US539715A - Automatic figure toy - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

` 2 Shets-Sheet 1. A. T. WANNENWETSCH.

` AUTOMATIC FIGURE TOY. N0. 539,715.

T Patented-May 21, 1.895.

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man@ 1 f -VUNrrn STATES ATENT Fries@ ANDREW T. VANNENWETSCH, O IVESTFIELD, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC FIGURE TOY.

SPEUIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 539,715, dated May 21, 1895.

Application ned october 14, 1 ses To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW T. WANNEN- WETSOH, a citizen kof the United States of America, residing at Westfield, in the county of Chautauqua. and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Figure Toys, of which the following is a specification, reference-being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Myinvention relates to an automatic toy of that class which carries a motor for propelling the same a certain length .of time and which embodies in its construction an automaton ot' any desired character that contributes materially to the attractiveness ot' the toy and the amusement of its owner.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings and to be hereinafter described in detail, I provide a wheeled vehicle of the class technically known as tricycles, on the seat of which is mounted the figure whose legs rest upon and are actuated by the movement of the propelling mechanism. This propelling mechanism is preferably in the form of oscillating or reciprocating pedals which are hung at their front ends on the main frame and linked to the cranks on the axle of the machine; and the miniature ywheeled frame is propelled by the power obtained from a spring motor which is mounted or carried beneath the seat occupied bythe automaton,the power of the spring being communicated through gearing from the springarbor to the rear cranked axle of the toy. To provide for steering the toy either in a straight line or around a curve, I provide the usual front steering wheel to which is loosely connected a steering handle designed to be grasped by the hands of the figure seated on the machine; but-this steering spindle is designed to be turned independently of the steering handle and is provided with means for conveniently clamping the same in xed relation, after it has been adjusted, to the rame of the machine, so that the vehicle can be caused to travel a straight course or to describe a circle. As the simplest embodiment of the steering means, I have made the steering spindle of such length Vthat it extends above its bearing in the frame, and this ex- Serial No. 488,157. `(No model.)

my invention relates to understand the same,

I have illustrated it in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure lis a plan view with a portion of the i igu re broken away to show the construction of the machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinalsectional View. Figisadetailviewofthe steering mechanism to more clearly showthe means for clamping the steering-spindle in lIixed relation to the miniature tricycle.

Like letters of reference denote correspondingparts in all the figures of the drawings, referring to which-` A designates the cranked main axle of the machine which turns freely in stationary bearings on the uprights b, b, ot the main frame B, and on the ends of the axle A are fixed the carrying wheels C, C, which turn with the axle andcause the machine to travel over the ground or other surface. The horizontal portions or members of the frame B converge from the upright rear standards b, b, and meet at the pointed front extremity of the frame which sustains the vertical bearing D in which is journaled the spindle E that is formed into the fork e to accommodate the front steering wheel which is thus disposed centrally with relation to the machine and frame. The upper end ot' this spindle is extended through the bearing D and it is provided, at this extended portion, with external screw threads to receive the nut E which can be turned down upon the upper part of the bearing D to clamp the spindle in fixed rela- It will be seen that when tion to the frame. the spindle is turned to bring the steering wheel in line with the frame, the machine is adapted to travel in a straight course; but it will be evident that if the steering wheel be set at an angle, either to the right or let't of the central line of the machine, the wheel will cause the machine to describe a circle, or an arc thereof. It is intended that the set tended portion is threaded to accommodate a nut shall be adjusted toI cause the machine to ICO travel in a certainpath, and after the nut has been tightened the motor will propel the machine in this course until the spring runs down or the motor is arrested.

The horizontal side members of the machine frame are connected together by a transverse bar F at a suitable point in rear of the vertical spindle bearing; and on this transverse bar are hung or pivoted the for-r peiling the tricycle.

On the nprights b b of the framefB ismountedt-the seat H on which sits the figure I, and the legs i of this Iigureare pivotally hung ron the bails t. The rear ends of thesebails are carried upto the seat H, and the endsrof the bails are fitted in the loops j of the connecting bar J which is 'formed or bent to provide the seriesof veyes to accommodate the ends of the bails, said barbeing suitably fastened to the seat. Beneath this-seat is mounted or hung the motorJ which is of -the variety or class known as spring motors. The spring k has its arbor mounted i'n-a suitable frame, and to this spring arbor is fastened a gear wheel or pinion which meshes withone of a train of transmitting gears, one of which train of gears meshes with a pinion on the rear axl'e A ofthe machine, whereby the power of the spring istransmitted and applied to the axle A to propel thevtricycle and reciprocatevthe pedals to give to the feet and-legs'of the rider the `appearance of propelling the machine. The motor spring may be wound or put nnder tension by a crankattached to one end of theshaft, or by means of a key.

The operationeel my toy will be-readily understood from the foregoing description taken in connection with thedrawings.

It is evident that slight changes in the form and proportion of parts and details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of my invention. y

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

l. A self-propelling figure toy, having the main frame with the rectangular open motor supporting frame and the vertical spindle bearing at its front end and the transverse bar, the cranked axle, the seat, the motor arranged beneath theseat andl geared to the axle, the lpedals hung on the transverse bar at the front of the frame and connected to the cranks of the axle, a figure on the seathaving its legs resting on the pedals and hung by bails which are connectedto eyes provided on a bar fixed to the.seatand the steeringspindle fitted in the `bearingand connected with the arms of th'e'figure and having the steering wheel and means for locking the spindle in fixed relation to the machine frame,.as and for the pn rpose set forth.

2. A toy consisting ofthe main frame having thesteering wheelat its forward end and having the rectangular supplemental frame, the cranked axle mounted in the rectangular frame and carrying the wheels, the motor hungin'thesaid frame, the pedals connected to the cranked `axle,vtheconnecting barhaving the eyesor loops and securedtothe rectangular frame, the figure having the limbs connected to thepedals, and the bails having one end connected to the limbs andthe other ends connected to theloops of the connecting bar.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in .presen f:e-of two witnesses.

l ANDREW T. WANNENWETSCH.

Witnesses:

W. H. MILLS, Mlno A. Darcos.

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