US3071890A - Combination toy farm building and material handling device - Google Patents

Description

D- COHN 3,071,890 COMBINATION TOY BUILDING AND MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Jan. 8, 1963 Filed Aug. 24, 1961 INV EN TOR. Da u-Ld j Cob/7 gmzufl ,4. Aim/z AT TQKNE Y United States Patent ()fifice 3,071,890- Patented Jan. 8, 1963 3,071,890 COMBINATION TOY FARM BUILDING AND MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE David Cohn, 123 Coleridge St., Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed Aug. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 133,688 Claims. (CI. 46-40) This invention relates to toy sets, and more particularly to mechanized farm buildings of toy farm sets.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved combination with a toy farm building of a lift and carrier device which combines simplicity and automation to effect a realistic loading and unloading of a farm or like building.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved toy farm building and material handling combination as above set forth, wherein there is combined a plurality of movements such as lifting, carrying, lowering, etc. in one continuous operation to effect storage of objects in, or removal of objects from, the farm or building.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel combination of a farm building and material handling device in accordance with the foregoing, wherein there are involved relatively few components and wherein the said components may be economically fabricated of plastic moldings to the greatest possible extent.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved combination toy building and material handling device as characterized, wherein the smallest number of moving parts are involved, making for reliable and trouble-free operation with a minimum of servicing or repair.

Other features'and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification similar characters of reference are used to designate like components or portions throughout the several views, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a farm building or barn, and material handling device incorporated therein as provided by the invention.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and showing a fragmentary top plan view of the main beam or support assembly of the material handling device.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail in side elevation, showing an automatic catch device provided in the material handling means.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 55 ofFIG. 1. v

the opening 30 of the end wall 16 of the barn and projects from the end of the building, as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, the beam 34 may be advantageously constructed so as to have an H-section whereby FIG. 6 is a detail showing in side elevation a carriage component of the material handling device.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 1.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the farm building shown therein is in the form of a barn 10 having a base or floor portion 12, rear wall 14, end walls 16 and 18 and a roof structure 20.

The building further has a ceiling or loft floor 22.

The rear wall 14 is shown as having a rectangular opening or passageway 26, and the loft floor 22 has a loading opening 28. Also, the end wall 16 has a loading openng 30.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a novel combination comprising the farm building or barn 10 as above set forth and a unique material handling device constituted as a combined lift and carrier. The material handling device includes an elongate supporting beam 34 which is mounted horizontally in the building 10 above the floor level and also spaced above the loft floor 22. The supporting beam 34 passes through it may be readily molded of plastic substance and will have appreciable rigidity and strength as well as constituting a basis for a track which extends for a substantial distance along the beam. As shown in FIG. 3, the beam 34 may have parallel side portions 36 and 38 connected along their centers by a web portion 40, the latter being provided with an elongate centrally disposed slot 42 whereby it constitutes a track or guide for a carriage 44. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, the carriage 44 comprises a U-shaped member or body 46 having depending ends 48 and 50, and further comprises a rivet 0r eyelet 52 extend ing upwardly of the body 46 through slot 42. It is secured in this position by a washer or apertured plate 54, the latter being disposed at the top surface of the web portion 40 whereas the U-shaped body 46 is located below said Web portion.

The carriage 44 is arranged so as to be freely slidable along the track 49, between the side members 36 and 38.

In accordance with the invention, the carriage 44 is spring charged or biased so that it normally occupies the position shown in FIG. 1, adjacent the exposed or outer end of the beam 54. The spring biasing means comprises an elastic band 58 which has one end secured to the depending portion or flange 48 of the carriage, said band passing over a pulley 60 mounted on the exposed beam end. The elastic band 58 extends along the beam 34 between the two sides 36, 38 thereof and is secured to the opposite or remaining end of the beam by a suitable fastener 62.

Referring to FIG. 2, the beam 34 is provided with mounting cars 64 by means of which it is secured to the opposite end walls 16 and 18 of the barn structure.

For the purpose of lifting and carrying articles, such as toy bales of hay, etc. whereby these may be deposited in the barn 10 or else removed therefrom, there is provided a pull cord or element 66 which extends along the under portion of the beam 34, said pull cord extending past and around a bearing fitting or portion 70 provided in the beam as seen in FIGS. 5 and 7. The bearing portion 70 is rounded and smooth whereby the pull cord 66 may slide over the same readily While having its direction changed.

In FIG. 1 it is seen that the pull cord 66 extends downward from the innermost end of the beam 34, said cord being wrapped around a Windlass 72 provided with a manually operable handle 74 whereby pulling force may be readily exerted on the cord for lifting and carrying articles, as will be shortly described. The loft floor 22 is provided with a through opening and eyelet 73, by which the pull cord 66 is enabled to pass through the floor and downward to the Windlass 72.

