US2545231A - Child's riding toy - Google Patents

Description

March 13, 1951 v. GLUMER ETAL' CHILDS RIDING TOY Filed Jan. 12, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ausiava lziumer Patented Mar. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES OFFICE CHILDS RIDING TOY Gustavo Vasquez Glumer and J os Mario Romero,

Mexico City, Mexico This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in mechanical riding toys, which comprise a body structure and supporting frame, improvements in the mechanical means for the more complete utilization of the rider's movements. and directional front legs, which combined provide a mechanical riding toy of more efficient design and construction.

Known mechanical riding toys lack a body structure providing adequate support of the leg frames, resilient means and body shell, said designs comprising pivotally mounted legs which spread apart when the child bounces down and springs to return the legs to their normal position. The mechanism is designed to operate by the difference in the spring tension and the weight of the child bouncing down, lacking any means for multiplying and further utilizing the childs force, as well as steering the assembly, by the displacement of the front legs.

This invention comprises a new combination of mechanical means to provide the riding toy with an efiicient steering system, and lever means which multiply the childs force, allowing a perfect control of the movement of the toy.

An object of this invention is to provide a riding toy with a front drive comprising its own resilient means, independent of the frame structure, and rotatably mounted with the front leg frames.

Another object of this invention is to provide front directional means which support the resilient means used for the operation of the front legs, said means and legs rotatably mounted on the frame structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide front steering means combined with the front rollers in the leg frames.

A further object of this invention is to provide the means to steer the riding toy by rotatably mounted roller housings, with a lateral displacement limited by stop pins operating in the front leg structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination of pivotally mounted leg structures which comprise a leverage system which multiplies all the force developed by the childs vertical displacement.

. A further object of this invention is to provide a combination of pivotally mounted leg structures and resilient means acting on said structures,

I provide in a riding toy, mechanical steering means controlled and operated by the reins-of the toy,

Claims. (Cl. 2801.183)

2 further enhancing the imitation of the natural riding actions.

With the above and other objects in view, our

invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away and in section, of the skeleton frame structure for a riding toy constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section of the frame structure taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 3, V

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a schematic view of the device,

, Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section of the lower end of a leg,

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken'on the line 66 of Figure 5,

Figure '7 is a fragmentary vertical section of the front portion of a modified form of this invention,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the front portion of another modification of this invention. 7

Referring to the drawings and first to Figures 1- to fi'inclusivefthe numeral Ill designates generally a frame or chassis structure which includes a, substantially V-shaped horizontally disposed body member I! forming the back of the device.

'The V-shaped body II is extended upwardly as indicated at 12, to provide the neck support and the extension or neck forming member l2 at its upper end is bent downwardly and forwardly to provide a head frame or supporting member l3.

The body II at its rear end is formed with a "pair of outwardly extending and downwardly curved arms I4 and is formed at its forward end -on a pair of pivot members l9 which are carried by the lower ends of the arms l4, and the legs H! are extendedforwardly from the pivot members l9, as indicated at 20. The extensions 26' are connected together by means of a connecting 'bar 2!, and a pair of stirrups 22 are dependingly secured to the forward end portions of the extensions or arms 20.

The legs [8 which are adapted to rock in unison 3 are yieldably mounted by means of a bowed spring 23 which is secured as at 24 to the upper side of the plate 56. The spring 23 is formed at its rear lower end with a tube 25 through which a bolt 26 which extends between the legs I8 is adapted to engage. A spring tensioning bolt 21 is threaded through the extension a! land engages against the 'lower side of the spring [23 forwardly of the securing bolts or members 24.

The forward arms I of the body II are connected together by a connecting plate 28,. and the plate 28 has extending upwardly from the center thereof a, bushing 29. A pair of .-Ifr. 3B are connected together by means of apairrof connecting bolts or bars 3| and 32, the latter bolt being connected to the'rear ends :oftheleg extensions 33. The legs 30 are rockably mounted on a shaft 3A which is connected between .theeextensions 33, and the shaft 34 engages through a .plate .35 which .is {loosely disposed .between .the leg extensions 33.

'I-he;-plate.3.5.has extendedeupwardly therefrom a -pivotshaftzor stud 35 which-loosely engages in the bushing 29. Apin .31 is extended through the upper portion of the stud 35 :for .-holding .this stud against downward movement :with respect to the bushing 29, and a thrust washermember .33 is-interposed :between the :upper side of :the plate 555 and {the ;lower aside =of Tthe Y connecting pIatGJZB.

The legs 30 are yieldablyrur-ged to normal-positionibyemeans of a :bowed spring .239 -which .-at:.one end :is mountedeon the .bolt or connecting :member 32, and at the other end is-securedby fastensing members All 3120 an upstandingplate 4 I ,carried by the plate 35. The ,plate :41 has extending obtusely :and rearwardly :therefrom :a ,plate 42 which-is-formedtwith oppositely extendingears 43. A spring tensioning bolt 21..is .threaded through plate :42 .and rengages :spring 3.! for tensioning this spring. The head forming.:member ri3 has :mounted through the :forward lower end .thereof a shaft 44 on-whioh .a pair, of bellcranks -45 .and

46 are rockably mounted.

