US1610631A - Mechanical toy - Google Patents

Description

Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

unrrsn sr TES- JOHN G. SVAINAZ, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

MECHANICAL r01 Application, filed Itebr nary 20. 1926.

My invention relates to toys and more particularly to a type of riding toy known as a.

scooter.

The primary object of my invention is to 5 provide an improved scooter which may be mechanically driven, that is driven without applying one foot to the ground as is necessary with those in common use.

A further object is to provide an improved scooter equipped with driving means and retarding means arranged so that a rider may use one foot to control the speed thereof while standing on the other foot.

A further object is to provide a scooter of the character described which is simple and inexpensive in construction and which at the same time is durable and efficient as a riding toy for children.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter and while I disclose herein a prefer-ed form of construction, I desire to be understood that I do not limit my invention to such form but that various changes and adaptations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings which accompany this specification and form a part thereof:

Fig. 1, is a plan view of a simple form of 30 my improved scooter.

Fig. 2, is a right side view of the scooter shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is a front-end view of same. Fig. 4, is an enlarged rear-end view of same.

Considered more in detail, the scooter consists of a platform 10 mounted on two wheels 11 and 12, in longitudinal alignment under the middle thereof. The rear wheel 11, which is the drive wheel, is loosely mounted on a transverse shaft 13 having its ends journaled in bearing blocks 14 fixed, on the under side of platform 10, said shaft being bent to form a crank 15 between wheel 11 and one of the bearing blocks 14. The front wheel 12 is mounted in a fork 16 which has a shaft 17 extending upwardly through a bearing 18 fixedon the front end of platform 10.

in handles 20, fixed on its upper end by which it may be turned to swing front wheel 12, the steering wheel, to the right or left. A wide slot 21 is cut in the rear end of platform 10, in vertical alignment with rear wheel 11 and crank 15, and the diameter of Shaft 17 has a. cross-bar 19, terminating Serial No. 89,530.

wheel 11 is such that its upper edge projects through this slot slightly above the level of platform 10, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.

Rear wheel 11 is equipped with a hub 22 adapted to turn onshaft- 13. ()ne end of hub. 22 is made smooth so that it turns freely against a collar 23 fixed on shaft 13. The other end is notched to, form beveled teeth 24; adapted to engage con'iplementary teeth 25 on a clutch member 26 splinedon shaft 13. Clutch member 26 is held in engagement with hub 22 by a compressed helical spring 27 on shaft 13,. the spring being of sufficient strength to insure the engagement ofthe hub. teeth by the clutch teeth when the shaft is turned and yet weak enough to yield and permitsaid hub teeth to slip on said clutch teeth so freely that the wheel may turn forwardly without undue friction when the shaft is at rest.

Shaft 13 is driven by a spring treadle 28 extending longitudinally above platform 10 with its forward end fixed rigidly to a spacing-bl-ock 30 attached to the front end thereof. The rearward end of treadle 28 is slightly tapered and is bent downwardly through slot 21 in a reflex curve 31 toward shaft 13, its extreme end being bent into a loop 32 which embraces crank 15 and forms a hearing in which the crank turns.

The scooter as shown is designed to be driven by the left foot of a rider and is operated as follows:

The rider stands with his right foot on platform 10 grasping handles '20 with both hands and after giving the scooter an initial forward movement with his left foot, applies it to treadle 28-slightly forward of its curved end 31. Successive downward pressures of the foot on the treadle, corresponding in time to the downward movements of crank 15, give successive turning impulses to shaft 13 which are communicated to drive-wheel 11 through clutch member 26 and the scooter is driven forward with increasing speed. When sufficient speed has been acquired the scooter may be allowed to coast, shaft 13 being held at rest by treadle 28 while drivewheel 11 turns freely thereon. While coasting the foot may be removed from the treadle and when the rider wishes to stop the scooter he may do so by applying one foot to the top of drive-wheel 11 to serve as a brake. Scooters arranged for driving with the right foot may be made by reversing the positions of some of the parts, as is evident.

Having thus illustrated and described my invention, I claim:

1. A scooter comprising a platform mounted on two wheels, a front wheel and a rear wheel, arranged ,in longitudinal alignment thereunder, a transverse shaft journaled in bearing blocks under the rear end of said platform, said rear wheel being loosely mounted on the middle of said transverse shaft, a crank formed on said shaft between said rear wheel and one of said bearing blocks, a spring-controlled clutch member splined on said shaft between said rear wheel and the other of said bearing blocks, said clutch member being adapted to engage the hub of said rear wheel, a spring treadle extending longitudinally of said platform with its rearward end attached to said crank, a swiveled fork attached to the front end of said platform, the pivot-pin of said front wheel being journaled in said fork, a vertical shaft extending upwardly from said fork and a handle-bar attached to the upper end of said vertical shaft whereby it may be turned to the right or left.

2. A mechanically driven scooter comprising a platform, a transverse shaft journaled in bearing blocks under the rear end of said platform, a rear wheel loosely mounted on the middle of said transverse shaft, a crank formed on said transverse shaft between said rear wheel and one of said bearing blocks, a spring-controlled clutch member splined on said transverse shaft between said rear wheel and the other of said bearing blocks,

said clutch member being adapted to interlock with the hub of said rear wheel when said transverse shaft is turned forwardly, a spring treadle extending above said platform with its forward end fixed to the front end thereof and its rearward end bent into a bearing which embraces said crank, a swiveled fork attached to the front end of said platform, a front wheel pivoted in said fork in longitudinal alignment with said rear wheel, a vertical shaft extending upwardly from said fork and a handle-bar fixed to the upper end of said vertical shaft whereby it may be turned to the right or left.

JOHN G. SVAINAZ.

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