US3284090A

US3284090A - Animated horse attachment for a tricycle

Info

Publication number: US3284090A
Application number: US395393A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ruth G Blair
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-09-10
Filing date: 1964-09-10
Publication date: 1966-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-08

Description

Nov. 8, 19% R. G. BLAIR ANIMATED HORSE ATTACHMENT FOR A TRICYCLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 10, 1964 Nova &, WW R. G. BLAIR 3,284,090

ANIMATED HORSE ATTACHMENT FOR A TRICYCLE Filed Sept. 10, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 firmp/vsva United States Patent Ofllice 3,284,090 Patented Nov. 8, 1966 3,284,090 ANIMATED HORSE ATTACHMENT FOR A TRICYCLE Ruth G. Blair, 1256 N. Central Ave., Batesville, Ark. Filed Sept. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 395,393 6 Claims. (Cl. 280-1202) This invention relates to an animated horse device and more particularly to an animated horse attachment which is secured to the forward portion of a tricycle.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an animated horse attachment which may be secured to the front end of a childs tricycle.

A further object of this invention is to provide an animated horse attachment which is secured to the front end of a childs tricycle and which has movable leg and head portions.

A further object of this invention is to provide an animated horse attachment which is secured to the front endof a tricycle which does not interfere with the operation of the tricycle.

A further object of this invention is to provide an animated horse attachment for a tricycle which provides amusement in the use of the tricycle.

A further object of this invention is to provide an animated horse attachment for a tricycle which is attractive.

A further object of this invention is to provide an animated horse attachment for a tricycle which is durable in use, refined in appearance and economical of manufacture.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrange ments, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device mounted on the forward end of a tricycle;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top elevational view of the device with portions of the tricycle cut away to more fully illustrate the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the device;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View of the device seen on line 4-4 of FIG. 3 at an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary interior view of the device illustrating the means for moving the various legs;

, FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the left side of the horse device illustrating the manner in which the legs are operated and the means by which the head is made movable;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the right side of the horse portion illustrating the manner in which the legs are moved;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the device as seen on line 8-8 of FIG. 4 at an enlarged scale;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the device seen on line 9-9 of FIG. 6 at an enlarged scale illustrating the manner in which the head portion of the device moves; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary exploded view of the device illustrating the means by which the rear legs of the horse are operated by the tricycle pedals.

The numeral 10 generally designates a conventional tricycle having a frame 11, two parallel spaced apart

wheels

13 and 15 rotatably mounted on the rearwardly end thereof, a substantially vertical fork wheel support 17 pivotally mounted on the forward end of frame 11. Fork wheel support 17 includes

leg members

19 and 21 in which a front wheel 23 is rotatably secured. Secured to the upper end of fork wheel support 17 is a conventional handle bar 25. Pedal means 27 and 29 are secured to opposite sides of the central portion of wheel 23 as seen in FIG. 2.

Secured to fork

members

19 and 21 by means of clamps 31 and 33 respectively are

elongated support members

35 and 37 which extend forwardly therefrom as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. A simulated animal 39 such as a horse as seen in the drawings is supported on

support members

35 and 37 by means of

brackets

42 and 44 embracing

support members

35 and 37 and being secured to opposite sides of animal 39.

Animal 39 includes a body portion 41 having spaced apart

side members

43 and 45 and a head portion 47 movably mounted on the forward end of body 41.

Rear legs

49 and 51 are movably mounted on the rearward end of body portion 41 by means of pin member 53 rotatably extending through body portion 41.

Front legs

55 and 57 are movably mounted on the forward end of body portion 41 by means of pin member 59 extending therethrough.

Front legs

55 and 57 include

lower portions

56 and 58 which are pivotally connected thereto respectively.

Rear leg 49 has a pin member 61 secured thereto which extends inwardly from the inner surface thereof through slot 63 in side member 43 of body portion 41 as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. Rotatably mounted on pin 61 between

side members

43 and 45 are elongated spaced apart

arm members

65 and 67 which are secured thereto and extend forwardly therefrom as seen in FIG. 5. An arm member 69 is pivotally secured to the forward end of armmember 65 by means of pin 71 as seen in FIG. 5. The other end of arm member 69 is pivotally mounted on pin member 59 which extends through

front legs

55 and 57.. A pin member 73 is secured to arm member 69 intermediate the length thereof which extends outwardly through slot 75 in side member 43 and is secured to front leg 55. An arm member 77 is secured to the forward end of arm member 67 by means of pin 79 as seen in FIG. 5. The other end of arm member 77 is pivotally mounted on pin member 59. Secured to arm member 77 intermediate the length thereof is a pin member 81 which extends outwardly through the slot 83 in side member 45 and is secured to front leg 57 as seen in FIG. 4. It should be noted that arm member 65 normally extends above pin member 59 while arm member 67 normally extends below pin member 59 as seen in FIG. 5.

A link member 85 is detachably rotatably secured to pedal member 29 and extends forwardly therefrom and is pivotally connected to the lower end of rear leg 51. A link member 87 is rotatably connected to pedal member 27 and extends forwardly therefrom and is pivotally connected to the lower end of rear leg 49 as seen in FIG. 1.

