40 and slots 42. As is best seen in Figure 2, the extensions 36 and 38 cooperate with the side members 16 and 18 to form longitudinal stiffening members which are substantially triangular in crosssection, having upper horizontal portions 44 and 46 respectively. The extensions 36 and 38 may be bent to form a stiffening member having a rectangular cross-section if desired, but it has been found that the triangular crosssection affords greater rigidity. It will be obvious that the extensions or panels extend for the entire length of Patented Dec. 25,1956

the side members 16 and 18, and that said panels 36 and 38 could be folded outwardly, if desired.

The top member 20 is provided with an integral panel or extension 48, which is similar to thepanels 36 and 38 but which is folded outwardlyito form asimulate'd'automobile bumper, and is secured to the frontportion 24 by means of self-locking tabs similar to the 'tabs '40.

The camouflage structure 14 is provided .with mounting structure, preferably comprising a pair of laterally disposed cross members 50 and 52 which are'longitudinally spaced, and this is best seen in Figure 2. The lateral crossmembersf50 and 52 may have the outer ends thereof retained in the slots 53 in the longitudinal panelportions'36 and 38 abutting the portions 44 and 46, and be locked in place by any suitable means, as'by nails or pins'54 driven thru the side members and into the ends of the crossmembers. The cross members 59 and'52 are adapted to rest on the upper edge 56 of the wagonbody 12 with the rearWardly disposed cross member 52 serving as a suitable seat memher for the rider of the vehicle. 'It has been found that the Weight of the rider sitting on the rear cross member 52 is suflicient to retain the camouflage structure 14 on the coaster Wagon 10.

Figure 6 shows a modification of the invention wherein the underside of the cross members 50 and 52 is provided with spring clips as 58, which are suitably fi-xed thereto and, which are adapted to grip the upper edge 56 of the wagon body 12 and provide the camouflage structure 14 with a means to anchor it relative to the wagon. It will be understood, that clip 58, as shown in Figure 6, is merely illustrative of one of many types of suitable clips which may be used for this purpose.

Although the illustrative embodiment is shown as not having any back panel, it is obvious that such a panelmay be supplied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The various parts of the novel toy vehicle camouflage structure may be easily assembled into a compact kit for distribution purposes. Because of the fact that all the parts are printed, pre-cut and scored, it will be seen that no special skill is needed to assemble the novel camouflage structure. The tabs 40 and slots 42, which are illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, facilitate assembly of the various parts.

As is best seen in Figure 2, the design of the novel camouflage structure is such that it covers the tongue 60 of the coaster wagon so as to provide room to permit the rider to steer the Wagon. However, the novel camouflage structure is also adapted to allow the tongue 60 to extend forwardly under the front portion 24 of top panel 20 to permit the wagon to be pulled.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims. a

What is claimed is:

1. A childs automobile mockage comprising: a pair of of spaced apart rigid vertical side panels having markings on the outer sides thereof simulating the outlines of the side of an automobile; a third rigid panels being folded at an intermediate part thereof and having one portion connected to said pair of rigid side panels along the front part of the upper edges thereof so as to form a simulated hood of an automobile, and having the other portion connected to the front ends of said pair of rigid side panels to form a simulated automobile grill; said third rigid panel having markings thereof to simulate the hood and grill of an automobile; the lower end portion of the simulated grill being foldable outwardly and up into engagement with said grill portion so as to form a bumper for said mockage; the'lower ends of said pair of rigid side panels being foldable inwardly and up into engagement with the inner sides of said pair of side panels to form longitudinally extending stifleners; and said pair of side panels extending rearwardly of the rearward end of the simulated hood portion to define a .simulated passenger compartment inwhich a child may sit as though in the seat of an automobile.

2. The childs automobile mockage describedin claim 1, in which said hood and grill portions are provided with tabs for fixedly connecting said portions to the pair of rigid side panels, and complementary slots in the rigid side panels for engagement with said tabs.

v3. The childs automobile mockage described in claim 2,

having a fourth panel foldable into a form which simulates a windshield having a pair of simulated no-draft windows on the sides thereof, and a dashboard with dial simulating indicia thereon; and, means for connecting said simulated windshield to the rear edge of the hood portion and the no-draft parts to the spaced apart rigid side panels.

4. The childs automobile mockage described in claim 3, wherein the upper edges of thepair of spaced apart rigid side panels are provided with flaps foldable thereover to provide arm rests for a child sitting in the simulated passenger compartment.

5. The childs automobile mockage described in claim 4, having a pair of cross members fixedly mounted between the longitudinally extending stiifeners with the rearward one'of said cross members adapted to serve as a seat for a child sittingin the simulated passenger compartment.

6. The childs automobile mockage described in claim 5, wherein the longitudinal stiffeners are provided with apertures which are adapted to receive the ends of the cross members; and means for retaining the ends of said cross members in fixed engagement with the rigid side panels.

7. The childs automobile mockage as set forth in claim 6, wherein the cross members are provided with means for securing the mockage on a childs toy wagon or the like.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,420,597 Williams June 20, 1922 1,562,244 Morrill Nov. 17, 1925 2,036,813 Kraeft Apr. 7, 1936 2,080,922 Kraeft May 18, 1937 2,684,243 'Alston July 20, 1954

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