The Windlass 72 may be of any suitable type, having a drum 76 and side flanges 78, and being mounted by means of bearing stanchions St on the end wall 18 of the building structure.

The pull cord 66 passes through an opening in the depending portion or flange 50 of the carriage 44 as seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, and extends downward with its lower end secured to the article to be transported, herein indicated as a toy bale of hay 8-2.

The carriage body 46 is preferably molded of plastic substance, and the depending flange 50 is provided with a smooth and rounded surface where the pull cord 66 passes over or around it, whereby a slide bearing is had for the pull cord, with a relatively small amount of friction.

Further, in accordance with the invention, in conjunction with the above organization there is provided a novel locking device in the form of an automatically operative pivoted catch member 84 (FIGS. 1 and 4) such catch comprising a hooked detent arm 86 adapted to engage and hook over and around the depending flange portion 48 of the carriage 44 as seen in FIGS. 1 and 4. The detent arm 86 has a sloping camming surface 88 by which the catch is automatically operative to lock the carriage in a given position centrally disposed in the building when such carriage is shifted from the outermost position of FIG. 1 to said position.

FIGURE 1 shows carriage 44 in its normal position near the outer end or" the beam 34. The toy bale 82 is shown in full lines in its normal positions. Subsequent positions of the bale 82 and pull line 66 are shown in broken lines.

The automatic catch 84- has a manually operable and engageable arm 90, by which it may be manually actuated when desired.

The operation and functioning of the novel combination building structure and material handling means as above described, will now be explained.

Considering the starting position of the components as shown in full lines in FIG. 1, the bale of hay 82 is shown as resting on the ground surface Q2. The carriage 44 is at the outermost extremity of the beam 34, and the elastic band 58 is but lightly stretched or tensioned. The operator now merely grasps the handle 74 of the Windlass and turns the same so as to exert a pulling force on the cord 66. As the cord 66 is pulled, the bale 82 will be lifted vertically, and will occupy the raised broken line position indicated in FIG. 1, located directly below the outermost end of the beam 34.

Upon the bale reaching such raised or elevated position and becoming engaged with the under portions of the carriage 44, no further movement of the pull cord 66 with respect to the carriage 44 is possible. In consequence, the pulling movement of the cord 66 as occasioned by continued turning of the Windlass 72 and handle 74 will cause a left-to-right travel of the carriage 44 and a stretching of the elastic band 58. Such travel of the carriage 44 will bring the lifted bale 82 in through the opening 30 of the end wall 16 of the barn, and this horizontal movement will continue until the depending ends 50 and 48 of the carriage 44 successively strike the cam surface 88 of catch 84 so as to deflect the hooked end downwardly to permit passage of the carriage. After such passage the latch 84- returns to its normal position by gravity. In this position return movement of carriage 44 is prevented by the hooked end of the latch 84.

If now the pull cord 66 is slacked, as by a reverse turning of the Windlass 72, the bale 82 will be lowered and finally reach the position shown in dotted outline in FIG. 1, resting on the floor member 12 of the building. If the operator desires instead to store the bale 8 2 in the loft, he may continue turning the Windlass 72 after the catch 84 has been bypassed, whereupon the carriage 44 and bale will continue traveling from left-to-right toward the rightmost end of the beam 34. When the rightmost end of the slot 42 is reached, the carriage 44 will finally be halted. At this point, the depositing of the bale 82 on the loft floor 22 will necessitate the operator reaching into the barn and holding the carriage 44 against retrograde or right-to-left movement, since the spring tensioning means 58 will be stressed to the maximum extent.

At such time that the carriage 44 and the bale of hay 82 are to be returned to the starting position shown in FIG. 1, the operator will reach into the building 16 and manually release the catch 84 by elevating the arm 90 thereof. This depresses the hooked end of the catch to permit the return passage of the carriage, as will be understood.

After the carriage 44 has traveled from right-to-left and regains the outermost raised position as the pull cord 66 is slacked, further slacking movement of the pull cord will enable the bale S2 to be lowered to the starting position shown in FIG. 1.

