Patent GB-432164-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to wheeled toys
IPC: A63H17/41
Filed: 1934-12-21
Abstract: 432,164. Toy vehicles. MULLER, H., 30, F³rtherstrasse, Nuremberg, Germany. Dec. 21, 1934, No. 36743. [Class 132 (iii)] A wheeled toy is provided with a direction changing wheel normally held out of contact with the running surface by an inclined surface on the toy but allowed to contact with the running surface when the front of the toy overruns the edge of the running surface. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a toy car 12 has a rear driving wheel 2, a freely rotatable wheel 3, an inclined supporting finger 5 and a freely rotatable wheel 4 located transversely of the toy for changing the direction of travel of the toy when the finger 5 leaves the running surface and allows the wheel 4 to contact therewith, the driving wheel 2 then rotating the toy about the freely rotatable wheel 3. The wheel 4 consists of rubber or leather or is provided with a rim or running surface of such material, and the wheel 2 and, or the wheel 3 are similarly provided. The supporting finger 5 may be in the form of a transverse strip or may rise obliquely towards the side and rear as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, and may be fixed on the buffer bar of the toy. One or more toothed wheels 10, 11 of the spring driving mechanism 1 contact with the running surface and allow turning of the toy to take place should the driving wheel 2 slip over the running surface. The spring driving mechanism 1 forms a counterweight for the front half of the toy which thus rests with its supporting finger exerting only a slight pressure on the running surface. The toy is provided with an additional pair of wheels 8, 9 movable in a slotted bearing 14, or these wheels may be replaced by imitations. The spring driving mechanism 1 may be fitted at an inclination in the toy and a trunk or spare wheel may be added at the rear which partly counterbalances the weight of the front part of the toy. The wheels 2, 3 can be located near the rear or near the centre of the toy. Fig. 8 shows a construction of toy mouse 12<a> in which the transverse direction changing wheel 4 is carried on a member 17 rotatable about the point 16 against the action of a spring 171 to press against the wheel 3 and act as a brake. Fig. 9 shows a construction in which the direction changing wheel 4 is fitted on an obliquely arranged axle 18 and is driven from the spring driving mechanism 1, preferably at the same speed as the driving wheel 2. In the construction shown in Fig. 10 the direction changing wheel 4a is arranged longitudinally, instead of transversely, in the toy at the side of the driving mechanism opposite to the driving wheel 2<a>, and is rotated in the opposite direction. A loose running wheel 3<a> and a rubber support 21 for preventing the toy slipping off the edge of the running surface are also provided. A fly-wheel weight-spring regulator 22 acts as a fly-wheel only at low speeds and acts as a centrifugal governor at higher speeds. In the toy mouse shown in Fig. 12 the direction changing wheel 4 is inclined both longitudinally and transversely so that it lies in a plane passing closer to the driving wheel 2 than to the wheel 3, and is driven through the wheels 19, 20. A toy car, Fig. 14, is similarly constructed and is provided with an inclined transverse trough 5 and with imitation wheels 15 raised from the running surface. In all the constructions means may be provided so that the direction changing wheel on coming into contact with the running surface moves axially relatively to the toy and causes a braking action on the loose running wheel in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 8. Arrangement of the axis of the direction changing wheel at an inclination in two directions is preferred, but the axis may be inclined only longitudinally or may be horizontal.