:AJcracing bar 41 -is connected between .the-forward -.end :of the head .forming ,member l3 .and the upper portion of the neck member .42. The bellcranks 45 and 46 have :oppositely extending rear :end members s4.8.and 4 9 respectively: and the extension 148 .is connected :to sons of the .ears A3 by .means :of a iconnectin'g :rod 50, whereas .the extension or lever 49:isconnecte,d to theopposite car :43 :by means v.of a connecting 1rodor link 5:1. The-loweriendsof ,thehellcrank members-Hand .45 have secured thereto a lfiexible :member .52 ccomprisingi-the vrein and providing the .,means by which the toyz-maybe steered.

In=order .to provide .for forward movement of (the :device by =rocking .of :-,the legs l8 and 30, zthe -lower :ends .of each deg have .mounted thereon wheels-'orfrollers 53. The ro1lers53 are-mounted onashaft 54'carried byra u-shaped member.55, :andthe ut-shaped member 5.5 whichsis disposed in inverted position .has iextending upwardly therefrom a shank or stud 56 engaging within the low-eriendeofia tubular leg.

-A setscrew :5! is threaded into theishankeor :stud .56 and the .lowerend of the leg ,is formed with an arcuate -slo.t'-'5B so that the-shank 5.6..may have limited turning movement.

"The wheel 53 .-is adapted 1130 be progressively rotated -in:onedirection .1113011 rockingof the le s by means of a ratchet wheel 59 which 515 fixed relative to the wheel 53. A 'pawl liflis pivotally :mounted :on -a pivot ,6! .extending between the arms of the U-shaped member 55 and is constantly urged to ratchet engaging position by means of a spring 62.

The front arms l5 of the body frame have extending from the front and rear edges thereof stop members 63 and 64 which are adapted to iengage the frontilegs 30 ;SOaS';t0'1imit.th9 rocking .movement of these legs. The rear arms I4 have extending outwardly therefrom front and rear - stop members 65 and 66 respectively which engage the upper ends of the legs [8 to limit the rockingmovement of these legs in opposite direc- -tions.

JReferring now to Figure 7 there is disclosed a modified form of this invention wherein the ;.pl'ate=3-5a'd1as'extending upwardly from the rear portion'thereof an arm Ma and an extension 42a extendszangularly and rearwardly from the upper end of the arm 41a. A connecting bar 6! is con- .nectedbetween itherearwardly.extending arms or -levers 33a. of the .frontlegs 30a..and .a .coilspring .58 .isinterposed between :the .bar .61 and :the sextension 42a. Aspringtens'ioning ibolt Behaving anut In ,threadedon .thelower end thereof .ex-

' tends.betweentheibarlfi'l and 'the .extensionl42a.

,Referringnow to Figure v8 jthereis disclosed another modification of this invention wherein .the frontlegsfillb have .flispose'd therebetween a plate .2351) and .the plate 3512 .has extending from .Qpposite ends thereof Itrunnions $341). v,A coil spring .1! iscdis osed .about one of the trunnions 34b andis formed with alaterally extending .zend v.72 engaging beneath ..one .of the .front .leg .exten- .sions oriarms 331).. Theoppositeiend 13 of .the .spring .1! .is engaged withialug .14 which is .car- .ried Joy wthe plate. 35b.

-In .the use and .operation of this :toy, the child .or othenperson wilLseatonthe.covering for .the body frame I0, it lbeing understood .that this .covering willengage over .the bodyand the llegs .may .also beenclosedin. a suitable .covering which .maybe .cfflexibleconstruction. so as .to .beiormed integral .with.the..body:.covering. fIThe rider will place his .feet within Lthemstirrups Q22 .and when the riders .weig'htisshifted :lforwardlysmthat the weight is married substantially entirely by the stirrups 22 the extensions .er ;.lev:ers 20 .will be rocked downwardly about the pivots J9. This will cause the rear legs l8 to rock downwardlynt .their upper ends, .and at .the .same {time the .for-

wardshiftingof the .riderls .weight wilLcause the front .leg -extensions.,33 .to. rock downwardly .with upward .and forward movement .of 'the front legs 30.

The unidirectional .wheelsfiii iwill holdthe. rear v.legs L3 Fagainst rearward movement whereas the front wheels 53 may freely rolloforwardlythereby effecting forward .movement .of the front legs .without movementiof the rear Ilegs .IB. When the riders .weightis. shifted .from .the..,stirrups to the rear of .the .body thesprings123 .and 39 will tend to raise the body relative to the .legs. .As .thebody is raised .by theJsprings .23 and .39 the unidirectional wheels 53 :will prevent .rearward movement -.of .the lower .ends of the front legs 3.0 .while :thelower .ends of the .rear legs .48 .are..Permitted to move forwardly. In this .manner the alternate shiftingof .the weight from .thestirrups will effect .up .and .down .movement of the body and also effect the spreading and contracting ..of the .legs with for-ward .movement ,provided through the :unidirectional wheels.