Movable head 47 is secured to body portion 41 as follows. A wooden block member 89 is mounted between

side members

43 and 45 adjacent their forward end and has

bores

91 and 93 extending therethrough. A second wooden block member 95 is mounted between

side member

97 and 99 of head portion 47 and has elongated bores 101 and 103 extending therethrough. A dowel rod 105 which has been cut in two is mounted on the forward end of body portion 41 as seen in FIG. 9 so that the arcuate portion extends forwardly therefrom to frictionally engage movable head portion 47. An elongated coil spring 107 is mounted in

bores

91 and 101 to yieldably maintain movable head portion 47 in frictional engagement with body portion 41. An elongated coil spring 109 is mounted in elongated bores 93 and 103 and maintained therein by any convenient means as was coil spring 107. It should be noted that

coil springs

107 and 109 extend through registering holes in dowel rod 105. A first rein member 111 is secured to the outer surface of side member 97 and extends rearwardly to handle members 25. A second rein member 113 is secured to the outer surface of side member 99 and extends rearwardly to handle member 25 on tricycle 10 as seen in FIG. 1.

The normal method of operation is as follows. As pedal member 27 is operated, link member 87 causes the lower end of rear leg 49 to pivot forwardly and rearwardly. As leg 49 moves forwardly, arm member 65 will move forwardly due to its being connected to pin 61 in leg 49. The forward movement of arm 65 causes arm member 69 to pivot about pin 59. As arm member 69 pivots forwardly about pin member 59 front leg 55 will be moved rearwardly due to the interconnection between front leg 55 and arm member 69 by means of pin 73. Simultaneously with the forward movement of arm 65 will be the forward movement of arm member 67. The forward movement of arm 67 will cause arm member 77 to pivot forwardly about pin 59. The forward movement of arm 67 will cause front leg 57 to be moved forwardly due to the connection between front leg 57 and arm member 77 by means of pin 81. When

arms

65 and 67 are moved rearwardly due to pedal member 27 being rotated rearwardly, front leg 55 will move forwardly and front leg 57 will move rearwardly. It is obvious that pedal member 27 operates rear leg 49 and

front legs

55 and 57. Pedal member 29 operates rear leg 51 through link means 85.

The movable head portion 47 may be turned to the right or to the left by simply pulling on rein member 113 or 111 respectively. The rearward portions of

side members

97 and 99 of head portion 47 engage the arcuate outer surface of dowel member 105 to provide a smooth bearing surface and to hide the gap between the side members. Therefore, as the child rides the tricycle the leg members of the horse will be continually operating and the child may also pull on the reins to turn the horses head. It is apparent that the simulated animal is quickly and easily attached to the forward end of the tricycle and will not interfere with the operation thereof. It is also obvious that the simulated movement of the animal will provide the tricycle rider with many hours of enjoyment. Because

front legs

55 and 57 have

lower portions

56 and 58 pivotally connected thereto respectively, the horse assumes a more natural position due to the lower portions just described hanging in a substantially vertical position as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. A spacer member 114 has been provided between

side members

43 and 45 at the peripheries thereof to present a thickness and to provide space for the various inner components.

Thus from the foregoing, it can be seen that the device accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my animated horse attachment for a tricycle without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included Within their scope.

I claim: 1. In combination with a tricycle having a frame, two

parallel spaced apart wheels rotatably mounted on the rearward end of said frame, a seat portion centrally located on said frame, a substantially vertical fork wheel support pivotally mounted on the forward end of said frame, handle bar members operatively secured to said fork wheel support, a relatively larger wheel rotatably secured to the lower end of said fork wheel support, and pedal means secured to the center portion of said larger wheel, elongated support members secured to the fork wheel support above said pedals to provide clearance for the rotation of said pedals, a simulated animal supported on said support members forwardly of said larger wheel, said animal including a body portion, a head portion and rearward and forward leg portions at opposite sides of said body portion, and link means connecting said pedal means to the two rearward leg portions, one of said rearward leg portions being connected to said two forward leg portions so that movement of said pedal means will impart movement to said rearward leg portions and movement of said one rearward leg portion imparting movement to the two forward leg portions.