It will now be understood from the foregoing that I have provided a novel and improved, unique combination of farm building structure and material handling device which, in a unique manner combines simplicity and automation to effect a realistic loading and unloading of the building. The material handling mechanism involves a plurality of movements such as lifting, carrying and lowering, in connection with one continuous pullcord operation to effect the desired transporting and storage of the object, such as the toy bale of hay. Relatively few components are involved, and these may be economically fabricated of plastic moldings whereby they resist rust and deterioration, and whereby the operation of the device is reliable and free from malfunctioning.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In combination, a toy farm building including a floor, a roof and opposite walls; a mechanized combined lift and carrier connected with said building, comprising a substantially horizontal supporting beam carried by said building between said roof and floor, a first of said walls being formed with an opening therethrough, said beam having a front end projecting through said opening outwardly of said building; said beam being formed with a track, a carriage movable along said track; spring means operatively associated with said beam and carriage for yieldably retaining said carriage outwardly of said building in the region of said front end of said beam, said spring means permitting rearward movement of said carriage along said beam into said building against the action of said spring means throughout substantially the entire length of said beam, said beam having a rear end secured to the other wall of said building; a pull element extending along said beam to said carriage from the region of said rear end of said beam, means on said carriage slidably engaging said pull element and directing the same downwardly, said pull element having a lower end adapted to be operatively connected to a load, said pull element having an opposite end disposed in the region of said floor and said other wall, means for retracting said pull element, said opposite end of said pull element being operatively connected to said last named means for being retracted thereby whereby said load is first hoisted into engagement with said carriage and thereafter said load and carriage are pulled along said track into said building.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the spring means comprises an elastic band connected to the carriage and to the beam.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said front end of the beam has a direction-changing pulley over which the elastic band passes, said band extending along the beam for its full length so as to have a maximum effective length and a soft action with maximum overall extension capacity.

4. The combination of claim 1, there being a lock means within said building in the region of said track, means for engaging said lock means with said carriage when the latter has been pulled by said pull element into a position in the region of said lock means, said lock means being operative to lock said carriage against return movement along said track while said load is being lowered toward said floor by slacking said pull element.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said lock means comprises a latch formed with means automatically tripping the same into locking relation with said carriage upon engagement of said carriage therewith.

6. The combination of claim 4, wherein said lock means includes means for manually releasing the same from said carriage to permit return movement of the same toward said front end of said beam.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein said beam is constituted of molded plastic material, said beam comprising spaced and opposed flanges connected by a web, said web being formed with a slot therethrough extending longitudinally thereof from the region of said front end of said beam to the region of the rear end thereof, and said web and slot comprising said track.

8. The combination of claim 1, there-being a lock means carried by said track within said building in spaced relation to said walls thereof, said lock means including a movable lat-ch including a cam surface engageable with said carriage upon movement of the same into said building and being operative to cause automatic engagement of said latch with said carriage to prevent return movement of the same toward said front end of said beam 15 10 of the same while said load is lowered toward said floor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,762,459 Wolf June 10, 1930

Claims (1)

1. IN COMBINATION, A TOY FARM BUILDING INCLUDING A FLOOR, A ROOF AND OPPOSITE WALLS; A MECHANIZED COMBINED LIFT AND CARRIER CONNECTED WITH SAID BUILDING, COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL SUPPORTING BEAM CARRIED BY SAID BUILDING BETWEEN SAID ROOF AND FLOOR, A FIRST OF SAID WALLS BEING FORMED WITH AN OPENING THERETHROUGH, SAID BEAM HAVING A FRONT END PROJECTING THROUGH SAID OPENING OUTWARDLY OF SAID BUILDING; SAID BEAM BEING FORMED WITH A TRACK, A CARRIAGE MOVABLE ALONG SAID TRACK; SPRING MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID BEAM AND CARRIAGE FOR YEILDABLY RETAINING SAID CARRIAGE OUTWARDLY OF SAID BUILDING IN THE REGION OF SAID FRONT END OF SAID BEAM, SAID SPRING MEANS PERMITTING REARWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIAGE ALONG SAID BEAM INTO SAID BUILDING AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID SPRING MEANS THROUGHOUT SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF SAID BEAM, SAID BEAM HAVING A REAR END SECURED TO THE OTHER WALL OF SAID BUILDING; A PULL ELEMENT EXTENDING ALONG SAID BEAM TO SAID CARRIAGE FROM THE REGION OF SAID REAR END OF SAID BEAM, MEANS ON SAID CARRIAGE SLIDABLY ENGAGING SAID PULL ELEMENT AND DIRECTING THE SAME DOWNWARDLY, SAID PULL ELEMENT HAVING A LOWER END ADAPTED TO BE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO A LOAD, SAID PULL ELEMENT HAVING AN OPPOSITE END DISPOSED IN THE REGION OF SAID FLOOR AND SAID OTHER WALL, MEANS FOR RETRACTING SAID PULL ELEMENT, SAID OPPOSITE END OF SAID PULL ELEMENT BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID LAST NAMED MEANS FOR BEING RETRACTED THEREBY WHEREBY SAID LOAD IS FIRST HOISTED INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CARRIAGE AND THEREAFTER SAID LOAD AND CARRIAGE ARE PULLED ALONG SAID TRACK INTO SAID BUILDING.

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