US2554045A - Spring supported hobbyhorse - Google Patents

Description

May 22, 1951 1.. MINOR, JR

SPRING SUPPORTED HOBBYHORSE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 18, 1949 JNVENTOR. Leo L Minor, Jr. WM

y 22, 1951 MINOR, JR 2,554,045

SPRING SUPPORTED HOBBYHORSE Filed Feb. 18, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HVVENTUR. Lea L M/nar, Jr: BY

Patented May 22, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRING SUPPORTED HOBBYHORSE Leo L. Minor, Jr., Dallas, Tex. Application February 18, 1949, Serial No. 77,253

Claims. (Cl. 272-532) This present invention relates to a toy horse of the spring action type.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a toy horse comprising a stationary support, a saddle section yieldably mounted on the support. and front and rear sections pivotally and yieldably connected to the support and saddle section and to one another.

Another object of the invention'is to provide a toy horse of the type characterized and including adjustable foot rests on the front section and engageable by the feet of the rider.

Another object is to provide a toy horse, the front section of which is swung downwardly by pressure upon the foot rests while the rear section is simultaneously swung upward.

Yet another object is to provide a toy horse of simple and inexpensive construction.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent as the invention is fully understood, the same resides in the novelty of construction, combination and arrangement of elements specifically hereinafter described and distinctly claimed in the appended claims.

For a better understanding of the invention, the description should be read together with the accompanying drawing forming part of the application and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the toy horse constituting the preferred embodiment of the applicant's invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical enlarged section of the saddle section and adjacent portions of the front and rear sections;

Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse, vertical sections on lines 33 and 4-4 respectively of Fig. 2.

In the drawings in which like or similar parts are designated by like or similar characters of reference, Fig. 1 shows a floor or ground-supported base including two pairs of feet 5, and a pair of rods 6 each having secured to one end a foot and passing at the middle through the end portion of a member H). To opposite sides and at the middle of member ID are affixed the lower ends of spaced vertical standards I l. Parts 5, 8, [0, II are hereinafter referred to as a support.

A pair of spaced beams I2 is each fastened preferably by bolts and in counter-sunk fashion to the inner side of the upper end part of a standard and project beyond the front and rear sides thereof (Figs. 2, 3). Bolts M, Ma are each mounted at their ends in corresponding ends of beams l2, and each pass diametrically through the intermediate part of a tubular first class lever l3, Ila.

The inner ends of tubes I3, l3a have openings each for the end of a spring l5. Bolts ll, I'Ia each extend through the outer end of one of the levers I3, I31: respectively, and through the lower ends of the spaced legs of an inverted U-shaped member [6, lEa, respectively.

To either vertical side of the front U-member I8 is fastened, preferably by screws, a board A, the contour of which resembles the outline of the front ,part of a horse and further simulates a horse by depicting the hoofs, eye and ear. In the outer side of the head part of a board A is either mounted a bridle or depicted a likeness thereof (Fig. 1). The bridle or its likeness includes a bight to the ends of which the ends of rein are secured.

section boards A therebetween and the bightpart of the front U-member therebetween (Figs.

1-4) and provides a fulcrum for the front section so that the latter can swing on the saddle section.

The same also includes a seat board 20 secured at opposite longitudinal edges by fasteners such as screws to confronting sides of the saddle boards adjacent the upper edges thereof.

A pair of screw eyes l3 are secured in spaced relation into the lower surface of the seat board and along the transverse median line thereof. The eye of each screw 13 is interlinked with one of the adjacent ends of coil springs 2|. The remote ends of these springs are each interlinked with the eye of a screw embedded into the bight portion of one of the U-members from the inner side thereof confronting the other U-member. Thesaddle section is completed by a pair of substantially vertical boards 22, 23 affixed preferably by screws to the upper surface of the seat board and adjacent the rear and front ends thereof, respectively.

. The rear section of the horse includes a pair of spaced boards B fulcrumed upon a pivot bolt or rod Ha which is a counterpart of pin l9 and its ends projecting beyond the rear section are each mounted in the rear part of one of the saddle side boards I8.

In each board A are formed rearwardly inclined slots in each of which an outwardly extending foot rest 24 is adjustably mounted.

The youthful rider presses his feet against the rests 24, and thereby causes the front U-member and the remaining parts of the front section to be swung counterclockwise (Figs. 1-2). The head of the horse thus moves forwardly and downpivot [4a with the result that the lower end ofi the rear U-member lea rocks counterclockwise about pivot l9a. The rear boards B follow the motion of member Isa so that the rear section. swings upward.

This produces a floating forward motion during which the adjacent ends of lever I3, l'3w move apart stretching spring F15.

"When. this forward and. downward movement of the forward section has gone as far as the. rider desires, he can. by releasing the foot: rests and by pulling on leather. rein 25 cause a reverse movement. The cycle described may be repeated. 7

.Since all spring tensions are practically zero when the horse is at rest, a small pressure: only is. requiredto start the motion of the horse and keep it up. However, enough. tension develops owing. to pressure on. the foot rests.- to enable the child to substantially vary the speed. The adjustability of. the. foot rests renders the, horse suitable for riders of different age or size. Regardless of the pressure applied to the foot reststhe horse will not tip.

It should be noticed. that during, the forward motion of the front section,.the head is more depressed than the rear section. is raised; and the" reverse is true during. the backward. motion of the front section whereby the actual galloping: of a horse is simulated. At the same time: the: child; is stretched and then bunched as he would. if the horse was jumping atfull speed, thuspro-- viding not only the pleasure of areal horseride,

but-also" excellent training inpose-,-since this toyhorse does not require a child to throw his weight forward and back-ward as in others now in use Theridersits upright-a1l: the time and follows the movement of the hors as he actuatesit. If? the child bounces on the seat, an up-an'd-dowm spring action is produced about axes I l, M. and Ha, [4a with both U-members l6, Ilia. moving down with axes I9, l liav at rest, thereby simulating the trotting action of a real horse.

Having thus described one. embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood, however; that such invention is-not-tobe limited tothe: particu lar details herein described or shown on the. drawing, but that the same comprehends other:

forms or devices adapted to-carry out theresults herein disclosed without departing from'thezspirit. of my invention and the scope of the appended claims;

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sectional toy horse the combination comprising a support, a pair of levers fulcrumed about spaced axes on the support, spring means connected to both levers and urging them to positions approaching the horizontal and substantially symmetrical with respect to the support, a first horse section simulating the head, neck and forearms and pivoted to one of the levels, a second horse section simulating the ,loins, tail and. hind legs and pivoted to the other lever, a third section simulating a saddle and pivoted to' the first and second sections, and second spring' means connected to the first, second and third sections at points opposite to the "lever pivots.

2. The combination according to claim 1 and wherein. the levers are fulcrumed intermediate their ends and tubular and have each an aperture adjacent oneend and the first sprin means ishooked into theapertures.

3. The combination according to claim 1 and:

wherein thefirst and second horse sections: each; includes a pair'ofv parallel boards and an inverted.

U-member spacin the boards and eachlever. is

' pivotedto and between the legs of a U-member.

4} The combination according to claim Band wherein the last-mentioned spring means is a pair of springs and the U-members of. the first two sections carry eye screwseach interlinked with one end" of one of the pair of springs and the saddle simulating section carries an eyescrew interlinked with the other ends of the pair of springs;

5. The combination accordin to claim 1 and wherein thefirst and second horse sections include a pair of parallel boards held in spaced relation and each board has a slot and also comprising a pair of foot rests each adjustablymounted in one of the slots.

LEO- L. MINOR, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordinthe file. of-. this patent:.

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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