US2727741A - Animated rocking horse - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 20, 1955 a. R. FLETCHER ANIMATED ROCKING HORSE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 24, 1953 BernardRl-lefcher INVENTOR.

BY gf 'v am Dec. 20, 1955 B. R. FLETCHER 2,727,741

ANIMATED ROCKING HORSE Filed June 24, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Bernard R. F letcher 1 N V EN TOR.

BY Fm United States Patent ANIMATED ROCKING HORSE Bernard R. Fletcher, Dallas, Terr.

Application June 24, 1953, Serial No. 363,779

1 Claim. (Cl. 27253.2)

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in rocking horses and more particularly to a mechanical or animated toy of this character.

An important object of the invention is to provide movable legs and head for the horse which are actuated in simulation of the natural movements of the animal by a lever through the medium of impact thereof with the ground.

Another object is to provide pivoted legs and head connected to each other for simultaneous swinging movement and wherein the head may be actuated by reins to also actuate the legs to simulate a galloping motion independently of the lever actuating means.

A further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view;

Figure 2 is a side elevation view showing the horse rocked in a galloping position;

Figure 3 is a top plan view with parts shown in section;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a line 44 of Figure 3; and,

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 55 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates the hollow body of a rocking horse supported on rockers 6 by uprights 7.

Front and rear crank shafts 8 and 9 are journalled in a transverse position internally of the body with the ends of the shafts projecting outwardly at opposite sides of the body and to the outer ends of which front and rear legs 10 and 11 are suitably secured for swinging in a back and forth movement. The crank portions 12 and 13 of the shafts are connected to each other for simultaneous rocking movement by a connecting rod or link 14.

A pair of triangular shaped brackets or plates 15 are secured at their base portions in spaced apart parallel relation to each other internally of the neck 16 of the horse by screws or the like 17 and with the apex portion 18 of the brackets projecting upwardly at an inclined angle into a recess 19 at the rear of the head 20 of the horse. A pin 21 is supported in a transverse position in the recess 19 and is journalled in the apex portion 18 of the brackets to rockably support the head. A coil spring 22 connects the upper rear portion of the head to one 2,727,741 Patented Dec. 20, 1955 2 of the brackets 15 to normally hold the head in a raised position.

A link 23 is pivoted at one end to a pin 24 in the recess 19 under the brackets 15 and extends downwardly therefrom in an inclined position and is pivoted at its rear lower end to the front crank 12 to connect the head to the legs for movement with each other. Reins 2d are connected to the head whereby pulling the reins will swing the head downwardly and since the front and rear legs are connected thereto by means of the link 23, connecting rod 14 and front and rear crank shafts 8 and 9 the legs will likewise be actuated to simulate a galloping motion.

A lever 26 is formed at its upper end with a longitudinal slot 27 receiving a transverse pin 28 which projects from one side of connecting rod 14, and the lever extends downwardly from the connecting rod through an opening 29 in the lower portion of body 5 in a forwardly inclined position to engage the ground between the forward portion of the rockers 6. The lever is slidably supported in a guide ring 30 carried by a cross bar 31 for the front uprights 7 and the lower end of the lever is provided with a rubber tip 32.

The lever strikes the ground as the horse is rocked forwardly and moves the connecting rod 14 rearwardly to thus actuate the crank shafts 8 and 9 and swing the legs and head to simulate a galloping motion independently of the actuation thereof by the reins 25.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A rocking horse including a rockably supported hollow body, including a neck, front and rear crank shafts journalled in the body, legs secured to the outer ends of the shafts for forward and rearward swinging movement, a connecting rod connecting the shafts to each other for uniform movement, a bracket secured inside the neck and projecting upwardly therefrom, a head having a recess at its rear portion and into which the upper end of the bracket projects, a transverse pin supported by the bracket on which the head is pivoted, a link connecting the head to one of the crank shafts for simultaneous movement of the head and legs, a lever connected at one end to the connecting rod and said lever having its other end free and extending downwardly below the body for contact with the ground upon a predetermined rocking movement of the horse to actuate the head in a downward movement and to swing the legs rearwardly, and spring means inside the hollow body and connected to one of the moving parts of the horse to return the head and legs to their original positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,498,223 Zsarnay June 17, 1924 1,512,972 Zsarnay Oct. 28, 1924 2,488,893 Barrett Nov. 22, 1949 2,680,020 Dwyer June 1, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 249,799 France 1926

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