The device mayzbez steeredbytpulling .on either .of .thebellcrank members 45 or-48 :which =will-turn the zfrontlrags fill. IIhis:device will proyidaa toy simulating the movement of a horse or other animal and this toy can be readily moved forwardly by up and down movement of the rider which may be accelerated by pressure on the stirrups 22. The device may be steered as hereinbefore described so that the toy may be moved forwardly and turned as may be desired by the rider.

Due to the fact that the distance of the connection between the stirrup 22 on the arms and pivot I9 is greater than the distance of the connection between spring 23 and pivot IS, the force developed by the child is multiplied several times. The movement of the leg structures resembles the movement of a galloping horse, with its peculiar alternating movement of the front and rear leg structures.

We do not mean to confine ourselves to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

l. A riding toy simulating a horse or other quadruped comprising a body frame, fixed neck and head frames projecting from said body frame, a pair of rear legs, pivot means rockably securing said rear legs to said body frame, arms fixed relative to said rear legs and extending forwardly of said pivot means, stirrups dependingly carried by said arms at the forward ends thereof, a spring connected at one end to said legs rearwardly of said pivot means and at its other end to said body frame, a pair of front legs, a plate disposed between said front legs, horizontal pivot means for said front legs carried by said plate, an upstanding stud fixed to said plate and rotatably engaging said body frame, a spring connected at one end to the rear ends of said front legs rearwardly of said horizontal pivot means and at its other end to said plate, steering means carried by said head frame connected with said plate for turning the latter about said stud,

and unidirectional wheel means mounted on each of said legs whereby vertical rocking of said legs will effect linear movement in one direction.

2. A riding toy simulating a horse or other quadruped comprising a body frame, fixed neck and head frames projecting from said body frame, a pair of rear legs, pivot means rockably mounting the upper ends of said legs on the rear of said body frame, arms fixed to said rear legs and extending forwardly of said pivot means, stirrups dependingly carried by said arms, a spring connected at one end to said rear legs rearwardly of said pivot means and connected at its other end to said body frame, a swingable plate pivotally carried by the front portion of said body frame for rotation about a vertical axis, a pair of front legs, means rockably mounting said front legs on said plate, rearwardly projecting extensions carried by said front legs, a spring connected at one end to said extensions and atits other end to said plate, means connected between said head frame and said plate for turning the latter about said vertical axis, and unidirectional wheels carried by the lower ends of said front and rear legs.

3. A riding toy simulating a horse or other quadruped comprising a body frame, fixed neck and head frames, projecting from said body frame, a pair of rear legs rockably carried on a pivot of said body frame, arms fixed relative to said rear legs and extending forwardly of said pivot, stirrups dependingly carried by said arms at the forward end thereof, a spring connected at one end to said rear legs, rearwardly of said pivot and at its other end to said body frame, a vertical stud at the forward end of said body frame, a horizontal plate pivotally engaging said stud, a pair of front legs, pivot means rockably mounting said front legs on said plate, a spring connected between said front legs and said plate, means carried by said head frame and connected to said plate for turning said plate about said stud, and means for tensioning both of said springs.

4..A riding toy simulating a horse or other quadruped comprising a body frame, fixed neck and head frames projecting from said body frame, a pair of rear legs rockably carried on a pivot of said body frame, arms fixed relative to said rear legs and extending forwardly of said pivot, stirrups dependingly carried by said arms at the forward end thereof, a spring connected at one end to said rear legs rearwardly of said pivot and at its other end to said body frame, a vertical stud at the forward end of said body frame, a horizontal plate pivotally engaging said stud, a pair of front legs, pivot means rockably mounting said front legs on said plate, a spring connected between said front legs and said plate, means carried by said head frame and connected to said plate for turning said plate about said stud, means for tensioning both of said springs, and stop means carried by said body frame for limiting the rocking of said front and rear legs about said pivots.

5. A riding toy simulating a horse or other quadruped comprising a body frame, fixed neck and head frames projecting from said body frame, a pair of rear legs rockably carried on a pivot of said body frame, arms fixed relative to said rear legs and extending forwardly of said pivot, stirrups dependingly carried by said arms at the forward end thereof, a spring connected at one end to said rear legs rearwardly of said pivot and at its other end to said body frame, a vertical stud at the forward end of said body frame, a horizontal plate pivotally engaging said stud, a pair of front legs, pivot means rockably mounting said front legs on said plate, a spring connected between said front legs and said plate, means carried by said head frame and connected to said plate for turning'said plate about said stud, means for tensioning both of said springs, stop means carried by said body frame for limiting the rocking of said front and rear legs about said pivots, rollers carried by said front and rear legs, pawl and ratchet means for limiting rotation of said rollers in the forward direction upon rocking of said front and rear legs, a vertical pivotal connection between said rollers and said front and rear legs, and means limiting the turning of said rollers about the vertical axis of said connection.

GUSTAVO VASQUEZ GLUMER. JosE' MARIO ROMERO.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 930,265 Badger Aug. 3, 1909 948,257 Smith Feb. 1, 1910 1,337,479 Lumis Apr. 20, 1920 2,450,674 Manfredi Oct. 5, 1948

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