US2730837A - Control mechanism for toy - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 17, 1956 c. H. VAUGHAN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR TOY Filed Nov. 30 1950 INVENTOR.

6&df/f6 BY United States Patent CONTROL MECHANISM FOR TOY Charles H. Vaughan, Pontiac, Mich. Application November 30, 1950, Serial No. 198,333

2 Claims. (Cl. 46-210) The present invention relates to a toy of the type adapted to travel on the ground and to improved means for-propelling and steering or guiding the toy.

An object of the invention is to provide simple, economically manufactured and assembled means for propelling and guiding a toy of the foregoing nature, such as a wheeled toy vehicle by way of example, whereby movement of the toy may be readily controlled by a child.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide means for propelling and steering a toy of the type adated to travel on the ground, comprising a shaft declined toward the toy and adapted at its upper end to be gripped by the operator, the shaft having at its lower end a portion extending angularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft generally in the direction of travel and being pivotally connected to the toy for turning about the axis of extension. By such a construction the toy may be pulled or pushed along the ground as the case might be by the operator gripping the upper end of the shaft. Upon turning the shaft about its longitudinal axis, the lower angular extension will be swung accordingly so as to steer the toy as it is propelled.

In a very simple embodiment of the invention, the shaft and extension comprise an integral length of resilient wire having sufficient rigidity to control the weight of the toy without undue torsional deflection. However the shaft and extension may be separate units, flexibly or pivotally connected so as to swing the extension bodily upon turning of the shaft about its longitudinal axis and also to permit vertical swinging of the shaft about its lower end independently of the lower extension. Thus the height of the upper end of the shaft may be readily adjusted for children of different sizes.

Another object is to provide a simple control means of the foregoing nature comprising a shaft declined toward the toy and flexibly connected thereto by resilient means, whereby turning of the shaft about its longitudinal axis will cause the toy to turn or swing, the resilient means also permitting vertical swinging of the shaft about its lower end as aforesaid. In a preferred construction, the resilient means comprises a coil spring secured at one end to the lower end of the shaft so as to turn therewith and secured at its lower end to the shaft so as to turn therewith and secured at its lower end to the toy so as to swing the same in an operating movement, as for example about a vertical axis in a steering movement.

Still another object is to provide a walking toy adapted to stand on a pair of legs, the toy being operated by the shaft and extension as discussed above so as to swing the toy bodily in an oscillating movement, first on one leg then on the other, as it is propelled in a simulated walking movement.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

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Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a toy vehicle and control means embodying the present in-- vention.

Fig. 2 is substantially a plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. l, a portion of the vehicle body being. broken away to illustrate the construction and the vehicle being shown in phantom steered both to the left and to the right.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view looking from above and one side, showing a modification of the present invention including a pivotal connection between the control shaft and angular lower extension, a fragment of the vehicle body being illustrated in phantom.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view of another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of still another embodiment of the present invention, showing the same applied to a walking bear.

Fig. 6 is substantially a front view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 5, showing the bear tilted on one foot in solid view and tilted on the other foot in phantom.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, an application of the present invention is illustrated by way of example with a toy automobile having a body 9 adapted to travel on wheels 10. Steering and propulsion of the automobile are accomplished by means of a forwardly declined control shaft 11 having an integral horizontal forward extension 12 at its lower end. In the present instance, the extension 12 projects pivotally through. longitudinally spaced openings 13 and 14 located respectively in the rear body wall and in a transverse member 15 of the body 9 and terminates at its forward end in an integral right angle retainer portion 12a bent closely against the forward face of the transverse member 15. Rearward of the opening 13, the shaft 11 extends angularly upward and rearward to a handle element 16, as for example a toy steering wheel securely keyed to the shaft 11 for pushing or pulling thereon or for turning the same about its longitudinal axis.

The shaft 11 and integral extensions 12 and 12a preferably comprise an integral length of spring wire having suflicient rigidity to propel the toy automobile without undue buckling when force is applied at the wheel 16. The length of the shaft portion 11 is determined so that the wheel 16 may be conveniently gripped by the operator.

By the construction shown and described, when the operator turns the wheel 16 clockwise, for example, looking downward along the shaft 11, the latter is also turned clockwise and the lower extension 12 is swung in a steering action to the right, Fig. 2. Steering to the left is similarly accomplished by turning the shaft 11 counterclockwise. By reason of the pivotal connections at 13 and 14 between the extension 12 and body 9, the latter is maintained by gravity in a level position on the floor. The tendency to swing the body 9 downward, particularly at its front end upon swinging of the extension 12 in either direction from straight ahead, solid view Fig. 2, is absorbed by a slight flexing or bowing of the resilient shaft 11 during the steering operation. Thus the toy automobile may be propelled forward or rearward along the ground or a floor and simultaneously steered by manipulation of the handle element or wheel 16.

