Mechanical racing toy

Application filed June 29, 1925. Serial No. 40,145.

This invention is for an improvement in ; mechanical toys of the type in which one or more objects are propelled by gravity around a oyrating track in simulation of a race.

The invention relates to toys of the general type disclosed in my co-pending appiication for patent Serial No. 665,114, filed September 27, 1923. .

In toys of this type, a gyratory motion is 10 imparted , to a suitable pan having one or more continuous tracks thereon.. As the pan gyrates, gravity propelled objects, guided by the tracks, are caused to travel thereabout continuously in one direction. Where there are two or more tracks, the appearance oi a race is simulated and an extremely attractive and fascination toy is provided.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide a novel and simple mechanism for tilting, the pan to give it the proper gyratory motion. . .

The invention which may be varied, m various ways, may be understood by τθ±θτence to the accompanying drawings m which three forms are shown. In the drawings.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an assembled ^t0 Figure 2 is a transverse section through one form of the toy. .·

Figure 3 is a similar view of a modinea •form.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a form of cross frame employed in the constructions of Figs. 2 and 3 and to which the pan is secured.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing still another modification.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the form oi eccentric roller shown in Fig. 5.

In the drawings, in the form shown m Fio-s 1 and 2, 5 designates a base member of suitable form on which is a housing 6, preferably of a cylindrical sheet metal construction, and having a suitable top 7. Secured to the top, or otherwise suitably mounted in the housing is a driving device, preferably in the form of a spring, motor 8, of any desired construction. This motor drives a gearwheel or disk 9 on which is carried a suitable revolving eccentric element, this element in Fig. 2 being shown ak a partial cone 10 with its lower edge angularly truncated «0 that one portion of the cone pro15 to McDowell manuA CORPORATION OF jects below the remainder thereof. A winding stem 8^a for the motor may project through the top of the housing. ⁵⁵

Below this revolving cone is a cross member 11 having a central disk portion ID. in the center of which is. a conical socket ID and on which are diametrically opposed arms 11° having track or pan supporting < terminals ll^a. A pin 12 on the base projects into the central socket ll^b to provide a bearing for the cross member that will permit of a universal rocking motion.. The arms IB project through openings 6^a in the hous- ’ ing 6. , ,, ‘Secured to the outer end ll^a of the arms is an annular track 13, preferably formed of a dished ring of sheet metal having a plurality of annular ribs 13^a thereon to divide the track member into a concentric series of annular tracks. Suitable gravity propelled objects A may be provided to roll m the tracks.

Upon operation of the motor 8 the eccentric or conical element 10 with its eccentric projection bearing against the cross bar structure 11 of the track, imparts a gyratory or successive rocking motion to the track, whereby the objectsΆ are caused to travel continuously thereabout with the rocking o± tlie triick.

In the construction shown, in Fig. 3 the arrangement is generally similar to that described in Fig. 2. and corresponding reference numerals designate corresponding parts of the two structures. The only difference is, that instead of using a truncated cone 10 to rock the pan, an eccentric wiper, such as the roller . 10^a on an arm 10 secured to wheel 9 is provided. As. this roller travels around, it functions to tilt the pan in a gyratory fashion. :

Inasmuch as the cone of Fig. 2 has a bearing against the cross support at all points, the tilting motion of the pan is con- • fined and proceeds evenly. To get the same • result with the arrangement shown m Big.

3, it is desirable to provide an annular rib 5^a on the base 5, so that as the roller revolves, loo the enlarged disk portion ID will be depressed against the rib to limit the distance which the cross piece may be depressed.

Tn the arrangement shown m Figs. 5 and »0

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6, the same principle of operation obtains, but the motor is below the central part of the track. In this arrangement, 15 designates the base plate of a suitable support 5 having cylindrical walls 16. Mounted on the base or otherwise secured within the support, is a driving motor 17, preferably of the conventional spring type, as shown. This motor revolves a wheel 18 on a stationl'J ary post 19, and on the wheel is an eccentric element, such as arm 20 with roller 21 for imparting a gyratory rocking motion to the track 22, the central .portion only of whicli is shown, it being of the general construc¹³ tion shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The jiost 19 projects through a central point. of tlie track, as shown. The track is maintained in a tilted position by reason of the roller 21 on arm 20, being higher than 20 the rim of the housing 1G, the track being supported at diametrically opposite points by the roller and. the rim of the housing 1.6. As the arm 21 revolves, a progressive, tilting motion is thus imparted to the track. 2j A spring 23 on post 19 above tlie track and held against the track by nut 24 serves to maintain a sufficient pressure on the track to assure satisfactory operation.

A winding stem 25 for the motor, may '30 project through tlie track and serve also as a means to hold the track against rotation.

With any of the above constructions an extremely simple mechanism is provided for imparting the desired motion to the track, 35 and in all of them the motor winding key is conveniently located so that it is accessible from the top of the toy. In all three forms, the revolving eccentric element bearing against a portion of the track structure op40 erates, on a cam to tilt the track. While I have illustrated several embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that this is by of illustration, and that the invention is not confined to the particular con45 structions shown.