US3108802A

US3108802A - Teeter scooter

Info

Publication number: US3108802A
Application number: US157392A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles F Sundquist
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-12-06
Filing date: 1961-12-06
Publication date: 1963-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 1980-10-29

Description

Oct. 29, 1963 c. F. SUNDQUISYT 3,108,802

TEETER SCOOTER Filed Dec. 6, 1961 v INVEN TOR. CHARLES FTSunmowsr United States Patent Filed Dec. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 157,392 4 Claims. (Cl. 272-1) This invention relates generally to amusement devices and more specifically to amusement locomotion devices.

One object of the present invention is to provide a teeter scooter for use by children or adults wherewith a person may try to walk in an amusing manner which will test his skill and develop his ability in bodily movements and balance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a teeter scooter which will promote physical development and physical skill in children.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a teeter scooter which when used competitively in sports proves of great amusement or may be used individually.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a teeter scooter bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture, has value and efiiciency in operation and use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top elevational view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, the numeral represents a teeter scooter according to the present invention wherein there is a'horizontally extending frame 11 which may be made of a strong wooden board or the like. The frame 11 is comprised of a top and

bottom sides

12 and 13 respectively and side edges 14 which may be in a pleasing arcuate contour, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing. At each opposite end of the frame 11 is an enlarged circular portion 15; on the upper side of the circular portion 15 there is attached a

foot supporting disc

16 and 17, each of said

discs

16 and 17 being affixed to the circular portions 15 rotatively free by means of a pin 18 at the center of the disc. The upper surface of the disc may be made of rubber or other equivalent material to prevent the operators foot from slipping thereon. A pair of

base elements

19 and 20 are affixed to the frame 11 at a point between the longitudinal center of the frame and the foot supporting discs at each end thereof. Each of the base elements is com prised of a base plate 21 and an upstanding standard 22 on the upper side of the base plate. Each of the standards 22 is provided with a horizontally extending opening through which a pin 23 extends, the pin communicating with a swivel element 23' which is rotatively supported upon the pin. The swivel element 23' has a vertically extending pin 24 which extends rotatively free into a vertically extending opening 25 made in the horizontal frame.

Thus, relative movement is possible between the horizontal frame and each of the base elements which is "ice pivotal vertically and pivotal horizontally. It is to be noted that rotatable movement in a horizontal plane is possible between the foot supporting discs and the circular portions of the horizontal frame. It is to be understood that the present device may be made entirely of wood or in combination with other materials, such as rubber or metal.

In operation a person or child stands upon the teeter scooter in a manner placing one foot upon each of the foot supporting discs. He then attempts to walk by gently lifting one of his feet causing the foot supporting disc beneath the lifted foot to rise together therewith. This is due to the weight of the other foot upon the other foot supporting disc causing the base element adjacent the foot remaining on the foot supporting disc to serve as a fulcrum. Thus, the persons weight, for example, placed on one foot standing on disc 16 while raising the foot from disc 17 will cause the frame 11 to pivot about the fulcrum at base element 19. The disc 16 descending and the disc 17 ascending. By lifting his foot gradually and controlling his balance the person can then, with his lifted foot, move the disc 17 forwardly. This is accomplished by the entire device pivoting horizontally about the pin 24 in the base element 19. At the same time each of the

discs

16 and 17 is free to pivot horizontally about its respective pins 18. Having moved forwardly the person may then lower his raised foot bringing the disc 17 downward until the base element 20 meets the ground at a point forwardly from where it had originally been. The person then repeats the operation with his other foot. Thus, in sequence by performing the op eration with the left and the right foot, a person can walk with the present device.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a teeter scooter the combination of a horizontal frame, a foot supporting disc at each end of said frame, each of said foot supporting discs being horizontally pivotable relative to said horizontal frame, a pair of base elements on the underside of said horizontal frame, each of said base elements being pivotally free in horizontal and vertical planes respective to the said horizontal frame, each of said base elements being affixed to said horizontal plane between the longitudinal center of said frame and said foot supporting disc alfixed at each end of said frame and the lower side of each of said base elements being engageable with a floor or upon the ground.

2. In a teeter scooter, the combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said horizontal frame comprises a longitudinal member, an enlarged circular portion at each extreme longitudinal end thereof, vertically extending openings through the center of each of said circular portions and a pair of additional vertically extending openings each of which is at a point between the longitudinal center of said horizontal frame and said enlarged circular portions, said horizontal frame being made of wood.

3. In a teeter scooter the combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said foot supporting discs comprises a circular panel, an upper portion of non-slip material and a vertically extending pin at the center of each of said disc, said pin depending downwardly for engagement with said opening in said enlarged end portion of said horizontal frame.

4. In a teeter scooter the combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said base elements comprises a base plate for placement adjacent a floor or ground, a vertically extending standard on the upper side of said base plate, a horizontally extending pin affixed in said standard, a swivel element pivotally free and supported on said horizontal pin, said swivel element having an upwardly extending pin, said upwardly extending pin being engageable within each said vertically extending opening in said horizontal frame between said longitudinal center of said horizontal frame and said enlarged circular 5 portion. v

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Katz Mar. 29, 1960 2,941,801 Pederson June 21, 1960

Claims

1. IN A TEETER SCOOTER THE COMBINATION OF A HORIZONTAL FRAME, A FOOT SUPPORTING DISC AT EACH END OF SAID FRAME, EACH OF SAID FOOT SUPPORTING DISCS BEING HORIZONTALLY PIVOTABLE RELATIVE TO SAID HORIZONTAL FRAME, A PAIR OF BASE ELEMENTS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID HORIZONTAL FRAME, EACH OF SAID BASE ELEMENTS BEING PIVOTALLY FREE IN HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL PLANES RESPECTIVE TO THE SAID HORIZONTAL FRAME, EACH OF SAID BASE ELEMENTS BEING AFFIXED TO SAID HORIZONTAL PLANE BETWEEN THE LONGITUDINAL CENTER OF SAID FRAME AND SAID FOOT SUPPORTING DISC AFFIXED AT EACH END OF SAID FRAME AND THE LOWER SIDE OF EACH OF SAID BASE ELEMENTS BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH A FLOOR OR UPON THE GROUND.