Where adjustment of the height of the handle wheel 16 is desired, the lower end of the shaft 11 is flexibly or Patented Jan. 17, 1956' hingedly coupled to the extension 12, so as to swing the latter about a vertical steering axis as illustrated in Fig. 2 upon turning of the shaft 11 about its longitudinal axis, and also to permit. generally vertical, swinging of: the shaft, 11 independently of the extension 12.. An example, of such a coupling is illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein the ex; tension lzispivotally connected to the body 9; as in Figs.

1 and 2,. but terminates at its. rearward end in a short. right angle. extension. 12b. Similarly the lower end of the shaft 11 terminates in a short right angle extension 11b parallel to the extension 1215. The extensions 11b and 121;. preferably extend horizontally when the automobile isin the normal position for steering; straight ahead, solid view Fig, 2, and are held. together side by side. by a U-shaped band, or yoke 17 having its ends spaced by the.

extension 12.b.and preferably fixedthereto, as for example by soldering. The band 17 loops freely around the extension 11b so as to permit generally vertical swinging of the shaft; 11 about the axis of. the. extension 11b. Translational movement, of, the extension 11b with respect to the extension 12b is prevented by the body of the shaft 11' adjacent one. side of the band 17 and a retainer 18 suitably secured to the end of the extension 11b on the other sideof the band 17.

By the above construction, rotational movement of the shaft 11 about its longitudinal axis will be imparted to the extension 12, causing the latter to swing in a steering movement as discussed above. However the shaft 11 is also pivotal generally vertically about the axis of the extension llb, permitting the handle wheel 16. to be readily operated by children of different sizes,

Another simple and universally adjustable control mechanism is illustrated in Fig. 4 wherein the extension 12.,iseliminated. The lower end of the shaft 11 is secured coaxially. to one end of a coil spring 19 for rotation thereof. The other end of the spring 19 is suitably secured rigidly to the body 9, as for example to a horizontal surface thereof. Thus rotational movement of the shaft 11 about its longitudinal axis is imparted to the coil spring19, rotating the same axially and in turn swinging the body. 9 about a vertical axis. This construction permitssubstantially universal adjustment of the elevation and angular position of the shaft 11, so that the operator need not stand directly behind the toy to operate it. This construction also has the advantage of being exceptionally simple and economical to install and. efficient in operation. 7

Figs, and 6 illustrate another application of the present invention in connection with a toy walking: bear 20 In this instance the shaft.

having two rigid hind legs 21. 11 declines toward the back of the bear- 20 and is provided with an integral forwardly inclined extension. 22.- comparable to. the extension 12 of Figs. 1 and 2. The: extension 22 is pivotally secured within the body of. the-- bear 2.0. for turning about the axis of extension and is suitably retained in position, as for. example by means..-of:

e e x ens n 22.. need. no e inclined. asshown and. may extend horizontally as in Figs. 1 and 2, or even downward if the body structure of the toy requires. It is apparent from the foregoing that upon turning the shaft 11 clockwise for example, looking down along. its longitudinal axis, the extension 22 will be swung to the right, as seen from the rear, tilting the bear onto the right leg, Fig. 6, and also turning the bear somewhat to the right as discussed in connection with Figs. 1' and 2'. By virtue of the incline of the extension 22, this: latter turning movement will be less pronounced than in Figs. 1 and 2 where the, extension 12. is horizontal. Upon pushing forward on the shaft 11, the bear tilted. on the right leg will swing the left leg forward. Thereafter, upon turning the shaft 11 counterclockwise, the bear will be tilted onto the forwardly extending left leg. Continued forward pressure on the shaft 11 will cause the bear to turn to the left, swinging the right leg forward. Thus a simulated Walking movement is effected under the-'controlt of the operator. It is also to be noted that either of the modifications illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 maybe employed with-the walking toy, so as to tilt the same from one sideto the other in a simulated walking movement.

I claim:

1. In a toy adapted to. travel along the ground, manually operated means for propelling the toy and bodily swinging one end thereof comprising a unitary shaft having a lower horizontal portion pivoted on said toy" andextending longitudinally thereof, the pivot axis of saidlower portion being fixed with respect to the toy and coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said lower: portion, said shaft having a resilient inclined portion extending upwardly from said horizontal portion adjacent the other end, of the toy, and means adjacent the upper end of the inclined portion adapted to be gripped by an operator.

2'. In a toyadapted to travel along the ground, manually operated means for propelling and swinging the toybodily comprising a unitary resilient wire shaft having a horizontal lower portion and an inclined portion meeting at an obtuse angle, said lower portion extending in the direction of travel of said toy and being pivoted there'on, the pivot axis of said lower portion being fixed withre-.

spect to said toy and coaxial with said lower portion, said inclinedportion extending upwardly from said lower por tion adjacent the rear end of said toy, and handle means on the upper end of said inclined portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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