2. In combination with a tricycle having a frame, two parallel spaced apart wheels rotatably mounted on the rearward end of said frame, a seat portion centrally located on said frame, a substantially vertical fork wheel support pivotally mounted on the forward end of said frame, handle bar members operatively secured to said fork wheel support, a relatively larger wheel rotatably secured to the lower end of said fork wheel support, and first and second pedal members secured to opposite sides of the center portion of said larger wheel, elongated support members secured to the fork wheel support above said first and second pedal members to provide clearance for the rotation of said first and second pedal members, a simulated animal supported on said support members forwardly of said larger wheel, said animal including a body portion having rearward and forward ends and comprised of first and second spaced apart sides, a head portion mounted on the forward end of said body portion, a first pivot pin extending through said first and second sides adjacent their rearward ends, first and second rear legs pivotally mounted on said first pivot pin adjacent said first and second sides respectively, a second pivot pin extending through said first and second sides adjacent their forward ends, first and second front legs pivotally mounted on said second pivot pin adjacent said first and second sides respectively, said first side having a first slot formed therein below said first pivot pin, a first pin member secured to said first rear leg extending inwardly through said first slot in said first side, a first arm member pivotally secured to said first pin member between said first and second sides and normally extending forwardly and upwardly therefrom, a second arm member pivotally secured to said first pin member between said first and second sides and normally extending forwardly and downwardly therefrom, a third arm member pivotally secured at one of its ends to the forward end of said first arm member and pivotally secured at its other end to said second pivot pin, said first side having a sec-ond slot formed therein above said second pivot pin, a second pin member secured to said third arm member intermediate the length thereof and extending outwardly through said second slot and being secured to said first front leg at a point above its pivotal axis, a fourth arm member pivotally secured at one of its ends to the forward end of said second arm member and pivotally secured at its other end to said second pivot pin, said second side having a third slot formed therein below said second pivot pin, a third pin member secured to said fourth arm member intermediate the length thereof and extending outwardly through said third slot and being secured to said second front leg at a point below its pivotal axis, a first link member connecting said first pedal member with said first rear leg so that movement of said first pedal will impart movement to said first rear leg and said first and second front legs, and a second link member connecting said second pedal member and said second rear leg so that movement of said second pedal member will impart movement to said second rear leg.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said head portion is movably mounted on said body portion with respect to said first and second sides.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein each of said first and second front legs have upper and lower portions pivotally secured to each other so that the lower portions of said first and second front legs are substantially vertical at all times.

5. In combination with a tricycle having a frame, two parallel spaced apart wheels rotatably mounted on the rearward end of said frame, a seat portion centrally located on said frame, a substantially vertical fork wheel support pivotally mounted on the forward end of said frame, handle bar members operatively secured to said fork wheel support, a relatively larger wheel rotatably secured to the lower end of said fork wheel support, and pedal means secured to the center portion of said larger Wheel, elongated support members secured to the fork Wheel support above said pedals to provide clearance for the rotation of said pedals, a simulated animal supported on said support members forwardly of said larger wheel, said animal including a body portion having rearward and forward ends and comprised of first and second spaced apart sides, a head portion movably mounted on said body portion and having spaced apart sides, a first block member mounted between said first and second sides adjacent their upper forward ends and having a plurality of elongated bores extending therethrough, a second block member mounted in said head portion between the opposite sides thereof and having a plurality of elongated bores extending therethrough, a bearing member secured to the forward end of said body portion adjacent said first block member and being semicircular in crosssection and having a plurality of holes formed therein which register with said plurality of elongated bores in said first and second block members and a plurality of spring members connected to said first and second block members and extending through said elongated bores and said bearing member to yieldably maintain said head portion in engagement with said bearing surface and to permit said head portion to be moved laterally with respect to said body portion.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said one rearward leg portion is connected to said two forward leg portions so that the rearward leg portion on one side of said animal and the forward leg portion on the other side of said animal move in the same direction simultaneously.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 721,855 3/1903 Belenger 2801.167 1,125,698 1/1915 Lansden et a1 280-116 1,139,175 5/1915 Finley 2801.167 1,732,030 10/1929 Runyan 280-1.167 2,599,309 6/1952 Wunderly 2801.202 2,866,649 12/1958 West 280-1202 FOREIGN PATENTS 146,691 11/1950 Australia. 954,227 6/ 1949 France.

LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A TRICYCLE HAVING A FRAME, TWO PARALLEL SPACED APART WHEELS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE REARWARD END OF SAID FRAME, A SEAT PORTION CENTRALLY LOCATED ON SAID FRAME, A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL FORK WHEEL SUPPORT PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE FORWARD END OF SAID FRAME, HANDLE BAR MEMBERS OPERATIVELY SECURED TO SAID FORK WHEEL SUPPORT, A RELATIVELY LARGER WHEEL ROTATABLY SECURED TO THE LOWER END OF SAID FORK WHEEL SUPPORT, AND PEDAL MEANS SECURED TO THE CENTER PORTION OF SAID LARGER WHEEL, ELONGATED SUPPORT MEMBER SECURED TO THE FORK WHEEL SUPPORT ABOVE SAID PEDALS TO PROVIDE CLEARANCE FOR THE ROTATION OF SAID PEDALS, A SIMULATED ANIMAL SUPPORTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS FORWARDLY OF SAID LARGER WHEEL, SAID ANIMAL INCLUDING A BODY PORTION, A HEAD PORTION AND REARWARD AND FORWARD LEG PORTIONS AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BODY PORTION, AND LINK MEANS CONNECTING SAID PEDAL MEANS TO THE TWO REARWARD LEG PORTIONS, ONE OF SAID REARWARD LEG PORTIONS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID TWO FORWARD LEG PORTIONS SO THAT MOVEMENT OF SAID PEDAL MEANS WILL IMPART MOVEMENT TO SAID REARWARD LEG PORTIONS AND MOVEMENT OF SAID ONE REARWARD LEG PORTION IMPARTING MOVEMENT TO THE TWO FORWARD LEG PORTIONS.